What are Oxum’s Quizilas? Learn more about this rule of conduct!

The quizilas or ewó are candomblé’s rules of conduct and determine some attitudes of those who follow this religion. Some of them are universal, that is, common to all orixás. However, others depend on the orixá at the head and even on the stage at which the son of that orixá is in the religion.

Oxum is the lady of fresh waters, orixá of wealth, love and fertility. Like the other orixás, she has her own quizilas that must be followed by her children. These rules are highly related to the history of this powerful orixá and show attitudes and foods that Oxum rejects. To better understand what quizilas are, what are the ewós of Oxum and how to follow them, read on!

Ewó means, in Yoruba, taboos. So are the rules and commandments of the Yoruba religion and Candomblé. These rules must be followed by the children of the orishas, ​​especially during the making of saints and initiations.

Thus, the quizilas are determined by your head orixá. They will determine the good conduct of your children to reach their goal in material life. In this section you will understand how quizzes work, what are universal and behavioral quizzes and how to undo a quiz. Read and understand!

Quizila or Ewó are rules of conduct applied in the religion of Candomblé and Yoruba, where they are normally required by the orixás for the making of the saint or when an initiation in Orumilá is performed. These rules determine what an elegum (candomblé initiate) can or cannot do or eat during a short or long period of his life.

Initiation into Ifá is done so that the initiate does not commit the same mistakes that led him to death in his past life, which is why these rules of conduct are so important for initiates. In this practice, interdictions are made that are proclaimed by the ialorixá or babalorixá, which are made after the rituals of panã and urupim, in addition to a reading of the merindilogum.

Ewó’s transgression is considered a serious fault by the entire religious community as it is considered an affront to the orixás. This behavior is subject to punishment, which can range from demanding an offering such as ritual food, or a four-legged animal, which serves as an apology.

All Orixás have in their offerings the foods that are of their predilection, or that are part of their constitution. Therefore, for those who are children of orishas, ​​there is a relationship between these food taboos and the prohibitions imposed by African myths. Therefore, it is understandable that there is a ban on eating the material that forms the orixá that represents it.

To undo a Quizila you need to have a towel, clothes and a cap, all white. After separating these items, you should take a hominy bath at night and go to sleep with your clothes and cap on, so that it works, it is important that you do not try to clean yourself.

The next day you should take a shower, washing your head first and after removing all the hominy that was left on your body from the shower the night before, you will have undone the Quizila.

When the term “Quizila do Orixá” is mentioned, it usually refers to a food that has a negative energy or one that is incompatible with the Orisha that you represent. This incompatibility is determined by your Orisha and if you make a mistake in this process it is considered a serious fault for the son of the Orisha.

Due to its origin in Candomblé, the term Quizila is not used frequently by Umbanda. However, many terreiros follow these Quizilas of their parents as a sign of respect for the Orixás of their crown and to avoid any imbalance with their Orixás.

Quizila serves as a rule of conduct, but if you fail to comply with one of them it does not mean that you will be expelled or die. The importance of rules of conduct exists as a form of respect for the Orixás, if any rule is violated, it is necessary to deal with the consequences. That’s why you need to make some offering as an apology.

Below is a list of the main quizilas that should be avoided by Orixás in Candomblé. Remembering that it is not mandatory that you follow this list. The ideal is to follow the recommendations of your father or mother of saint.

– Avoid eating meat on Mondays and Fridays.
– Wear white clothes on Mondays and Fridays.
– Do not pass under stairs.
– Don’t eat pumpkin.
– Do not wear black or red clothes.
– Avoid cemeteries.
– Do not eat the tips such as the feet, heads and wings of birds.
– Do not take oaths in the name of the saint.
– Don’t wish other people evil.
– Avoid going through places where you have fire on your back.
– Do not pay or receive money when fasting.
– Avoid eating fruits such as cajá, custard apple, jackfruit or sapodilla.
– Son of Oxossi does not eat red corn or green corn.
– Do not eat pigeon meat or guinea fowl.
– Don’t have peacock feathers at home.
– Do not sweep your house at night.
– Do not sew a button on clothes to the body.
– Do not eat burnt food from the bottom of the pans.
– Do not eat bertalha, or jambo leaves.
– Do not eat cucumber.

