Oya, the African Goddess of Weather, Wind and Storms. I want to truly understand not go on this journey just because. Olokun ("Owner of Oceans") is a God of the Sea. Your intention is what matters the most. One thing is for sure, though, every Orisha is unique and has a specific cosmic purpose assigned to their wake. I see more that i s imperative to my calling. Rest assured that we are ALL children of The Divine, and the form that It chooses to present Itself is only to appease us as human beings for our limited capacity of understanding the unknown. I was trying to find out more, and then stopped. 2nd: Shango. At least the ones I know of, and some tarot cards are written with 2 or 3 translations of the orishas. Use the following activities to learn more. The nine animals produced more species to live on Earth, and eventually, humans came into creation. So, in reality, Oya really is the goddess of change. Create your account. Their androgynous trait is actually meant to represent fairness, forgiveness and compassion all at once. She is often times referred to as the Goddess of wind, thunderbolt and fire, and she is by far the most feared goddess in the pantheon. Eshu is said to be a protective and benevolent spirit who needs to receive constant appeasement in order out fulfill his assigned functions. Magec - God of the Sun. I understand translation gets lost or changed, either way the roads meet back to the beginning, is my opinion. Yoruba. Dialogue Institute, Dialogue Institute, 16 Sept. 2020, https://dialogueinstitute.org/afrocaribbean-and-african-religion-information/2020/9/16/yoruba . He is not depicted as the devil himself. After the creation of the earth and people, Ogun is said to have climbed down to earth on a spiderweb with the other gods. At the start of the rainy season, the Yoruban people partake in a festival to show their appreciation for Oko. Rulers and heroes are sometimes transformed into minor deities, as they are seen as people who have done great things for their communities and upheld values that are important to the group. Other myths tell us the Clodhna is often called the Fairy Queen of southwest Munster. In Shangos case, he was considered the grandson of the Orisha Oduduwa in Yoruba mythology. I love the fact that we are getting back to what has been taking from us. Also known as mother of nine history mentions this name was derived due to giving birth to all 9 children as stillborn, with her being barren all her lifetime. Of all the African religions, this remains one of the few on the rise. More and more people are being drawn to their pre-Christian ancestral ways. I started gaining an interest in the Orishas kind of out of nowhere. Okay! Use the oil to anoint doorways, wallets, candles, your car, and your body to invoke their blessings and protection. Orunmila, the Orisha of knowledge, omniscience, and wisdom, is the embodiment of destiny. Being able to prevent death from happening simply means that it was not their time to go yet, and if you can do that you need to thank Obaluaye because they were the ones that gave you the answers you needed when you searched for a way to heal them. Described as a powerful deity with a voice like thunder and a mouth that spewed fire, Shango (also called Chango) is a major deity of the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. Apr 17, 2019 - Explore King Jefferson's board "African Gods and Goddesses" on Pinterest. These reincarnated figures are usually there to assist their progeny with everyday life and general faith. Due to this, every object (material or immaterial) is believed to have some sort of sentience. Nyx, The Greek Goddess of Night: What Was Her Story? Youve Disrespected Obatala and olodumare by having Jesus . She is the goddess of fertility, morality, creativity and land, and she is often times seen next to Amadioha, her husband and the God of the Sky. Be it Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Norse, Chinese, Japanese, Aztec, Mayan, you name it. O shun has been with me since I was about 10 years old. Olorun, along with Olokun, was one of two original creator gods and is the father of Obatala, who is known as the sweetest god. Being the third and the most senior wife of Shango, Oba was one of his consorts. But I disagree and believe this is a dogmatic and patriarchal way to shut out indigenous original religion. But if shes angered watch out! While there is no actual official number of gods that can be found in this pantheon though, there is an interesting notion around it which states that there are 400+1 Orishas around. Being garbed in red, Ogun represents aggression in one narrative. Do it in water or in a mirror for those are portals to the other side. It can be found in different South American cultures as well. 7th: Yemaya. Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells by Judika Illes. By far the most important theme that we need to mention about the Yoruba religion is the idea of Animism. Anansi Anansi was one of the sons of Nyame. I started asking the question of who am I meaning all the way back to my roots in Africa. Therefore he rules over metal working and alchemy of any kind. Garbed in white, the King of Peace Obatala is a merciful Orisha dispatching purity. Depicted often as a mermaid, Yemayas domain is over all things related to the ocean. The reason as to why there is a +1 Orisha in that list is because the +1 is meant to represent the extra one you didnt account for, or the one that you never even considered in the first place. He actually has three different wives, Oshun, Oya and Oba, and he is often times depicted with either one of them or all three being by his side. Lets start? It will break sooner or later, especially if made w silk thread. He is often noted as being the master behind shaping every child when they are within