Sacrificial Ceremonies Of Santeria

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Sacrificial Ceremonies of Santería

Author : Ócha'ni Lele
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
ISBN 13 : 1594775001
Total Pages : 234 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (947 download)

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Book Synopsis Sacrificial Ceremonies of Santería by : Ócha'ni Lele

Download or read book Sacrificial Ceremonies of Santería written by Ócha'ni Lele and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2012-08-22 with total page 234 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The first book to explore the history, methods, and thinking behind sacrifice in the growing Santería faith • Explains the animal sacrifice ceremony in step-by-step detail • Shares the ancient African sacred stories that reveal the well-thought-out metaphysics and spirituality behind the practice of animal sacrifice • Chronicles the legal fight all the way to its 1993 U.S. Supreme Court victory to establish legal protection for the Santería faith and its practitioners Tackling the biggest controversy surrounding his faith, Santería priest Ócha’ni Lele explains for the first time in print the practice and importance of animal sacrifice as a religious sacrament. Describing the animal sacrifice ceremony in step-by-step detail, including the songs and chants used, he examines the thinking and metaphysics behind the ritual and reveals the deep connections to the odu of the diloggún--the source of all practices in this Afro-Cuban faith. Tracing the legal battle spearheaded by Oba Ernesto Pichardo, head of the Church of the Lukumi of Babaluaiye, over the right to practice animal sacrifice as a religious sacrament, Lele chronicles the fight all the way to its 1993 U.S. Supreme Court victory, which established legal protection for the Santería faith and its practitioners. Weaving together oral fragments stemming from the ancient Yoruba of West Africa, the author reconstructs their sacred stories, or patakís, that demonstrate the well-thought-out metaphysics and spirituality behind the practice of animal sacrifice in the Yoruba and Santería religion, including explanations about why each animal can be regarded as food for both humans and the orisha as well as how sacrifice is not limited to animals. Shedding light on the extraordinary global growth of this religion over the past 50 years, Lele’s guide to the sacrificial ceremonies of Santería enables initiates to learn proper ceremony protocol as well as gives outsiders a glimpse into this most secretive world of the santeros.

The Diloggún

Author : Ócha'ni Lele
Publisher : Inner Traditions / Bear & Co
ISBN 13 : 9780892819126
Total Pages : 636 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (191 download)

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Book Synopsis The Diloggún by : Ócha'ni Lele

Download or read book The Diloggún written by Ócha'ni Lele and published by Inner Traditions / Bear & Co. This book was released on 2003-07-28 with total page 636 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The first book on Santer�s holiest divination system, the Diloggun. Explores the lore surrounding this mysterious oracle, the living Bible of one of the world's fastest growing faiths. Examines each family of " odu" and how their actions affect the spiritual development of the individual. An indispensable guide to the mysteries of the orishas.

Osogbo

Author : Ócha'ni Lele
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
ISBN 13 : 1620553449
Total Pages : 219 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (25 download)

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Book Synopsis Osogbo by : Ócha'ni Lele

Download or read book Osogbo written by Ócha'ni Lele and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2014-03-21 with total page 219 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: By understanding osogbo, the spirits of misfortune, we can better overcome them and return to health and balance in our lives • Explains how misfortune works in this world as living spirits that plague humanity but are also a catalyst for self-development and conscious evolution • Shows that we can overcome osogbo through ebó, sacrifice, and hard work as prescribed by consulting the orishas through the casting of the diloggún • Shares more than 40 ancient African sacred stories about the spirits of osogbo Beginning with the story of his goddaughter's battle with stage IV cancer, Lucumi priest Ócha'ni Lele explains the role of osogbo, or misfortune, in our lives. While everyone seeks blessings in life, undeserved blessings make us weak and lazy. It is tragedy that encourages us to grow and persevere. Exploring the Lucumí beliefs regarding osogbo, he shows that the Lucumí faith is neither fatalistic nor defeatist but healing and life affirming. He shares more than 40 patakís--stories stemming from the ancient Yoruba of West Africa--about the different spirits of osogbo, who like the orishas once walked the earth in human bodies. He explains the place of these spirits within the 256 odu of the diloggún, the divination system used in Santería to receive guidance from the orishas. Lele shows that the spirits of osogbo are not only concepts but also real deities and that we can, if we understand their nature, fight them through ebó, sacrifice, and hard work. He reveals how the osogbos see themselves as entities of misfortune who stand against life and all that is good in the world, but in truth it is misfortune that strengthens us, misfortune that motivates us, and misfortune that brings great evolution to the world. As the author shows, “Without bitterness, one could not know sweetness.” Likewise, without misfortune in our lives, we would never know blessings or what it means to be blessed.

