- Wear blue and white.
- If you like wearing skirts, try some full skirts or those with seven layers.
- Wear seven silver bracelets – something Yemoja devotees are known to do.
- Take a trip to the ocean and perform some mermaid or ocean magick.
- Write your spells, wishes, or prayers on a paper boat and send it out into the sea.
- Drink more water.
- Spend time gazing at fish as a form of meditation – your own, friends, an aquarium or public pond.
- Go boating, sailing, or on a cruise and connect with the expansive power of the ocean and Yemaya.
- If you desire to have children, call on Yemoja in your fertility rites.
- Do a protection spell for your children.
Full Answer
Why do people still worship Yemaya?
Devotion to Yemaya has survived despite the best efforts of Christian missionaries to stamp out all traces of goddess worship. Victims of the transatlantic slave trade secretly preserved her rituals even after arrival in Cuba, where they had to disguise her practices under the veil of worshipping Mary.
How can I pray to Yemaya?
Petition Yemaya if you are a woman. You may pray to her with matters of the home, fertility, family, and love. In her kind state, Yemaya is the giver of life, so if you are seeking to have a child, pray to Yemaya. Yemaya is also a fierce protectress of women so if you or one of your daughters are in danger, ask Yemaya for protection.
How do I offer offerings to Yemaya?
If you are near the ocean, take 7 copper pennies to leave as an offering for Yemaya, particularly if you take something from the beach like rocks or seashells. Any type of rock or seashell that you find on the beach is a wonderful addition to an altar for the Mother of Oceans.
What is Yemaya the goddess of?
Yemaya has many other names. Known as the Star of The Sea in Brazil, In Macumba, she is known as Ocean Goddess of the Crescent Moon. In Haiti, she is Agwe. New Orleans women worship her as La Balianne.
What are Yemaya powers?
Yemanjá is motherly and strongly protective, and cares deeply for all her children, comforting them and cleansing them of sorrow. She is said to be able to cure infertility in women, and cowrie shells represent her wealth....YemọjaCatholic equivalentVirgin Mary (Our Lady of Navigators)10 more rows
What kind of fruit does Yemaya like?
Yemaya's favorite color is blue. She rules the oceans and all marine creatures, which she loves to eat. She also enjoys watermelon, plantain chips, pork rinds, pineapples, sugar cane syrup and ducks.
Is Yemaya My orisha?
Yemonja, also spelled Yemoja or Yemaja, Yoruban deity celebrated as the giver of life and as the metaphysical mother of all orisha (deities) within the Yoruba spiritual pantheon.
Who is the daughter of Yemaya?
LisaLisa, she's the daughter of Yemaya, who is the sea, and I'm daughter of Shango, who is thunder. And it's really us. Our characters are really like that. Lisa-Kaindé: In the Yoruba religion, you are chosen by an orisha, which is a divinity.
What do I offer Yemaya?
Offerings for her include molasses, coconut cakes, white flowers, and watermelon. For practicing witches, Yemaya has a fierce, nurturing, gentle energy often associated with the moon and sorcery. As the "Mother of All," she is said to help in matters of self-love, fertility, emotional wounds, trauma, and healing work.
Who is Yemoja husband?
In Yorùbá mythology, Yemoja is a mother goddess; patron deity of women, especially pregnant women; and the Ogun river. Her parents are Oduduwa and Obatala. There are many stories as to how she became the mother of all saints. She was married to Aganju and had one son, Orungan, and fifteen Orishas came forth from her.
What happened to Yemaya?
One day, when she was being chased by Ogun, the warrior orisha, she fell in to a river and disappeared in a whirlpool. Yemaya took her under her protection and gave her dominion over all the Earth's rivers.
Who is Yemaya father?
Yemaya's Origins The Yoruba people often created stories to help them make sense of the world around them and these stories were known as the patakis. According to the patakis, Yemaya's father was Olodumare, the supreme god. Olodumare was known as the Creator of the Universe, and Yemaya was said to be his eldest child.
Are Oshun and Yemaya the same?
In her version of the story, Yemayá and Ochún are sisters who trade physical attributes to help each other. Here is how she phrased the tale: Ochún era una mulata muy linda, tenía un cuerpo muy ele- gante, muy bonita. Pero, no tenía pelo.