the womb. Oya is the goddess of weather, especially tornadoes, lightning, destructive rainstorms, and fire. Thank you so much for this. There are a few thats not listed. Also known as mother of nine history mentions this name was derived due Thank you for sharing. This is why you will often times find Yoruba people named after their departed parents or grandparents in case they look alike. She may have also been the patron of County Cork. And when steel becomes your only means of protection, it isnt too uncommon to find gods based around the armory for the warriors to pray to. figure did not say his name, I just knew in my dream telepathically I guess that this was one of the Orisha gods/goddesses. I am looking for new books on the subject. He is also commonly seen having two dogs to help sniff out infections. when i got down to the last 3 colors i started questioning myself ,but it was too late i was already in too deep to not stay dedicated lhaahahahha The deeper connection to where I truly come from and everything they embodied and never got a chance to learn and experience. Area of Influence: The word itself can be broken down into two parts; means origin and e refers to practice. Coming together, literally means practicing our origin. As you can see, this is a beautiful way to honor their roots, as most of their traditions and beliefs spring from their deep-rooted faith in the Orisha Pantheon. Although a few are maleCupid in particular come to mind, thanks to Valentine's Daymost are female, because the institution of marriage has long been viewed as the domain of women. Its Yemoja not Yemaya please shes called Yemoja in Africa. Emily currently is a substitute teacher, and has taught a variety of K-12 courses. Im sure the translation wasnt an offense, it just isyemaya for example is primarily used by puertricans. Athena. I feel back from working with them but I have been speaking to them when I can. We are all connected. Modern people often underestimate the might of a crackling burst of thunder. Some war gods, like Ares, are Accessed March 2, 2023. Freyja is the most well-known goddess in Norse mythology and in many ways rivals Odin in power. African god of fertility Ala - She is the most respected god in Igboland. Another of the female Seven African Powers, Oshun is the Orisha of the rivers. I love the statue and Im a big believer but I dont want to disrespect ogun and chango being in the same statue and space. A white candle works for just about any invocation and for any deity. The Orishas that caught a sphere of influence were responsible for that sphere. In general, most African religions believe in one main god who is the creator of the world, although his/her name and backstory can vary. The dead doesnt just include a human being; it consists of the natural world in the sense that dead trees would have to fall to make way for newer ones. Norse goddesses are a formidable crew with powers that rival their male counterparts. But before that, I could hear my ancestors say, I am from Bantu lineage. Since his abode was the skies, he separated them and himself from the Earth and hence controlled the world from a cosmic distance. Not only does she hold control over it, but she also radiates the power of compassion and love. Naturally, Shango noticed a floating ear in his food and exiled Oba from his abode. Dont be scared sound very direct try to have an old item of your siblings and white candles. Which was that he had left home + family when he was young. what i do is follow certain people on youtube who talk about the storys of the orishas which i find to be very important , you can learn a lot about the orishas and lessons through the stories. DONT WORRY JESUS WAS MORE SPIRITUAL THAN RELIGIOUS AND HE CERTAINLY WASNT A CHRISTIAN! Moreover, the Orishas are spirits (more similar to demi-gods or angels) that work under the watchful eye of Olodumare. It is said that after the Bugandan people were terrorized by a series of attacks, their king decided to have a meeting with Mukasa, the Creator of all things, to ask him how he can defeat his enemies. The reason for this is because she is most often times depicted admiring her own beauty in the water. He holds power over knowledge, including information, intuition, and instinct. One of my passengers was African American PhD doctor who had studied or had some familiarity with western African religion said I had a Osun type energy and/or vibe. Yemaya has no meaning in Yoruba. Like the weathers unpredictability, she also commandeers the essence of constantly changing the natural world so it may continue flourishing. Officially, African gods and belief systems have been replaced by Islam and Christianity over the past century according to statistics (90%), but it is often an Never invoke her and Yemaya or Oshun together (the only exception is when invoking the 7 African Powers!). In the Americas, Oshun is regarded as the Orisha of Love.. Ultimately, its up to you what you believe about the Seven African Powers. She is crowned the Queen of the river Niger. Anansi, the spider god, can be found in the stories The Spaniards took slaves, and therefore we became immensely multiracial. Shango is said to be a deified ancestor who was the fourth king of the town of Oyo. Hes Shango will brings justice via lightning and he protects his followers from evil. So you may think about the total as often as you like, but there will always be one more Orisha to consider. Hello. Now for the fun stuff. While fables offer imaginative explanations, there is no doubt that the Orisha pantheons followers make it their lifestyle to uphold the norms and practices imposed by these deities. Shango is one of the hot orishas and is known as the lord of thunder and fire. Whenever she does lose her temper though she causes the waters to be violent, attacking and taking down even the mightiest ships because of her sorrows. 