Altar of My Soul The Living Traditions of Santeria.Altar of My Soul The Living Traditions of Santeria by Marta Moreno Vega One World/Ballentine Books, September 2000, $29.95, ISBN ISBN abbr. International Standard Book Number ISBN International Standard Book Number ISBN n abbr (= International Standard Book Number) → ISBN m 0-345-42137-X We join the author on her spiritual search through Santeria--from novice to priestess. She writes, "Santeria is a way of life that reconciles the divine knowledge of the spirit world with secular knowledge. It is a coming together of the invisible and visible worlds, giving us the means for heeding our inner spirit. Like other religious systems, Santeria functions through the faith of each practitioner." We glimpse Santeria in the context of her visible life. Through interwoven in·ter·weave v. in·ter·wove , in·ter·wo·ven , inter·weav·ing, inter·weaves v.tr. 1. To weave together. 2. To blend together; intermix. v.intr. time and events she illustrates how day-to-day living and its trials and the influence of family and community, drive the search for satisfying answers. She explains Santeria's main gods and goddesses, the activity of the spirit world, and rites and rituals such as ceremonial cleansing and the necessity of animal sacrifice Animal sacrifice is the ritual killing of an animal as part of a religion. It is practised by many religions as a means of appeasing a god or gods or changing the course of nature. . The invisible world is illustrated through her vivid visions of her mother and grandmother (abuella), the propelling pro·pel tr.v. pro·pelled, pro·pel·ling, pro·pels To cause to move forward or onward. See Synonyms at push. [Middle English propellen, from Latin forces of Vega's search, both of whom have passed on. Each chapter, named for a god or "orisha", has three parts: the legend of the guiding spirit, what the orisha teaches, then a relevant period in Vega's life and pilgrimage pilgrimage Journey to a shrine or other sacred place undertaken to gain divine aid, as an act of thanksgiving or penance, or to demonstrate devotion. Medieval Christian pilgrims stayed at hospices set up specifically for pilgrims, and on their return trip they wore on their . The chapters end with words of wisdom from the elders--universal principles we recognize from many different sources. Though the legends of each of the spirit gods are picturesque, they feel more like folk tales rather than revelation. I would like to have learned who is believed to be the original storyteller and what made him or her so special. Vega is a reliable source. The Altar of My Soul gives insight into a religion about which most people have little or no substantial information. Sharita Hunt, a BIBR BIBR Bay Islands Beach Resort (Roatan, Honduras) BIBR Backward Indicator Bit Received associate editor for the new "Faith" section, is also an actor whose credits include Dr. Bessie in Having Our Say in three regional theaters, as well as the Broadway production of For Colored Girls ... She has written and performed her one-woman show A House Is Built and is a board member of the Upper West Side Theatre Company in New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. . An exploration of black books on spiritual concerns debuts on page 52. |
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