There are many legends about a woman scorned, but Oya’s anger is legendary. Oya is a warrior woman, a fierce and strong fighter who rules over the winds and storms. She rides into battle with two machete’s in her hand striking lightning down onto the earth. Her power can manifest as the strongest of gales to the gentlest of breezes and the presence of a rainbow. Her name translates to “She Who Tore” and she is a fierce protector of femininity and women who have been done wrong by men. As the keeper of the gates of the cemetery she guides the dead to their resting place, but can also raise an army of the undead to do her bidding. She can also summon a tornado to destroy her enemies if need be. Oya’s anger comes from her pain, she is called the “mother of nine” because she had nine stillborn babies. Her sister Yemaya is also the one who seduced and slept with her husband, Shango.
Oya is also incharge of the marketplace. Her commanding and strong nature makes sure that deals are made far and those who cheat in business get her wrath. She lives in the marketplace but owns the cemetery gates, so that she can lead the dead to their next iteration. Because of this she is a feared figure but she can also call away death as well. She is a figure of rebirth who is capable of pulling someone through a rough and dangerous transition in their life to a new side.
Oya is a very hurt and sad figure, who mourns constantly over the passing of her nine children, and cannot bear any children of her own. She wears nine scarves around her waist to remember each of her children’s lives. She watches in jealousy and rage as her sister Yemaya has many children with Shango, while she has none. Oya was once married to Ogun, the God who created tools, and technology, and he was the one who forged her weapons the machete. She left him for Shango, whose strength was equal match for her own and because of his fear of the dead, could be kept in line. She stole Shango’s ability to throw lightning and became the rider of storms.
Oya is known as a dark goddess but she is a protector who is also the entity of rapid change and transformation through difficulty and should not be avoided with fear but embraced as a way towards strength.
If you want fairness and protection against being ripped off or cheated call on Oya to protect you in your business and dealings. If you have been scorned by a lover and need to call on for justice, Oya is your guide. If you need to get her attention she enjoys offerings of dark and sweet things like plums, red wine, chocolate, and also eggplant, black hens, and black she-goats. You can lay the machete or the scythe at her altar along with brown and burgundy colored beads.
Oya’s human progeny are those who suffer great tragedies and may appear strong or impervious on the outside but are soft and vulnerable on the inside. These are people who have made their exterior very tough so that they aren’t constantly in a state of pain. These people may seem hard and scary, but are hiding behind a mask. You can find these people all over as business owners, or property managers but also in jails as their anger might get the best of them. These people need healing, softness and love, even though it may seem impossible to give.
