Oshún

The story of Oshún: who she is, her characteristics, her paths, works or ebbó, and patakíes

Who is Oshún?

Oshún is a deity of the Yoruba religion, which originated in West Africa and has spread across several countries of the Americas, such as Cuba, Brazil and Venezuela. In the Yoruba religion, Oshún is the goddess of love, beauty, fertility, wealth and the rivers. She is associated with gold, mirrors, jewels, honey and fresh water. Oshún is one of the most popular and venerated divinities within the Yoruba religion and is regarded as a loving mother — bittersweet at times — and a protector of her devotees.

Oshún Yeyé no gbogbo, Ibú layé, nibú gbogbo om oricha leuwe ni tosi gbo. Obukan ni omi didum nitosi oni alafiatí ayó omibirí kue lu re che wiwote re ma ru achó gele nitosi go ayaba ewa kuelé re reri ati ayo sugbobe oí cho nitoriti: Ko mou nogbatí wa ebimú obirín ikú ikó i Olofín aduké.

Translation:

My mother, owner of the river, owner of the world where all the children of the saint go to bathe and receive the blessing of the fresh water, to have happiness, well-being and joy; woman with her skirt and her five kerchiefs for dancing, beautiful queen, with your laughter and joy you give us love. But we must be cautious when you are angry, woman of the dead, messenger of Olofi — thank you for your ashé.

History

Oshún, the most beautiful of all, loved to wander through the wilderness. She sang and played with the animals, for she tamed the wild beasts and not even the scorpion would sting her. One day Oggún, the tireless blacksmith who lives in the wilds, saw her pass by and felt his heart race. Impetuous and brutal, he ran after her, determined to possess her. Oshún, who was in love with Shangó, fled in fright. Agile as the deer, in her wild flight she crossed the green watercress fields of Orisha Oko, the one who ensures the fertility of the land. But Oggún, inflamed and violent, was about to catch her. Then, in desperation, Oshún threw herself into the river.

Dragged along by the whirl of the current, she reached the river mouth, where she met the powerful Yemayá, mother of all the Orishas. Moved to pity, Yemayá took her under her protection and gave her the river to live in. To cheer her, she covered her with jewels, corals and endless riches. That is why Oshún lives in the river and loves Yemayá so dearly. She appears as a beautiful, charming mulata with smooth, soft hair, a fine dancer, fond of festivities and eternally joyful, with the persistent tinkling of her bracelets and little bells.

She is capable of both settling and provoking quarrels between Orishas and men. Eternally in love with Shangó. Orisha of the river that bears her name, her principal worship is in Oshogbo and Ekití. Owner of femininity and of the river. She is the symbol of feminine coquetry, grace and sexuality. Wife of Shangó and close friend of Elegguá, who protects her. She always accompanies Yemayá. She lives in the river and assists women in pregnancy and childbirth. She is depicted as a beautiful, charming mulata, a fine dancer, fond of festivities and eternally joyful, with the persistent tinkling of her little bells. She is capable of provoking quarrels between Orishas and men.

Characteristics of Oshún

• Color: Yellow
• Day: Saturday
• Parents: Olofi and Mboyá Colé. Raised by Yemayá, Oshún is an Orisha whose symbol is a five-pointed crown.
• She is associated with the numbers 5, 10, 15 and 25.
• Greeting: See Prayers. YALODDE YEYÉ KARI or OSHUN IYA MILE ODO YALODDE.

Other names of Oshún

• Iyami Aje: the celestial mother of great magical powers.
• Ochún: this is how she is called in Cuba, where she is syncretized with Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre.
• Iyalorde: she is also known by this name.
• Yeye Kari or Yeye Moro: small but proud, cheerful and flirtatious; in Cuba she is also known by this name.
• Erzili Freda: this is her name in Haiti.
• Osún Dodowa: the name by which she is known in Iyesá lands.
• Awoyemi or Omoyumi Naki: this is what she is called in Ife, Nigeria.
• Virgin of Candelaria: this is how she is known in Brazil.
• Enmare: «the person who was set on the path of goodness,» another name given to Ochún in Nigeria.

The animals she eats are

• White hen
• She-goat, ram
• Calf
• Young sow
• Roosters
• Guinea hen
• Turtle
• Ducks
• Deer (from when she was the lover of Ochosi)
• Quails (in the path of Ochún Ibú Akuaro)
• Peacocks
• Canaries and caimans.

