Oshun is the orisha of the river. Her devotees leave her offerings and perform ceremonies at bodies of fresh water such as rivers, streams and canals. She is associated with the colours gold/deep yellow in most of the diaspora and in Nigeria, white, yellow and green. In Trinidad, she is associated with the colour pink. Sep 8 2019
What colors are Oshun’s favorite?
Colors: gold, yellow, amber, coral (some roads of Oshun do not like yellow for it reminds her of when she was poor) Tools: oars, brass bracelets, a fan, mirrors. Temperament: flirtatious, sensual and loving – or – serious, stern and bitter. Syncretized Catholic Saint: Our Lady of Charity of Cobre. Oshun’s Caminos (Avatars or “Roads”)
What are the symbols of Oshun?
Symbols: The traditional Oshun’s colors are gold and amber; her favorite foods include honey, cinnamon, sunflowers, and oranges; and her sacred birds are peacocks and vultures. Each of these elements has a specific symbolic meaning: The Color Gold
What is the temperament of Oshún?
In the Yoruba/Cuban religious view Osun is associated with the color yellow, the important metals gold and copper, peacock feathers, mirrors, and anything of charm, lightness, beauty and sweet taste. Her best day of the week is Saturday and her favourite number is 5. Jide Uwechia. October 17, 2009
What are the offerings of Ọṣun?
20/04/2018 · Her traditional colors are yellow, gold, coral, amber, and she associated with the number five. Oshun often carries a mirror so that she can admire her beauty. She loves honey, sunflowers, oranges...
Why is Oshun yellow?
When she came down to earth, she wore a gold dress and jewellery. This is the reason why her worshippers also wear gold and yellow attires in festivals honouring her. When the gods came down, they completely disregarded Oshun while they engaged in the work of creating the earth.01-Jun-2021
What are the orisha colors?
OrishaDomainColorsOlokúnOceanDark blue, red, coral, greenNana BurukúLagoonBlack, mauveOshúnRiverAmber, yellow, coralOrúnmilaDivinationYellow, green18 more rows
How do you greet Oshun?
How do I call Oshun? To call upon Her, the proper greeting is, “Ori Ye Ye O”. She is identified with the new crescent Moon and Venus.
What did Oshun look like?
She represents everything that is lush, fertile, and juicy in our world. According to the Orisha legend, Olodumare, the god of all gods, sent the female deity Oshun down to earth to create a world with a group of male deities. Oshun wore a gold dress and jewelry. She was dark, beautiful, and quite flirtatious.03-Jul-2019
Which orisha is number 3?
ElegbaElegba is always propitiated and always called first before any other orisha as he opens the door between the worlds and opens our roads in life. He recognises himself and is recognised by the numbers 3 and 21.
Which orisha wears white?
ObataláThe creative part of a man is his Anima or female aspect. The spark of consciousness in us is Obatalá. She/He looks after everyone, unless another Orisha takes your head. Obatalá wears white because it has all the colors in it and she/he takes care of all of us.07-Jan-2022
What day is Oshun birthday?
September 8Yeyeo Botanica® on Instagram: “Celebrate the feast day of Oshun (September 8) with her altar essentials.
How do I activate Oshun energy?
Directions: Light the yellow candle in front of a sculpture or image Oshun for five days. (Make sure you put the candle in a safe place. If you plan on leaving it unattended, blow it out, but light it again as soon as you return.) Tell her your wishes, preferably out loud so she can hear you.25-Aug-2017
What does it mean to be a child of 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.15-Jul-2018
How did Oshun lose her beauty?
Oshun turned herself into a peacock and took flight for Orun, high in the heavens, to bring the news of the Orishas' repentance to Olodumare. The journey was long, however, and she had to pass closely by the sun to reach Orun, which tarnished her feathers and caused her to lose many.01-Oct-2021
What does Oshun help with?
Oshun is especially important to women in West African cultures. Those who want children and who may suffer from infertility usually call on Oshun for assistance, and she is associated with the concepts of femininity and the power of women. More widely, she is sought after in times of drought or severe poverty.
Who are the 7 African powers?
Another common initiation is the intitiation into the Seven African Powers (Elegua, Obatala, Oggun, Chango, Yemaya, Oshun, and Orunmilla). Devotees from Cuba often replace Orunmilla with Babalu-Aye. The Seven African Powers are consecrated into one eleke.
Why do Yoruba people celebrate Oshun?
Each year, the Oshun followers come to the river to pay tribute to the goddess, offer sacrifice, and pray for better health, children, and wealth.
What is the meaning of Oshun?
Myths About the Oshun Goddess. Significance of the Yoruba Water Goddess. Oshun’s Portrayal and Symbolism. To Wrap It Up. Oshun, also known as Oxum and Ochún, is a supreme being or Orisha of the Yoruba people – the largest ethnic group of southwestern Nigeria. In the Yoruba religion, she’s also called the river goddess and is commonly associated ...
