Letra Del Año 2023

In the religious temple of Greico Echu Oba Nigue Omo Elegua. 

Denver, Colorado 

January 6th,  2023

We do this with the purpose that in this year those people who belong to this Yoruba religious temple can have a guide that serves as orientation and prosperity in the path of their lives.

Oba: Echu Oba Nigue 

Feisita: Iya Ibu Ode

Se Sienta: Baba Funque 

Witnesses:

• Oya Funcho 

• Ibu Lorena 

• Echu Dina

• Oba Iworo 

• Omi Oloyu

               Ofo     Iku     Eleseleda    Lariche   Ebbo De Darle De Comer A Los Santos

Elegua:   6-7   5-8      9-5          11-6        9-9                                      5-5

Obi: Itagua Meye Con Ire

The prophecy of this Odun, Ofo Iku Eleseleda, is death among human beings because of their own decisions. If the advice of the Orisha is listened to, and the corresponding ebos are done, difficulty will be overcome.

Orishas That Rule In Our Religious Temple This Year:

Elegua (6-6) y Yemalla

Flag: Red and black vertical with blue trim. Hang the banner behind the door.

Proverb of the Sign:

The dog has four legs and chooses only one path. (If we can't get our heart, body, mind and spirit to work together and lead us in one direction, we're going to be stuck at the crossroads, unable to progress.)

The Advice of the Orisha this year:

• Give thanks to the saints for very little you have.

• You have to have faith in your Orishas. Sacrifice for your Orishas.

• Maferefun (praise) the dead. You have to be on top of the dead and the spirits

• The throne reigns.

• Chango says that he has saved everyone and has always stood up for you.

• Chango has luck for everyone this year.

• Obara is a brotherhood, the family of stones. As long as there is a stone, there will always be a consecration.

• This Odun (sign) talks about business, commerce.

• You have to put your hands in the sink, wash the Orishas in the ceremonies.

• Save money for when there is none. This speaks of 6 good months and 6 bad months.

• Save money for when work slows down.

• Don't be slaves to work. Spend time with the family. Not everything in life is work. Spend time with your children so that tomorrow you don't reproach them for their absence.

• Take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves this business year. As long as it's for a good benefit. This year will bring opportunities for trade, business, and money.

• Be careful of fire in the house.

• Pray to the Orishas with fruit. Do ebó at the foot of the Orishas

• Be very careful with the law. Do not get into trouble with the law or get involved in anyone’s legal problems.

• Don't count on money you don't already have in your hands. Count on the money you have at the moment.

• Don't tell lies. speak the truth

• The King dies and another one takes his place.  

• The one who knows does not die like the one who does not know.

• There are people who are very envious of you.

• Don't lend money to anyone

• Help as much as you can. Don't sacrifice what you have worked hard for on someone else’s behalf.

• Do not talk about your secrets with just anyone.

• This year you have to be very careful with alcohol.

• You have to be on top of the Orishas. Take care of them, give them flowers and fruit. The saints are the ones that they will save you.

• You can't be in two places at once. Don't do so many things at once.

• A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

• Elegua will do a trick so that we always win.

• You are all children of Elegguá, and he always sticks up for you.

• Either we get married or we get divorced. This (sign) talks about weddings.

• Use peony this year. Put on a peony necklace.

• This Odun talks about gossip, tragedy, friends who betray you and talk about you behind your back.

• Don't get involved in anyone else’s problems.

• Don’t envy anyone for any reason.

• Do not let anyone stay at your house with you.

• Don't help anyone else get back on their feet.

• Give a ladder to Elegua.

• Take Elegua out with you.

• Throw toasted corn and candy at street corners.

• There will be a battle about some kind of paperwork.

• Do not argue with the elderly and those who have gray hair.

• Don't stand out on corners.

• Don't go into bars.

• There can be problems in court.

• Rolling stones meet back up: the past returns.

• Don't mistreat dogs.

• The Ebo of the year is born in this sign.

• Don't get involved in love triangles.

• Don't cheat in marriage. There cannot be infidelity in marriage. The fighting between husband and wife must end.

• Do not complain about the little that you have. Be thankful.  Don't speak poorly of anyone.

• When something bad happens, look for the positive side.

