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Hello, I wanted to know if you have to be a Olorisha to know if you’re a child of one of the deities? Can you be a aleyo and know that specific information? I see some people who are in the beginning stages of their religion and they know, just wanted to clarify.
Alafia!Thanks for asking! This is a such a good question and I’m really glad you asked. I’m going to give a loooooong answer, hope you don’t mind.
There are two different methods of determining which Orisha owns your head.
The first is a head marking divination in Ocha-centric houses with diloggun, the cowrie shells which are the ‘mouths’ of the Orisha. This is different from a regular diloggun reading and must be done with the diloggun of the Godparent’s head Orisha (a very rare occasion - I’ll come back to this).
The second method of determining the Orisha which owns your head is done through Ifa in a ceremony called a bajada, which is done in Ifa-centric houses. It requires at least three Babalawos to be present and is performed using the ikin (palm nuts) and not the opele (divining chain). It is usually done when the person receives mano de Orula - known as Awo faka for men and Ikofa for women (there’s some debate as to which to give trans and non-binary people, very controversial).
These are the only two methods for determining your head Orisha. The Orisha who owns your head CANNOT be determined through dreams, tarot cards, playing cards, misas, I Ching, “throwing bones,” or any other crazy idea someone might try to sell you. If you someone offers to determine your head Orisha in any method except the two described above, RUN. Even when Orisha come down in possession at drummings and say “you’re my child” or otherwise indicate who your Orisha is, that is not considered definitive and must be confirmed through either diloggun or Ifa.
Do aleyos get their heads marked? Yes - head marking must happen before you are initiated. Otherwise how could we plan the ceremony, right? However, this does not mean that anyone can just get their heads marked. Having your head marked is a big deal. It’s not like finding out your astrology sign.
In Ocha-centric houses, the head must be marked by the head Orisha of the Godparent. Generally, normal readings are only done using the diloggun of Elegba because Elegba “speaks for free,” meaning that Elegba doesn’t require the sacrifice of a four-legged animal (an expensive ceremony) in order to speak because his role in the Universe is to be the messenger for all of the Orisha. Any other Orisha requires a major sacrifice of a four-legged animal in order to speak, and because of the rarity of this, their readings are considered much deeper and carrying more weight - they are called itá. To mark the head then is to essentially receive an itá from your Godparent’s head Orisha without having paid them the required sacrifice. The way my Godmother explains it, marking the head is promising to make that sacrifice at a later date when you make Ocha. So this is why it is not supposed to be determined until you are well on your way to making Ocha - which means you should already have received elekes and Warriors and been marked through divination to make Ocha.
In Ifa-centric houses, the bajada is generally done when receiving mano de Orula. This is a ceremony that usually takes place after receiving elekes and warriors (or at the same time as warriors). A person might be marked during a bajada by Babalawos but not necessarily be on a path to making Ocha in the immediate future. There are some complicated reasons behind this that honestly I don’t understand well enough to explain as I am not part of an Ifa-centric house. But it is still not something to be treated lightly.
So, in general, a person does not have their head marked during the beginning stages of entering the religion. And it is absolutely not appropriate for anyone outside the religion to claim to be a child of a specific Orisha.
Why can’t just anyone find out their Orisha? There are several reasons.
First of all, what would the point be? If you aren’t actively making preparations to go through the kariocha ceremony to become an Olorisha, there is literally no legitimate reason why you would need to know who your Orisha is. Most people want to know because it seems fun and they think it will provide insight into who they are. Some people, especially online, just want to kind of lord it over others to make themselves feel special and chosen (never mind the fact that everyone, regardless of whether they are even aware of the Orisha existing, is ruled by an Orisha so it’s not that unique at the end of the day). While often it comes from a place of genuine curiosity, it can often border on being disrespectful.
Second of all, determining your head Orisha without a direct plan to make Ocha can be harmful. Want to know the #1 reason Orisha get angry with aleyos? It’s when those aleyos have repeatedly been told to make Ocha but haven’t done it yet. Go to any drumming and I bet you a chicken that you will find at least one aleyo getting told off by an Orisha for ignoring their repeated demand that the person make Ocha or fulfill another big promise. Marking your head is making a promise to the Orisha that you will serve them, and if you aren’t ready to lay down $10k and give up a year and seven days of your life (plus have your head shaved), then you’re going to break that promise and the Orisha - while normally quite calm and generous - can get very mad about broken promises. You do not want the Orisha to be mad at you!