Where did the Yoruba water goddess originate?
Significance of the Yoruba Water Goddess. According to African traditions, humans first encountered Oshun in the city of Osogbo in Nigeria. This city, also known as Oshogbo, is believed to be sacred and protected by the powerful and fierce water goddess, Oshun. The legend says that the goddess granted permission to the people ...
Why is the Yoruba goddess important?
Due to the global slave trade, the Yoruba religion and culture dispersed and greatly impacted other cultures outside Africa.
What is the Oshun Goddess?
Public Domain. In many Yoruba myths and stories, Oshun is described as the savior, protector, mother and nurturer of sweet things and humanity, and the keeper of spiritual balance.
Where is the sacred forest in Osogbo?
Along the banks of the same river, just on the outskirts of Osogbo , there’s a sacred forest dedicated to Oshun. It’s called Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove and was established almost five centuries ago. The sacred forest holds various artwork as well as shrines and sanctuaries honoring the water goddess.
What is the role of Oshun in the Yoruba mythology?
In one of the myths, Oshun has a key role in the creation of life on Earth and humanity. Olodumare, the Yoruba supreme god, sent seventeen Orishas down to Earth to try and populate it. They were all male deities except Oshun and failed to complete the task. They needed the female deity to help them revive the Earth. She agreed to assist them, and by delivering her powerful, sweet, and fertile waters, she brought life back to our planet, including human beings and other species. Therefore, she’s considered the goddess of fertility and life, and without her actions, life on Earth wouldn’t exist.
Why is Yalode called Laketi?
She is also known as Laketi, “She who responds”, because of how quickly and effectively she answers prayers.
What is the goddess of love?
Like Egyptian Isis and later Greek Diana, Osun is the goddess of love and is widely beloved. She is known for healing the sick, cheering the sad, bringing music, song and dance, as well as bringing fertility and prosperity.
Where in the Bible is Oshun mentioned?
In the Old Testament Book of Proverbs Chapter 3 Verse 13 to 18, this beautiful praise of Oshun is embedded in the Bible under her Holy name Wisdom, or Sophia (the Greek goddess name used in the original Septuagint Greek New Testament Bible), which is of the same roots and essence as the Yoruba Ifa. It goes as follows:
Who is Osun the Queen of Witches?
Osun the Queen of Witches: Oshun Ibu Ikole — Oshun the Vulture. This dimension of Oshun is (as was Isis of ancient Kemitic Egypt and the later Greek Diana) associated with Witches (Aje). Her symbols include the vulture, and the mortar and pestle (both of which are symbols of witchcraft).
Does Oshun have a temper?
She does, have a malevolent and tempestuous temper, although it is difficult to anger her.”. It is said that “Oshun has excellent cooking skills.”. Oshun is the Mother of the African sweet or fresh waters. In her form as the mother of salt waters, she is known as Yemaya. Like Egyptian Isis and later Greek Diana, ...
Why is Osun named after Oya?
In fact a certain confluence of two rivers at a rapid in one of the wetern state of Nigeria is named after Osun and Oya due to the intimidating turbulence that marks the point of intersetion.
What did Oshun teach?
Like Queen Isis of the Ancient Egyptian Kemitic Pantheon, Oshun was taught the art of divination with the cowrie shells, cards, tarots, visions, possessions, songs, chants and meditations by her father Obatala, the first of the created gods. Like Isis, She brought the teaching of divinations, mysticism, agriculture and culture to humans.
What is the Orisha of Santeria?
Santeria. Iron chalice of Osun, one of Los Guerreros (the warriors) --) in Santería religion. Ozun is another major Orisha that is distinct from Osun, the latter whom is also called "Oshun" and "Ochún" in the Santería religion of the Caribbean ( Cuba, Puerto Rico and Trinidad) brought over by Yoruba slaves during the transatlantic slave trade.
Where is the shrine of Oshun?
Shrine to Oshun in the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove. Abèbè, the ritual fan of Ọṣun. Ọṣun, is an Orisha, a spirit, a deity, or a goddess that reflects one of the manifestations of the Yorùbá Supreme Being in the Ifá oral tradition and Yoruba -based religions of West Africa. She is one of the most popular and venerated Orishas.
What is the Osun state?
For the state in Nigeria, see Osun State. Ọṣun, is an Orisha, a spirit, a deity, or a goddess that reflects one of the manifestations of the Yorùbá Supreme Being in the Ifá oral tradition and Yoruba -based religions of West Africa. She is one of the most popular and venerated Orishas.
Where is the Osun River?
