Orisha Religion & Maintaining Success

On our journey to success, it’s not enough to have a plan and be responsible. It’s also important to safeguard the plan – even being secretive at times – in order to ensure the plan’s success. Orisha wants us to be successful. Orisha religion, through, prayer, divination and sacrifice, provides the tools we need to be met with success.

“What is Ori and Why do I Need a Bori?”

One of the basic beliefs in Candomblé is that harmony is essential, and in order to have harmony there must be balance.

Worshipping Orixá isn’t About Expecting Miracles

When we make ebo, it’s not a business transaction we’re making with Orixá; we need water, but water doesn’t need us.

The Beauty of a Iyawo’s Initiation in Candomblé – A Translation

Oh, if you knew how beautiful it is to watch your gestation in the uterus (honko) of the ile, in your simplicity of white, seeing your initiation and being born into the religion.  Giving you food, your bath, everything at the right time, sleeping with you to protect you during the night.  Oh, iyawo, if you knew

When Depression Shows Up, How Do You?

It’s not unusual for someone to break down in tears during a reading.  Sometimes the desperation is palpable, and we should do our best to help in whatever ways we can. Divination reveals a lot about us, and it’s not uncommon to see when someone is suffering from depression.

Ecology and Candomblé

Part of our worship of nature involves making offerings, but all too often those offerings become pollution – an affront to the very nature we serve.  While we absolutely have religious freedom and can practice our beliefs without fear, we also have the responsibility of keeping the environment clean.

Homosexuality in Candomblé

Every single person is deserving of respect and feeling like their Ori is being honored. We all have that piece of the divine within us, working through us and exchanging axé all the time. That respect extends to all differences we may have, including differences in sexuality.

English Interview: Iya Omindarewa

Iya Omindarewa’s story is interesting, being a non-Brazilian priestess who ran a terreiro in Rio for many years.  This short documentary doesn’t tell her entire story, but takes the viewer on a short tour through her terreiro.

Witchcraft?

Besides seeking a reading to figure out matters of love or money, one of the most common reasons that people consult merindinlogun is because they believe that someone is using witchcraft to work against them.  This article isn’t about negating the existence of witchcraft, but rather begs the question about the depths of our faith.

Orisha Workshop: Chicago

Inside a Terreiro: Casa de Òsùmàrè

Here’s another look inside of a terreiro.  Fusion.net visited the Casa de Òsùmàrè in Bahia to film this short documentary about Candomblé.  In English, some background is provided about the religion’s survival in Brazil during political persecution.

Candomblé Documentary: English subtitles

I came across this documentary teaser of ‘Ylê Aganã Asé Laburê’, based in São Paulo, Brazil. The primary reason I’m posting it is because it is one of the very few clips on Candomblé with English subtitles. I don’t have an opinion one way or the other about the actual content of the video. The

Mae Stella: Which Orixa Rules the Year? a translation

Mae Stella: Which Orixa rules the year? By Maria Stella de Azevedo Santos http://www.geledes.org.br/em-debate/colunistas/12516-mae-stella-que-orixa-rege-o-ano Translated by Melissa McHenry The objective of this article is to bring forth clarity. I will try to take an issue that comes up every year and make it understandable. The press runs stories, and people inquire of one another, or