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The practice of Spiritualism(Espiritismo) is what I grew up knowing it as. Forms a base for linking Santeria to an African indigenous tradition called Yoruba Orisha(O-ree-sha) Worship. I also tried expressing spirituality as something that we can all tap into, no matter what belief or spiritual affinity. And, how we can mix multiple belief systems by way of a spiritual alter. This is because our belief system can be a mixture of our ancestral cultural makeup; as in the melding of paternal and maternal backgrounds. For example, having a Asian ancestral lineage from the mother's side and African ancestral linage on the father's side. This can lead to one having Taoist, Buddhist, even Hindu symbols on ones alter, along side African statues of twins, earth & thunder entities, as well. I know that my last article was a bit long, and I succeeded in cramping many different concepts into one page. I'll try not to do that again. Yet, I felt the need in trying to express something that most people can not believe they can feel or do. And that is to feel spirituality in multiple facets. Then comes the challenge of worshiping in multiple ways. Why not? go to a Buddist temple in the morning, praise the lord in a Christian church at noon. And, then do Hoodoo in the evening. I bet God would say "I gotaa hand it too this guy, he's every where."





At this time, I would like to clarify something. Santeria is a broad term for which it includes all Latin American indigenous traditions mixed with Christianity. In other words Hispanic paganism merged or copulated with Christianity. Hence, there is Mexican Santeria, Venezuelan Santeria, Cuban, Central American etc. The concepts that I write about have its foundations in Cuban Santeria or Yoruba Lucumi Tradition, as it is most correctly expressed. The Yoruba's are a west African tribe or nation, who's captured slaves arrived in Cuba mid 1800's. And, even though, there were other African indigenous people from other regions of Africa which also arrived. The Yoruba and their religious ideology of Orisha Worship and IFA(eefa), have been duly noted to be the most conceptually advanced and rich in ritual organization. It is recognized by this government as an organized religion. But, some places also classify it as a form of voodoo. Most people’s idea of voodoo, is witchcraft for spell casting, conjuring, and dark occult work; utilized for imposing ones will on others; in order to satisfy a selfish desire. This is not true of the Yoruba religious ideology, known as Ifa(eefa) and Ocha(O-sha). Oh yes, there are those which practice and allow themselves to be hired in this way; for they entered the religion with this idea, and never learned other wise. There are those that will not lend themselves to this form commercialization of the religion. The laws of conduct, social interaction and philosophical thought of the Yoruba, are expressed in their belief system called Ifa(eefa). Ifa is the system of divination

utilized by the Babalawo, as handed to them by a divinity called Orunmila. A subsystem of Ifa is utilized by the Orisha priest & priestess called Meridilogun, which is divination by casting cowry shells. The Babalawo cast a chain called Opele for day to day divination. Yet, for a more in-depth divination, utilize the manipulation of palm nuts(Ikins) known as Adeles, in a ritual called Atefa. Ifa is a binary system, not unlike the computer speaks today. The myths or Yoruba stories or divinity interaction; religious ideology, rules of ritual practice; the understanding of man, nature, and his elements; are all expressed by Ifa. The Ifa systems and its teachings are geared at fighting or combating witchcraft, and evil spells. As a trained Babalawo, I engage in releasing, expunging, or expulsion of negative influences, that's damaging or haunting an individual or their environment. As I continue to gather thoughts and express what I have learned through years of practice, experience, and connection to Yoruba pantheon of divinities. I hope that folks can shed away fear, skepticism, and disrespect, of a belief system/religious practice, going back too before the flood.