• Take care of your throat, ears, and stomach.

• For those who smoke, be careful with cigarettes and falingl asleep with a lit cigarette.

• Sacrifice yourselves to obtain things so that the Orisha make sacrifices themselves for you.

• There is a son of Changó and Elegua on the way.

• Play music for the Orishas

• Don't self medicate. Do not take medication that you do not need to take or that has not been prescribed by a doctor

• Do not mix alcohol with medication.

• Don't argue with women. The enemy of this Odun is women.

• Put 3 mousetraps to Elegua to hunt down your enemies

• Take care of Eleggua

• Maferefun Orisha Oko.

• In this sign, money is earned by making sacrifices.

• Give a piggy bank to Eleggua

• Beware of theft

• Take care of your back, feet, legs especially the left leg

• Make Chango beautiful this year

• Give peonies to Eleggua

• Give a peony maraca to Eleggua

• This year will be good

• If a son of Elegua comes who needs to do Santo, he needs help. Eleggua wants us all to help him.

• Wars are won with intelligence.

• This sign speaks of witchcraft and warfare. You have to be smart to win.

• Take care of your health.

• Take vitamins.

• Don't do drugs, don't smoke.

Closed: 5-5 Do Ebo

 
Ebos:

1. Feed Chango 2 roosters

2. Do Ebo at the foot of Eleggua with 3 fish, 3 sweet potatoes, and toasted corn for 3 days.

3. Do the Ebo of the year - For those who cannot feed all of their saints, at least feed Eleggua, your guardian angel, and Chango.

4. Pray to the Orishas with fruit. Do ebó at the foot of the Orishas

5. From time to time take baths with peony

6. Drink palo malambo tea to get rid of bad gasses from inside

How to start practicing Palo

There are many people out there that would like to get started with Palo but are unsure how to do it.  As an American getting started, I found it especially difficult.  Despite all of the books that I read, I didn't know the right way to get started.  If you find yourself in this position, please don't hesitate to contact me directly at  (720) 257-8539.

Palo is a religion that truly can only be learned from our elders.  As my Padrino (god-father) says, it is in the practice that we learn.  This can be very difficult for us to understand, especially for Americans.  We are used to doing a lot of self study, researching things online, and reading books to find the information that we need.  With the internet, we live in a world of instant gratification.  My first piece of advice for you is to slow down and be patient.  With Palo, you must learn from your elders and wait for the right moment to learn.

There are things you can learn on your own.  For example, you can read about the deities and learn their attributes.  Just be cautious of what you are reading and where you are getting your information from.  There has been a lot of false and misleading information published that may lead you to confusion or to be taken advantage of.

The true practices must be learned from your elders.  This is for several reasons.  First, there are levels of initiations that you must go through in order to access certain information. In order to perform certain rituals you must have received the power necessary to be able to do them.  Second, each ceremony has very precise rituals involved, and doing something incorrectly can end up causing you problems.  Finally, your padrinos need to know that you are responsible enough to learn how to do things and will be doing things with our religion to bring good to the world and not do harm to anyone.

So how can you get started?  

There are several paths that you can go in:

Get a consultation from a trusted Palero:

A good Palero works with the dead and his Nganga, and these entities will give him insight into your past, present, and future.  Through prayer he will be able to ask questions on your behalf and help you resolve your immediate challenges.  

Choose your Padrinos

If you have been around the religion and know some Paleros, you can ask one of them to be your Padrino or Madrina.  Once he or she accepts you as his or her ahijado, you can get started with your initiations.  

Initiations

There are several layers of initiations.  They don't always have to go in this order, but most people will take these steps:

1.)  Rayamiento/Ngueyo:  The first level of initiation is called a Rayamiento, which will directly connect you to the dead and your Godfather's Nganga.  This is a complex 1 day ceremony that will forever change your course in this world.  This is an incredibly powerful experience and because of its permanence, should not be taken likely.  You should only consider this path if you have a good connection with your Godfather and have the confidence that they will be there for you forever.

2.)  Tata/Yaya:  In most Palo houses, this is a required 2nd step in order to truly start practicing Palo and helping during future ceremonies.  However, in our house, new initiates are passed directly to this position.

