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My love I missed you ver much along wit hthose who were in the spiritual thread. I would like you to do me a favour. I would like you to write up the Orisha's again and their offereings and the stories as to how they came about. I enjoyed the knowledge you gave on the Orisha's and I am interested in one in particular please when you get a chance put it back. Thanks a million

This will be interesting.

Hola mamita! i miss you too. Your request is my command, I will start it off tonight.
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Okay...i think the stuff i just finish posting is enough.

Since you are looking for a particular one, let me tell you what order they are in.

Page 1

Olodumare Obatala
Orunmila
Elegua
Chango
Oshun
Oya
Yemaya
Babalu-Aye
Ogun
Osain

Page 2

Oshosi
The Ibexi
Orishaoco

I hope this helps you mama.

OLODUMARE (Olofin, Olorun)


Saint: Jesus Christ or the dove of the Holy Spirit.
Day of the Week: Thursday.
Colors and Collars (Ilekes): All and none.
Sacrificial Animal: None. No animal sacrifices of any type.
Sacrificial Food: None.
Herbs: None.
Ornaments: None.


Apataki:

Olodumare, even though he was king of the other

gods, had a mortal fear of mice. The other gods thought that a king, especially their king, should not be afraid of anything as unimportant and weak as a mouse.

"Olodumare has turned into a weak old woman," they said, for they believed it shameful to fear mice. "It's time that we took away his power and named another king." Besides, they wanted total dominion of the world.

Things continued as they were until the principal Orishas got together again.

"We must take away Olodumare's power," they said. "He is getting old and weak."

Everyone agreed, again. There was a problem, though. Olodumare was old, but he certainly was not weak. He was fierce and terrible and not one of the other Orishas would dare to challenge him in combat.

The Orishas thought and talked and thought some more until one, no one knows who came up with an idea.

"Let's scare Olodumare to death," said the unknown Orisha.

"How do you propose to do that?" asked the other Orishas, since they themselves were deathly afraid of Olodumare.

"Olodumare is afraid of mice," said the Orisha.

"Everyone knows that," exclaimed the disappointed Orishas. "We thought that you had an idea."

"If he is afraid of one mouse," continued the Orisha, "what would happen if we invite him over to our house and fill it with mice?"

"Tell us," said the other Orishas.

"If Olodumare finds himself in a house full of mice, he will be so afraid that he will run away from here or die. We'll take over his house and we will be the masters of the world."

"That's a wonderful plan," they all exclaimed. Putting their heads together, the Orishas began to plot how they were going to lure Olodumare to their house and scare him to death with mice.

They forgot that Elegua was by the door. He lived by the door, since he is the Orisha that rules roads, routes and entrances. They had forgotten all about him. He heard all their plans.

What did Elegua do? What did the trickster Orisha do? He knew the day that Olodumare was coming. He had listened to the other Orishas' plans. He waited and hid behind the door.

Olodumare arrived, happy to have been invited to a party. He knew that he was not as popular among the Orishas as he used to be. Little did he know that the other Orishas were hidden, waiting to release hundreds of mice. The moment he stepped inside, the door was slammed shut at Olodumare's back. The mice were released.

Olodumare was terrified and ran around the house screaming, "The mice are attacking. The mice are attacking!"

He tried to find a place to hide, but every box he opened and every closet he ran into just had more and more mice.

Olodumare ran head first at the door, ready to demolish it, just so that he could escape the tormenting rodents. Just as head and door were going to meet, Elegua stepped out and stopped his panicked rush.

"Stop, Olodumare," said Elegua, putting his arms around the terrified old Orisha. "No mouse will harm you."

"Yes they will. Yes they will," cried Olodumare.

"Watch," said Elegua. He started eating the mice.

Elegua ate and ate and ate until he had eaten all the mice.

Olodumare, whose fear had turned to fury, demanded, "Who dared do this to me?"

Elegua said nothing. Smiling like a happy cat, he pointed out the hiding places of all the plotting Orishas.

Olodumare immediately punished them in a very terrible and painful manner. After he grew tired of watching them hop and scream, he turned to Elegua and said, "Now, what can I do for you?"

Elegua scuffed the floor and shook his head. "Oh, nothing," he said.

"Nothing!" roared Olodumare. "You saved me and you saved my crown and you want nothing?"

"Well," said Elegua, "maybe just a little thing."

"You can have whatever you want," said Olodumare firmly.

"I want the right to do what I want," said Elegua. He went on with more conviction, ignoring Olodumare's raised eyebrows. "I want the right to do what I will. I want the right to do what I want, whatever that may be."

Olodumare wished it so, and so it was. From that moment on, Elegua is the only god that does as he wills without restraints or limits.



Notes:

Olodumare is unique within the Yoruba pantheon. He never comes down to earth. Few Santeros speak of Olodumare because there are no Babalawos "asentados" in him. No one is "asentado" in Olodumare. He never possesses anyone at a "bembe" or a "golpe de Santo".

He is the ruler of all the other gods, except Elegua, as the Apataki shows. More than the Orishas' ruler, he was their creator as well as the source and origin of men, animals, plants, rivers, oceans and the heavens. He also created the earth, the sun, the moon and the stars.

Before going to bed, a Santero will ask Olodumare to give him the strength to get up the following day by chanting, "olofin ewa wo", "May Olofin help us get up". At dawn, when he awakens and ascertains that he is still among the living, he says, "olodumare e egbeo", "May Olodumare grant us a good day".

Olodumare is old. He is very tired and has been working long and hard on the universe, which is a very large job. He should not be bothered with small things. Santeros ask favors of the Orishas that can directly solve their problems and do not bother Olodumare.

A series of commandments are attributed to Olodumare:

You will not steal.

You will not kill except in self defense or to survive.

You will not eat human flesh.

You will live in peace with your neighbor.

You will not covet your neighbor's possessions.

You will not use my name in vain.

You will honor your mother and your father.

You will not ask for more than I am able to give you and you will be satisfied with your destiny.

You will not fear death or take your own life.

You will respect and obey my laws.

You will teach these commandments to your son.

OBATALA

Saint: Our Lady of Mercy (La Virgen de las Mercedes).
Day of the Week: Sunday. Thursday is also popular.
Colors and Collars (Ilekes):
His color is the purest white. The collar is made up of all white beads. A variation on the collar is 21 white beads followed by a coral bead repeated to make up the desired length.
Sacrificial Animals:
Female goats, white chickens, white canaries. In cases of grave illness, he will accept a white female calf.
Sacrificial Foods: Yam, rice flour paste, corn meal dumplings and black eyed peas. He hates alcoholic beverages. The only spice that Obatala likes is cocoa butter. He drinks chequete. His water comes from the rain. His favorite fruit is the sweet soursop (guanabana).
Herbs: Amansa Guapo, Chamise (wild cane), madonna lilies, calla lilies, cotton, purslane, almonds, white hamelia, white elderberry, white peonies, sweet basil, sweet soursop, wild mint, marjoram, jimson weed, blite, goosefoot, African bayonet, yucca, witch hazel and sweet balm among others. eguere egun, san diego blanco
Ornaments: Obatala's image must be made of white metal or silver. In one hand, he holds a crown. A sun, a moon, four wristlets, a walking stick with a clenched fist, a half moon and a coiled snake; all made out of silver. Two ivory eggs.

Apataki:

Obatala was the only Orisha that knew where Olodumare lived. This gave him a very important position among the other Orishas. At that time, the Orishas had no power of their own. They had to beg all their power from Olodumare..

"Obatala!" the Orishas would call out. "Please have Olodumare straighten out the fight between Oshun and Chango."

And, Obatala would make the long journey to Olodumare's house and relay the message.

