r/Santeria

hey friends! hope all is well. i got divination from a Babalawo, he threw the Okuele chain, and ebbo came out.

some things during the divination and ebbo made me confused, and im hoping to find some answers.

i believe he threw the divination chain on an opon, and also after i did the perscribed ebbo, i do not recall obi being thrown to confirm if it was accepted. what do you guys think?

was it incorrect for the baba to throw the chain on an Opon and not throw obi to see if my ebbo was accepted?

thank you for your help and perspectives.

Me dijo que se la dio su tía para mi por “protección” pero la verdad no me llama nada la atención esa religión, la respeto pero no son mis ideales, puede ser que lo haya hecho con alguna mala intención? O no se con algún tipo de amarre, no se mucho sobre esa religión, me la puse unos días hasta después de que me dijeron que era de una santería cubana y me la quité, solo la guarde, que debería hacerle si no me interesa?, regresarsela? Alguna recomendación

Learning the Odu

Aboru Aboye Abosise and Alaafia!

I am currently reading and learning the the 16 Major Holy Odu. I am learning them from my godmother as well as my Adjubona. I have at least 4 different versions/translations of the Odu Ifa that I'm using to school myself with as well. What I am finding is that each version of the odu is different than the others. My godmother translates one way, my adjubona translates another way and each book has its own translation as well. By looking through this group's posts I found a reference to Ifa Dida which seems to have at least 10 different translations for each odu all within the same text.

My question is, how do I "learn" the odu if there can be so many different translations? I've been practicing Ifa for about 7 years now and it wasn't until recently that I realized I need to know and understand at least the major odu. Am I trying to make the odu something they are not? I mean what comes to mind is the different versions of the Christian bible. While there are several published versions of the book, they all pretty much say the same thing. I'm not finding that with the odu.

Please don't take my question as a critique of the odu because that is **not** what I'm trying to do. I'm really just trying to make some sense of all of this as I learn.

Hello everyone, a while ago I posted this while I was still an iyawo. I have been studying really hard, learning, participating in ceremonies under the supervision of my Elders. I followed this community's advice and everything was ok for a while...

But then aa lot happened... this other godchild stole from me (again and now in the ile) and from my Godmother's family , he lied about it, he tried to make my Godmother look bad saying she was the thief . She decided to talk to him told him to not come back to the ile. He had an affair with another Godchilds wife from this ile... (this was basically broadcasted on social media) But, guess what?

He came back, asked for forgiveness and he was taken in. My madrina and my Mano de Orula Godfather told him to ask me for forgiveness as well and I told him..well I'll consider forgiving you when I get my stuff or money back.

He is telling other godchildren im trying to black mail him and the Elders know about it (im not, I just believe that if you ask for forgiveness you should accept your mistakes and try to make it up to the person, or at least that's what I do)

I feel very conflicted about this situation. I cannot understand how they allow this to happen but the moment I refuse to talk to him or greet him Im disrespectful and i should be called out . ..because he is a babalawo... yet he is uncapable of behaving like a barely decent person and can't even. Moyubar...

Isn't it more disrespectful to call oneself a priest yet steal, lie, spread rumours and behave like an animal?

I cannot stand this situation. It goes against my beliefs to just respect someone because of the position he holds.. and I don't want to be a part of it. I don't want to be explaining everything to everyone. I don't want to lose my Elders guidance but I dont want to be part of an ile that condones this type of stuff.

I also dont feel like saying anything to my Elders because they are the Elders not me. I have thought about looking for my yubona or the oba oriate and try to learn from them. They belong to other iles related to mine. But I feel like I shouldn't just leave and/or look for guidance elsewhere.

Im too afraid to consult Orisha because what if they say I should leave the ile. I love my religious family so much and I am forever in debt with them because of how much they have taught me helped me etc.

Any advice?

I got a reading recently from my padrino & it came up that I need a collar de bandera for protection. I know that’s a palo item, when it came up I heard my madrina question if I would have to scratched in the future. I haven’t received the item yet it’s being prepared but I watched a video out of curiosity on yt & I heard you cannot wear your elekes with your collar de bandera. Any reason behind that ?

* yes I know these are questions for my padrino im on my way to him now just waiting for the shop to open.

I like to consider myself as someone who believes many things that can sometimes contradict themselves. I lean more towards Norse paganism but I haven’t practiced anything in eight years. Recently I went to a shop with my wife and out of boredom while she shopped I got my tarot read from an older lady with an angle deck. I decided to limit the information to see how good she was and she was bad. Next thing I knew I was stuck and trapped feeling high and I’ve been clean and sober for 12 years. I was looking around without my head moving then I was finally able to move my head and in the mirror my reflection showed something that looked like me but was giving me a mischievous almost evil smile. I was able to freak out throwing myself out of the chair and leaving. Feeling high with tunnel vision I managed to go to the bathroom to collect myself and called my wife freaking out. On the way out to my car trying to process and talking about it I lost my vision and there was a black shadow figure appearing on a red curtain with a top hat and the name Elegua popped into my head. I told a friend about it and they told me I need to go to a crossroads and give an offering of candy. A few months went by but every railroad crossing I came to I would be stopped by a train or in the middle of crossing the lights would start flashing. Once I gave the offering it stopped. Now a couple months have passed and I’m feeling like I’m being messed with and I need to do something with Elegua but I don’t know what to do

Subtype of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) characterized by pathological, overwhelming anxiety about sinning or violating religious laws from (Ita). It involves intrusive, distressing thoughts and repetitive ritualistic behaviors. Living in fear and falsely thinking that you are not living up to what a Santero standard should be. Overthinking when you do an ebbo, if you did it correctly or not. Being a perfectionist in everything relating to the religion. Have you ever experienced this?

