Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Lucumí Spelling and Lucumí Cosmology

Preface: Life Is Messy Like That

Introduction: Like Iré, I Was Sleeping

1 The Philosophy of Orisha Worship

2 The Concept of Osogbo

3 The Concept of Orí and Destiny

4 Osogbo, Orí, and Elegguá

5 Ikú, the Spirit of Death

6 Arayé, the Spirit of Wickedness

7 Other Stories about the Osogbos


Afterword

Notes

Glossary

Bibliography

Index

About the Author

Ócha’ni Lele (1966-2019) was immersed in the underground culture of Orisha worship in 1989. He made Ocha in 2000 and was crowned a priest of Oya. His other books include Sacrificial Ceremonies of Santería, Diloggún Tales of the Natural World, Teachings of the Santería Gods, The Secrets of Afro-Cuban Divination, Obí:Oracle of Cuban Santería, and The Diloggún: The Orishas, Proverbs, Sacrifices, and Prohibitions of Cuban Santería.

Reviews

“Finally we have an author willing to serve up the spiritual beauty of ancient Africa at the table of the modern world. Clearly, there is a legacy beginning to unfold.”
*Iyanla Vanzant, founder of Inner Visions Spiritual Institute, host of the TV show Iyanla, Fix My Lif*

“Once again, Ócha'ni Lele has demonstrated his masterful grasp of an often confusing subject with clarity, compassion and wisdom; a must-read volume sure to be eagerly studied by newcomers and elders alike for generations to come. As Lydia Cabrera is to Palo Mayombe, Ócha'ni Lele is to Lucumi.”
*Candelo Kimbisa, host of Candelos Corner, Blog Talk Radio*

“I loved Osogbo. I don’t say that often, or lightly; to earn such praise a book has to open up a whole new world for me, to change my point of view, to teach me something I can use daily. This is such a book. When misfortune visits your house and you wonder why, you may find enlightenment and comfort in the pages of his book. You will, if nothing else, find a great teacher.”
*Susan Starr, Spiral Nature, September 2014*