The Lucumi Practitioner’s Handbook

About the Book

The recent explosion of social media has led to a huge amount of shared information regarding the path of Orisha. This has led to a rise in consciousness regarding Lucumi ( Aka; Santeria). This branch of Orisha practice has its roots in Cuba, but has travelled far beyond its birthplace. Consequently, there has been a shift in the access of information and scams and charlatans are commonplace. Fractured relationships are frequent. This book is a self-help book which explains the basics of our traditions and how to spot red flags. For those already practising the religion, there is a chapter on how to negotiate being a Godparent and how to create healthy communities. Caring for our planet and our mental health is also addressed. What are the new challenges we face as a community in this technological age? This book acknowledges the need to protect our traditions, safe-guarding secrets, whilst promoting a quest for knowledge. It is a call to reframe our traditions, born from slavery and trauma in a healthy way which acknowledges the unhealthy relationships that exist within the traditional hierarchical structure. This book is for all following the Lucumi way of life and those who aspire to do so.

About the Author

Daniela R De Armas was born in London in 1961. She is a neurodivergent, Iyalorisha, musician and writer, crowned with Oshun, who is currently training to be a therapist having qualified recently at level 3. She grew up in inner city London, a product of a mixed heritage family and has spent most of her life working within the arts. She went to study in Cuba in 1986 as part of her PhD studies and this inspired a multifaceted lifelong journey. She has been both a teacher and performer of dance and music for 35 years and has also been passionate about teaching the power of singing. This passion led to the formation of the internationally renowned “London Lucumi Choir” which continues to rehearse, perform and record. Simultaneously she has been a Lucumi Orisha Practitioner since 1986 and consequently became initiated in Havana, Cuba as an Olorisha of Oshun in 2006. She has since initiated, six Godchildren and is a guide to over 20 others within her religious house. She takes the dissemination of knowledge within the Lucumi path very seriously and has been writing a popular online Blog for 16 years which has led to the writing of this book.