Osun State
Osun is an inland state in south-western Nigeria. Its capital is Osogbo. It is bounded in the north by Kwara State, in the east partly by Ekiti State and partly by Ondo State, in the south by Ogun State and in the west by Oyo State. The state's current governor is Adegboyega Oyetola, who was declar…
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How to invoke the energy of yorube goddess Oshun?
What is offered to Oshún to help us in love?
- We choose a quiet place, be it on the river, the sea, or a space in our home.
- We light a yellow, gold or white candle in her name to invoke her.
- We can offer you what we want, for example, 5 sunflowers and we put a little honey on top to sweeten the good ways of love.
What does Oshun like?
Oshun, an orisha (deity) of the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. Oshun is commonly called the river orisha, or goddess, in the Yoruba religion and is typically associated with water, purity, fertility, love, and sensuality. She is considered one of the most powerful of all orishas, and, like
How to begin to work with the orisha Oshun?
- This work will be left for 5 days or 7 days, it depends on the duration of the flowers.
- Your offering will be deposited at the mouth of a river and the sea.
- When depositing the offering, he must cross himself with 7 cents that will be left in the river part and with 5 cents for the sea part.
What are the symbols and colors of the goddess Athena?
- Pantheon: Olympian.
- Element: Fire.
- Sphere of Influence: Death and Wealth.
- Preferred colors: Black.
- Associated symbol: Black Ram.
- Animals associated with: Ram.
- Best day to work with: Saturday.
- Strongest around: Yule.
What does Oshun symbolize?
Oshun is commonly called the river orisha, or goddess, in the Yoruba religion and is typically associated with water, purity, fertility, love, and sensuality. She is considered one of the most powerful of all orishas, and, like other gods, she possesses human attributes such as vanity, jealousy, and spite.
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
What are Oshun favorite things?
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. Today the Orisha traditions are practiced in Cuba, Brazil, and parts of Central America and the United States.
Why do people pray to Oshun?
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.
How do you know if you are 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 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.
Who is the daughter of Oshun?
Oshun is a Nigerian Yoruba Orisha, a spirit or deity that reflects one of the manifestations of God in the Ifá and Yoruba religions. She is one of the most popular Orisha's and the only female irunmole (primordial) sent to set up the world by Olodumare.
Is Oshun a warrior?
Oshun is a superb warrior and lover —she loves just as fiercely as she fights. She's about creative resistance & the power of art. Yoruba stories speak of her ending wars through dance, and enchanting enemies with sweetness.
What is the Oshun candle for?
Orisha of the sweet or fresh waters- the spirit of the river, lakes, streams. She is known for healing the sick and bringing fertility and prosperity. As an Orisha of love, Oshun represents beauty and the divine feminine.
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.
Who is Oshun married to?
Oshun Ibu D'Oko -- Oshun, the wife of Orisha Oko. This Oshun is pictured as a furrow to be plowed and a giant vulva, while her husband Orisha Oko is a farmer and pictured as a giant phallus. This is one of Oshun's most obviously procreative manifestations.
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.
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 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.
What is the goddess of gold?
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 and waterfalls, and more rarely, near mineral water sources. She is a symbol of sensitivity and is identified by weeping.
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 Brazilian orisha?
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.
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.
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:
What are Oshun's offerings?
Offerings to Oshun could be in form of songs, chantings, meditating on her name, devotion to her love, and/or adherence with her compassionate laws. Her manifestations of love include being the source of all fresh waters, all warmth, all knowledge, all culture, all society, all motherhood, prosperity, fertility of the land and the water.
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 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.
What are the offerings of Osun?
Food offerings could include sweet things such as fresh water, honey, mead, white wine, oranges, sweets, or pumpkins, as well as essential oils and incense. THE MANY DIMENSIONS AND MOODS OF OSUN. In the high Yoruba mystical teachings, Oshun has many roads, or dimensions and some of these include:
What is the mother of the fishes of the seas?
