Discover everything you didn’t know yet about the OFFERINGS TO OSHUN

Offerings to Oshun, if you want to know more about this type of Orisha ritual, in our article we teach you everything necessary so that you can learn how they should be done, according to what you want to ask for, and that you will have all their protection.

Introduction

Oshun is one of the important deities of the Yoruba religion, which is represented with the Virgin of Caridad del Cobre, who is also the patron saint of the country of Cuba. This goddess is the one who reigns over all fresh waters throughout the world and her dominions include even streams, springs and rivers.

He is the personification within the Yoruba religion of elements such as love, fertility and all those related to money and many other important aspects, to whom all his faithful followers come, in order to ask for his help in all these elements, present in human life; They especially help solve many problems present in the paths of all her followers.

To know who Oshun was historically, we will take a short tour of her life: since she is part of the divinities of the Yoruba Pantheon, but the only one who reaches Olofin, who is the creator of the world, and the patriarch of all the Yoruba. And when she comes before him, it is with the purpose of imploring for all beings on earth.

It is said that she lived in a cave in Ijesa, located in Nigeria, towards where the Nile River is. She was the second wife of Shangó, who is also from the Yoruba Pantheon and in his time he was a king, warrior and also a witch; who becomes an Orisha, when he mistakenly destroys his house, losing his first wife and children. (See Children of Oshun)

Oshun is venerated in many parts of Nigeria, but especially in Osogbo, a city saved by her; and her messenger is represented by the crocodile. Her faithful followers take her offerings to the river to ask for her favors, also counting on all her protection.

Well, Oshun represents the feelings and all the spirituality of human sensuality; elements represented by delicacy, beauty, femininity, and love. For this reason she is the protector of all pregnant women and she usually accompanies them during childbirth. However, she is also an example of severity, and therefore symbolizes the relentless punishment against everything bad.

She is the Orisha that represents all sweet waters, and is the daughter of Obbatala; who represents the father of all children on earth, and her mother is Yemayá, who is the first woman in the world, and who reigns in the seas and oceans.

Yoruba saints usually use syncretism, which is considered synonymous with representation, through the use of Catholic images, and therefore in this sense, Obbatala is syncretized by the Virgin of Mercedes while Yemayá is by the Virgin of Regla; and as we already mentioned Oshun is syncretized with the Virgin of Charity of Cobre.

Oshun has been the wife of Oggun, Orunla, Oshosi and Shango; She being also Eleggua’s protégé. She is an Orisha who has tools such as a yellow earthenware tureen, which is precisely her color. In this tureen she has 5 Otá, which is a spiritual stone that lives there with river water.

She has objects that are characteristic of her and which it is very important for all her faithful believers to know, since they are part of the offerings to Oshun that can be made to him. Such as snails, mirrors, combs, earrings, fish, fans especially made of sandalwood, Ibú Kolé feathers, or also peacock feathers.

Wreaths, hearts, bells, and many others like that. Their necklaces called Elekes are usually made of yellow and gold beads. In some cases it can be five yellow beads, one amber and then five golden beads. But his object of power is a yellow sandalwood fan.

This Orisha wears a yellow dress, with a sash tight to her stomach with bells; She has five gold bracelets, a crescent, with two oars, a star as well as a sun. All of her appearance is said to change depending on her path, but all of these objects are placed in odd numbers, which are synonymous with her worship.

We have dedicated our article so that all readers know how to make offerings to Oshun, a Yoruba deity, which must always be made with great faith, all with the aim that this goddess of the waters offers them her help to to be able to solve any difficulty that may arise in life. Always all these with great faith, since the Goddess knows how to interpret the intentions expressed by people.

Reason why she cannot stand mean people, since she considers that one should always give everything that the person has the capacity to give, and in this way she usually appreciates all the offerings that are offered to them and the dedication that each person has. person, puts in each of them. (We recommend that you also see the Prayer to Elegua)

Offerings to Oshun

Offerings are elements given by people who worship a certain deity as a sign of their recognition and veneration; which are also used as a way to make a certain request, to resolve any concern that is arising in their lives.

It is said that the appetite of the orishas is usually as great as the desires of the people who invoke them and have exquisite palates, which is why each of these deities are attended to in a particular way, since not all of them are cared for. They like the same type of offerings, for this reason Oshun must be given offerings of her liking, in order to always keep her satisfied.