The third reason is that you are creating a mess of problems that someone will have to solve later. If you get marked by some random priest who doesn’t become the person who makes your Ocha, then you will be breaking a promise to their head Orisha. But it doesn’t stop there. When you go to another house and ask them to do your Ocha, now they’ll have to determine if your original head marking was valid in the first place. And even if the marking was done correctly, your head Orisha might have - in the intervening time - changed. Orisha may fight over your head in some case (especially Yemaya and Ochun, or Yemaya and Oya). Or you might have pissed off your head Orisha and so another Orisha will step in. Or, there are also a range a physical things you might have gone through that are considered automatic signs of Obatala or another Orisha owning your head which supersede a head marking. Long story short: you’re almost definitely going to have to be marked again by your new Godparent, unless it was originally done by Ifa (though I have even seen this redone, but that’s controversial). All of this confusion can create a host of spiritual problems in your life, not to mention a real headache for all of the priests involved.
At the end of the day, I totally understand the curiosity! I was so curious, too! But marking a head is a very serious part of the religion and should be treated with respect. Unfortunately, a lot of people online claim to be the child of this Orisha or that Orisha (almost always Oshun, Yemaya, Oya, or Elegba for some reason) when they have never been marked and it’s really disrespectful. Some of them are later quite shocked and upset when they find out that a totally different Orisha owns their head than the one they thought - so it’s also important not to get too attached to the idea of being the specific omo of an Orisha.
I hope that sharing all of this information will prevent at least a few people from doing that - I’d like to believe that some of those who do it are simply misinformed and perhaps will recognize the wrong they are doing and cut it out.
On the plus side, if anyone outside the religion is curious about which Orisha owns their heads, I can tell you right now with complete assurance: Obatala owns your head (for now). This is 100% the truth. Why? Because Obatala owns all heads! He makes them himself. Everyone in the world is a child of Obatala on some level because he owns all of our heads and is ultimately the ruler of the world. Maferefun Obatala! This is what we tell aleyos - don’t worry about who your Orisha is because until you are ready to make Ocha and have your head marked, Obatala will take care of your head.
Elegua
Orisha of Childhood, he’s perceived as having a jovial and childish personality, however when grouped with Ogun and Ochose they are said to be an unstoppable force
ELEGGUA/ELEGBA LORD OF THE ROADS, WARRIOR, ILLUSTRIOUS IMMORTAL PRINCE, I HUMBLY ASK ELEGGUA, THAT YOU REMOVE FROM MY HOME, AND MY PATH, ALL EVIL AND NEGATIVITY. OWNER OF THE FOUR CORNERS, ELDER OF THE ROADS AND PATHS, TAKE ALL THE BAD, THE NEGATIVE, AWAY SO THAT I MAY WALK WITH GOOD HEALTH. MAY THERE BE NO ILLNESS. MAY THERE BE NO LOSSES. MAY THERE BE NO DEATHS. IN THE NAME OF ALL THE CHILDREN OF THE HOUSE I GIVE YOU THANKS. O BABA MI ELEGGUA LAROYE, ELEGGUA I ASK THAT YOU ALWAYS KEEP OUR PATHS OPEN FOR ALL THAT IS GOOD AND BENEFICIAL. AND THAT YOU CLOSE THE PATH AND DOORS TO ALL THAT IS EVIL, NEGATIVE, AND DESTRUCTIVE. ASHE O ELEGGUA LAROYE. -Iya Olawo Che-
“There is no real need to have a reason to do things. People who can’t act without a reason are trash. I will do what I want. I mean, I’ve got this precious life and everything; might as well make the best of it, right?”
-Kichimura Washuu, “Tokyo Ghoul”
Friday
Everyday I sit at my boveda let my eggun know I appreciate each and every blessing the small ones and the ones that wait for me. Every night I light my candle and clear my head for my eggun to show me my past and my future. But on fridays I give great reverence I play eggun music change their water and flowers give them smoke and rum. I’ve noticed on fridays so many of my ancestors speak at once it’s hard to concentrate on who is saying what lol I’m hoping to develop stronger vititi, their messages come clear as day I just wish my relationship was a bit stronger so I can know which eggun specifically to thank.
