SOURCE : Santeria, A Practical Guide to Afro-Caribbean Magic.
Fantastic online book covering many of the most important ideas and methods of Cuban Santeria : Orishas, divination, sacrifice, etc.
Santeria, A Practical Guide to Afro-Caribbean Magic
April 4, 2009 Leave a Comment
An Aborisha's Guide for Attending Elegbá and the Warriors
April 2, 2009 Leave a Comment
SOURCE : An Aborisha’s Guide for Attending Elegbá and the Warriors
…Elegbá should be worshiped on Mondays… and preferably in the morning before heading outdoor for one’s daily routines. It is necessary to keep in mind… that once one accustoms Elegbá to this treatment, one must be… consistent. If you legitimately forget, there can be no [...]
A Disillusioned ATR initiate on gnosis and enlightenment in the African Diaspora
March 31, 2009 Leave a Comment
SOURCE : The Baptist’s Head – The African Diaspora: An interview with an initiate
I think that in general the African traditions as found in the Americas lack any “spiritual” or “personal growth factors.” I think that most of the hard core practitioners are actually “unenlightening” themselves, as explained earlier. In fact, they are [...]
Jungian psychology, archetypes and the shadow in Cuban Santeria
March 25, 2009 Leave a Comment
SOURCE : Jungian psychology, archetypes and the shadow in Cuban Santeria
When an Orisha takes possession of a person, its psychic energies dominate the person for the moment. That individual, then, exhibits the extraordinary powers and exceptional knowledge of the future that are found in the natural attributes of the Orisha. From Jung’s point of view, [...]
African Astrology – Orisha / Zodiac Correspondences
March 25, 2009 Leave a Comment
SOURCE : African Astrology – Orisha / Zodiac Correspondences
Oshun is a “warrior” in the very real sense of providing protection to those she favors. If someone is using witchcraft against you, Oshun can fix it in a hurry. But that does not make her the god of war. She is still very much better syncretized [...]
Advice to Orisha Worship Newcomers on finding a Godparent
March 23, 2009 Leave a Comment
SOURCE : Advice to Orisha Worship Newcomers on finding a Godparent
Orisha traditions are communal and hierarchical. These are not “do-it-yourself” traditions, and you cannot self-initiate. This is a lineage based system – with levels of initiation, and it takes time to move through these levels and be trained. Not everyone [...]
Does Palo Mayombe work with Negative Energy?
March 23, 2009 Leave a Comment
SOURCE : Does Palo Mayombe work with Negative Energy?
Palo is working with Negative energy… [but] it is not that simple. Negative energy is earth energy, it is female energy, it is dark, and inward… not evil by nature just as the earth is not evil. Orisha is positive energy it is celestial, positive energy [...]
From Cuba to the United States: Santería and the Construction of Religious Liberty
February 9, 2009 Leave a Comment
SOURCE : Law at the End of the Day: From Cuba to the United States: Santería and the Construction of Religious Liberty in the United States, the Untold Story
This is the untold story of the way in which the religion of Cuban slaves, forged within the crucible of Spanish intiolerance and cultural marginalization in the [...]
BaKongo Divination with Nkobos (cowries)
January 28, 2009 Leave a Comment
SOURCE : Nkobos?
The forms of divination most common among the Bakongo however were, like among the Bayaka (who are the source ultimately of the branch of Palo called Mayaka) are the mpaka (the mirrored horn) and trance. These are of course the most common and most truly Bakongo forms of divination to be found among [...]
The Derecho: Understanding Money Exchange in Santeria
January 28, 2009 Leave a Comment
SOURCE : The Derecho: An Anthropological Approach to Understanding Money Exchange in Santería
Back when J. (a close friend) and I made saint, we didn’t spend more than the equivalent of about $100. Nowadays, you can pay at least $10,000 to make saint here in the U.S. and at least half that much if you go [...]
