Oshun

Oshun

Oshun is the Orisha of the sweet waters, and her home is the river and all the world’s sweet waters. She is the youngest of all the Orishas, created by Olodumare almost as an afterthought and given the task of bringing joy to the world—everything that makes life truly worth living.

As patron of the arts, Oshun represents beauty in all its forms. Her physical beauty is matched only by the beauty of her soul. She constantly strives to live up to her own high standards and expects the same of her children and devotees. The mirror she carries is not a symbol of vanity, but a tool for self-reflection—to see herself as she truly is.

Alongside her sweet and generous nature, Oshun can also be demanding and, at times, even harsh. When offended by lies or wrongdoing, she may lash out and hold onto grievances until justice is restored. Yet she is also deeply self-sacrificing and courageous.

When all the Orishas tried and failed to persuade Olodumare (God) to bring rain after they had ushered in a dry period, it was ultimately Oshun who took action. She flew to the heavens in the form of a peacock, one of her avatars. As she neared the sun, her wings were scorched and she transformed into a vulture—sacrificing her beauty in the process. Her bravery and sacrifice moved Olodumare to send rain, and from that moment on, Oshun was known as the one who saved the world.

Like all orishas, Oshun is multidimensional. My road of Oshun is Okuara. In this road, Oshun likes to go out hunting with Ochosi, Orisha of the hunt, and can kill and skin an animal as well as well as Ochosi. For all her femininity, Oshun has no on need to depend on or bow down to any man.   

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