Oshun, (also Osun, Ochun and Oxum), is a female orisha (deity) of the Ife (also known as Yoruba) spiritual tradition. This religion is also a system of divination. It is so old, layered and deep that it is impossible to capture its fullness and depth in a few words. This blog will provide many sources where search engines can obtain information about it, including them fromOther thingslisted below. But in truth, priests and priestesses, scholars and followers study and practice Ifa for a lifetime and never stop making new discoveries about it. That being the case, this overview will only be able to give a general idea of who this beloved Goddess is and why her joyful, loving, healing and benevolent essence draws countless people around the world into her powerful orbit. This blog is dedicated, inspired and informed by her and composed with the prayer that her readers will experience a greater sweetness of life when they visit this space.
Ifa/Yoruba spiritual system
Ifa/Yoruba is a spiritual system, although it is also known as a religion in the West. It is a major indigenous African religion practiced throughout Africa and the African diaspora. It is a divination practice that Nigerian scholars believe dates back to the 9th century. This does not contradict those who will tell you that its origin is so ancient that its beginning is before all calendars. If one understands the African concept of time and the concept of both/and, one understands that both statements are true.
Throughout its spread from the 16th to the 19th century, Ifa synchronized with Christianity, and more specifically with Catholicism. The Atlantic slave trade spread the practice throughout the so-called "New World," where iterations developed under various names: voodoo in Haiti and the French-speaking Caribbean; Santeria/Lucumi/Regla de Ocha/Regla Lucumi in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Guyana, Suriname; Stick in Cuba; Candomble` in Brazil, Umbanda in Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and Portugal; Yoruba in Trinidad and Tobago and so on. This is a general description; the reader should understand that in the United States and throughout the African diaspora,atIfa offspring can be found. The ancient Ifa/Yoruba system is like the baobab tree: its roots run deep, its branches are immensely strong, and each has enormous reach.
The structure of Ifa
The Ifa religion, also called Yoruba, originates from Yorubaland, a region in the southwestern part 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 luscious Osun River and the Osun Osogbo Forest in the town of Osogbo for a festival in honor of the deity. UNESCO, (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), has declared the Osun Osogbo Forest as a World Heritage Site. It also added Ifa to its list of "Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" in 2005. The annual Oshun Festival is one of the largest events dedicated to a traditional African deity on the continent, involving hundreds of participants from many places and religions. they are drawn there to feel its magic and infuse their lives with its unique and incomparable gift of sweetness.
Ifa is organized around three basic components:The All Mighty,Ancestorsyorishas.
The All Mighty
The Supreme Being, Olodumare, is neither masculine nor feminine and is not directly involved in human life; Rather, Olodumare is the creator of a world designed to provide every living being with everything it requires for a happy and healthy life.
Ancestors
In this spiritual tradition, one's ancestors and mothers are remembered and honored. They return to the family through repeated reincarnations and act as loving guides when in the heavenly realm. They are often called the undead as they are always with us through the unbreakable spirit bond of the clan.
orishas
Ifa has a pantheon of 401orishas(alsoorris), the gods and goddesses who are intermediaries between humans and the Supreme Being. (Oshun is one of the most important, or the so-called "Seven Powers" in the pantheon). They are also connected to all aspects of the natural world, as each life form is considered to be alive and have a soul power. These natural forces in the universe are calledorisha.
Every human has an orisha who "owns" his head, has some knowledge or belief in Ifá. Sometimes a person can haveoforishas who claim them, but any person can call upon any god or goddess at any time for information, guidance, or intercession. During the inauguration ceremony, the President saidold man(priest) reveals which orisha is the "mother" or "father" to whom the new devotee belongs. That being said, it is easy to recognize the children of the Seven Powers, as each individual reflects the characteristics of the orisha(s) who are their parent(s). However, something that separates the orishas from the Christian saints is that the orishas have weaknesses and shortcomings, as well as positive aspects of their character. They are not perfect without sex or without humor! They have a temper, they can (and do) cause mayhem, they like to drink, they enjoy making love, and once in a while they enjoy a good fight!
oshun
Oshun is the orisha of fresh water: lakes, streams, streams and rivers; It is also the protector of amniotic fluid. She is the enthusiastic goddess of love, beauty, sex and fertility, prosperity and luxury, and she is also the ruler of order.
