THE HISTORY OF OSHUN
Who Is Oshun?
Oshun is the Orisha of the river — her waters give life and sustain life. She is the owner of love, femininity, and the river itself, and is regarded as the symbol of feminine grace, coquetry, and sexuality. She is the wife of Chango and a close, protected friend of Elegua. Oshun always accompanies Yemaya, who took her under her protection and gave her the river to live in, adorning her with jewels, corals, and infinite riches — which is why Oshun loves Yemaya so deeply and makes her home in the river.
Oshun lives in the river and watches over pregnant women and those in labor. She is often described as a beautiful, charming mulata — a wonderful dancer, festive, and eternally cheerful, known by the persistent ring of her bells. She is capable of resolving conflict just as easily as she can stir it among Orishas and humans alike.
Sign, Day, and Colors
In the Diloggún, Oshun speaks through Oché (5), Unle (8), Ofún (10), and Obbaramelli (6-6). Her day is Saturday, and her numbers are 5, 10, 15, and 25. Her colors are yellow, along with coral and aqua green.
The Caminos of Oshun
- Oshun Yeyé Moró (Yeyé Kari) — the most cheerful, flirtatious, and carefree of all her paths
- Oshun Kayodé — cheerful, generous, and helpful
- Oshun Miwá — lighthearted and impulsive
- Oshun Añá — associated with the drums; weaves nets, traps, and baskets
- Oshun Yumú — old and hard of hearing; makes clay jugs; the wealthiest of all her caminos, very serious, dislikes celebration
- Oshun Gumí (Bomó/Bumí) — associated with the dead; tends the cemetery grounds near the river
- Oshun Sequesé — extremely serious in nature
- Oshun Akuara (Ibú) — lives between sea and river; a good dancer and hard worker who tends the sick
- Oshun Fumiké — closely related to Obatala; grants children to women who cannot conceive
- Oshun Ololodí — a mermaid-like camino who lives at the river bottom, weaving among her fish
- Oshun Funké — wise, deeply knowledgeable, and a teacher
- Oshun Edé — elegant and refined, but judicious and devoted to home
- Oshun Niwé — dwells deep in the wild bush
Attributes and Tools
Oshun's attributes include sandalwood or peacock feather fans, small fish, shrimp, shells, mirrors, jewelry, marine coral, linens, and embroidered cloths — objects of feminine beauty and adornment. Her tools include five gold bracelets, an adán, a crescent moon, two oars, a star, a sun, and bells.
Necklaces and Clothing
Oshun's necklaces are strung with yellow or amber beads. She wears a yellow gown gathered at the waist, with a diamond-shaped breastplate and a scalloped hem trimmed with tiny hanging bells.
Traditional Offerings
Honey is one of Oshun's most treasured offerings and considered one of her most powerful tools. Other traditional offerings include roosters, doves, ducks, castrated goats, hens, quail, peacocks, canaries, and sunflowers.
Honor Oshun
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