12 African Gods and Goddesses: The Orisha Pantheon. If you're doing a working relating to love, or if How and where do I dispose of it? Each culture has a different creator god or goddess, which explains the creation of humans and the lands. Im trying to be cautious and respectful at the same time because I am not black, Im asian actually. Being the Goddess of Rivers, Oshun is often attributed to being the lifeblood of the Niger River. Chaac, Mayan Rain God | Mythology, Images & Facts, African Religions & Spirituality | History, Beliefs & Gods, Atum Egyptian God | Story, Creation & Facts, Ancient Egyptian God Khepri | Mythology, Symbol & Facts. Does one have to be initialed into the Yoruba religion in order to call on the Orisas or 7 African Powers? Distraught, Oba became the Oba River which intersects with the Osun River, named for another wife of Shango. Another belief revolves around reincarnation. According to Fon mythology, Nana Buluku played an important in the creation of the world as she gave birth to twins Mawu (African moon goddess) and Lisa (African sun god), who joined forces to create the world. He was considered the creator of the sun, moon, and stars, and thus controlled day and night. 8th: Babal Ay Who is the most beautiful African goddess? Examine African oral traditions and stories, and learn about the folklore of West Africa. The History of Guns, Greek Mythology: Stories, Characters, Gods, and Culture, Aztec Mythology: Important Stories and Characters, Greek Gods and Goddesses: Family Tree and Fun Facts, Roman Gods and Goddesses: The Names and Stories of 29 Ancient Roman Gods, Olodumare and his Journey Away from Earth, The Trojan War: Ancient Historys Famed Conflict, iPhone History: A Timeline of Every Model in Order, US History Timeline: The Dates of Americas Journey, Ancient Civilizations Timeline: 16 Oldest Known Cultures From Around The World, Why Are Hot Dogs Called Hot Dogs? Always heard Nana buruku when I was little. Ive been lazy about learning any culture. Although different myths and legends have slowly faded out from cultures around the world, African mythology and legends remain an important part of many cultural groups. This healing power is said to be catered more toward people closer to death. He is one of the Seven African Powers whos a psychopomp (a guide for the dead) and also a guardian of travelers. Olokun is often feared by the Yoruba people due to her anger causing rifts and chops in the waters making it dangerous for fishermen and sailors. I feel like my Moms side probably came more from Ghana & my dads side more from Nigeria. I drive Uber sometimes & usually play West African AfroBeats music while driving. I connect with you on this on every level . Invoke her at the beach. If you dont have respect for the African diaspora and culture, the Seven African Powers will not have respect for you! Igbo is one of the oldest African religions around, with Ala being one of their oldest and most popular goddesses. Babal Ay helps heals humans against infections and epidemics which are sometimes caused by his spirit cousin Sakpata, who is known as the plague god. She was the one that taught the Yoruba people how to create potions and heal through herbs alone, and whenever you do go hunting you need to give her an offering so she allows you to have a safe passage through her realm. Some people liken the Orishas to gods and goddesses. Due to its diversity, African religions can be classified into countless smaller ones. While it may seem the war god is a single purpose deity, war gods and goddesses are varied in their functions. While death is never considered to be the final frontier in most any African culture, that doesnt mean that you should welcome death no matter what. Hello, permit me if I may, Im new to this and still learning. They are described as androgynous. The Seven African Powers, also known as the Orishas, are spirits from the Supreme Creator in African religion. I have a question I am worshiping both Oya and Oshun, From this, I have learned that they do not like each other is it okay that Im Worshiping both-? Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde Islands, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Oguns polarity is present in his healing abilities and his ability to destroy. As a result, he stands as one of the crucial Orishas in the pantheon. Yemaya is known as the Patron Spirit of the Ocean and the Rivers, and she is the main deity that the Yoruba people pray to when they set sail. The gods and goddesses of each religion hold their significance as the rulers of elements and creators, and they represent the stories of their respective communities. I have question that I hope you wont mind answering. thank you so much for the time you put into this. According to Yoruba mythology, Oba gave Shango her ear to eat, which eventually leads to their separation. The Orishas, https://legacy.cs.indiana.edu/~port/teach/205/santeria2.html. Modern Santeria, Voodoo, and other Caribbean traditions still value this practice today. These nine animals are the original inhabitants of Earth, and out of several combinations came humanity. The two walk together as their thunderstorms destroy everything in sight. WebSpirits African mythology is filled with spirits, invisible beings with powers for good or evil. According to the Kuba people, Bumba vomited into the universe and produced the sun which dried up the water on Earth creating land. Trickster gods are present in many cultures around the world. There is no official African religion out there, and that is because there are countless cultures and practices that are spread all across the continent. Carve or write the names of the 7 African Powers on the candle and dress it in an oil of your