Offerings

Castrated goat, hen, pigeon, freshwater turtle, pheasant, water hen, canary, owl, guinea fowl, deer (female), quail, caiman, peacock, goose, red snapper, mullet, eel, mapo, dajao, cativo, guajacone, biajaca, guabina, river shrimp, prawns, cold cornbread, bean rapuzo, mashed yam with yanrin greens, guinea-corn beer, cornmeal pudding with yanrin, gofio brittle with honey and candies, sweet Chinese oranges, lettuce, escarole, chard, chayote, tamales, yellow rice and alelé with saffron, coconut sweets and all kinds of desserts, oshinshin (a liturgical dish offered to her at the river before the initiation of an iyawó). Her food is seasoned with almonds, watercress, canistel, water flower, spinach, parsley and sweet potato. The she-goat is offered to Ochún only in very special circumstances, for a specific purpose.

The herbs offered to her include

Orasún, fern (female and male), botón de oro, orange leaves, alambrilla ambarina, frescura, papaya, amber or ambarina, anise (in grain and in flower), cucaracha, garden cress, hierba de la niña, four o’clock flower, cerraja, arabito, river flax, sea flax, white canutillo, plantain herb, achivata, verbena, mazorquilla, feligrama, purple grape, maidenhair fern, purple paragüita, romerillo, diez del día, fine grass, lechuguilla, roses (all of them), amor seco, arabo, indigo, árbol cuerno, yellow aroma, yellow ateje, coastal hazel, carey vine, pendola vine, wild cinnamon, sweet hemp, sweet potato, bruja, pumpkin, carey, copetuda, espigelis, celosa cimarrona, white coralillo, well maidenhair, chayote, spinach, extraña rosa, frailecillo de monte, sunflower, grénguere, gooseberry, red guacamaya, coastal guamá, hoja menuda, soapberry, river slime, wild plantain herb, yellow jía, lettuce, legaña de aura, malvaté, malvira, mangrove, mango, chamomile, cashew, Castile melon, mije, myrtle, orange, native licorice, palo mulato, papo, papito, zapatico de la reina, peralejo del monte, peregrina, parsley, parlor pineapple, pinga hermosa, rose apple, sangre de doncella or palo señorita, soplillo, titomia, yellow vanilla, pink vanilla, vetiver, caiman herb, lemon verbena, maravedí herb, mulata herb, fern, botón de oro, santo amarillo, scented geranium, marilope, panetela.

Syncretism

Oshún is an Afro-American deity who is syncretized with Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre in Cuba, the Virgin of Candelaria in Brazil, and Our Lady of Mercy in other Latin American countries. She is also associated with Venus, the goddess of love and beauty in Roman mythology, and with the goddess of the Oshún River in the Yoruba religion of West Africa. In the Yoruba religion, Oshún is the deity of the river, beauty, love, fertility and wealth.

Elekes (the necklaces)

They carry yellow or amber beads. The strands made only of coral belong to both Oshún and Yemayá.

Sopera

A multicolored sopera (lidded tureen) in which yellow predominates, filled with river water and 5 stones, though it may also be an earthenware jar. The stones must be gathered at dawn from the bottom of a river, and they are kept in clay jars. Inside the sopera are also placed two bronze oars, the cone hoop, the five odanes (an adornment given to Oshún) and, at times, her bracelets.

Offerings

She may be offered gofio brittle with honey, cane syrup and candies; sweet Chinese oranges; lettuce, escarole, chard, chayote; tamales; yellow rice and cornmeal; ekó, ekrú and ololé with saffron; coconut sweets and all kinds of desserts; ochinchin, a liturgical dish offered to her at the river before the initiation of an iyawó; mullet, eels, mapos, dajaos, catibos, guajacones, biajacas, guabinas, river shrimp (all these river fish and shellfish, smoked, are set before her as ashé). Her food is seasoned with almonds, the herbs of the Goddess and all kinds of condiments.

Attributes

Fans of sandalwood or peacock feathers, little fish, shrimp, shells, boats, mirrors, jewels, marine corals, sheets, embroidered cloths and every object belonging to a woman’s dressing table; rattles, maracas, a bell, kerchiefs and irukes.

Tools

Five bracelets, 5 spears, a half moon, 2 oars, a star, a sun and other pieces — up to 25, set into a crown when the Orisha claims it in due time — and from 1 to 5 small bells. Depending on her path, her attributes may change.

