pass by one in BX lass weekend too... de drums/chanting mystic...

something you know but always feels brand new...

Can ANYONE go through a misa? My friend went to one, for his initiation, but didn't complete it because he said his mind wasn't there...my thing is, he's been into this longer than i have and i feel like i understand it better than he does...i don't think he's ready, well, obviously not cause he couldn't complete the misa but ah mean, he came back with beads and didn't even know who they represented...he knew two of them and i had to tell him the rest....i was like, ummm, are u taking this walk, or is smaddy leading u ...iono

A misa is an initiation into the priesthood. Its part of the lucumi tradition.

NP but you know if you come you have to be willing to lend a hand whether food prep, clean up, whatever. Guests that just stand up w/ two hand by they side get cuss

Orisa Oshun

Goddess of the Rivers

Mo juba awo Oshun.
Iwo ni Orisha Obinrin Odo.
Iwo ni Oluwa Awo Ilaju.
Iwo ni Oluwa Awo Ife.
Iwo ni Orisha Julo Ewa.
Iwo ni Oluwa Awo Oyin.
Iwo ni Oluwa Awo Eya Abo Ati Ako, ati Ibare.

I humble myself before the mysteries of Oshun.
You are the Goddess of the River.
You are the Owner of the Mysteries of Civilization.
You are the Owner of the Mysteries of Love.
You are the Most Beautiful Orisha.
You are the Owner of the Mysteries of Honey.
You are the Owner of the Mysteries of Sex, and Intimacy.

Although Orisha Obatala is the Lord of the Mysteries of Balance and Equality, and the Owner of the Mysteries of the Feminine and Masculine Principles, it is Orisha Oshun who is the Owner of the Forces of Attraction, Ibadana (Affinity), between the male and the female. Although Yemoja is the Owner of the Mysteries of Motherhood, it is Oshun who manipulates the sexual nature not only of the ‘godseekers’, but of all creatures and creations. As the river’s journey is ultimately towards the ocean, the affinity between male and female creations is ultimately towards reproduction.

The entire abdominal area is sacred to Oshun, and for that reason women who wish to bear children propitiate the orisha to help them achieve their desires. But childbearing is only one of Oshun’s concerns. The orisha is also responsible for all abdominal illnesses and operations.

Although Oshun is very concerned with ‘reproduction’, she is equally if not more concerned with the overwhelming forces and provocative pleasures that unlock the creative potentials of the Feminine and Masculine Principles. Orisha Oshun is Oluwa Awo Inu Didun Ipilese (the Owner of the Mysteries of the Pleasure Principle). Oshun is the orisha of unconditional love, receptivity and diplomacy. Oshun is associated with honey because it (honey) is both pleasing to the senses and has great powers of healing.

Orisa Oshun embodies all aspects of the sexual nature of the female. She is Iwa Wundia (Virginity); the fruit ripening on the vine - approaching its readiness to satisfy the hunger and the senses of the one who is so fortunate as to taste her sweetness. She is Iwa Obinrin (Womanhood); emboding all of the Feminine and Masculine attributes of a mature sentient being, and providing the only canvas upon which the male can outline his accomplishments as a man; she is the ‘mirror’ that reflects the male to himself. If the male fails to respect, nurture, elevate, support, and protect the woman and the fruit of her womb, he has succeeded only in diminishing himself. Oshun is also Pansaga Obirin (the Temptress, Prostitute) - who through her pleasures, can tempt man to risk the throne that he has, or inspire him to seize the throne of another. When the Ase became self-aware and gave birth to Olodumare, and when Olodumare experienced the first emotion, Love - the aspect of the Ase that is Orisha Oshun was ‘born’.

One of Oshun’s symbols is the mirror, but this should not mislead you into thinking that Oshun represents only external beauty. As Mason and Edwards point out, “Oshun is that quality in a woman which emanates beauty in such a way that vision is not necessary in order to appreciate it.” She is “...the idea of excellence as reflected by refinement, taste and delicacy.”

Iba se Orisa oshun!

Yemoja and Oshun seem very similar to me,with the Goddess of the river title.

there are stories of them being sisters, and/or mother and daughter