A certain person who shall remain unnamed practices Santeria. Now, given this person is probably a poster child for the US Heartland, I've just got to say that it totally knocked me over when said person mentioned the orishas.

WOW! Santeros are everywhere.

I grew up with santeria (yes, my parents were Catholics and Pagans) and so I've spent most of my life walking away from it. As y'all know, I'm an atheist. But ... but ... this , person has been telling, "you know, light a candle, girl, light a candle". Of course, I've hemmed and hawed about it. Then Mr. Man reminded me of a story he read somewhere.

An anthropologist is in some South Pacific island. The "natives" are performing a ceremony before building a fence. The anthropologist asks why to his translator. The translator thinks for a moment and says : "The magic wroks best when we build a strong fence". The prayer, the ceremony, the rituals are not because magic is in them, it's because magic happens when people believe it will be so. It gives them strenght, pumps them up, energizes them, inspires them.

Well, I'm gonna pump that server up.

Here you've got it, las siete potencias africanas, who will hopefully maintain the smooth going of our site :

If you need to know ... my guardian angel or orisha is Oshun (we write it Ochun in Puerto Rico). The colors of the old culturekitchen were an homage to my potencia : golden yellow, green, white and orange.

More after the jump...

Read the whole article at The Seven African Powers. It's by far one of the best descriptions of the history behind development od this Afro-Caribbean phenomenon here in the United States.

Thank grock for immigration

# Eleggua / Elegua: Messenger, Opener of the Way, Trickster
Saint Simon Peter
San Martin (Caballero)
Saint Anthony (of Padua)
El Nino de Atocha
Saint Expedite
Saint Michael Archangel

# Obatala / Obatalia: Father-Mother of Humanity, Bringer of Peace and Harmony
Our Lady of Mercy
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

# Yemaya / Yemalia / Yemalla: Spirit of Motherhood, the Ocean, and the Moon
Our Lady of Regla
Mary, Star of the Sea (Stella Maris)

# Oya: Female Warrior, Spirit of Wind, Storm, Thunder, and Magic
Our Lady of Candelaria
Saint Catherine
Saint Theresa

# Oshun / Ochum: Lady of Love, Beauty, and Sexuality, Spirit of Fresh Water
Our Lady of Caridad del Cobre (Our Mother of Charity)

# Chango / Shango / Xango / Sango: Fourth King of the Yoruba, immortalized as Spirit of Thunder
Saint Barbara
Saint Jerome

# Ogun / Ogum: Lord of Metals, Minerals, Tools, War, Birds, and Wild Beasts
Saint John the Baptist
Saint Anthony (of Padua)
Saint George
San Pedro (Saint Simon Peter)

# Orula / Orunmila: Teacher, Prophet
Saint John the Evangelist taking Jesus down from cross

# Babaluaye: Spirit of Disease and Sickness, also Provider of Money to the Poor
Saint Lazarus of Dives

And to round it up, Olorum, ache.