Customer Reviews

Obi: Oracle of Cuban Santeria

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Every one who is a follower of any Orisha path should learn to consult and communicate with ones ruling Orisha and the Orisha in general. Everything from small offerings of candles, to coins, and liquor can be given to the Orishas, but first one must consult with them, to see if they except the offerings, and if not, is their anything else, one can give to please them. But not just with offerings, but in life's trivial pursuits one should consult the Orisha before making any serious decision.

Obi is an oracle used buy all followers of Orisha, and many use this ancient oracle to find out yes and no answers to their questions. But Obi divination is more than that, and it is through this book and the help of ones Godparents that one can begin to learn and understand Obi divination.

This book is written in the Lucumi tradition, and it is excellent. In it you will learn the history of Obi divination in the Americas, you will read Patikis on Obi, Biaque, and the Coconut Tree. You will learn some of the various Orishas one can communicate with using this ancient oracle. You learn Lucumi, Mojubares, used prior to consulting with the oracle. You learn the various patterns and their meanings. This book is beautifully written and well researched.

Ache to Ocha'ni Lele, who is becoming such an important voice in the Orisha traditions of the Americas. But as the author will state, this is an oracle that should be learned through the hands of an experienced elder in the Tradition. For further study on this ancient oracle, and for those Aborishas who have the sacred capacity of the orishas, I also recomed these other books on the subject, also sold at Amazon.com.
Awo Obi: Obi Divination in Theory and Practice 1890157295 and The Little Oracle That Goes a Long Way: Ifa's Obi Abata

As both a priest of the Orisa tradition and an author of an Obi book myself, I must applaud this latest release by Ocha'ni Lele. His book touches on an area seldom discussed, much less written about the - the Apere Ti Obi. Aside from that, he addresses the issue of casting Obi in a lucid and thoughtful fashion.

This book is written from a Lukumi perspective, but for those interested in learning how Obi is cast in Lukumi I have found no finer text. Obviously traditions vary from house to house and one should always check information in any book, regardless of its quality, with one's elders.

The Obi is a wonderful and powerful Oracle and Ocha'ni Lele has put a significant stone in the path of understanding.

I have read many books on the religion. I have never read a book that dealt solely with Obi divination. Even though I have santo done, I never in my wildest dreams believed that this system of divination was so intense, or so in depth, that it demanded a book of its own.

I was wrong.

Some of the material I've heard before orally. The myth of Obi I've heard many times, although never written as beautifully as Ochani has written it. The myth of Biague and Adiatoto I've heard, but I've never seen as much detail in the story. I've never heard the patakis of the coconut palm, nor had I ever heard the story of how Obatala distributed the mysteris of Obi to all the orishas.

Yet all my elders, after having read my copy of the book, agree these stories are all true. And Ochani is the most wonderful storyteller.

But what really floored me is that in all my years, I've never head about "apere ti obi." I approached my madrina with many questions regarding this system, and she told me that, yes, it is an old way to read Obi that was prominent in Cuba many generations ago. She said it was in place even before the cabildo societies that solidified our own lukumi practices. However, she herself had never met anyone but one person who knew how to use that system. Her interpretations were always accurate and right on the money, but because she herself could not cast diloggun, she never shared her secrets with anyone.

And my madrina says that the art of apere as presented by Ochani sounds exactly like what that old woman did. That old woman's name who used apere ti obi was Modesta Morera, Alaraba, ibae, and she was crowned to Iroko in Matanzas. However, because Iroko cannot be crowned direct, she was done Yemaya oro Iroko, and her ordination in Cuba was the only one ever done to Iroko. She was crowned in the 1950s in Matanzas by someone named Cheo Shango, Shango Lari, ibae.

How Ochani learned these secrets we have no idea. He must either be REALLY dedicated to the religion, or is one heck of a researcher.

I think everyone in the religion should read this book. Because aleyos who have received warriors have the right to read obi, even they should read it with the permission of their godparents.

An excellent book, Ochani. PLEASE keep writing for us all!

I will go to the point, the book is very well written and well reasearched. I enjoyed his annectodotes and his candid approach to Biague (Obi Oracle). This book is a must for any new initiate and an excellent resource for Oloshas in general. Congratulations to the author and my respects to the godparents.

Omi T'Oñí

This book is incredible! I got it two days ago, and devoured it in two sittings. Not only is this the most complete resource that I have ever read about Obi divination, but it is the most beautifully written book about orisha worship that I have ever read. Honestly, I expected something that would be a dry read, but the introduction to this book about the author's visit to the ocean brought tears to my eyes. Ochani's first book "The Secrets of Afro-Cuban Divination" was wonderful, but the writing in this book far surpasses that. A must-have for any personal library.

ONE HAS TO READ THIS BOOK FROM INTRODUTION TO THE END, IT TEACHES HISTORY,INSTRUCTIONS AND THE CORRECT MEANINGS OF THROWS, THE LUCUMI TRADITION IN THIS BOOK WILL DO OUR TRADITION PROUD AND I AM HONOR TO KNOW HIM.

A good basic primer for those wanting to learn more about service to the Orisha and the Obi form of divination.

Ocha'ni Lele's Obi Oracle Of Cuban Santeria focuses on a divination technique known as Obi, which gives the petitioner access to the orisha Obi. It's the only title to narrow the focus on Santeria to Obi, and provides specific divination instructions for casting and interpreting the oracle.

I loved this book when I read it years ago. I loved the book "The Diloggun" by this author even more. It is sad that we will never read anything else by this author ever again; after a two year battle with cancer, the author has died. The loss of his voice is a terrible thing for us all,indeed.

Regards Obi divination this book offer a narrow view of this theme. The introduction is well done, with myths about obi, however there is few information about how to use this powerfull oracle. It doesn't explore the nine positions, the segments position in opon and also the Odu asnpect. In despite of Obi Oracle is not for cast Ifa as we do with opele and not for we speak through òrúnmìlà the Odu messages and orientation is an olodumare tool and for this reason is allways present and usefull and Obi can be used as an Oracle for we talk with the Ori and Orixá and receive consistent information and orientation for our lives, avoiding to handle with expensive Ifa works. One can find here some useful information when he wants to work with a Orixá oriented Oracle, which is, in fact, very comom. But be advised for the lack of information for understand the Obi Oracle.