What limitations does an Iyawó have in his 1st year of spiritual path?

Babalawos, olorishas, babaloshas, iyaloshas, aleyos… these are terms widely used within the santera practice in Cuba and, therefore, represent hierarchy, respect and order within the Rule of Ocha-Ifá.

Each of these hierarchies has a special meaning that practitioners of religion must know, they also represent regulations, responsibilities and attention to the deities.

Each of these terms is in accordance not only to the hierarchy, but also to the knowledge acquired by the practitioners, which determines their status within Santeria.

The Aleyo and the Iyawó in the Yoruba religion

The first term that is used and about which a lot is heard is the alley, which indicates that the person is a “guest”, the uninitiated believer, who, although they may be present at some ceremonies, cannot perform rituals or perform consecrations.

It follows the Iyawó, the initiate, who already has a crowned saint, but must complete the stage of a year of consecration, during which he must abide by rules, norms and prohibitions, to achieve spiritual growth that he considers santero.

That period of time is fundamental in the life of the initiate, because only then will he demonstrate that he is ready to continue on the spiritual path.

6 Rules that the Iyawó must respect in Santeria

The rules and limitations that each Iyawó knows, also have the objective of taking care of him during his first year.

Some of the prohibitions and their meaning:

During that time you should always wear white.

White clothing is used during Iyaworaje because it represents gratitude, ownership and purity. The pataki tells that the white fabric was the only one that Ebbó made among all the other colored fabrics.

The purpose of this standard is also to honor the orisha Obatala, since this is his color and he is the highest power, the one who rules the world, the owner of all heads.

On the other hand, this color is also used because, during this year, the Iyawó finds himself purging everything bad from his previous life, and he does this with white, which symbolizes purity and everything good.

During the first three months, the Iyawó must be at home before six in the afternoon and the rest of the year before twelve at night.

This is done because the "fontanelle" is open, through which the saint entered, and should not be exposed to the serene of the night, since this harms it.