Illnesses

Ailments of the lower abdomen and the genitals, the blood, the liver, and all kinds of hemorrhages.

Characteristics of her children

Charming and fond of festivities, they are, deep down, strong-willed and driven by a great desire for social advancement. They love jewels, perfumes and fine clothes. They are sensual, yet they strive not to clash with public opinion, to which they attach great importance. Oshún is the goddess of love and also the patroness of illicit loves. Believers come to her for help with any matter of the heart. She likewise protects difficult or troubled pregnancies and the entire abdominal area in general.

Prayers

Oshún: OSHÚN MORI LELLEO OBINI ORO ABEBE ORO OZÚN ONI COLALEGUE ILLAMI COLLASOUSUN ALLE CARI PACHANGARA MAMA YEYE GUAÑASI EGALE GUASI ORI OCHÁ OBINI ORO AÑA AYUBA MAFEREFÚN.

Songs

AKETE MBE OCHUN MAILÉ IYÁ MA DE OLODDUMARE AKETE MBE OCHUN MAILÉ AKETE MBE OCHUN

TRANSLATION:

The throne of springtime is always upon the earth. Mother, you are in constant communion with the supreme God. The throne of springtime exists.

Paths of Oshún

• Oshún Yeyé Moró or Yeyé Kari: The most cheerful, flirtatious and dissipated of all. She is always at festivities, which she livens and brightens, fanning herself with her peacock-feather fan. She puts on makeup, gazes at herself in the mirror, perfumes herself, and even flirts with the dead. Her necklace carries 5 yellow beads and five amber ones alternated, with one coral and one mother-of-pearl.
• Oshún Kayode: Like Yeyé Moró, she spends her life going from party to party — cheerful, extravagant and obliging. She lives on the riverbank. Her necklace carries 5 yellow beads, 5 honey-colored ones, and then one of each alternated, five times, repeating the series until the necklace is closed.
• Oshún Yeyé: She inspires love and protects her children beyond death. Despite her joy and love of amusement, she is found in the cemetery consoling the spirits of those who have not understood their transition. In this path, Oshún represents the inseparable duality of joy and suffering. Her necklace carries 15 honey-colored beads, 5 red and 5 black alternated, and 15 yellow.
• Oshún Miwá: She behaves just like Yeyé Moró, being «flighty» in her ways.
• Oshún Añá: The one of the drums, always ready to seize the festivities at the slightest chance. She carries small drums in addition to all of Oshún’s tools. Her necklace carries 5 yellow beads, 5 honey-colored, two mother-of-pearl and one red bead between them.
• Oshún Yumú, Oshún Gumí, Bomó or Bumí: These are serious aspects of the Goddess. They weave nets, dip nets and baskets for fishermen. Yumú, old and deaf, makes clay pitchers. She is the wealthiest of all and does not care for festivities. Gumí is associated with the dead; she wields the pick and the hoe in the cemetery and rocks in a rocking chair, a comadrita, at the bottom of the river. Her necklace carries red, emerald-green or matte-yellow beads.
• Oshún Sekesé: She is extremely serious and a master at teaching proper conduct. Her necklace carries 5 yellow beads, one mother-of-pearl and 5 honey-colored.
• Oshún Akuara or Ibú: She lives between the sea and the river. She is the one of salt and fresh waters. A fine dancer, cheerful and hardworking, she loves doing good and tends to the sick. Like Yemayá, she binds the Abikús, and she refuses to work harm — only love bindings and love philters. Music is her passion, and she is elegant, flirtatious, extravagant and restless as the quail. In addition to all of Oshún’s tools, she carries a sewing box with five needles and five spools of thread. Her necklace carries 15 honey-colored beads, 5 red, 5 yellow and 5 mother-of-pearl alternated.
• Oshún Fumiké: Very kind, connected to Obatalá. She grants children to barren women. She loves children dearly.
• Oshún Ololodí or Olodí: like Yumú, she lives at the bottom of the river. She embroiders and weaves submerged in the water, with her fish, a star and the half moon. She is a mermaid. When called, she is very deaf and slow to answer. One must shake the bell vigorously — once made of copper, now of silver — or call her, as with Atití, with a horn-shaped trumpet of the same metal. She is very homebound and a lady of great respect. She deals only with serious matters and does not dance. She is the apetebí of Orula and also the waterfall of the river. According to the story, Orula had fallen into a deep well, from which he sang songs of sorrow, for he had divined that it was a trap laid by his enemies. Oshún was walking nearby; she braided her hair with five kerchiefs, fashioning a kind of rope that allowed Orula to climb up and out of the well. She then helped him carry his jolongo (a kind of sack), taking it from his hands. She took him to her home and, seeing that no one was caring for him, stayed to look after him, for Orula was sad and disillusioned by the betrayal of his friends. In his disappointment, he had thrown his divining board, his Ikines and all his instruments of divination to the bottom of the river. Oshún rescued them and returned them to the Orisha intact. For this, Orula named her his Appetebí. In addition to all of Oshún’s usual tools, she carries a cutlass, and her sopera rests upon a board of Orula, adorned with the Ékuele, the irofá (the small brush used to erase the board of Ifá), the pouch of Yefá (a powder made from yam that is scattered over Orula’s board) and the small iruké. She is also given a hand mirror and a comb, so she may amuse herself gazing at her reflection and untangling her hair, along with a horse. Her necklace carries 15 honey-colored beads, 5 yellow and 5 amber alternated with 5 red.
