Electric Santería
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Electric Santería
Aisha M. Beliso-De Jesús's "Electric Santería" offers a vital perspective on the enduring power of spiritual connection in a hyper-connected age. The book excels in its detailed ethnography, particularly in illustrating the concept of "copresence." Beliso-De Jesús masterfully shows how Santería practitioners maintain profound bonds with deities and ancestors through both established rituals and the innovative use of contemporary technologies. The strength lies in its nuanced portrayal of lived religion, moving beyond static descriptions to capture the fluid, dynamic nature of spiritual practice. A limitation, perhaps inherent in the depth of its focus, is that readers unfamiliar with Santería might occasionally find the specific terminology and ritualistic context dense without prior knowledge. The exploration of how practitioners use cell phones to share spiritual experiences, for instance, is a concrete and powerful example of the book's central thesis, demonstrating a remarkable ability to bridge the material and the spiritual. Ultimately, "Electric Santería" provides an indispensable look at faith in the digital era.
📝 Description
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Aisha M. Beliso-De Jesús published Electric Santería in 2015, an ethnographic study of contemporary American Santería.
Electric Santería, published in 2015, is an ethnographic study by Aisha M. Beliso-De Jesús that examines the lived experiences of Santería practitioners in contemporary America. The book focuses on the concept of "copresence," a spiritual connection that allows practitioners to feel present with others, including ancestors and deities, even when physically separated. Beliso-De Jesús uses detailed fieldwork to show how these spiritual connections are maintained and enacted in daily life.
The research for this book spanned eight years and situates Santería within the evolving religious practices of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Santería, an Afro-Cuban religion, has a history of adaptation in the United States, especially after the Cuban Revolution. This work appears at a time when digital communication began to change how religious communities connect, offering a different perspective from studies that only considered in-person gatherings.
The central concept explored is "copresence," defined as the felt sense of spiritual connection and shared presence among practitioners across distances. This includes communion with Orishas (deities) and ancestors, achieved through various rituals and everyday actions. The book also examines "spiritual technologies," the methods and tools practitioners use to sustain these connections.
Electric Santería contributes to the study of African diaspora religions, specifically Santería, which is an Afro-Cuban faith tradition. This tradition, with roots in West African spiritual practices and Catholicism, has developed unique forms of expression in the Americas. Beliso-De Jesús's work places this living tradition within a modern context, examining how its spiritual principles and community structures adapt and persist in the face of technological change and migration. It highlights the ongoing vitality and resilience of these spiritual systems.
💡 Why Read This Book?
• Understand "copresence" as a lived spiritual reality, moving beyond abstract notions of community, as demonstrated through Beliso-De Jesús's ethnographic accounts of Santería practitioners. • Explore the concept of "spiritual technologies" and how they are employed to maintain religious connections, drawing on specific examples of both traditional practices and modern digital tools. • Gain insight into the resilience and adaptability of the Santería tradition in the United States, particularly in the context of globalization and technological advancement since the 2015 publication date.
⭐ Reader Reviews
Honest opinions from readers who have explored this book.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core concept of 'copresence' in Electric Santería?
Copresence, as explored in Electric Santería, refers to the tangible feeling of spiritual connection and togetherness experienced by Santería practitioners with deities, ancestors, and fellow devotees, even when physically separated.
What kind of ethnographic research did Aisha M. Beliso-De Jesús conduct?
Beliso-De Jesús engaged in eight years of intensive ethnographic research, involving direct observation, interviews, and participation in the spiritual lives of Santería practitioners in the United States.
How does Electric Santería relate to technology?
The book examines how modern technologies, such as cell phones and social media, are utilized by Santería practitioners as 'spiritual technologies' to foster and maintain copresence and community.
What is the historical background of Santería discussed in the book?
The work touches upon Santería's roots in West African Yoruba traditions and its development in the Afro-Cuban diaspora, particularly its establishment and evolution within the United States.
Who are the 'Orishas' mentioned in Electric Santería?
Orishas are the deities or spiritual forces in the Santería pantheon, each with unique characteristics and domains, with whom practitioners seek to establish and maintain a relationship.
What does the term 'spiritual technologies' mean in this context?
Spiritual technologies, as defined by Beliso-De Jesús, are the methods, tools, and practices – both traditional and contemporary – that individuals use to connect with the sacred and maintain spiritual presence.
🔮 Key Themes & Symbolism
Copresence in Practice
The book meticulously details how Santería practitioners experience and enact copresence, moving beyond theoretical discussions to illustrate its manifestation in daily life. This includes the felt presence of Orishas and ancestors during rituals, ceremonies, and even mundane activities. Beliso-De Jesús shows how this spiritual togetherness is not merely a belief but a palpable reality that shapes practitioners' identities and communities, especially in the diaspora.
Spiritual Technologies
A central theme is the innovative use of 'spiritual technologies' by Santería devotees. This encompasses not only traditional elements like drumming, divination, and offerings but also the integration of contemporary digital tools. The work highlights how practitioners leverage cell phones and online platforms to share spiritual moments, maintain connections across distances, and sustain their faith communities, demonstrating a dynamic adaptation of religious practice.
Diaspora and Identity
Electric Santería underscores the significance of the African diaspora in shaping religious expression. The book illustrates how Santería, originating in West Africa and evolving in Cuba, continues to adapt and thrive among practitioners in the United States. It explores how these spiritual practices contribute to the formation and maintenance of cultural and religious identity for individuals navigating diverse social landscapes.