She is known as the mother of the fishes of the seas and the birds of the forest. Isis used to be represented as the mother of the fishes and the Queen of the seas. Oshun is the essence of love, sweetness and good cheer, beauty and flowing joy. Among the Yorubas of West Africa, She is also known as Yalode- the mother of things outside ...
What is Oshun known for?
Oshun is known for her seductive and sensual power. Originally the waters belonged to Yamaya but one day while being chased by Ogun, Oshun had fallen into the rivers and Yamaya took her in and protected her from the fierceness of Ogun. She gave her the rivers to rule and that was how she became the river goddess.
What does Oshun like?
Oshun loves to laugh, dance and has great taste in everything. She likes gold and when she gives a person a child, the child is often very fair and beautiful. She is a witch that is very good at throwing love spells. With her pot of honey tied around her waist she easily seduces whosoever she desires.
How to attract blessings of Oshun?
If you wish to attract the blessings of Oshun then you should worship and portray her attributes. Oshun is very generous to people so you should be the hands of Oshun in humanity by spreading joy and love wherever you can. Your top priority should be to make the world a more beautiful place.
What to put on a goddess altar?
She loves to be praised and called a goddess. On the altar, place your sweet offerings such as; honey, pumpkin, cinnamon, sweet potatoes, lemons, coconut, yams, etc.
Who is the goddess of love and beauty?
Orisha Oshun: The Goddess of Love and Beauty. Oshún also known as Ochun is the youngest of all the Orishás who rules the rivers. According to the legend, after her creation, she was gifted with love and sweetness so she became the orisha of love and beauty. Oshun is known for her seductive and sensual power.
Who is the river goddess?
She gave her the rivers to rule and that was how she became the river goddess. Ochún is a sensual and seductive goddess who inspires sexual love and promotes fertility. She gives beautiful babies to those who call upon her.
Is Oshun a materialistic goddess?
Although, known to be a lively goddess, Oshun can be moody, jealous and petty especially whenever she gets disappointed by the one she loves. She is also a materialistic goddess who hates being poor.
What is Oshun's favorite food?
Honey is Oshun’s favorite food and most important offering. It is not coincidental that it is the product of a physically beautiful being which serves its queen throughout its life. Furthermore, honey is considered, scientifically, a singularly unique food.
What is the symbolism of the sunflower?
Sunflowers are a universal symbol of this Orisha. In addition to the aforementioned fans and peacocks, she is also associated with butterflies, bees, and of course, honey. A famous pataki, (parable), explains why the hideous vulture, also symbolizes her, however. Both animals represent her and are sacred to her.
Can you have a relationship with Oshun?
No matter who you are, whether you are religious, irreligious, atheist or agnostic, you can create a relationship with Oshun, should that be your wish. She doesn’t care whether you believe in her or not! If you have a request that involves her areas of influence, and you want her to grant it, it is yours for the asking, if it does not cause harm to yourself or others.
Does Oshun have hemp?
Finally, the Ifa/Yoruba canon does not specifically link Oshun with cannabis and hemp. That is an extraction made by the creator of this blog. However, I would argue there is a clear, evident, organic connection between this God-given, healing, Heaven-anointed plant and the divine Orisha who is devoted to providing all things good for all human beings. This is so because CBD and THC’s magical properties make all the areas influenced by Oshun healed, functional, thriving and good. It is an honor to serve her, and you, through sharing this knowledge, through a delightful journey, to a life that is all She wants for us–deeply satisfying, joyful, exciting, prosperous, full of love, and above all — Sweet!
What is the meaning of Oshun?
Oshun is an African River Goddess. The Goddess of life, fertility, love, sensuality, prosperity, water and purity. She is a Mother and gives life through the waters, the life blood that flows through our veins and the rivers that flow through the Earth. Associated with Yemaya, she is the fresh water Mother, while Yemaya is the salt water Mother (Ocean). One flows to the other and back again in a cycle.
What does Oshun say to you?
