All About Santeria Bracelets: Learn which hand they go on, what they’re for, the types of bracelets available, and much more.
If you’re not yet part of the Santería cult, but want to start, you’ve surely noticed that members wear certain types of necklaces or bracelets. This is because they are a vital element within Santería and carry a lot of meaning.
Not all bracelets are the same, since, as I mentioned above, they have different meanings, and the deity also influences them. If you want to learn more about it, be sure to read this article.
What is a Santeria Bracelet?
Santeria bracelets represent the union between the Catholic beliefs we know and Yoruba culture. They are responsible for providing not only protection and security, but also for establishing a bond with the protective god.
This bracelet is similar to a bracelet that goes with the elekes necklaces to begin initiation into the Yoruba religion. The color depends on the saint with which it is associated.
Which hand do Santeria Bracelets go on?
Many people always wonder which hand it goes on, and this is important, even though it may not seem so, because depending on which hand you wear it on, you are or are not making a pact with the deity.
The reason it’s placed on the left hand to make a pact is because, like an engagement ring, the vein that leads to the heart is on that arm, and that’s why it represents strength. This also applies to anything we give to the saints.
What are Santería bracelets called?
The bracelets are called elekes, but their names are in turn related to the saints to whom they are associated, although there can be different combinations depending on the case. The names are as follows:
- Oyá Bracelet with Eleggua.
- Obatalá Bracelet with Oyá.
- Ilde of Orula with Oyá.
- Ilde of Oyá with Shango.
- Meaning of the Elegua Santería Bracelet
Two types of beads are used to make them: honey-colored and yellow, and they must be made with the utmost respect.
What are the bracelets for?
Because the protection of the person entering the cult is so important, the purpose of the bracelets is just that: to provide security and protection to the wearer from any type of enemy or person intent on causing harm.
Keep in mind that there are things you cannot do while wearing the bracelet out of respect for the deity. It’s best to avoid any inappropriate behavior, so read carefully:
- Wearing it during sexual relations: Because in the world of Santeria, saints are considered to be in a state of divine peace, sexual relations cause discomfort due to the increase in body temperature.
- Wearing it during menstruation: In the case of women, during these periods, they must remove it from their arm and may not greet the saint during gatherings that occur on those days.
- Wearing it to parties: During a party or celebration, it’s important that the person not wear the bracelet because sudden changes in heat affect the saint’s stability.
- Letting a stranger or someone else touch it: It’s normal for people to be curious about this object, but you shouldn’t let them touch the bracelet because they would be contaminating it, meaning they would take on the person’s negative charge and cause you to carry bad fortune that isn’t yours.
Types of Santeria Bracelets
Since Santeria is a fairly broad cult, there are various bracelets you can use depending on the problem you have or the use you want to give it. Here are a few briefly:
- Protection Bracelets: These are the most well-known, and to be eligible for them, an initiation rite is required in which the person receives the hand of Orula.
- Bracelets of the Dead: These are not used in Palo Monté, only in the Regla of Ifá (see: Ifá signs and their meaning) and Oosa. The origin of these is unknown, which is why they are used in fashion, as they apparently are not necessary.
- Orula and Shango Bracelet: These are used to provide peace, protective intuition, transparency, and enlightenment.
- Oshun Bracelet with Shango: This bracelet provides opening or opens the path to the spiritual and gives strength. It is also used to open the door to wealth, activating joy, the mind, and happiness with its own light.
- Shango and Yemaya Bracelet: Its purpose is to provide calm, protection, and to let in the presence of light to relax the wearer.
Below, we’ll delve deeper into some of these types of bracelets, so you’ll understand the significance of each one.
1. Orisha Bracelets
Orisha bracelets are among the most significant ritual objects in Santeria. Each orisha has a particular color and symbolism that is reflected in the bracelet. These bracelets represent a direct connection with the corresponding orisha and have the ability to attract their energies and blessings into the believer’s life.
Oshun Bracelet
Oshun, the goddess of love, beauty, and fertility, is one of the most venerated figures in Santeria. She is the protector of prosperity, abundance, and love. Oshun bracelets are commonly yellow, although they can also be gold or orange. In addition to their characteristic color, Oshun bracelets are often decorated with pearls or crystals, as these are symbolic representations of beauty, purity, and abundance.
The Oshun bracelet is primarily used to attract prosperity, maintain harmony in personal relationships, and facilitate fertility. It is also commonly worn by those wishing to find good economic opportunities or improve their financial situation.
Rituals and Offerings: When wearing the Oshun bracelet, it is important to offer her sweet fruits such as mangoes, peaches, and oranges, as well as honey, a food sacred to her. These offerings can help strengthen the connection with the deity and attract her positive energy.
Obatala Bracelet
Obatala, the orisha of justice, wisdom, and purity, is one of the highest orishas in the Yoruba pantheon. He is known as the “father of all orishas” and the protector of peace and harmony. His bracelet is white, symbolizing purity, peace, and light. This bracelet is associated with mental clarity, ancestral wisdom, and the ability to make just decisions.
The Obatala bracelet is frequently worn in moments of reflection, to invoke divine wisdom and ask for guidance in making important decisions. It is also worn to achieve balance in life and maintain integrity.