"Obatala, a person needs healing and love," said Yemaya. "Please have Olodumare give me the power to heal them."

Back and forth travelled Obatala. He gave messages. He granted favors. He ran himself ragged. He became unhappy. He was not ambitious and he knew that the other Orishas were talking behind his back.

"Obatala thinks he is our leader," the Orishas grumbled. "He gives himself airs just because he knows where Olodumare lives."

"Do you see how he listens to us?" complained another Orisha. "It's as if we were his spoiled children. Who does he think he is?"

So, Obatala took all the Orishas to Olodumare's home.

"Good morning, Obatala," said Olodumare. "What can I do for your friends?"

"I'm tired of running back and forth, with all due respect," said Obatala. "I would like for you to give each of my friends some of your power."

"I don't know," Olodumare hemmed and hawed. "Do you think it's the right thing to do?"

"Just think, great Lord," said Obatala. "If you give them a bit of your power, I would not have to come here and bother you about this and that every day."

"You have a point there, Obatala," said Olodumare. "I'll do it."

So, Olodumare gave each of the Orishas a bit of his power, hoping to get a little peace and quiet. Finally, he got to Obatala.

"To you, Obatala," he said, "I give the right to control the heads of all the human beings."

Since it is the head that makes a human being good or evil, a good son or a bad son, Obatala became the Orisha with the most authority over human beings. More than any of the other Orishas.

"Did you see that?" said the other Orishas. "He brought us here just so that he could maintain his power."

Which just goes to prove that you can't please anyone.

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ORUNMILA (Ifa, Orula)
Saint: St. Francis.

Day of the Week: Thursday. Sunday is also popular.

Colors and Collars (Ilekes): His colors are green and yellow. The collar is made up of alternating green and yellow beads strung to the desired length.
Sacrificial Animals: A goat who has not given birth. Dark chickens.
Sacrificial Foods:
Red snapper and yam puree. Plums are his favorite fruit. He drinks white wine and his water is to come from a spring. His favorite condiment is corojo butter.
Herbs:
Guava, sage, night shade, ginger, dog bane, guanine, myrtle, corn, honeysuckle, night jasmine, pitch apple, guasima, (guazuma guazuma) tree native to Cuba, parami, and corojo among others. san francisco (palo o hierba), don carlos, uvancillo, parami, chinchita
Ornaments:
A hardwood board having various shapes according to the Babalawos's tradition (Ifa's Board). As well as serving as a surface upon which the cowrie shell oracle is cast, the board is also the table upon which many rites are performed. Cowrie shells and oracular collars also belong to Orunmila.

Apataki:

Orunmila does not fear death. One day, a woman came running up to Orunmila. These were the days that the Orishas still walked on the earth. She clutched at his shoulders and cried out, "Iku is going around and around my house."

This was very serious because Iku is the name of death. When Iku wants someone, she walks outside the house looking for a small hole or opening through which she can get in and take away the person inside.

"Iku is at my house," she cried again. "She wants to take my only son, my little boy. Iku sent in a fever and it's going to kill him if I don't do something." She started to drag Orunmila back to her house. "We have to hurry," she said, sobbing. "I have turned my back. Iku may be getting into my house right now to take away my child."

Orunmila smiled down at her and said, "Don't cry, good woman."

"But, what should I do? You have to help me," she said.

Orunmila patted her head to calm her down. "Don't worry," he said. "Go to the market and buy four baskets full of okra and take them back to your house."

"What about my child?" sobbed the frightened woman. "I will go to your house and make sure that Iku does not go in," said Orunmila. "Go to the market in peace."

The woman followed Orunmila's advice. She went to the market and bought three heaping baskets of okra.

When she got home, breathless from having run with the three baskets, she found Orunmila waiting for her.

"Here are the baskets," she said. "What are you going to do with them?"

"Hush," said Orunmila. "I don't have time for explanations."

He took the baskets from the woman, went inside the house and spread the contents of the baskets all over the floors until they were covered by a thick carpet of okra.

He handed the baskets back to the anxious mother. "Don't worry, mother," he said. "Iku won't be able to do your son any harm."

Exhausted by the run from the market and a fear and anxiety that had not let her sleep for days, the mother collapsed on a cot and went to sleep.

As she slept, the child's fever rose. Iku was thinking that it was time to take the child away, so she made the sickness worse. Iku went up to the door and found that it was unlatched and had not closed all the way. Death slipped in through the crack, hurrying to get to the child before the mother awoke.

Iku strode across the room with her usual firm and silent steps. But, when her hard and bony heels stepped on the okra, the fruit burst open. Iku slipped and slid. All the okra on the floor oozed its sap as Iku slipped from one side of the room to the other. The sap was as slippery as soap. Both of death's feet slipped out from under her. Her long arm bones windmilled trying to regain her balance.

"Oh, crap," she cried. And, before she could say anything else, her bony hips hit the floor, shaking loose all her joints.

Iku had to slip and dig through the mess of okra to find one or two little bones that had come off. She made her way very carefully to the door. Outside, Orunmila waited for her.

"How are you this afternoon, Iku?" he asked very politely.

"Curse you, Orunmila," she spat. "I know that this is all your fault. Curse you and that cursed woman in there for getting you to help her."

"Are you coming again?" Orunmila called out as Iku hobbled off down the path.

She turned and gave him an evil look.

"Are you crazy?" she said. "I'm going to wait a long time and make sure that okra is gone."

ELEGUA

Saint: The Holy Child of Atocha.
Day of the Week: Mondays and the third day of each month.
Colors and Collars (Ilekes):
Red and black. His collar is made up of three red beads followed by three black beads. After the three black beads, a red bead alternates with a black bead three times. The sequence is repeated until the desired length is obtained.
Sacrificial Animals:
Small goats, roosters. On rare occasions, monkeys, sheep, bulls, ox and deer. Chickens should not be offered. Elegua is a glutton and will bother and torment the participants at a ceremony until he has had his fill of blood.
Sacrificial Foods:
Smoked fish and smoked jutia. He loves yams. His favorite fruit is sugar cane. Everything should be well spiced with corojo butter. He loves to drink aguardiente and he favors standing water.
Herbs:Abre camino, (Bunchosia media), Cuban spurge, sargasso, wild convulvulus, foxtail, nettles, manyroot, crowfoot, neat's tongue, white pine nuts, jack bean, spiny blite, nightshade, black eyed peas, ateje, (cordia collocea), heliotrope, pigeon peas, mastic tree, camphor leaves, chili peppers, corn stalks, corn leaves, and corn silk, avocado leaves, avocado roots, coconut husk, coconut palm stem, corojo, guava, wild croton, coffee, cowhage, peppergrass, dried rose buds, senna, soapberry tree, bitter bush, and mint among others.
Ornaments:
Elegua is never without his "garabato", the shepherd's hook (sometimes only a crooked stick or club) with which he metes out punishment.

He protects temples, cities and houses. He does this by residing in a helmet-shaped construction made out of stone or cement with cowrie shells for eyes. The small statue is placed next to an entrance way. From this abode, Elegua protects all the residents.

Since he is as playful as a child, tops, marbles and kites hold a special fascination for him.

Apataki:

Orunmila had returned to earth to see how all the Babalawos he had trained in the arts of divination were getting along. He decided to travel from town to town and greet his old students.

"Orunmila, how nice to see you," said one. "I don't have time to talk with you now, I have an appointment."

"Orunmila, how are you?" said another. "If you come back on Wednesday, I'll be able to see you."

"Orunmila, I'm very busy with my clients right now," said a third. "Could you come back in a day or so?"