Obí

Author : Ócha'ni Lele
Publisher : Destiny Books
ISBN 13 : 9780892818648
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (186 download)

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Book Synopsis Obí by : Ócha'ni Lele

Download or read book Obí written by Ócha'ni Lele and published by Destiny Books. This book was released on 2001-06-01 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: • The first book to provide complete, specific instructions for casting the obi oracle of the Santería faith. • Uses the shell of a coconut, which embodies the spirit of Obí, as a divination tool. • Includes a detailed “mojuba” or prayer that awakens the orishas and invites them to speak. • Examines in depth the five basic patterns that appear when obí is cast and explains how to interpret the oracle's answer. • Explores the fifty additional patterns and meanings contributed by ten orishas closely associated with the orisha Obí One of the paths to the spirits within Santeria is through a divination technique known as obi, the coconut oracle, which gives the petitioner access to the orisha of the same name. The orisha Obí began as a mortal human who ascended to become an orisha as a reward for good deeds done on Earth, then fell from grace because of excessive pride. When he descended back to Earth, his spirit was embodied in the coconut palm. Though he no longer has a tongue, he can answer questions posed to him through the patterns made by four pieces of coconut shell cast as a divination tool. Obí: Oracle of Cuban Santería is the first book to fully explore the sacred body of lore surrounding Obí, as well as his particular rituals and customs, including opening considerations, casting and interpreting the oracle, and employing advanced methods of divination. Also explained are the previously unpublished secrets of closing the oracle properly so that any negative vibrations will be absorbed by the coconuts and permanently removed from the diviner's home.

Teachings of the Santería Gods

Author : Ócha'ni Lele
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
ISBN 13 : 1594779082
Total Pages : 244 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (947 download)

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Book Synopsis Teachings of the Santería Gods by : Ócha'ni Lele

Download or read book Teachings of the Santería Gods written by Ócha'ni Lele and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2010-06-24 with total page 244 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The first book to explore the sacred myths of Santería • Includes more than 100 myths, stories, and histories about the odu and the orishas • Reassembles the oral fragments from the African diaspora into coherent stories • Demonstrates that the African peoples, specifically the Yoruba, were deeply spiritual At the core of the diloggún--the sacred divination system of Santería--are the sacred stories known as the patakís, narratives whose themes are as powerful and relevant today as they were in the minds of the ancient Yoruba who safeguarded them. Each patakí is connected to one or more of the 16 odu, the principal creative forces of Santería. Some recount the lives of orishas on earth, others the lives of individuals in heaven, and some tell of the odu themselves, for even they once walked the earth as mortals. The first book to explore these ancient African stories in English, Teachings of the Santería Gods recounts more than 100 of these sacred parables, including many stories reassembled from the oral tradition of the African diaspora. Ranging from creation myths to what happens when a love potion works far too well, these stories share the wisdom and spirituality of the Yoruba people of ancient Africa and form the living, oral bible of one of the world’s fastest-growing faiths.

