Apr 17, 2019 - Explore King Jefferson's board "African Gods and Goddesses" on Pinterest. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Myth Nerd is our place for all things related to world mythology. Anansi, the spider god, can be found in the stories If you find working with one spirit or god isnt enough, invoking the 7 African Powers will pack the spiritual punch you need! The concept of regenerative vitality is crucial to every society. I am a little somewhat afraid to just start all out practicing Voodoo & calling out to the Orishas, but I realize that its partly because of the demonization of white oppressors. Often times referred to as the Child of God, Obatala is known as the kindest god in the pantheon, even though they are seen a lot of the times next to their father, the powerful Olorun. While it may seem the war god is a single purpose deity, war gods and goddesses are varied in their functions. 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. Northern Hemisphere. And I always reply I honestly dont know, I just know I believe in God and Jesus Christ. Ive been trying to learn my cultural roo Wouldnt. She loves to write - about anything and everything. or the original orishas. Aj Shaluga is the god that represents money and treasures. This lesson explained the major gods of Yoruba mythology and the important relationships between them. Asase Ya (also known as Asase, or Asase Yaa) was the goddess of Earth and fertility, specifically to the Ashanti people of Ghana. During ancient times, a slap of thunder signaled the onset of danger, or the gods wrath hurtling down from the heavens. But last night I had the strangest dream where there was some type of male figure? Olokun is the ruler of the waters of Earth and is presented as both god and goddess depending on the religion. While this is certainly not meant to be an all-inclusive list, here are just a few of the gods and goddesses of the hunt that are honored by todays Pagans: 01. of 09. 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! I renounce Akuj, that rules over divination;. Thank you for this article and my help you could give. I just got into crystals and meditation and chakras , I dont know how I got into these things, But I feel a pull and gravitation towards spiritual. Spirits are less grand, less powerful, and less like humans than the gods, who often have weaknesses and emotions. Whenever she shows up, she is usually accompanied by her husband, Shango, the God of Storms. The ones in the article are just the most popular, and sought after. Such deities may correspond to earthly and celestial phenomena or to human values, pastimes, and institutions, including love, marriage, hunting, war, and the arts. Orunmila is known to be the Yoruban deity of wisdom and knowledge. Im currently on an ATR spiritual path and have an amazing Padrino; however, in order to practice our invoke the spirits of that religion I have to be initiated. They are described as androgynous. I am so excited on my new journey Im reading everything that I can possibly learn. Have a respect and understanding of what the Orishas people endured and henceforth survived. The puertricans call her Yemaya, because they say its a translation of Spanish. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Gods of Death Hello. It would be nice to chat. These oral traditions were passed from generation to generation and were often narrated by a designated storyteller called a ''griot''. He was chained to the bottom of the ocean by Obatala with 7 chains. Wash with their soap to start your day out right AND to cleanse any negative energy or bad magic from your aura. Some recollections tell us that there are as many as 700, 900 or even 1,440 Orishas around. He is the benevolent version of Loki in African mythology and a wandering trickster spirit generally concerned with probability and elusiveness. Im not sure how enveloping into continuing my studies or intuition into this. The Yoruba oshira Oshun. That theyve always been saints. To honor this, they are often given names such as Babatunde, which means father returns or Yetunde (mother returns). Oduda is the goddess of prostitution that is worshipped by the North-West African people. Known as the spirit who never rests, Ogun is a shaman and healer and has close ties to blood. The reason for this is because she is most often times depicted admiring her own beauty in the water. It is said that Bumba vomited the universe during its inception, creating the sun then drying up the water on Earth creating the land. Dont venerate Oya and Yemaya in the same area, they dont get along! When I did my DNA, it did confirm Banta, Nigeria, and Congo. Crops may live or die due to changes in the skies above, and stomachs may be quenched for hunger or thirst. Hes the fertile male god whos intimate with Oba, Oshun and Oya. Being garbed in red, Ogun represents aggression in one narrative. These are the Benin, Yoruba and Dahomey tribes, and despite the fact that prostitution is considered to be a taboo by most modern people, it is often times cited as a necessity by these tribes. Dialogue Institute. Hi everyone! ?.are you familiar with this entity. You may choose to work with individual Orishas OR learn how to invoke the Seven African Powers together at the end of this article! Area of Influence: One day at work, I broke down. I drive Uber sometimes & usually play West African AfroBeats music while driving. Driven by the will to become Shangos favorite, Oba followed Oshun and sliced off her ear into his food. She is an orisha too right? Most of the times she is actually showcased as a beautiful and coquettish young lady, and her name specifically translates to sweetness, joy, beauty and good times. Babal Ay is recognized among the Yoruba people of Nigeria and Benin as the ''Healer God''. Instead, he has solidified his position as a messenger between the realm of spirits and humankind, not unlike the Greek god Hermes.. Obatala is the gentlest of the Seven African Powers and very patient. Like Osun snd Ochun . When Obatala was unable to create, Oduduwa stepped in as creator. Spirit of the ancestors lives in your blood and you can invoke the presences of anyone of them, to assist you on your journey. This is where Ogun comes in. The pantheon of Orishas (traditionally followed by the Yoruba people) is