Orunmila was furious. All his old students were ignoring him. They were too concerned with making money and having a big reputation to honor their old teacher. Orunmila decided to teach them a lesson.

He sent out notice that he would challenge all the Babalawos to a contest to see who cast the most accurate oracles. Orunmila figured that, after they had been shamed by his incomparable skill, all the Babalawos would respect him again.

After the notices had been sent, he went to the nearest town and challenged the Babalawo. Orunmila proved to be a far better reader of the oracles, of course. But, the Babalawo refused to pay Orunmila the agreed upon amount.

Elegua, who is never far away and always likes to play tricks, walked up to Orunmila and the Babalawo.

"Hello, Orunmila, how are you today?" said Elegua.

"I am angry, Elegua." fumed Orunmila.

"And, why is that, dear Orunmila?" Elegua tried to stifle his giggles, since he knew perfectly well what had been going on.

"This cheat of a Babalawo has lost a wager with me," answered Orunmila. "And now, he refuses to pay."

Elegua looked up and down the nervous Babalawo. "Is that right? Are you trying to cheat Orunmila?"

"Well, Lord Elegua..." stammered the Babalawo.

Before he could say another word, Elegua reached out and put his powerful warrior's hand around the Babalawo's neck. He looked at the man straight in the eye.

"Tell me," he said softly, "are you looking for trouble?"

"No," squeaked the Babalawo.

Elegua raised his garabato stick over the Babalawo's head.

"You'd never do anything to make me angry, would you?" growled Elegua.

Another squeak, "No."

"And what are you going to do?" asked Elegua, tapping the unhappy Babalawo on the nose with his garabato stick.

"I'm going to pay Orunmila?" asked the Babalawo.

"What was that?" shouted Elegua, shaking the Babalawo back and forth.

"I'm going to pay Orunmila. I'm going to pay Orunmila." stuttered the Babalawo.

He took his money pouch out of his clothes and handed the whole thing over to Orunmila.

"I thought you wanted to cheat Orunmila, but I see that you are a man who pays his debts when he loses." said Elegua and gave the Babalawo a resounding slap on the back. "I'll leave you alone."

Orunmila and Elegua turned and walked away arm in arm. The Babalawo picked himself up from the road and began dusting off his clothes.

"One more thing," said Elegua turning back to the Babalawo.

"Yes?" The Babalawo cringed.

"Since you have forgotten that the oracles are meant to communicate with the Orishas and not to increase the Babalawo's wealth, I'm prohibiting you from using the Dilogun ever again."

Orunmila and Elegua left the Babalawo wailing after them.

In the next town, the Babalawo saw Elegua and his tick standing next to Orunmila. There was no trouble there.

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CHANGO (Jakuta, Obakoso)

Saint: St. Barbara.
Day of the Week:
Saturday. Friday is also popular. Huge parties are held in Chango's honor on December 4th, St. Barbara's day according to the Catholic calendar.
Colors and Collars (Ilekes):
His colors are red and white. The collar is made up of six red beads followed by six white beads. Then, a red bead alternates with a white bead six times. The sequence is repeated until the desired length is obtained.
Sacrificial Animals:
Roosters. Complicated Ebos may require sheep, small bulls, pigs, goats, deer, rabbits, and oxen. A horse is required to remove a very strong curse or to change an oracle predicting death.
Sacrificial Foods:
Chango is a glutton. He loves huge portions of corn meal and okra. Apples are his favorite fruit, and he likes pitahaya (cactus fruit). All his food should be heavily loaded with corojo butter. Chango drinks red wine in large quantities. His water should come from a pond.
Herbs:arabo rojo, cordoban, vacabuey, siguaraya Banyan tree, kapok tree, poplar, sorghum, clematis, hog plum, Cuban spurge, cashews, ironwood, mugwort, bran, climbing vines, bull's testicles, American spurge, leeks, pitahaya, plantains and bananas, red hamelias, Bermuda grass, royal palm, pine, lignum vitae, amansa guapo, pine nuts and apple trees among others.
Ornaments:
A sword, a knife, a machete, an ax, a dagger and a spear, almost always made out of cedar. Chango is also represented by the image of a warrior holding a large double edged hatchet in one hand and a sword in the other. Both images, the warrior and St. Barbara can be found on the same altar.

Apataki:

Obakoso, in Yoruba, means "the king that did not hang himself." This is the story of how Chango came by that name.

Chango has always been a womanizer. Back in the days when he was a king in Africa, he had two wives. He ruled his women hard and he ruled his kingdom hard, for his temper had not mellowed yet with age.

"You are always yelling and stomping in this house," said Wife Number One.

"That's right," said Wife Number Two, "You never have a kind word for anyone."

"All you care about is your stomach," said Wife Number One.

"And you don't care about us, " said Wife Number Two.

"You never buy us presents," said Wife Number One.

"You never take us anywhere," said Wife Number Two.

"You don't love us," wailed both wives in unison.

"I don't stomp around the house," shouted Chango, stomping around the house. "I was having a pleasant morning, thinking about how nice it would be to have a little wild duck and you two have ruined it."

"Do you hear that?" said Wife Number One to Wife Number Two. "I told you all he cared about was his stomach."

"That's it!" shouted Chango. "I'm getting on my horse and riding into the forest. At least no one will nag me there."

"How long are you going to be gone?" asked Wife Number One.

"I'll be back when I'm good and ready. Don't bother looking for me or coming after me," snarled Chango.

"As if we would," sniffed Wife Number Two.

Chango stormed off through the palace, slamming doors and kicking cats. No one paid him any attention, since this was his normal way of walking through the castle. All his subjects were used to Chango's tantrums.

No one waved as Chango rode off into the forest.

"He's in one of his moods," said the groom to a kitchen maid. "He'll be back in a little while." He rubbed the top of his head. "I hope he comes back in a better mood and does not hit me again."

A week passed and Chango had not come back.

"He's with a new woman," some said.

"He is on adventure," said others.

"He's drunk somewhere," said Wife Number One.

A month passed. Chango's wives would burst out crying without reason. His subjects missed the noise of the slamming doors and the screeching cats.

"Where can he be?" They asked.

"he's been gone way too long," said others.

"We have to go and look for him," said Wife Number Two. "I can't stand this any longer."

A well organized search party was sent out into the forest. It returned a week later.

"Well?" asked Wife Number One.

"Nothing," said the captain of the search party.

Rumors began to fly in the palace.

"Chango went into the forest and hung himself because he was ashamed of what a bad king he was," said some people.

"He tied a rope around his neck and jumped off the top of a large Banyan tree because his mistress abandoned him," said others.

The rumors and the search parties kept coming and going. Chango was not to be found. It had been six months since he had ridden off into the forest.

A new massive search was organized. Everyone in the palace, from the youngest child to the oldest woman, set out into the forest. They looked under every stone. They climbed every tree. Slowly, they made their way into the center of the forest.

Hundreds of voices cried out, "Chango! Where are you Chango?" And the echo came back, "Chango."

Women beat their breasts and smeared their bodies with ashes. "Where are you, Chango?" they shouted. "Tell us if you have hung yourself."

Deep in the deepest part of the forest, up on top of the tallest and oldest banyan tree, Chango woke up from a nap. He heard the hundreds of voices that had awakened him. "Chango, Chango. Where are you, Chango?"

Chango was furious. He hated noise and he specially hated it when it woke him up from a nap.

"What is that racket?" he shouted. "Who are all you people?"

Then, he saw that it was hundreds of his warriors and thousands of his subjects beating the bushes, scaring the animals and destroying the peace and quiet of the forest.

Chango's got angrier, as most people do when they are rudely awakened from a nap. He stood up on the topmost branch of the banyan tree and roared, "I am here! I did not hang myself and I will never hang myself."

