January 17≫ Day of Ozain the guardian of the mountain in Santeria

This January 17 we celebrate Ozain del Monte, the Orisha connoisseur of the ashé of the plants, the healer and fortune teller to whom we turn for advice on needs. Its celebration is made for its Catholic syncretism with Saint Anthony the Abbot, the patron saint of animals. Both deities share their affinity for nature.

Osain, is the orisha of the Yoruba pantheon who governs nature and focuses its power on the use of the plant world, to heal and protect the devotees from evils and ailments.

They say that Osain has no father or mother and that he came out of the earth like grass, that is why he is the absolute owner of the mountain, which serves as his father and guide.

There are many writings, stories and assumptions regarding the true meaning of the name "Ozain." For example, it can be translated as:

"Sacred herb that has neither father nor mother"
"Mountain"
"Owner of the herbs"
"He who has the gift of multiplying".

We can also translate your name as:

OSA it is translated as a wind that is never quiet or calm and that is unstable and a current of air that moves and multiplies.
IN or INLE it means first on earth, the first who acted and made the ashé, the one who gave the gift of mobility to this world.

The origin of Osain world

They say that Igba, Oggue, Ala aye and Osain came to the world first. Igba, would be in charge of paving the roads and Oggue, with his power, would remove from the earth the spirits that disturbed it, known as Agungunes or Eggun.

Ala-aye would be the one who would modify the earth, raise mountains, correct the inequalities and anomalies of the terrain, among other things.

To give life and greenery, Osain arrived, with twenty-one seeds that he had to spread on the ground so that the plants would grow and provide shade before the coming of Oddua.

When Osain arrived on earth he carried out his mission, throwing the seeds in different places, growing and multiplying the vegetation throughout the planet and covering it in its entirety.

And when the sea arose, it occupied places where there were plants and many perished, but others adapted and that is why there are also plants in the sea.

Then Olofin called all his sons to give each a religious government, but only Changó and Oshún attended.

Osain was the one who received them and also baptized them on the river bank, knowing an old song referring to that:

OMI WARA WARA, IGBU OKAN LOÑIO
OZAIN AGO LO NI ASHE, OZAIN IGBU ODDON

Translation to Spanish:

Water that runs in the river, which Osain drank and gave his heart.
Blessed is this water by Ozain for consecration

The history of the deformations of Saint Ozain

Representation of Ozain del monte

Did you know that? Osain has only one hand, one leg, one eye, one big ear, and one girl, who he listens for.

And it is that a Yoruba patakí tells that Osain had her fucked with the fortune teller Orula, although it did him no harm.

But Osain was casting spells on her and Orula didn't know how to protect herself against so many disorders. At last he decided to consult with Chango the king of fire to find out who his enemy was.

Osain was in the forest looking for herbs to harm him when Orula made an ebbó advised by Chango and as soon as Orula began to do the invocations, lightning fell on the mountain and Osain was imprisoned between two fires.

This is how he lost his limbs and his missing eye. When Orula saw Osain all battered, he knew who his enemy was.

And Osain, for his part, decided to go live in the mountains alone. He only comes out to help those who summon him.

What are the Powers from Osain? The owner of nature

Osain is a major Orisha:

Owner of nature and is at the same time nature itself.
He is a wise deity, knowledgeable of all plants, animals, and minerals.
I guess you can save lives by using the ashé of plants.
He is a doctor, owner of all the secrets of nature.
Del Monte is a hunter and celibate and there are those who have him as a guardian and consultant.
He is also the deity of the Pharmacopoeia.

His full name is Osain Oguenegui Aguaddo Kuni-Kuni, although he is also known as Osain Agguchuiy

The cult of Osain is so important that it is said that, although the ebbó (cleansing) may be aimed at promoting the intervention of any particular orisha, the use of the resources of the mountain always makes the invocation of Osain indispensable.

In addition, it is said that this Orisha is capable of warding off the Iku (death) and that is why herbs, powders and other natural elements are used to treat ailments.

This deity is located on the left side of the body and participates in all consecrations, since each and every one uses herbs, which must be used correctly to achieve their purpose.

Attributes and elements of power:

Osain's receptacle It is a hanging güiro with four feathers, a jicotea carapace and clay jars indistinctly containing 3 mountain stones.

Its main attribute It is the Marimbó made with tender palm guides or the center of these.

Between their secret loads are included:

land of the four corners, of bibijagüero (black wasp nest) and of the house,
dust of all hard sticks and of rooster heads, quail, jicotea, talking birds and gorse,
filings of various metals, precipitate, quicksilver, four hooks, bibijaguas, silver and gold coins,
river water, wells, springs, streams, sea.

