Integral to Santería, a flourishing religion in the Americas that has roots in West Africa, is the tradition of honoring one's ancestors and one's spiritual guides, with carefully planned altars (bovedas and egun shrines) and working with them through a weekly maintenance and prayer practice. During this time, which typically occurs on Mondays in most traditions of Santería, the practicant comes to give thanks to his/her ancestors and to pray for their continued spiritual evolution, while also talking to them (about one's troubles, if need be) and giving offerings of coffee, flowers, tobacco and liquor. Each gift has a different representation, so it's important to choose wisely, up to the color and type of flowers offered. Candles are also integral to this process.
Caring for the spirit guides’ altar is a similar approach. An altar is a very personal space, that will be unique to each witch and his/her family of spirits.
regardless of the actual ancestry of the individual.
While the boveda and egun shrine are integral aspects of Santería, many religions and belief systems around the world honor the dead. In this course, students will be presented with the importance of the bovedas and what they represent, as well as presenting information on how to set up your own boveda and providing examples of what that may entail. This course will also touch on the power of "sitting for development" once the weekly rituals have been completed, which is a form of meditation aimed to further connect with spiritual guides and ancestors. All of what I am presenting was taught to me by Santerían priests, in Detroit, and in different regions of Cuba.
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