what is the process to become a santero
a cleansing ritual making Ochá (Saint)
title: Santería text: process of purification and divination whereby the initiated becomes like a newborn baby and begins a new life of deeper growth within the faith. Once the initiation is completed, depending on the individuals "house", there is a year-long waiting period, known as "iyaboraje", in which the newly appointed Priest and Priestess can not perform cleansings and other remedies. It is a time where the "Iyawo" or Bride of the "Orichá" must follow a strict regimen of wearing all white and must avoid physical contact with those who have not been initiated. Once the "" has been completed there will be title: Santería text: healing, they will undergo the "" (blessing of the head), in which coconut water and cotton are applied on the head to feed it. Once cleansed, there are four major initiation rituals that the initiator will have to undergo: obtaining the "elekes" (beaded necklace), receiving "Los Guerreros" (the Warriors), making "Ocha" (Saint), and "Asiento" (ascending the throne). The first ritual is known as the acquisition of the beaded necklaces (known as "ilekes"); according to De La Torre, "the colors and patterns of the beads on the ilekes will be those of the orichá that serves as the iyawo's (bride) ruling title: Santería text: Santería Santería, also known as Regla de Ocha, La Regla de Ifá, or Lucumí, is an Afro-American religion of Caribbean origin that developed in the Spanish Empire among West African descendants. "Santería" is a Spanish word that means the "worship of saints". Santería is influenced by and syncretized with Roman Catholicism. Its sacred language is the Lucumí language, a variety of Yoruba. Santería is a system of beliefs that merges aspects of Yoruba religion brought to the New World by enslaved Yoruba people along with Christianity and the religions of the indigenous peoples of the Americas. The Yoruba people carried title: Santería text: an end of year ceremony, which will enable the Priest or Priestess to consult clients, perform cleansings, provide remedies and perform initiations. And according to Gonzalez: "they are also regarded as royalty in the religion, as they are considered representatives of the "Orichás" and are vested with the power to work with the forces of those "Orichás" in full." With Santería rituals there are musical ceremonies and prayers that are referred to as "bembé", "", or "tambor". It is a celebration dedicated to an "Orichá", where the "batá" drums (set of three drums known as the "iya" (the largest drum), title: Santería text: origins and strongholds of Cuban Lucumí culture and religion. To become a "Santero" or "Santera" (Priest or Priestess of Santería), the initiator must go through an intensive week-long initiation process in which the teaching of the ritual skills and moral behavior occurs informally and nonverbally. To begin with, the initiator goes through what is called a cleansing ritual. The initiator's "Padrino" (godfather) cleanses the head with special herbs and water. The "Padrino" rubs the herbs and water in a specific pattern of movements into the scalp of the head. However, if a person is entering Santería for the need of