The Religion Of Santeria

7 Pages 1679 Words

s continued their religion in secret, passing along the ancient traditions either by oral tradition or in handwritten notebooks called liretas.

Believers of Santería place their faith in the orishas. The orishas are not as powerful or as omnipotent as their predominant God, Olodumare. “Olodumare is the ultimate destiny of all creation; from him all existence comes forth, and to him it all returns. His breath is this force, this pulse of life and death.” (Murphy 1992: 7) Olodumare is the source of ashe. “Ashe is the blood of cosmic life, the power of Olodumare toward life, strength, and righteousness. Ashe is like a divine current that finds many conductors of greater or lesser receptivity.” (Murphy 1992:8) The orishas are lesser gods who “help you fulfill your destiny. To do so, you must establish a personal relation with an orisha, and you do so through devotion, sacrifices, divination, and spiritual possession.” (Figueredo 2002: 170)

Depending on the particular orisha that they wish to please, Santeros use certain colors and certain anima...