The beads all have different meanings and represent different divinities of Ifa. “The elekes I have mean life, protection and one of them represents my god Oshun,” Scott said. “I look at my beads as spirits.
What is Eleke Oshun?
Oshun is the deity of the river and freshwater, luxury and pleasure, sexuality and fertility, and beauty and love. She is connected to destiny and divination. During the life of the mortal Oshun, she served as a princess consort to King Shango of Oyo.
What is the meaning of elekes?
“Elekes” is the Yoruba word for beads and it’s used to refer to 5 the beaded necklaces initiates wear to represent the 5 pillar Orisha in the Lucumí tradition (Eshu/Elegua, Obatala, Yemaya, Oshun, and Chango). These necklaces are the banners of the Orisha and serve to place the wearer under their protection.
What are elekes made of?
Most devotees wear a necklace or necklaces (collares, also known as Elekes) representing the colors pleasing to their orishas. Coconut rinds or cowrie shells and a straw mat are used as divination tools. A common divination tool is known as Okuele, a larger size necklace with 6 or 8 rinds of coconut.
What are elekes beads for? – Related Questions
Who is orisha most feared?
Ṣàngó is viewed as the most powerful and feared of the orisha pantheon. He casts a “thunderstone” to earth, which creates thunder and lightning, to anyone who offends him. Worshippers in Yorubaland in Nigeria do not eat cowpea because they believe that the wrath of the god of iron would descend on them.
What religion teaches worship of Orishas?
The basis of the Santeria religion is the nurture of a personal relation with the orishas, and one of the principal forms of devotion is an animal sacrifice. According to Santeria teaching, the orishas are powerful but not immortal. They depend for survival on the sacrifice.
Are Orishas spirits?
Orishas (singular: orisha) are spirits that play a key role in the Yoruba religion of West Africa and several religions of the African diaspora that derive from it, such as Cuban, Dominican and Puerto Rican Santería and Brazilian Candomblé.
What is the difference between an Orisha and a deity?
Orisha are supernatural entities usually referred to as deities in the Yoruba religion of West Africa, though they are actually emanations or avatars of the supreme being Olodumare.
What element is Oshun?
Oshun is commonly called the river orisha, or goddess, in the Yoruba religion and is typically associated with water, purity, fertility, love, and sensuality. She is considered one of the most powerful of all orishas, and, like other gods, she possesses human attributes such as vanity, jealousy, and spite.
Which Orisha created humans?
Obatala or “Orisa Nla” (known as Obatalá in Yorubaland and in Caribbean and South American Spanish and Oxalá in Brazil) is an orisha. He is believed, according to Yoruba cosmology, to be the Sky Father and the creator of human bodies, which were brought to life by the smooth breath of Olodumare.
Who is the strongest African god?
Sango is regarded as the most powerful god in Africa and one of the most popular gods around the world. He is the god of vengeance, protection, social order and more. His symbol is a double headed-axe. The thunderstorm announces Sango’s presence.
Who is the mother of all orisha?
Yemonja, also spelled Yemoja or Yemaja, Yoruban deity celebrated as the giver of life and as the metaphysical mother of all orisha (deities) within the Yoruba spiritual pantheon.
Who is the orisha of death?
Ọya (Yorùbá: Ọya, also known as Oyá or Oiá; Yàńsàn-án or Yansã; and Iansá or Iansã in Latin America) is an orisha of winds, lightning, and violent storms, death, and rebirth.
Who is the father of all orisha?
460. Obatalá Obatalá is the kindly father of all the orishas and all humanity. He is also the owner of all heads and the mind. Though it was Olorun who created the universe, it is Obatal who is the creator of the world and humanity.
How do I talk to Oya?
Call the OYA Hotline: 1-800-315-5440
Youth may call the hotline, or others may call on the youth’s behalf. You will be asked to leave a message. Leave your name, phone number, location and info about the issue. If you choose to remain anonymous, please still leave as much detail as possible.
What language do orisha speak?
Lucumí is a lexicon of words and short phrases derived from the Yoruba language and used for ritual purposes in Cuba and the Cuban Diaspora. It is used as the liturgical language of Santería in Cuba and other communities that practice Santería/Cuban Orisa/the Lucumí religion/Regla de Ocha.
Is it disrespectful to name a child after an orisha?
While you can take on names inspired by them, it’s arguably disrespectful to just outright name yourself after a deity in most any religion. The Orishas are… Well, they’re not GOD, like they’re not The One True Thing That Is Omnipotent And Made You And The Universe, but they’re fairly important.
How do you say hello in Santeria?
How do you greet IFA?
Orunmila mo pe, Orunmila mo pe, Orunmila mo pe.
Spirit of Destiny I am greeting you, Spirit of Destiny I am greeting you, Spirit of Destiny I am greeting you.
What is the symbol of Ifa?
The main symbol of IFA: Yoruba Scientific Spirituality is the Ipon Ifa. The Ipon Ifa is not simply the “divination tray,” but a mandala for the spiritual conceptuality of Ifa. It is most importantly a perfect circle, emphasizing the cyclic and interconnected nature of reality.