• Oshún Funké: Wise. She possesses great knowledge and teaches. She is intelligent and learned. She has great knowledge and shares her experience, serving as an instructor. Her necklace carries 5 amber beads and 5 yellow.
• Oshún Edé: Elegant, a great lady. She loves music and hurries to festivities, yet she is sensible and a woman of her home. Full of refinement, grace and delicacy. She attends festivities, but she is level-headed, prudent and thoughtful. Her necklace carries 5 honey-colored beads and 5 yellow, separated by one golden bead.
• Oshún Niwe: She lives alone in the wilderness, near the river, where she performs all her works of enchantment. She is the owner of the wilds and the marshes. A witch and a palera. This Ochún uses her pumpkin, along with the other plants, to work her sorcery — hollowing out the pumpkin and working inside it. It was this Oshún who walked fearlessly through the wilderness to rescue Oggún from his bitterness, offering him honey. Her necklace carries 15 honey-colored beads, two yellow, and one black in the middle.
• Oshún Kolé-Kolé or Akalá-kalá, Ikolé or Ibú Kolé: In this path the smiling, seductive Oshún, having fallen very low, crawls in the mud of the stream; she is an inveterate sorceress, inseparable from the vulture — hence her name Ibú Kolé. She lives in abject misery; she owns a single tunic, which was yellow and, from so much washing, turned white. She eats what the vulture brings. She flies with it, or as it, and all her works are evil. She attains her redemption by holding the ashé of having been the savior of the world when heaven and earth quarreled and everything on earth was being lost to the floods (the Deluge). All the birds tried to reach Oloddumare to bring him the earth’s message of repentance so that he would forgive it, yet all their attempts were in vain. When the vulture offered to reach the supreme God, everyone burst out laughing, for so ugly and filthy a bird could not dare so much — not knowing that it was Oshún who spoke through it. She went forth to deliver the message and was received by Oloddumare, who heard the plea and forgave the earth. At that moment Oshún became the messenger of Olofi. For this reason, all the Orishas, when they are about to be crowned, must first come to the house of Oshún to inform her of the ceremony to be performed. In addition to all of Oshún’s tools, she carries a mortar in her sopera. Her necklace carries 15 honey-colored beads, one green, five red, and one black bead or a piece of jet.
• Oshún Awé: Perhaps another name of Oshún within this same dark episode; she is the one most closely tied to the dead. In this path, the Goddess of love bears no resemblance to the woman brimming with life and joy, clean and perfumed, who runs like a deer to reach the festivities when she hears the drums beating — the one also called Oshún Galadé. Her necklace carries 5 yellow beads, 5 honey-colored, 2 crystal and one black.
• Oshún Ibú Awundá: Her iñales are cooked in a double boiler.
• Oshún Ibú Asedán: The goat offered to her must be dressed in a mantle and sacrificed with the Goddess’s spears. Oshún Ibú Oggán. She carries a stone shaped like a heart, for the Orisha Oggán lives together with it.
• Oshún Somú Gagá: Some say she lives beside Olokum with Akaró. Oshún Ibú Iyá Lodí. A warrior, owner of the gold coins. She lives where the river meets the sea. Her necklace carries 5 yellow beads, 5 amber, and a copper coin between two mother-of-pearl beads.
• Oshún Yumí, Bumí: The serious, devoted aspect of Ochún; she weaves nets and baskets for the fishermen, which form part of her attributes, along with a rocking chair. Alone, old and deaf, she passes the time making clay jars. She is the wealthiest of all, very serious and very severe, with no taste for festivities. She is connected to Oggún. Her necklace carries 5 yellow beads, 5 amber, one black, and one green between each sequence of five.
• Oshún Gumí: She is bound to the cemetery. She comes out of the river and wields the pick and the hoe there. Then she returns to rest at the bottom of the river. Her necklace carries 5 yellow beads, 2 mother-of-pearl with one transparent blue bead between them, and 5 honey-colored.
• Oshún Ibú Asedán: The goat offered to her must be dressed in a mantle and sacrificed with the Goddess’s spears.
• Oshún Ibú Oggán: She carries a stone shaped like a heart, for the Orisha Oggán lives together with it.
• Oshún Somú Gagá: Some say she lives beside Olokum with Akaró.
• Oshún Ibú Iyá Lodí: A warrior, owner of the gold coins. She lives where the river meets the sea. Her necklace carries 5 yellow beads, 5 amber, and a copper coin between two mother-of-pearl beads.
• Oshún Yumí, Bumí: The serious, devoted aspect of Ochún; she weaves nets and baskets for the fishermen, which form part of her attributes, along with a rocking chair. Alone, old and deaf, she passes the time making clay jars. She is the wealthiest of all, very serious and very severe, with no taste for festivities. She is connected to Oggún. Her necklace carries 5 yellow beads, 5 amber, one black, and one green between each sequence of five.
• Oshún Gumí: She is bound to the cemetery. She comes out of the river and wields the pick and the hoe there. Then she returns to rest at the bottom of the river. Her necklace carries 5 yellow beads, 2 mother-of-pearl with one transparent blue bead between them, and 5 honey-colored.

