Do you know the interrelation between Santeria and Ifá?

The Rule of Osha also known under the name of Santeria It is the Yoruba religious branch that emphasizes its beliefs from the Orishas and their divination system.

Religious are enshrined in this rule, those who obtain holy powers through secret ceremonies that allow them to occupy a greater place within Yoruba practices.

Santeria is governed by a priestly order:

The priests are commonly known as obas, these are followed by the elder santeros and later by the others consecrated under this rule.

The Osha places her worship in the Orishas, herbs and stones.

Ifá practices:

The Babalawos They are the highest representatives of the secrets and practices of Ifá.

This knowledge is aimed only at men, although currently there has been a certain tendency to consecrate women within this discipline.

On the other hand, men who have sexual preferences towards the same sex are excluded from the possibility of being oluos, the name by which Ifa priests are known.

The similarities between Santeria and Ifá.

Santeria and Ifá They have numerous similarities, among these we can cite as we mentioned previously the presence of a hierarchical order among their practitioners.

We can also cite the fact that the source of its power is based on the support of natural elements such as rocks, plants and animals.

In the same way, we can refer to the fact that once a religious consecrated and empowered in either of the two rules initiates a godson, he becomes a saintly father or mother.

And it is then that from there the construction of its own religious temple begins.

Other similarities between both religious currents are:

Using a divination system,
the existence of establishing a representation for their deities and
a protective mark on the religious known under the term of necklaces of saint.

Do you know the differences between Santeria and Ifá?

Although historically it has been considered Santeria and the Rule of Ifá As two different religious strands, studies on religion show that this is not the case.

They share common elements and most of the time their practices are dependent on both Yoruba aspects.

One of their biggest differences It is established that in Ifá the hierarchical order is given only by men, making it impossible for women to occupy positions of the first order.

Both also have notable disjunctive rules regarding the consecration ceremonies under which they are performed.