• The first book to provide complete, specific instructions for casting the obi oracle of the Santería faith. • Uses the shell of a coconut, which embodies the spirit of Obí, as a divination tool. • Includes a detailed “mojuba” or prayer that awakens the orishas and invites them to speak. • Examines in depth the five basic patterns that appear when obí is cast and explains how to interpret the oracle's answer. • Explores the fifty additional patterns and meanings contributed by ten orishas closely associated with the orisha Obí One of the paths to the spirits within Santeria is through a divination technique known as obi, the coconut oracle, which gives the petitioner access to the orisha of the same name. The orisha Obí began as a mortal human who ascended to become an orisha as a reward for good deeds done on Earth, then fell from grace because of excessive pride. When he descended back to Earth, his spirit was embodied in the coconut palm. Though he no longer has a tongue, he can answer questions posed to him through the patterns made by four pieces of coconut shell cast as a divination tool. Obí: Oracle of Cuban Santería is the first book to fully explore the sacred body of lore surrounding Obí, as well as his particular rituals and customs, including opening considerations, casting and interpreting the oracle, and employing advanced methods of divination. Also explained are the previously unpublished secrets of closing the oracle properly so that any negative vibrations will be absorbed by the coconuts and permanently removed from the diviner's home. Within the Santeria faith, the coconut is said to contain the wisdom of Obi, an ancestor who once fell from grace within this Afro-Cuban-based religion. Author and crowned Santeria priest Ocha'ni Lele ( The Secrets of Afro-Cuban Divination ) assembled this rich book that teaches readers how to use the coconut, or the wisdom of Obi, for divination. Along the way Lele offers stories about the history and main characters of the Santeria faith. Readers will learn how to choose the right coconut (find one that has milk sloshing inside), how to break it apart, and how to piece out the four sections of coconut that will be used to answer the questions brought to Obi. The idea is to drop the coconut pieces from waist height and study the patterns they form on the ground. For example, it's important to note how many pieces land with the dark rind side showing, and how many land with the white meat facing skyward. Lele also teaches readers how to pay homage to the powers of creation, the dead priests and priestesses of the Orisha, as well as all their religious and blood ancestors. Bear in mind that this book is for serious followers of the Santeria faith, who will be greatly pleased with Lele's reverence and willingness to share insider secrets. --Gail Hudson "It's the only title to narrow the focus on Santeria to Obi, and provides specific divination instructions for casting and interpreting the oracle." ― The Midwest Book Review, December 2001 "For one wishing to learn about this particular system of divination, it is the best book on the subject I have seen. It is clearly written, easy to read, and the author does not talk down to the reader. It is easily affordable, and well worth the effort to obtain and read it." ― Mike Gleason, Witchgrove, March 2007 DIVINATION / INDIGENOUS CULTURES The Santeria, or Lucumi, faith is not a static religion but a living conduit for connecting the spirit world to our own. One of the paths to the spirits within Santeria is through a divination technique known as Obi, the coconut oracle, which gives the petitioner access to the orisha of the same name. The orisha Obi began as a mortal human who ascended to become an orisha as a reward for good deeds done on Earth, then fell from grace because of excessive pride. When he descended back to Earth, his spirit was embodied in the coconut palm. Though he no longer has a tongue, he can answer questions posed to him through the random patterns made by four pieces of coconut shell cast as a divination tool. Obi Oracle of Cuban Santeria is the first book to fully explore the patakis of Obi, the sacred body of lore surrounding him, as well as his particular rituals and customs. Hands-on divination instructions include opening considerations, specifics on casting and interpreting the basic oracle, and employing advanced methods of divination. Also explained are the previously unpublished secrets of closing the oracle properly so that any negative vibrations will be absorbed by the coconuts and permanently removed from the diviner's home. Author of The Secrets of Afro-Cuban Divination, oCHA'NI LELE has been immersed in the underground culture of Orisha worship since 1989. By 1995 he had received several initiations in both Santeria and the Congo faith Palo Mayombe and in 2000 he made Ocha and was crowned a Santeria priest. He lives in Florida. Author of The Secrets of