the orishas

The Orishas

The Orishas.html[3/30/13 7:46:48 PM]

The OrishasThe orishas are the emissaries of Olodumare or God almighty. They rule over the forces of nature and theendeavors of humanity. They recognise themselves and are recognised through their different numbers andcolors which are their marks, and each has their own favorite foods and other things which they like toreceive as offerings and gifts. In this way we make our offerings in the manner they are accustomed to, inthe way they have always received them, so that they will recognise our offerings and come to our aid.

The orishas are often best understood by observing the forces of nature they rule over. For instance, you canlearn much about Oshn and her children by watching the rivers and streams she rules over and observingthat though she always heads toward her sister Yemay (the Sea) she does so on her own circuitous route.Also observe how the babbling brook and the flash flood reflect her changeable moods. As you observe theorishas at work in the world and in your own lives you will gain a better understanding of them and theirways. Yes, they are complex, but no more so than any other living being such as you or I. We are alsoblessed from time to time in the religion with the opportunity to meet the orishas face to face during awemilere (drumming ceremony) where one or more of their priests will be mounted (see trance possession).

Eleggu

Eleggu is the owner of the roads and doors in this world. He is the repository of ash. The colors red andblack or white and black are his and codify his contradictory nature. In particular, Eleggu stands at thecrossroads of the human and the divine, as he is child-like messenger between the two worlds. In this role, itis not surprising that he has a very close relationship with the orisha of divination, Orunmila. Nothing can bedone in either world without his permission. Eleggu is always propitiated and called first before any otherorisha as he opens the door between the worlds and opens our roads in life. He recognises himself and isrecognised by the numbers 3 and 21.

Prayer for Eleggua: Echu ob lon tos gbogbo ona ir o ach

Ogn

Ogn is the god of iron, war and labor. He is the owner of all technology and because this technology sharesin his nature, it is almost always used first for war. As Eleggu opens the roads, it is Ogn that clears theroads with his machete. He is recognised in the numbers 7 and the colors green and black.

Prayer for Ogun: Ogn oko dara obanich aguanile ichegn ir

The Orishas


Oshosi

Oshosi is the third member of the group known as the Guerreros or Warriors, and is received along withEleggu, Ogn and Osun in order to protect the Guerreros initiate and to open and clear their roads. Oshosiis the hunter and the scout of the orishas and assumes the role of enforcer of justice for Obatal with whomhe has a very close relationship. His colors are blue and yellow.

Prayer for Ochossi: Ochosi Ode mata ob akof ay o uns ir o wa mi Ochosi omode ach

Obatal

Obatal is the kindly father of all the orishas and all humanity. He is also the owner of all heads and themind. Though it was Olorun who created the universe, it is Obatal who is the creator of the world andhumanity. Obatal is the source of all that is pure, wise peaceful and compassionate. He has a warrior sidethough through which he enforces justice in the world. His color is white which is often accented with red,purple and other colors to represent his/her different paths. White is most appropriate for Obatal as itcontains all the colors of the rainbow yet is above them. Obatal is also the only orisha that has both maleand female paths.

Prayer for Obatala: Obatal ob lay ela iwo alara ach

Oy

Oy is the ruler of the winds, the whirlwind and the gates of the cemetery. Her number is nine which recallsher title of Yans or "Mother of Nine" in which she rules over the egun or dead. She is also known for thecolors of maroon, flowery patterns and nine different colors. She is a fierce warrior who rides to war with

The Orishas


Shang (sharing lightning and fire with him) and was once the wife of Ogn.

Oshn

Oshn rules over the sweet waters of the world, the brooks, streams and rivers, embodying love, fertility. Shealso is the one we most often approach to aid us in money matters. She is the youngest of the female orishasbut retains the title of Iyalode or great queen. She heals with her sweet waters and with honey which she alsoowns. She is the femme fatale of the orishas and once saved the world by luring Ogn out of the forestsusing her feminine wiles. And,in her path or manifestation of Ib Ikol she saved the world from draught byflying up to heaven (turning into a vulture in the process). Ikol means Messenger of the House (ofOlodumare). For this reason all who are to be initiated as priests, no matter what orisha rules their head,must go to the river and give account of what they are about to do. She recognises herself in the colorsyellow and gold and her number is five. Peacocks and vultures are hers and we use them often to representher.

Yemay

Yemay lives and rules over the seas and lakes. She also rules over maternity in our lives as she is theMother of All. Her name, a shortened version of Yey Omo Eja means "Mother Whose Children are theFish" to reflect the fact that her children are uncountable. All life started in the sea, the amneotic fluid insidethe mother's womb is a form of sea where the embryo must transform and evolve through the form of a fishbefore becoming a human baby. In this way Yemay displays herself as truly the mother of all. She partakesof Olokun's abundance as the source of all riches which she freely gives to her little sister Oshn. Shedresses herself in seven skirts of blue and white and like the seas and profound lakes she is deep andunknowable. In her path of Okutti she is the queen of witches carrying within her deep and dark secrets. Hernumber is seven for the seven seas, her colors are blue and white, and she is most often represented by thefish who are her children.

Prayer for Yemaya: Iy ey ayaba okun om ir gbogbo awani Iy

Shang:

Perhaps the most 'popular' of the orishas, Shang rules over lightning, thunder, fire, the drums and dance. Heis a warrior orisha with quick wits, quick temper and is the epitomy of virility. Shang took the form of thefourth Alafin (supreme king) of Oy on Earth for a time. He is married to Obba but has relations with Oyand Oshn. He is an extremely hot blooded and strong-willed orisha that loves all the pleasures of the world:dance, drumming, women, song and eating. He is ocanani with Eleggu, meaning they are of one heart.When sees the quickness with which lightning makes short work of a tree or a fire rage through an area, onehas witnessed the temper of Shang in action. Though he traded the Table of If to Orunmila in exchange forthe gift of dance, his children have an innate ability for divination. To acknowledge the greatness of thisking, all in the religion raise up on the toes of our feet (or rise out our chairs if we are sitting) at the mentionof his name. His colors are red and white and he recognises himself in the numbers four and six. He is mostoften represented by a double headed axe.

Prayer for Shango: Shang ob ad oko, ob ina, Alafin Oy ach o

The Orishas


Orunmila

Orunmila is the orisha of wisdom, knowledge and divination. He was the only orisha allowed to witness thecreation of the universe by Olorun and bears witness to our destinies in the making as well. This is the sourceof his title of Eleri Ipin or "Witness to Destiny in its Creation". His priests, the babalawos or "Fathers of theSecrets" must devote themselves entirely to the practice of divination and the accompanying arts. Throughthe Table of If his priests unfold the secrets of the universe and the secrets of the unfolding of our lives. Hiscolors are green and yellow which reflect Orunmila's relationship with Osayn (the secrets of the plant world)and with Oshn, who is his apeteb with whom he has an extremely close relationship.

Prayer for Orunmila: Orunmila Ibikeyi Oludumare ela isode ach

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