The forest was silent. A thousand heads looked up to Chango, standing proudly on top of the banyan tree.

"Come down, Chango, come down!" shouted his subjects.

"Quiet," yelled Chango. He waited for all the murmuring and muttering and crying to die out. "I'm not coming down," he said. "If I come down, if I go back to the palace, my wives," he pointed a stiff and slightly dirty finger at them, " Who are now friends, crying over my loss, will start fighting with each other again. What's worse, they'll start fighting with me again."

"No, we won't," shouted Wife Number One.

"You get yourself right down here," said Wife Number Two.

"Come down, Chango. Come down." shouted all his subjects.

Chango sat on the branch and thought about what he should do. He thought and thought until all the shouting had died down again.

"Are you coming down now?" asked Wife Number One. "It's almost time for dinner," said Wife Number Two.

Chango came to a decision. He stood on the branch atop the banyan tree. He raised his arms and shouted, "My people!"

"Come down, Chango." they all cried.

"Quiet!" shouted Chango. I've come to the conclusion that it is just too much of a bother and a problem and a headache to try to govern all of you."

"Are you calling us a problem?" shrieked Wife Number One.

"Are you saying we're a headache?" screamed Wife Number Two.

"From now on," said Chango, as he dodged a couple of well aimed rocks thrown by his wives, "I will still rule you, but I will rule you from far away." Another rock whizzed by his head. "From very far away. I'm going to rule you from the sky."

Ignoring the shouts and tears of his subjects and the curses and stones from his wives, Chango grabbed a thick chain that led from the top of the banyan tree to the sky. He pulled himself up link by link. When he paused for breath and looked down, his subjects were tiny. He could not distinguish his wives. He looked up. The chain disappeared into the blue sky.

He climbed and he climbed and he climbed until he reached the sky. There, he stayed.

He is now an Orisha among the Orishas. Chango looks at the actions of his people down here on earth and is swift in his punishment of the unjust and of those that do not follow the religion or make the sacrifices.

He hurls down deadly thunderbolts on those people. He makes whole cities explode, or he blows them away in terrible tropical storms. His angry words make whole trees go up in flames and his annoyed snorts create wind storms that sweep all that displeases him away forever.

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OSHUN

Saint: Our Lady of Charity (La Caridad del Cobre), Cuba's patron Saint.
Day of the Week: Saturday. It is the day that lovers must act if they want their love returned.
Colors and Collars (Ilekes):
Coral and amber. The collar is strung with yellow and red beads. Amber and coral are to be used if the Santero has the money. The collar is made up of five amber beads followed by five coral beads. Then, one amber bead alternates with one coral bead five times. The pattern is repeated to obtain the desired length.
Sacrificial Animals:
Neutered or female goat, white chickens, sheep, female calf, female pig, female rabbit. Oshun does not like any other type of bird. Her sacrifices should be made next to rivers or other sources of flowing sweet water.
Sacrificial Foods:
Ochin-Ochin (spinach with shrimp) and pumpkins. Her fruit is the lucuma. All of her food should be liberally garnished with honey. Oshun drinks chamomille tea. The water for the tea, and all water used in a ceremony for Oshun, should be river water.
All offerings to Oshun must be extremely clean and well prepared. She will not enter a dirty house.
Herbs: Rose, sunflowers, Indian lotus, morasun, alambrilla, frescura, cucaracha, hierba nina, arabito, mazorquilla, paraguita morada, hierba fina, ale and female ferns, creeping crowfoot, purslane, oranges and orange leaves, papaya, amber, anise seed and flower, peppergrass, marigold, sow thistle, river weeds, seaweed, white hamelias, plantain, vervain, lantana, purple grapes, maidenhair fern, rosemary, wild lettuce.
Ornaments:
Copper is Oshun's metal and she is sometimes represented by a gourd crowned by festive feathers and filled with copper pennies. She also loves gold and her chief ornaments consist of a golden crown with five points. From the points, hang five rays, five spears or five arrows. Oshun also owns two oars, a bell, and five bracelets. She loves fans made of peacock feathers.


Apataki:

Oshun is now married to Chango. Her first husband was Orunmila.

Oshun was the most breathtaking, absolutely beautiful maiden in the region when she was a young girl. Hundreds of suitors would come seeking to marry her. But, the result would always be the same.

"marry me," gasped or shouted, or whispered the suitor.

And Oshun would turn her back and walk away from the young man. Their last sight of Oshun would be her exquisite hips swinging back and forth, disappearing into her mother's house.

More and more suitors showed up at Oshun's house. They brought mountains of gifts. Their horses trampled the garden. Finally, after seeing her rose bushes eaten by a camel, Oshun's mother rushed out of the house shouting, "That's enough!"

The serenaders stopped playing in mid chord. The duelists dropped their swords.

"You get out of my garden right now!" shouted Oshun's mother, "and don't come this way again."

A brave suitor spoke up. "We're in love with your daughter."

"That's right," said another. "We're here to win her hand."

"You're here making my life miserable," grumbled Oshun's mother. However, she realized that they were right in wooing her daughter, since she was the greatest beauty in the region.

"You're in the right," she told the surprised suitor. "But," she added, raising her voice to be heard by the crowd of suitors. "This madness has got to stop."

"But, we want to marry your daughter," they wailed.

"Quiet!" shouted Oshun's mother. "I have determined a fair way for all of you to compete for my daughter's hand without tearing around in my flowers and vegetables."

The crowd settled down.

"My daughter's name is secret. Only I know it. The one who finds out what her name is will have proven that he has the cunning to win my daughter's hand in marriage. His skill will melt my daughter's heart and will win my approval. He will be her husband."

Orunmila was in the crowd of suitors. He is the god of oracles and can see the future.

"This should be easy," he said to himself, concentrating.

But, no matter what he did or how many times he threw the coconuts or rattled the cowrie shells, Orunmila was unable to find out the name of the most beautiful girl in the region.

Orunmila's other attribute is wisdom. He knew when to call for help. He went out in search of Elegua and found the trickster Orisha. Even though he was only Orunmila's porter, Elegua had taught him all the sciences and secrets of divination.

"Elegua, old friend, you must help me," cried Orunmila, seizing Elegua by the shoulders.

"Do you need money?" asked Elegua.

"I'm in love and I need your help," said Orunmila.

"Even worse," said Elegua.

"Please help me find the name of the most beautiful girl in the region," pleaded Orunmila. "She has won the hearts of all the men, but I want her only for myself. I want her for my wife."

"And what do you need me for?" asked Elegua.

"Only you, Elegua, who is such a wily trickster can find out the secret of her name."

Elegua smiled modestly. "I'll try," he said.

He went directly to Oshun's mother's house. He stayed there for days. Some days, he disguised himself as an old man. Other days, he maintained his surveillance in the aspect of a small child. He spent days acting the fool in the local markets, hoping that a loose word would reveal the secret. Or, he pretended to be asleep in Oshun's doorway, the better to hear what went on inside.

Patience always has its rewards. After many days of patient waiting, Elegua, dozing in the doorway, heard an argument inside.

Oshun's mother, who was always very careful never to say her daughter's name aloud, was very angry. Oshun had knocked over a fresh pot of Omiero while trying out a new and exciting dance step.

"Oshun, look what you've done!" shouted the mother.

Elegua heard. "Oshun, Oshun," he said to himself, "That Oshun is going to cost you a daughter, dear lady. That Oshun will turn a daughter into a wife."

Elegua didn't waste any time in getting back to Orunmila's house.

"Well?" asked Orunmila anxiously.

"This has not been easy," said Elegua.

"What have you found out?"

