Who is Yemayá?
As an Orisha, Yemayá is a deity, more importantly, she is the mother of all Orishas. As an Orisha of the sea, Yemayá has associations with nurturing, tempestuous anger, and fertility.
What are the characteristics of Yemaya?
Fans, seashells, canoes, coral, and the moon all represent her. Her colors are white and blue. Yemaya is maternal, dignified and nurturing, the spiritual mother of all. She is also an orisha of mystery, reflected in the depths of her waters.
When is Yemayá celebrated in Cuba?
In Havana, Cuba, Yemayá is celebrated on September 7th. It is common for regla de ocha initiated priests and priestess to keep a vigil for Yemayá on September 6th which is called vísperas. “For my mother, Yemaya, Mother and mistress of the sea.
What does the Orisha Yemayá represent?
As an Orisha of the sea, Yemayá has associations with nurturing, tempestuous anger, and fertility. Her anger can be as violent as any storm-lashed sea, but she has a caring side to her as well. The sea is often associated with life and fertility, as well as mysterious depths, all of which Yemayá embodies.
What is the Orisha system?
What was the name of the woman who brought slaves to the New World?
How do the Orishas answer the priest?
What does Yemaya mean?
How long is the Yemoja festival?
What are some of the best offerings for mermaids?
Where are the shells placed?
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What is the most nurturing orisha?
Yemaya is perhaps the most nurturing of all the Orishas, and it’s believed that all of life comes from her deep nourishing waters. Her strong and protective energy can be found virtually everywhere, but especially near oceans and lakes. 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.
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.
What does Yemaya offer to witches?
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. As the "Mother of All," she is said to help in matters of self-love, fertility, emotional wounds, trauma, and healing work.
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.
Is Yemaya a mermaid?
Yemaya is also often depicted as a mermaid. But symbols and iconography have a way of grounding the spiritual into something more tangible so that we can better understand it. And Yemaya exists outside narrow boxes of classification, outside of iconography. She takes all forms, yet we strive to put a face to her.
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.
Who Are Yemaya and the Orishas?
Yemaya and the other Orishas are tutelary deities in the Lucumí religion that function somewhat like Saints in the Catholic religion. They teach us how to live our lives purposefully and intercede on our behalf. The Orishas also communicate with the trinity of high Santerian deities, Olodumare, Olofi, and Olorun. Olodumare is the creator deity or God who is still revered but has since withdrawn from this Universe to create other Universes. Olorun is the owner of the Heavens, an energetic deity that has manifested in the form of the Sun and is still visible today, supporting and engendering all of life. Olofi is the mediator and communicator in this trinity, functioning like the Paraclete or Holy Spirit in the Christian trinity. It is Olofi that is in charge of all worldly affairs and communicates directly with the Orishas.
What is Shango Orisha?
Shango Orisha is an Orisha male warrior who is charged with assuring that the divine will of Olofi is being served on the Earth. Shango Orisha is the defender of virtue, righteousness, and order, promoting paternal values eerywhere. As the promoter of what is right, Shango Orisha naturally supports the under dog in any conflict and has influence over all beings on Earth, including humankind and all types of ancestral spirits.
What is the Santeria religion?
The Afro-Cuban religion of Santeria, which practitioners usually call Regla de Ocha or the Lucumí religion, has evolved over hundreds of years since its beginnings in the Yoruba lands in West Africa. The Santeria religion is not based on the worship of an all powerful creator deity, but rather on the worship of the direct descendants of the creator known as the Orishas, such as Yemaya and Elegua. In the Yoruba lands of Africa, a particular Orisha was worshipped in each city, but since the time of the slave trade, the practitioners of Santeria have been forced to adapt to the challenges presented by having to coexist in foreign lands. This has led to worship of numerous Orishas and a blending of religious practices. Through diversity and adaptation, practitioners of the Santeria religion have successfully brought African, Caribbean, and Catholic practices and influences together into a coherent and durable whole, with roots in a variety of cultures, making Santeria it one of the fastest growing religions in the world today.
What is the meaning of Yemaya Orisha?
Yemaya Orisha is the divine mother, female warrior of the seven seas. As a warrior goddess, Yemaya embodies the strength of the Divine Mother to defend children everywhere and promote maternal values. The influence of Yemaya Orisha brings harmony to your household, balance to your marriage, and economic well being to your family. The strength of Yemaya comes from her ability to nurture life and resolve tensions in the world.