In addition to the quizzes that refer to dietary restrictions, there are also behavioral quizzes that indicate the rules of behavior that need to be followed in your daily life. Therefore, it is very important to pay attention to rules such as:

– Receiving any object or food with both hands;
– Always eat with your head uncovered;
– Do not pass under wires;
– Do not go out on the streets or out of the candomblé house at noon, midnight or 6 pm.

Oxum is the lady of fresh water, beauty, love, fertility and prosperity. Daughter of Iemanjá and Oxalá, in religious syncretism she is worshiped with the various “Our Ladies”. Like the other orishas, ​​Oxum has rules of conduct for his children.

Oxum’s quizilas are strongly related to the characteristics of the Orisha, such as avoiding eating freshwater fish, red shrimp or pigeon, for example. To better understand the meaning of each restriction, continue reading.

Not all quizilas have clear meanings, but come from stories lived by the orixá and its qualities. Tangerine, for example, is a fruit that should be avoided by the children of Oxum. However, the exact reason for this ban is not known.

Some report that the fruit is a symbol of Iansã, the first wife of Xangô, who was the husband of Oxum. And maybe that’s why Oxum doesn’t like the fruit in question.

The consumption of animal carcasses, in general, is prohibited by several orixás. This is because the intention of the orisha when giving taboos to your child is to keep him away from negative energies, such as those resulting from animal carcasses, cemeteries and certain colors. Thus, if you are a son of Oxum and are being initiated, it is advised that you avoid animal carcasses, especially chicken.

Shrimp is one of the main ingredients of Omolucum, an offering made to Oxum in obligations and which shows its fertility power. However, despite being a ritual food for Oxum, one of the taboos says that you should not eat foods that are part of the offerings of your head orixá.

Thus, the sons of Oxum must not eat shrimp or other ingredients of Omolucum, with the exception of the moment of the offering, when the santo de santo must eat together, so that Oxum is not offended.

Horsetail tea is often used for weight loss, as it has negative effects on the body. Contrasting the idea of ​​nutrition and health considered fundamental for Oxum, which is reflected in the prohibition of this herb.

Like shrimp, beans are used as an offering known as Omolucum and offered directly to Oxum. This food is not totally restricted to the children of Oxum, and can only be consumed in rituals made for the Orisha.

Following the same principle that foods that are served only in offerings to Oxum become an Ewó. Tapioca should also not be ingested outside of the rites made for Oxum.

The hen symbolizes protection for her chicks, in addition to being the lady of fertility. It can be associated with Oxum’s characteristic of protecting pregnant women. For this reason, it is not allowed to feed on chickens.

There is a story in which Oxum turned into a pigeon to save herself from the prison that Xangô had left her. Thus, for the children of Oxum, it is forbidden to eat pigeon meat.

Pineapple is an abominable fruit by Oxum due to the relationship that this fruit has with the Orisha Obá. They rival each other out of jealousy towards Xangô, who is married to both of them.

The quizilas, or ewó, are the rules and prohibitions of Candomblé and the Yoruba religion. That is, they are the food, behavior and color prohibitions designated for the children of the orixás. These rules of conduct are determined by tastes and events in the history of the orixá that mark the foods and behaviors that are harmful both to that orixá and to their children.

Some ewós are common to all practitioners of this religion. However, while a food is prohibited for one orixá, it may not be for another. To discover which rules of conduct you should follow, it is important to know your orixá by heart, as well as your destiny (Odù), identified by consulting the oracle.

If you are the son of Oxum, lady of fresh waters, the main quizilas are freshwater fish, red shrimp, pigeon, tangerine, chicken carcass, mackerel, among others brought in this article. Avoiding these foods, as well as behavioral quizils, is essential to avoid damage in the present and in the future.

After all, if quizila is bad for your head orixá, it won’t be good for you either. Following these rules is essential in order not to lose the energy of your orisha and to achieve your life purpose. By avoiding certain behaviors you will not be depriving yourself of something, but following the path indicated by your orixá to fulfill your mission.