choice. Do some research on your own to find out how Santeria works. Ala is a goddess in Igbo mythology from eastern Nigeria. Throughout history, nearly all cultures have had gods and goddesses associated with love and marriage. She manifests as a horned water buffalo or a beautiful woman. In this article, we will be looking at the traditional beliefs of the Yoruba people, a West African ethnic group with a brimming crucible of history to their name. Along with Ochosi and Osun, the rooster sentinel, not the Orisha of Love, Oshun, I mean, as well as a shrine to my Dad. The pantheon of Orishas (traditionally followed by the Yoruba people) is a sequence of divine spirits dispatched by the supreme god Olodumare. African goddess of love and beauty Oshun is the African goddess of love and sweet waters. I guess in a sense I want to avoid offending any of them while trying to connect. West Africa is anything but peaceful, as war can break out at any point between tribes, which is why steel is a more useful keeper of peace than words will ever be. If you find working with one spirit or god isnt enough, invoking the 7 African Powers will pack the spiritual punch you need! Interestingly, the Oba river intersects the Osun river at an explosive speed, symbolizing a long-standing rivalry between two of Shangos wives. Havent really left Hebrewism as Im tribe of Dan. Obatala was tasked with creating the world but got distracted at a party and could not fulfill their duties. The answer will reveal itself. He was present at the beginning of creation and taught priests spiritual knowledge and ethics. It is said that Orunmila is a witness to creation, thus possessing a deep understanding of humanity and divinity. How can I protect myself from this. But while Africa does have an abundance of those elements, it also has a ton of beautifully diverse people and cultures that have lived amongst each other for thousands of years now. She is the daughter of the elder god Chukwu and wife of Amadioha, the sky deity. She has been teaching English in Canada and Taiwan for seven years. The Goddess Cybele in Mythology | Who Was Cybele? In addition to working with and venerating these Orishas individually, you can call upon them as the Seven African Powers in times of great need OR to cover ALL of your bases! Moreover, there are different ways to invoke the Seven African Powers including dance, chanting, prayer, candles, oils, and more. Oshun is depicted in the Yoruban religion as a protector and savior of the people. When Oshun calls to you, its like a gentle river enveloping you. There are thousands upon thousands of cultures to explore here, to the point where you could actually spend your whole life researching everything that Africa has in store for you and youd still fail to capture it in its entirety. Babal Ay is represented as walking on crutches and completely covered to hide his diseased skin. They believed ancestors are human spirits that exist after death and are still worshipped by their people. ( delete if not allowed) hello, I hope you are doing well. People believed that spirits possess powers that can be used for good or evil and are often associated with environmental and geographical features like thunder and mountains. Obatala is the gentlest of the Seven African Powers and very patient. Oya was barren but rid the world of barrenness when she made a sacrifice from cloth representing each color of the rainbow. Hence, the material having a specific personality induced a sense of wonder and natural instinct among those who believed in its smithing magic. Animism refers to the belief that everything (and yes, LITERALLY everything) possesses a spiritual quintessence. Anyhoot, I started immersing myself in Nigerian culture, 1st with the Nollywood movies and the AfroBeats music and eventually with some of the food. She has inspired numerous artists, allegorists, writers, etc. His role also extends to the natural world as he knows everything that takes place within it. Her name literally translates to Earth, which is meant to indicate that she is the creator of our planet and the one that controls its every move. Weather is a fundamental aspect of any significant settlement. Nearly every spirit associated with the crossroads is a trickster, and Eshu Elegbara is no exception. As a direct result, Yoruba people can sometimes be identified as their departed imprints through visions and likenesses in appearances. Filtering the very essence of wrath and fury, he was the bringer of thunder and brimming masculinity. As Christianity became an influence in Africa, many regions blended historical African deities and gods with Christian beliefs. I was once told that I have one foot in the spiritual world and one foot in mans world by a pastor. The Yoruba religion and its beliefs influence human life in both the African continent and other regions. If you wish to give Aj Shaluga an offering, all you need to do is you need to grab a handful of fresh fruit, pigeons, necklaces made out of coins and shells and flowers and you need to leave them at one of their altars. Eshu Elegbara is also known as Elegua, Exu, Eshu and Legba (or Papa Legba), depending on the tradition. Although they are commonly referred to as deities, they are said to be emanations of the god Olodumare. These spirits are thought to give guidance for life issues and problems. As a result, they are all controlled within the domains of the Orishas. In fact, her name comes from Orisun, which was referred to as being the source of the Niger River. The Origin of Hotdogs, The History of Boracay Island in The Philippines. Because of his fear of being separated from his twin sister, Ogo rebelled against his father causing himself to be muted and wander alone on the outskirts of human society. 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