Customer Reviews

The Secrets of Afro-Cuban Divination: How to Cast the Dilogg?n, the Oracle of the Orishas

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

for my health i got oshun on my head five years ago, and since my santo was for my health I never really learned anything about this religion. the ita confirmed that this was for my health, and i was to work mostly as an espiritista although I was told during my life I might have one or two godchildren in my life. Anyway, recently I was in a private newsgroup where people were discussing this book. They like it, but were upset that such a thing had been published. They said books on odu were not meant to be published because the material was so secret. This confused me because those same people that say the book should not be published also studied written material on odu, bad broken spanish texts that were published privately in cuba, or openly here in the states but are photocopied because they are no longer in print.

anyway, i read this book myself. since there was a discussion going here about the book i thought that I would put my comments here too. This book is fantastic. I think what disturbs people about it is that it is the first published in english, and it is so good that it makes those other spanish things out there that are out of print look really awful. Plus those photocopies are controlled. You cannot buy them unless you can prove to the botanicas that you have ocha, or unless your godparent photocopies it for you. anyone who has ocha can buy this book or anyone who does not have ocha can still buy this book. that is why some people do not like it i think.

One of the reasons that Santeria attracts so many people, initiated or outsider, is divination. Suffice it to say, the "soul" of the Orishas continue to draw us to them. Unfortunately, the religion lacks competent Consultants. After twenty years I can safely assume that less than 20% of Santeros can consult with the Diloggun. This gives us less future Italeros and even less future Oriates. The reason for this is not ignorance, but lack of teachers and reading materials, especially in English, available to the community. The religion greatly needed a "step by step" Diloggun book in English to help those whom want or need to learn Diloggun Diviation. With this book "The Secrets of Afro-Cuban Divination," our prayers have been answered. So read, enjoy, learn and become more educated in what is the the essence of Santeria.

Ocha'ni Lele's book is a treasure. I have been a priest for twenty-two years and studying the dilogun during all that time. During one reading of the book, I learned things that I had not known before.

It is a book that I would willingly recommend to my godchildren - there are very few of those. However, I would take pains to point out that as the author says, time and time again, the traditions of Houses vary. Every House does not do things the same way and the counsel of elders should always be sought.

Having said that, I would recommend the book to every priest who wants to make a serious study of the dilogun. The book presents a solid foundation on which priestly knowledge can be built.

For me, the greatest value, is that the book is in English. There are many books on the dilogun but they are in Spanish. For the English speaking, this is the first book of such scope to be published. The introduction, throughly sets forth the process of doing a reading and is worth the price of the book in and of itself. However, the fact that every chapter on each odu pecifies ebos and guides the reader through the process of marking them adds more value to the book.

If one is of an academic bent, the book is also aluable. Much academic writing suffers from the lack of an in-depth knowledge of the tradition(s) such writers discuss. Read in conjunction with Bascom's Sixteen Cowries, for example, Ocha'ni Lele's book could offer insights into the similarities and differences between the practice of the reading of Merindilogun in Africa and the Diaspora. In short, this is a book I would highly recommend to the priest and to scholars.

I think that I have read every book available about Santeria, otherwise known as the Lucumi faith. And I must say that every book that I have read has been a total disappointment. First, there are the books that everyone has read, those by Migene Wippler, and we all know that those are trash. That author has no regard for the religion, and wrote expose books that bordered on sensationalism and slander. Let's not even talk about HER book on the shells -- what trash, and how useless. Then there are books that tease us with information, hinting at secrets and arcane knowledge, but provide absolutely no useful information.

Then I stumbled across this book. Honestly, I bought it for a good laugh; I figured absolutely no useful information about the diloggun could be found in a book. How wrong I was. The first chapter alone on casting the diloggun could have been a book to itself; it could have stood alone, and the wonderful, insightful information therein would have made the entire tome worthwhile. Indeed, the 19.95 price of THIS book was well worth the information presented in the first chapter.

And the remaining chapters on Okana through Ejila Shebora were fabulous. I learned so much that I didn't know; each page was insightful, revealing . . .

This book is obviously written by a man whose hands are guided by the orishas themselves. It is informative, beautiful, thought provoking . . . I can think of nothing bad to say about this work or the author.

If nothing else, this is the FIRST book that shows we are truly a religion, a spiritual faith, with a book as holy and pure as any other major religion. It shows the beauty of our prayers, our rituals, our beliefs . . .