Works with Ochún

Ritual with Oshún for matters related to work

MATERIALS

• 5 gemstones (if that is not possible, 1 is enough)
• 1 hen
• Oshún’s sopera

PROCEDURE: On the 5th day of the month or on a Saturday, the hen is offered to Oshún in her sopera together with the gemstones. If no sopera of Oshún is available, the offering may be made at the river, calling her and asking for what is desired. Gemstones belong to Obatalá, but in matters of employment and improvements related to work or business, they are offered to Oshún.

Ritual to wither someone

MATERIALS

• A pumpkin leaf
• Ash from three different hearths
• A paper with the person’s name and something belonging to them (such as a lock of hair)

PROCEDURE: The paper with the person’s name and the belonging are wrapped in the pumpkin leaf, and the ash from the three hearths is added. It is then burned while saying: «Según se consumió esta ceniza, así se consuma XXXX» (as this ash was consumed, so may XXXX be consumed). If she is a beautiful woman, she will wither in a short time.

Ritual to obtain work

MATERIALS

• Chopped parsley
• A basin of water
• Honey
• Ground cinnamon
• Raw cornmeal

PROCEDURE: The chopped parsley is mixed into the basin of water with honey and ground cinnamon, and this is used to wash down the doorway of the house. Afterward, the raw cornmeal is scattered over the cleaned space while saying: «Oshún, te doy perejil, miel, canela y harina. Tú me facilitarás, a cambio, la manera de ganarme el pan» (Oshún, I give you parsley, honey, cinnamon and flour; in return, you will provide me the means to earn my bread). It is important not to say «give me work,» but rather to express it as a plea for help in earning one’s livelihood.

Ritual with Oshún to draw money into the home

MATERIALS:

• Dried orange peel
• Brown sugar
• Dried orange-tree leaves

PROCEDURE: The dried orange leaves and peel are mixed with the brown sugar and burned while praying to Oshún: «OSHÚN OWÓ MI INLE OCHÚN OBINI ORO OGUO MI INLE OCHÚN IGUA ILLA MIO IGUA IKO BO SILLA MI GUASI ILLA MI OMÓ YALORDE OGUO MI INLE ACHÉ OCHÚN».

Ritual with Oshún for cases of infidelity

MATERIALS

• Locks of hair or small nail clippings from the person
• Cotton
• A yellow cloth
• A male lodestone
• Dried corn
• A female lodestone
• Cinnamon sticks
• Cinnamon oil
• A yellow candle

PROCEDURE: Everything is wrapped inside the yellow cloth, and cinnamon oil is poured over it for five days.