In fact, one writer wrote: "Her manifestations of love include being the source of all sweet water, all heat, all knowledge, all culture, all society, all motherhood, prosperity, the fertility of the earth. And the water".
Oshun properties
In Africa, she is depicted as a beautiful, curvaceous, dark-skinned woman dressed in gold, amber, yellow and burnt orange. She is often shown wearing a shiny gold headdress; she is sometimes seen holding a peacock. She loves to wear gold, amber and bronze and is often depicted with a fan with which she loves to dance and sing. Yellow is its main color, followed by shades of amber; but besides those it is also shown in white and green (Nigeria) and pink (Trinidad and Tobago).
In America, however, she is depicted with a lighter complexion, with long curly hair that reflects the racial mixtures of those places.
This orisha is the essence of love that attracts all good things to all people, and indeed to all living things in the world, including the world itself. He loves to laugh, dance, sing, care, heal, order and provide. Feel free to ask her what you want and then expect to get it quickly as she is also known asRacket, "the one who answers" for how quickly she meets her children's wishes - and in that sense, Oshún is a mother to all.
Children of Oshun
It is easy to recognize a son or daughter of Oshun, the people that Olodumare has specifically assigned to him. Not only are they usually the most attractive person or persons in a room, but at every age they have a special and endearing demeanor. Throughout their lives they are described as "sweet natured", people with compassion for others, love of nature and love of fun. You can easily identify them by their main physical characteristic, their "honey face", a sweetness in their features and expression. They love luxury, beauty and order, regardless of whether they are good housewives or not. They are often excellent cooks and those who enjoy cooking shows may notice that some of the most famous chefs have kitchens decorated in amber colors and sunflowers appear somewhere as a tribute, consciously or unconsciously, to the orisha who blesses them . .
A word of warning: as sweet, flirtatious and loving as her offspring are, she is a wise person who understands that Oshun's children also have tempers just as combustible as their mother's. Never forget that the edges of Oshun's fans are very sharp! Their offspring can also hold grudges and be quite shallow and conceited if not raised properly.
their symbols
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 famousimportant, (parable), explains why the terrible vulture, however, also symbolizes it. Both animals represent her and are sacred to her.
Offer/Honey
Honey is Oshun's favorite food and the most important offering. It is no coincidence that he is the product of a physically beautiful being who serves his queen all his life. In addition, honey is scientifically considered a unique food. It is rich in nutrients, it nourishes and energizes the body, its natural antiseptic properties clean wounds and burns and promote skin healing; In addition, it is an excellent moisturizer that protects our largest organ, the skin, from harsh environmental elements. Furthermore, honey is collected without causing harm to the insect that produces it; and for the same reason bees are so vital to the chain of life that humans cannot survive without them. So it is with Oshun, healer of the sick, protector of the poor and mother of orphans. We need her as much as we need bees and their honey, so feed her honey when you need to bring sweetness to a situation or show appreciation. Details will follow, but it can be as simple as taking a tablespoon each day or sprinkling honey water throughout your home or workplace.
Madtilbud (rare)
Oshun also loves to eat and drink all these: Cinnamon, pumpkin, oranges and lemons; butternut squash; coconut, yam, cakes and cream. For the libation you must offer water from fresh springs, mead and white wine; the sparkling wine is good. Some sources suggest a treat from Goldschlager, a cinnamon-flavored liqueur that contains gold-colored flakes in the bottle. His favorite food offerings areOchinchin:take five eggs, one cup of cooked vegetables and five prawns (clean). Mix well, cook in a tortilla, put in a gourd, then put in or next to a river; place five cents on the riverbank, then place your order.
Other offers
This orisha enjoys receiving peacock feathers and hygge shells, brass, copper and of course gold; citrine, golden beryl, yellow fluorite, yellow diamonds and amber. Fresh sunflowers on your altar or in the living room are always appropriate.
Blodoffer (ebo`)
She feeds the goddess duck, castrated goat, quali, guinea fowl, peacocks, alligators, canaries, quails and pigeons.
herbs and plants
Oshun's herbs are: yarrow, rose, anise, lotus, lavender, indigo, daisy, cinnamon, primrose, rosemary, mint, chamomile, vetiver, witch hazel, pumpkin, sweet potato, orange and pumpkin.
Public holiday
Oshun's feast day is8. september.
Number
Oshun's number is5.
Day
Oshun's day isSaturday.
animals
Bees, yellow butterflies, skunks and otters are all associated with Oshun.
Your relationship with the Orisha of love/order, beauty, prosperity/money, sex/fertility and all the sweet water.
No matter who you are, whether you are religious, irreligious, atheist or agnostic, you can create a relationship with Oshun if that is your desire. She doesn't care if you believe her or not! If you have a request that involves your spheres of influence and you want her to grant it, it's yours to ask if it doesn't harm you or others.
In the future, this blog will provide details on how to prepare altars, baths, banquets and offerings to invite Oshun into your home and life.
Mother Oshun and CBD/THC
Finally, the Ifa/Yoruba canon does not specifically link Oshun to cannabis and hemp. It is an excerpt made by the creator of this blog. However, I would argue that there is a clear, distinct and organic connection between this heaven-anointed, healing, God-given plant and the divine Orisha who is dedicated to giving all good things to all people. This is because the magical properties of CBD and THC make all areas affected by Oshun healed, functional, prosperous and good. It is an honor to serve her and you by sharing this knowledge through an enchanting journey towards a life that is everything she wants for us: deeply fulfilling, joyful, exciting, prosperous, full of love and above all,¡Dulce!
Yalodde!
-30-
FAQs
Who is the goddess Oshun? ›
In the Yoruba cosmology of southwestern Nigeria and Benin, Oshun is the goddess, or orisha, of love, sensuality, and femininity. She is a river goddess, and one of her attributes is to bring forth sweet and fertile waters.
What power does Oshun have? ›Destroyer: Oshun is not only seen as a creative power of fertility but also as an angry and retributive goddess who will punish the earth or the inhabitants of the earth for wrongdoing. Oshun uses her power over water to punish people when she's angry.
What does the goddess Oshun symbolize? ›“Oshun's themes are divination and love. Her symbols are flowing water, seashells and amber beads. Oshun is a beautiful, oracular Goddess of love. Generous and beneficent, she opens her eyes to let us peek into what the future holds for relationships.
What is the spirit of Oshun? ›Oshun is the Spirit of the river in the West African religious tradition called Ifá. The word Oshun is the name given to describe a complex convergence of Spiritual Forces that are key elements in the Ifá concept of fertility and the erotic.
What color is associated with 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.
The Osun festival, also known as the Osun-Osogbo Festival is held towards the rainy season, usually during the last week of August.
What does Oshun do for you? ›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.
What does Oshun govern? ›Oshun (also spelt Osun) is regarded principally as a goddess of love. Although Oshun governs love and the sweet waters, she is also regarded as a highly benevolent deity . Oshun is said to be the protector of the poor and the mother of all orphans.
What scents does Oshun like? ›Oshun often carries a mirror so that she can admire her beauty. She loves honey, sunflowers, oranges, cinnamon, and pumpkin.
Why does Oshun wear yellow? ›Oshun originally assumed the color white but “a popular story … says that she was very tidy and would go to the river constantly to wash her white garment. Eventually, the dress turned yellow from washing in the water, and this is how yellow became one of her colors” (733).
