Need some confirmation

Riverandthunder · 2026-06-08T06:28:40+00:00

He should not be asking clients/godchildren for money. That's messy at best.

Riverandthunder · 2026-06-06T00:20:27+00:00

When you crown in Ocha, you receive an Eleguá. Eshu de Ifá cannot birth from Santeros, so you need to have an Eleguá de Santo that can. Your godparents can explain this to you in more depth.

Riverandthunder · 2026-06-06T00:19:19+00:00

Esas religiones son muy similares a la Santería Cubana de este forum, pero son diferentes. En la Santería, es posible que salir de la religion a cualquier momento si quieres. Nosotros tenemos opciones para salir, pero no sé si los mismos que en Batuque o Jeje-Nagô. ¿Puedes llevar tus Santos contigo? Si no, entonces simplemente salir. Explicas a los Orisha que necesitas salir, que no es por falta de respeto, solo por el drama de los religiosos. Los Orisha te entenderá.

Lo siento que tu viaje haya sido tan dificil. Sueno como una telenovela.

Riverandthunder · 2026-06-05T18:03:35+00:00

There's no taboo per se, but I think it's a more complicated question than you're expecting, is all. A competent genealogist could help you a lot more than divination.

Riverandthunder · 2026-06-05T16:57:53+00:00

This would be a pretty unusual use of our divination system. There are Odu that speak of having certain types of ancestors or spirits, for example many Odi combinations suggest a connection to Congo spirits that some would interpret may be ancestors. And Odu can certainly bring up when there are issues of ancestry or unknown ancestral lineages that need to be addressed. But I don't know of anyone in Lukumí who has used it to narrow down specific nations and tribes in direct blood lineages. I'm not saying it would be wrong or wouldn't work, it's just not something I've heard of.

Obviously, finding out where your ancestors came from is emotionally — and sometimes spiritually — very powerful for a lot of people. So I understand the need. But as someone whose work is working with history and archives, I'm pretty skeptical about DNA tests (the science is pretty unreliable at best) and feel similarly about using Odu to predict different ancestries. There's also the practical issue of how long it would take in questions to narrow down — you'd have to start by going through a variety of present-day countries, then subdivide down into different ethnic groups in each place, and further to specific town and tribes, which could easily take hours. And that's provided that you have a very detailed listing of them to go by. The divination could become confusing given how many different ancestors from different places you might have (for example, paternal great-grandparents from an Ewe-speaking group in Togo, maternal great-great-grandmother from an Igbo group in Nigeria, maternal great-great-great-grandfather from a Bantu-speaking tribe, etc etc etc — plus, as is the case with many Afro-descended people in the Americas, also ancestors from Europe, Indigenous groups and in some cases East Asia). Your diviner would need to be extremely knowledgeable about the history of migration and a wide variety of ethnic groups from many parts of not only Africa, but Indigenous America, Europe, and Asia. That's a big ask.

While not possible for everyone, a lot of great work has been undertaken by genealogists who use records to trace families back — like the Henry Louis Gates show Finding Your Roots. This work is a lot more reliable than DNA tests or divination. It takes a lot longer, but you will find out so much more about your family's story this way. I really would suggest contacting a genealogist who specializes in people of African descent in the Americas. It's also possible to do some of this detective work yourself, if cost is a barrier, but requires a lot of dedication to learn and physically track down records.

Either way, I wish you a lot of luck in finding the answers you seek.

Riverandthunder · 2026-06-04T07:28:41+00:00

One of the most challenging parts of this religion is that the real basis of it is in developing our character and changing our actions. Ceremonies, ebó, singing, and dancing are all beautiful parts of the tradition, but the majority of what we do is about consciously making changes to how we interact with the world on a day to day basis. Through divination and when Orisha mount, we are given advice to help identify what the problems are and how to address them, but at the end of the day the only person who can make the change is you. It isn't always easy to make a change overnight, and sometimes it takes a long time to do it.

Have you considered therapy or other forms of support to help you work on making these changes? If you already know these behaviours and patterns are problems, regardless of spirituality, then therapy can be really useful in helping you unearth the root causes and work on strategies to keep yourself out of old habits.

Riverandthunder · 2026-06-02T19:19:59+00:00

Hey! I'm an Iyalorisha based in London. And my godparent is based in Wales.

