Garments of Worship
Altars of Worship
Music and Dance
Despite the strength of these two figures, the religion is based upon the veneration of spirits called Orishas or santos. They are believed to have more control over human affairs. Each of these divinities represents a concept or a natural occurrence. Altars, statues and pieces of artwork are created to revere particular deities. Believers each have their own Orisha that protects and supports them throughout life. The Orisha is determined by a diviner through the reading of cowrie shells during a traditional ceremony.(IV)
The deities require constant reverence through feeding, ceremonies, dedications and the observance of significant dates in the tradition. If the Orishas become displeased they can take their anger out on those who practice the religion.(I)
A significant part of the Cuban worship tradition is the carrying of round, smooth stones taken from rivers. It is widely believed that these rocks are the vessels in which the Orishas are contained. Devotees keep the stones with them, especially during important ceremonies, to possess the power of the divinities. (I)
"The orisha religion is linked to the idea of family. The extended family originates from a common ancestor and includes both the living and the dead...The orisha is essentially a deified ancestor who during his lifetime became linked with natural forces such as thunder, the wind and or salt water. He is also skilled in certain activities such as hunting and metalwork as well as the properties and use of plants. After his death, the power or ache of the orisha-ancestor should have the capacity to be incarnated momentarily in one of his descendents during an instance of possession induced by the Orisha." (I)
There are ten primary Orishas in the pantheon of Cuban Santeria.
Click on the following link to learn more about their individual powers and characteristics:
