Yemayá is offered food, fruits and flowers such as:
- The Ochinchin made with shrimp, capers, lettuce, boiled eggs, tomato and chard,
- Ekó (corn tamale wrapped in banana leaves),
- Olelé (beans or beans made into paste with ginger, garlic and onion),
- Green banana in balls or yam with okra (okra),
Full Answer
How can I offer offerings to Yemaya?
Yemaya’s fellow water spirit, Oshun, spirit of sweet waters, will accept offerings on her behalf. Deposit gifts for Yemaya in flowing streams or rivers. Nothing is free, however: if utilizing Oshun’s services, be sure to speak to her first, explaining that you would like her to deliver your offering to Yemaya.
What is Yemayá the goddess of?
She is depicted as a mermaid, capable of venturing into any body of water freely. The Yoruba see Yemayá as the patron spirit of pregnant women. She watches over them and protects them, ensuring a safe labor. She is also associated with amniotic fluid, keeping her children safe against the harsh dangers of the world.
How do you honor the goddess Yemaya?
She is often honored by celebrations on the eve of the New Year. Devotees send gifts of jewelry, fabric, soap, perfume, and letters along with floating candles that are set adrift in the moonlit sea as gifts to the goddess Yemaya.
What is a Yemaya ceremony?
In a ceremony for Yemaya, everyone dances in a circle and the altar is in the form of a circle. The circle represents the eternal cycle of life.
Why is Yemaya given prayers?
What do you give to Yemaya?
What is the difference between Yemaya and Olokun?
What is the new year?
Is Yemaya a good time to celebrate the New Year?
What gifts does Yemaya like?
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.
What is Yemaya favorite food?
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.
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 is Yemaya the goddess of?
Yemaya is a Yorubian Orisha, or Goddess of the Ocean who is the mother of all. She is the source of the water that gives life in West Africa. She is a protection Goddess and also presides over fertility and creation. Yemaya is a fierce protector of women.
What is a daughter of Yemaya?
Lisa, 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. And Naomi was chosen by Shango, who is the orisha of the thunder.
How old is Yemaya?
In SHALLOW WATERS, though, Yemaya is a 17-year-old mermaid who knows she's different from the humans but doesn't know exactly what she is. The one thing she is sure of is her inexplicably magnetic connection to Obatala (more on that later).
Who is Yemaya married to?
AganjuIn 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 color is Yemaya?
white and blueYemaya is the orisha of lakes and seas and the patron of women and of motherhood. She is associated with Our Lady of Regla, the protector of sailors. Fans, seashells, canoes, coral, and the moon all represent her. Her colors are white and blue.
What is Yemoja associated with?
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.
How do you know if you are a daughter 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 does Yemanja mean?
the Great Mother of the Sea(Chuckles) “The image of the Virgin Mary is actually a representation of a Yorubá Orisha who, in Brazil, is called Yemanjá, meaning the Great Mother of the Sea. She is a divine character praised by my religion, the Umbanda, alongside many other African-rooted religions, cultures and places.
Why is Yemaya given prayers?
Yemaya is one of the deities associated with the new year, and she is given prayers and offerings to help bring good luck and happiness to those who honor her.
What do you give to Yemaya?
Prayers and Offerings to Yemaya. Yemaya enjoys offerings of candles, fish, fruit, rice, molasses, sweet dumplings, caramel corn, perfume, sachet powder, and mirrors, among others. The simplest way to give her offerings is to make them directly to the sea.
What is the difference between Yemaya and Olokun?
As people were stolen and taken across the sea as part of the slave trade, Yemaya became an ocean goddess -- deity of the light, gentle, upper part of the sea, while Olokun rules the darker waters deep beneath the surface. Water is renewal.
What is the new year?
No matter when you celebrate it, the new year is a time for setting yourself up for the months ahead. Spells and rituals for setting intentions and creating the life you want to live are a perfect way to begin the year anew.
Is Yemaya a good time to celebrate the New Year?
Even if your culture doesn't celebrate New Year's eve during summer, Yemaya is still associated with the renewing energy that the new year brings. It might not be warm enough to dance on the shore, but it is still a good time to give prayers and offerings to bring you luck and blessings.
What do devotees send to the goddess Yemaya?
Devotees send gifts of jewelry, fabric, soap, perfume, and letters along with floating candles that are set adrift in the moonlit sea as gifts to the goddess Yemaya. Yemaya is a mother goddess, the goddess of home, fertility, love and family.
What was Yemaya's first gift?
According to legend, Yemaya's first gift to her beloved humans was a sea shell in which her voice could always be heard. To this day we honor Yemaya when we hold a shell to our ear in order to hear her voice, the ocean. Yemaya is a goddess of comfort and inspiration.
What is the goddess of comfort?
Yemaya is a goddess of comfort and inspiration. She reminds us that even the worst catastrophes can be endured and that, with her help, we can learn to negotiate the ebbs and flows of change in our lives with her wisdom, courage, and grace.
What is the name of the goddess of the ocean?
YEMAYA: Goddess of the Ocean and of the New Year. Yemaya was the river goddess of the Yoruba in Nigeria. When her people were hoarded onto the slave ships, Yemaya went with them, thus becoming their Goddess of the Ocean.
What is the name of the Virgin Mary?
Today she is also celebrated under many other names, including the virgin Mary (Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception ), Stella Maris (Star of the Sea), and Our Lady of Regla to name but a few. She is often honored by celebrations on the eve of the New Year.
Where did the Yoruba travel?
She traveled with them from Yoruba to distant lands, comforting them in the holds of the slave ships that took them far away from their homeland in Africa. Known by other names, her traditions continue in the countries to which her people were dispersed.
What is Yemaya associated with?
For practicing witches, Yemaya has a fierce, nurturing, gentle energy often associated with the moon and sorcery.
What is Yemaya's energy?
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.
What is the name of the ocean goddess?
Often depicted as a queenly mermaid, Yemaya is considered the Ocean Mother Goddess in Santería, an Afro-Caribbean religion practiced around the world. With anchored roots in the Yoruba religion, Yemaya was brought over to the New World by enslaved Africans as early as the 16th century.
What does Yemaya mean when she says "bathe in the blood of her enemies"?
The story of Yemaya was originally brought over to Cuba via the transatlantic slave trade.
When was Yemaya brought to the New World?
From the Yoruba religion, Yemaya was brought over to the New World by enslaved Africans as early as the 16th century. By Amber C. Snide r. July 9, 2019.
Where did Yemaya come from?
As an oral tradition, Yemaya’s attributes, manifestations, and origin stories can vary depending on where you are in the world (especially between Brazil, Cuba, Haiti, and the US), including the pronunciation and spelling of her name.
Is Yemaya a white woman?
Although the Virgin Mary is traditionally depicted as a white woman (a mis representation in history, but that’s another story), Yemaya is depicted as a woman of color. Radiantly rising from the sea, her dark skin shining under the moon, Yemaya rules over her domain with grace, beauty, and maternal wisdom.
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.
Who are the two orishas in Yemaya?
Yemaya has a very special relationship with two orishas in particular: Oshún and Chango. Oshún is often depicted as Yemaya’s sister, and Yemaya allows Oshún to take residence in her rivers.
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 are the colors of Yemaya?
Number: 7. Sacred Place in Nature: the ocean, lagoons and lakes. Colors: blue and clear .
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 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.
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 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.
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.
How to pray to Yemaya?
Invoke, petition, or pray to Yemaya. • Sprinkle the water over your naked body from head to toe using your fingers or a roseMary branch. • Let the water remain on your body for a little while, and then gently pat yourself dry with a brand-new clean white towel or cloth. • Put on clean clothes.
How to decorate Yemaya's shrine?
Yemaya’s shrine should evoke the sea. Decorate it with nets, seashells, sea stars, and sea horses. Add salted water to a crystal glass containing small seashells.
What is the name of the Red Sea Queen?
The Red Sea is her official hideout, but she sails where she chooses. (To complicate matters further, Yemaya and her daughter, love goddess Oshun, may be alter-egos of Lady Asherah, another Red Sea Queen and her daughter, love goddess Astarte.) She is also known as Yemaya Ibu Okoto.
What is Yemaya Okoto's crown?
Yemaya Okoto, the Pirate Queen, causes shipwrecks and drags ships and treasure down to the ocean floor. Her name means “the one who lives amongst the seashells.”. Her crown is a shark’s jawbone. She clenches a dagger between her teeth.
How beautiful is Yemaya?
Whether manifesting as woman or mermaid, Yemaya is always spectacularly beautiful. She can be sexually provocative with a rolling, hip-swaying walk that evokes the sea. Her traditional costume includes seven skirts. Her hair, clothes, and body may be ornamented with crystals, pearls, coral, or tiny bells.
What color is Yemaya's path?
Yemaya’s different paths are symbolized by different shades of blue (and sometimes by unique attributes). The particular hue represents each path’s specific natureand home. Thus the aspects of Yemaya who live closest to land or the water’s surface are represented by paler shades than those dwelling in the depths.
What does Yemaya eat?
Yemaya’s favorite food offerings include wet seedy fruits like pomegranates and watermelon plus fish, duck, and lamb dishes. She likes to snack on pork cracklings, plantain or banana chips and pound or coconut cake.
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.
What is the name of the Queen of the Sea?
And, in Cuba she has three names, depending on which part of her personality you wish to speak with: Yemaya Ataramagwa, The Wealthy Queen Of The Sea, this is her stern persona. Yemaya Achabba, violent, and, The overpowering, Yemaya Olokun who is said to only be seen in dreams.
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.
Why is Yemaya given prayers?
Yemaya is one of the deities associated with the new year, and she is given prayers and offerings to help bring good luck and happiness to those who honor her.
What do you give to Yemaya?
Prayers and Offerings to Yemaya. Yemaya enjoys offerings of candles, fish, fruit, rice, molasses, sweet dumplings, caramel corn, perfume, sachet powder, and mirrors, among others. The simplest way to give her offerings is to make them directly to the sea.
What is the difference between Yemaya and Olokun?
As people were stolen and taken across the sea as part of the slave trade, Yemaya became an ocean goddess -- deity of the light, gentle, upper part of the sea, while Olokun rules the darker waters deep beneath the surface. Water is renewal.
What is the new year?
No matter when you celebrate it, the new year is a time for setting yourself up for the months ahead. Spells and rituals for setting intentions and creating the life you want to live are a perfect way to begin the year anew.
Is Yemaya a good time to celebrate the New Year?
Even if your culture doesn't celebrate New Year's eve during summer, Yemaya is still associated with the renewing energy that the new year brings. It might not be warm enough to dance on the shore, but it is still a good time to give prayers and offerings to bring you luck and blessings.