Santería is a religion with origins in the Yoruba tribe from Africa (“road of the Saints”) is the name given in Cuba to these ancestral rites.

SANTERIA: A pagan religion based on syncretism between Yoruba and Catholicism. The priests of Santeria are the Santeros, but we can also find Babalawos. To become a Santero, you must undergo different rituals.

It is easy to identify Santeros in Cuba. They are dressed entirely in white, with some necklaces or bracelets of their saint or saints, since a Santero can be the “son” of a single saint or several of them. The Babalawo is Orula’s son and has the power to read fate. It can be Babalawo without being Santero, although most are. Santería worships a central and creative force called Olodumare.

From him comes everything that exists. They believe that each person’s life is already determined before birth. The orishas will punish those who do not fulfill it and must reincarnate to satisfy the punishment. According to Santería, each person’s life is supervised by a saint (orisha) who actively participates in his daily life.

THE INITIATION

Before initiation, the person should receive a “cleansing” to purify himself. The first initiation is the necklaces, known as “elekes.” Five necklaces belonging to Eleggua, Obatalá, Shangó, Yemayá, and Oshún are given and protected from evil. The person is expected to respect the orishas and behave morally.

THE HIERARCHY

Not all Santeria practitioners are santeros.

The ceremony in which a person becomes a saint is called a “seat.” A link is formed between the Santero and an orisha. The Santero then undergoes the rite of the knife, which allows them to make animal sacrifices.

FORTUNE TELLING

The priests of a greater hierarchy are called “babalaos.” They make diviners so that if there is a challenging case for the Santero, this one goes to the “babalao.”

They are to know the future, discover a curse, or determine whether someone has hit an evil or good spirit. In the case of an evil spirit, Santero proceeds to do “cleaning.” If the spirit is good, it must be strengthened.

THE SACRIFICES (ebbo)

The orishas have to offer sacrifices (“ebbo”) that they need to live. It can be fruit, candles, food, a sacrifice, etc. Each orisha has some herbs and animals that it likes to consume and are the ones that must be sacrificed. That is why Santería requires tents called “botanical” where the herbs and other objects of religion are sold.

Rules or regulations of Santeria

Ocha’s rule

The religious cult known in Cuba as Regla de Ocha or Santería is based on the adoration of the orishas or deities of the Yoruba pantheon of Nigeria. The godfather or godmother is the father and mother of countless children from a cult-dominated popular line of Santo.

Rule’s Ganga

The fact is that ritual functions and states of possession fall on women, while men only interpret ritual music.

Rule’s ayessá

Its members must be initiated in the Rule of Ocha temple house. The deities worshiped by this rule are the same ones found in the Rule of Ocha, although under other names.

For santeria spells, please read more here.