Travay Module — Ritual Processes
Ritual processes, ceremonies, and initiatory rites
Domain module. Vocabulary for documenting ritual processes in Afro-Atlantic traditions. Covers ceremonies, initiatory rites, and ceremonial sequences. Distinguishes ongoing ceremonial practice from threshold initiation events. Access control is at the property level — existence and general nature of ceremonies is public; operational sequences and details are restricted. Use with iroko-authority to document who may perform or authorize a ceremony; iroko-epistemic to model disclosure constraints on operational sequences; iroko-nkisi for the spiritual entities invoked.
An ordered set of steps within a RitualProcess. The existence of a sequence and its general structure are documented. Access control is at the property level: sequence step labels are initiated-only; operational content within each step is no-access.
A recurring ritual event that can be performed multiple times for one or many participants. Examples: bembe, tambor, wemilere, misa espiritual, rogacion de cabeza, ebbo, despojos, velacion. Ceremonies are ongoing practice rather than threshold events.
A threshold ceremony that permanently changes the initiant's spiritual status. Examples: kariocha (making Ocha), mano de Orula, abo faca, pinaldo, rayamiento (Palo), kanzo (Vodou), feitura (Candomble). Initiatory rites are non-repeatable transformations. Operational details are initiated-elder access.
Base class for any structured ceremonial activity in an Afro-Atlantic tradition. Subclassed into Ceremony (recurring practice) and InitiatoryRite (threshold event). General process type, presiding entity, and tradition are public; operational sequences and instructions are restricted.
| Property | Type | Domain → Range | Access | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| conferredTitle conferred title |
Datatype | Initiatory Rite → string | Public | Title or designation conferred upon completion of this initiatory rite. Example: Olorisha, Babalawo, Mambo, Houngan, Tata Nkisi. Access: public-unrestricted. |
| initiationLevel initiation level |
Object | Initiatory Rite → Concept | Public | The level of initiation conferred by this InitiatoryRite. Values from InitiationLevelScheme. Access: public-unrestricted. |
| lineageVariations lineage variations |
Datatype | Ritual Process → string | Initiated Only | Documented variations in how different lineages or houses conduct this process. Access: initiated-only. |
| materialRequirements material requirements |
Datatype | Ritual Process → string | Initiated Only | Detailed list of materials, implements, and quantities required. Access: initiated-only. |
| operationalNotes operational notes |
Datatype | Ritual Process → string | Community Only | Contextual notes about how this process is conducted in practice. Not a step-by-step sequence; general practitioner guidance. Access: community-only. |
| participantRole participant role |
Object | Ritual Process → Concept | Public | Roles that participants may hold in this process. Values from ParticipantRoleScheme. Multiple values allowed. Access: public-unrestricted. |
| plantUse plant use |
Object | Ritual Process → — | Public | Plants used in this ritual process. Links to ewe:Plant instances. General association is public; specific quantities and combinations are initiated-only. Access: public-unrestricted. |
| prerequisiteProcess prerequisite process |
Object | Ritual Process → Ritual Process | Public | A RitualProcess that must be completed before this one. Example: receiving Warriors before kariocha. Links to iroko:RitualProcess instances. Access: public-unrestricted. |
| presidingEntity presiding entity |
Object | Ritual Process → SpiritualEntity | Public | The spiritual entity (orisa, lwa, etc.) for whom or by whose authority this ceremony is performed. Links to iroko:SpiritualEntity. Access: public-unrestricted. |
| processName process name |
Datatype | Ritual Process → string | Public | The name of this ritual process in its tradition. Example: Rogacion de Cabeza, Kariocha, Kanzo, Tambor de Fundamento. Access: public-unrestricted. |
| processType process type |
Object | Ritual Process → Concept | Public | Classification of this ritual process. Values from ProcessTypeScheme. Access: public-unrestricted. |
| purposeDescription purpose description |
Datatype | Ritual Process → string | Public | General description of the purpose and outcome of this ritual process. Non-operational. Access: public-unrestricted. |
| requiredAuthority required authority |
Object | Ritual Process → Concept | Public | The level of initiation or authority required to lead this process. Values from AuthorityLevelScheme. Access: public-unrestricted. |
| secretComponents secret components |
Datatype | Ritual Process → string | No Access | Components of this process restricted to initiated elders. OPERATIONAL ONLY - never exported to RDF. Access: no-access. |
| sequence sequence |
Object | Ritual Process → Ceremonial Sequence | Initiated Only | Links a RitualProcess to its CeremonialSequence. Access: initiated-only. |
| sequenceOrder sequence order |
Datatype | Ceremonial Sequence → integer | Initiated Only | Integer indicating the position of this step within the full sequence. Access: initiated-only. |
| sequenceStep sequence step |
Datatype | Ceremonial Sequence → string | Initiated Only | A numbered step label within the ceremonial sequence. The label is visible; operational content is governed separately. Access: initiated-only. |
| sequenceStepOperational sequence step (operational) |
Datatype | Ceremonial Sequence → string | No Access | Exact operational instructions for this step. OPERATIONAL ONLY - never exported to RDF. Access: no-access. |
| sequenceStepDescription sequence step description |
Datatype | Ceremonial Sequence → string | Initiated Only | General description of what occurs at this step, without operational specifics. Access: initiated-only. |
| sponsorRequirement sponsor requirement |
Datatype | Initiatory Rite → string | Public | Whether a godparent or existing initiate must sponsor this initiation. General requirement is public. Access: public-unrestricted. |
| timingRequirement timing requirement |
Object | Ritual Process → Concept | Public | Whether this process has specific timing requirements. Values from TimingRequirementScheme. Access: public-unrestricted. |
| typicalDuration typical duration |
Datatype | Ritual Process → string | Public | General duration of this process. Example: one day, three days, seven days, one year and seven days. Access: public-unrestricted. |
Level of initiation or authority required to lead or perform a ritual process.