3.)  Prepare and receive a Nganga:  In order to be able to start working Palo on your own, do consultations, and have clients and Godchildren, you will need a Nganga of your own.  This is a huge undertaking and can sometimes take a year or longer to prepare.  Everyone is different, but once you have your Nganga you then need to learn how to work with it, which only it can show you how to do.  It can take months or even years to develop this talent.  

3.)  Tata Nganga:  This is the highest position one can achieve in Palo, and gives you the ability to began making Ngangas for your Godchildren.  Very few people ever achieve this level of initiation.

Regardless of your path, your experiences with the religion, or your attraction to the religion, be patient and educate yourself on the topic.  Make sure that it is something that you want to do, make make sure that your reasons are from a purely spiritual side with the purpose of evolution and progress.  

Spiritual Cleansings

People, places, and things attract and collect both positive and negative energy.  Some people are especially prone to absorbing the energy around them.  It is always a good idea to surround yourself by positive people and avoid places that collect negative energy, like hospitals and cemeteries.

In the event that you have found yourself spiritually contaminated, a good Santero/Palero/Spiritist should be able to do a consultation with you a prescribe a remedy in the form or a spiritual cleansing.  There are many different types of spiritual cleansings that can be performed for a variety of reasons.  Here are some common examples:

1.)  Personal cleansing - People can attract bad energy to themselves and may need to be cleaned from time to time.  This would typically be prescribed to you during a consultation.  It may be as simple as rubbing fruits across your body and offering them to one of the Orishas or could be more complex and require plants, animals, or a combination of all of the above.

2.)  House cleansing - It is a good idea to use incense to clean your house weekly.  In the event that something tragic has happened at your house you may need a more thorough cleansing to be performed by someone.

3.)  Business blessing - If you own your own business, there is a simple yet powerful ceremony that you should have a Santero perform for you at the beginning of the year.

Please contact me at 720.257.8539 if you would like to learn more about one of the above cleansings.

Letter of the year 2016

Letter of the Year 2016 in the Religious House/Temple of Greico

Echu Oba Nigüe, Omo Elegua

Denver, Colorado – January Fifteenth, 2016

For the fifth time the letter of the year is read through the shells of Elegua for God Children and Friends of the house.

We do this with the resolution that en this year everyone that belongs to this religious Yoruba temple may have a guide that serves to orient them and bring prosperity on their path in life.

Today we bring Elegua to earth to determine the letter of the year by Greico Echu Oba Nigüe's hands.  Oba Adele sits.

Feisita:  Iya Ibu Ode

Testigos:  

• Salaco
• Efun Moyugua
• Olomi cuyé

   iré    aricu      cotoyale

Elegua Alayiki:  6-6        5-9       7-2              6-3              

Coco: Alafia con iré

The “ire aricu cotoyale” means that the wellbeing is incomplete and that you must listen to the Orisha’s advice.  The blessings will be for everyone that is obedient and acts as they should.

Orishas that govern the house:  Chango and Oshun, defending Elegua.   

Flag:  Red with yellow borders.

Red and yellow. (Hang it behind the door)

Proverbs of the sign:

• From legend the truth is born.
• He who knows does not die like the one that does not know.  
• As the king dies the prince is crowned.
• The king does not lie.
• The odún of the squash, the wagon wheel, and that you can’t serve the world as a ladder.
• The candle is below but we don’t feel it.
• Belly full, belly empty.

This is the odún where animals are born that save food in the summer so that when winter arrives they always have something to eat.  We have to learn how to do this – save for when there is nothing.

The spirits

Feed the dead.  Maferefun 7 Rayos.  You have to keep your spiritual vault clean and pray to it.  Burn incense and stay on top of your spirits.  Whoever needs to have a prenda should start preparing to have one.  Keep a wine glass full of water and put a lighting rock in it.  Feed the earth.

The Saints

Wear Obatala and Chango's necklace every day this year.  

Love your Orishas.  They will test you to see what you do.  You should put pumpkins in your house, especially to Chango and Elegua.  Keep Chango beautiful this year.  Consegrate his Pillon.

