Orishas

[MiamiSound]

I have many friends here in Miami that are "Santeros". It's to the point where so many are around that the music i hear being played at certain places involves prayers to their diverse deities. Heres a wikipedia info thing.

An Orisha (also spelled Orisa or Orixa) is a spirit or deity that reflects one of the manifestations of Olodumare (God) in the Yoruba spiritual or religious system (Olodumare is also known by various other names including Olorun, Eledumare, Eleda and Olofin-Orun. This religion has found its way throughout the world and is now expressed in several varieties which include Anago, Oyotunji, Candomblé, Lucumí/Santería, and the Orisa religion of Trinidad, as well as some aspects of Umbanda, Winti, Obeah, Vodun and Vodou as well as many others. These varieties or spiritual lineages as they are called are practiced throughout areas of Nigeria, the Republic of Benin, Togo, Brazil, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti,Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States, the West Indies and Venezuela among others. As interest in African indigenous religions (spiritual systems) grows, Orisha communities and lineages can be found in parts of Europe and Asia as well. While estimates vary, there could be more than 100 million adherents of this spiritual tradition worldwide.

The Orisha faith believes in a Supreme Being, namely God. Adherents of the religion appeal to specific manifestations of God in the form of the various Orisha. Ancestors and culture-heroes held in reverence can also be enlisted for help with day-to-day problems. Faithful believers will also generally consult a geomantic divination specialist, known as a babalawo or Iyanifa, to mediate in their problems. This practice is known as Ifa, and is an important part of life throughout West Africa and the rest of the diaspora world. UNESCO, the cultural and scientific education arm of the United Nations, declared Ifa a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2005. An important part of the traditional Yoruba faith is that the Yoruba believe their ancestor Oduduwa fell from the sky and brought with him much of what is now their belief system. Part of this is the belief that daily life depends on proper alignment and knowledge of one's Ori. Ori literally means the head, but in spiritual matters is taken to mean an inner portion of the soul which determines personal destiny and success. Ase, which is also spelled “Axe,” “Axé,” “Ashe,” or “Ache,” is the life-force which runs though all things, living and inanimate. Ashe is the power to make things happen. It is an affirmation which is used in greetings and prayers, as well as a concept about spiritual growth. Orisha devotees strive to obtain Aseh through Iwa-Pele or gentle and good character, and in turn they experience alignment with the Ori, or what others might call inner peace or satisfaction with life.

Partial list of Orishas

Nana Buluku (Nana) - female deity of creation, old sky mother and primordial swamp spirit, associated with the moon and often identified with Iemanja
Olokun - guardian of the deep ocean, the abyss, and signifies unfathomable wisdom, also patron of African diaspora
Obatala (Obatalá, Oxalá, Orixalá, Orisainlá) - father of orishas and humankind, deity of light, spiritual purity, and moral uprightness
Orunmila (Orunla, Ifá) - deity of wisdom, divination, destiny, and foresight
Eshu (Eleggua, Exú, Esu, Elegba, Legbara, Papa Legba) - Eshu is the messenger between the human and divine worlds, god of crossroads and beginnings, and also a phallic and fertility god. Eshu is recognized as a trickster and child-like, while Eleggua is Eshu under the influence of Obatala.
Ochumare (Oshumare, Oxumare) - rainbow-serpent deity, orisha of movement and activity, guardian of children and associated with umbilical cord
Iemanja (Yemaja, Imanja, Yemayá, Jemanja, Yemalla, Yemana, Yemanja, Yemaya, Yemayah, Yemoja, Ymoja, Nanã, La Sirène, LaSiren, Mami Wata) - divine mother goddess, divine goddess of the sea and loving mother of mankind, daughter of Obatala and wife of Aganju
Aganju (Aganyu, Agayu) - Father of Shango, he is also said to be Shango's brother in other stories. Aganju is said to be the orisha of volcanoes, mountains, and the desert.
Shango (Shangó, Xango, Changó, Chango, Nago Shango) - warrior god of thunder, fire, sky father, represents male power and sexuality
Oba (Obba) - Shango's jealous wife, goddess of marriage and domesticity, daughter of Iemanja
Oya (Oyá, Oiá, Iansã, Yansá, Iansan, Yansan) - warrior goddess of the wind, sudden change, hurricanes, and underworld gates, a powerful sorceress and primary lover of Shango
Ogoun (Ogun, Ogúm, Ogou) - deity of iron, war, labour, sacrifice, politics, and technology (e.g. railroads)
Oshun (Oshún, Ọṣun, Oxum, Ochun, Osun, Oschun) - goddess of rivers, love, feminine beauty, fertility, and art, also one of Shango's lovers and beloved of Ogoun
Ibeji - the sacred twins, represent youth and vitality
Ochosi (Oxósse, Ocshosi, Osoosi, Oxossi) - hunter and the scout of the orishas, deity of the accused and those seeking justice or searching for something
Ozain (Osain, Osanyin) - Orisha of the forest, he owns the Omiero, a holy liquid consisting of many herbs, the liquid through which all saints and ceremonies have to proceed. Ozain is the keeper and guardian of the herbs, and is a natural healer.
Babalu Aye (Omolu, Soponna, Shonponno, Obaluaye, Sakpata) - deity of disease and illness (particularly smallpox, leprosy, and now AIDS), also orisha of healing and the earth, son of Iemanja
Erinle (Inle) - orisha of medicine, healing, and comfort, physician to the gods
Oko (Okko) - orisha of agriculture and the harvest
Osun - ruler of the head, Ori


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I have many friends who are children of yemaya, they give sacrifices to the Ocean and take it VERY seriously. Their higher ups somehow communicate with these gods and it sends advice which MUST be followed or consequences not to their liking would occur.

[MiamiSound]

Ironically one of the diviners told me i was a child of Eshu...

[Graceful Red]

you trickster, you...

[MiamiSound]

you trickster, you...

Oh What a Wicked Web I Weave

[lilwing1979]

I remember us talking about this.... interesting

[POTHOLDER HEHEHE]

Now thats what im talking about, good solid information goes down well.

Thank you

[Protonexus]

Never heard about this before, another religion/philosophy/theosophy following the same format. Huna is the same thing for Hawaiians and Polynesians. We are all one, following the same thing with different words.

Eshu huh, that sounds like a pretty good parallel for Mercury/Hermes to me.

[adonis777]

From my understanding santeros would fall under the category of shamanism.

The American indian shamans are very well versed in this type of work.

One aspect of shamanism is to befriend nature spirits and get them to do metaphysical work for you.

Nature spirits (fairies, gnomes, salamanders, etc.) inhabit the same space as we do..... but in a higher octave (the astral realm).

They are very dependable because that is their nature (they are very responsible), they tend to plants, take care of lakes, oceans, air, etc.

That is their work and they do it with enthusiasm.

They basically are indiferent to humans and on the whole dislike us because we obsessivelly destroy most of their work (cut down trees, drill into mountains, contaminate lakes, oceans, the list is endless).

But if you are keen to their presence and give them some type of ritual devotion they may take notice and in turn will offer their services as a way of compensation.

Everyone likes to be praised and these little guys are no exception.