Creole Religions of the Caribbean

Author : Lizabeth Paravisini-Gebert
Publisher : NYU Press
ISBN 13 : 0814762573
Total Pages : 324 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (147 download)

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Book Synopsis Creole Religions of the Caribbean by : Lizabeth Paravisini-Gebert

Download or read book Creole Religions of the Caribbean written by Lizabeth Paravisini-Gebert and published by NYU Press. This book was released on 2011-07-11 with total page 324 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A comprehensive introduction to the syncretic religions developed in the Caribbean region Creolization—the coming together of diverse beliefs and practices to form new beliefs and practices—is one of the most significant phenomena in Caribbean religious history. Brought together in the crucible of the sugar plantation, Caribbean peoples drew on the variants of Christianity brought by European colonizers, as well as on African religious and healing traditions and the remnants of Amerindian practices, to fashion new systems of belief. Creole Religions of the Caribbean offers a comprehensive introduction to the syncretic religions that have developed in the region. From Vodou, Santería, Regla de Palo, the Abakuá Secret Society, and Obeah to Quimbois and Espiritismo, the volume traces the historical–cultural origins of the major Creole religions, as well as the newer traditions such as Pocomania and Rastafarianism. This second edition updates the scholarship on the religions themselves and also expands the regional considerations of the Diaspora to the U. S. Latino community who are influenced by Creole spiritual practices. Fernández Olmos and Paravisini–Gebert also take into account the increased significance of material culture—art, music, literature—and healing practices influenced by Creole religions.

The Secrets of Afro-Cuban Divination

Author : Ócha'ni Lele
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
ISBN 13 : 1594778612
Total Pages : 258 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (947 download)

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Book Synopsis The Secrets of Afro-Cuban Divination by : Ócha'ni Lele

Download or read book The Secrets of Afro-Cuban Divination written by Ócha'ni Lele and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2000-09-01 with total page 258 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The first book to provide complete, specific instructions on casting the Diloggún, the cowrie-shell oracle of the Orishas. • Provides step-by-step instructions never before published, detailing requirements and procedure for casting the Diloggún. • Includes a detailed “mojuba” or prayer used to awaken the Orishas (spirit entities) for divination. • Devotes an entire chapter to each of the twelve basic Odu (random patterns in which the sixteen shells fall), providing ritual mechanics and oracular meanings for all possible castings. The Afro-Cuban faith, known to outsiders as Santeria and to adherents as Las Reglas de Ocha de Los Lucumi, is not a static religion but a living conduit of energy for connecting the spirit world to our own. It came to the New World with the slave trade where it has evolved in response to the surrounding culture. For adherents of Lucumi, the Diloggún is the most important focus of worship: the sacred shells reveal the forces at play in an adherent's life. These forces are redefined and placated by the Orisha priest, who makes direct contact with the spirit world in an effort to help the adherent evolve. While many books have been published about Santeria, The Secrets of Afro-Cuban Divination is the first to provide complete information on how to cast the Diloggún, including opening, reading, and closing the oracle, and how to give a comprehensive reading. With a detailed discussion about why each prayer is offered and insight into the metaphysical core of the religion, this book will bring those seeking the wisdom of the Diloggún closer to the living Orishas than they have ever been.

Animal Sacrifice and Religious Freedom

Author : David M. O'Brien
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 216 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis Animal Sacrifice and Religious Freedom by : David M. O'Brien