"I had to spend weeks in the most uncomfortable positions," said Elegua.

"What is her name?"

"Weeks and weeks I spent wearing itchy beards and a small boy's body," said Elegua. "I'm all cramped.

"Please?" pleaded Orunmila.

"Her name is Oshun."

Orunmila ran to Oshun's house. He knocked on the door. she opened it.

"You are going to be my wife because now I know your name," he told her.

"What is this? What is this?" asked the mother, appearing behind Oshun.

"Your name is Oshun," said Orunmila, pointing his finger at her. "And now you are mine."

The two of them were married and were happy for some time but...

Men kept making offers and improper advances to Oshun, even now that she was a married woman. She paid no attention to any of them.

One day, at a party, she glanced at the drummer, who was able to pull heavenly rhythms out of his instrument. Oshun was smitten. She was transfixed by love. She kept looking at the handsome drummer and saying to herself, "He will be mine."

The miraculous drummer was none other than Chango.

"Chango, do you see her?" asked the other Orishas at the party. "Oshun, the most beautiful of all is trying to flirt with you."

"So?" asked Chango, concentrating on a specially difficult passage.

"Make love to her," said the Orishas. "She is beautiful and wants you."

Chango smiled at his friends and replied, "I have more women than I know what to do with. They throw themselves at me."

"Braggart," thought the other Orishas.

"Besides," said Chango, counterpointing his decision with the beat of the drums. "I'm not ready for any more complications right now."

That was what Chango said, but, who can resist Oshun's enchantments? Who can say no to her grace and her flirtatious ways? Who can let her walk away after seeing her hips swaying? Who can refuse the invitation of her moist fleshly lips?

Chango, the great womanizer, the great conqueror could not resist. He became interested in her. Oshun, for her part, became colder as Chango grew warmer. She wanted to teach him a lesson for having slighted her on their first meeting.

It became too much for Chango. He waited for Orunmila to leave his house one day, went to the door and knocked. When Oshun answered, Chango burst in.

"If you don't give me your love," said Chango, grabbing her arms, "I'll go off to war and never return."

Oshun's heart melted. "Don't go," she said. "I'll love you forever."

"Forever?" asked Chango, a little taken aback.

"I'll be with you all your life," said Chango. "I'll be your wife."

On that day, she left Orunmila's house and went to live with Chango. Their love produced the Ibeyi.

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OYA(Yansan)

Saint:
Our Lady of the Presentation of Our Lord. (Santa Virgen de la Candelaria) and St. Theresa.
Day of the Week: Wednesday. Friday is also popular.
Colors and Collars (Ilekes):
Black and white. The collar is made up of nine black beads followed by nine white beads. Then a black bead alternates with a white bead nine times. The pattern is repeated to the desired length. A variant is a collar made of brown beads striped in a variety of colors or lilac or maroon beads striped with colors.
Sacrificial Animals:
Chickens and guinea hens. Some hold that Oya does not eat any four legged animals, but others say that she likes female goats.
Sacrificial Foods:
Ekru-Aro (black-eyed peas unpeeled and cooked in a double boiler. Her favorite fruit is the star apple. Oya loves eggplant. All of her food should be liberally laced with corojo butter. She drinks chequete. Her water should be rain water.
Herbs:
espanta muerto, bonita, varia, palo rayo, cabo de hacha, revienta caballo, Peppercress, marigold, plantain, Jamaican rosewood, mimosa, mugwort, aralia, camphor, breakax, cypress, flamboyan tree.
Ornaments:
Oya wears a crown with nine points from which hang nine charms; a hoe, a pick, a gourd, a lightning bolt, a scythe, a shovel, a rake, an ax, and a mattock.
A spear or a metal rendition of a lightning bolt. A red gourd. The dried seed pod of the flamboyan tree. She also wears nine copper bracelets.


Apataki:

Many years ago, Chango was embroiled in one of his unending wars. He had fought for many days and killed many of his enemies, but, more came than he could kill. He found himself surrounded by his enemies in the middle of the forest.

"Enchile," he shouted, but his famous magical horse had become lost during the fighting. Chango was afraid to yell again. He might be found. He heard his enemies beating the bushes and shaking the trees to find him. If they did, they would kill him.

Without Echinle, Chango had to scurry through gullies and cover himself in river mud to hide from his enemies. Days passed. His implacable enemies did not rest. They did not eat. Chango, tired and hurt, had to keep on running without sleep and without food.

He ran and he ran until he reached the place where Oya lived. It was very deep in the woods. Very few people there knew that Oya was Chango's wife.

Chango came to Oya's house and pounded on the door. She opened it and saw Chango bruised, cut and panting.

"What has happened to you?" cried Oya.

"Oya, they have me surrounded," panted Chango. "They want to hang me from a tree."

"Come in, quick." said Oya, hustling Chango into her house.

"My lightning is not effective against my enemies today," He told Oya.

"That's because you lack the courage to fight," she scolded. Oya gave him water and a bite to eat.

"It's not courage I lack," said Chango. "I'm very tired."

"What do you want from me?" asked Oya.

"If I could escape my enemies' deadly circle, I could rest and sleep." said Chango. "I would recover my strength and destroy my enemies."

"Why is it that you only come to see me when you need help?" asked Oya.

In those ancient times, Chango was used to fighting by himself, but he swallowed his pride.

"Help me, Oya."

Oya thought for a moment and then turned to her husband.

"When night falls," she said. "You will put on one of my dresses. The disguise will let you escape."

"They will still recognize my face," said Chango.

"I will cut off my hair and put it on your head. That will complete the disguise." said Oya. "I will cut off my hair to save my king's life."

They waited until night. Oya lit no fire. She was afraid that the smoke from her chimney would be noticed by Chango's enemies and draw them to the house. When the sun had gone down, but before the moon had risen, Oya cut off her beautiful hair and pinned it to Chango's head. Chango did not know what to do with woman's hair. It fell across his eyes. It tangled in his ears. Oya had him sit down and wove the hair into two long braids.

"Here's a dress," she said. "Put it on quickly, before the moon comes up."

Chango managed to tangle himself up in Oya's dress. "Stand still," she said. "Just stand still and let me dress you."

Finally, Chango was dressed as a passable imitation of Oya. She went to the door and peered out.

"Hurry," she said. "There's no one around."

Chango stepped outside, imitating Oya's dignified walk. He walked until he reached the forest and came across the line of searching men. He greeted his enemies with an imperious tilt of his head and crossed their line. He did not speak to them because his voice is very deep. It would have given him away.

This is the way Chango was able to escape his enemies' trap.

Once he was far away from the forest, he made camp. He rested and slept and ate and regained his strength and his will to fight.

Echinle managed to find his way back to his master. Chango fed him and groomed him.

A few days later, rested and healed, Chango mounted Echinle.

"It is time to kill," said Chango to his horse, and galloped off to find his enemies.

it was dawn when he reached his enemies' camp. He came rushing at them. His fury was terrible to behold. Lightning flashed from his hands. He shouted wild warrior cries. He was still dressed as a woman.

"Oya has turned into Chango," his enemies shouted when they saw the screaming apparition bearing down upon them, long hair flying and a gown flapping in the wind. They panicked.

Behind them, Oya came striding out of her house, fully armed, and began hacking right and left with her ax. Her short hair bristled and shot out electric sparks.

"If Oya helps Chango, there is victory," she shouted, cutting off arms and legs.

Chango and Oya were victorious. Since that battle, Oya has been Chango's inseparable companion in war. With Chango's thunder and Oya's storms, they are invincible and remain so to this day.

