SANTERIA: The Religion--Faith, Rites, Magic - World Religion & Magic Series

When the Yoruba of West Africa were brought to Cuba as slaves, they preserved their religious heritage by disguising their gods as Catholic saints & worshiping them in secret. The resulting religion is Santería, a blend of primitive magic & 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 ) & the herbal potions prepared as medicinal cures & for magic ( Ewe ) as well as controversial ceremonies-including animal sacrifice. She has obtained remarkable photographs & 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.