Oshosi Consecration: Yoruba Sacred Elements and Ceremonies

Oshosi is a powerful Yoruba deity that is part of the Orishas Guerreros along with Elegguá, Oggún and Osun.

In the Santeria or Rule of Osha He is the god of hunting and prisons, a great tracker and explorer, he is also a witch, fortune teller, and protector of fugitives.

Oshosi in the Yoruba religion corresponds to 101 birds, however, only twenty-one (21) are used in his load.

The Oshosi treaty and some of its sacred rituals

In the treatise of each Orisha all the religious procedures are explained to us, these sacred treatises are descriptions of the rites, prayers, necklaces and clothing, ebbós, paths, pataki, advice, and other ways of proceeding in the Yoruba religion.

From the Oshosi treaty today we focus on the consecration of this orisha and on some of the most important religious elements involved, let us remember that out of respect for the sacred, many details cannot be given, the idea is to know a little about these ceremonies.

When a person is consecrated (becomes a saint) in the Rule of Osha Ifá, in this case Oshosi, several ceremonies are performed, among them the one of the mountain and the one of the river, and the next day he enters the Igbodun, that is, the fourth of Santo, and in this sacred space many of the religious rituals are carried out.

We will also talk about the coronation suit, which is a powerful symbolic Yoruba element worn by the Iyawó (person who becomes a saint) and varies depending on the orisha of the pantheon that is going to be crowned.

The throne and the receptacle are also important religious traditions in the consecrations.

2 previous ceremonies to consecrate the Iyawó son of Oshosi

1. Mount Ceremony

This sacred ceremony is performed by the initiate (Iyawó) accompaniedañado of his oyubbona, where he will take a small goat, turtle, chicken, two pigeons and some Oshosi herbs.

Other elements are also used such as anise, honey, a lid to paint the Oshosi signature that is made of metal, smoked fish and hutia, roasted corn, black-eyed beans, and tobacco.

The initiate there kneels and begins a ceremony that, out of respect for the secrets of the Osha-Ifá, should not be shared.

2. River Ceremony

In this ceremony we proceed as with the other Orishas on the day of the river, it is a very important ritual during the consecration.

The action of carrying abañaTaking the initiate to the river in the consecrations of the Yoruba religion symbolizes breaking with the past and opening the new spiritual path.

when you leave the house towards the river, the Oyubbona must be prepared for the ceremony with:

A clay jar with its cloth of the color according to the Orisha to consecrate,
a piece of neutral soap,
a white comb,
the natural rope scourer,
honey,
the Oshinshin for Oshun and the bell,
four pieces of coconut and a change of used clothes.

Some religious procedures on the river:

The first thing that is done is to give Oshún coconut so that she has knowledge of the ceremony to be performed. Then the Oshinshin, the honey and the right to the river are offered.

The initiate enters the bank of the river in such a way that the water reaches only up to his knee, water is poured over his head using the jar, then his clothes are ripped over his body, making them shreds.

The Oyubbona uses the soap to wash the head and the loofah with soap for the body.

Then the Iyawo looks for the Ota or stone in the river.

Upon returning from the river, the Iyawó already at the door before entering the Ilé Osha (holy house) should be blown on his body and on the door an anizado.

know this story Why should the Iyawó visit the river and collect an otá? "click here"

3 Important elements in the consecration of Oshosi

These elements are essential in the Rule of Osha Ifá when becoming a saint.

1. Iyawó costume when crowning Oshosi

The Oshosi suit in its design is combined and trimmed with blue, yellow and violet fabrics, the same tones that this deity represents in the Osha.

The hat: The initiate on the head will wear a hat adorned with beads and seashells.
The layer: He also wears a cape lined inside in blue and on the outside it must be made of tiger skin or trimmed with tiger skin, or at least similar to that skin.

In addition, the layer must be covered with snails, of those used in the Diloggún.

The two ends of the cape are tied at the neck.

The pants It will go up to mid-calf. The other half that is exposed towards the feet are painted boots.
The boots: Those apparent boots will be painted with the same osun, that is, with the powder that was painted on the head (lerí) of the Iyawó on the day of his consecration.
The girdle: He wears a thick blue sash at the waist with mariwó (guano ornament with fringes).
the front: The Iyawó must be given a front of deer skin with "beads and snails", this will also be the necklace.

2. The Throne of the Iyawó

All the time that the Iyawó is on the throne, he will carry a shotgun in his hand and must aim it at all those present and at the one he is going to greet.

The thrones made to Oshosi:

They usually carry almond segments and a lot of herbs from this Orisha.
They are adorned with three loaded gourds.
It has a guiro with toasted corn, jutía and smoked fish, the second with corojo butter, and the third with anise.
Masked and hung among the grasses of the throne must be hunted birds, a bottle of honey, a bunch of bananas, a whole smoked fish, a smoked hutia, cigars, and a green güira.
Two cages are also hung, one of them with three quails and the other with three tomeguines or rabiches pigeons.

The previously roasted animals from the mount ceremony go to the throne and the left front leg of the roasted goat also goes.

The throne should carry tools such as arrows, a bow, and a tube-shaped bag that is where the arrows are kept.

The pylon of the Iyawó throne is almost always made with wood from the siguaraya or guava tree.

When this Orisha is head, the Babalawo must mount it, even if an Olorisha has consecrated it.

3. Oshosi Casserole

Let us remember that Oshosi's receptacle is a casserole, unlike other orishas it does not go in a tureen, but this is only received if you are Oshosi's son and they consecrate you.

Nor is it the same casserole that they give us in the warriors that goes with Oggun, let's get to know a little more about what characterizes it.

Characteristics of the receptacle of the Oshosi deity:

It should be mounted fixed to a large clay pot on earth from the cave of the crab (Ilé kan), kola nut (Obí kolá), Osun (powders used in the ceremony of the seat of the initiate to paint), seed of the seat ( ero), jutía and smoked fish (Ekú and Eyá), seven Oshosi herbs, sticks such as manajú or mangosteen, box stick, African piñon and chaya.

They also look for 7 stones (otases) in the mountain, always asking if Oshosi accepts them (a big black one and 6 yellow ones).

It must have quicksilver, siguaraya root, ceiba root, jagüey root, land from different places (7), goat's head, different minerals, tanned animal skin, etc.

A guide or arrow (atena) is painted on the pot where different Ifá signs go.

Also inside it carries a handful of Ifá seeds (ikin) and abundant palo moruro.

Other tools and elements of power of the Orisha:

Oshosi's crown will be a full deer head.

Apart from the pot, a bowl is placed where the tools are located with:

seven stones,
a coin and
a jar of ox to call him.

The Oshosi that carries a consecrated person must be large and will carry two crossed and open spears, pointing to both sides, sealed to the Oshosi arrow.

On the sides he carries two revolvers, which, also like the arrow, point towards the front of the house so that they always hunt the good, so that it arrives, and they hunt the bad, so that it does not arrive.

When assembling the pot of this Orisha, he is also fed quail and carries his respective ceremony.
When they finish everything they fix it with cement and around it it will be adorned with snails.
Completing the ritual, the quails are roasted and presented to Oshosi giving him knowledge of what has been done.

It is important to know that Oshosi is only uncovered if sacrifices are going to be made to him, for example, the orisha eats rooster, quail, rabbit, ram, goat, and all kinds of birds in his offerings.