Yemaya

Traditions of the Caribbean

Orisha
An Orisha is a spirit which reflects one of the manifestations of Olodumare (God) in the Yoruba spiritual or religious system. This religion has found its way throughout the world and is now expressed in several varieties which include Anago, Oyotunji, Candomblé and Lucumí/Santería. These varieties or spiritual lineages as they are called are practiced throughout areas of Brazil, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States, Mexico and Venezuela. As interest in African indigenous religions (spiritual systems) grows, Orisha communities and lineages can be found in parts of Europe and Asia as well. While estimates vary, there could be more than 100 million adherents of this spiritual tradition worldwide.

The Orisha are multi-dimensional beings who represent the forces of nature. They have attributes and stories similar to the stories and attributes used to describe the ancient Greek and Roman pantheons. To the followers of Santeria, however, the Orisha are not remote divinities; on the contrary, they are vibrant, living entities who take an active part in everyday life. The Orisha faith believes in an ultimate deity, Olorun or Olodumare, who is removed from the day-to-day affairs of human beings on Earth. Instead, adherents of the religion appeal to specific manifestations of Olodumare in the form of the various Orisha.

Yemaja / Yemayá / Yemanja
Mother of the Orishas and of all mankind, she is the mother goddess of the Yoruba people of Nigeria in West Africa. Her womb is the life-giver, but also the place of eternal rest. Yemaya is often depicted as a mermaid, and is associated with the moon, the ocean and female mysteries. She is Queen of the Witches and of all which lives under the sea. Her compassion is a healing force rescuing the faithful from all trouble. She rules also over the powers of regeneration. Her typical offerings include fruits and molasses. Her name in Palo is "Madre de Agua", and she can be compared to the goddess Isis. Typically portrayed as a beautiful woman, Yemaya governs the household and intervenes in women's affairs. She is a merciful goddess, invoked by women for aid in childbirth, love and healing. She rules over the conception and birth of children and ensures their safety during childhood. As a creation goddess, Yemaya's womb spilled forth the fourteen Yoruba goddesses and gods, and the breaking of her uterine waters caused a great flood, which created the oceans. From her body the first human woman and man, who became the parents of all mortal beings on earth, were born. She is the patroness of birth and worshipped primarily by women.

The river, Ogun, is associated with her because the water of this river is considered to be a remedy for infertility. She is the daughter of the sisters Odudua and Obatala, and her brother is Aganya. Orungan, her son, raped her once and when he tried again, her body burst open and fifteen gods sprang forth (among which Ogun, Olukum, Shango and Shakpana). Among the Brazilian Umbandists, Yemaja is the goddess of the sea and patroness of shipwrecked persons. In Santeria, Yemaja (Yemaya) is the equivalent of the Catholic saint, Our Lady of Regla, a Cuban Madonna who protects sailors.

Some of her other names include: Imanja, Imanjá, Jemanja, Yemanja, Yemalla, Yemana, Yemaya, Yemayah, Iemanya, Yemoja, Ymoja, La Sirène, LaSiren (in Voodoo), Mami Wata, Nana Buluku, Iemanjá, Iemanja Nana Borocum, Iemanja Bomi, Iemanja Boci, and Nanã. In Cuba she is Yemaya, Yemaya Achabba (stern aspect), Yemaya Oqqutte (violent aspect), Yemaya Olokun (powerful dream aspect), and Yemaya Ataramagwa, Queen of the Sea. In Trinidad she is Emanjah, a river goddess. In Brazil she is an ocean goddess called Yemanja and Imanje. In Haiti her name is Agwe, Mother of the Sea, and in New Orleans she is called La Balianne. Regardless of her name, she rules the sea, the moon, dreams, deep secrets, sea shells, ancient wisdom, salt water, fresh water, ocean secrets, the collective unconscious, and the surface of the ocean, seas, and lakes. Her many titles include Queen of Witches, Mother of Fishes, The Constantly Coming Woman, The Ocean Mother, Mother of Dreams and Secrets, Mother of All, Mother of the Sea, Holy Queen Sea, The Womb of Creation, Mother of Pearl, Stella Maris (star of the sea), and Yeyé Omo Eja, Mother Whose Children Are the Fish. In Africa she is Mama Watta, Mother of Waters.

The cowrie shell is Yemaya's symbol, and fish are sacred to her. Her jewels include crystals, pearls, and mother of pearl. Blue, white, and silver are Yemaya's colors. Seven is her number. Yemaya is celebrated on February 2 and December 31, when offerings are made to her. She is also honored on September 7, September 9, and on the eve of Summer Solstice, by casting flowers and votive boats into water. There is a Brazilian tradition of the candelaria on December 31, lighting candles on the beach at midnight for Yemanje. Votive boats made from flowers are cast into the sea. It is a good omen for the coming year if she accepts your boat, and carries it out to sea. It is a bad omen if your offering is refused, and your boat is washed back upon the shore.