Who is Elegua Orisha?
Elegua Orisha is a male Orisha warrior, the first born among the Orisha, in charge of satisfying all universal and arbitrary forces. Elegua Orisha is first to receive offerings and delivers them to Heaven. The work of Elegua Orisha is what invites Olofi to concede His divine grace or aché upon the world. Elegua is the most powerful of the Orisha, and is said to be omnipresent, acting as the Divine Witness of all of the activities of humanity.
Who is Babalu Orisha?
Babalu Orisha is the protector of the sick and infirm, and he appears as an old man with visible sores and trembling legs to teach us about the importance of integrity and humility.
Where is Yemoja worshiped?
She is worshiped in countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Tobago, Trinidad, Uruguay, and the U.S. Yemoja lives in and rules over the Seven Seas, lakes, and rivers. Often depicted as a mermaid, She is the source of all waters.
How many paths does Yemaya have?
She is associated with the moon, water, and feminine mysteries. She is prayed to in matters of fertility, pregnancy, and motherhood. There are 177 Yemaya paths or caminos (avatars or aspects). In Her path of Okutti, she is the queen of witches carrying within her deep dark secrets.
Why are Orishas connected to Catholic saints?
But it can be argued that one reason is due to the connecting of Orishas to Catholic saints by slaves in the New World in order to be able to continue their worship; a process known as syncretism. This is a practice that can be found in both Santeria and Santerismo.
What is the Yoruba region?
The Yoruba region is present-day Southwestern Nigeria and the adjoining parts of Benin and Togo, commonly known as Yorubaland. The religions in the New World that were the result of the slave trade have roots in the Yoruba religions. They include a wide array of traditions still practiced today.
Is Yemaya a goddess?
As you can see, Yemaya is a beloved Goddess with a rich tapestry of lore. Respectfully working with Her is sure to bring rewards and to enhance your overall practice. I hope the above suggestions inspire you to connect with Yemoja in a deeper way. Blessed Be.
Is Santerismo a Santeria?
Santerismo is NOT Santeria (Lucumí/Lukumi). Santerismo is a spiritualist tradition open to personal revelation while Santeria is an initiatory religion with strict rules.”
What does the Orisa represent?
Yemaya : This orisa represents the excellence of maternity since we say she is the mother of creation and of all the santos. She is the Orisa that represents the Oceans and their contents. The name Ye-mo-ja , is contracted from the word Yeye-Omo-eja: mother of the fish , using OMO as a generic name, for she truly is ONI . Legend :
What does Yemaya mean?
MO IYA name means : Mother of the fish.
What color is Yemaya's dress?
She dresses in various colors and shapes, but the main ones are: white, blue,in all shades,all green and pink tones with a lot of white roses, when her children have poor health, they should carry a basket of white roses to the shore and call Yemaya throwing the white roses. YEMAYA born with the moon,OBATALA born with the sun.
Where did Yemaya fight her son?
This legend says in Africa Yemaya fought with her son Ochosi in the lands of Ogun state , She became so upset and depressed that she cried and her tears formed the rivers Niger.
Who did Yemaya marry?
Their was no one left to marry, so Yemaya married Agallu . From this marriage a son Orungan was born they say Orungan committed Incest against his mother. When she realized what had happened she ran from him . Falling face down on the ground , from being tired of running.
Who was pregnant with Odu?
Yemu (Yembo) reunited with Odu and she became pregnant . She went high on a hill , being nine months and her womb opened . From her vientre (womb) the waters flowed into the rivers of Africa the lagoons and each orisa there possessing a river body . The union of water and earth gave birth to Ozain and the Herbs.
Who is the queen of Egbado?
She is of the Kingdom of OBEOKUTA naturally, but her worshipers are of the Principal EGBADO town, the queen of the EGBADO is Okoto,also known by the name of Obsa.
Why do the Orishas say the more progress is made in religion, the more paths can be known?
The elders say that the more progress is made in religion, the more paths of the Orishas can be known, because wisdom and spiritual growth are acquired.
Who is the mother of Shango?
Wife Orisha oko the god of crops. He lives both in the river and in the sea and fights alongside Oggún the owner of the mountain. He lives on the surface of the sea and fights with Oggún and Shango the king of fire. In this way she is the mother of Shango. He lives in a jar and makes a crown of snails.