This sundays misa was the first where I saw and heard extremely clear instead of hazy thoughts/visions that i wasn’t sure were real or just made up by own spiritual yearning. Eggun I never knew walked with me showed themselves even my father who died before I was born, and his great grandmother (she seems to be from Asian decent I think Vietnam she showed me rice fields and her callused hands) I think the key to clairvoyance is confidence and a clear head like you shouldn’t try, when you try you block yourself well this is true for me not sure about everyone else. I’ve realized the connection to eggun can’t be taught it has to be experienced.
“On one hand God, in the other hand my Orishas, behind me the Eggun and in front of me Eleggua”
Ase O!
The morning after a relationship ends, you wake up twice: once when you open your eyes, and once when you remember that everything is different now.
Eshu-Elgbara
NAME: Eshu-Elgbara also in different places known as Legba, Kalfu, Exu, Baron Carrefour, associated with St. Peter, St. Anthony & the Holy Child of Atocha. Also known in some forms of Santeria / Lucumi as Eshu Oro “Master of the Spoken Word,” Eshu Elekun “The Predator, and “Eshu Odara “Lord of Transformation,” & Eshu Laroye Messenger of the Love Goddess Oshun.” Among others.
SYMBOLS: Crossroads, Red Feather, large staff or other phallic symbols, the Ifa Oracle, the colors red & black.
USUAL IMAGE: As he was taken from his African origin his images has changed to fit into the different ways he is visualized which range from his being seen as an energetic teenage youth to being seen as a bent old man with clawed hands who much walk with a stick. He is often pictures with a huge erect phallus or wearing a red father or with a nail in his forehead.
HOLY BOOKS: The Ifa Oracle
HOLY DAYS: Mondays & Saturdays
MAJOR TABOOS: Depends on the manifestation of Eshu. For instance if Kalfu should ride a worshipper everyone falls silent because he does not like extraneous talk.
FORM OF WORSHIP: In the manner proper to how a Lwa / Loa is honored in that tradition. Initiates of Eshu offer an ebos (sacrifice) of rum, cigars or other things each Monday. At special times however the ebo may call for something such as three black roosters. It is thought to be VERY foolish, dangerous even to not feed the Loa once you have started a relationship with them.
SYNODEITIES: A-Chey (Cambodia), Amaguq ‘wolf’ (Inuit), Bamapana (Northern Australia), Birbal (North India), Hermes (Greek), Kaulu (Polynesian), Khwaja Nasruddin (Muslim), Loki (Norse), Merlin (Arthurian), Oli (Yap Islands), Qat (Banks Islands.)
DETAILS: Eshu-Elgbara is one of the Orisha gods of the Fon and Yoruba people of West Africa.
He has become better known today though the religions known under various names such as Voodoo, Vodon, Hoodoo, Voudou, Candomble, Lucumi, Sevi Lwa, Santeria and other names.
He is a trickster god known for humor, rules braking, boundary crossing, deceit, lawlessness & sexuality. However he is also the god of communication who must be called first of all if any of the Gods or Goddess are to be reached at all, the inventor the Ifa Oracle, the keeper of the keys and the crossroads who stands at the boundaries of all things in the universe and the lives of people, as well as the only Orisha who understands all languages both cosmic and mundane without whom all contact with the ultimate Creator would be lost.
As originally visualized by the Yoruba people he was seen as a youthful man full of life and energy, however on being transferred to the New World with the slaves he took on somewhat different aspects in different areas.
So that in Haiti where he is called Legba he is seen as a pleasant old man who walks with a cane because of his age crooked body which also turns his hand into painful claws. While at the same time also seen as Kalfu, powerful & dangerous master of the baleful Loa who, when he shows up in a ceremony must be meet with silence less he let dark spirits lose that would not otherwise come near the rites. And cases even cause transformations in those foolish enough to displease him. While in Brazil he is Exu who is quite simple the Devil.
For most however Eshu is the God who can go anywhere due simply to the fact that when the remote all-powerful being who put the Loa in charge of men and nature asked what where each wanted to go they all gave an answer such as the air, the sea or such like. Only Eshu was cleaver enough to say “I want to go wherever I will.” And so there was no place here is he denied, no language he cannot speak, and no rule he cannot break.
Therefor it’s hardly any wonder that in whatever form he takes he is always the first one called.
