AP
Washington Hispanic:
Priests of the Cuban Santeria warned about an increase in contempt of authority at all levels, breaches of contracts and an increase in migratory flows.
They also indicated that the pandemic that plagues the world will be overcome, but you have to be calm and comply with the provisions.
As usual, the religious or babalawos took out their “ Letter of the Year ”through a ceremony that takes place every 31 of December and they made it known in the following days. This period will rule a sign called “Ikafun” and the deities will be Olokun and Oshun.
In the Yoruba tradition, Olokun is the orisha that represents the ocean but in its most terrifying form, the lord and owner of the deep sea; while Ochun is the queen of sweetness and fertility, also of the waters of rivers and streams.
“We cannot bother Olokun because when she gets upset we can face natural disasters, social explosion ”, said in an interview with The Associated Press the priest Alejandro Verdecia, a member of the Yoruba Association of Cuba and who stressed that Ohun appeared with this deity with his kindness.
As a message from the reading of the sign and its holy rulers and companion Verdecia had a message for the population: We ask everyone to have faith that the situation we are going through will be overcome, but all calmly. You have to comply with the commandments, for those who are not religious, comply with the Constitution of the country. He is calling us not to do illegal things. ”
Although the prophecies, warnings and recommendations of the priests are of a universal order, many in Cuba are looking for signs of what can happen to the country and their lives through Letter of the Year. In the last edition of 2020 for example, pandemics and diseases were predicted, although no one estimated the scope of the new coronavirus that caused COVID – 19 , explained the priest.
The Letter of the Year was published this time on social networks and there was no face-to-face presentation as in the previous times. The sheet that was distributed predicts some “events of social interest” associated with the sign, such as “increased contempt for authority in a general sense”, “Breach and breakdown of agreements”, “Increase in natural disasters that lead to both material losses as human lives ”. In addition to “increased migration flow,” among others.
Among the “recommendations” is a call to analyze corruption, to instill respect and love for work, to comply the laws and established hygienic norms.
The priests and some members of the Yoruba Association also performed a “drumbeat” this Saturday, a ceremony to give thanks to the deity Oduwa and open the year.
Santeria is the majority religion in Cuba and is born from a syncretism between the Spanish traditions of the colonizers and those of the African slaves. It is currently irradiated to many countries such as Mexico, Spain, Venezuela and the United States.