What is the goddess of lakes and seas?
Yemaya. Yemaya 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.
Why did Oshun turn into a peacock?
To save the parched world Oshun transformed into a peacock and ascended to Olodumare's realm to beg his forgiveness. Olodumare relented and returned the water to the world, and the peacock transformed into a vulture.
What are the orishas?
Updated January 23, 2018. The orishas are the gods of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a regular basis. The number of orishas varies among believers. In the original African belief system from which Santeria originates, there are hundreds of orishas.
What is the meaning of Oshun?
Oshun is associated with Our Lady of Charity, an aspect of the Virgin Mary focused on hope and survival, particularly in relation to the sea. Our Lady of Charity is also the patron saint of Cuba, where Santeria originates.
What is the purpose of Orunla?
Orunla was present at the creation of humanity and the forging of souls. Thus Orunla has the knowledge of the ultimate destiny of each soul, which is an important facet of Santeria practice. Working toward one's destiny is to promote harmony.
What does it mean to work toward one's destiny?
Working toward one's destiny is to promote harmony. To move contrary to it creates discord, so believers look for insight as to their destiny and what they might currently be doing that runs contrary to that. Orunla is most commonly associated with St. Francis of Assisi, although the reasons are not obvious.
What color is Oya?
Fire, a lance, a black horsetail, or a copper crown with nine points all represent Oya, who is also associated with copper in general. Her color is maroon.
Yemayá Okute, Olokun's goalkeeper
It is also called Yemayá Okunte or Yemayá Okuti, it is known as "The keeper of Olokun".
Yemayá Asesu, Olokun's messenger
She has Olokun for everything and is very powerful. «The forgetful» They tell her by name and she is like the duck, very forgetful. She owns ducks, swans, and geese. It is the Yemayá of murky and dirty waters, which is why it lives in muddy waters, in sewage waters such as pipes, latrines and sewers.
Yemayá Ashabá, the first daughter of Olokun
Its name means "The one who seeks refuge in the anchors" and hence it is represented with an anchor. She is a haughty, proud, persevering goddess, but very wise and a good fortune teller.
Yemayá Ibu Okoto, warrior who dresses in colors
"The one who lives in the shells" is what his name means. Yemayá Ibu Okoto lives on the coast where there are many shells, on the reddish bottoms.
What is the Orisha system?
Because the Orishas are deified ancestors of the Yoruba, most modern traditions follow an initiation-based system, which is communal and hierarchical. Divinations and other communications with the spirits are performed by trained priests (such as Santeros or Babalawos), and the interactions should be done through someone who has an Orisha assigned.
What was the name of the woman who brought slaves to the New World?
After slavers brought slaves to the New World via the Middle Passage, Yemayá ’s presence increased in the Americas and the Caribbean. Again, Yemayá was originally known as Yemọja, with Yemayá being one of her names she came to be known by in the New World.
How do the Orishas answer the priest?
The Orishas are said to answer the priest or priestess by interpreting how the shells land on the table. Yemayá, depending on the story, either was given the power of merindinlogun, or she stole it. She then taught other Orisha how to throw the cowrie-shells to divine meaning from them.
What does Yemaya mean?
What does Yemaya mean? Yeye is a word tahat means “mother”; Omo means child, and Eyá means fish. By combining these words we get a name that means “mother of all marine life”, this is why she is invoked to bless pregnancies and motherhood, and is associated with everything in the sea.
How long is the Yemoja festival?
There is a 17-day-long festival in Yemayá/ Yemọja’s honor in Nigeria, where devotees sing and dance. The history of the festival stretches back for as long as its celebrants can remember. October 31st is the grand finale of the Yemoja Festival in Ibadan, when different groups of orisa devotees dance to the rhythm of thrumming drums in front of the Yemoja Temple.
What are some of the best offerings for mermaids?
Perfumes, jewelry, combs, mirrors, images and statues of mermaids, statues of herself, strings of fresh-water and salt-water pearls, and corals make appropriate offerings, as do sea fans, seashells, white stones from the beach, starfish and seahorses. Blue or white lace fans, crystal beads, flowers and food.
Where are the shells placed?
The shells are placed either on a table or a mat , and the patterns of the shells must be comprehended through a process known as Odu. The priestess or priest will question the Orishas that they seek answers from, then cast the shells and interpret the resulting configuration.
