This is the hundredth post on Ferrebeekeeper! Hooray! Thank you so much for reading! In celebration, today’s topic features a twist: instead of dwelling on the underworld deities who personify evil, death, mystery, and the world beyond (although, admittedly, they have the best stories), I’m going to highlight a deity devoted to joy, happiness, love, and success. Don’t worry though, “deities of the underworld” and all things gothic will be heavily featured here in the run-up to Halloween.
To the uninitiated (i.e. our writers and editorial staff) it has been difficult to make sense of the subtle and not-so-subtle differences between the various Afro-Brazilian religions. The Orisha-based faiths of the Yoruba blend together with South American religions like Candomblé, Santería, Lukumi, and Umbanda to such an extent that only a devout practitioner could separate them all apart correctly. One figure however seems to be universally worshiped–although she goes by many names. Naturally that figure is the goddess of love and sex. She is known variously as Oshun, Laketi, Oxum, and Ọṣhun. In addition to fertility, romance and marriage, Oshun is the goddess of wealth, harmony, ecstasy, and fresh water (particularly rivers–which have a special place in Brazilian and Yoruban culture). Oshun’s favorite day is Saturday (my favorite as well!) and her sacred color is yellow. Oshun is portrayed as a beautiful black woman wearing gorgeous golden raiment and jewelry…or nothing at all.
In Yoruba myth Oshun was one of the 16 spirits sent by the enigmatic genderless supreme-being, Olodumare, to create the earth. Of the 16, only she was female (Yoruba culture seems to have had some gender issues). Predictably, the 15 male demiurges proclaimed superior status and placed undue demands upon Oshun, who thereupon withdrew her support from the whole “building the world” project. Creation became impossible. Everything the male orishas tried to make fell away into dust. They had to petition Olodumare and then fervently apologize to Oshun herself before she agreed to bequeath life to plants and animals. A different version of this myth (occurring after the world was populated by men and women) reads like the Lysistrata or the tale of Eros and Psyche: Oshun withdrew desire from the world–and hence the impetus for all rebirth and renewal–until her chauvinistic fellow-deities apologized.
According to various myths and differing faiths, Oshun has many husbands and lovers. Most often however her spouse is Shango, the sky god of thunder and drumming, or Ogun, the god of smithing and warfare. While this seems like a recipe for epic disaster, the Afro-Brazilian religions are not canonical and frequently overlap and contradict each other, so there is not necessarily an insoluble marital problem (also the ways of love goddesses exceed human understanding!).
Although possessed of a temper and vanity, Oshun is renowned for her great kindness. Her alternate name “Laketi” means “she who has ears” for, unlike the other figures of the Afro-Brazilian pantheon, she is portrayed as a compassionate deity who regularly answers prayers. Oshun’s endowments (other than her beauty and obvious womanhood) are peacock feathers, gold ornaments, a mirror, a fan, the color yellow, honey, and water. She is said to be partial to chamomille tea and white chickens. When her followers are taken by trance they dance, flirt, and laugh but then grow solemn–for Oshun knows that the world is not as beautiful as it could be.
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September 10, 2010 at 5:15 PM
Men'S Jewelries
In ancient Roman mythology, Venus (and her Greek equivalent, Aphrodite) was the goddess of love, beauty and pleasure. Men’S Jewelries
September 10, 2010 at 10:02 PM
Hieronymo
Um, this may be rude, but are you a South African spambot trying to sell men’s rings?
Oh well, if so, at least you are on-topic…..
June 22, 2012 at 2:13 AM
Michaela Jayne
Lol! When I get comments like that I just ‘edit’ their website spam out, and sometimes their name and just leave it blank.
If the comment is valid, then I just chuck the rest.
June 22, 2012 at 12:25 PM
Wayne
But what if my readers are interested in Men’S Jewelries?
June 22, 2012 at 12:28 PM
Wayne
Oh no! A 404 error. It looks like I’ll have to buy all my bracelets, medallions, pinky rings, armlets, and torques elsewhere.
September 13, 2010 at 6:12 PM
Christine
I agree with Men’S Jewelries!
September 15, 2010 at 8:12 PM
carla Rodriguez
This is a beautifully written article about Oshun but as an Omo Oshun I feel like I need to input some information. Oshun was not Chango spouse, they were just lovers. As a matter of fact Oshun was best friends with Changos wife Obba. Chango and Oshun did have a very torrid love affair that lasted a long time and she was his favorite out of his many mistresses.
One of the story says that Obba, lawful wife of Shango was betrayed by her best friend Oshun. Oshun advised Obba that the best way to stop Chango from straying was to cut off her ears and prepare a Kalulú (soup), a favorite of the god of thunder Chango. Obba did as her best friend advisded but when Chango found out he repudiated her and ran to the arms of Oshun.
Oshun had love affairs with Oggún and Agayú.
She is very loving and giving with her children but when she disagrees with something one her children are doing she is very unforgiving and one of the most feared Orishas when she is angered.
Santeria Supplies
September 16, 2010 at 6:34 PM
Hieronymo
Carla, Wow! Thanks for the great comment and the delightful story. I wasn’t sure how to describe Oshun’s love life because various sources attribute different spouses and lovers to her (and I didn’t know whom to believe). I think I like your version best where she has many lovers but is nobody’s wife. Oshun seems like a prime candidate for the “It’s complicated” answer!
March 27, 2018 at 8:45 PM
Relika Raybourne
Hi Carla I need some more information on the story can you please tell me where to look those she oshun had a son, is there a story on that please help direct me to a article please
March 23, 2011 at 3:45 AM
Julio
Wow weird i jus had this goddess visit me in my meditation state she said her name but had no idea this was real O.O
March 23, 2011 at 1:58 PM
Hieronymo
@Julio, a visit from a beautiful love goddess sounds like an extremely positive religious experience. I would ask for details but I know gentlemen never tell.
June 22, 2012 at 2:16 AM
Michaela Jayne
. . .LOL
March 30, 2012 at 10:42 PM
Iraima Margarita Navas Echenique
bella maferefun ochun en mi vida
March 31, 2013 at 9:35 PM
aaronleescribe
Reblogged this on aaronleescribe's Blog and commented:
I want to know where I can buy that statue.
June 29, 2013 at 6:49 AM
principe
Para que llame hoy mismo a mi celular.
Lee atentamente esta oración y haz lo que te dice sin ignorar los pasos que te pide seguir. Porque si no solo obtendrás los resultados contrarios de lo que pidas. Piensa en la persona con la que quieres estar y di su nombre para ti 3 veces. Piensa en lo que quieres que ocurra con esa persona en la siguiente semana y repítelo para ti 6 veces. Ahora piensa en lo que quieres con esa persona y dilo 1 vez. Ahora di: Rayo de luz yo te invoco para que desentierres a _____ donde esté o con quien esté y le hagas llamarme hoy mismo enamorado y arrepentido.
Desentierra todo lo que está impidiendo que ______ venga a mi ___________. Aparta a todos los que contribuyan a que nos apartemos y que él no piense más en otras mujeres, que solo piense en mi ___________. Que él me llame y me ame. Gracias, gracias por tu misterioso poder que siempre cumple con lo que se le pide.
Luego tienes que publicar la oración 3 veces, en tres sitios diferentes. Suerte.maferefum oshun
August 19, 2014 at 2:48 PM
ladylittlefoot
Reblogged this on littlefoot's journey and commented:
#Oshun
#GoddessofLove
January 24, 2019 at 9:08 AM
Sam
Lovely article. I would love to know where you purchased the gold oshun statue. It’s beautiful❤️