How do I know if my daughter is Oshun?
She is one of the most popular and venerated orishas. If you see the number 5 a lot (my two most recent apartments were on the 5th floor), are attracted to the color yellow or gold and enjoy sweets, specifically honey, then you too may be a child of Oshun.
Who is Yemanja?
Yemanja (or Yemọja) originated as the Water Goddess of the African Yoruba tribe. With the diaspora of the Yoruba, Yemanja has come to be known throughout the world and by different names. She is very well known in Brazilian culture and is celebrated around New Year's every year during the Yemanja Festival in Brazil.
Which orisha is Bilquis?
Instead, Bilquis tries to remind herself of who she really is, which leads to a second god coming to her side. This time it is the Orisha known as Oshun.
How to make an altar for Yemaya?
To create an altar for a meditation with Yemaya, place in front of you: -Shells (legend has it you can hear her voice through a sea shell, so if you have one, put it to your ear) -Candles. -Incense. -Silver; seven is her number, and seven silver coins or rings can be used as an offering.
Where did Yemaya originate?
One of the most widely worshipped Orishas (which translates to “Deities,” “Divinities,” or “Gods”), Yemaya ’s origins are in the Yoruba religion of Nigeria. Originally a river goddess, her traditions were preserved by those forced across the ocean in slave ships, making her known as the goddess of the ocean in the process.
What do you bring to Yemaya?
-Flowers (blue and white are her favorites) -Fruit, especially melon and citrus. -Molasses and sugar cane syrup. -Fish.
Who is the goddess of the ocean?
In honor of World Oceans Day amidst the tumultuous seas of 2020, let’s talk about how we can connect with Yemaya, goddess of the ocean, and channel her energy to aid in the healing of our planet.
Where does Yemaya live?
She gave birth to the stars, the moon, the sun and most of the orishas. Yemaya makes her residence in life-giving portion of the ocean (although some of her roads can be found in lagoons or lakes in the forest).
What are the colors of Yemaya?
Number: 7. Sacred Place in Nature: the ocean, lagoons and lakes. Colors: blue and clear .
How do Oshun and Yemaya relate?
Yemaya and Oshun relate to one another like typical sisters; they love each other and also have a bit of sibling rivalry. Chango and Yemaya are inseparable. Some followers of Santeria say Yemaya is Chango’s mother. The two of them eat together and Chango shares his wealth with Yemaya.
What is Yembo's color?
Her color is navy blue. Yembo – this road of Yemaya is an orisha funfún (white orisha) that many consider in the court of Odudua. She gave birth to all of the orishas and in many ways is the cosmic mother of all things. She is the calm sea at the seashore. Her color is pale blue and white.
What is the road called in Yemaya?
Yemaya has many caminos or “roads”. Each road has a slightly different temperament and is found in a different place in nature. All roads of Yemaya are called “Ibú” and each takes a slightly different shade of blue in her eleke. Here is but a sampling of her caminos.
What is the best addima for Yemaya?
Watermelon for Yemayá. A great addimú for Yemaya is a whole watermelon. Buy a large watermelon with seeds, and wash it clean. Place a grass mat (estera) on the floor, place Yemaya’s pot on the grass mat, and place the watermelon on a white plate beside her.
What do you need to make a yam?
You’ll need a large ñame, sweetened coconut flakes, a can of coconut cream, and sugar cane syrup. Ñame is a root vegetable from the tropics related to the yam that’s white on the inside, rough and brownish gray on the outside. Remove the peel from the ñame and cut it into 1 inch cubes.
What can we ask the Goddess of the Sea Yemayá?
We ask Yemayá, mother of the world and mistress of the seas, for help on numerous occasions:
We pray for your favor and blessings. How to invoke Yemayá?
We must pray to Yemayá in a place of peace and tranquility, at home or in nature, and express our requests to her with great faith, love and humility.
Powerful prayer to Yemayá to ask for her help and protection
So how to invoke Yemayá? So we can pray to the Mother to ask her favor, we light a white or blue candle in her name and we say this prayer with love.
What was Yemaya associated with?
Yemaya was strongly associated with the sea, in which she lived. Like the sea, she was beautiful and filled with generosity but if anyone crossed the goddess by disrespecting her terrain or hurting one of her children, her anger knew no bounds.