You need to give Elegua a butternut squash and ladder.  If you don’t have Elegua, you can put these items by your front door.  The crown of the kings is in the air – a hat without a head.  Elegua is waiting for his Tambor.  Elegua will bring good things to those who deserve them this year.  Give Elegua a piggy bank.  Give him three mouse traps.  Feed your door at your house (and business).  

Oshun is watching us.  Feed her at the river.  Wear Coral this year and give her some too.

Chango says to spend your money wisely.  He wants to live in front of the door this year.  Give him wine, red apples, and make him Kimbobo (yellow grits with Okra).  After 6 days take this to a Cottonwood tree.  Take 6 rocks and boil them.  After put them in the door of your house and cover them with cold water to put out the fires in your life.  Give Chango bananas.  Give him a lighting rock.  Give him a butternut squash.  You must give him 6 mamey seeds.  You need to feed Chango and Osún.  Prepare an “hinche Osain” for Chango.  Give Chango a bat so that he bats away everything in your life that does not serve you.  Give Chango a wagon wheel.

Maferefun Ideu, Aye, and Aina.  Maferefun San Lazaro.   Respect children of Obatala.

This is six good months and six bad ones.  He who saves will always have.  This speaks of travel but first you must ask your guardian angel.

Maferefun Orula.  Feed him 2 hens.  By way of Orula comes good things.

No one can abandon your Orishas or throw them away.

The Abures

We need to avoid problems and arguments among our god brothers.  We have to be humble because with humility we can become great in the religion.  Remember that in Obara Melli one of your god brothers can do more for you in any given moment that your own family.  The birth of the Orisha through the rocks was born in this odún.  You can’t fall in love with married women or men, nor with your god-brothers/sisters.  You will have many religious children this year.  Everyone that is waiting to crown his or her guardian angel and make Ocha should do it this year.  There are people with bad character and they especially need to listen to this advice.  We are working with people that have lazy tongues.  Clean yourself with a cow’s tongue.  There are fake and jealous people around us.  Respect your godparents and god brothers.

Money/Business

In this sign was born the riches of the world.  This speaks of travel and business away from home.  Don't try to take away anyone's position.  Create legal businesses.

You have to save money this year.  Try your luck and gamble.  In this sign you go to bed poor and wake up rich.  Start new businesses, but make sure they are legal.  Don’t do anything illegal.    Be careful with fake paperwork or tricks within legal documents.  Be careful with businesses that you start at the beginning of the year.  All of the businesses need to have their paperwork well reviewed and contracts must be well signed.  Don’t loan money.  Don’t promise on what you can’t deliver.  Don’t help people get on their feet this year.  Don’t ask for money from anyone and don’t pawn anything.  Don’t do business with 3 people.

Justice

Obey the law and be careful.  Don’t trick people with paperwork.  You can possibly wind up in jail this year.  You must be clear with your businesses because the law can intervene.  If you go to jail, it could be for a very long time.

The House

Be very careful with the kitchen, anything to do with fire, and electricity (don’t leave candles lit if they are not 100%  in a safe place).  You can’t use weapons of any type.  Don’t smoke laying down because you can light yourself on fire.  Don’t wear red this year.  Don’t wear plaid this year.  Throw away anything that is old.  Burn some old clothing in a hole in your back yard if you have one.  Don't take anyone in to your house.  Don’t wear other people’s clothes.  Don’t wear wrinkled clothes.  Don’t wear ripped clothing.  Don’t keep anything for anyone in your house.  Clean your house with paradise and Cottonwood.  Make a powder with Cottonwood to blow.  Don’t lean chairs against the walls.  Don’t have cats in your house.  Don’t leave your hats, things, or clothing in anyone’s house.

Food

You have to cook  in the house.  Turn on the oven.  In Obara Melli, you should cook in the house everyday.

Don’t eat red beans, lamb, nor rooster this year.  You have to turn your oven on everyday.  The ire from this sign comes from the kitchen.  Don’t eat grits, okra, nor any type of squash.  When you are eating, you can’t share your food.  Don’t drink – alcohol is destruction and because of it you can find yourself in jail or do something very disrespectful.  Don’t eat the heads of any type of animal.  Don’t eat mamey.  Be careful with spicy food.  Don’t eat the tongue of any kind of animal.  The tongue can save us and at the same time it can drown us.  The tongue is the body’s whip.

