Omiero

In the Cuban religion of Santería, omiero, also known as purificacíon de santo, is a liquid used in various ritual acts.

Uses

The term omiero derives from the Lucumi language which is used for ritual purposes in Santería.[1] This liquid is also known by the Spanish language term purificacíon de santo.[2] It primarily consists of a mix of herbs and water.[2]

The otanes, which are stones deemed to be the physical representation of the oricha, are "fed" by pouring both omiero and the blood of sacrificed animals onto them.[3] Practitioners believe that through this, the oricha consume the aché, a type of spiritual energy, from these liquids.[4] Both omiero and animal blood are also poured onto the cowry shells which are used for the dilogún form of divination, again to "feed" them.[5] Omiero is again used to wash the drums employed during ritual drumming sessions as part of the ritual to consecrate them.[6]

Omiero is also used during initiation ceremonies for the purpose of purifying the initiate.[7] In Santería initiation ceremonies, the iyawó (initiate) ingests omiero on each of the seven days of initiation.[2]

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References

Citations
  1. Mason 2002, p. 132.
  2. Hagedorn 2001, p. 251.
  3. Fernández Olmos & Paravisini-Gebert 2011, pp. 45–46.
  4. Fernández Olmos & Paravisini-Gebert 2011, p. 46.
  5. Fernández Olmos & Paravisini-Gebert 2011, p. 72.
  6. Fernández Olmos & Paravisini-Gebert 2011, p. 78.
  7. Fernández Olmos & Paravisini-Gebert 2011, p. 65.

Sources
  • Bascom, William R. (1950). "The Focus of Cuban Santería". Southwestern Journal of Anthropology. 6 (1). pp. 64–68. doi:10.1086/soutjanth.6.1.
  • Brandon, George (1991). "The Uses of Plants in Healing in an Afro-Cuban Religion, Santería". Journal of Black Studies. 22 (1). pp. 55–76. JSTOR 2784497.
  • Fernández Olmos, Margarite; Paravisini-Gebert, Lizabeth (2011). Creole Religions of the Caribbean: An Introduction from Vodou and Santería to Obeah and Espiritismo (second ed.). New York and London: New York University Press. ISBN 978-0-8147-6228-8.
  • Gregory, Steven (1989). "Afro-Caribbean Religions in New York City: The Case of Santería". Center for Migration Studies. 7 (1). pp. 287–304. doi:10.1111/j.2050-411X.1989.tb00994.x.
  • Hagedorn, Katherine J. (2001). Divine Utterances: The Performance of Afro-Cuban Santería. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Books. ISBN 978-1560989479.
  • Mason, Michael Atwood (1994). ""I Bow My Head to the Ground": The Creation of Bodily Experience in a Cuban American Santería Initiation". The Journal of American Folklore. 107 (423). pp. 23–39. JSTOR 541071.
  • Mason, Michael Atwood (2002). Living Santería: Rituals and Experiences in an Afro-Cuban Religion. Washington DC: Smithsonian Books. ISBN 978-1588-34052-8.
  • Wedel, Johan (2004). Santería Healing: A Journey into the Afro-Cuban World of Divinities, Spirits, and Sorcery. Gainesville: University Press of Florida. ISBN 978-0-8130-2694-7.
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