Obatalá:
Obatalá (aka Obtala) is identified with the Virgin
Mary as "Our Lady of Mercy", in Santería. In the Ifá
Creation myth, Obatala came down from Heaven to the Earth
with a sea-shell, guinea hen, sand and ikin. Obatalá poured
the sand on the waters, and dropped the hen on the earth.
The hen scratched the sand and created earth's first land
mass.
Obatalá embodies the value of ethics and symbolizes reason.
Ochosi:
Ochosi is a Santería (Macumba) hunter Orisha.
During any Santería (Macumba) sacrifice to other Orishas;
Ellegguá, Osún,and Ochosi must be sacrificed
to also. He requires a sacrifice of two pigeons.
Odin:
Odin is the Scandinavian "Father of the Gods", as well
as the God of death, poetry, wisdom, magick and war.
His parents are the primordial pair of giants, Bor and
Bestla. With his brothers, Ve and Vili; he created heaven,
earth, and the twelve realms from the slain body of
the primeval being Ymir. In Scandinavian mythology,
they also created the first human beings, Ask and Embla.
Odin is the father of Balder, Hod, and Hermod, (by Frigg),
and Thor (by the Goddess Jord). Odin hung for nine days,
on the world tree Yggdrasil; speared by his own spear,
("Gungnir"), and where he learned nine songs, and eighteen
runes.Odin is represented as having one eye. (He traded
his other for a drink from the Well of Wisdom, which is
how he gained incredible knowledge.) Odin's magickal items
are his spear "Gungnir", a wand and an arm-ring. Odin is
invoked for wisdom, occult knowledge and power, war,
invisibility, guile, curses, revenge and healing.
Oggún:
Oggún (aka Ogún, Ogu, Oggzn Inquices: Pungo Dibudi,Zumbarandá,
Roxo Mucumbe, Inôssi Mucumbe, Ncôsse) is the Santería
(Macumba) warrior Orisha of ironworking. (In west Africa,
blacksmithing is a sacred vocation.) During any Santería
(Macumba) sacrifice to other Orishas; Ellegguá, Osún,and
Ochosi must be sacrificed to also. The sacrifice to Oggún is a
small chicken. Oggún is identified with St. Peter, and
symbolizes human will.
Ogma:
Ogma is the Celtic God of eloquence, inspiration
and language. He is the inventor of the Ogham
druidic alphabet. He is portrayed as an old man
with gold chains running from his tongue to those
around him.
Olodumare:
Olodumare (aka Inquices: Nsambi, Sambia, Sambi,
Nzambi, Insambi, Sambia Mpungu, Mpungu Sambia,
Asambia,Zumbá, Zambi,Zambiampongo) is the God
of Heavens in the Yoruba and Kongo pantheons.
Orisha:
Orisha (aka Orisa) is a word to denote the named
aspects of God in the Yoruba pantheon. Each Orisha has
its own personality and myth; and may or may not be
equivalent in the other forms of the religion.
Orisha also represent ancestors, and values and are
identified with Saints or others of the Catholic religion.
Each Orisha also represents a particular law, such as
Oshun's law to "Love yourself", or Shangó's "Use your head".
Orůnmila
Orůnmila, (aka Orula) is identified with
St. Francis of Assisi in Santería.
Osiris:
Osiris is the Egyptian God of re-birth, the moon, corn and
other vegetation and the dead. Osiris brings vegetative
growth, and is anually resurrected by his wife, Isis.
Osún:
Osún (aka Ikolé, Oshún, Ochun, Inquices: Chola Wengue,
Choya Wengue, Mama Chola,
Shola, Chola Anguenge, Mpungu Mama Wánga, Kissimbé, Samba)
is the Santería (Macumba) Orisha of Love and Sensuality as
well as the patroness of the blood-stream and of rivers.
As Ikolé, she the messenger to Olodumare, the God of the
heavens.
She is depicted as an old woman whom is wise but sad at
her loss of beauty. Alternately she may be shown as tall,
light brown-skinned woman who has the sensuality of a
prostitute. Osún wears seven brass bracelets, and wears
a mirror at her belt to admire herself.
Her companions are a peacock and a cricket. Osún is
identified with the Virgin Mary as "Our Lady of Charity"
and symbolizes human self-esteem.
She carries river water in her pot. This is an Orisha of
opposites, and powerful spells are worked in Santería
(Macumba) through her.
Osún embodies the value of connectiveness.
The sacrifice to Osún is a small chicken.
Oya:
Oya is the female Warrior Orisha of the Wind, to the
Santería (Macumba). She is wedded to Shangó and has nine
children. She is often depicted kneeling and suckling a
child. Tall and regal, Oya is invoked for power, action
and life. Oya embodies the value of change.