Who would accept Yemaya's offerings?
Then, Oshun, her fellow water spirit and the orisha of the sweet waters, would accept the offerings on Yemaya’s behalf. However, in this case, devotees had to remember to bring an offering for Oshun as well to avoid making her angry.
What was the name of the river that Yemaya was a part of?
Her benevolence and generosity gave her many devotees, equivalent to the fish in the sea (also innumerable). Originally, Yemaya was a Yoruba river Orisha and had nothing to do with the ocean. However, when her people boarded the slave ships, she didn’t want to leave them so she went along with them.
What is the Yoruba story called?
The Yoruba people often created stories to help them make sense of the world around them and these stories were known as the patakis. According to the patakis, Yemaya’s father was Olodumare, the supreme god. Olodumare was known as the Creator of the Universe, and Yemaya was said to be his eldest child.
Why was Yemaya angry at Olokun?
Olokun was angry because he thought he wasn’t being appreciated by humans and decided to punish all of mankind for it.
How did Yemaya bring life to the world?
Some legends tell of how Yemaya brought life to the world by creating the first mortals. The story goes that her waters broke, causing a great deluge, creating all the streams and rivers on earth and then, from her womb, the first humans were created. Yemaya’s first gift to her children was a sea shell which contained her voice so that it could always be heard. Even today, when we hold a sea shell to our ear and hear the ocean, what we hear is Yemaya’s calm voice, the voice of the sea.
How many gods came out of Yemaya's body?
She jumped to her death from the top of a high mountain and as she hit the ground, fourteen gods or Orishas came out of her body.
What are the items that are used to welcome the energy of Yemaya?
Use these items with intention on your altar or in your daily rituals to welcome the energy of Yemaya: Shells, mermaid money (silver dollars), pearls, star fish, sea horses, river rocks. Sand from a favorite beach. Water from a favorite river, lake, or sea. Mermaids.
Where is Yemoja worshiped?
She is worshiped in countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Tobago, Trinidad, Uruguay, and the U.S. Yemoja lives in and rules over the Seven Seas, lakes, and rivers. Often depicted as a mermaid, She is the source of all waters.
What is the relationship between Yemaya and Olokun?
Yemaya rules over the surface of the ocean where life is concentrated, and Olokun represents the depths of the Ocean and the unconscious. Together They form a balance.
How many paths does Yemaya have?
She is associated with the moon, water, and feminine mysteries. She is prayed to in matters of fertility, pregnancy, and motherhood. There are 177 Yemaya paths or caminos (avatars or aspects). In Her path of Okutti, she is the queen of witches carrying within her deep dark secrets.
What is the name of the goddess of the ocean?
Yemaya, or Yemoja, is the Yorùbá Orisha or Goddess of the Living Ocean. The name Yemoja is a shortened version of Yey Omo Eja, which means "Mother Whose Children are Fish.". This name implies that She has more children than one could count, and She is indeed considered the mother of all. While She originated in Africa, ...
What are the names of the Orishas?
Traits. Yemayá, Yemoja. Mother goddess; patron deity of women, and the Ogun river. Ochún, Oshún. Presides over love, intimacy, beauty, wealth and diplomacy. Oyá, Yansa, Yansan. Orisha of the Niger River; associated with wind, lightning, fertility, fire, and magic.
What is the Yoruba region?
The Yoruba region is present-day Southwestern Nigeria and the adjoining parts of Benin and Togo, commonly known as Yorubaland. The religions in the New World that were the result of the slave trade have roots in the Yoruba religions. They include a wide array of traditions still practiced today.
What color is Yemaya?
Orishas have very specific likes (and dislikes in some cases) and Yemaya is no exception. Her favorite colors are blue and white and she is frequently depicted as a mermaid. In Santeria, she is syncretized to Our Lady of Regla and she is the guardian of the Bay of Cuba in that form.
What crystals did Yemaya use?
Yemaya requested to be placed on the working altar, bringing her magic, so I gathered shells from her altar and tucked them around her bowl, as well as blue aragonite, a favorite crystal that embodies the wisdom of the sea, hunks of sea salt, and some of her beads.
