Consulting Eleggua

Tonight I had a registro, a consultation, with Eleggua, the messenger of the Orishas who opens and closes all the doors. This is a basic reading performed by a priest using primarily the cowrie shells, which are the mouth of the Orishas. I'm fortunate to have a close friend who can facilitate this for me. He comes from a family of Santeros and they are very friendly and receptive. I asked his sister Z to work with me and, after many months of talking and waiting, they made it happen tonight.

I drove down the street to P's house and found half his family there as well as my HP who was receiving a different kind of reading. We all chatted for a while, but it wasn't long before the Oriate (the diviner) arrived with his partner. They set up in the ritual room and I was the first one in.

After some explanations, the reading began with some prayers and pretty soon Eleggua was present and speaking through the shells. The Oriate's partner wrote it all down for me and Z, as my sponsor, was also in the room. I was grateful to have them both to record the reading and help me understand it because, although I speak Spanish, parts of it were in Yoruba, a West African dialect.

The first thing Eleggua said was, "Listen up. I have something important to tell you." It was pretty much downhill from there. I was warned of unexpected changes for the worse, family problems, enemies, and wars around me. I was warned not to act hastily. I was warned to watch my health closely. Blood was spoken about a lot -- health problems concerning the blood and circulation, problems among my blood relatives, and the blood of my ancestors that connect me to this path. It didn't come as any surprise when the Oriate said that I may likely be led to initiate. The good news is that these kinds of readings only generally foretell for a period of 21 days.

There were some positives. I was told that good luck and possibly money would come my way. The Oriate also reported that Eleggua said I would have a home of my own, that I would not continue living with my family. I don't mind living with them; I'm close to my family, but of course I'd love my own place.

In regards to the Orishas, I was also told that Oshun and Yemaya love me very much and I should thank them. However, I was also told that there is a debt owed to Yemaya and I need to be careful around her and those things that she rules over, like the ocean, as well as her children. I was told not to wear yellow because Oshun doesn't like it. The Orishas have different paths, or representations. The one that appeared in my reading is Ibu Ikole, Oshun associated with the vulture, witchcraft, and living in muddy rivers or swamps. She's a long way from the beautiful, sensuous river version of the goddess with her peacock, but I think she's pretty darn cool. Interestingly, Ibu Ikole's necklace is made up of amber, coral, and jet. And finally, Eleggua advised me to receive the guerreros (the Warriors) and Olokun.

The Warriors are Eleggua, Ogun, Ochosi and Osun. As their collective title implies, they guard and protect you. Olokun is the depth of the ocean and, as such, is a mysterious figure. Olokun is said to provide stability and has health associations as well.

In the process towards initiation in Santeria, the elekes, the sacred beaded necklaces of the Orishas, are usually received first, but Eleggua didn't say anything about it so I can skip it, at least for now. Other than not wearing yellow, I had no restrictions placed on me nor time limits, but it was just a basic reading. I'll be talking more with Z, but I'm in no rush. I wish I could tell you more about the cowrie shell divination, but it's a method I don't understand. There are numerical combinations and the Oriate tosses them and reads them somehow. Overall, it was a really pleasant experience.