Santería
Origins
Santería (The way of the Saints) is an Afro-Caribbean religion based on Yoruba beliefs and traditions, with some Roman Catholic elements added. The religion is also known as La Regla Lucumi and the Rule of Osha. Santería is considered a "syncretic" religion because of the way that it has incorporated elements of several faiths. It has grown beyond its Yoruba and Catholic origins to become a religion in its own right, and a powerful symbol of the religious creativity of Afro-Cuban culture. The centre of the religion is Cuba, but it has spread to the USA and other nearby countries, particularly after the Cuban revolution in 1959.Source
Beliefs
Santería followers believe in one God: the Creator known as Olodumare. Orishas are often described as gods, but function more like spirits or aspects of Olodumare that are manifested in the natural world around us. Each individual is thought to be a child of an Orisha. There are hundreds of Orisha, but some of the most well known include Elegua, the trickster deity, Ogun, the blacksmith warrior and Ochosi the hunter. They are collectively known as “The Warriors”.
Like most African religions there is a great emphasis on ancestor worship. Reverence for one's ancestors is fundamental to the Santería religion and before every ceremony, libation and prayers to the ancestors are carried out. It is important to know and mention by name the members of one's family that have passed to the realm of the ancestors.
There are two concepts that are vital to the core beliefs of Santeria. The first is Ashe (also known as Ase, Ache or Axe), which references the life force or generative energy that originates in Olodumare. Notoriously difficult to translate to English, Ase is, essentially, the energy, breath, life force that humans would perish without as well as the source of the human power to create and learn. The second central idea is Iwa Pele, which means good or gentle character. Followers of Santeria strive to live in good grace and to constantly improve upon their faults. By doing so, they believe they can change the flow of energy around them.
Santería is a community based religion with a clearly defined hierarchy. Trained priests perform ceremonies. These priests belong to a community of priests who also have a long historical lineage. Many priests will practice together in an Ile (a religious house) and train for different roles. In general, followers of Santería do not have a Church or other central place of worship. Instead, their houses are their temples. Rather than a set of commandments or rules, each Santero is encouraged to follow their own personal advice from the Orisha they are connected with. Followers will often use systems of divination as their guide and look to the ancestors for help and guidance. The stories and moral tales central to Santería are typically passed down orally, but there are now also books available for followers to read them.
