t in a series of videos that explore and explain the types of beads used in Lucumi worship to make elekes, ides, mazos, and so on. I hope to grow this series to include how to make these items for the orishas according to traditional techniques.
Tag: santeria
Gala elekes and ides for Obatala and Elegua
Obatala and Elegua ides and gala elekes I made these for a friend who is crowing their first two santos. The “gala” elekes are multi stranded ones used to identify who is the guardian angel of the iyawo as it is bigger and fancier than the other elekes worn. I like to make these multi-stranded….
Olokun Tinaja Decorated with Seashells
Below you will see a video of an Olokun tinaja (tall lidded urn) I recently finished. It is covered in seashells, including cowries which are cemented in place. Some might think that this is for “Olokun de Ifa” as the Olokun that babalawos give is covered in cement with some shells. This tinaja is for…
Santeria: African Spirits in America by Joseph M. Murphy
This was one of the first books I ever read on the religion when I could only dream about visiting a botánica in NYC as beautifully written about in this book. I recommend this book and others by Joseph Murphy to anyone interested in religion, from personal to academic inquiry. Murphy started the book as…
Praising His Name In The Dance: Spirit Possession in the Spiritual Baptist Faith and Orisha Work in Trinidad, West Indies
Praising His Name In The Dance: Spirit Possession in the Spiritual Baptist Faith and Orisha Work in Trinidad, West Indies (Studies in Latin America and the Caribbean) Kenneth Anthony Lum The author provides a detailed portrait of the Spiritual Baptist Faith and Orisha Work, two religions that share a common basis in the traditional religion…
Book Vlog: Botánicas by Joseph Murphy
This is a wonderful book on the healing and spiritual stores called botánicas dotted across the US but especially concentrated in cities such as New York, Miami, Chicago, and Los Angeles. They are a mix of Afro-Atlantic and Latin American religions, traditions, and aesthetics. Joseph Murphy is an exceptional and insightful scholar on Afro-Atlantic religions…