Invoke Yemaya for blessings, compassion, wisdom, fertility, creation, riches, inspiration, motherhood, female power, natural wealth, love spells, wish magic, sea spells, fertility rituals, water magic, women's issues, having children, sustaining life, washing away sorrow, revealing mysteries, acquiring ancient wisdom, protecting the home, learning not to give your power away, and comforting children in crisis. Invoke her as Erzulie for beauty, good fortune, and good health. Invoke her as Yemoja to cure infertility, as Yemana for rain, as Emanjah for teaching children, as Yemaya Olokun for dream magic and protecting babies in the womb; and as Yemaya Ataramagwa for money spells. Invoke Yemaya as Agwe for affection and blessings.

Yams, grain, soap, perfume, jewelry, and fabric are all traditional offerings to Yemaya, thrown into the sea. Rams are also sacrificed to her. Wear pearls or crystal beads to invoke her. To ask Yemaya to grant a wish or bestow a blessing, write her a letter and cast it into the sea.

Yemaya's Wisdom: I nurture, heal, touch, bless, comfort and make whole that which is incomplete. I am within you and you need only look inside yourself to find my eternal presence.

Our Lady of Regla
The African disapora spread Yemaya's worship to the New World, where she was syncretized with Mary as Our Lady of Regla (Virgin of Madrid), and Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. For several centuries, Our Lady of Regla was venerated under several names: La Virgen de la Regla, Virgen Libica, Virgen del Sagrario, Estrella de los Mares and La Virgen Morena (The Black Madonna of Santeria), or Morenita.

Shango / Chango
Shango (Sàngó) is a god of thunder, and the ancestor of the Yoruba people of Nigeria. Living in the sky, he hurls thunderstones down at the Earth, killing those who offend him or setting their houses afire. (His thunderbolts are prehistoric stone celts which farmers sometimes find while hoeing their fields; they are taken to Shango's priests, who keep them at his shrine in a plate supported by an inverted mortar, which also serves as a stool when the heads of initiates are shaved. The stones in Shango's sacrifices may be an allusion to his thunderbolts (In one verse, it is said Shango killed a leopard by putting an inverted mortar over it.) He is the son of Yemaja, the mother goddess and protector of birth. Shango (Xango) has three wives: Oya, who stole Shango's secrets of magic; Oschun, the river goddess, is Shango's favorite because of her culinary abilities; and Oba, who tried to win his love by offering her ear for him to eat. He sent her away in anger and she became the river Oba, which is very turbulent where it meets the river Oschun. Shango is portrayed with a double axe on his head (the symbol of thunder), with six eyes and sometimes with three heads. His symbolic animal is the ram, and his favorite colors are red and white, which are regarded as being holy. In Brazil, Shango is worshipped as a thunder and weather god by the Umbandists. In Santeria, Shango (Chango) is the equivalent of the Catholic saint, St. Barbara.

He was noted for his magical powers and was feared because when he spoke, fire came out of his mouth. In a state of possession it is said that a Shango worshipper may eat fire, carry a pot of live coals on his head, or put his hand into live coals without apparent harm.

As the legendary fourth king of the ancient kingdom of Oyo, Shango's rule was marked by capricious use of power. He inadvertently caused a thunderstorm and lightening struck his own palace killing many of his wives and children. According to a later myth, it was a defeat in a magical contest that led Shango to leave Oyo and hang himself, although when lightening flashes in the sky and thunder rolls his worshippers have been heard to shout, "The king did not hang himself".

Bata drums are sacred to Shango. Shango's favorite foods include bitter kola nuts and yam porridge. Offerings to him include: green bananas, hot cornmeal and okra, and red apples. His symbol is a double-headed axe, and his number is 6. Shango's feast day is celebrated on December 4th, and his animals are the rooster and turtle.

The Legend of Saint Barbara
According to legend, Saint Barbara was the extremely beautiful daughter of a wealthy heathen named Dioscorus, who lived near Nicomedia in Asia Minor. Because of her singular beauty and fearful that she be demanded in marriage and taken away from him, he jealously shut her up in a tower to protect her from the outside world. Shortly before embarking on a journey, he commissioned a sumptuous bathhouse to be built for her before he departed.

