Ceremonies and Ritual Colors
Abẹ̀bẹ̀
Brazil
What is Oshun's number?
associated with the number five. Oshun often carries a mirror so that she can admire her beauty. She loves honey, sunflowers, oranges, cinnamon, and pumpkin, and her favorite birds are peacocks and vultures.
What does Oshun help with?
When angered, Oshun may flood Earth or destroy crops by withholding her waters, thereby causing massive droughts. In one myth, Oshun is incensed by her devotees and sends down rain, nearly flooding the world. Yet once she has been appeased, Oshun saves Earth from destruction by calling back the waters.
What does Oshun energy mean?
Oshun is both a creator and a healer. Followers call on Oshun for help with fertility and to cure ailments when medicine doesn't work. Oshun's energy can heal and create life, but she can also take it away if she feels that we are ungrateful for what she has given.
What does it mean to see Oshun?
This is due to the story of Orishas, who rebelled against the creator god, Olodumare. In this context, Oshun and her sacred birds are seen as symbols of courage, perseverance, healing, waters, and life.
What day is Oshun day of the week?
FridayOn the 5th day of each week (Friday), OSHUN & their temple gives offerings to the orisa, Osun, on behalf of members in the community who are looking to connect with the Great Mother.
How do you become 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.
What orisha day is Friday?
Day 1 is dedicated to Obatala, Sopona, Iyami Aje, and the Egungun. Day 2 is dedicated to Orunmila, Esu, and Osun. Day 3 is dedicated to Ogun & Oshosi. Day 4 is dedicated to Sango and Oya....Calendar terminologies.ỌSẸ̀ in Yoruba calendarDay in Gregorian calendarỌjọ́-Ẹtì (Day of Postponement & Delay)Friday6 more rows
What food does Oshun like?
Oshun's favorite thing to eat is honey, and her contagious laugh can either put you under her spell or send shivers down your spine.” And Oshun, who is said to be jealous, can be vengeful when she is crossed: “Oshun is as sweet as honey,” Mesa writes, “but her honey can also turn sour.”
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.
What animal is Oshun associated with?
She is the patron saint of the Osun River in Nigeria, which bears her name....Oshun.Ọ̀ṣun OshunVenerated inYoruba religion, Dahomey mythology, Vodun, Santería, Candomblé, Haitian VodouRegionNigeria, Benin, Latin America, Haiti, CubaEthnic groupYoruba people, Fon peoplePersonal information5 more rows
Who is the most powerful orisha?
ṢàngóṢàngó is viewed as the most powerful and feared of the orisha pantheon. He casts a "thunderstone" to earth, which creates thunder and lightning, to anyone who offends him. Worshippers in Yorubaland in Nigeria do not eat cowpea because they believe that the wrath of the god of iron would descend on them.
Is Oshun associated with bees?
Well known are some traditional associations of bees and their products with various Orishas. Obvious candidates would be Oshun and Osanyin, but I would suggest that if you think about it, there are many ways in which the process of beekeeping could open a relationship with Eshu, Ogun, or any of the other Orishas.
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.
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 plant that grows with Osun?
Plants associated with Osun in Brazil are aromatic, sweet, and often yellow, reflecting the qualities of the Orisha. They include mints ( Lamiacaea ). Osun is associated with the folha-de-dez-réis ( Hydrocotyle cybelleta ), a plant of the pennywort family.
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.
What is the iron chalice of Osun?
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.
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.
Who is Osun married to?
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.
What does Oshun mean?
Her 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 ...
What happens if Oshun 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. We are honoring both Goddesses in the Goddess Full Moon Group this month. On Thursday, September 8 at 9:15pm eastern, there is a special event and meditation to Oshun.
When is the feast day of Yemaya?
artist unknown. September 7 and September 8 mark the annual Feast Days of the Orisha Goddesses Yemaya and Oshun, respectively. These Yoruban Goddesses are honored throughout the world by Orisha devotees as the Sacred Keepers of the Waters.
When is Yemaya?
Yemaya is being celebrated on September 16 for the Full Moon! When you register for the free Full Moon Group, information will be available on how to attend the live event and access the archives.
Who is Olofi in Orichás?