I’m having trouble with warriors. It’s like ever since I feed them EVERY single Monday they don’t want to work. I have petitioned and took extra lengths to fix my issues especially financially and I’m at risk at eviction but instead I was tricked to work for someone who in the end used me for hours to serve kids and switch gears on hiring and I really needed that job. I have asked for $2500 since April 21 st and have gotten nothing but loans like up to $800-900, plus I’m dealing with an entity and an enemy they don’t want to get rid of. Please help me explain how I can get some serious protection because I WILL NOT BE FEEDING SOMETHING THAT IS NOT HELPING ME!!!!!

I've been going through hell for an entity that was supposed to be taken off several months ago along with receiving my warriors. The warriors doesn't work for me anymore and not even trying to help me out. When I tried to ask specific questions on why things are the way they are in my life, he tried to say the warriors are testing me, how he go from oh "imma be ok and great and saying I have Ire to having delayed money issues and in the process of eviction because of it?

Bendiciones.

Iboru Iboya Ibocheche.

Nsala Malekum.

I just wanted to say I'm fully invested into this religion. In fact, I'm on my path to getting crowned soon. I grew up with a very religious Christian background. I was Seventh Day Adventist and I used to go to church 3 to 4 times a week and would even preach and lead sermons at my church. I was involved in Christianity for almost 20 years.

I say all of this to say as I grew up I believed less and less that Jesus was God. I believe he was his son and born of the virgin conception and all that, but I believe he was a prophet, not God made flesh. Anyways, my question is, how do you guys believe in the Bible and Christian teachings yet, when it comes to sacrifice and Jesus being the last sacrificial lamb, that doesn't get much explanation.

(EDIT)

I'm not assuming everyone's beliefs. I am asking for the perspective from other past Christian/Catholics.

I'm more curious to know for my own arguments sake, because thats the one question I can't answer fully when questioned by my family who are all Christians.

I’m feeling really confused about my spiritual path right now and would appreciate some respectful advice.

For about a year and a half, I’ve been venerating my ancestors, although I took a break for a while because I experienced psychosis and had to focus on my mental health. Even during that time, I still read Psalms, prayed to my ancestors, and recently set my ancestor altar back up so they have a space in my home again. I also still read playing cards since I have to keep my practice private from family and can’t openly keep tarot cards.

Before my psychotic episode, I felt very drawn to the 21 Divisions. I’m Caribbean, but my family is from Barbados rather than Puerto Rico or the Dominican Republic. I felt deeply connected to the saints and wanted to learn more, but during my episode my spirituality became mixed with religious delusions. I started believing things that were clearly not true, and looking back on it now, I know my mental state was affecting my beliefs and behavior. I genuinely hope the saints forgive me for the things I said or believed while I was unwell.

Now that time has passed and I’m in a more stable place, I want to carefully reconnect with spirituality in a healthier way. I’m interested in African traditional religions again, and I’m also curious about Obeah because of my Barbadian background. At the same time, I still feel strongly drawn to the saints and the lwa through the 21 Divisions.

What I’m struggling with is figuring out what path is actually right for me. Part of me worries that because of my psychotic episode, I somehow damaged my connection spiritually. Another part of me wonders if I should focus more on traditions connected to Barbados and my ancestry instead.

I already have a relationship with my ancestors, and I feel ready to start learning about a tradition more seriously, but I want to approach it responsibly and respectfully this time.

If anyone has advice, especially people experienced with ATRs, the 21 Divisions, or Caribbean spiritual traditions, I’d really appreciate it. Please just be kind regarding the psychosis aspect — I’m trying to navigate spirituality and mental health carefully and honestly.

Hello friends,

I searched the community before asking and couldn't find my answer so I'm asking questions that I *know* will have variable answers:

If you're told that you need to offer a tambor for an orisha, what's a ballpark cost?

Does is vary by Orisha like Azojano vs. Changó?

I know I will eventually have the conversation with my godparents but I want a range in price so that my eyes don't come out of my head when they tell me and also so I can get a head with cash before approaching them.

Thanks in advance

Is there a agreed upon history to the conflict of between Obatala and Oduduwa? And does Oduduwa fall in the Funfun family of Orisha?

Long story short I distanced myself from a friend who practices Santeria due to her using me for many things and only thinking of herself. Prior to the fall out she would tell us about people that would piss her off or girls she would hate cause they were exes of her current boyfriend and how she’d put their names in a pot and burn in. Now I’m assuming since we both aren’t talking and distanced that she’s doing the same to me. I’ve been feeling off and just had a vertigo attack and I feel like she’s doing something to attack me. Is there anyway to get help and protection I’m super stressed and feel helpless that she’s going to keep doing this to get back at me for not being her friend anymore

Hello! I practice folk catholicism and study catholic mysticism. I live in a city with a high hispanic population so there’s tons of botanicas near me.

Roman catholicism is what I’m familiar with, I know a bit about Santeria and find it interesting. I collect art and items of various saints, Jesus, Mary, etc. I stopped at a shop today and bought a painting of the Virgin Mary. The guy was super nice.

I’m realizing now that since I don’t really know much about the cultural and spiritual practices regarding Santeria maybe it’s better to know more if I plan to source my religious items in Santeria stores? Am I completely overthinking? Are folk catholics welcome?

Just looking for a little more info on what y’all would suggest. Thank you !

I want to know the different ways you all have protected your ori? Please share how you protected yours. I love to listen your testimonies and methods!

Would you rather take an eye ife or Alafia con ire?

Thanks!

Why can’t one babalawo pull down your head Orissa?