The Orishas (Gods of Santeria)- The 7 African Powers - Siete potencias:
Santa Therese de Jesus or Oya ---------video de Oya |
Oya or Yansan (Santa Theresa de Jesus, Our Lady of Candelaria, Saint Catherine ). Her full name is Oya-Yansan, which means "mother of nine." In Brazil, in candomble she is generally saluted with the phrase "Èpa heyi!. while in Cuban-derived Yórùbá traditions, the faithful often salute her by saying "Hekua hey Yansa". All cemeteries belong to her. Powerful, volitile, she is not to be played with! Oya is the orisha of storms and the ruler of the dead. Tornados and whirlwinds accompanied by lightening are her element. She is a warrior orisha who rides to do battle at the side of Shango. She is a complex orisha and the only one that has power over the dead. Her colors are mooron, flowery patterns and nine different colors. Her number is 9. Her symbols are: masks, and a horsetail fly-whisk. Her feast day is February 2.
 Oya |
Since she is a compassionate orisha, she has allowed many dying children to live as a gift to their parents. Cemeteries are known as "ile yansan," Oya's house. Any- one who uses dead bodies or parts of dead bodies in their ceremonies must render payment and homage to Oya. When- ever there is a haunting, Oya is summoned to dismiss the spirit. Sacrifices must be made to ensure that she takes an interest in the matter. Oya is the orisha of tornadoes and twisting storms, hurricanes and gales. The four winds are dominated by Elegguá, Orunmila, Obatalá, and Oya. Oya has such a terrible face that anyone looking on it will be stricken mad or blind. In ceremonies where Oya descends, no one looks upon her. When she possesses someone, she puts on a red crepe dress or a flowered dress and weaves multicolored ribbons around her head. She only dances warrior dances. When her "children" enter trance, some of them can handle live coals with their bare hands.
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| A revolution in constant progress, Oya brings sudden change. She is a whirlwind, an amazon, a huntress, and a wild buffalo. Lightning and rainbows are signs of her presence. She also rules communication between the living and the dead. Think of Hecate or Artemis. She is identified mostly with Saint Catherine. The Spanish name for Saint Catherine is Santa Catalina. Interestingly enough, "la catalina"( sorceress, a witch, a bruja ) who is cited as having similar powers and attributes as OYA, was the name of the infamous sorceress that bedeviled both Don Juan Matus and Carlos Castaneda. |
video del Orisha Oya |
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