Ossain – The Orisha of healing and that brings you a healthy life

Considered the father of sacred and miraculous plants, Ossain is the Orisha of healing. By having the knowledge and power over any vegetation, he is able to cure all ills in a natural way. In this way, he is an Orisha who works for health and helps those who seek to lead a healthy life.

He is one of the most mysterious Orixás in Umbanda and has a very reserved behavior. Among all the other Orixás, Ossain has no relationship with others and is the least known about life. In religious syncretism, he is related to Saint Benedict.

About the Orisha of healing – Ossain

Ossain is a very reserved Orisha and little seen in terreiros. It is believed that he even prefers that there are several legends about him, as he doesn’t care about that, after all, he has a lot of security about who he is, what he wants and how he works. This wisdom and peace of mind are represented in his clothing with the white color combined with the green of the leaves.

Along with Oxóssi and Ogun, he is a defender of the forests and finds in the most virgin and deep forests the pure emanation of nature’s energy. It is always advisable to leave an offering to the three Orixás whenever you enter a forest, as it is a sacred territory and must be respected.

Meeting Ossain’s Children

The children of this Orisha carry with them the main characteristics and energies of their father. Overall, they are quite balanced and cautious individuals. You will hardly find a son of Ossain letting their likes, likes and dislikes interfere with how they understand and think about others. In this way, they are people who know very well how to control their feelings and emotions.

They are also very rational and cold in the decisions they make, demonstrating an enviable capacity for discernment. In addition, like the Orisha, they are reserved and never give an opinion on issues that do not concern them.

The day of the week dedicated to Ossain is Thursday, its main colors are green and white and its greeting is “Ewé o! ewé o!” or “Ewé ewé bake!”.

Ossain and the syncretism with São Benedito

The mystery that surrounds the existence of the Orixá is what relates it to the Catholic figure of São Benedito, protector of slaves and Afro-descendants. Like Ossain, it is an entity that carries a life story full of doubts and few certainties about its trajectory.

It is said that Benedito was born into a family originally from Ethiopia that was enslaved in Sicily, Italy, around 1526. Years later, his parents were freed by their masters and the family continued a free but poor life in the country. It is believed that he worked as a shepherd and farmer.

At some point in his career, it is not known when, Benedito came into contact with one of the followers of Saint Francis of Assisi and, identifying with the group’s motivations, joined a Franciscan convent in Palermo, the capital of Sicily.

There, he was an exemplary Franciscan and was noted for his humility, obedience and spirit of prayer. Benedito walked barefoot, slept on the floor and made a series of sacrifices. It is known that many people who sought his advice and prayers were able to achieve the necessary healings. This healing ability is another point that dialogues with Ossain’s energies.

After 17 years in this role, he moved to the Capuchin Convent and worked as a cook, staying in that position until he was elected by his brothers as superior of the Monastery because of his prudence, sanctity and wisdom.

The Catholic Church Relating Ossain with Saint Benedict

The Catholic tradition considers him enlightened by the Holy Spirit for having prophesied and obtained a positive result several times. For many, God bestowed on him the gift of miracles. Despite all the information available about Saint Benedict, most stories are confusing and have more than one version.

The tributes to São Benedito are made on the same day dedicated to Ossain, October 5th. On the same day, Umbanda performs a ritual called “Sasanha” or “Sassayin”, when vital energy is removed from plants – the juice, considered the “vegetable blood”. It is with this “blood” that the purification of sacred objects and the body of the initiates is carried out, bringing renewal and balance to the Umbanda Houses. At that moment, the Orixá is sung with songs also dedicated to leaves and forests.

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