TE mas Gonzaler-Wippler“Santeria is probably the best-kept secret of Hispanic culture ... Most people who have only casually heard of Santeria picture ‘voodoo dolls’ pierced with needles, the ritualistic sacrifice of defenseless animals, and totally incomprehensible states of spirit possession. Those who make a genuine effort to learn more are quickly frustrated ... and thereby deprived of knowledge of a fascinating religion with a most interesting history, colorful cere- monies, a rich mythology, and a profound philosophy ... This book will help immeasurably in furthering an understanding of Santeria.” — Charles Wetli, M.D. Deputy Chief Medical Examiner, Dade County, Florida In the United States and Latin America, there are over 100 million practitioners of Santeria. Despite such wide acceptance and prac- tice, Santeria remains for the larger, non-Hispanic culture a mys- tery shrouded in secrecy. But this secrecy, once yital to the religion’s survival, is no longer necessary. In recent years Santeria has experienced a surge in interest among people of many cultural groups. This attention has buttressed increased studies and exposure of the religion, its fasci- nating history, and its decreasingly clandestine practices, some of which remain under intense scrutiny and prohibition today. Through her extensive personal experience and advanced acade- mic study, author Migene Gonzdlez-Wippler responds to this bur- geoning interest by revealing all sides of this mesmerizing faith. Contending that Santeria remains as intact, as dynamic, and as viable as any of the world’s major religions, Gonzdlez-Wippler unearths the deep-rooted foundations of this expanding religious force.About the Author Migene Gonzélez-Wippler was born in Puerto Rico and has degrees in psychology and anthropology from the University of Puerto Rico and from Columbia University. She has worked as a science editor for the Interscience Division of John Wiley, the American Institute of Physics and the American Museum of Natural History, and as an English editor for the United Nations in Vienna, where she lived for many years. She is a cultural anthropologist and lectures frequently at colleges in New York. She is the noted author of many books on religion and mysticism, includ- ing the widely acclaimed Santeria: Aftican Magic in Latin America. To Write to the Author If you wish to contact the author or would like more information about this book, please write to the author in care of Llewellyn Worldwide, and we will forward your request. Both the author and publisher appreciate hearing from you and learning of your enjoyment of this book and how it has helped you. Llewellyn Worldwide cannot guarantee that every letter written to the author can be answered, but all will be forwarded. Please write to: Migene Gonzélez-Wippler c/o Llewellyn Worldwide - P.O, Box 64383, Dept, K329-8, St. Paul, MN 55164-0383, U.S.A. Please enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope for reply, or $1.00 to cover costs. If outside the U.S.A., enclose international postal reply coupon.