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10 elements widely used in Santeria rituals

mystical and santeria products

We know that in Santeria, each rite or ceremony contains a large number of elements that must please spirits, eggunes y Orishas. These will serve to thank you for your blessings and to implore your protection and favors of very different kinds.

We present some of the elements that are most used in Cuba in works and rituals, whether spiritual or dedicated to the Yoruba deities.

All the products mentioned in this article are natural, widely used in the cult of Santeria for its mystical powers that help us open the roads, and achieve prosperity.

Mystical and Santeria products:

1. Husk

La cascarilla, has been used in magical and religious rituals since ancient times and is a strong cleansing cleanser.

The elaboration of this element is carried out based on pulverized eggshells, mixed with holy water and its preparation includes songs and prayers, as it is closely related to Obatala, due to its whiteness and purity.

La cascarilla, It is considered as the purest element that exists and is the one that allows the strokes to reach the deity to which they are paying tribute. For this reason it is used to delimit the spaces where some important consecration will take place.

2. Corojo butter

The corojo butter is made on the Island from a palm called Acrocomia Crispa, native to Cuba and which produces this type of orange fruit.

The corojo butter consumed by all the orishas, ​​except Obatalá and Ozun, is made from them.  

Others like Elegguá, Ogún, Oshosí, Shangó, Babalú Ayé and Oyá, this butter is always spread on them.

It is used as an ingredient for certain addimus (offerings) that are offered to them and for their cleanliness and well-being. With it the components of altars are cleaned and stones and snails are rubbed.

For santeros, corojo butter in religious ceremonies is essential to ask the Orishas for help, as it cleanses negativity.

3. Calm Balm

The Tranquil Balsam is an essential oil widely used in religious rituals and ceremonies.

It is used to tame people of an aggressive, stubborn, proud character or to facilitate reconciliation if there has been a break with many arguments and misunderstandings.

It is highly recommended in spiritual ceremonies to sweeten, soothe and calm.

4. Smoked fish

In Cuba, fish from the sea and river are used for spiritual ceremonies and Yoruba offerings, since, in some areas of Nigeria, the most common is that fish from the river are used and if there is proximity to the ocean, then those from sea.

It is called Yiyan, to the smoked or roasted fish, which is used mainly as a spiritual element of addimú for the Orishas.

5. Roasted corn

Agbado is Corn, and it is not originally from Nigeria.

Roasted Corn as an addimu ingredient and offerings for Eggunes and Orishas, ​​is something from Cuba, a symbol of syncretism and transculturation.

And if the unroasted corn is used, it is used on the board while the ebbó is being made as a cleaning element for bad energy.

Roasted corn or Agbado Yiyan, represents one of the most prolific plants in the world and its use implies giving the best of each harvest in sacrifice or in ebbó, to obtain spiritual blessings.

6. Smoked hutía

In Cuba and for use in spiritual rites, the smoked hutía is called eku. In Nigeria, another type of rat is known as an okete, a little larger and it is the one most used for many ceremonies and offerings.

Not existing on the island, it was supplanted by the Jutía, which is almost the same. However, the Jutía is only endemic to Cuba, although there are other subspecies in the Caribbean.

The fact is that the hutía or rat also represents one of the most prolific animals on earth and is offered as the best of hunting to Egguns and Orishas in their offerings and food.

7. Cocoa butter

Cocoa butter is an edible natural fat from the cocoa bean, extracted during the chocolate manufacturing process. It also has various applications in the field of cosmetics.

In the Yoruba religion, cocoa butter is essential for offerings to Obatala. It is one of the most powerful protective elements against negative energies.

It is used a lot in ritual cuisine, in the making of Addimú for Orishas and Egguns. It also has the purpose of cleaning because it does:

  • Let the bad slip and the good come
  • Help to get money and prosperity
  • It is good for health and ward off disease
  • Help in the search for love and fortune
  • Repels negative energies and evil spirits
  • It is excellent to serve some Orishas

8. Bee honey

Honey has great spiritual significance. It is a sweetener and one of the preferred offerings of the Orisha Oshun.

For this reason it is clear that honey is an ingredient for ceremonies and spells in search of love and fertility.

Many rituals, baths, and offal are based on sweetening, which seeks to attract a person's goodwill and good feelings. And honey is one of the basic ingredients for them, to attract the blessings of Oshún.

Honey is also fed to various Orishas, ​​especially Oshún and Elegguá, who like sweet treats.

9. Sugarcane molasses or molasses

Sugarcane molasses is one of the materials that is mainly offered to the orishas. Yemaya and Olokun, who do not use honey, but also like sweetness.

It is known as Oyin Gan (Oñigán) which means "Big Honey" and is used in everything related to Yemayá and Olokun, say offerings, cleaning and Addimús

This is not used in Nigeria, where an oil called Adin is used, which is dark in color. In Cuba, not having Adin, he was replaced by Melado.

10. Candles

Lighting a candle is always a religious symbol of faith and it drives away darkness and with it negative energies. Light has always had a powerful meaning in any belief, spiritism and the Yoruba religion are no exception.

Formerly in Nigeria candles were not used, but the Cuban transculturation process also gave them a space in the Afro-Cuban cult.

Today candles are used to "light the saints" and are included in all rituals of veneration of spirits, Orishas and Egguns, mainly in spiritual Vaults.

In addition, several Ifa rules say that the Orishas should not eat in the dark, so candles are used when offering food.

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