REFLECTION: THURSDAY JUNE 11, 2015

Today we toured Ilé Axé Opô Afonjá, the Candomblé Temple and community grounds (for a lack of a better phrase). Candomblé is a very important religion here and such a large part of the culture in Salvador, so it was definitely a proper destination for this course.

A few days ago, on our visit to the church of Nosso Senhor Do Bonfim, I received a green colored ribbon to tie around my wrist. Tradition is that you tie it with three knots, a wish for each knot that you tie. You are supposed to keep it on until it falls off naturally. Only then, will your wishes come true. The green ribbon apparently represents Oxossi, one of the Candomblé Orixas, the hunter.

I thought it was pretty cool to see the Candomblé temple, and learn more about the lifestyle behind this religion. It certainly is so much more than a lifestyle, and it is so different that any other religion that I have ever came into contact with first-handed.

Me with the temple of my bracelet’s orixa (different color depending on nations. Oxossi can be both green and lighter blue.)