The Altar of My Soul: The Living Traditions of Santeria
Marta Moreno Vega
Language: English
Pages: 304
ISBN: 0345421558
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
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.
orishas that help the initiate to stimulate and heighten the aché that surrounds all of us. Zenaida visibly enjoyed Elpidio’s little performance as he indicated that the objects on the table had not undergone the necessary sacred rituals in order to stimulate their deep-seated energy force. Consequently, they remained commonplace items. I asked how the energy force was stimulated. “Through animal sacrifice,” my godparents responded in unison. Watching my startled reaction, their eyes sparkled
receptive to opening my inner self. In only a few days, dreams were awakening my intuitive abilities, my third eye, my sixth sense. I was allowing my mind to reach beyond the invisible barriers that I had unknowingly allowed to build over time. Carefully pondering the iron objects of Oggun, Elpidio explained that all the divinities possessed human qualities, since they had once walked the Earth themselves. Again, he reiterated, “It is through the orishas’ virtuous behavior, and their imperfect
rock and would not be budged. “My daughter,” she spoke passionately, “Ochosi reminds us to be aware of the actions of our friends and families. Ochosi’s own mother did not respect her son’s sacred mission, and this caused her own death. Envy, jealousy, secrecy, and deceit are human failings that exist within families and other relationships. This story tells us to be cautious of these unfortunate traits.” Zenaida’s passion raised the temperature in the room, and I could only assume that there
that a spirit needs to be attended to. The obi must be thrown again to determine what the spirit requires. This pattern requires immediate attention to the spiritual problem negatively affecting your energy field. According to our legends, Orí went before Olodumare and asked to come to Earth. Olodumare granted the wish with specific conditions. Before birth, every soul would be summoned before Olodumare to select an Orí. The Orí selected by the soul would determine that person’s destiny.
people assume if one initiate functions against the laws of Santería, we are all bad? “We believe that truth and good triumph over evil. Those who seek to do wrong are the outcast,” concluded Zenaida emotionally. Then Virginia said, “My daughter, do not allow anyone to put you in a defensive position because of your beliefs. Santería practitioners have never oppressed others, nor have they imposed their religion on others. We have never forced baptism or the tenets of our beliefs on other