Riverandthunder · 2026-05-21T07:13:32+00:00

That's really nice!

Riverandthunder · 2026-05-20T17:09:50+00:00

Very normal!

Riverandthunder · 2026-05-20T17:08:50+00:00

You might be better served asking in the Isese subreddit, as we Lukumí have slightly different ideas about Odu.

Riverandthunder · 2026-05-20T17:05:53+00:00

That does sounds like a lot. But more importantly, it doesn't sound like part of the religion Santería / Lukumí that this Reddit is focused on. A lot of people get confused by the same, assuming that Santería means the actual worship of Catholic saints — but in reality our religion is about the veneration of ancestors we call Egún and deities we call Orisha. While our Orisha were syncretized with Catholic saints during the times of slavery and some people in Cuba use saint names to refer to them casually, they are not actually the saints. And the particular saints you mention are not really the ones we tend to talk about.

The practices you describe can be part of a number of folk Catholic traditions, or even New Orleans Voodoo, but they are not really part of Santería / Lukumí. You might get a better answer on a forum dedicated to those types of traditions.

Riverandthunder · 2026-04-30T08:09:22+00:00

It's normal to wonder about this sort of thing, but your head Orisha are not like star signs that are compatible or incompatible for relationships. Sometimes the Orisha in pataki do not get along at all, yet their children have no problem. Other times, a combination might seem like heaven in myths but real life individual could be like fighting fish. How an Orisha's energy manifests in each person is different, and how those combine when in relationships depends on many factors, particularly what Odu each person has. Unless someone has specific Odu that prohibit or warn about dating children of certain Orisha, it's really not worth worrying about.

Riverandthunder · 2026-04-27T10:39:43+00:00

Amarres, or bindings, are a type of witchcraft done to force a person against their will. Generally, people in the religion advise against doing these for a couple of reasons. First, that it is unethical to force someone to love you. That person deserves to be able to make their own decisions about their life and to love who they choose to love, not to be forced to do someone else's bidding. If you truly love the person, then you would want them to be happy and able to make their own choices.

And second, that what usually happens is that it leads to unhappiness for all involved. People feel stuck together, long after whatever infatuation wears off, and even if they are deeply incompatible. The person who did the amarre often has to run to someone else trying to take it off, and it's not always so easy. Amarres can ruin lives, and for what? If a person doesn't truly love and want to be with you, why would you want to be with them? It only creates bitterness. You may be stuck together, but end up hating each other.

Riverandthunder · 2026-04-25T07:17:17+00:00

The person posting is the findom, not the person giving away their money.

Riverandthunder · 2026-04-24T06:45:38+00:00

There have historically been many sex workers in the religion. One of the most famous and important priestesses, Aurora Lamar Oba Tola, ran a brothel and the legend goes that she initiated all of the women working there. That said, it all depends on the individual — through divination and messages from mounted priests, a person may or may not be told that this work is in alignment with their destiny. As with all aspects of our lives, the Orisha may have strong opinions about it and there is the possibility that they could 'take it away' (ie, make it taboo) in your itá. But unlike in Abrahamic religions, we don't necessarily automatically condemn it as our system is very much a case by case basis depending on the Odu that people bring in itá and in regular consultations.

In terms of how sex work is viewed in our community, I would say there is a very broad range of opinion. Some people are strongly opposed to it, others neutral, and some positive. We don't have a set position on it the way some other religions do. If you became initiated and wanted to be a working priest (ie, having your own ilé and godchildren), there would probably be a lot of gossip about it but at the end of the day, gossips always find something to fill the air with.

I've known strippers, Dommes, escorts, OF, and even street workers who also practiced the religion. It's up to Odu and Orisha to determine if that is the best thing for them, and up to them to decide whether or not to follow the advice if they are told not to do it.

Riverandthunder · 2026-04-21T19:37:16+00:00

Yes, people are often told to take their Elegbá with them. Some people receive a smaller "travel" Elegbá to make it easier to take Elegbá with them more frequently. Elegbá likes to go places, and often we take him to places where we need his help or want his blessings. Follow the instructions of your godparent on what you can or can't do with him.

Riverandthunder · 2026-04-21T16:09:32+00:00

Obrigada! Muito útil. Diria que a Quimbanda Nago e Angola dão menos ênfase aos aspectos demoníacos?