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YEMAYA(Olocum, Ocute)

Saint:
Our Lady of Regla. (La Virgen de Regla) The patron Saint of Havana's port.
Day of the Week: Friday. Saturday is also popular.
Colors and Collars (Ilekes):
White or crystal and blue. The collar is made up of seven crystal beads followed by seven blue beads. Then, a crystal bead alternates with a blue bead seven times. The sequence is repeated until the desired length is obtained.
Sacrificial Animals: Lamb, ducks, roosters, turtles goats. Fish and pigeons.
Sacrificial Foods:
Banana chips and pork cracklings washed down with chequete. Black-eyed peas. All her food should be liberally spread with sugar cane molasses. Yemaya's favorite fruit is the watermelon. Her water is seawater.
Herbs:
cucaracha, chinzosa, Yellow mombin, indigo, anamu (garlic herb native to Cuba), water hyacinth, seaweed, purple basil, green pepper, chayote fruit, Bermuda grass, Florida grass, sponges, coralline, majagua linden, salt water rushes.
Ornaments:
Yemaya is summoned at the seashore with a gourd rattle. She always has a fan made of duck feathers.
She owns an anchor, a key, a sun, a half moon, a siren which she holds in her open arms. It holds in its hands a ray, the head of a shovel, a conch shell and a sea shell. All her ornaments are made of lead.


Apataki:

Chango first saw the light of day thanks to Obatala (in a female aspect). However, Obatala soon became indignant with her son's pranks and threw him out of her house. Yemaya took pity on the young Orisha and raised Chango as if he were her own child.

Chango grew up and left home to find his fortune. Chango forgot the details of his upbringing. He had no past. He wandered the world without roots and without goals. Many years passed and many women crossed his path. He had many amorous adventures. So many, that he forgot, in time, Yemaya's face.

Time passed. Chango kept chasing women, fighting and going to parties. It was at one of these parties where Chango met Yemaya again. He was drumming and singing. The people were dancing. When he looked up, he saw Yemaya.

He immediately felt a very strong attraction towards her. His heart opened and he felt an intense tenderness wash over him. He did not remember feeling like that before, so, he confused it with passion and sexual attraction. He was wrong. What he felt was the love of a son for his mother, his second mother, the woman who had brought him up.

He stopped playing the drums, stood up and sidled up to Yemaya.

"Have I met you somewhere before?" he asked.

Yemaya turned her back on him for an answer.

"We could go off and be alone," said Chango. "Just you and I."

His lips brushed her shoulder. She shrugged him off.

Yemaya knew the dissolute life that Chango had been leading. She knew he was a drinker, a brawler and a womanizer. When he attempted to seduce her, his own mother, she decided to teach him a lesson.

"I'm going to teach him respect for women," she said to herself. "I'm also going to teach him a little humility." She turned to Chango. "What did you have in mind?"

Chango jumped at the opening. "Let's go to your house and keep this party going. But, more privately." He did not want to go to his house, since his wives would not exactly approve of a conquest under their own roof.

"Why, I think that's a wonderful idea," purred Yemaya, leading him on. "Come with me."

She walked through the crowd. Chango was close behind.

"What an easy conquest," he said to himself. " What a virile man am I."

They walked through the sleeping town until they came to the seashore. Yemaya went to a small boat tied to a rock. She got in the boat.

"Please undo the lines," she told Chango.

"But, where is your house?" asked Chango. "I thought that you wanted to have a little party."

"My house is over there," said Yemaya, pointing towards the dark line of the horizon. "Come with me."

She stretched out her hand to Chango, who gingerly climbed into the boat. He was rapidly losing his enthusiasm for this romantic adventure. He was afraid of boats and did not like the water because he could not swim. But, it was too late to change his mind. He would appear frightened. He was, but he would admit it to any man, let alone a woman.

Chango tightened his grip on the gunwale as the little boat bobbed over the breakers and headed out to sea. The farther out they went, the more nervous Chango became. The little boat was out of sight of land.

"That's enough," said Chango.

"Isn't the sky lovely?" said Yemaya.

"I said, that's enough," growled Chango, striking the oars from her hands. "Who are you who has the strength to send this boat flying over the waves?"

Yemaya did not answer. She sat in the boat calmly, her hands crossed on her lap.

"Who are you who can live out in the middle of the ocean?" demanded Chango.

Instead of answering him, Yemaya dove over the side and swam straight down to the bottom of the sea.

Chango was petrified. He had no idea how to handle a boat. He didn't know what to do. Clumsily, he picked up an oar, but got it tangled in the lines coiled in the bottom of the boat.

While Chango struggled, Yemaya sent a gigantic wave towards him. It was a wave taller than a mountain. When he saw the wave coming, Chango dropped the oars and covered his head with his hands.

"I can triumph over men," he muttered, curled up in the bottom of the boat. "I can triumph over women. But I can't triumph over this wave." He took a peek over the side. A blue wall of water was bearing down upon him. He tried to make himself small. He tried to make himself disappear.

The giant wave came crashing down on him. It washed him off the boat and sent him tumbling and bubbling to the bottom of the sea. It was quiet and blue. Chango was afraid.

He fought his way back to the surface and felt immensely grateful to Olodumare when he was able to pull in a lung full of air. The boat was floating right next to him. He scrambled into it. He did not sink and drown.

Yemaya came gliding on the waves, her feet barely touching the water.

"I think you are going to have to save me," said Chango through chattering teeth.

"I will save you upon one condition." said Yemaya. "Name your condition."

"You must respect your mother," said Yemaya.

"My mother!" blustered Chango. "My mother abandoned me when I was a baby."

At that instant, Obatala, Chango's mother, who had been magically aware of the lesson being given to her son by Yemaya, appeared in the boat.

"You have to respect Yemaya," said Obatala. "She is your mother."

"You are my mother," he yelled. "You abandoned me when I was a child. You kicked me out of your house."

"I brought you into the world," said Obatala. "But it was up to another to bring you up."

"You forget women too easily, Chango," said Yemaya. "You have hated your mother, but you have forgotten your second mother."

"You have forgotten that she is your mother, as well as I," said Obatala. "I brought you into this world and she raised you."

"You have two mothers, Chango." said Yemaya. "you have two mothers in a world where many people have none."

A stiff breeze sprang up and washed Chango clean of the hatred he had carried for many years.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I'm sorry I hated you, Obatala. I'm sorry I forgot you, Yemaya." He sighed. "It is indeed wonderful to have two mothers."

From that time on, he began to respect women more. But, he is still a womanizer.

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BABALU-AYE (Chopono, Taita Cañeme)

Saint: St. Lazarus.
Day of the Week: Sunday. Wednesday is also popular.
Colors and Collars (Ilekes):
White with blue streaks. The collar is made up of white beads with blue streaks strung out to the desired length.
Sacrificial Animals:
Gelded goat, spotted rooster. Also, chickens, guinea hens, snakes, quail and wild pigs.
Sacrificial Foods:
Fermented corn meal. Babalu-Aye loves to drink aguardiente and to smoke good cigars. Coconut butter (ori) is his favorite condiment. His water should come from a pond.
Babalu-Aye is an Orisha with simple tastes and will accept with a piece of stale bread and a glass of milk or water, dry wine and a few peanuts if the petitioner cannot afford anything better.
Herbs:
jayabico, ateje, hierba vieja, hierba nina, tengue tengue, angariya, Guava, balsam apple, thistles, all types of beans and seeds, peanuts, guaguasi (Loetia Apelata) tree native to Cuba, Virginia creeper, pigeon peas, agave, heliotrope, caroba, bastard feverfew, basil, sage, pine nut, caisimon (Pothomorphe peltata L. Mig.) medicinal plant native to Cuba, yaya lancewood, cowhage, broom, rose of Jericho, datura, cocillana bark, sabicu, olive, sesame, cactus pear, and butterfly jasmine among others.
Ornaments:
Babalu-Aye always has his crutches and his two faithful little dogs. On his altar there is always a charara, a broom made from the fruit clusters of the palmetto, used to sweep away evil influences.

