Obatala statue at riverside shrine and sacred grove of Osun. Image courtesy of wikimedia. Licensed under CC 2.0
In the past I have shared on this blog an abbreviated version of the Reading of the Year. Last year in 2021 I wrote ” I almost didn’t write about the 2021 Reading of the Year from the Yoruba Association of Cuba. In the past I’ve reported on the yearly reading and it has been very popular. The truth of the matter is that each individual spiritual house of Ifa and Lucumi (Santeria) still has its own individual divination for the year. This serves as a definitive guide which is specifically created for all the members of that house. If you are seriously interested in the religion my best advice is to join a house and get this reading for yourself. This may not be easy, but it is the only proper and respectful way to proceed. A general reading for the entire world is just that, general.”
All of the African Traditional Religions have strict guidelines that devotees have to follow. Normally the reading of the year also contains recommendations and offerings, as well as initiations which must be received during that time. If someone is unable to even begin the journey on the path to initiation in the religion, how are they going to follow the advice laid out in the reading of the year? In some cases people have no involvement in the religions at all yet they still seek out the advice. Seriously I’m scratching my head.
For those who wish to know they can find detailed accounts of this year’s reading, governed by the Orisha Obatala here or from other sources online. But again I urge you to find teachers and a family in the religion, the work and effort you put into it will be returned manifold. You can find out some ideas on how to do this in my post on suggestions for finding godparents. If you are not even sure of where to start consider reading my latest book Voodoo and African Traditional Religion. My santo godmother used to give the advice to “do the next right action.” Focusing on your own specific actions, and getting advice within the religion that is unique to you is something that all interested parties can concentrate on. Ashe !
As always if you have benefitted from what you read here please remember to like, comment, and share !
As always, I almost didn’t write about the 2021 Reading of the Year from the Yoruba Association of Cuba. In the past I’ve reported on the yearly reading and it has been very popular. The truth of the matter is that each individual spiritual house of Ifa and Lucumi (Santeria) still has its own individual divination for the year. This serves as a definitive guide which is specifically created for all the members of that house. If you are seriously interested in the religion my best advice is to join a house and get this reading for yourself. This may not be easy, but it is the only proper and respectful way to proceed. A general reading for the entire world is just that, general.
Again, I urge you to find spiritual teachers for yourself. The following 2021 Reading of the Year may be of interest to you, but my best advice is to find a house and get a reading for yourself. The process will allow you to move forward in the religion, leave appropriate offerings, and gain initiation and hopefully find your proper path in life.
The Reading of the Year for 2021 is posted in full on cibercuba.com :
It goes on to suggest various health recommendations, like continue being careful to wash your hands, and having regular doctor visits among others. As always seek guidance from your own spiritual house for detailed advice. Information on last year’s Letter can be found in this post.
If you have enjoyed what you read here please remember to like comment and share ! We appreciate all our readers and are dedicated to providing accurate and respectful information about all African Religious Traditions.
I almost didn’t write about the 2020 Reading of the Year from the Yoruba Association of Cuba. In the past I’ve reported on the yearly reading and it has been very popular. The truth of the matter is that each individual spiritual house of Ifa and Lucumi (Santeria) still has its own individual divination for the year. This serves as a definitive guide which is specifically created for all the members of that house. If you are seriously interested in the religion my best advice is to join a house and get this reading for yourself. This may not be easy, but it is the only proper way to proceed. A general reading for the entire world is just that, general.
My dear friend Awo Ogbe Di ,who is a priest in the religion, shared this piece of wisdom last year at this time and again this morning.
“And here we go again. Let me say it a little louder for the folks in the back:
Regardless of the reading of the year in this city, that city, for “the world” (whatever that means), the only reading of the year that is going to actually impact YOU as a person is the one for your house, and for you personally.
People die in wars; they also get rich. They also get married. They also have kids, get promoted, get fired, and live the rest of their lives mostly unimpacted. Even in cities that are bombed, one dude dies, another gets rich on real estate. Which one are you? If the reading of the year says “War” and you sit down and cry, what good does that do? Tend to your OWN reading, and find your ire. Let the “world” take care of itself.”
So again I urge you to find spiritual teachers for yourself. The following 2020 Reading of the Year may be of interest to you, but my best advice is to find a house and get a reading for yourself. The process will allow you to move forward in the religion, leave appropriate offerings, and gain initiation and hopefully find your proper path in life.
The 2020 Reading of the Year as posted en24news.com
Yemaya image from Wikimedia commons. Licensed under CC 2.5
As happens every year, the 2018 reading of the year for Cuba and the rest of the world has been cast this morning. In it we find the ruling Orisha for the year, along with additional advice and prohibitions to ensure success in the months to come.
While each individual spiritual house of Ifa and Lucumi (Santeria) still has its own individual divination for the year, efforts have been made in the past few years to unify the global reading and present it via the Yoruba Cultural Association of Cuba.
2018 Reading of the Year
Ruling Sign: OSA SHE, OGBE OSA, OTURA TIYU
Ruling Orisha: Yemaya
Accompanied by : Eleggua
Flag of the year : Half White and Half Blue with black edging.