Rituals and Offerings: Obatala’s bracelet is associated with offerings of white bread, lard, milk, and white fruits, which symbolize purity and generosity.
Eshu Bracelet
Eshu is the messenger orisha and guardian of the paths, known for opening or closing spiritual doors. His bracelet is red and black and is associated with the power to change destinies, open paths, and resolve conflicts. Eshu bracelets are of great importance in rituals that seek success or resolve obstacles.
The Eshu bracelet should be worn with respect, as this orisha is known for being very playful and provocative. He is worn to help in situations of financial hardship, family conflicts, or any situation where quick and effective changes are needed.
Rituals and Offerings: Offerings for Eshu include pieces of pepper, rum, bread, and red fruits. These offerings, along with the bracelet, keep the path open and allow the circulation of positive energies.
2. Protection Bracelet
Protection bracelets are fundamental to the practice of Santería. They are used to protect the believer from negative energies, the evil eye, witchcraft, and other external influences. These bracelets can be made of bone, black pearls, turquoise, red thread, or coconut shells.
The protection bracelet is worn to ensure that the person is always spiritually protected against negative attacks, whether physical or psychological.
Rituals and Offerings: Protection bracelets should be accompanied by rituals that include prayers to protective orishas, such as Eshu, Ogun, or Obatala, to ensure constant spiritual vigilance.
3. Ancestor Bracelet
Ancestor bracelets are especially powerful in the Yoruba tradition and Santería. Ancestors are revered as the family’s spiritual guides, and their spirits are invoked to bring wisdom, protection, and strength. Ancestor bracelets are typically made of materials such as bone, wood, or coconut shell and are intended to honor and connect with the spirits of the dead.
These bracelets are worn by those seeking to maintain a connection with their ancestral roots and seek guidance from the spirits of their ancestors on their spiritual path.
Rituals and Offerings: For these bracelets, offerings of bread, fruit, and liquor are made in honor of the ancestors, in addition to prayers to ask for their continued blessing and protection.
How to make bracelets step by step?
If you want your own bracelet, you can make it yourself, but if you don’t know how, here are some steps to guide you. The materials you’ll need are:
- 8mm crystal, 14 pieces of white and 15 pieces of red. You can also use green and yellow.
- Calibrated seed beads.
- 4mm crystal, 29 pieces.
- Clasp or button.
- 6mm rondelles, 4 pieces.
- Water.
- 3 meters of nylon thread.
Preparation:
- Insert the nylon thread into your needle.
- Place a red and a white crystal, then place 5 beads alternating between white and red.
- Then place a 4 mm crystal and the 5 beads again, alternating between white and red.
- Pull everything until there is 20 cm at the bottom before the thread runs out. Hold it and pass the water through the middle of the 8 crystals and up.
- When you pull everything back, you will have a shape similar to that of a ring.
- Repeat the above steps on the right side.
- When you pull this new section you just made, you will have the two largest crystals in the center surrounded by the smaller ones.
- Proceed to place an 8 mm crystal and a 4 mm crystal, 5 beads, a 4 mm crystal again, and finally, 5 beads. Stop the needle through the 8 mm crystal to do this and place a white crystal to start.
- Then, repeat this procedure on the other side and so on until you have the desired size.
- Finally, attach the clasp. First, attach a bead and thread it through the remaining thread.
- Add a red and a white crystal, then another bead.
- Attach your button or clasp, passing the needle through the middle to reinforce it.
- Tie a knot and thread the remaining thread through the beads you’ve already made. Tie the knot again.
- At the other end, make a circle similar to the size of your clasp or button with the nylon.
- Attach as many beads as needed, alternating the colors, and you’re done.
Meaning of Santeria Bracelets in Dreams
As you know, dreams have meanings that must be identified and interpreted because they are usually the beginning of something great and good for our good, so if you happen to have a dream about this object, it’s best to be aware of it. Here are some explanations:
- If you dream that you are holding your bracelet in your hands, this is a sign of a very good omen, something like a declaration of good fortune and good luck.
- When in a dream you visualize your bracelet breaking, you don’t have to worry because it means you are on the right path toward what you want so much. It also means that you are acting bravely in a situation.
Bracelets in this Santeria cult have great significance and that is why they should be worn respectfully to avoid disrespecting the deities and causing problems.
If you didn’t know anything about the use of bracelets, you may notice that they are not an accessory that you can wear to any event or buy in any store. It is best to give them the due respect they deserve so as not to upset the deities.
Conclusion
Santeria bracelets are more than simple ornaments; they are essential elements of spiritual practice that serve as means of communication with the orishas and spirits. Each bracelet is charged with deep meaning and purpose, and when worn correctly, it has the power to attract blessings, protection, and positive energy.
It is important to remember that these bracelets must be treated with respect and dedication, and must always be properly consecrated by a Babalawo or a priest of the religion. Furthermore, the use of the bracelets must be accompanied by rituals and offerings, which reinforce their power and allow for a full and lasting spiritual connection with the orishas and ancestors.
By choosing and wearing a Santeria bracelet, you are committing to the ancestral tradition and seeking to align yourself with the spiritual energies that guide and protect humanity.