new to santaria

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Permalink Reply by Botanica Congo on February 16, 2008 at 8:00pm

well u can join "mysanteria.com" which is a place just like this , and no book is going to have any real or good info on santeria most of the stuff in book are made up stuff

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Permalink Reply by Azraelwitch on April 18, 2009 at 2:08pm

You could start by trying the names of different loas such as Yemay or Oya or Oshun and see what you get. Sometimes I learn stuff that way. You can see pictures of altars to Yemaya if you try that one... Or at least you could a couple months ago.

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Permalink Reply by Oni on April 20, 2009 at 10:23pm

The Orishas (Yemaya, Oshun, Oya... etc) and the Lwa (Erzuli, Legba, Baron Samadi... etc) are from two different systems. They may have similarities but that's about it. They are worshiped in different ways.

The best way to learn about the Orishas is to join an Ile and learn from your godparents, there is a lot of bad/misinformation on the internet and books. There are still some things in these religions that are secrets.

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Permalink Reply by Oni on April 21, 2009 at 9:53pm

I meant to add that anyone can worship the Orishas but you need to join an Ile to become a priest or priestess or learn the rituals.

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Permalink Reply by Awo Abayemi on May 11, 2009 at 2:32am

The best way to enter any of the African faiths as many are structured the same is to first receive a reading or divination and take it from their. In this faith we have the assistance of the Orisa via divination which I specifically use Ifa which is known to be the highest level of divination to the Yoruba people.

In this reading you will know what energies assist you and what you can do to gain their assistance etc.

hope this helped.

Ire O

Awo Abayemi

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Permalink Reply by Eistir - Satan's Sex Slave on October 28, 2009 at 2:24am

Damn. I was about to start a thread like this. You beat me to it, Anthony!!!

So basically the only good source is either straight from those who practice and live it or www.mysanteria.com ?

That can't be the only decent source of info. C'mon. I mean as far as books, .pdf files, or websites go. Obviously straight from those living it would be the best way to go.

I'm asking because I found a botanica and an amazing woman named Ruth who is a santera who is teaching me bits and pieces, not much yet mostly just about candles and a bit about spirits. But I would like to learn on my own as well, so I have more of an understanding before I go back to see her. Sort of like doing homework before I go to class, I suppose.

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Permalink Reply by Oni on October 31, 2009 at 1:27pm

Eistir and for anyone interested in the future-

You asked how can it be that joining a "house" is the only good way to learn? Let me explain a bit, there are some books that have useful basic information that you might find interesting. That said, those books are never the full story about any idea or ritual and knowing things does not make you involved in Santeria.

This is an INITIATORY religion like Gardenarian Witchcraft, you cannot be a Gardenarian if you are not initiated by one, well Santeria, Ocha and IFA are the same. Far more of the religion is secret and not publicly available regardless of what you hear, Santeria/Ocha is far bigger than those simple books tell. Yes you can get a feel for the religion that way and there is nothing wrong with that, you are from a culture where people don't know about it, pledging your self to a religion you don't know about would be a huge act of faith. However, you will have to make that act of faith to be in the religion, there is no other way.


Furthermore, you are making a commitment with the people who's house you join much more like having a family you don't ever leave except under extreme circumstances.


Finally, wanting the Orisha's doesn't mean they want you, only a reading with a trained Babalawo/Priest/Priestess will be able to tell for sure. You can "make up" whatever you want about being in Santeria/Ocha, you can learn and pray at home without anyone's help, you cannot fake your way into the religion, you join with a practicing house or you don't; IT IS THAT SIMPLE.

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Permalink Reply by cryingwolf on October 31, 2009 at 2:30pm

there is a website in yahoo call yahoo group that you can join and they can help you just about anything and they have info about santeria and more. the is more than one group you can join so i hope this help

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