The detailed reading of the year in Spanish can be found here.
For those who may be unfamiliar with her, Yemaya is known as a strong and powerful Orisha. Yemaya is also welcoming and compassionate, and very often it is her who makes herself known to people outside of the religion. She is said to control all the oceans and the life that lives in them. The Virgin of Regla is the Catholic saint most often syncretized with her, but she is also represented by images of Diosa del Mar, with stars falling from her hands. Yemaya’s sacred number is seven, and accordingly her ritual necklace or eleke is most often made up of seven blue beads alternating with seven crystal ones. As with most Orisha there are several paths or faces of this divinity.
Common offerings for Yemaya include, but are not limited to,
Coconut
Plantains/Bananas
Black Eyed Peas
Pineapple
Watermelon – uncut
Watercress
Molasses
As always follow the guidance of a qualified practitioner if you have any questions or concerns. Please remember to like, share and Happy New Year !
Tarot and Oracle Decks photo by Lilith Dorsey. All rights reserved.
The end of the year is an auspicious time for psychics readings and divination of all kinds. As always there are a multitude of new tarot and oracle decks on the market and this is a great time to check them out. Some people believe you only need one tarot deck, madness I say. Different decks provide a different outlook on a situation. A reader may choose to use one deck for personal readings, and another for readings done for others. Alternatively they may change decks based on the season, or the situation. Ultimately it’s up to you. Here are some recent best and brightest decks for you to consider getting for yourself, or as a gift for that special someone. Just let me start by saying that these are in no particular order, I honestly recommend each and every one of them.
The Green Witch’s Oracle Deck by Arin Murphy-Hiscock and Sara Richard. Photo by Lilith Dorsey. All rights reserved.
The Green Witch’s Oracle Deck by Arin Murphy-Hiscock – This deck is for Earth Witches, Garden Witches, and everyone in-between. The art on these cards is phenomenal, depicting the delightful bounty of nature. There are cards for celestial beings like the moon, and cards for very specific instances of the earth’s bounty- like the cards for Thyme or Broom. What I especially appreciate is that the book in addition to giving you a clear meaning for each card also gives a reflection. A few year’s ago we also reviewed this author’s book Protection Spells. If you like this deck from Adams Media maybe check that out too.
Turning Terrestrial Tides Tarot by Sara Calvarese – There are many different traditional tarot decks out there. I’m glad to say this isn’t one of them. Basic variations on a classic theme can get tiresome. However, the images featured here are new and innovative. This deck is all about shifting the world around you to maximize the best outcomes. This deck is published by PM Press, a powerful company releasing some great titles.
Santa Muerte Tarot Mini Cards – The popularity of Santa Muerte continues to grow exponentially. This mini deck makes it easy to take this “bony lady” everywhere you go. Each card, including the lesser arcana, is colorfully presented and tells it’s own unique story.
Lilith Dorsey and Charles Harrington at Endless Night Vampire Ball – New Orleans.
Tarot of the Vampires by Charles Harrington and Craig Maher – Vampires love tarot too, and this deck features all the delightful darkness you would expect. The exquisitely illustrated deck and book do their best to remind us that “(Un)life can be so sweet…,” and how sweet it is. Each card shows us a different aspect of the unholy creatures of the night. I had the most fortunate pleasure to meet the author Charles Harrington at this year’s Endless Night Vampire Ball here in New Orleans. I’m also proud to announce that an image from this deck graces the cover of my soon to be released Tarot Every Witch Way.
The Queen Mab Oracle– This anxiously awaited oracle was released by Llewellyn Publications earlier this year. I’m a huge fan of Tess Whitehurst’s work and when I heard this was coming out I couldn’t wait to see it. The cover image for this deck, depicted above, is the card named Proud and Pitiless, it urges the seeker to speak their truth and stand up for themselves. This like so many other messages in this deck are powerful and profound. Another plus is that this deck features a wide range of multi-cultural images, making this more inclusive than several of the decks on the market today. I can’t recommend it enough.
Witch Sister Tarot by Julia Jeffrey – At first glance this deck just looks intense. Published by Llewellyn Books, it has been described as “hauntingly beautiful,” and it is indeed that and so much more. Several of the cards feature animals, familiars if you like taking the form of both birds and beasts.
The Beloved Dead: An Oracle for Divining Ancestral Wisdom– I truly appreciate a deck that features photos or photo collages. This deck does just that with powerful images of those long past, of the “beloved dead” who we both long for and look to for guidance. The creators of this work, Carrie Paris and Tina Hardt, do a fantastic job with this oracle designed to help people access knowledge which may have been lost. Published by Weiser Books this makes an important addition to the library of anyone serious about ancestor working.
Hopefully you will find inspiration and answers in these cards. In the past this blog has featured posts about Crappy Yule Gifts, so if you’re looking for those click here. Have a great holidaze season and as always if you have enjoyed what you find here please remember to like, comment, and share !
