Voodoo Rituals: The Purpose Of Santeria

In the eyes of strangers to the religion, Santeria may only resemble Voodoo rituals, with no eternal purpose for the Santeros. So what exactly is the perennial goal for Santeros? And how is that goal reached? The purpose of Santeria is to obtain three levels. Each level requires a separate ceremony be performed and results in different degrees of protection, power, and knowledge. Completion requires reaching all three levels, but a participant can stop at any one. The steps or roles are:
1. Receiving Elekes
Elekes are beaded necklaces and are made up of different colors and patterns that correspond to the preferences of the orisha of the santero or santera who conducts the initiation. The necklaces are draped around the neck of the initiate. Elekes are sacred and are a sign of the orishas presence and protection. Santerians say the necklace ceremony is equivalent to the ceremony of baptism and is the first of the initiations given in Santeria (Gonzalez, 1994, p. 165). A Babalawo, by the use of a divination ritual called the bajar a Orunla determines which orisha(s) will be the initiate’s, or iyawo’s ruling head. The iyawo is given five to six necklaces, and these are removed in certain circumstances – bathing, sexual activities, …show more content…
Whichever orisha that may be, it is believed that it now watches over the initiated person throughout the remainder of life. From then on, the initiate can appeal to the orisha for healing, wealth, spells, and to perform other types of magic. The initiate is now the seat of the orisha and they are now possessed by it. After completion of the asiento, the initiate is “becomes ‘born again’ into the faith, becoming once and for all the child of the orisha” (De La Torre, 2004, p.