➤ Santeria Bag 【What is it, what is it for and what does it mean?】

Last Update: September 26, 2022

Cults and religions are part of a society that adopts a certain practice, generally by tradition or family custom. The rites and characteristics of each religion become part of the way in which those beliefs are lived.

In Santeria, which is a religion product of the syncretism of the Yoruba religion and its adaptation and evolution in Cuba, there are many symbols that form an important part of the beliefs that are the foundation of this religion. The offerings, the way of dressing, the colors that are used, all have a meaning.

What is a Santeria Macuto?

Regarding Santeria, it is important to know that its deities are received through rituals according to the characteristics of each one. In general, food, objects and prayers are offered to attend to the orisha and to ask for guidance and protection.

Fundamentally the rituals in Santeria are for:

Ask protection and good luck (at work, love, business, etc.) Ask for a favor determined and specific. Giving and receiving to entities guides and thus please them.

In that sense it is also customary wear amulets to favor the work indicated by the godfather or the babalawo. The santeros use different elements to communicate with the orishas.

They are specially prepared from the physical point of view (its material elaboration) as well as their energy preparation (intentions and load for which they are made).

What is it for?

As we have already mentioned, a backpack is an object that is made to be carried and used by a person who has been analyzed by a santero (or babalawo) and who indicates that they should carry one as a part of his clothing.

Depending on the deity, the bag has certain colors, although it must always be consecrated by the santero so that it have the desired effect. And it precisely depends on that requested favor, it is that the different backpacks are useful. Thus we have that:

Macuto Elegguá: is used for achieve open roadsprosperity in business, finding new opportunities and well-being in general.
oshun bag: is a powerful amulet used for attraction sex and fertilityas well as to procure money and luck.
Macuto Obatala: promotes health and guarantees a mental healthy and balanced.
Macuto Shango: is associated with protection of strength, stability and justice in the life.
Oggun bag: It is used to avoid conflicts with accidents and situations that affect health.
Orula bag: helps to enhance the qualities cunning when acting as well as clarity and good behavior.
Macuto Yemaya: propitiates the welfare and prosperity which in turn generates abundance.
Bag 7 powers: because it is destined to the 7 main deities, the 7 powers is a strong amulet that seeks to reinforce the search for success, love, money and health.

How to make a Macuto?

The inclusion of elements that enhance determination, attraction, love, money, health and others, deserves that they be handled with care. seriousness and respect. It is a well-known guard and used in Santeria practices.

To make a backpack you can make in:

Snails Turtle carapaces Sea bird beaks Animal leather. stones. Corals. Animal teeth.

Inside the bag has different elements that give it the strength for which it is made. Depending on the path it takes, it can be placed inside:

colored beads. stones. Earth from different places. Holy water. Gold Dust (and Silver) Sticks. Herbs. Seeds of different kinds. Sea water (river, beach, rain) Honey Rum Tobacco Magnets.

There are many ways to prepare these amulets and here we mention how to prepare the Elegguá one. Look for paper bags and inside you must place:

Jutia Smoked fish Roasted corn. 3 guinea peppers. Corojo butter. Honey.

Once all this is united, it is placed in front of Elegguá with 2 candles, you clean yourself with the bags and leave them until the next day or until the candles are consumed.

What does it mean?

the backpack it is a shelter that can be considered a part of the customs that characterize Santeria. It has an outstanding meaning because it comes to be a protection against barriers that are affecting you.

There are barriers that limit your progress and are negative influences or dark forces and to avoid them, safeguards are made.

A backpack allows you to be alert and counteract the negative that may act against your development. In this way, it is an amulet that has an important meaning because it is based on the protection and preservation of the positive what’s in your way

There are some aspects that it is good to take into account about backpacks:

A woman cannot touch the backpack of a man. These amulets have a life of their own and sometimes transmit thoughts to the owner. The magical charge attached to them Gives confidence who wears it

Prayers and offerings have various motives on which the procedures depend. The orisha will grant different blessings as well as well-being in love, roads and healthin other aspects.

There are people who, without belonging to Santeria, use some of its elements, like charms of the macuto type and others.

It is also good to keep in mind that there are 7 African powers that make up the Yoruba pantheon and when invoked as one force, great protection can be achieved.