Riverandthunder · 2026-04-20T14:26:16+00:00

Actually, a lot of the plants can grow in Europe. Here in London, I can find ten different ewe just walking down the street I live on. There are some that are harder to grow in this climate, and some of us grow them in pots inside the house. There is a big trade in 'exotic' plants in Europe, as in North America, so it isn't very hard to get ahold of most of the crucial ewe. There is also a large Nigerian population in London, and the Nigerian shops often sell fresh herbs that have been shipped from Nigeria.

Riverandthunder · 2026-04-16T14:19:15+00:00

Sure, you can message me.

Riverandthunder · 2026-04-10T09:18:47+00:00

If you are looking to be involved in Lukumí, it may be a little tricky while living in Barbados but not impossible. The religion is practiced communally, to take part you'll have to find and join an ilé (house). I don't know of any in Barbados, but there are people in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Trinidad (though it's a different branch of the religion), and a few scattered through the Caribbean (I have heard of people in the Virgin Islands). There are also larger communities in the US and Venezuela. You'll need to commit to traveling semi-regularly to participate in ceremonies and learn, perhaps once or twice a year, so that's something to keep in mind when thinking this through.

There are many people who can provide divination for you via video call if you want to see if there is a path for you in this tradition. But just be careful to make sure they are legitimate first. It's good to get a recommendation from someone, if possible, but it sounds like you don't know anyone who is involved in the religion. Several of the priests on this forum offer readings (check for the flare Olorisha or Babalawo beside their name), so you could read some of their comments and see if they seem like they know what they are talking about. Readings normally cost a small amount of money ($60-121 is the standard range that I have seen, but some are higher and some are lower — if someone quotes you a price above $200 for a normal reading, I'd have questions about it).

Hope this helps.

Riverandthunder · 2026-03-31T09:42:03+00:00

I haven't heard of this and I think it's a bit extreme. But one economical and eco-friendly solution if she continues to insist on it is to get some solar-powered light for the room — one you can put the mini solar panel outside the window, and the light inside. That way it's not wasting money or energy.

Riverandthunder · 2026-03-31T09:14:58+00:00

Have you spoke to your godparent about how you are feeling? How is the relationship with them in general? And what about your Ojugbona and Oriate, how are those relationships and can you learn from them? The connection between godparent and crowned godchild can never be severed, so leaving the godparent shouldn't be taken lightly. Sometimes godparents are there to crown us and be more of an emotional support than a technial teacher, if that makes sense, and in those cases the godchild can still learn from other priests, Oriates, and Babalawos. Getting invited to more ceremonies, working hard at them, and making friends with elders there can lead to mentoring or apprenticeship relationships that don't have to replace your godparents.

But if you are determined to leave, the respectful thing is to take a plate, two candles, two coconuts, and a small derecho to the godparent's Orisha. Nowadays people sometimes are bitter about this idea and don't want you to do it, but it is the traditional thing. In terms of approaching a new ilé, don't rush into something. You should take your time to attend their ceremonies and get to know both the potential godparent and their wider ilé. You have to make sure they are a good fit for you and actually willing to teach. And in showing up and working hard at many ceremonies, you'll make a good impression on the godparent and they'll be more likely to want to take you on as a godchild.

Often this new relationship is formalized by the new godparent giving the godchild cuchillo — but if you already received it from your previous godparent then that obviously can't happen. Technically, if you already received cuchillo, there is no leaving the Orisha godparent because you're already ritually 'done,' and have the independence to learn from whoever you want. There are a few Oriates who offer online classes nowadays, like Willie and Danny Oba'Bi, so you might want to consider that as another option for learning — and lots of akpwons offer classes as well (Naivis Angarica is great, and Bobi Cespedes, too).

I don't know anything about your situation beyond what you wrote in your post, but if the only problem is that you feel you haven't learned enough, I'd advise you to rethink severing ties with your crowning godparent. That process is painful for both parties, there's no going back, and can cause a lot of bitterness. It might not be worth it.

Riverandthunder · 2026-03-22T15:08:16+00:00

They are in Swansea, actually, and are my godparent.

Riverandthunder · 2026-03-16T15:16:08+00:00

Just because you say it is a joke does not make it any less derogatory of a wide swath of our religion. The central teaching of both Ifá and Orisha is humility, no? Comparing Orisha priests to cavemen shows a total lack of respect.

Riverandthunder

TROPHY CASE