Who is the daughter of Oshun? ›
Lorde, Shange, and Esteves allow their interactions with the orishas of Yoruba and Regla de Ocha to inform their sense of themselves as women in the New World. They find in these religions an effective strategy for both personal and communal liberation.
What is the day of Oshun? ›On 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.
What is the meaning of the birth of Oshun? ›For example, in The Birth of Oshun, Harmonia offers the benevolent and venerated Yoruba, goddess of fertility, sensuality, and prosperity. In the mid 1480s, Sandro Botticelli gave us The Birth of Venus where the Roman goddess of love, beauty, and fertility is represented as Western European.
What are the symbols of Osun? ›The two symbols of the Chief's sword (Ida) and The Mace embody the spirit and purpose of Osun. The Sword is the symbol of the Obas while the Mace is the symbol of the Legislative Arm of Government and the power of the common people as expressed by their elected representative.
What herbs are good for Oshun? ›Oshun Oil can be used for any type of harmony, love, happiness and/or peace ritual. HERBS & ESSENTIAL OILS - Made with cinnamon, chamomile, vanilla, orange & anise. HOW TO USE - Anoint some on a yellow candle or dab a bit into your bath. For Love, dab a drop or two under your matress.
What bird represents Oshun? ›Peacock Beautiful Bird Symbolizes Oshun The Yoruba Deity Sweet Water, And Love.
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 are the orishas in the Bible? ›The Orishas are forces of nature (parts of god) who mediate between Olodumare and humanity. Humanity can commune directly with God by way of the trance/possession – always in a ritual setting. Ebo, or sacrifice, is a broad concept including all types of sacrifices and offerings to the Orisha.
What is your orisha? ›An orisha, therefore, is a complex multidimensional unity linking people, objects, and powers. The word orisha is related to several other Yoruba words referring to the head. The main one, ori, refers, first of all, to the physical head atop a person's body.
Who is the African goddess of the sun? ›Liza is a deity of the Fon people who live in West Africa. Liza is associated with the Sun, which is regarded by African people as fierce and harsh.
How old is Oshun? ›
1) OSHUN is a Iya-sol (Neo-Soul/Hip-Hop) duo comprised of DMV natives Niambi Sala and Thandiwe, both 19.
Does Oshun eat fish? ›The people that have Oshun as their main orisha should not eat fish without scales, specially sharks. The followers of Omolu may not eat crab. Most of the followers of Shango don't eat lamb or crab and the followers of Nação Gege Mahino are forbidden to eat pork, that also isn't in the sacred menu of this Nação.
Who is the mother of Oshun? ›Oduduwa is usually referred to as a god, as are the other Orishas, all of whom serve the same purpose as deities in any religion. Oshun is the youngest of the Orishas & is either the daughter of Yemaya or her younger sister according to different versions of her story.
Who is the most powerful orisha? ›Ṣàngó 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.
Who is the Yoruba god of magic? ›Ọya - orisha of the Niger River; associated with wind, lightning, fertility, fire, and magic.
What is Oshun water used for? ›River Water/Ocean Water Oshun Yemaya Bath - Love, Abundance & Fertility. This bath is formulated to call Abundance, Love, and Fertility into your life and the life of your loved ones.
Does Oshun have a husband? ›Oshun is the most powerful of all orishas and paramount as a Yoruba deity. Just like all other deities, she also has some of the human characteristics like vanity, jealousy, spite… Her husband is Shango, whom she falls in love in one of the drum festivals that she went, and the two get married.
Who is Oshun Greek equivalent? ›In art and throughout culture, Oshun is depicted in a similar way to her counterparts from other cultures such as Aphrodite.
Why did Oshun turn into a peacock? ›The Peacock and the Vulture
The male orishas were afraid to make the journey because they feared being burned. So they turned to Oshun. In her peacock form, she flew into the sky. As she approached the Sun, it burned her beauty and she came to resemble a vulture.