Ifa divination tray image courtesy of wikimedia commons. Licensed under CC 2.0
As always the Reading of the year was released first thing in January from the Yoruba Association of Cuba. We reported about that reading here on this blog. As usual many people have questions about what this means for the world and for themselves. In an effort to help people better understand this process, we asked our friend Rebeca Spirit to report on an exciting event happening here in New York.
On January 11th 2018 The Caribbean Cultural Center hosted a panel discussion on the Letra Del Ano, or reading of the year. The panelists included
Angela Fontanez – Yoruba Tradition/Spiritualism- USA/Puerto Rico Alex La Salle – Yoruba Tradition – USA/Puerto Rico Michael Manswell – Shango Baptist Tradition – Africa/Trinidad John Mason – Yoruba Tradition – Africa/USA Paulo Bispo – Candomble Tradition – Africa/Brazil C. Daniel Dawson – African Spirituality Scholar, Moderator
The Reading of the Year is an African Traditional Religion tradition, passed down through the generations. Every year at the end of the Roman calendar year, Priests and Priestesses convene and close out the year with meditation and cleansing. After that the house elders then meditate, and receive information from the spirits, creating a doctrine for their house to follow for the upcoming year.
The Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute (Harlem,NY) held a symposium where Elders from several different traditions spoke about their views on the letters they created for their respective houses. I, as a non-initiate in any of the ATR’s do not have a house or elders, but was interested and glad to be able to attend the lecture. The most important part of this event was the caliber of the speakers, and the diversity that they brought to the table.
Each elder discussed the importance of the letter, and what it means to their houses. The Elders also discussed the history of the letters, how they provided the community a central understanding. In Brazil they came together to change the politics, to demand the rights for the people to practice. This led into one of the main points of each letter, community must be built in order for us to grow. Each one spoke of how important it is to have compassion for those in need, and that love grows as we work together.
There is not one specific letter that is for every practitioner, or follower, of the traditions. Instead there are individual letters for each house, based on the makeup of the house. Just like any community, there is an overarching understanding but each individual family has its own rules and traditions. We may all celebrate a holiday but we have different traditions within that holiday.
The consensus of the group was that honesty is key. That we have to come out of the shadows of fear and isolation, and start stating our truths. This does not mean, however, that we are supposed to just come out and be mean or spiteful. It means we need to really pay attention to our needs and make it clear to our communities, families, friends and work environment.
There were also several other points that each member of the panel spoke about, from ebo to sacrifice, from cleansing and honoring the Orisha, to cleansing and honoring the self. All agreed not all sacrifice is huge undertakings or elaborate doings; sometimes it’s a simple prayer and time spent in seclusion. There was also a great deal of faith being spoken about. That if we do not have faith, we have nothing. I found this to be the most important statement, because without faith, what are we doing? Why would we ask our ancestors or Orisha for help if we do not believe they will come through for us?
All in all it was a very informative evening, filled with an energy of progress and motivation to do better. My overall take away can be summed up as this: Honor, Honesty, and Patience. We must honor our paths, both individual and collective. We must be honest in our journey, with ourselves and others. There is no way to move forward and accomplish any goals if we are not honest with our needs or thoughts. Finally, we must have patience. We must believe that everything is happening in divine timing, and that what we need will be granted us. We must believe that our intentions and work is moving us forward. And we must be patient when we are trying to accomplish a goal.
I highly recommend that people check out The Caribbean Cultural Center and their programs. There is so much misinformation floating around the consciousness it is easy to get lost or start doing the wrong things. CCCADI strives to bring in people who are on the front lines of their work. Each presenter is top in their field, practicing what they are teaching, and genuine. They also take into account that the average citizen does not have a lot of disposable income, and tries to make all their activities affordable. As a community we need to honor our leaders and the work that is being done to bring truth and information, and this is one place we can all go to for that.
Rebeca Spirit is a Spiritual coach, medium and tarot reader. She is involved with the spiritual community in NY and often attends classes/symposiums. Rebeca is a student of history and religion, and is working toward a life in an ATR. She can be contacted on her business page here.
As always if you have enjoyed what you read here please remember to share !
Orisha Mural in Spanish Harlem, NYC photo by Lilith Dorsey. All rights reserved.
The highly anticipated 2017 Letter of the Year from the Yoruba Association of Cuba is in the works. The preliminary results were published recently on cibercuba.com . The process of creating the reading takes hours or even sometimes days. The reading is considered very important for practitioners of La Regla Lucumi, more commonly referred to as Santeria.
Much care will also be made to ensure that only one reading will come unified from both major spiritual houses. Cibercuba reports “This year you will only get one unified 2017 letter from both religious branches. Last year, a press conference confirmed the consolidation of both letters of the year. Both Lázaro Cuesta, founder of the Commission for the letter of the year as José Manuel Pérez the new president of the ACYC ratified the agreement without precedent.”
2017 Letter of the Year –
Ruling Sign – Baba Eyiogbe
governed by- Ogun
accompanied by- Yemaya
flag – half Ogun / half Yemaya (green/blue)
1st witness: Ogberoso
2nd witness: Oturairá
Please remember however, that the reading of the year for your own individual ile, or spiritual house, will be different and should be followed whenever possible. Happy New Year everyone and Blessings !
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