Can be performed by any person regardless of initiation status. Example: basic ancestor veneration at boveda, spiritual baths using common herbs.
Requires Ifa initiation specifically. Certain ceremonies and all Ifa-based divination require Babalawo authority.
Requires recognition as an elder or authority holder within the tradition, beyond basic initiation. Community recognition is required in addition to initiation level.
Requires initiation but not a specific level or title. General initiation into the tradition is sufficient.
Requires full head initiation: kariocha in Lucumi, kanzo in Vodou, feitura in Candomble, or equivalent in other traditions.
Also known as: Head-initiated
Authority requirements are tradition-specific and cannot be generalized. Document via iroko:operationalNotes with tradition context.
Levels of initiation conferred by initiatory rites. General structure is cross-traditional; specific levels are tradition-dependent.
Full head initiation permanently establishing the initiant as a priest or priestess. Specific name varies by tradition.
Also known as: Feitura, Kanzo, Kariocha, Rayamiento
Initiation into the Ifa priesthood. Mano de Orula (hand of Orula) is a preliminary in Lucumi; full Babalawo initiation is the complete level.
Also known as: Babalawo initiation, Mano de Orula
Reception of consecrated beaded necklaces in Lucumi tradition. First formal step. Confers relationship with specific orisa represented.
Also known as: Collares
General category for receiving sacred objects or marks without full head initiation. The entry level of formal initiation in most traditions.
Initiation levels that do not map to general categories. Document with tradition context via iroko:tradition and iroko:operationalNotes.
Reception of Eleggua, Ogun, Ochosi, and Osun in Lucumi tradition. Protects the initiant and opens roads. Prerequisite for kariocha.
Also known as: Los Guerreros
Roles that participants may hold within a ritual process.
A supporting officiant with authority to perform portions of the ceremony.
General attendee, potentially uninitiated, present for community portions of the ceremony.
The initiated sponsor responsible for the initiant's spiritual formation and ceremonial participation.
Also known as: Madrina, Marraine, Padrino, Parrain
Initiated helper assisting with logistical or supporting ceremonial tasks.
The person receiving initiation or the primary recipient of the ceremony.
Also known as: Initiate, Iyawo
The principal authority leading the ceremony. Title varies by tradition.
Also known as: Houngan, Mambo, Oriaté, Tata
Practitioner who may receive spiritual possession during the ceremony. In Espiritismo context, medium for spirit communication.
Also known as: Chwal, Horse
Drummer, singer, or musician providing ceremonial music. May have specific initiation requirements depending on tradition and ceremony type.
Also known as: Akpwon, Tambolero
Classification of ritual process types across Afro-Atlantic traditions.
Ceremonies specifically directed to the ancestral dead. Includes misa espiritual (Espiritismo), egungún masquerade, boveda work, and ituto (funeral rites for initiates).
Also known as: Egun ceremony, Misa Espiritual
Ritual cleansing of a person, object, or space. Removes negative energies, spiritual impurities, or adversarial influences. Includes despojos, limpiezas, spiritual baths, and space cleansings.
Also known as: Despojo, Limpieza
Collective ceremonial work on behalf of a house, lineage, or community rather than an individual. Includes cabildo ceremonies, community ebbos, and house-level divination.
Ritual consultation for guidance. Includes Ifa consultation, dilogun reading, chamalongos in Palo, and card reading in Espiritismo context. Public category; specific methods and interpretations are access-restricted.
Ceremony to elevate the spirit of a deceased person or clear unresolved spiritual burdens. Common in Espiritismo and Lucumi death rites.
Celebration ceremonies: anniversary of initiation, feast days of entities, communal celebrations.
Also known as: Cumpleanos de Santo
Death and funeral ceremonies specific to initiated practitioners. Includes ituto (Lucumi), axexe (Candomble), and rites handling spiritual obligations of deceased initiates.
Also known as: Axexe, Ituto
Ritual feeding and cooling of the head (Ori) with white foods and prayers. Strengthens personal destiny and calms spiritual disturbances. One of the most fundamental ceremonies across Yoruba-derived traditions.
Also known as: Rogacion de Cabeza
Ceremonial processes directed toward physical, spiritual, or psychological healing. May combine plant use, prayer, divination, and direct spiritual intervention.
Full head initiation permanently transforming the initiant's spiritual status. Examples: kariocha (Lucumi), kanzo (Vodou), rayamiento (Palo), feitura (Candomble). The most restricted process type.
Also known as: Head Initiation
Reception of sacred objects conferring a level of initiation without full head initiation. Examples: receiving Warriors, receiving Olokun, receiving necklaces. Creates formal relationship with specific entities.
Also known as: Receiving
Ceremony in which spirits may manifest through initiated practitioners. Includes tambor, bembe, wemilere (Lucumi), Vodou fet, Candomble xire. Drumming, singing, and dance are central.
Also known as: Bembe, Fet, Tambor, Wemilere
Ceremonial processes establishing or strengthening spiritual protection for a person, household, or space.
Ceremonies involving animal sacrifice or major offerings to spiritual entities. General category is public; specific animals, quantities, and procedures are initiated-only or initiated-elder.
Also known as: Ebbo, Matanza
Whether a ritual process has specific timing requirements.
Performed on an annual cycle, such as anniversary of initiation.
No specific timing requirement; may be performed as needed.
Associated with a specific calendar date or feast day of the presiding entity.
Timing determined through divination consultation. The appropriate time is revealed rather than predetermined.
Performed in response to urgent spiritual or physical crisis without time constraint.
Triggered by a specific life event: birth, death, marriage, illness, major transition.
Must be performed during a specific phase of the moon.