Is Oshun still honoured today?
Today, Oshun is still honoured in Nigeria in the annual ceremony called Ibo-Osun, as well as the 12 day Osun-Osogbo that takes place at the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove each year at the end of June to the beginning of August.
What is Oshun Festival in Nigeria?
The festival is believed to be at least 600 years old and it attracts thousands of visitors and spectators from across Nigeria and the world. Top Image: An artist’s depiction of Oshun, a sweet water goddess of love. Source: www.reunionblackfamily.com African American Wiccan Society, 2013. Oshun. [Online] Ellis, A. B., 1894.
What is the meaning of Oshun?
Oshun is the orisha of sweetness, love and everything that makes life worth living. This is Oshún is Ibú Asedán – a road of Oshun that loves to hunt. Oshun (also spelled Ochún, Oṣun or Oxum) is the youngest of the orishas and probably the most popular in Santeria.
What is the road of Oshun?
This is Oshún is Ibú Asedán – a road of Oshun that loves to hunt. Oshun (also spelled Ochún, Oṣun or Oxum) is the youngest of the orishas and probably the most popular in Santeria. She was the last orisha born in the world out of Olodumare’s love for creation.
What is the number for Oshun?
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 it mean when Oshun comes to you?
We can connect with the goddess Oshun to give love with ease, and to help us move on if our love is not being reciprocated. She reminds us that the only love we need is the love for ourselves. We can then act from a place of abundance, from which we can attract and sustain healthy relationships.
What day is Yemaya?
She does not easily lose her temper, but when angered she can be quite destructive and violent, as the flood waters of turbulent rivers....YemọjaDay2 February 31 December 8 December 7 SeptemberColorBlue and White/Crystal beadsRegionYorubaland, Brazil, CubaEthnic groupYoruba people,7 more rows
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.
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 Orisha day is Friday?
The traditional Yoruba week has four days. The four days that are dedicated to the Orisa go as follow: Day 1 is dedicated to Obatala, Sopona, Iyami Aje, and the Egungun....Calendar terminologies.ỌSẸ̀ in Yoruba calendarDay in Gregorian calendarỌjọ́bọ̀ (Day of Arrival)ThursdayỌjọ́-Ẹtì (Day of Postponement & Delay)Friday5 more rows
Who is Yemaya husband?
She was married to Aganju and had one son, Orungan, and fifteen Orishas came forth from her. They include Ogun, Olokun, Shopona and Shango. Other stories would say that Yemaya was always there in the beginning and all life came from her, including all of the orishas.
What is Shango day of the week?
fifth dayShangoDayThe fifth day of the weekColorRed and WhiteRegionNigeria, Benin, Latin AmericaEthnic groupYoruba people, Fon people7 more rows
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 is the symbol for Oshun?
“Oshun's themes are divination and love. Her symbols are flowing water, seashells and amber beads. Oshun is a beautiful, oracular Goddess of love.
What color is Oshun?
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.
What does it mean to be a daughter of Oshun?
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.” Encyclopedia Britannica.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 .
How many shrines are there in the Osun-Osongbo grove?
Over time, these sacred groves were either abandoned or shrank in size, apart from the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove. This sacred grove contains 40 shrines, 2 palaces, as well as many sculptures and works of art. Due to its unique status, the Osun-Osongbo Sacred Grove was inscribed in UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2005.
Who is Oshun's father?
She also taught them the art of divination using cowrie shells, as well as songs, chants, and meditations taught to her by her father Obatala, the first of the created Orishi. Kneeling Female Figure, Devotee of Oshun.
Is Osun Osongbo a sacred grove?
Due to its unique status, the Osun-Osongbo Sacred Grove was inscribed in UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2005. There are some interesting tales linked to Oshun’s sacred grove . In one story, villagers from a nearby area were migrating in search of water and settled in along the river near the present town of Osogbo.
What does Oshun represent?
Hers is the power of sweetness in life, and all of the things that make life worth living. Oshun represents all of the phases of a woman’s life and her worship was popular in Africa. Because of this she has many roads or “caminos”, each encapsulating a different aspect of her persona.
What is Oshun's name?
Oshun is the orisha of sweetness, love and everything that makes life worth living. This is Oshún is Ibú Asedán – a road of Oshun that loves to hunt. Oshun (also spelled Ochún, Oṣun or Oxum) is the youngest of the orishas and probably the most popular in Santeria. She was the last orisha born in the world out of Olodumare’s love for creation.
Why is Oshun the most popular orisha?
Oshún is probably the most popular orisha in Santeria because of her willingness to help those seeking love, children or money in life. Oshun is very generous to those who love and respect her.
What are Oshun's roads called?
Each road has a slightly different temperament and particularities. All roads of Oshun are called “Ibu” meaning “pool of water” or “spring. Here is but a sampling of her caminos.
Where does Oshun live?
She makes her residence in the rivers of the world.
What is the best thing to make for Oshun?
Oshinshín (or Ochinchín) is a simple and effective offering to make for Oshun, and it is one of her favorites. In truth there are variations of oshinshín that can be made for other orishas too by modifying the ingredients a bit. Start with 5 hen eggs, a bundle of collard greens and a packet of dried shrimp.
Who owns the needle in Oshun?
All of her tools and implements are doubled. Ibú Asedán – the owner of the needle, she is a powerful huntress and enjoys inflicting pain on her prey. Ibú Akuaro (Akparo) – a destitute, poor road of Oshun that lives where the river and sea meet. The quail is sacred to her.
Ochún, the Queen of the Rivers
Ochún (Oshún) is the youngest of all the Orichás, according to most patakís (sacred stories). When Olodumare finished creating the earth, he sat back and contemplated his work. He realized something was missing: sweetness and love, the two things that would make live worth living.
Ochún's Characteristics
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.
Other Traits of Ochún
Although Ochún appears to the world as a happy young woman with no cares, her life wasn't always easy. She suffered many misfortunes and, deep inside, she's sometimes melancholy and sad. She can be petulant and demanding when her whims aren't met, and she can be vindictive when crossed.
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.
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 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 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.
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 ...
Overview
Mortal Osun
- The Ifa, also called Yoruba, religion, originates in Yorubaland, a region in the Southwest section of Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa. Every year, in the last week of July and the first week of August, celebrants gather at the exquisite Osun river and Osun Osogbo grove in the town of Osogbo for a festival in the deity’s honor. UNESCO, (...
Primordial Osun
Ceremonies and Ritual Colors
Abẹ̀bẹ̀
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.
Brazil
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…
Santeria
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.
Further reading
The Abẹ̀bẹ̀ is the ritual object most associated with Ọṣun. The Abẹ̀bẹ̀ is a fan in circular form.