The river isn’t that deep, it comes up to your knees, maybe a bit higher. Oshun wants to give you a cleansing. She says ‘Close your eyes and breathe deeply. Feel the air in your lungs, smell the beautiful fresh air and the scent all around you.’.
How does Oshun help you?
How Oshun will help you. Oshun will help you clear and cleanse your energy, helping you to be more balanced and happy. She will help you go with the flow, help your emotions flow and help you move forward and not stay still. Call on her when you need to rebalance and clear your energy.
What does Oshun say in the song "Hello Child"?
You sit and listen to the water, breathing in the fresh air and feeling peaceful. You close your eyes and feel the energy of the place and call to Oshun to be with you. She appears immediately and says ‘Hello Child.’.
How to connect with Oshun?
Meditation to connect with Oshun. Find a quiet spot or maybe a river to sit by. If in doors, put on some incense or an oil diffuser, light a candle and close your eyes. Take three deep breaths and relax. Hold your intention in connecting to Oshun.
What does the Goddess of Love do?
As a Goddess of love and sensuality, she will remind you of the power of pleasure and self love. Helping you to let go of your inhibitions and let your hormones and desires flow. Helping you to get in touch with your cycle and your womb and using its power and wisdom to guide you.
How does the Goddess of Life help you?
Always helping you to move forward and not stay still. As a Goddess of life, fertility and prosperity, she will help you in your pre gnancy and birth, supporting and protecting you. She will also help you create and manifest your desires.
Femininity and beauty in the Oshún dance
In Oshún dance, yellow and gold tones predominate in clothing and jewelry, symbols of femininity and elegance.
They dance to the goddess, the daughters of Oshún
El Oshún dance It is highly represented in ceremonies to pay homage and devotion to the Yoruba deity.
What is the role of Oshun?
One of the most important roles that Oshun plays is that of the goddess of the sweet waters and the protective deity of the River Oshun in Nigeria. Alongside this river is a sacred grove, probably the last in Yoruba Culture , dedicated to Oshun. The Celtic Goddess Epona that Rode Swiftly Across the Ancient Roman Empire.
Where is Oshun today?
Today, Oshun is still honored in Nigeria in the annual ceremony called Ibo-Osun, as well as the 12 day Osun-Osogbo festival in August.
Why did Oshun advise the settlers to move to the upper part of the river?
They were successful in their undertaking and Oshun advised the settlers to move to the upper part of the river, for humans and spirits could not live together. The villagers complied with Oshun’s command and the former settlement became the Osun-Osongbo Sacred Grove.
How many gods are there in Yoruba?
Practitioners of traditional Yoruba religion believe in a pantheon of 401 gods (known as Orisha) who govern various aspects of the world and human life. Although Oshun (also spelt Osun) is regarded principally as a goddess of love, there are other aspects to this Orisha as well. One of the most important roles that Oshun plays is that ...
What is Oshun's art style?
In art, Oshun is depicted like many of her counterparts from other cultures. Oshun is commonly shown as a beautiful, charming, sensual, and coquettish young woman. In addition to her natural beauty, Oshun is also adorned with such ornaments as gold jewelry, brass bracelets, beads, mirrors and elaborate fans .
What is the name of the goddess of love?
Oshun: African Goddess of Love and Sweet Waters. Across many ancient civilizations throughout the world, love was placed under the domain of a certain deity, usually, but not in all cases, a goddess. In the Classical world, for instance, there were Venus and Aphrodite, love goddesses of the Roman and Greek pantheons respectively.
What is the Celtic goddess that rode swiftly across the Roman Empire?
The Celtic Goddess Epona that Rode Swiftly Across the Ancient Roman Empire. A Cycle of Life and Death: Slavic Goddesses Morana and Vesna. Navigating the Realm of an Aztec Water Goddess and One of the Five Suns. Osun river at the Sacred Grove Of Oshun. (Yeniajayiii/ CC BY SA 4.0 )
Overview
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. Oshun is an important river deity among the Yorùbá people. She is the goddess of divinity, femininity, fertility, beauty and love. She is connected to de…
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.
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.