Santeria is an earth religion. That is, it is a magico-religious system that has its roots in nature and natural forces. Each orisha or saint is identified with a force of nature and with a human interest or endeavor. Chango, for instance, is the god of fire, thunder and lightning, but he is, also the symbol of justice and protects his followers against enemies. He also symbolizes passion and virility and is often invoked in works of seduction. Oshun, on the other hand, symbolizes river waters, love and marriage. She is essentially the archetype of joy and pleasure. Yemaya is identified with the seven seas, but is also the symbol of Motherhood and protects women in their endeavors. Eleggua symbolizes the crossroads, and is the orisha of change and destiny, the one who makes things possible or impossible. He symbolizes the balance things. Obatala is the father, the symbol of peace and purity. Oya symbolizes the winds and is the owner of the cemetery, the watcher of the doorway between life and death. She is not death, but the awareness of its existence. Oggun is the patron of all metals, and protects farmers, carpenters, butchers, surgeons, mechanics, and all who work with or near metals. He also rules over accidents, which he often causes.

This book by Miguel De La Torre offers a fascinating guide to the history, beliefs, rituals, and culture of Santería — a religious tradition that, despite persecution, suppression, and its own secretive nature, has close to a million adherents in the United States alone. Santería is a religion with Afro-Cuban roots, rising out of the cultural clash between the Yoruba people of West Africa and the Spanish Catholics who brought them to the Americas as slaves. As a faith of the marginalized and persecuted, it gave oppressed men and women strength and the will to survive. With the exile of thousands of Cubans in the wake of Castro's revolution in 1959, Santería came to the United States, where it is gradually coming to be recognized as a legitimate faith tradition. Apart from vague suspicions that Santería's rituals include animal sacrifice and notions that it is a “syncretistic” form of Catholicism, most people in America's cultural and religious mainstream know very little about this rich faith tradition — in fact, many have never heard of it at all. De La Torre, who was reared in Santería, sets out in this book to provide a basic understanding of its inner workings. He clearly explains the particular worldview, myths, rituals, and practices of Santería, and he discusses what role the religion typically plays in the life of its practitioners as well as the cultural influence it continues to exert in Latin American communities today. In offering a balanced, informed survey of Santería from his unique “insider-outsider” perspective, De La Torre also provides insight into how Christianity and Santería can enter into dialogue — a dialogue that will challenge Christians to consider what this emerging faith tradition can teach them about their own. Enhanced with illustrations, tables, and a glossary, De La Torre's Santería sheds light on a religion all too often shrouded in mystery and misunderstanding.

Are you familiar with the seven African powers? Do you want to learn the secret of their powers? Do you want to cultivate your own spiritual energy? Are you interested in learning how the ancient Yoruba survived slavery with the help of their ancestral spirits? Hundreds of years ago, the Yoruba people of Nigeria and West Africa were brought to America as slaves. Luckily, they successfully preserved their heritage and ancestral spirits by disguising their deities as Catholic saints. In secret, they worshipped. The result is the new-age religion known as Santería, a blend of Catholicism and African traditional beliefs. Santería offers valuable and insightful information into the origins, beliefs, and practices of the syncretic Lucumí religion. This book will teach you the remarkable secrets of the Yoruba people. In this book, you will: Discover how to invoke the orishas and the seven African Powers. Master the art of divination to foretell your future. Never worry about negative and evil forces again. See practical examples of how to use divine power to achieve your goals. Learn the powerful spells and rituals the Yoruba use to channel their gods. Master the use of ashé and iwa pele. Become a powerful child of the gods. And so much more! With this book as your guide, you now have a starting point to the life you desire. Santería will set you on the path to uncovering your roots and help you to establish a spiritual bond with the spirits of your ancestors. So, what are you waiting for? Click on the "Add to Cart" button to get your copy of this book today!

When the Yorubas of West Africa were brought to Cuba as slaves, they preserved their heritage by worshiping secretly. The resulting religion, Santeria, is controversial for its ceremonies including animal sacrifice. This book clears many misunderstandings held by those outside the Santeria community. 75 photos.