Download or read book Animal Sacrifice and Religious Freedom written by David M. O'Brien and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 216 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Santeria religion of Cuba—the Way of the Saints—mixes West AfricanYoruba culture with Catholicism. Similar to Haitian voodoo, Santeria has long practiced animal sacrifice in certain rites. But when Cuban immigrants brought those rituals to Florida, local authorities were suddenly confronted with a controversial situation that pitted the regulation of public health and morality against religious freedom. After Ernesto Pichardo established a Santeria church in Hialeah in the 1980s, the city of Hialeah responded by passing ordinances banning ritual animal sacrifice. Although on the surface those ordinances seemed general in intent, they were clearly aimed at Pichardo's church. When Pichardo subsequently sued the city, a federal court ruled in the latter's favor, in effect privileging the regulation of public health and morality over the church's free exercise of its religion. The U.S. Supreme Court heard Pichardo's appeal in 1993 and unanimously decided that the city had overstepped its bounds in targeting this particular religious group; however, the court was sharply divided regarding the basis of its decision. Three concurring opinions registered distinctly different views of the First Amendment, the limits of government regulation, and the religious freedom of minorities. In the end, the nine justices collectively concluded that freedom of religious belief was absolute while the freedom to practice the tenets of any faith were subject to non-discriminatory local regulations. David O'Brien, one of America's foremost scholars of the Court, now illuminates this controversy and its significance for law, government, and religion in America. His lively account takes us behind the scenes at every stage of the litigation to reveal a riveting case with more twists and turns than a classic whodunit. Ranging with equal ease from primitive magic to municipal politics and to the most arcane points of constitutional law, O'Brien weaves a compelling and instructive tale with a fascinating array of politicians, lawyers, jurists, civil libertarians, and animal rights advocates. Offering sharp insights into the key issues and personalities, he highlights cultural clashes large and small, while maintaining a balance for both the needs of government and the religious rights of individuals. The "Santeria case" reaffirmed that our laws must be generally applicable and neutral and may not discriminate against particular religions. Tracing the path to that conclusion, Animal Sacrifice and Religious Freedom provides a provocative and learned account of one of the most unusual and contentious religious freedom cases in American history.

Sticks, Stones, Roots & Bones

Author : Stephanie Rose Bird
Publisher : Llewellyn Worldwide
ISBN 13 : 9780738702759
Total Pages : 292 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (27 download)

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Book Synopsis Sticks, Stones, Roots & Bones by : Stephanie Rose Bird

Download or read book Sticks, Stones, Roots & Bones written by Stephanie Rose Bird and published by Llewellyn Worldwide. This book was released on 2004 with total page 292 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Tracing the magical roots of "hoodoo" back to West Africa, the author provides a history of this nature-based healing tradition and offers practical advice on how to apply hoodoo magic to everyday life.

Powers of the Orishas

Author : Migene González-Wippler
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9780942272253
Total Pages : 126 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (722 download)

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Book Synopsis Powers of the Orishas by : Migene González-Wippler

Download or read book Powers of the Orishas written by Migene González-Wippler and published by . This book was released on 1992 with total page 126 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: During the slave trade, the Yoruba of southwestern Nigeria who were brought to Cuba were forbidden to practice their religion by their Spanish masters. To protect themselves, the slaves opted for the identification and disguise of the Orishas with some of the Catholic Saints worshipped by the Spaniards, allowing them to worship their deities without fear of punishment. This book presents the major Orishas of Santeria in their syncretic identifications with some of the Catholic Saints.

Santeria

Author : Miguel A. De La Torre
Publisher : Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
ISBN 13 : 146743177X
Total Pages : 266 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (674 download)

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Book Synopsis Santeria by : Miguel A. De La Torre

Download or read book Santeria written by Miguel A. De La Torre and published by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. This book was released on 2004-08-23 with total page 266 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book by Miguel De La Torre offers a fascinating guide to the history, beliefs, rituals, and culture of Santería — a religious tradition that, despite persecution, suppression, and its own secretive nature, has close to a million adherents in the United States alone. Santería is a religion with Afro-Cuban roots, rising out of the cultural clash between the Yoruba people of West Africa and the Spanish Catholics who brought them to the Americas as slaves. As a faith of the marginalized and persecuted, it gave oppressed men and women strength and the will to survive. With the exile of thousands of Cubans in the wake of Castro's revolution in 1959, Santería came to the United States, where it is gradually coming to be recognized as a legitimate faith tradition. Apart from vague suspicions that Santería's rituals include animal sacrifice and notions that it is a “syncretistic” form of Catholicism, most people in America's cultural and religious mainstream know very little about this rich faith tradition — in fact, many have never heard of it at all. De La Torre, who was reared in Santería, sets out in this book to provide a basic understanding of its inner workings. He clearly explains the particular worldview, myths, rituals, and practices of Santería, and he discusses what role the religion typically plays in the life of its practitioners as well as the cultural influence it continues to exert in Latin American communities today. In offering a balanced, informed survey of Santería from his unique “insider-outsider” perspective, De La Torre also provides insight into how Christianity and Santería can enter into dialogue — a dialogue that will challenge Christians to consider what this emerging faith tradition can teach them about their own. Enhanced with illustrations, tables, and a glossary, De La Torre's Santería sheds light on a religion all too often shrouded in mystery and misunderstanding.