Barbara had heard of the teachings of Christ, and while her father was gone spent much time in contemplation. From the windows of her tower she looked out upon the surrounding countryside and marveled at the growing things; the trees, the animals and the people. She decided that all these must be part of a master plan, and that the idols of wood and stone worshipped by her parents must be condemned as false. Gradually she came to accept the Christian faith.

As her belief became firm, she directed that the builders redesign the bathhouse her father had planned, adding another window so that the three windows might symbolize the Holy Trinity. When her father returned, he was enraged at the changes and infuriated when Barbara acknowledged that she was a Christian. He dragged her before the prefect of the province, who decreed that she be tortured and put to death by beheading. Dioscorus himself carried out the death sentence. On his way home he was struck by lightening and his body consumed.

Saint Barbara lived and died about the year 300 A.D. She was venerated as early as the seventh century. The legend of the lightning bolt which struck down her persecutor caused her to be regarded as the patron saint in time of danger from thunderstorms, earthquakes, fires and sudden death.

Oshun
Oshun in Yoruba mythology, is a spirit-goddess (Orisha) who reigns over love, intimacy, beauty, wealth and diplomacy. She is worshipped also in Brazilian Candomblé Ketu, with the name spelled Oxum. She is beneficient, generous, and very kind. She does, however, have a horrific temper, though it is difficult to anger her. She is married to Shango, the sky god, and is his favorite wife because of her excellent cooking skills. One of his other wives, Oba, was her main rival. They are the goddesses of the Oshun and Oba rivers, which meet in a turbulent place with difficult rapids.

In Cuban Santería, Oshun (sometimes spelt Ochún or Ochun) is an Orisha of love, maternity and marriage. She has been syncretized with by Our Lady of Charity (La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre), Cuba's patron saint. She is associated with the color yellow, metals gold and copper, peacock feathers, mirrors, and anything of beauty, her favorable day of the week is Saturday and the number she is associated with is 5.

In one story, Oshun had to become a prostitute to feed her children, and the other Orishas removed her children from her home. Oshun went insane from grief, and wore the same white dress every day. Eventually it turned yellow. Aje'-Shaluga, another Orisha, fell in love with her while she was washing her dress. He gave her money and gems which he collected from the bottom of the river he lived in. They were married soon after, and she was eventually reunited with her children.

Many do not know that the peacock actually belonged to Yemaya, and not Oshun; when Ochun lost all her wealth, and her crown (not to mention her hair), it was Yemaya that gave her the peacock as a symbol of royalty.

The Myth Behind La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre ~ Melissa Shay
To many Cuban-Americans living in Miami, La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre, is one of the only ties remaining that unifies them with their homeland. The Virgin is a renowned and integral part of Cuban culture and plays an important role in the Catholic heritage of Cubans exiled inside and outside of North America. The church, La Ermita de la Caridad del Cobre, is a memorial that was constructed in honor of her and is a monument to the religious and political history of the island. Since there are many different versions circulating about the sighting of the Virgin, one must discuss the most popular and the most commonly accepted.

The myth behind the La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre, originated in 1606. The Virgin appeared one day in the Bay of Nipe near Santiago to two brothers, Rodrigo and Juan de Hoyos, and to Juan Moreno,a black boy roughly ten years of age. They were out on a fishing trip in the Bay. While struggling in their storm tossed boat, they heard a voice declare, "I am the Virgin of Charity." In one hand, the Virgin carried a mulatto baby Jesus; in the other, she held a cross. She also appeared to be holding a tablet which contained the inscription, "I am the Virgin of Charity." A replica of the same tablet is now framed and displayed on the first floor of La Ermita in Santiago de Cuba.

In Cuba, there is also a statue of the Virgin, approximately one meter tall, located in a small chapel on the second floor. The statue is of a pretty mulatta who wears dangling earrings and a golden robe. La Virgen's racial attributes is a mixture of black, white and Indian; essentially, it covers the entire racial makeup of Cuba. She has dark hair and carries the baby Jesus in one hand and a cross in the other. People flock to her memorial to pray to her and give her thanks. They often leave small tokens of their appreciation and gratitude. To the exile community, she represents a Catholic Cuba untouched by the religious beliefs of the communist regime of he last four decades. Furthermore, she has become a mark of Cuban liberty.

This strong belief in the Virgin extends throughout Miami's catholic, Cuban community, and is perhaps one of the only things that will permanently bond the exile community. The myth behind the Virgin will continue to be passed down from Cuban exiles to their Cuban-American children. To the exiles, the Virgin connotes liberty and freedom. They believe that she was the driving force in bringing them to the United States. She will remain an essential part of Cuba's religious history and of the exile's religious life.