In the case of the offerings to Oshun, we find an Orisha who is also the patron saint of Cuba. Where many of her powers are present after the prayers, prayers, offerings and rites that all her followers direct to her in order to solve her problems, or simply as a thank you for always having her company. .

The stories of this deity are known thanks to the stories called Patakíes de Oshun, and it is precisely through them that we can know his human quality, since Oshun saved the world; Well, when heaven separated from earth, she pleaded with Olofin to allow the human race to live, teaching them to harvest their food, an example of which was the cultivation of many foods.

To Oshun

For this reason, the best offering for Oshun is his favorite food Ochinchin, which is a dish that is prepared based on some special ingredients, which we will teach you how to prepare later, and others as we indicate below.

Ochinchin Palanquetas of gofio and honey Bee honey Olelé with saffron Sweets of all kinds Fruits of the river Capon goat Angolan chickens Pigeons Herbs such as parsley Alligator herb, Geranium of Odor Hazelnut from the Coast, Chayote, pumpkins and many others.

As we have indicated, the Ochinchin is a very special offering to Oshun, and is generally given to the Orisha with the purpose of granting a wish, or allowing the consolidation of something that is already available.

For this, the followers of this Orisha called Iyabo, before being crowned in their Yoruba religion, usually go to the rivers in order to perform some ceremonies and one of them is to provide an Offering to Oshun represented by the Ochinchin. Below we tell you how to prepare Ochinchin.

Ochinchin

For its preparation, you only need to prepare the following Ingredients in advance.

A bunch of chard Five eggs Two kilos of shrimp Butter Capers and pepper Butter Two onions Jícara (totuma) or white plate Olive oil

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCNmERHxlg4

Preparation

All the ingredients are previously cleaned, cutting the chard into pieces and peeling the shrimp, which must be sautéed in a frying pan with butter or olive oil, then we add the chard, capers and onions.

Later we add the eggs and stir everything very well, adding pepper and salt to taste. Then with chard leaves, they are placed in the Jícara at the bottom and we pour the preparation there. This offering to Oshun is given directly or a sacrifice or adimú is placed in the river.

Offerings to Oshun are something that people usually make to this holy Orisha, with the purpose of thanking him not only for the fulfillment of a certain wish, but for the simple fact of making life flow and things work properly. the way it is expected. The mere fact of thanking him for being alive, having the freedom to love, is enough to give thanks to Oshun.

Well, this is the type of gratitude that makes her happy and very happy, and in this way she can reward them, bringing more happiness into their lives, many elements of happiness, especially health and some others that allow them to have much more luck in life. life. (You can also see Elegua)

Floors

For the goddess Oshun, herbs or certain plants are usually used, with which to perform many of the rituals, by extracting their sap, and with this she prepares a liquid that is called Omiero.

This being a liquid that also has many healing properties, used in the name of the orishas who are part of the Yoruba pantheon and of which Oshun is one of them. This is a ritual through which these herbs are stripped and prayed for power, all by a priest of his religion.

But the most important thing is that its energy and properties are revitalized depending on the Orisha who owns each plant; being an indispensable element for most of their ceremonies and which is also used as a bath in the initiations of their devotees or to bathe their stones called Otán, with which they are consecrated.

Each Orisha has her own herbs or plants, so it is necessary that her own be used and not those of other orishas, ​​to avoid sacrilege or taboos between them; which is why we introduce you to those of Oshun, so that they are kept in mind at the time of any ceremony for this deity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2mVZZIQIiI

Herbs

For Oshun there is a wide variety of herbs that can be used, many of which are widely known to everyone and also have the advantage of being within reach; because any of them can be offered to him as well as to make the Omiero of him. Therefore its herbs are the following.

Basil, opens the way, almácigo, almácigo, ashibata which is the water lily; watercress, buttercup, pumpkin, cinnamon, maidenhair from the well, cerraja, enrapture, the flower of water or of the dead, the sunflower, the red mamey, the marjoram, forget me not, rosemary, the herb of the girl and of the old one and some others.

Remember that these herbs are processed and consecrated within the Yoruba religion, so that their spiritual value can be increased, and that when used, they work properly for what is needed, especially in baths for dispossession, cleaning and protection. (See also article about Shango)

How to make the offerings?

People who are faithful followers of Oshun usually make offerings and prayers to him in order to resolve…