Ritual with Oshún for cases of infidelity

MATERIALS:

• Locks of hair or small nail clippings from the person
• Cotton
• A yellow cloth
• A male lodestone
• Dried corn
• A female lodestone
• Cinnamon sticks
• Cinnamon oil
• A yellow candle

PROCEDURE: Everything is wrapped inside the yellow cloth, cinnamon oil is poured over it for five days, and the candle is lit for Oshún. Once the person has left, it is effective to give the blood of a hen to Oshún.

Lamp to attract

MATERIALS:

• 15 yellow candles
• Bálsamo tranquilo (tranquility balm)
• Mercury
• Almond oil
• Bee honey
• Rose honey
• Honey of England
• Corojo butter
• A vessel
• Virgin parchment
• Yellow thread
• Marmaja (pyrite)

PROCEDURE

The parchment, with the name written in the form of five crosses, is placed at the bottom of the vessel, and the pyrite stone is wrapped in it. It is then tied with the yellow thread, the rest of the ingredients are added to the vessel, and the lamp is lit. When the lamp is lit, the living spirit, thought, will and judgment of XXX are invoked. On the fifteenth day, the vessel is left in the wilderness.

To attract

MATERIALS

• 5 spoonfuls of almond oil
• 5 spoonfuls of parsley juice
• 1 spoonful of honey of England
• 5 spoonfuls of cane syrup
• A pumpkin
• A parchment paper
• Golden sprinkles
• 5 spoonfuls of honey
• 5 of corojo butter
• 5 spoonfuls of watercress juice
• Ground cinnamon
• 5 cloves
• A lodestone
• 1 box of wicks
• A yellow cloth bag
• Amber paste
• A coin
• A medal of Our Lady of Charity
• A yellow flower
• Baths: bee honey
• Rose honey
• Pompeya Heliotrope
• Verbena
• Musk
• Patchouli
• Pegapega
• Love essence
• Attraction essence
• A pot; pumpkin seeds or pulp

PROCEDURE

The top of the pumpkin is removed and the pulp scooped out and set beside it while the lamp is prepared, and it is left at the foot of Oshún for 5 days. The lodestone is offered to Oshún with the name of the person to be attracted. The name is written 5 times on the parchment, which is wrapped around the lodestone and placed at the bottom of the pumpkin. The rest of the lamp’s ingredients are then added, and it is kept lit for 35 days. The baths are prepared, and they will also be used to sprinkle the doorway of the house. The pumpkin pulp is placed inside a jar, and the perfumes set aside for this purpose are added. They are left for 5 days beside the lamp before being used. At the end, the lamp is left in the wilderness, but first the lodestone is removed and placed in the yellow cloth bag together with the amber paste and a coin, and it is kept in a hidden place in the house.

To appease Oshún or win her favor

Oshún’s stone is placed in bee honey, and two yellow hens are offered to her. The next day the stone is taken out of the honey and wrapped in river slime. The following day it is fanned with five different fans. The day after, five fine sweets are offered to her, and on the fifth day of gifts and attentions, the stone is submerged in river water and wrapped in a yellow cloth with a small piece or item of gold. The person paying for these offerings places them in a basket and puts fifteen bracelets on their wrist to catch Ochún’s attention so that the goddess will follow them. This petition is taken to the middle of the river, and she is called by ringing a small bell.

To obtain money

MATERIALS

• Essences: Sandalwood, Love, Money, Vanquisher, Dominion, For Me; vegetable charcoal.
• Red, yellow and white precipitate powder
• 5 yellow candles
• A wide-mouthed jar
• A coin
• A parchment
• A lodestone
• A capsule of mercury
• Sandalwood
• Gold and silver filings
• Three Kings incense
  
  PROCEDURE
  The lodestone is baptized with the name of the person from whom the money is being requested; the charcoal is lit, and the incense and sandalwood are burned. The coin is then cast into the embers while invoking: «XXX así como se quema esta moneda, así se te queme el dinero si no me lo entregas a mí YYY» (XXX, as this coin burns, so may your money burn if you do not hand it over to me, YYY). The person’s name is written on the parchment 5 times horizontally and 5 times vertically. It is then folded and placed inside the jar, with the lodestone and the filings on top. When the ashes of the incense have cooled, they are put into the jar along with the coin and the rest of the ingredients while invoking them: «que este precipitado precipite el dinero de XXX hacia mí que me llamo YYY, que este mercurio intranquilice a XXX si no me trae el dinero» (may this precipitate hasten XXX’s money toward me, whose name is YYY; may this mercury unsettle XXX if he does not bring me the money). The rest of the essences are then added to harmonize and strengthen this work; the jar is placed before the image of Oshún, and beside it the candles — rubbed with the ingredients from the jar — are lit as an offering to the Orisha. Whenever an additional petition for money is desired, the ritual of lighting 5 candles with the ingredients from the jar may be repeated.

