An altar for Ochún prepared by one of her children
In Santería, people who've been fully initiated into the religion refer to themselves as the son (hijo/ omo) or daughter (hija/ omi) of one of the Orichás. To find out which Orichá claims your head, you have to undergo one of two possible ceremonies: In iles (houses) that are Ifa-centric, Babalawos (Priests of Orula) use palm or cola nuts to draw out the Odu (sign or letter) that signals the owner of the person's head. In Ocha-centric houses, an experienced elder Santero/a will use the dilogun (cowrie shells) for the same purpose. These ceremonies go far beyond a regular consulta (reading) where various Orichas may stand up to speak to the client, or express a willingness to help at that particular moment with a particular problem. The ceremony to find out who is your father or mother in the religion can only happen once in your lifetime. Once an Oricha has claimed your head, it's understood that you've made a lifelong commitment. For that reason, the ceremony happens most often when people receive are ready to undergo initiation into the religion or, in Ifa-centric houses, when they receive mano or cofá de Orula. Once an Oricha has claimed your head, you're usually told that you're a "prisioner" of Ocha, meaning that you're expected to start saving your money to undergo the initiations that will bring you fully into the religion. Sooner or later, your guardian Orichá expects you to be crowned.
Experienced godparents will tell their godchilden not to be in a hurry to find out who's the owner of their heads, because there's no reason to know this information until you're ready to make Ocha (undergo initiation). It's important to get to know more about the religion first, learn about all the Orichás, and make sure you have a good relationship with them all before you focus too closely on one in particular. The Orichás are jealous of each other and don't like it when their children pay too much attention to another Orichá. That's why it's crucial that the ceremony be done at the proper time and in the proper way, so there are no misunderstandings between the Orichás about who is the true owner of the person's head.
Experienced godparents will tell their godchilden not to be in a hurry to find out who's the owner of their heads, because there's no reason to know this information until you're ready to make Ocha (undergo initiation). It's important to get to know more about the religion first, learn about all the Orichás, and make sure you have a good relationship with them all before you focus too closely on one in particular. The Orichás are jealous of each other and don't like it when their children pay too much attention to another Orichá. That's why it's crucial that the ceremony be done at the proper time and in the proper way, so there are no misunderstandings between the Orichás about who is the true owner of the person's head.
Don't believe everything that people tell you
Sometimes during an ordinary consulta, a diviner might tell the client: "You're the child of ..." and mention a specific Orichá's name. Although it's true that the various odu (signs, or letters) that come up in the reading are associated with particular Orichás, it's not accurate to say that information delivered during a regular consulta should be taken as proof that a particular Orichá is claiming the person's head. Normally, it means that a particular Orichá is standing up to speak on behalf of that person at a given moment in time, and that the Orichá is offering blessings, help, or perhaps even a warning, to help the client progress and avoid problems. It may mean that the Orichá has a special fondness for the client, and over time, it may be revealed through the correct ceremonies that in fact that Orichá is the owner of the client's head. But it's premature to say that the client is the son or daughter of the Orichá based only on a routine consulta, especially if it's the first time the client has seen the diviner and a relationship of trust hasn't been built up yet between the two.
Who was it that said that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing? In the case of involvement with Santería, that's certainly true. Newcomers to the religion are sometimes anxious to know who's their mother or father because they're looking for a shortcut and want to establish an immediate bond with one of the Orichás. They hear about Changó and fall in love with his fiery passionate nature, or they hear about Ochún and fall in love with her sweet sensuality. They identify for whatever reason with the popular representation of Eleguá as a playful child, or Ogún as the hard working, efficient warrior, or Obatalá as the wise, level headed figure of authority. The stories and legends, the music and dances, the natural elements associated with the Orichás, such as rivers and oceans and mountains, are fascinating and draw people into the religion, but only in a superficial way. When people decide on their own, "I'm the son or daughter of...", they're claiming a bond that is purely imaginary on their part. What's dangerous about that? There's nothing inherently wrong with showing love and respect toward the Orichás. Aleyos (non-initiates) can worship through prayer, song, and small offerings of fruits, flowers or candles. But, again, the Orichás have jealous natures. Because they were once human and still retain some of their human qualities, they aren't perfect beings. They're powerful, they have the ability to forgive and help those who reach out to them, but they're also quick to punish those who are disrespectful toward them or ignore them. In short, playing favorites with the Orichás can lead to trouble if you aren't careful, and you need to have your relationship with them clearly defined and formalized before you can work with them in any deep and meaningful way.
Who was it that said that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing? In the case of involvement with Santería, that's certainly true. Newcomers to the religion are sometimes anxious to know who's their mother or father because they're looking for a shortcut and want to establish an immediate bond with one of the Orichás. They hear about Changó and fall in love with his fiery passionate nature, or they hear about Ochún and fall in love with her sweet sensuality. They identify for whatever reason with the popular representation of Eleguá as a playful child, or Ogún as the hard working, efficient warrior, or Obatalá as the wise, level headed figure of authority. The stories and legends, the music and dances, the natural elements associated with the Orichás, such as rivers and oceans and mountains, are fascinating and draw people into the religion, but only in a superficial way. When people decide on their own, "I'm the son or daughter of...", they're claiming a bond that is purely imaginary on their part. What's dangerous about that? There's nothing inherently wrong with showing love and respect toward the Orichás. Aleyos (non-initiates) can worship through prayer, song, and small offerings of fruits, flowers or candles. But, again, the Orichás have jealous natures. Because they were once human and still retain some of their human qualities, they aren't perfect beings. They're powerful, they have the ability to forgive and help those who reach out to them, but they're also quick to punish those who are disrespectful toward them or ignore them. In short, playing favorites with the Orichás can lead to trouble if you aren't careful, and you need to have your relationship with them clearly defined and formalized before you can work with them in any deep and meaningful way.
Clarify in your mind why you're attracted to the religion
At this time of year, with Yemaya's feast day on September 7, Ochún's on September 8, and Obatalá's coming up on September 24, everyone is paying a lot of attention to these Orichás, which is only right and natural under the circumstances. Everyone in the Santería community celebrates and honors them on their special days. But, it's also a time when newcomers hear about these Orichás for the first time and feel a sudden attraction to them. They leap to a quick conclusion that this or that one is the owner of the head, when their knowledge of that Orichá is very limited and incomplete. Premonitions, dreams, and strong feelings can lead you toward the Orichás, but in the end, the Orichás choose you, you don't choose them. This is a matter you simply don't control. For people in the modern world who are used to making choices and getting their own way, it's a humbling experience to be told that you can't pick the owner of your own head. It's hard to wait and not know who is your mother or father in the religion, but by accepting the need to do ceremonies in the proper way at the proper time, you enter into a different kind of relationship with the religion, where you're honoring the traditions of the ancestors and the elders, and showing the kind of humility that the Orichás expect of their children. Don't be in a hurry to claim a relationship that the Orichás themselves haven't acknowledged. Over and over, experienced elders will say: these things take time.
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