Jute sacks also belong to him. Devotees who have been cured due to his intervention wear clothing made from jute in gratitude.

Apataki:

A long time ago, Olodumare, the Supreme Being, the Creator of all the Orishas, decided to give his children a gift. He called them all together.

"My children," he told them. "It is time for you to take over your responsibilities in this world."

There were a few polite coughs. There were also a few giggles.

"I have decided to share my powers with you," continued Olodumare, after staring down the gigglers. "I will give you of my ashe so that you may fulfill your destinies as best you are able."

All the Orishas got very excited. This was the big moment when their influence among mankind was going to be determined. They shuffled and sorted themselves out in a line.

"Oshun," said Olodumare. "To you I give the rivers."

"Thank you, Father," said Oshun.

"Chango, to you I give thunder."

"Thank you, Father," said Chango.

"Oya, to you I give the wind and the shooting stars," said Olodumare. "To you, Ogun, I give all the metals of the earth. Orunmila, I give you the power of divination so that you may guide the destiny of mankind. Elegua, Elegua, quit talking and listen to me! Elegua, to you I entrust all paths, ways and entrances and, since you love to talk so much, I'll make you the messenger of the Orishas."

Then, came Babalu-Aye's turn.

"Is there a particular boon you would like me to bestow upon you, Babalu-Aye?' asked Olodumare.

Back the, Babalu-Aye was very good looking and very young. His primary concern was his ability to make love to women; as many of them as he could.

"I want you to give me the power to be every woman's lover," said Babalu-Aye. "I want to dally with the ladies. I want them to love me."

Olodumare frowned at such a frivolous request. "It is granted," he said. "But I want you to have one condition so that you may still have to exercise some control over your desires. On every Thursday of Easter Week, you are forbidden to have contact with a woman."

"Thank you, Father," said Babalu-Aye. "I will do as you say."

For a long time, Babalu-Aye respected Olodumare's prohibition. Every Easter Week, he would go into his house and stay away from women. But, one day, on an Easter Week, he was working on his garden. He looked up and saw the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

"Hello," he said. "Would you like to see my beautiful garden?"

Every day, he talked to her. Then, he held her hand. Then, on Ash Wednesday, they kissed. She came by on Thursday and Baballu-Aye touched her, kissed her, and took her to his bed.

The next morning, when he woke up, he found his whole body covered with large, painful sores.

"What is wrong with you?" screamed the young lady, leaping out of bed.

"It's Olodumare's punishment." Babalu-Aye was afraid. "It's his punishment because I did not follow his law."

"You're disgusting," cried the young lady, and she ran out of the house.

For many days, Babalu-Aye stayed home and tried herbal baths, prayers and sacrifices. Nothing worked. Leprosy was consuming his body. Finally he dragged himself on his stumps to Olodumare's house. He knocked at Olodumare's door.

"What is that smell?" said Olodumare as he opened the door.

"It is I, Babalu-Aye. I need your help."

"I seem to remember someone by that name," said Olodumare. "But, he was young and handsome and knew how to keep his promises."

"Please, Olodumare," begged Babalu-Aye. "Please help me. I'm sorry I broke your commandment."

"I'm sorry," said Olodumare. "But I don't speak to people who do not keep their word."

He slammed the door on Babalu-Aye's face. And, right there, on the street in front of Olodumare's house, Babalu-Aye died with horrible convulsions and sufferings. Babalu-Aye's death was mourned by all the women in the world. They decided to send a petition to Oshun, the Orisha of love. The women were graciously received at Oshun's house.

"What may I do for you?" asked Oshun.

"Dearest Lady, we ask you to bring Babalu-Aye back to life." they cried. "The women of the world are saddened at the horrible death of one who loved them so."

Oshun was moved by their prayers.

"Ladies," she said. "I will go to Olodumare's house and try to bring your lover back to you."

That evening, Oshun went to Olodumare's house. She found a side door open and went in without anyone seeing her. She went from room to room, sprinkling her oñi everywhere. Oshun's oñi is her power to awaken uncontrollable passion in men.

Olodumare, sitting quietly and reading the paper, began to shift and wiggle. He threw the paper down and ran to his wardrobe closet. He felt great and he wanted to look great. He put on his best clothes and put perfumed pomade on what was left of his hair. He thought about old lovers who he had not seen in years and wondered what had become of them. All the passions that had lain dormant for ages of the world awoke. He looked at himself in the mirror.

"I haven't felt this good in a very long time. I haven't thought about sex in an even longer time." he said to himself.

Wise as he is, Olodumare knew that he was under the spell of Oshun's oñi.

"Oshun," he laughed. "Are you in here?"

"Here I am, Olodumare."

"Thank you," he said. "Thank you for making me feel wonderful."

"You see," said Oshun. "It's not such a bad thing to feel good. You punished Babalu-Aye for this very thing."

"Give me some more of your oñi," said Olodumare. "I feel young again."

"only if you forgive Babalu-Aye's indiscretion," said Oshun. "If you bring him back to life, I will give you my oñi."

Olodumare had already decided to revive Babalu-Aye, since he had considered his death as a temporary punishment anyway.

"Granted," said Olodumare. "Babalu-Aye will live again."

Oshun gave her oñi to Olodumare and Olodumare gave life to Babalu-Aye. But, Babalu-Aye's sores never went away.

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OGUN

Saint: St. Peter. Sometimes Ogun is also represented as the Archangel Michael.
Day of the Week: Tuesday.
Colors and Collars (Ilekes):
Green and black. Seven green beads followed by seven black beads. Then, a green bead alternates with a black bead seven times. The pattern is repeated until the desired length is obtained.
Sacrificial Animals: Young bulls, roosters (especially white and red roosters). All other quadrupeds.
Sacrificial Foods:
Smoked fish and smoked jutia. Yam with blood. The sapodilla is his favorite fruit. All his food should be heavily smeared with corojo butter. Ogun drinks aguardiente. His water should come from a standing pond.
Herbs:
palo vencedor, rabo de piedra, palo bomba, escandon, pincha de gato, Eucalyptus, sasparilla, boneset, blessed thistle, restharrow, senna, datura, carpenter ants, guao (comocladia dentada), tree native to Cuba, sweet soursop, guamao (Lonchocarpus sericeus), Cuban timber tree, red pepper, black pepper, mastic tree, castor oil plant, oak leaves, and indigo plant among others.
Ornaments:
Ogun's clothing is a tiger skin. He own an iron pot on three stubby legs and nine or twenty-one pieces of iron that symbolize all the tools used in agriculture and blacksmithing. The most common tools are: an arrow, an anvil, a pickaxe, a hatchet, a machete, a hammer, and a key. Ogun's tools are always well greased with corojo butter.

Apataki:

For as long as anyone can remember, for as long as there is memory, Ogun and Chango have been enemies. The way it is told by some, their hatred goes back to their childhood.

It is said that Ogun had sex with his mother. The incestuous relationship took the mother's affections away from the father. Chango, Ogun's younger brother, grew up and found out about his brother's illicit love. He decided to take vengeance.

Ogun and Oya were lovers. Chango waited and watched Ogun's house until he saw that he left Oya alone. He went to the door, and, being a strong and fierce warrior, had no difficulty knocking it down.

He went in, grabbed Oya and ignored her protests.

"You are coming with me now," he told her. "You are going to be my woman."

