December 2020

by oshunschild Categories: Connections · ResourcesTags: · · · Leave a comment

End of year Blog. Presently wearing 16 days of white as I usually do as part of the Oloshas United Peace and Healing initiative. This year, it will be so different. I usually hold an Awan to Babalu Aye for my Godchildren and end of term Christmas party with Mulled wine and merriment for the Choir. This year, the Awan is appointment only, a well ventilated room, and one person at a time. Wondering what will happen in Cuba during the annual procession to the Rincon. Black and White photos by Raul Cañibano Choir continues to rehearse online. Good for…

I am In Lockdown Part 2.

by oshunschild Categories: Connections · Interviews · My ten pence worth! · ResourcesLeave a comment

Here in the UK, we are in the second week of a second lockdown. It doesn’t seem as extreme as the first but, I am taking it pretty seriously since we are the first Country in Europe to reach 50,000 deaths and I currently know a few people with Covid also, so it’s social isolation time for me. The three last posts concentrated on Bullying and Abuse in our tradition and advice on how to spot predators and avoid them. Simultaneously, I became aware of another Social Media Personality within our traditions who has been outed as an abuser and…

Why Black Lives Matter.

by oshunschild Categories: Connections · My ten pence worth! · ResourcesTags: · · · · · 3 Comments

With so much going on in the world over the last couple of months, it has been hard to keep up with what I feel I should be writing about. What I have noticed, however, is that, like many things regarding social media, hashtag culture does not last for ever.  I believe that in my role as Iyalorisha, it is as important to use my platform to educate in all matters of life, in addition to inform those coming to my page regarding all things Orisha. So today I am focusing on  four projects that I feel are worthwhile to…

Education during these unusual times. Part 1: Children

by oshunschild Categories: Connections · ResourcesTags: · · 1 Comment

In many places now internationally, the majority of children are at home. Some children are having to attend online classes, others are having work sent to them. All in all, it can be an opportunity to be more adventurous with children’s education. Personally, it has been a time for learning with my granddaughter, in some aspects like growing vegetables, and foraging. There are also Spiritual aspects of my life that I am able now to share with her, such as learning more about our rituals and also beading which I am enjoying teaching,  but there are also amazing online opportunities…

What makes practising in the UK Unique?

by oshunschild Categories: Connections · My ten pence worth! · Resources2 Comments

UNDERSTANDING AND PRACTISING LA REGLA DE OCHA IN THE UK:   The rise in social media attention to African Traditional Religions in general and Lucumi in particular has given the impression that these practises are wide spread and that there are communities everywhere. I have received emails recently asking me to make recommendations of practising Iles (Religious houses) all over the UK. This is a reminder that what you experience on Social Media is a false reality. Social media does not determine what is going on in the UK and there is a big difference between what is going on…

Elekes, who wears them and why!!

by oshunschild Categories: My ten pence worth! · ResourcesTags: · · 9 Comments

I spent all last night beading. I am beading a set for someone I am about to initiate. I love to make my own Elekes for my godchildren and feel that there is a lot of  worth in a set of Elekes that you have made with love and passion. This does not mean that they still don’t go through a spiritual process. Each set of Elekes have to go through a process before they are received. An Ide and Eleke for a new initiate also goes through a process before being bestowed on the new initiate. Not everyone enjoys…

Be careful of False Prophets.

by oshunschild Categories: My ten pence worth! · Resources2 Comments

I have been aware for some time that there has been a massive rise in posts, videos, personalities claiming to be giving the answers regarding Orisha Worship. These include individuals who are NOT initiated and who seem to be focused on their ego and building up followers.  “Spirituality” is a buzzword these days. Everyone is claiming to be “woke” spiritually.  Some of these individuals obviously seem to have a complete lack of awareness of what it is to be leading and informing people and there is a huge deal of irresponsible Bullshit ( for want of a better word) around…

Can following this path help with depression?

by oshunschild Categories: Connections · My ten pence worth! · ResourcesTags: · · · 5 Comments

This will probably be one of the most candid blogs I have ever written, and also will ever write. In addition, it has taken me along time to put pen to paper since it is a subject that is difficult to talk about. September has been a hard month for me over the last couple of years. In addition to the fact that it is suicide prevention month, it is the month where my son’s father ended his own life. For so many people he was the life and the soul. A generous, positive person who was extraordinarily fun to…

Resources, a different way of learning

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Those who live in communities that do not practise Lucumi or other branches of the Orisha tradition often find that they are drawn to researching the tradition. This may be through books or online resources. It has to be said that on the net, there is a lot of rubbish and we know that things spread quickly on the world wide web.  There  are also resources worth looking at. Of course reading and researching has little to do with practise, but if your exposure is minimal then it may be a good place to start: Here are some of my…