Dear participants,

here are the pictures and report for the special group ritual for our beloved Golden Mother, Orisha Ochum!

When it comes to the Orishas, and specially to Ochum, a lot of the work simply must be kept secret from non-initiates. Just being able to get permission from Her, and from all the other Spirits, to give these services to non-initiates is already a huge privilege, so let me say a huge Thank You to all customers for understanding. I am already explaining as much as I am allowed!

During the first two weeks of the year, we've been making special offerings to our beloved mother, some public, like a 10 kilos (22 pounds) sack of organic oranges, but mostly private, to have her favour and assure her generosity in the ritual.

The ceremony, as always, begins with the setting of the altar:

· The candles, two golden pillars, and two beeswax+honey pillars, have been anointed with locally produced honey, plus a mixture of several essential and perfumed oils of her liking, like Myrrh, Orange, Vanilla, and others.

· Around the candles, a circle made of Blessed Salts is made – besides the fact that these salts are made with real gold sheet (artist grade, best of the best!), which is Ochum's most powerful element, this time, all magical oils have been mixed with the salts: Ven Dinero Oil, Healing Oil, Love Oil, Abundance Oil, Blessing Oil, and actually many more. Our Mother can bring many, many things into our lives, and every customer has a different need.

· In the censer, a mixture of all golden resins in my collection was made (like Mexican golden copal, Jordanian Myrrh, or Ethiopian frankincense), plus some resins which have her favourites fragrances (like orange and honeysuckle from Mount Athos). This is one of those instances in which I wish I could send scents through the mail, it was just perfect and intoxicating!

· Finally, the outside circle of the table was filled with yellow chrysanthemums in two different tones of yellow (it's not sunflower season in this latitude), plus some of the oranges that were purchased for her, sweetened with honey and cinnamon, as she enjoys them, plus a large amount of popcorn, made the African way (that is, with Dende Oil and honey).

After the altar was set, the casting of the work was done (this is spoken word, so there are no pictures of it), and a full set of prayers for every participant was recited, asking our mother for blessings, healing, abundance, love, road opening, fertility, creativity, inspiration, and all the wonderful things Ochum gives us!

That is it. The altar will remain lit and cared for all day, and several offerings of the incense mixture will be offered as the hours pass, sending a steady, powerful flow of energy your way. Remember that all images are clickable to be seen full size!

Thank you so much to everyone who participated, and may our beloved mother bless you, protect you, and guide you always towards love and joy!

Carolina