She is the patron saint of the Osun River in Nigeria, which bears her name. The river has its source in Ekiti State, in the west of Nigeria, and passes through the city of Osogbo, where Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, the principal sanctuary of the deity, is located.
Who is the patron of pregnancy?
In Candomblé Ketu Osun is the deity of fresh water; the patron of gestation and fecundity; and receives the prayers of women who wish to have children and protect them during pregnancy. Osun also protects small children until they begin to speak; she is affectionately called "Mamãe" ("Mama") by her devotees.
What is the significance of the Queen of Osun?
She is connected to destiny and divination. During the life of the mortal Osun, she served as queen consort to King Shango of Oyo. Following her posthumous deification, she was admitted to the Yoruba pantheon as an aspect of a primordial divinity of the same name.
Where is Osun celebrated?
Osun is honored at the Osun-Osogbo Festival, a two-week-long annual festival that usually takes place in August, at the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove on the banks of the river. Osun is one of the 401 Yoruba gods.
Why did Oshun become a peacock?
Olodumare, in response, created a great drought that none of the orishas could reverse. To save the parched world Oshun transformed into a peacock and ascended to Olodumare's realm to beg his forgiveness.
What are the orishas?
Updated January 23, 2018. The orishas are the gods of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a regular basis. The number of orishas varies among believers. In the original African belief system from which Santeria originates, there are hundreds of orishas.
Where is the Cabildo shrine?
Gods of Santeria. The Cabildo (shrine) pictured is one of the oldest in Cuba, located in Palmira, which is widely regarded as the birthplace of Santeria. Corbis via Getty Images / Getty Images. Alternative Religions.
Who is Catherine Beyer?
Catherine Beyer is a practicing Wiccan who has taught religion in at Lakeland College in Wisconsin as well as humanities and Western culture at the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay. The orishas are the gods of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a regular basis.
Does Orunla have a path?
While other orishas have different "paths," or aspects to them, Orunla has only one. He is also the only orisha to not manifest through possession in the New World (although it does sometimes happen in Africa). Instead, he is consulted through various divination methods.
What is the purpose of Orunla?
Orunla was present at the creation of humanity and the forging of souls. Thus Orunla has the knowledge of the ultimate destiny of each soul, which is an important facet of Santeria practice. Working toward one's destiny is to promote harmony.
Who is Orunla associated with?
Orunla is most commonly associated with St. Francis of Assisi, although the reasons are not obvious. It may have to do with Francis's common depiction of holding rosary beads, which resembles Orunla's divination chain. St. Philip and St. Joseph are also sometimes equated with Orunla.
What does Oshun hold?
She is the granter of wishes and all of your heart’s desires. When respected and properly invoked, Oshun holds the keys to love, success, prosperity, and pregnancy. That said, if you’re trying to invoke this goddess, make sure you always keep her happy. In other words, do not make Oshun a promise you cannot keep.
How to make a ritual bath for love?
Directions: Light the white candle in front of a sculpture or image of Oshun for five days. (Make sure you put the candle in a safe place.
Who is the youngest Yoruba?
Oshun—the goddess of love, beauty, and fertility—is the youngest Orisha and one of the most adored in the Yoruba religion. According to the patakís (sacred stories left to us by our ancestors), she was brought into existence by Olodumare, the Supreme Creator, once he realized something crucial was missing after creating ...
Is Oshun the Yoruba goddess alive?
For those who have not yet had the privilege of knowing Oshun, the benevolent and venerated Yoruba goddess: May you one day experience the strength in her power, the beauty of her undying love, and the magical rhythm flowing through her sacred waters. This goddess is very much alive; her feminine essence resides in the rivers ...
How to make a rite of fertility?
Directions: Light the yellow candle in front of a sculpture or image Oshun for five days. (Make sure you put the candle in a safe place.
Why is Oshun heartbroken?
The patakís say Oshun is often heartbroken because she loves with every fiber of her being, and yet she never finds someone who can love her the same way back. It’s no coincidence Oshun is also the referred to as the queen of the witches: She is a teacher of both magic and mysticism.
What is the Yoruba faith?
Developed among the people of Nigeria and Benin, the Yoruba faith consists of ritual practices that include singing, dancing, spiritual possession, and healing ceremonies. It is said that the day we are born, each of us are accompanied by an Orisha, "owner of our head,” who serves as a lifelong protector.
What are the spirits that guard the gate?
Gate guardian spirits may be petitioned to only permit benevolent or kind spirits through and bar the gate to malicious spirits. These gate guardians include: 1 Elegba 2 Exu 3 Hecate 4 Hermes 5 Maria Padilha Pomga Gira
Why do people pray to their love goddess?
Back before Ann Landers or couples counselors, before the psychic hotline and the daily love horoscope, people prayed to their local love goddess for help with relationship matters. After all, everyone deserves to have a goddess they can talk to about love issues: it helps to know that you have a powerful deity in your corner, cheering you on, offering gentle advice in the form of your own intuition, a place to go where you can find some peace and serenity around the crazy-making stuff of love.
