r/Santeria

Have people ever considered making a list of animal delivery people, especially in the Midwest?

I know of at least one in 3 non-florida/NY states.

My other question is why don't we use them to find practitioners in rural areas. I can tell you one of my animal guys knows of practitioners in a three state area, in parts we had never assumed would have active practitioners. With all the questions looking for people, this seems like a way to meet (and vet!) practitioners in smaller areas maybe.

This may not be something they want but it is just an idea I've always had.

Hello, out of curiosity, does anyone here have an Osun for Yemaya in shape of the duck ? Basically whether you’re crowned Yemaya and your Padrino/Madrina gives it or you have seen one at an elders home.

Are there any Babalawo’s or Santera’s that are willing to answer a couple questions for me with their divination? I really need a couple questions answered and I don’t have the funds to pay for a reading. If you’re willing to do this out the kindness of your heart; thank you! Just drop a comment below and then I’ll message you or send me a message.

As I understand it, the reason the individual is chosen by the orisha is because this one may help with the needs that are specific to them in this life.

For the purpose of sparking a diverse conversation, I’d like to ask you, the reader, for why do you think your orisha chose you.

I’d like to start. Perhaps Azowano chose me because of my unstable upbringing and health problems.

It’s been a year and a couple months since I’ve received the hand of orula & I’ve definitely noticed some changes. First what stands out to me is that I notice my intuition has gotten crazy strong, as if I’m being informed on things before they take place. Like I smoke weed, I live with family they all know / don’t care that I smoke but out of respect I keep it away from them. One time I went to walk my dog as I’m smoking i heard a clear voice in my head say “ put it out, your mother is pulling up “ now I’m thinking to myself like yea right but I listened & put it out.. literally 5 minutes later my mother & my grandmothers spotted me walking & pulled aside to say hello. When they left I was in disbelief that the voice in my head legit told me before it happened. Another example is when I was at work & my co worker was carrying a customers drink but she was talking not really paying attention. I legit hear a clear voice in my head say “ she’s going to drop that “ & I’m thinking to myself in the split second should I say it ? “ your going to drop that & make a mess “ she gave me a friendly shut up lol literally 15 seconds like & she dropped everything 😭😭 my co workers were freaking out saying “ you jinxed her / how did you / call it out that that’s creepy “. I’ve learned that that voice has to be orula, because I hear that same clear voice whenever I get a reading or checking to see if I need any ebos done.

Another crazy time I was saved & protected is when one day I was feeling super sick like rlly nauseas I threw up & went to bed early. That night I had one of those sleeps where you completely sweat through your sleep & wake up drenched. I woke up & my elegua ide was popped off laying on my wrist as if someone broke it off. I instantly call my padrino he says come get it put on again. I go to get it fixed & Insisted that I should get a reading. He couldn’t right at that moment so I said okay next time. I leave & get close to my house. There’s a Starbucks & a bank down the street, as I’m walking home I hear that same voice “ go inside & get a drink “ I ignore it & keep walking. I heard the voice one more time insisting I get a drink & call an uber & I thought “ naa it’s nice out I’ll just smoke & walk home “ … I continue walking & I get bum rushed by a bunch of police cars in the middle of a busy ass main street.. 10 min prior to me walking past the bank someone robbed it.. they tried accusing me of doing so because I was the first black guy wearing a hoodie they seen. They said a helicopter was on me & called them to rush me.. They searched me & took my id & they realized they had the wrong person. I called my padrino & he said that’s the reason my my elegua ide broke..

Crazy right ?? I’m extremely grateful to have the orishas protecting me. These are just the experiences I’m stating so far, they have shown me they are here with me plenty of times!

Estoy buscando a alguien que sea parte del palo mayombe, me gustaría hacerle unas preguntas. Todo desde el respeto. Ojalá puedan ayudarme

My mom is a priestess and I’ve recently received Oshun. I’ve been praising her on her prayer days and been praying for a new job. I’ve been getting so close and have even gotten jobs that just ended up falling through. My current job is badly damaging my mental health. Im a very strong minded person and I’ve been falling into a depression because I have been getting my wages robbed and taken advantage of at this job. Since receiving Oshun I haven’t been able to move forward no matter how much I pray. Before receiving Oshun I was practicing Hoodoo with luck. My entire life we’ve done Yoruba/Santeria and as I got older I dabbled in Hoodoo which has helped me as well. I stopped after receiving Oshun but Im desperate and my situation hasn’t gotten better just worst. I’m unable to leave my current job because I have a ton of bills and can’t afford to have no income.

