The document describes several Orishas and their associated symbols and rituals. It discusses their relationships to other Orishas, what they represent, and how they are received and cared for through their elekes (beaded necklaces), tools, and placement in homes or shrines. The Orishas mentioned include Aje Shaluga, Olosa, Ananagu, Irawo, Iya Maase/Maaselobi, Logun Ede, Nanu, Otin, Ayao, Ibu Aye, Agidai, Ogan, and Yembo.
The document describes several Orishas and their associated symbols and rituals. It discusses their relationships to other Orishas, what they represent, and how they are received and cared for through their elekes (beaded necklaces), tools, and placement in homes or shrines. The Orishas mentioned include Aje Shaluga, Olosa, Ananagu, Irawo, Iya Maase/Maaselobi, Logun Ede, Nanu, Otin, Ayao, Ibu Aye, Agidai, Ogan, and Yembo.
The document describes several Orishas and their associated symbols and rituals. It discusses their relationships to other Orishas, what they represent, and how they are received and cared for through their elekes (beaded necklaces), tools, and placement in homes or shrines. The Orishas mentioned include Aje Shaluga, Olosa, Ananagu, Irawo, Iya Maase/Maaselobi, Logun Ede, Nanu, Otin, Ayao, Ibu Aye, Agidai, Ogan, and Yembo.
and Olokun. She lives in an urn similar to one used for Yemoja, although smaller, which should ideally be mostly white with accents of blue. According to the odu in which she is born, she can live near any Orisha. For instance, if the Odu that falls is Oshe (5), she would be kept near Oshun. In addition to the secret elements in her urn, she also contains coins from around the world (which can be a pain in the ass because many countries make their coins from metals which rust) as well as semi-precious stones and seashells, which are the wealth of Yemoja and Olokun. She is a wife of Olokun. Since I received the Orisha I have never been in a desperate financial situation. Her eleke is similar to that of Obatala, largely white, but with accent sections that resemble Olokun's eleke (dark blue, bottle green, and coral).
Olosa - The Orisha of Lagoons. She is another wife of Olokun. She represents the lagoons that precede the ocean. Her symbol is the crocodile and she also, like Aje, lives in an urn that resembles that of Yemoja or Olokun. Mine is in a red clay urn glazed on the inside. Her beads are milky white, dark , translucent blue, and coral.
Ananagu - The Yoruba Pandora. Her curiosity caused her to open the chest containing all the osogbos, thus unleashing them on the world. I call her the "mezuzah" of the Orishas, as she lives at the front door. Her ashe is equated with the "massacre of the innocents" from the book of Exodus in the bible in that any house in which she guards the door will be passed over by Osogbo. I fully credit her with the regaining of my health from the deadly cancer with which I was diagnosed. She is the daughter of Olokun and a Yewa, born in the odu Ofun (10), but she was raised by Yemoja Asesu. She is a cosmic Orisha, as is reflected by the tools in her sopera. Her sopera resembles that of Yemoja or Olokun. Her eleke resembles that of Olokun, but is marked by groupings of 10 rather than multiples of 7.
Irawo - Born with Orisha Oko, this is the Orisha of the stars. His main tools are a silver shooting star and a thunderstone. He is born directly from Orisha Oko, usually when he is received, but this practice has fallen out of use. He has no eleke and lives in a small dish like that of Elegba. He is associated with astrology and navigation (both manifestations of being guided by the stars).
Iya Maase/Maaselobi - Shango has no official mother, except in the story in which Yemoja gave birth to the 16 main Orishas. Shango, for the most part, is considered to have been born directly from Olorun. Maaselobi is the spark of Olorun from which Shango was born from. Her eleke is a mixture of Yemoja and Shango. She lives in an urn similar to that of Yemoja. He shrine implements resemble Yemoja more than Shango.
Logun Ede - An Orisha whose cult totally died out in Cuba (although he is still remembered in stories as "Laro"), he still flourished in Brazil. He is the son of Erinle and Oshun Iponda and lives half the year in the forest with his father and the other half in the river with his mother (interestingly, Iponda, a river deity, also lives in the woods as well as does Erinle, a forest deity, in the river). Logun is androgynous and is considered by many to be the patron of gay, lesbian, and transgendered people. He is an Orisha of finery and beauty like his mother and father. One of Logun's primary symbols is the scale, as he brings balance in all things, especially gendre and sexuality issues. His eleke is light blue and amber with accents of coral. Oba Oriate Miguel "Willie" Ramos, Ilari Oba, Oni Shango, traveled years ago to Brazil to receive this Orisha in order to reintroduce his worship to the Lukumi/Santeria community.
Nanu - A female road of Asojano/Babaluaiye who dresses entirely in black. She lives in the ceiba tree and her sacred stone is petrified wood. In some houses her eleke is all black, while in others it is interpersed with white beads with black stripes.
Otin - The servant of Yemoja. She saved Yemoja's life when Oshun attempted to push her off a cliff when they were arguing over the love of Erinle. Otin brings stability to the children of Yemoja. Her eleke is half dark blue and half light blue with branch coral interpersed. Her shrine pot is accompanied by a doll, who ideally carries an urn on her head.
Ayao - The "little sister" of Oya. In the past she was only consecrated for children of Oya, but now she is given to many priests of other Orishas who have special affinities with Oya. She is represented by the whirlwind. Her vessel must never touch the ground as it is said to bring the cyclone down to the earth. She is associated with Osanyin and vicious witchcraft. She is called "the whirlwind which carries you into the forest so you can learn the secrets of Osanyin." Her eleke is variously described as pink with accents of mother of pearl and jet, or similar to that of Oya but with a brown bead with black and yellow stripes.
Ibu Aye - A road of Oshun as a small child. This road would not be a road that would go to the head of an initiate. She was given to Oshun by Ogun in order that she regain her happiness. She is received with an Eshu that works specifically with her. She is associated with music, happiness and joy. Her symbol is the lyre. She does not have eleke.
Agidai - Afudashe is the ability to speak with prophecy, particularly through divination. Agidai Orisha of Afudashe and is the patron of the italero/oriate and cowrie divination in general. His eleke is like that of Obatala but has a section for the four main Orishas (Obatala, Yemoja, Shango, and Oshun).
Ogan - The war general of Obatlala Ajaguna and Obatala Osha Ogiyan. He is known as Obatala's fighting cockspur. His eleke is white and red, much like that of Ajaguna.
Yembo - The mother, or oldest avatar, of Yemoja. She gave birth to the celestial bodies as well as the 16 Odu and is considered incredibly austere and elevated. Here eleke is light blue, milky white, and white, with accents of ivory, mother of pearl, and white coral. Because Ogun violated her, metal knives are never used to sacrifice to her. I use glass, bamboo, or ivory.