Lamp to open the roads

MATERIALS

• Toasted corn
• Ñeque
• Smoked fish
• Corojo butter
• Coconut
• Aguardiente
• Bee honey
• 21 cigars
• Road-opener oil
• Money oil
• Cooking oil
• Gold and silver filings
• A pot
• A box of wicks

PROCEDURE
In the pot, mix the toasted corn, ñeque, fish, corojo butter, coconut, aguardiente, five spoonfuls of bee honey, road-opener oil, money oil, cooking oil, and the gold and silver filings. For 21 days, the Lucumí prayer of Oshún is recited. The wick is set in place and lit, and then the cigar is smoked, blowing its smoke over the lamp.

Cold lamp to attract

MATERIALS

• Sweet wine
• Rose honey
• Bee honey
• Bálsamo tranquilo (tranquility balm)
• Two lodestones
• A glass
• Parchment
• Essences of love, harmony and conqueror

PROCEDURE
Take the lodestones in your hands and baptize each one with the name of one member of the couple to be united, invoking Oshún over the parchment. With a graphite pencil, write the two names in a cross, horizontally and vertically; fold the parchment and place it at the bottom of the glass, over the baptized lodestones, then add the rest of the ingredients one by one in the following manner: «Este vino para emborrachar a XXX por YYY, miel para endulzar los pensamientos y sentimientos de XXX por YYY, bálsamo tranquilo para tranquilizar el espíritu vivo, juicio, pensamiento, voluntad y persona de XXX, amor para enamorar a XXX conquistador para conquistar a XXX, armonía para armonizar las relaciones entre XXX y YYY» (this wine to intoxicate XXX for YYY; honey to sweeten XXX’s thoughts and feelings toward YYY; tranquility balm to calm XXX’s living spirit, judgment, thought, will and person; love to make XXX fall in love; conqueror to conquer XXX; harmony to harmonize the relationship between XXX and YYY). The glass is placed where a candle can be lit before it for 25 Fridays; if it dries out, more ingredients are added, and at the end it is buried near a river.

Binding of Ochún

MATERIALS

• One meter of yellow ribbon
• A parchment
• Hair from the person
• A box of wicks
• A lodestone
• 5 pins
• Aguardiente
• Lodestone
• Oils: almond, Llamao, Dominion, For Me, Attraction, cooking oil

PROCEDURE
The lodestone is baptized with the name of the person to be bound. The parchment is cut into seven strips, and the person’s hairs are placed on each one. Take the yellow ribbon and begin tying knots, binding the parchments while invoking the person’s name. The lodestone is wrapped in this ribbon and pierced with the pins while invoking Oshún. The bundle is sprayed with aguardiente before being placed in the pot. Add the rest of the ingredients and keep the lamp lit for 21 days. Then the bundle is buried in a flowerpot, and what remains of the lamp is sprinkled near the doorway of the house.

To attract

MATERIALS

• A pot
• Precipitate powder
• Bee honey
• Rose honey
• Sweet wine
• 5 fishhooks
• A parchment
• Orange-blossom water
• Yellow thread
• A lodestone
• A box of wicks
• Palo vencedor (vanquisher wood).

PROCEDURE
The lodestone is baptized with the person’s name. The person’s name is written on the parchment, interwoven with Oshún’s. Wrap the palo vencedor and the lodestone in the parchment and tie it with the thread; fasten the thread to the fishhooks while invoking the person’s senses: «Si tiene voz, que me hable; si tiene ojos, que me vea; si tiene oídos, que me oiga; si tiene nariz que me huela, si tiene manos que me toque» (if they have a voice, may they speak to me; if they have eyes, may they see me; if they have ears, may they hear me; if they have a nose, may they smell me; if they have hands, may they touch me). The prepared wood is placed at the bottom of the pot along with the rest of the ingredients, invoking them one by one: «Que este precipitado precipite a XXX hacia YYY; que estas mieles endulcen el carácter y el espíritu vivo, juicio, pensamiento y voluntad de XXX; que este azahar armonice las relaciones entre XXX y YYY que este vino emborrache de amor a XXX por YYY» (may this precipitate hasten XXX toward YYY; may these honeys sweeten XXX’s character and living spirit, judgment, thought and will; may this orange blossom harmonize the relationship between XXX and YYY; may this wine intoxicate XXX with love for YYY). It is kept lit for 5 days and then buried on the bank of a river. Afterward, an offering is given to the Orisha.

