| Santo
Daime
History/Founder/important persons/saints:
Founded
in Brazil 1945 by Raimundo Irineu Serra, known to followers as Master
Irineu. Serra, a rubber extractor whose work brought him into contact
with native religious practices, began using Daime, (a hallucinogenic
tea known more commonly as Ayahuasca) in the early nineteen thirties.
During one of his visions, he communicated with a woman he called the
Queen of the Forest, an aspect of the Virgin, who commanded him to found
a new Church, with ayahuasca as its sacrament. Combining indigenous
belief with his own blend of Catholic spiritism, Serra began to attract
followers, who revered him as the second coming of Christ. After Serra's
death, the Church split into two communities, with successor Sebastião
Melo moving his expanding group into metropolitan areas.
The group
began to attract many suburban followers and celebrities, forcing the
Church into the public view. The Brazilian government began to get involved,
infiltrating groups to determine if their use of ayahuasca was harming
practitioners. The Brazilian Federal Drug Council (equivalent to the
US FDA) eventually concluded that not only was ayahuasca not harmful,
but that it appeared to have a beneficial effect on its users (the church's
members included reformed pirates and other formerly violent criminals).
The vine was approved by the Brazilian government for religious use
shortly afterward.
Current
leader/governing body: A
Spiritual Council, residing in the community in
the Ceu de Mapia rainforest preserve, makes policy decisions.
Number
of Adherents: Unknown, but estimated to be at least several thousand worldwide.
Clergy:
Spiritual
leaders, known as Padrinhos and Madrinhas, who act
as guides. The true teacher, however, is believed to be the Daime itself.
Requirements
to join: Santo Daime is open to all. A prospective member must attend
three workings before being asked to become a Fardado, or permanent
member of the church.
Church/temple: Santo
Daime services take place within a church building.
Scripture: The
catholic bible, as well as writings of Master Irineu, mainly channeled
hymns seen as a third testament of the Bible.
Required
observances, dietary restrictions: A
uniform in blue or white, (Fardas) depending on the occasion, is worn
by both male and female followers. Ritual participants are asked to
refrain from red meat, dairy, and sexual activity prior to partaking
in the sacraments during worship.
Basic
teachings and Beliefs of Daime:
Daime
means "Give me" in Portugese, and refers to the ayahuasca tea,
a traditional hallucinogenic mixture used extensively by indigenous people
of the rain forest. In Church doctrine, Daime is a sacrament, a living
divine being that promotes healing and spiritual growth. Daime liturgy
consists of the sacrament, the singing of divine hymns, silent meditation,
and dancing. Daime is a syncretic religion, revering Jesus and the Christian
saints, African Orishas, and indigenous deities. Holidays
and observances: The
Santo Daime Church has a full calendar of feast days, including the
feast days of catholic saints and Master Irineu's birthday. Special
gatherings known as hinários take place on these days, consisting
of many hours of hymn singing.
Symbols
of Santo Daime: Symbols
are employed as objects of devotion and meditation, and include the
Cruz de Caravacas, or Caravacas cross, a four armed Catholic emblem
of the renaissance, and the star of David, a six pointed star used .
An initiate is given a badge upon joining the Church, a six pointed
star with images of a eagle, and the sun, moon, and stars.
 
Would
you like to learn more? Religious
symbols
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