Tiurakh (variations : Théourakh, Thiorak or Tulrakh) is one of the demi-gods of the Serer people of Senegal, the Gambia and Mauritania. In the Serer religion, Tiurakh is regarded as the god of wealth or property.
Who is the African goddess of beauty? ›
OSHUN the African Goddess of Beauty , Love , Prosperity, Order and Fertility.
What is the religion of Oshun in Cuba? ›Oshun is an Orisha, a saint, a Black goddess of the religion Santería. In Cuba, Oshun is often pictured emerging from the river in a stunning yellow dress. Her skin is the color of honey; she represents beauty, sensuality, and love; when she dances, everyone stares.
Who is the orisha mother Earth? ›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 many floats are in Oshun? ›Led by the captain aboard a peacock float, the parade includes 20 Barry Barth floats, several bands who participate in a contest, and marching Baby Dolls.
What is the relationship between Oshun and Yemaya? ›In her version of the story, Yemayá and Ochún are sisters who trade physical attributes to help each other.
What are Osun people known for? ›Osun state is inhabited mainly by the Yoruba people. Osun's economy is based mainly on agriculture. Major crops include yams, cassava (manioc), corn (maize), beans, millet, plantains, cacao, palm oil and kernels, and fruits. Cottage industries produce brass work, woven cloth, and wood carvings.
What do Osun worship? ›Osun-Osogbo: At A Glance
The festival of Osun-Osgobo, which takes place every year in Osogbo, Nigeria, celebrates the goddess of fertility, Osun. The festival renews the contract between humans and the divine: Osun offers grace to the community; in return, it vows to honor her Sacred Grove.
Elsewhere, priestesses prepare offerings and sacrifices to the great goddess: a heady mixture of sacrificed chickens, ochre powder, potato chips and gin.
Who is the orisha goddess of money? ›Olokun is believed to be the parent of Aje, the orisha of great wealth and of the bottom of the ocean. Olokun is revered as the ruler of all bodies of water and for the authority over other water deities. Olokun is highly praised for their ability to give great wealth, health, and prosperity to their followers.
Who is the African deity of healing? ›Babalú-Aye is the spirit of the Earth and strongly associated with infectious disease, and healing. Babalu-aye manifested in a human at the Obaluaye Festival in Ibadan, Oyó State - Nigeria. He promotes the cure for illnesses.
Who is the African goddess of cleansing? ›
Yemaya — Yemoja also called Yemaya the patron spirit of the oceans and rivers. She is said to be motherly, strong, and protective while comforting and cleansing them of sorrow.
What is the purpose of Oshun? ›Oshun (pronounced O-shan, also given as Osun) is a supernatural entity recognized as both a spirit and a goddess in the Yoruba religion of West Africa. She presides over fertility, love, and freshwater, is the patroness of the Osun River in Nigeria, and is honored annually at the Osun-Osogbo Festival.
What is the Catholic version of Oshun? ›Cuba's patron saint, the Virgin of Charity of El Cobre, is also Oshun, the goddess of love and fertility. Saint Jerome and Saint Barbara are Changó, the god of fire, war, music and male virility.
What day is Oshun celebrated? ›On 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 African god of light? ›| Amadioha | |
|---|---|
| Associate | Anyanwu |
| Planet | Sun |
| Symbol | White ram |
| Day | Eke |
Josephine Margaret Bakhita, FDCC (ca. 1869 – 8 February 1947) was a Sudanese-Italian Canossian religious sister who lived in Italy for 45 years, after having been a slave in Sudan. In 2000, she was declared a saint, the first black woman to receive the honor in the modern era.
Who are the members of Oshun? ›1) OSHUN is a Iya-sol (Neo-Soul/Hip-Hop) duo comprised of DMV natives Niambi Sala and Thandiwe, both 19. Their sisterhood was manifested in March 2013 when the two met as incoming freshmen at a scholarship orientation at NYU.