a sequence of divine spirits dispatched by the supreme god Olodumare. Regardless of which mythology you look at, chances are that there is always a master of iron right around the corner, ready to bring the gods the weapons and armor that they don during the final days. Anu The Sumerian God of Sky and Heavens Enlil The Sumerian God of Air and Power Enki The Sumerian God of Wisdom and Earth Ninhursag The Sumerian Mother Goddess of Mountains and Nurturing Nisaba The Sumerian Goddess of Writing Marduk The Babylonian Storm God Sin The Akkadian Moon God A patriarchal spirit, he watches over children and families and is one of the most venerated Orishas in the African diaspora. I want to learn, Im reading a book by Lilith Dorsey and its good. Like the weathers unpredictability, she also commandeers the essence of constantly changing the natural world so it may continue flourishing. And just pay attention to everything that is happening to you for awhile. Eshu is commonly known among the Yoruba people of Nigeria as the trickster god who serves as a messenger between heaven and earth. 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. 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. that you should approach them with respect and reverence. Both revered and feared, Obaluaye is well respected by the followers, and he is said to curse you as quickly as he can heal you. Baptism by water invokes her purifying essence. Discover the various gods and goddesses of West African mythology. 12 African Gods and Goddesses: The Orisha Pantheon. He is the one that has the cure for any illness around and if you ever happen to grow sick and weary you need to pray to Obaluaye if you wish to be healed as soon as possible. She is a specific deity among the Yoruba people of Nigeria. I was once told that I have one foot in the spiritual world and one foot in mans world by a pastor. Another of the female Seven African Powers, Oshun is the Orisha of the rivers. In the pantheon, Oshun was Shangos favorite wife, which greatly affected Oba. The 2nd of the Seven African Powers is Ogun, iron-working healing Orisha. By Western interpretation of Eshu, though, he is not seen as this malicious spirit doomed to destroy humanity through psychological trickery. The idea of having a trickster god may sound like something made up by the Nordics, but African cultures werent all that far off from this concept either since they had Eshu right around the corner. This wouldnt have been possible without bodies of water snaking through lush, dense forests, bringing much-needed vitality to all who benefit from it. The most popular African gods 1st: The Orishas. He was considered the creator of the sun, moon, and stars, and thus controlled day and night. WebMami Wata continues to be an important part of African mythology today, representing the power of the natural world and the mysteries that lie beneath its surface. Judika Iles warns in her Encyclopedia of Spirits, that if youre bleeding in any form to NEVER approach Ogun. She is the wife of Nyame, the creator god. Emily currently is a substitute teacher, and has taught a variety of K-12 courses. Anansi Anansi was one of the sons of Nyame. Understand the culture and people from whence the Seven African Powers came. They called to me around 96 or 97,98. The reason as to why she is the goddess of prostitution is because that is the most common practice in the Caribbean Islands. Due to this, every object (material or immaterial) is believed to have some sort of sentience. For example, how many practitioners does it have today? I am fascinated w the orishas. He is pretty much just a benevolent version of Loki, as he goes around not trying to stir up problems but instead just enjoying life, more so playing the role of a messenger between the realm of spirits and mankind. This is the list of orisha youll find more information below: Obatala; Shango; Ogun; Ochossi; Ossain; Eshu; Omulu; Oshumare; Yemaya; Oshun; Oya; Nana. Mythology #3: Nyame is the supreme sky god in Akan mythology. A great, lasting one makes way for a civilization to flourish. Orunmila - God of wisdom, knowledge and divination. New. She is strikingly similar to Dionysus, the Greek goddess of wine and fertility. Korean Mythology Gods & Folklore | What is Korean Mythology? Eshu, otherwise known as Elegba, is the Trickster of the Orisha Pantheon. Since the river flows through Iwo, the people of Iwo are often referred to as the children of the Oba River. their all one, they each represent a different sense of being. 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. Hera, queen of the gods, prominently wields her scepter, while Aphrodite, goddess of beauty and sensuality, holds the just-presented wreath of victory. Athena is the most famous goddess of wisdom from the ancient world. As Ras sworn enemy, he fought the sun god every night. 3rd: Olorun. Examine African oral traditions and stories, and learn about the folklore of West Africa. Filtering the very essence of wrath and fury, he was the bringer of thunder and brimming masculinity. George Bancroft & 19th Century Historiography in the U.S. Dunning School's Approach to the U.S. Civil War & the Lost Cause, Historical Application: The Civil War & 19th Century Historiography, Working Scholars Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. When Oshun calls to you, its like a gentle river enveloping you. Along with Ochosi and Osun, the rooster sentinel, not the Orisha of Love, Oshun, I mean, as well as a shrine to my Dad. Ase & Namaste , This is a blessing to hear. Bumba, also known as Mbombo, is the creator god of the Kuba people in Central Africa. Im kind of confused because I dont think about Orisha and the religion at all, if not barely except for the time I see it mentioned once or twice in a while on twitter- but I think this dream must be significant? If your web page requires an HTML link, please insert this code: . She works with many black women from the Caribbean & I believe that they helped her do this to me. Hence, dead ancestors remain as relevant as they can ever be even after death. Temi Iwalaiye Temi Iwalaiye is a lifestyle Reporter at Pulse. iPhone History: A Timeline of Every Model in Order The destiny of the weapon is left in the hands of the human who possesses it. 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