Santería

Author : Migene González-Wippler
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 392 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis Santería by : Migene González-Wippler

Download or read book Santería written by Migene González-Wippler and published by . This book was released on 1989 with total page 392 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When the Yorubas of West Africa were brought to Cuba as slaves, they preserved their heritage by worshiping secretly. The resulting religion, Santeria, is controversial for its ceremonies including animal sacrifice. This book clears many misunderstandings held by those outside the Santeria community. 75 photos.

The Altar of My Soul

Author : Marta Moreno Vega
Publisher : One World
ISBN 13 : 0307567109
Total Pages : 306 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (75 download)

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Book Synopsis The Altar of My Soul by : Marta Moreno Vega

Download or read book The Altar of My Soul written by Marta Moreno Vega and published by One World. This book was released on 2009-07-22 with total page 306 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Long cloaked in protective secrecy, demonized by Western society, and distorted by Hollywood, Santería is at last emerging from the shadows with an estimated 75 million orisha followers worldwide. In The Altar of My Soul, Marta Moreno Vega recounts the compelling true story of her journey from ignorance and skepticism to initiation as a Yoruba priestess in the Santería religion. This unforgettable spiritual memoir reveals the long-hidden roots and traditions of a centuries-old faith that originated on the shores of West Africa. As an Afro-Puerto Rican child in the New York barrio, Marta paid little heed to the storefront botanicas full of spiritual paraphernalia or to the Catholic saints with foreign names: Yemayá, Ellegua, Shangó. As an adult, in search of a religion that would reflect her racial and cultural heritage, Marta was led to the Way of the Saints. She came to know Santería intimately through its prayers and rituals, drumming and dancing, trances and divination that spark sacred healing energy for family, spiritual growth, and service to others. Written by one who is a professor and a santera priestess, The Altar of My Soul lays before us an electrifying and inspiring faith–one passed down from generation to generation that vitalizes the sacred energy necessary to build a family, a community, and a strong, loving society.

African Cowrie Shells Divination

Author : Zolrak
Publisher : Llewellyn Worldwide
ISBN 13 : 0738758590
Total Pages : 240 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (387 download)

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Book Synopsis African Cowrie Shells Divination by : Zolrak

Download or read book African Cowrie Shells Divination written by Zolrak and published by Llewellyn Worldwide. This book was released on 2019-04-08 with total page 240 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Discover the Cowrie Shells and Learn How to Read the Messages of Ifá and the Higher Spiritual Planes Divination with cowrie shells is one of the oldest known spiritual practices in the world. Originated by the Yoruba people of West Africa, cowrie shell divination is a powerful technique for connecting to the wisdom of ancestors, spirits, and deities. This book shares the history of cowrie shell divination and shows you how to open the portals of spiritual communication with the shells and related divination systems, such as cola nuts and coconuts. Written by a long-time practitioner, African Cowrie Shells Divination provides the meaning of the sixteen shell combinations as well as tips and variations for readings based on the specific question being asked. Discover the powerful messages of the Orishas and the mystical divination techniques of Candomblé, Santería, and other traditions of the African diaspora. Explore the instructive stories known as patakkís and apply their guidance to your life. The cowrie shells are sacred magical tools. With the history, theories, and hands-on instructions in this guide, you will learn how the shells can be used to answer your most important questions and achieve your true destiny.