Ifa / Orisa
Below is a very brief description of some of the Orisa
(Force of Nature…Archetypes)
ESU…the Orisa energy matrix of opportunities, the energy that carries and delivers the Ase (A-shay…Life Force). The one Orisa which opens and closes all rituals & ceremonies. The Trickster…opens and closes doorways and pathways on multiple levels…even the pathways of consciousness. Messenger, delivers our prayers and offerings to its proper destination. OGUN…Orisa of all metals, warrior, energy of dynamic focused movement, action. The Clearing of obstacles, restructuring, redefining.
OCHOSI…Orisa of the Hunt, the energy that exemplifies the most direct path to ones goals. Symbolic of the road map, the ability to project your thoughts, words and action out into space. Energy that can develop keener senses, moving forward. Moving through space, hitting your target. Removal of entrapments. OBATALA…Orisa of Clarity, Creative Source, Light / Thought made manifest. Fatherhood, Tranquility, Patience, Intelligence, Power of the Mind…energy to work with for contemplation, meditation, logic. A cool refreshing energy. SANGO...Orisa of Stragety, Commerce, Owner of Fire. Having the Gift of Gab, Passion, Courage, Male Fertility. YEMAYA…Essence of Motherhood, Family, Compassion, Nuturing. Energy of Expansion, Versatility. Element of Water. OLOKUN…Orisa of Wealth, Conception, Ancestral Connection, Depth of the Oceans. Energy that connects with the subconscious mind. Grounding energy. OYA…Orisa of the Wind, Owner of the Marketplace, Female Warrioir, Fearless. Creates Change and Transformation. Sudden abrupt changes, chaotic at times. OSUN (Oshun)…Orisa Energy of Joy, Attraction and Sweetness. Relationships, Wealth, Reproduction, The Arts. EGBE…Astral Companions, Support System. Spiritual Protection, Intuition, Clairvoyance, Success. IBEJI…Orisa representing Twins, joy of children, abundance, balance. ORI… Orisa representing the Head, Inner Consciousness, Personal Destiny. The element which contains each individual’s Spiritual Contract. ORUNMILA (IFA)…Orisa of Divination and Healing. Wisdom, Mouthpiece of all Orisa Energy. Witness to all Creation.
Orisha Beads (Elekes)
These are worn by all Voodoos to carry the protection and blessings of their favorite Orisha.
The first one to be worn is of course Eleggua or Legba (black & red). To open the doors, clear the way, remove barriers and obstacles in life.
Other beads shown are Oggun (green and black) . For work opportunities and protection from accidents and in battle.
Obatala (white). For peace and justice in all things.
Yemaya (blue and white). She is the Godess of all mothers and all seas and oceans. She helps protect mothers and children, promotes fertility, abundance and calm your sorrows.
Oxun or Oshun (yellow/amber). Our Lady of Charity, patron-saint of Cuba. She is the mistress of all loves and passion. Brings abundance but remember that abundance is in the sharing!
Chango (red and white). Once king of Africa, Chango promotes virility, good health and vitality. Will protect you from lightning and storms.
Oya (not shown: wine color). The wise woman, she facilitates changes in life and helps you fight your battles.
I was wearing my collares today and some fool walked up to me and asked “yooo where’d you get those red and black bead things” not realizing my Elegua beads were showing I looked down and told the guy “ oh, these are religious” then he had the nerve to say “oh I gotta get me some of those”
-__- I was kinda offended. I went through a very serious ceremony and my collares are extremely important to me. And he easily just brushed the fact that I said they were religious by saying he could just buy them for fashion
Marijuana is less dangerous than Flint tap water.
You know a show is actually funny when it doesn’t need a laugh track to convince you it is
Patakis (story) of Papa Legba's Hat
Legba was walking down a road one day, wearing a hat that was red on one side and black on the other. Sometime after he entered a village which the road went through, the villagers who had seen him began arguing about whether the stranger’s hat was black or red. The villagers on one side of the road had only been capable of seeing the black side, and the villagers on the other side had only been capable of seeing the red one. They soon came to blows over the disagreement which caused him to turn back and rebuke them, revealing to them how one’s perspective can be as correct as another person’s even when they appear to be diametrically opposed to each other. He then left them with a stern warning about how closed-mindedness can cause one to be made a fool.