It is awe inspiring. This author has done for our faith what no author before him could do. Thank you so much, Ochani Lele, for your beautiful work.

This is one of the best books I have seen published on the diloggún thus far. Ocha'ni lele is incredibly thorough in presenting the Moyuba, the actualy physical process for casting the cowries, including the selection of the correct ibus, and the client's hands in the process. And to crown this, he adds an in-depth explanation of all the possible types of iré and osogbo, and a spectacular investigation of each odu, its proverbs, its related energies, ebbos, and what to do if a letter will not close in a reading. The santería community has long needed a book of this caliber, and I know all of the priests and priestesses out there will deeply benefit from its precise instruction. And to cap it off, it is in beautifully written English...a mark that indeed lets us know that the Orishas have definitely established themselves in America. Maferefún Orishas, and Modupue Ocha'ni lele for this masterpiece that every caracolero should own.

A wonderful book! A definite recommendation of five stars!

Ochani'lele not only has plenty of knowledge to share, he shares it in a cogent way that displays great communication skills and FINALLY makes meridiloggún divination accessable to priests who have had to struggle with mean and often unobtainable writings (many mimeographed and 100th generation photocopies) in poorly written Spanish.

No better book about divining with the meridiloggún exists in ANY language and for the first time, it will be Cubans who want to access the best literature who have to scramble to read translations to do so. Every priest (with the permission of their godparents) should own, study and practice the teachings in this book.

Uninitiates, although they neiher can nor may divine with the meridiloggún, nevertheless will discover through this book a substantial part of the "flavor" of our Religion which is born in Odu and the meridiloggún.

A most impressive and needed book.

My compliments and thanks to the author.

¡Ache¡

I am going to say Ashe for the author for taking his/her time for sharing the knowledge. This is not a book after reading it, that you will be able to cast the shells automatically. But, it give's a solid definition on the odu's. What it is lacking are the pataki's on the combination of the odu's. For each combination there is a pataki that go along with it. I am not against the production of this book for many reasons. For one, I have seen too many people get ocha and the God parent or parent's does not teach a darn thing. I have met iyalocha and babalocha who have six years ocha who can not even throw obi, never mind shells. I was fortunate enough to come from a teaching ocha house. But, alot of Ocha houses are not, and I repeat are not teaching houses. And will not take the time to show you what the odu's mean never mind, throwing them. So, for those who are in that position it is a very good start to know what the odu's mean. May I add this comment further to say the exploitation of the religion does not start with books like this. But, with the elder's who do not take the time to nurture their godchildren, and leave them like shrimps in the ocean. So please people stop blaming the authors, and let's look at the people who have the ocha houses...Thank You Sincerely Child of Oshun from New York City

...An absolute treasured "bible" for priest/est of Santeria...an extraordinary companion to any 'libreta'...and excellent collection of information to discuss with elders and newcomers alike. For anyone who just had a reading (and forgot half of the information given at the reading, for an iyawo learning the diloggun, or an elder 'polishing' up the knowledge. I have read many books on Santeria, yet this is the only one which is presented in a very respectable way, with obvious extensive years of research, and most importantly from someone who IS a santero. Congratulations to Ochani Lele for a book well done...I can't wait for it's companion on the patakis (stories)!. May Yemaya bless you and enlighten your path with shared knowledge. Omi Adde

I made santo three years ago. I knew very little about the shells, and my godsister gave me the book. Before I read it, I asked my godparent's permission. They gave it to me, and I am glad that they did. The book was wonderful! They had already read it, and that's why they told me it was a good book.

This book is not for everyone. In my opinion, it reveals too much information for the aleyos. Secrecy is part of this religion, and when that secrecy is taken away it takes away part of the mystery for new people. But for priests it is all right.

If you are an aleyo or an aborisha or an outsider who has not santo done, do not read this book. It is not for you. In my opinion, only initiates should read this. The writer is very good and the book is well written.

Keep writing for the priesthood Ochani!

Secrets Of Afro-Cuban Divination focuses on how to cast the Diloggun, the oracle of the Orishas which is more than an African oracle, but a spiritual process blending ritual with insight. Secrets Of Afro-Cuban Divination is the first to provide complete details on how to cast and read the Diloggun, from opening and closing the oracle to an analysis of the prayers associated with the process. A 'must' for any student of Afro-Cuban spirituality.