Rogacion de Cabeza (Head Rogation)

One of the more common ebos marked in divination is a rogacion de cabeza or “head rogation”. This ceremony is called koborí eledá or ebori in the Lucumí language. In this cleansing and blessing ritual, a person’s conscious mind is aligned with his Orí (personal orisha) and his destiny through offerings to sacred points on the body, recitation of prayers and the presiding olorisha’s ashé. Think of it as a spiritual tune up.

The rogation is a simple ceremony that can be done at any time for anyone, but is typically marked in divination when a person needs to cool their head or “strengthen their mind”. When receiving a rogación de cabeza the person dresses all in white, and an Olorisha places several substances on points on the person’s body. These substances include coconut, cocoa butter, cool water and other items that bring peace and alignment to a person’s spirit. The greatest amount of these substances goes on the top of the head, and the head is wrapped in white cloth. (This is the origin of the name “head rogation”.)