When Ogun returned, he searched the house for Oya. The neighbors told him what had happened. Furious, Ogun ran to Chango's house.

Chango had made love to Oya. His sexual prowess had made her fall madly in love with him.

Ogun hammered on Chango's door. Chango stuck his head out a window.

"What do you want?" shouted Chango.

"I want my woman back," yelled Ogun.

"Well, let's see if she wants to go back with you," said Chango.

Oya leaned out the window.

"What do you want, little man?" she shouted. "Go back home, I'm quite happy here."

Ogun's face got very red. His throat swelled like a bull's.

"He has put a spell on you," he shouted. "I don't care if he is the god of thunder. I'm going to make you mine again and destroy him."

Oya's and Chango's laughter was his answer.

Ogun and Chango have been mortal enemies ever since.

That's one version, but, another story tells of the time when Ogun and Chango met each other in the forest.

When he saw Chango, Ogun pounded his chest.

"Chango, I challenge you." He drove his huge spear into the earth between Chango's legs. "We haven't fought each other in a long time. It's time to show you that I'm the better warrior," bragged Ogun.

"When do you want to fight?" asked Chango without raising his voice.

"I want to fight right now!" roared Ogun.

"I agree with you," said Chango. "I want to fight you right now too."

With a yell, Ogun grabbed his spear and rushed at Chango.

"Wait, wait," said Chango. "Let's not rush matters. We have the rest of our lives in which to fight each other. Let's do this right."

"What do you mean?" growled Ogun.

"Let's have a drink first," said Chango. "Aren't you thirsty?" And, he took a large gulp from his gourd full of aguardiente.

"Let me have some," said Ogun. "Watching you drink makes me thirsty."

Chango handed him the gourd. "Have a good drink of aguardiente. I'll wait. We have all day to fight."

Chango knew that Ogun loved strong drink. He also knew that Ogun had no capacity for alcohol. After just a couple of gulps from the gourd, Ogun was weaving and laughing at nothing.

Ogun had two or three more slugs from the gourd. They went right to his head. His eyes got very red, so did his nose and ears.

"I'm ready to fight now." he yelled at Chango. "Get ready, I'm going to destroy you."

Of course, Ogun could do nothing of the kind, since he was now blind drunk. He whirled his arms, trying to hit Chango. Chango picked him up and threw him on the ground. Ogun tried to get up, but Chango jumped up and down on his chest, picked him up by his feet and swung his head against a tree. Ogun's head made a very unpleasant sound as it hit the tree trunk.

Chango left Ogun lying on the ground. The ants went into Ogun's nose and into his ears.

An hour later, Ogun came to. His head hurt terribly. His whole body was covered with insect bites and, what's worse, he felt like a complete fool for allowing Chango to play a dirty trick on him. He go to his feet slowly, blowing the ants out of his nose. He held on to the tree trunk for support.

"I will never forgive you," he croaked, shaking his fist in the direction of Chango's house. "I will never forgive this."

And, he didn't. Ogun never forgave Chango. They have been enemies ever since.

Attached Images

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OSAIN

Saint: St. John (San Jose) in the city and with St. Ambrose in the countryside.
Day of the Week: Sunday.
Colors and Collars (Ilekes): White, red and yellow. The collar is made up of one white bead followed by nine red beads and eight yellow beads. The pattern is repeated until the desired length is obtained.
Sacrificial Animals:
Goats and red roosters, turtles, turkeys, guinea hens, quail, black male doves, owls, monkeys. All reptiles, especially the crocodile. Osain will receive the feathers and the blood of pheasants, the heart of mockingbirds and the feathers and blood of hummingbirds. He also likes peacock feathers.
Sacrificial Foods:
The sap of trees and herbs. seeds, flowers and grains. Tobacco. He often appears to people with insomnia and asks them for a light. He drinks aguardiente.
Herbs: All medicinal and magical herbs belong to Osain.
Ornaments: Osain is never without his pipe. His Otanes and cowrie shells are kept in a gourd. The drums used in Santeria ceremonies are consecrated to him.

Apataki:

As his knowledge of herbal magic grew, Osain thought himself to be Orunmila's superior. Envy made his thoughts black.

"If I get rid of Orunmila," he muttered to himself. "I will have his powers and gifts as well as my own. I will be the most powerful Orisha."

Osain began to cast powerful spells against Orunmila.

All Orunmila knew was that spells and evil influences were weaving a black web around his person. He began to have slight accidents and his health began to suffer. He attempted to use his oracular powers to find out who wished him harm, but Osain had been very careful to hide the source of his attack. Finally, Orunmila went to Chango's house.

"You must help me, Chango," said Orunmila. "My powers are not enough to see who is trying to harm me." "I will join my vision to yours and we're sure to discover who your enemy is." said Chango.

Chango is a great diviner in his own right. He is not as gifted as Orunmila, but, when he added his sight to Orunmila's, a wall opened and they both saw Osain's face. Not only that, they saw Osain busily brewing his spells against Orunmila.

Chango was furious. He gathered his warrior aspects around himself.

"Don't worry any more. I will rid you of that evil Orisha that is out to harm you." said Chango.

He stalked off to find Osain. First, he stopped off at Oya's house, since he brought her along whenever he prepared for war. He explained the situation to her.

"I not only want to punish him" he told her. "I want to take all his powers and knowledge away."

"I agree. We have to make him harmless." said Oya.

"Not only that," said Chango. "We will then have all his knowledge to ourselves."

Oya walks faster than Chango. She arrived at Osain's house first. She knocked at his door.

"What do you want?" asked Osain. A great cloud of herbal vapors swirled around him.

"I was just passing by and I saw all the smoke," said Oya. "I want to offer you a little aguardiente, since you seem to be working so hard."

Osain took the gourd from her hands and took a good long drink.

"Thank you, Oya," he said. "But now, I have to keep working."

"Have another little drink," she said, offering her gourd again. "It's not good to work all day."

"That's true. It affects the health." Osain took another drink.

The aguardiente was already having an effect on him, so he didn't say anything when Oya walked into his house.

"I think I'll have another little drink." said Osain.

"Drink up. I have plenty. " said Oya.

Osain drank and drank until he had to lay down. He fell asleep. Oya put her hands on his head and began to take his secrets. But, she had underestimated Osain's capacity for drink. He woke up and grabbed her wrists.

"So, that's why you came," he shouted. "You wanted to steal my secrets."

Oya broke away and ran out into the garden with Osain close behind her.

"You can't get away. I'm going to kill you," he shouted.

He leaped and landed on Oya's back. Oya bit and clawed him. They rolled over and over among the herbs. "Chango! Chango, help me!" screamed Oya.

Chango heard her screams. He ran around the house and jumped over the garden wall.

"You are brave enough to fight a woman," yelled Chango. "Let's see if you are brave enough to fight a warrior."

He threw a thunderbolt that tore off Osain's left arm. Holding the spurting stump, Osain ran back to his cauldrons and grabbed a gourd that held his most potent and dangerous magical herbs. Before he could throw it, Chango let loose with another thunderbolt meant to strike Osain blind. Osain ducked his head just in time. It only tore off his ear, leaving a little nub. The pain made him drop the gourd. It shattered on the ground.

"I'm going to take chunks off you until there is nothing left." growled Chango.

He would have whittled Osain down to nothing but, he only go to strike him a couple of times. As Chango was winding up more thunderbolts, Ogun, that terrible warrior and Chango's sworn enemy, appeared. Ogun changed himself into a lightning rod and prevented any more thunderbolts from reaching Osain.

Since that fight, Osain has been a small shrivelled Orisha. He only has one arm and one leg and a very small nub of an ear. He gets around by giving little hops, like a bird.

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