The Orisha of Fresh Healing Waters

Oshun is commonly known as the river goddess and is associated with fresh water, purity, fertility, love, and sensuality. When I think of Oshun, I think of “sweet waters” and the sacred Oshogbo grove. I did not get a chance to visit Oshogbo while I was undergoing my initiation in Abeokuta but was told how beautiful it was. Legend said that the first encounter between Oshun and human beings took place in the town of Oshogbo. It is there that Oshun gave people permission to build their city. Oshun protects the town, and in return, the people go to the river and pay homage, and make sacrifices in her honor. 

In my book, Child of the Orisha, Oshun makes an appearance. She appears as a beautiful young brown-skinned woman with the magical honey pot at her waist. Even though you can’t see her, you become giddy from the scent of her heavenly body and feel a sense of light-heartedness because of her presence. This goddess of wisdom prepares her child for the arduous journey across the treacherous waters to the New World. Why did I pick this orisha to prepare my heroine for her trip? Well, tales have shown that not only is Oshun beautiful and wise but also determined and brave. All the qualities that would be needed by my heroine to journey from the old to the new could be learned from this one orisha.

 

A long time ago, before the orishas made the journey to the new world by building a bridge using Aduke, they tired of obeying Olodumare. He was so far away. What did he know about running the universe? They controlled all things on earth and felt he was no longer needed. Omnipresent, Olodumare knew the other orisha were rebelling. He could have struck them down, but he decided to withhold the rains instead. Because without the rain, the earth would dry up, no crops would grow; humans and animals would die. The people cried out to the orisha, to save them. There was considerable confusion because the people could not understand what they had done to anger the orisha. The Orisha heard their cries and knew that it was they, not the humans that had angered Oloddumare. They pleaded with him to bring the rain, but Olodumare was too far away and did not hear. They begged for forgiveness and promised to obey him again, but Olodumare was too far away and did not hear. Several of the Orisha tried to ascend into the heavens, but they could not reach Olodumare. Oshun asked if she could try and the other orisha laughed at her. "How can someone so small and young do what her elders could not? Just go back to sitting, and looking pretty." Oshun persisted and finally, out of sheer desperation, the other orisha agreed that she could try but not expecting her to succeed. Oshun turned herself in a beautiful peacock and flew towards the heavens.

It was so far away that her feathers begin to fall off and as she reached the sun, her colorful feathers were scorched and all the delicate feathers burned off her head. Yet she was determined to reach Olodumare, and she flew on. When Oshun thought she could not fly anymore, she comes to the home of the Creator God. She collapsed in his arms, and he saw that the beautiful peacock had been transformed into a vulture. Olodumare took Oshun and nursed her back to health.  He told her that her bravery and determination has softened his heart and he allowed the rain to fall. "From now on, you, dear vulture, will be the Messenger of the House of Olodumare and I will communicate only with you." Oshun, as a vulture, returned to earth to much honor and praise. Her gifts of determination and inner strength had saved the world.

I equate the sudden ability to understand a foreign language with divination. I bet you are wondering, what does Oshun know about prophecy? But always remember she is the goddess of Wisdom. My orisha, Obatala was the only one who knew the art of divination and Oshun asked over and over again to be taught this art, but Obatala always refused. One day Obatala went to the river to bathe, and he removed his white robe and entered the water. Elegba passed by and seeing Obatala’s robe snatched it and ran home. Oshun was picking flowers by the river bank when she heard Obatala scream. She ran to him to see if she could assist and he said, “What is the King of the White Cloth without His clothing?  Oshun, I am in disgrace!” Cunningly, Oshun ask, “If I get your white clothes for you, will you teach me the art of divining?” Obatala immediately promised he would show her.

Oshun proceeded to spray her body with honey until it glistened and tied five yellow scarves around her waist. She went to Elegba’s home and demanded he returns the stolen clothes to their owner as she stood in his doorway with her hands on her hips. Elegba was enchanted with her beauty and would only talk of possessing her. After making several threats and attempts to get the clothing, a deal was finally struck and Oshun could return the white robe. Obatala taught her to read the sacred shells. And being the generous orisha that she was; after she had mastered the art of reading the sacred shells, she called all the orishas together and taught them the art of divination.

 In the old testament in the book of Proverbs chapter 3 verse 13 to 18, Oshun is referred to by her acronym, Wisdom. And it reads: Happy is the person that can find Osun, and understand her arts and science. For the possession of this knowledge is better than silver, or gold. The goddess Oshun is more precious than rubies or anything else you could desire. Nothing can compare to her. In her right hand, she holds longevity, and in her left, she holds honor and riches. The paths of this orisha are pleasant and peaceful. Happiness is what she brings to those that revere her; to them, she is the tree of life.