Mediating the Sacred
The work examines the various ways practitioners mediate their connection to the sacred. This involves understanding the roles of priests, rituals, and symbolic objects as conduits for divine presence. Beliso-De Jesús emphasizes that this mediation is an active, ongoing process, requiring intentionality and engagement from the practitioner to foster relationships with the Orishas and ancestral spirits.
💬 Memorable Quotes
Direct passages from the work, attributed to the author.
“Copresence is a felt sense of being together with others, including the divine and ancestors.”
— This core concept highlights the tangible, experiential nature of spiritual connection within Santería, emphasizing that presence is not solely physical but a deeply felt spiritual reality.
“Practitioners use cell phones to share spiritual moments across distances.”
— This observation points to the integration of modern technology into religious practice, demonstrating how digital tools become 'spiritual technologies' for maintaining community and divine connection.
“The Orishas are present in the everyday lives of believers.”
— This interpretation underscores the immanence of the divine in Santería, suggesting that spiritual forces are not remote but actively engaged with and accessible within the mundane world.
“Rituals serve as crucial sites for enacting and reinforcing spiritual connections.”
— This highlights the performative aspect of Santería, where communal and individual rituals are essential for making spiritual presence manifest and strengthening bonds with the sacred.
“Santería adapts and thrives in new cultural contexts.”
— This reflects the dynamic nature of the religion, emphasizing its resilience and capacity to evolve while maintaining its core tenets, particularly as it flourishes in the African diaspora.
🌙 Esoteric Significance
Tradition
While Santería is not typically categorized within Western esoteric traditions like Hermeticism or Theosophy, it shares common ground in its focus on intermediary spiritual beings (Orishas akin to divine messengers or emanations) and the cultivation of direct spiritual experience. Its lineage is rooted in West African Yoruba cosmology, which emphasizes the interconnectedness of the seen and unseen worlds. This work fits within a broader esoteric interest in Afro-Diasporic religions as pathways to understanding diverse forms of spiritual technology and divine communication.
Symbolism
Key symbols in Santería, as explored in the work, include the use of specific colors associated with each Orisha (e.g., white and red for Elegua, blue and yellow for Ochún), which carry complex meanings related to the deity's domain and attributes. Elements like water, specific herbs, stones, and animal sacrifices function as potent symbols and material conduits for connecting with spiritual forces. The act of drumming itself is highly symbolic, serving as a language to call and communicate with the Orishas.
Modern Relevance
Contemporary thinkers and practitioners in fields ranging from religious studies to digital humanities engage with Beliso-De Jesús's work. It informs discussions on how marginalized religious communities utilize technology to assert presence and maintain cultural heritage. The concept of 'spiritual technologies' offers a framework for analyzing the intersection of faith and digital media, relevant to scholars studying online spiritual communities, virtual sacred spaces, and the evolving nature of religious experience in a globalized, technologically mediated world.
👥 Who Should Read This Book
• Anthropologists and religious studies scholars researching African diaspora religions, particularly Santería, seeking nuanced ethnographic data on lived practice. • Individuals interested in the impact of technology on contemporary spirituality, exploring how digital tools shape religious experience and community formation. • Practitioners of Santería looking for an academic reflection on their faith that validates and contextualizes their lived spiritual realities.
📜 Historical Context
Published in 2015, Aisha M. Beliso-De Jesús's "Electric Santería" emerged during a period of significant digital saturation and ongoing globalization. The work builds upon decades of scholarship on African diaspora religions, following foundational studies by figures like Maya Deren and Roger Bastide. Santería, itself a syncretic religion blending Yoruba beliefs with Catholicism, had become increasingly visible in the United States, particularly following Cuban migration waves. Beliso-De Jesús's research engaged with theoretical discussions around lived religion and the impact of technology on spiritual practices, offering a counterpoint to earlier anthropological works that predominantly focused on in-person rituals. The book's emphasis on digital copresence positioned it within contemporary debates about networked religion and the changing nature of community in the 21st century, responding to the increasing interconnectedness facilitated by the internet.
📔 Journal Prompts
The concept of copresence and its manifestation through digital spiritual technologies.
Practitioner use of cell phones for spiritual connection.
The role of Orishas in the everyday lives of Santería devotees.
Maintaining spiritual bonds across physical distances.
The adaptation of Santería rituals in the United States.
🗂️ Glossary
Copresence
The felt sense of spiritual connection and togetherness experienced by practitioners with deities, ancestors, and fellow devotees, regardless of physical proximity.
Orishas
Deities or spiritual forces within the Santería pantheon, originating from Yoruba religion, each possessing distinct characteristics, domains, and relationships with humans.
Spiritual Technologies
Methods, tools, and practices, both traditional (like drumming, divination) and contemporary (like cell phones), employed by practitioners to connect with the sacred and maintain spiritual presence.
Ethnography
A qualitative research method involving immersive, firsthand observation and participation within a community to understand its social and cultural dynamics.
Santería
An Afro-Cuban religion syncretizing Yoruba beliefs and deities with elements of Catholicism, practiced widely in Cuba and its diaspora, particularly in the United States.
Aché
A fundamental concept in Santería representing divine life force, energy, power, and spiritual authority, often invoked in rituals and blessings.
Ile
A house or temple of Santería, serving as a center for religious practice, community gatherings, and the housing of sacred altars (ilé Ocha).
This book appears in 1 collection
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