What is Oshun's presence?
Oshun’s presence makes everything brighter, more beautiful, more wondrous, and Her laughter is intoxicating as She invites us to dance to Her sacred drums and surrender to all the pleasures of life well-lived. She is very near and dear to my heart as I am a Lukumi Aborisha (initiate) and Daughter of Oshun. She is my Guardian Orisha and ...
Where did the Oshun originate?
The best known source of Oshun traditions are from Ijesa country, West Africa which has been known as Osun State, Nigeria since 1991. The annual Osogbo Festival is the largest event in Nigeria and is dedicated to Oshun.
Who is Oshun in Lukumi?
An interesting note, in Lukumi, Oshun is also represented on altars as the Chinese Goddess Kuan Yin. A huge synchronicity for me as I have seven Kuan Yin’s throughout my home! As other avatars, Oshun is Tara, Shakti, Mami Wata, and Aphrodite.
Is Sacred Journeys with Brice Feiler on Amazon?
Sacred Journeys with Brice Feiler featured the festival and is available on Amazon. Oshun is also said to “specialize in many trades” and a belief held in Africa to present day about Her is that She helps women n the market pay their debts.
What does Oshun mean?
Oshun’s name means “source” – She is the source of the river, of the people, of children, of life, of the very blood of life itself. As the youngest Orisha, Oshun quickly demonstrated that She was intrinsically linked with all life. If Oshun withdraws from our world, life is over – Her elemental power as the source of Sweet Waters on Earth ...
Is Oshun a goddess?
It is a grave mistake to dismiss Oshun simply as a Goddess of beauty and sexuality or love. Her reach is far more encompassing and complicated. She is our origin as woman through all the feminine cycles of life. She is a fierce protectress of women and the embodiment of all cycles of women especially through life, death, and rebirth.
What does Oshun do when she withdraws from the world?
If Oshun withdraws from our world, life is over – Her elemental power as the source of Sweet Waters on Earth (the fresh waters) makes life possible and preserves life for creation. Oshun is specifically the source of feminine power and the source of women’s intrinsic creative power. All that we are in the embodiment to create, sustain, ...
Overview
Ceremonies and Ritual Colors
Osun is the orisha of the river. Her devotees leave her offerings and perform ceremonies at bodies of fresh water such as rivers, streams and canals. She is associated with the colors white, yellow, gold, and sometimes coral.
Primordial Osun
According to the Ifa Literary Corpus, Ọṣun was the only female Irunmole (primordial spirit) sent to assist Shango to create the world by Olodumare. The other spirits that were sent began the work and ignored Ọṣun. Ọṣun went to her partner Shango for guidance. Two versions of this story exist. One claims that female spirits were tempted to take matters into their own hands, but all of their creative attempts failed because they acted without male spiritual leadership. Another vers…
Mortal Osun
While still a mortal, Osun is said to have gone to a drum festival one day and to have fallen in love with Shango. Since that day, Shango has been married to Oba, Oya, and Osun, though the last mentioned is said to be his favourite. Other stanzas in the Ifa Literary Corpus say that she was also married to Orunmila, who later became the Orisha of Wisdom and Divination.
It is also said that Osun was the first woman to be referred to as an Iyalode.
Abẹ̀bẹ̀
The Abẹ̀bẹ̀ is the ritual object most associated with Ọṣun. The Abẹ̀bẹ̀ is a fan in circular form.
Brazil
Ọṣun is a female orishá adopted and worshiped in all Afro-Brazilian religions. She is the orishá of the fresh water of rivers and waterfalls; of wealth and prosperity; of love; and of beauty. Followers seek help for romantic problems from Osun; the orisha is also responsible for marriage and other relationships. As the orishá of financial life, she is also called the "Lady of Gold". This referred to copper at one time for being the most valuable metal of the time. Osun is worshiped at rivers an…
Santeria
Ozun is another major Orisha that is distinct from Osun, the latter whom is also called "Oshun" and "Ochún" in the Santería religion of the Caribbean (Cuba, Puerto Rico and Trinidad) brought over by Yoruba people during the transatlantic slave trade. While Ozun is a masculine Orisha associated with John the Baptist, Ochún is syncretized with Our Lady of Charity.
Further reading
• Ajiabde, G. Olusola. Negotiating Performance: Osun in the Verbal and Visual Metaphors, Bayreuth, Working Papers, 2005.
• Afolabi, Kayode. Osun Osogbo - Sacred People and Sacred Places, Charleston 2006.
• Badejo, Diedre, Oshun Seegesi: The Elegant Deity of Wealth, Power, and Femininity, Asmara 1996.