Tent of Miracles

Author : Jorge Amado
Publisher : Univ of Wisconsin Press
ISBN 13 : 9780299186449
Total Pages : 404 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (864 download)

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Book Synopsis Tent of Miracles by : Jorge Amado

Download or read book Tent of Miracles written by Jorge Amado and published by Univ of Wisconsin Press. This book was released on 2003 with total page 404 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Explores the life of Pedro Archanjo, a mulatto man who spent his life fighting prejudice.

Santería

Author : Migene Gonz?lez-Wippler
Publisher : Llewellyn Worldwide
ISBN 13 : 9781567183290
Total Pages : 408 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (832 download)

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Book Synopsis Santería by : Migene Gonz?lez-Wippler

Download or read book Santería written by Migene Gonz?lez-Wippler and published by Llewellyn Worldwide. This book was released on 1994 with total page 408 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When the Yoruba of West Africa were brought to Cuba as slaves, they preserved their religious heritage by disguising their gods as Catholic saints and worshiping them in secret. The resulting religion is Santería, a blend of primitive magic and Catholicism now practiced by an estimated five million Hispanic Americans. Blending informed study with her personal experience, González-Wippler describes Santería¿s pantheon of gods ("orishas "); the priests ("santeros" ); the divining shells used to consult the gods (the "Diloggún" ) and the herbal potions prepared as medicinal cures and for magic ("Ewe ) "as well as controversial ceremonies-including animal sacrifice. She has obtained remarkable photographs and interviews with Santería leaders that highlight aspects of the religion rarely revealed to nonbelievers. This book satisfies the need for knowledge of this expanding religious force that links its devotees in America to a spiritual wisdom seemingly lost in modern society.

Religion in the Kitchen

Author : Elizabeth Pérez
Publisher : NYU Press
ISBN 13 : 1479839558
Total Pages : 320 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (798 download)

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Book Synopsis Religion in the Kitchen by : Elizabeth Pérez

Download or read book Religion in the Kitchen written by Elizabeth Pérez and published by NYU Press. This book was released on 2016-02-16 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Honorable Mention, 2019 Barbara T. Christian Literary Award, given by the Caribbean Studies Association Winner, 2017 Clifford Geertz Prize in the Anthropology of Religion, presented by the Society for the Anthropology of Religion section of the American Anthropological Association Finalist, 2017 Albert J. Raboteau Prize for the Best Book in Africana Religions presented by the Journal of Africana Religions An examination of the religious importance of food among Caribbean and Latin American communities Before honey can be offered to the Afro-Cuban deity Ochún, it must be tasted, to prove to her that it is good. In African-inspired religions throughout the Caribbean, Latin America, and the United States, such gestures instill the attitudes that turn participants into practitioners. Acquiring deep knowledge of the diets of the gods and ancestors constructs adherents’ identities; to learn to fix the gods’ favorite dishes is to be “seasoned” into their service. In this innovative work, Elizabeth Pérez reveals how seemingly trivial "micropractices" such as the preparation of sacred foods, are complex rituals in their own right. Drawing on years of ethnographic research in Chicago among practitioners of Lucumí, the transnational tradition popularly known as Santería, Pérez focuses on the behind-the-scenes work of the primarily women and gay men responsible for feeding the gods. She reveals how cooking and talking around the kitchen table have played vital socializing roles in Black Atlantic religions. Entering the world of divine desires and the varied flavors that speak to them, this volume takes a fresh approach to the anthropology of religion. Its richly textured portrait of a predominantly African-American Lucumí community reconceptualizes race, gender, sexuality, and affect in the formation of religious identity, proposing that every religion coalesces and sustains itself through its own secret recipe of micropractices.