The Mysterious Depths of Oshun
By: Michael Atwood Mason
In the religion, the
orisha Oshun is
always among the first orishas that outsiders discover. Aleyos are charmed by her beauty, enticed
by her sensuality, yearn to emulate her grace. However, who is this orisha and what role does she play in human life?
The elders laconically repeat, "Oshun
is the owner of the river." She
lives in the currents and eddies of the river where her force moves ever
forward. Traditions agree that this vain
orisha binds people and orishas
together. She adores fine clothes and beautiful objects. She is the sweetness of love. She is the dance
of passion. She is the cool water that
heals the sick abdomen and brings children to the barren. But this stereotypical representation of Oshun
overlooks an essential aspect of her character, in pataki after pataki, Oshun provides renewal when no one else can.
When Ogun, the fierce and hard-working
blacksmith, withdrew from the creation of the world and retreated into the
forest, Oshun brought him out. With the departure of Ogun's
force and labor, creation stopped. No
new fields were cleared for planting and no new inventions appeared to help the
Orishas and human beings. Ogun took to the
bush, and the process of creation came grinding to
a halt. Several orishas
tried to draw him out of the forest but failed.
Finally Oshun went into
the woods with her five scarves and her gourd of honey. She did not call to Ogun.
Instead she found a clearing and began to dance. Her beauty and her sensual movements caught Ogun's attention. As he watched her dance, he was drawn to
her. Slowly he approached her, and when
he drew close, Oshun smeared his lips with her honey.
As she danced, Ogun followed her back to civilization and resumed his work. This story does attest to
Oshun's beauty and
seductiveness, but it also shows how she uses these characteristics to
accomplish what no other orisha can and renew the
process of creation.
Oshun
also renewed the whole world when it was in danger. This story has many
versions. Some elders say that Olodumare had a terrible drought, while
others maintain that it was day after day of rain that threatened humans and
the orishas. Many orishas had tried to communicate with Olodumare and many birds had flown toward Olorun in attempts to save the
earth. But no effort succeeded in
reaching heaven. Finally, the buzzard came forth and said she could take their
message to Olodumare. The orishas
were astonished and they doubted that Oshun, the
youngest orisha,
could reach heaven and convince the creator to save the earth. But after
great struggle and flying until she was exhausted, Oshun
arrived in the heaven and asked Olodumare to spare
the ea]:t,h because
there were just beings who valued life and followed the laws established by
God. Olodumare
was so impressed by her honesty and her efforts that he appointed her as his
messenger to humans and the orishas. When no one else could, Oshun
saved the earth from destruction. Since
that time, Oshun has been coming into the lives of individuals
and fulfilling their deepest needs and desires.
Elder priests guard
many secrets to call upon Oshun, and these ceremonies
use the same, well known tools to move her. People salute her as an elder using
her formal title lyalode. Others greet her as a dear mother
calling "Ori Yeye o!"
She loves everything yellow and five is her number. Five jars of honey, five
oranges, five eggs, or five pumpkins offered to Oshun
will release her renewing powers in human life. Her altars must be beautiful and usually
include ornate fans and mirrors.
Praise Oshun when you are tired, and she will enliven you. Call on
the river when you are dry, and she will refresh you. Sing to her when you are
broke, and she will provide what you need. Pray to her when you cannot have a
child, and she will impregnate you.
Adore Oshun, and she will renew you.