Attentions dedicated to Osain

Osain is very fond of smoking and has a disconcerting habit of appearing to night owls to ask for a fire.

This Orisha likes certain gifts or offerings in particular, among which are:

Tobacco
Corn
Seeds and flowers
Schnapps
Goats, jicoteas, griffon roosters and talking birds are sacrificed
You can also offer specific herbs and sticks from the forest.

Likewise, you can be served with drinks, Kola nut, guinea pepper and roasted corn.

In some cults, among his attentions, the person making the offerings must kneel on one leg. It is important to know that the attention to this orisha must be carried out by people with knowledge in it, otherwise they may be harmed.

Osain should not be attended to if you do not have the knowledge to do so, his character is impatient, and he can easily take offense.

In addition, their worship is exclusive to men and women cannot be part of the ceremonies.

His temple is the mountain, there you can take those offerings that you like so much. From the quiet of the mountain you can ask, pray and invoke Ozain, express our joys and wishes and ask him to always protect us.

Prayers or prayers to Osain del monte

There are prayers and prayers to request favors and kindness from this powerful orisha, ruler of nature, owner of the secrets of plants, to which many go to regain their health, since he is considered the maximum healer, the one who uses the ashé de herbs to heal and relieve ailments.

Let us remember that prayers are usually accompanied by offerings to give strength to the request. We must also know that Osain is proud and very powerful, so we must always pray to him with great faith and confidence.

A very short prayer to the deity is the following prayer:

"OZAIN KU ELESE KAN, OZAIN KU ELESE MELLI KO LABI ARO, KO LABI ORUN ASE MO OZAIN "

Translated to Spanish:

"Ozain to you who, with one leg, which makes you two, and who heals ills together with the forces of the far beyond, I beg you Ozain for my luck"

Prayer to the spirit of Osain:

In the Palo mayombe to invoke its blessings, it is prayed as follows:

"I (Name and surname), a servant of Nzambi, invoke the spirit of Osain, the guardian of the great mysteries of nature and all that is visible and invisible to listen to my spiritual requests"
Glorious Spirit Osain, who gives man the power of the sacred knowledge of herbs and the secrets of magic and who frees us from all our known and unknown enemies, hear my prayer.
O Glorious Spirit Osain, I invoke your sacred and divine power to manifest here and grant my request. Salamalekun, Malekunsala (Make the request)

Prayer dedicated to the Orisha to free him from all evil:

Another type of prayer, asking for Osain's blessings and his protection is:

I (Name and surname) ask you Osain in the name of God, give me light, evolution, luck, spiritual tranquility, development.
That the works that I undertake, always walk and come out strong and triumphant leaving their mark. May you free me from injustice and justice, from spells, incantations, curses, shipments of the dead, from garments and from evil works with the Oshas and Orishas.
Please deliver me from all the evils that can reach me or my family, that can reach me or have reached me.
From the bad thoughts of my fellow men present and absent towards me, let their thought be nothing but sweetness and flattery towards me.
May they free me from any harm they want to do to me or do to me, that if it is plotted that they become entangled and cannot do it.
Deliver me from accidents by land, by sea, or by air, as well as anywhere in the world that I am, day or night.
Osain make me invisible to the eyes of my enemies, or make them blind to them so that they will never find a way to destroy me, nor spell my Guardian Angel.
Free me from bladed weapons, from fire, make me a master in discovering the traitor and destroying him with the help of the planets, Angels and Archangels, with their power, the commissions of light, the 7 African Powers, the 7 Arab Powers, the Conga commission.

Songs for osain

In many of the Yoruba ceremonies, especially when making the omiero (spiritual herbal water) for the deities, chants are performed in worship of Osain, so that the Orisha listens to us and brings power and energy to the herbs.

One of the songs to praise Osain is:

ATIMPOLA IFAURO, ATIMPOLA IFAURO, IFA OWO, IFA OMA, IFA ILE, ATIMPOLA IFAURO.
OZAIN NILAYE BEBEWAO NILAYE, BEBEWAO NILAYE, BEBEWAO NILAYE, OZAIN NILAYE BEBEWAO NILAYE.
EWE NI LADIDEO, EWE NI LADIDE, EWE NI LADIDEO, EWE NI LADIDE, FOKO OSHA OZAIN EHE MALE, EWE NI LADIDE, FOKO OSHA OZAIN EHE MALE, EWE NI LADIDE.
OZAIN FARAWA, OZAIN FARAWA, EHEA AYE OZAIN FARAWA, OZAIN FARAWA, EHEA AYE OZAIN FARAWA, OZAIN FARAWA.