In an ile, people are related to each other not by blood, but by being in the same orisha "house-. ... The godparents become the spiritual parents of the spirits reborn in their godchildren. ... The eggun, the spirits of the dead, are honoured before the orishas. ... The water acts as "a kind of spiritual cleansing and as a subtle "trap- for impure spirits."" ... Some light cigars so that its smoke may attract spirits - especially African spirits. ...

• Word Count: 8386
• Approx Pages: 34
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School