Two manuscripts in one book: Santería: The Ultimate Guide to Lucumí Spells, Rituals, Orishas, and Practices, Along with the History of How Yoruba Lived On in America Orishas: The Ultimate Guide to African Orisha Deities and Their Presence in Yoruba, Santeria, Voodoo, and Hoodoo, Along with an Explanation of Diloggun Divination Hundreds of years ago, the Yoruba people of Nigeria and West Africa were brought to America as slaves. Luckily, they successfully preserved their heritage and ancestral spirits by disguising their deities as Catholic saints. In secret, they worshipped. The result is the new-age religion known as Santería, a blend of Catholicism and African traditional beliefs. Santería offers valuable and insightful information into the origins, beliefs, and practices of the syncretic Lucumí religion. This book will teach you the remarkable secrets of the Yoruba people. In part one, you will: Discover how to invoke the orishas and the seven African Powers. Master the art of divination to foretell your future. Never worry about negative and evil forces again. See practical examples of how to use divine power to achieve your goals. Learn the powerful spells and rituals the Yoruba use to channel their gods. Master the use of ashé and iwa pele. Become a powerful child of the gods. And so much more! In part two, you will: Learn how the Orishas came to be, starting with the source of all things - Olodumare Discover which Orisha to call upon for specific circumstances Find out how to praise and invoke the presence of the Orishas Learn how to get divine answers for your heart's questions using Diloggun Discover how to interpret the answers you get from Obi and Diloggun And so much more! With this book as your guide, you now have a starting point to the life you desire. Santería will set you on the path to uncovering your roots and help you to establish a spiritual bond with the spirits of your ancestors. You will also find truths about the Orishas and the basic steps you need to take to worship the Orisha of your choice - particularly the major Orishas. One thing is certain, Orisha worship is bound to influence your life significantly, and you can determine the energy (positive or negative) that you draw from them. So, what are you waiting for? Click on the "Add to Cart" button to get your copy of this book today!

The first book to explore the history, methods, and thinking behind sacrifice in the growing Santería faith • Explains the animal sacrifice ceremony in step-by-step detail • Shares the ancient African sacred stories that reveal the well-thought-out metaphysics and spirituality behind the practice of animal sacrifice • Chronicles the legal fight all the way to its 1993 U.S. Supreme Court victory to establish legal protection for the Santería faith and its practitioners Tackling the biggest controversy surrounding his faith, Santería priest Ócha’ni Lele explains for the first time in print the practice and importance of animal sacrifice as a religious sacrament. Describing the animal sacrifice ceremony in step-by-step detail, including the songs and chants used, he examines the thinking and metaphysics behind the ritual and reveals the deep connections to the odu of the diloggún--the source of all practices in this Afro-Cuban faith. Tracing the legal battle spearheaded by Oba Ernesto Pichardo, head of the Church of the Lukumi of Babaluaiye, over the right to practice animal sacrifice as a religious sacrament, Lele chronicles the fight all the way to its 1993 U.S. Supreme Court victory, which established legal protection for the Santería faith and its practitioners. Weaving together oral fragments stemming from the ancient Yoruba of West Africa, the author reconstructs their sacred stories, or patakís, that demonstrate the well-thought-out metaphysics and spirituality behind the practice of animal sacrifice in the Yoruba and Santería religion, including explanations about why each animal can be regarded as food for both humans and the orisha as well as how sacrifice is not limited to animals. Shedding light on the extraordinary global growth of this religion over the past 50 years, Lele’s guide to the sacrificial ceremonies of Santería enables initiates to learn proper ceremony protocol as well as gives outsiders a glimpse into this most secretive world of the santeros.

If your knowledge of Santeria only goes so far as the reference in the 90s song by Sublime, you have a lot to learn. The word "Santeria" is translated from the Spanish for "worship of saints," though that translation alone doesn't really paint an accurate picture of what Santeria is all about. Not only does Santeria involve the worship of saints (called Orishas), but it is also a quest for enlightenment and kinship with God. What makes Santeria so unique is the fact that it is a syncretic religion - it combines the beliefs and practices of several religions, primarily the African Yoruba religion with Roman Catholic elements mixed in. Santeria involves a great many rituals and ceremonies, all of which are personalized according to the individual's destiny. If you are curious to learn more about this religion - and if you want to learn the truth behind the myths - this book is the perfect place for you to begin. Here you will find an overview of the Santeria religion and its history as well as information about its beliefs, practices, and rituals. By the time you finish this book you will have a thorough understanding of what Santeria is and how it is practiced. You may even decide to give it a try for yourself! A Brief Beginners Guide to Santeria History, Practices, Deities, Spells and Rituals