• The first book to provide complete, specific instructions for casting the obi oracle of the Santeria faith.

• Uses the shell of a coconut, which embodies the spirit of Obi, as a divination tool.

• Includes a detailed "mojuba" or prayer that awakens the orishas and invites them to speak.

• Examines in depth the five basic patterns that appear when obi is cast and explains how to interpret the oracle's answer.

• Explores the fifty additional patterns and meanings contributed by ten orishas closely associated with the orisha Obi.

One of the paths to the spirits within Santeria is through a divination technique known as obi, the coconut oracle, which gives the petitioner access to the orisha of the same name. The orisha Obi began as a mortal human who ascended to become an orisha as a reward for good deeds done on Earth, then fell from grace because of excessive pride. When he descended back to Earth, his spirit was embodied in the coconut palm. Though he no longer has a tongue, he can answer questions posed to him through the patterns made by four pieces of coconut shell cast as a divination tool.

Obi: Oracle of Cuban Santeria is the first book to fully explore the sacred body of lore surrounding Obi, as well as his particular rituals and customs, including opening considerations, casting and interpreting the oracle, and employing advanced methods of divination. Also explained are the previously unpublished secrets of closing the oracle properly so that any negative vibrations will be absorbed by the coconuts and permanently removed from the diviner's home. 

The Midwest Book Review, December 2001