To attract

MATERIALS

• A lodestone; a jícara (gourd bowl)
• Cocoa butter; a pair of scissors
• 15 candles; a parchment
• A kerchief

PROCEDURE
The name of the person to be dominated is written on the parchment. A place is prepared before the saint, the folded parchment is set down, and the open scissors are placed on top. At the point of the scissors, the candles are lit, offered to the living spirit, judgment, thought and will of XXX. The lodestone is baptized with the name
of the person and placed inside the jícara with the corojo butter. On the fifteenth day, the stone is taken out of the corojo butter, wrapped in the kerchief and tied to a leg of the bed. When the work succeeds, an offering is made to Oshún.

Offering to Oshún

• Toasted peanuts with golden sugar

Lamp to attract with Ochún

MATERIALS

• 15 yellow candles
• Bálsamo tranquilo (tranquility balm)
• Mercury
• Almond oil.
• Bee honey
• Rose honey
• Honey of England.
• Corojo butter
• A vessel
• Virgin parchment
• Yellow thread.
• Marmaja (pyrite)

PROCEDURE
The parchment, with the person’s name written in the form of five crosses, is placed at the bottom of the vessel, and the pyrite stone (the stone of Oshún) is wrapped in it. The yellow thread is then tied around it, the rest of the ingredients are added to the vessel, and the lamp is lit. When the lamp catches, invoke the
living spirit, thought, judgment and will of XXX. Beside it, light a candle invoking Oshún and the living spirit, thought, judgment and will of XXX. On the fifteenth day, the vessel is left in the wilderness.

Marriage

For those marriages the man keeps postponing, a preparation is made with basil, toasted hay, holy water, orange-blossom water, water from Oshún’s jar, and dry wine or island aguardiente.

To anger Oshún for battle

• Tortoiseshell (carey) wood

The goddess asks for carey in order to wage war, and it is used only for the purpose of angering her. There are many kinds of carey, and all of them belong to Oshún. To pray over the belly with Oshún: to heal someone who complains of the belly, of pain or poor digestion, take a pumpkin and pass it over them, first in a cross and then in circles, at the foot of Oshún’s stone. The measure of the belly to be healed is taken and placed, with five bollos and five egg yolks, honey and corojo butter, inside a pumpkin. This is carried to the river, its derecho (ritual fee) is paid, a lit candle is set inside it, and it is surrendered to the current.

To prosper with Oshún

The person’s name, written on virgin paper, is tied to the stem of a growing pumpkin while saying: «Según tú creces y adelantas calabaza, has que crezca y adelante XXXX» (as you grow and advance, pumpkin, make XXXX grow and advance). To pray over an inguinal hernia: three good, round pumpkins are taken; the officiant, at the patient’s side, detaches the stems of the pumpkins and feels with a finger for the hernia, near the groin, anoints it with the liquid of the pumpkins, and puts the stems back in place. The pumpkins are kept where no one will touch them; you will see that as the stems knit back together, the hernia closes as well. To make a person who has gone away return: take a pumpkin, five rooster claws, an egg, pepper, marjoram, Florida water, the person’s name written on a paper, and a garment or object belonging to them. Everything is placed inside the pumpkin, spat upon three times, and left for ten days at the foot of Oshún. Once this period is over, it is taken to the river.

To obtain employment

Parsley (Petroselinum sativum) is chopped up and put into a basin with water, honey and ground cinnamon, and with this the doorway of the house is washed down. Then raw cornmeal is scattered over the cleaned space while saying: «Oshún, yo te doy perejil, miel canela y harina, tú me facilitarás, en cambio la manera de ganarme el pan» (Oshún, I give you parsley, honey, cinnamon and flour; in return, you will provide me the means to earn my bread). One does not say «give me work,» but rather «grant me the charity, give me the means to earn my keep.»