Does anybody know a priest by the name of azariah out of Alabama? Is he legit? Azariah is his Palo name also

I'm Yoruba from Nigeria. My forefather is the Ooni Obalufon. I learnt there's a deity call Oxalufon in Santeria and he's a manifestation of Oxala who is Obatala. Why are we associated with Obatala? Obalufon is different from Obatala. Our forefather is a deity and his shrine is in our compound in my hometown. I know when they crown the Ooni, they take the crown and an image of Obalufon from our compound to the shrine of Obatala and they place the crown on the image before crowning him. But he's not Obatala. What does Santeria say about this.

years ago, a santero in Cuba gave me a stone and told me that this was Eleggua. he told me keep him near a doorway and to give him rum, sweets and smoke. Eleggua has always been near a doorway in our houses. but I don’t smoke and I don’t drink. what should I do?

Hello. This post is because of something I read in another post. Can babalawos or olorishas give warriors or Olokum by themselves, meaning not working with anyone else when they give either of these? Should there be evidence for the person receiving these that other priests were present/active?

Thank you.

I've been really stressed and overwhelmed with work and some personal life revelations & trials I've gone through recently. I was attending to my guerreros yesterday and in the middle of praying, I started bursting out crying. I actually surprised myself because I wasn't expecting it and I rarely cry.

I read online somewhere, or maybe saw in a TikTok video (probably my first mistake), that you shouldn't cry in front of Eshu.

How do you all feel about this and crying in front of your Orisha more generally? I was in a moment of desperation and pain and felt my warriors were the only ones I could turn to in that moment.

I received my Mano de orula a few months ago. I had a consulta about a month ago and me marco to receive orisha oko which I received a week ago. Now las Thursday was my Madrina’s cumpleaños de Ocha. At the tambor chango told me to dress in white and I needed to receive Olokun. I saw my madrina today and she asked if chango talked to me that day. She was there but obviously she wasn’t going to remember chango told everyone. I told yeah he told her what he said. I had a feeling it’s not a good sign but she said well it’s not bad but you receiving orisha oko saved you from death. Idk what to think. I’m fairly new and I have been having some issues with my health. I mean after doctor visits they say everything is good but my instinct tells me otherwise. Just need to vent.

Long story short, someone I know has already been initiated in lucumi, but per their espiristmo practice were led to an eskot (spiritual court/escort) reading by a houngan and were told they had the option of both wedding and full initiation (kanzo).

Does anybody here have experience with this? I have been curious about others I know as well in similar situations. I know people have multiple initiations but I don't happen to know anyone who did vodun after Ocha. I know there is stuff related to the head in the Vodun rites and this is controversial in our way of thinking.

Obviously this person would consult the Orishas beforehand, so the question is somewhat moot. But I would love to know people's experiences.

So, these days ive been up lately at night and been learning about santeria , as a fellow african i understand how the religion goes, and initiation is first, i had a dream last night and) ive seen a kid and it ran past the hall while skipping and kept on saying i crossed your paaath like 4x playfully in the dark, and ive never imagined what it really meant, the only thing i know in my life is i dont want to be like everyone and i asked to be different and really wanted a different change in me literally,. So if anyone knows what it means please tell me

How do I know if the in person process. For getting Eleggua Ogun Ochosi. Legit

For context, me and him didn’t speak the same language nor did I have a relationship with him. I only got one reading from him. My father just told me he can worked out a deal. After I got my eshu I was unable to ask him questions about it. Nor my dad, he just said that the reason it has a flat face is because of the story. Which I read.

The other people I asked said their at least needs to be 2 babalwos and they’re unfamiliar if it’s legit or not. On top of me not paying a specific number like 601 . I’m 15 and live in a different state him which is my godparent.
Me and my father, who was sort of a poor translator. Are no longer in contact.

From what I heard it’s legit just a bit unethical from what the person I was talking too . I have the Ogun pot with the tools and the Eshu. I don’t know how to attend to it much.

My elder’s Ochun has requested to hear violin as per diloggun. Does anyone know/can anyone recommend a violinist that would be able to play violin for Ochun? I am inquiring from upstate NY.