Health

Take care of the throat.  Be careful with smoking any/everything.  Get your blood work tested.  Take care of your lungs, left leg, nerves, and rectum.  This sign speaks of diverticulosis.  Don’t get stressed our.  You may suffer on the inside.

For Women

Be careful with the loss of your virginity.  Young women must rogate their belly with a squash.  Women be wary of menopause.  This speaks of cysts in the ovaries and menstrual disorders.  Be careful with your tampons and hair, and make sure no one can take these things from you – they can destroy you with witchcraft if they have these things.

For Men

Men need to be wary of impotence.  Be careful with force so that you don’t get a hernia.  Control your impulses.  Avoid alcohol.  Don’t argue with anyone’s wife because this can cause a curse that can overtake us.  Respect people with gray hair (your elders).

Family

You have to listen to your women, if not everything at least some things.  Don’t mistreat your women.  You should enter into matrimony.  We need great respect between father and son this year.  This speaks of separation from matrimony and friends.  We must communicate well.  Be careful where you leave your kids and with whom you let take care of them.  Love your mom greatly and if she is not still with you, dedicate a mass at a catholic church to her.

Various Pieces of Advice

From the legend is born the truth.  Let's talk and project good things so that good things happen.

An empire will fall this year.  Don't offer what isn't yours.  Help who deserves it.  Never deny anyone a meal.  Don't do anyting that you know causes you harm.

Here false prophets are born.

This speaks of the wagon wheel.  Be careful in cars.  This speaks of 6 good months and 6 bad months.

Don't appear to be what you aren't.  Don't get involved in problems that aren't yours.

There are people that will leave our religious house speaking poorly of us this year.  But new godchildren will arrive.

Don’t discuss the religion with anyone that is not a Santero.  Respect your elders.  Don’t argue with drunks.  What you left in the past should stay in the past.  Don’t trade an old friend for a new one.  Don’t make use of things that are alien to you.

You will find out about deaths.  Control your excessive jealousies.  Don’t see things that aren’t there.  Don’t wear fake jewelry.  Don’t get new tattoos.

Listen to advice, even if it comes from children, because even a little kid could save you this year.

Don’t stop on the corner.  Don’t go where you haven’t been invited.  Don’t go to hospitals nor funerals.

Don’t let rain get you wet.  Don’t put fragrances on your head.  Don’t go up spiral staircases.  Don’t have things belonging to spirits in your house.

You have to speak because lies bring revolution.  Who has doubts must ask.  Don’t get irritated because they tell you the truth.  Don’t visit places where they drink a lot or where there could be riots.   

This speaks of abandonment.

You will recover what you have lost.  Be careful with heights or places that could be dangerous.  Don’t become involved in love triangles.  Don’t cry miseries.  Save for when there is nothing.

This speaks of exile.  There will be inactive volcanoes that suddenly erupt.

Eboses:

• Feed the earth (ceremony directed by your godfather).
• Rogate your head.
• Do a spiritual mass for your spiritual guides and put a blessed cross of reverence in your house.
• Make a spiritual vault and keep it clean.  Pray to it every Friday and burn incense.
• Feed the door of your house and business.
• Feed Oshun in the river.
• Give Elegua a squash and a ladder.  If you don’t have Elegua, put this behind your front door.
• Throw a Tambor for Elegua.
• Give Elegua a piggy bank.
• Give Elegua three mousetraps.
• Wear coral and give some to Oshun.
• Put Chango in front of your front door.  Give him wine, red apples, and make him a Kimbobo.  After six days take this to a Cottonwood tree.
• Get 6 rocks and boil them.  After, put them in the front door and douse them with cold water.
• Give Chango bananas.
• Give Chango a lightening rock.
• Give Chango a squash.
• Give Chango 6 mamey seeds.
• Feed Chango and Osún.
• Give Chango a “Hinche de Osain”.
• Give Chango a wagon wheel.
• Clean yourself with a cow’s tongue.

For the Santero:  You should receive these Orishas this year:

• San Lazaro
• Aina
• Ideu
• Aye
• Dada y Abañale
• The twins

The lowering closes with 7-6

• Impoertant - do everything you can for Chango this year.

May Elegua bless you!

ACHÉ!