Olofi, who is all-knowing, understood what Ochún had done, and he rewarded her for her bravery and lack of self interest by making her one of his favorite Orichás. The Virgin of Caridad del Cobre. Ochún is a close friend of Eleguá, who supports her in all her endeavors.
What is the most beautiful oricha?
Ochún is considered to be the most beautiful of the female Orichás. She exhibits all of the characteristics associated with fresh flowing water: she's lively, sparking, vivacious, refreshing. No one can resist her seductive laugh, her graceful dancing, and her lips that taste like honey.
What are the prayers of Oshun?
Most of them, however, begin by praising her beauty and flattering her power and strength be for evoking and calling on her powers of seduction and fertility. Be careful though!
What are the offerings of Oshun?
Though offerings typically accepted as favorable by Oshun are pumpkins, squash, yams, cinnamon, honey, lemons and coconuts.
What is the plant used to honor Oshun?
Fresh Helecho plant is also often used in honoring Oshun in baths for love and drawing harmony into your life. References to water, either in offering or during prayer, are common when symbolizing the strength of Oshun.
What is Oshun's influence?
Oshun influences the pleasurable aspects of life. Her powers regarding attraction and affection are extremely potent. She is essentially the Aphrodite of the Yoruba faith and is synchronized with Our Lady of Charity in western religions.
What is Oshun's beauty?
It is said that Oshun possesses unparalleled beauty and affinity for enhancing emotion and pleasures of the flesh. She is benevolent goddess that is portrayed as graceful, elegant and loving. She can also be temperamental and moody under certain circumstances.
How many lances does Oshun have?
She uses oars to balance good and evil and has a crown that can be described as vicious, as it has 5 lances on each of its five points. This reminds Oshun's opponents that she can be vicious if necessary. Some believe that she has a pot of honey tied around her waist that possesses the ultimate powers of seduction.
Who is the Orisha of love?
The Orishas: Oshun. Oshun ( or Ochun) is the Orisha of love in the Yoruba religion. She is said to have been wed by Shango (or Chango), the god of life, after attending a drum festival. Oshun influences the pleasurable aspects of life. Her powers regarding attraction and affection are extremely potent. She is essentially the Aphrodite of the Yoruba ...
What is the day Oshun sacrifices himself for humanity?
The day Oshún sacrifices himself for humanity: There comes a day when life on earth had to be saved and nobody could do anything and that is how Oshún becomes a vulture and arrives in front of the creator Olofin to ask him to save humanity.
What happened to Oshun?
Oshún also lost everything in love: Everyone fell in love with Oshún and many were not reciprocated with their love, so she is threatened and leaves the palace, abandoning all her wealth. In total poverty, she is even forced to sell her body in order to survive.
What does Yemaya do to Oshun?
One day Oshún lamented so much difficulty and Yemayá decides to forget his grudges and goes to his aid. She forgives her sister and gives her the river and the power of its sweet waters so that she can reign in it, she gives her jewels and riches, she also gives her hair and she is made queen.
What is the meaning of Inle in Oshun?
The legends narrate that Inle was his first love, but she lets him down with a lie and one day that relationship breaks down. Inle or Erinlé is a beautiful Orisha representing fishing and floriculture. It is said that when Oshún saw Inle he fell madly in love with him.
What does Oya ask for in her kidnapping?
One day Oyá runs away from home and wanders a lot and they kidnap her. In her kidnapping they ask for a lot of money, money that Oshún did not have to offer. Then he proposes to the boss that he can give him his most precious tribute, which was his virginity, and gives himself to him to get his sister back.
What happened when Oshun saw Inle?
It is said that when Oshún saw Inle he fell madly in love with him. But Inle only had eyes for the forest nymphs, so Oshún disguises herself as one of them to captivate her love. She seduces Inle and lives with him but one day Inle discovers her and abandons her.
Why did Oshun fall in love with his magic?
And about the power and magic of love, in the patakies it is narrated that Oshún, because of his beauty, his exotic dances and his sensual walk, seduced all men, and they fell at his feet, instantly in love with his magic. And so in the stories of the Yoruba religion, Oshún had many loves whom he loved and who loved him.
Overview
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.
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…
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.
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.