What is the meaning of Oshun?
Written By: Oshun, also spelled Osun, 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.
Who is the orisha 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. She was the last orisha born in the world out of Olodumare’s love for creation.
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 Oshun in Santeria?
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. ... Oshun is one of the “four pillars” of Santeria, along with Obatala, Yemaya and Chango.
What is the number for Oshun?
fiveassociated 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.
How is Oshun celebrated?
Oṣun is honored at the Osun-Osogbo Festival, a two-week-long annual festival that usually takes place in August, at the Oṣun-Osogbo Sacred Grove on the banks of the river.
How do you greet Oshun?
Omi-O! This simple Yoruba salutation to water (which is also used to praise the orisha Yemonja and/or Oshun in different branches of the Yoruba spiritual tradition) is my mantra these days.
What is the day of Yemaya?
YemọjaDay2 February 31 December 8 December 7 SeptemberColorBlue and White/Crystal beadsRegionYorubaland, Brazil, CubaEthnic groupYoruba people,8 more rows
What animal is Oshun?
Oshun's Sacred Birds The water goddess is often associated with vultures and peacocks. This is due to the story of Orishas, who rebelled against the creator god, Olodumare. In this context, Oshun and her sacred birds are seen as symbols of courage, perseverance, healing, waters, and life.
Why is Oshun important?
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.
How do you praise Oshun?
The way we honor Ọṣun, and how we start every OSHUN show is by saying “Ore Yeye ooo” which means “we praise our Mother”. If you feel called to learn more about her, never be afraid to call her name.
Who is the daughter of Oshun?
KhireshaKhiresha (daughter of Goddess Oshun)
Who is Oshun married to?
Thus, “by using her allure and charm, Oshun makes divination available to all the Immortals.”3 In another version of this story, Oshun is the wife of Orunmila, and he teaches her the art of divination so that she might help the people in his absence.
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.
What is Yemaya number?
She's associated with the numbers seven and ten, the colors blue and white, pearls, silver, conch shells, and doves. 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.
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.
Is Oshun a religion?
What religion is Oshun from? Oshun is a goddess associated with the Yoruba religion in West Africa. The Yoruba people believe Oshun to be a goddess of creation, fertility, and love.
Is Oshun a Santería?
Oshun is an Orisha, a saint, a Black goddess of the religion Santería.
Is Oshun a moon goddess?
Ochun, Goddess of the Copper Moon.
Who is Oshun daughter?
Khiresha (daughter of Goddess Oshun)
What is Oshun known for?
With the impact of the transatlantic slave trade and dispersion of Yoruba culture, Oshun is also an important figure outside Africa, where she is known by other names, such as Oxum in Brazil and Ochún in Cuba. Bayyinah S. Jeffries The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica.
What is Oshun's significance?
In most Yoruba stories, Oshun is generally depicted as the protector, saviour, or nurturer of humanity.
Why do Yoruba go to the Oshun River?
Every year Oshun devotees and other people of the Yoruba religious tradition go to the Oshun River to pay homage, make sacrifice, and ask for a variety of things such as wealth, children, and better health. Although other orishas are honoured during the festival, the climax of the festival is centred on Oshun.
Why is Oshun the favorite of all Orishas?
She is commonly described as the favourite of all orishas by Olodumare, because of her beauty and sensuality. In yet another Yoruba story, Oshun is depicted as the goddess who not only gives life but also takes it.
How does Oshun save the Earth?
Yet once she has been appeased, Oshun saves Earth from destruction by calling back the waters. Tradition holds that the first interaction between Oshun and human beings took place in Osogbo ( Oshogbo ), Nigeria. That city is considered sacred, and it is believed to be fiercely protected by the water goddess.
Why is Oshun important?
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 is the meaning of Osun?
See Article History. Alternative Title: Osun. Oshun, also spelled Osun, 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 ...
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.
What is the feast day of Oshun?
Happy Oshun Day! September 8 is the Feast Day for the Orisha and Goddess Oshun – Her laughter fills our spirits and She urges us to dance and LIVE LIFE. Oshun is my Guardian Orisha and my life with Her presence is magickal. I am humbled and grateful to be Her daughter.
What does Oshun mean?
Oshun’s name means “source” – She is the source of the river, of the people, of children, of life, of the very blood of life itself. As the youngest Orisha, Oshun quickly demonstrated that She was intrinsically linked with all life. If Oshun withdraws from our world, life is over – Her elemental power as the source of Sweet Waters on Earth (the fresh waters) makes life possible and preserves life for creation. See the included video of Yeye Luisa Teish, Priestess of Oshun talking about Oshun and Her ecological implications.
What is Oshun's favorite color?
Her favorite colors are yellow, green, and gold, but my Oshun likes orange too. Offer Her amber, intoxicating perfumes, jewelry (She likes gold and brass the best!), all flowers but particularly sunflowers, mirrors, combs, fans, roses, items collected at the river. Some of Her sacred animals are bees, peacocks, vultures, butterflies, parrots,and crocodiles. Thursday is Her day of the week and S eptember 8th is when Her annual Feast Day is celebrated.
Where does Oshun come from?
The best known source of Oshun traditions are from Ijesa country , West Africa which has been known as Osun State, Nigeria since 1991. The annual Osogbo Festival is the largest event in Nigeria and is dedicated to Oshun. It has become an international tourist attraction as well as the largest event in Nigeria that is dedicated to a traditional deity. Sacred Journeys with Brice Feiler featured the festival and is available on Amazon.
What is Oshun's number?
She is the Goddess of Honey, but make sure you taste it first before you offer it to Her! Her number is 5 and some of Oshun’s areas of influence include:
Who is Oshun in Lukumi?
An interesting note, in Lukumi, Oshun is also represented on altars as the Chinese Goddess Kuan Yin. A huge synchronicity for me as I have seven Kuan Yin’s throughout my home! As other avatars, Oshun is Tara, Shakti, Mami Wata, and Aphrodite.
Who wrote Osun across the water?
Osun Across the Waters : A Yoruba Goddess in Africa and the Americas by Joseph M. Murphy
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 ...
What was the Yoruba calendar?
The original Yoruba calendar was lunar, and had a four day week. The month begins on the new moon, and is counted from there. For those who are okay with a solar calendar, we have a convenient Vodun Calendar that you can subscribe to in Google Calendar .
Is it a good day to stay in touch with an Orisha?
Though any day is a good day to stay in touch with any Orisha, certain days have a special mood to them, and these affect the way we reach out. It also helps to remember all of the Orishas you know of, if you have a schedule for daily observances .
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.
Overview
Mortal Oṣun
While still a mortal, Oṣun 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 Oṣun was the first woman to be referred to as an Iyalode.
Primordial Oṣun
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…
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 Oṣun, 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.