What is Yemaya's capacity?
She is alert to those who are in need and applies her motherly tendencies to all who cross her path. Yemaya is strong-willed and independent and her daughters tend to be the same.
Where did the name Yemaya come from?
About the Orisha Goddess Yemaya: In Africa, Yemaya’s name comes from the Yoruban phrase “Yeye omo eja” that means “Mother whose children are like fish”. Yemaya is the owner of the Ogun River and a lake that is named for her. Her “hidden” aspect, Olokun, is considered to be the owner of Oceans (and in some traditions, ...
How many pennies to keep for Yemaya?
For non-initiates, they will keep a glass bowl for Yemaya with water and all of the things that she likes, including a rubber duck. Add seven pennies to this bowl, change the water frequently, and Yemaya will bring blessings to your home. Here is a picture of my non-initiate altar ….
Where is the Mother of Waters?
As the African diaspora occurred and Yemaya traveled west with her children to the Americas and Caribbean, the Mother of Waters became more known as Mother of Oceans. Olokun resides in the deepest depths of the ocean, guarding the source of life and a sacred shrine to the Ancestors.
What do you pray to Yemaya?
Petition Yemaya if you are a woman. You may pray to her with matters of the home, fertility, family, and love. In her kind state, Yemaya is the giver of life, so if you are seeking to have a child, pray to Yemaya.
Why is Yemaya so sensitive?
Because of her fierce love for her daughter's and her connections with the waters , she is very sensitive, and just like any mother is with her daughter, Yemaya is ferocious when it comes to keeping her children safe. And, all well-behaved daughters always remember to thank their Mother's for petitions granted.
Who is Mama Watta?
Mama Watta, as she is also known presided over the Ogun River that she called home. Her breasts are full and large from birthing so many creations. It is said that Yemaya gave birth to all the world's water. Petition Yemaya if you are a woman. You may pray to her with matters of the home, fertility, family, and love.
Do daughters of Yemaya remember to thank their mothers?
And, all well-behaved daughters always remember to thank their Mother's for petitions granted. Daughters of Yemaya, this is very important, always, always remember to Thank Yemaya for what she does for you. Yemaya has many other names.
What does Yemaya like?
Yemaya likes sea shells, fish, net, sea horses, anchors and everything related to the sea. She is generally kept in a blue flowered porcelain soup tureen full of water. She is also associated with stars and the full moon, ducks and peacocks. Yemaya controls the parts of the sea that a human knows.
How did Yemaya learn divination?
She's also associated with the creative and nurturing forces of the sea. She learned how to do divination by watching her husband, Orula, do consults. Women weren't supposed to do consults but Yemaya was so good at it, her husband made a pact with her that she could use cowry shells to divine.
What is the name of the river goddess of the ocean?
Originally, Yemaya was a river Goddess of the Yoruta in Nigeria, which is far from the ocean. She was a nature spirit, an orisha. An orisha shows itself as a force of nature. When her people were loaded on the ships, she went along, becoming the Goddess of the ocean.
What is the difference between Olukun and Yemaya?
Yemaya statue www.amazon.com. Yemaya stays in the uppermost part of the ocean while Olukun is the orisha who resides in the dark depths. Olukun is respected for his ominous power that has no perceived limits or boundaries while Ye maya is associated with life, fertility and creation. Therefore, they balance each other.
What is Olukun's power?
Olukun balances her strong feminine powers with his steadfast male energy. In Santeria and Candomble, Olukun and Yemaya have been separated into two Orisha. Yemaya has the largest following in both religions. One possible explanation for her following is her connection to the sea and the Africans who were brought over.
What does the tide represent in the story of Yemaya?
By rocking the world as a cradle, the tides represent Yemaya's desires to protect and nurture all her children. With Yemaya considered to be the greatest mother there is no surprise that she is very sexual. Since nothing can resist water, she is respected for her strength. Those who hurt her children, Yemaya drowns.
What is the meaning of Yemaya?
Yemaya is a mother Goddess. The Goddess of home, fertility, love and family. She also represents change and consistency - bringing forth life, protecting it, and changing it as is necessary. Yemaya is the daughter of a mortal god-human, Obatala, and his wife. Yemaya and her brother, Aganyu had a son together.