OSHUN-IYALODE – Goddess Of Life & Fertility

http://yagbeonilu.com/oshun-iyalode-goddess-life-fertility/

**Oshun Is Depicted As The Goddess Who Not Only GivesLife But Also Takes It. Oshun Saves Earth From Destruction By Calling Back The Waters.

Osun – Oshun, an Orisha (deity) of the Yoruba people. Oshun is commonly called the river Orisha, or Goddess, in the Yoruba religion and is typically associated with water, purity, fertility, love, and sensuality. She is considered one of the most powerful of all Orishas, and, like other Gods, she possesses human attributes such as vanity, jealousy, and spite.

Several myths exist concerning Oshun and her significance as a Yoruba deity. In most Yoruba stories, Oshun is generally depicted as the protector, savior, or nurturer of humanity. Oshun has also been described as the maintainer of spiritual balance or mother of sweet things. One myth highlights Oshun as the central figure in the creation of human beings. The Yoruba people believe that the Orishas were sent by Olodumare, who is considered the Supreme God, to populate the Earth. Oshun, being one of the original 17 sent to Earth, was the only female deity. The other gods, all male, failed at their attempts to revive and populate the Earth. When they realized they were unable to complete the task given to them by Olodumare, they tried to persuade Oshun to help them. Oshun agreed and brought forth her sweet and powerful waters, bringing life back to Earth and humanity and other species into existence. As that Yoruba myth suggests, humanity would not exist if Oshun, the goddess of life and fertility, had not acted.

She is commonly described as the favorite of all orishas by Olodumare, because of her beauty and sensuality. In yet another Yoruba story, Oshun is depicted as the Goddess who not only gives life but also takes it. When angered, Oshun may flood Earth or destroy crops by withholding her waters, thereby causing massive droughts. In one myth, Oshun is incensed by her devotees and sends down rain, nearly flooding the world. Yet once she has been appeased, Oshun saves Earth from destruction by calling back the waters.

Tradition holds that the first interaction between Oshun and human beings took place in Osogbo, Yorubaland. That city is considered sacred, and it is believed to be fiercely protected by the water goddess. Oshun is said to have given the people who went to her river permission to build the city and promised to provide for them, protect them, and grant their prayers if they worshipped her dutifully, making the obligatory offerings, prayers, and other rituals. Out of that first encounter between the people of Osogbo and Oshun evolved the Oshun festival, which is still practiced today by the Yoruba people. Every year Oshun devotees and other people of the Yoruba religious tradition go to the Oshun River to pay homage, make sacrifice, and ask for a variety of things such as wealth, children, and better health. Although other orishas are honored during the festival, the climax of the festival is centerd on Oshun.

Oshun is the energy of attraction on all levels. It is through this Orisha that abundance, fertility, laughter and lightness are called forth. Oshun attracts love, sexuality, joy and prosperity. It is the energy of harmony and song, as beauty in all its forms comes through this Orisha. It enables conception in any manifestation, from a chil
d in the womb to the stroke of genius that sparks a fruitful business endeavor or partnership. Oshun brings joy. Those in alignment with Oshun are often perceived to be open, happy, emotional and social beings.

Symbolized by the sweet waters, Oshun demonstrates the power of love itself. Just as a river traverses roots, boulders, curves, and miles of obstacles to reach its destination, love will let nothing stop it from achieving its purpose. Oshun is the river and she whispers to all living things, and animals naturally hear Her, without any effort at all. Her favorite are birds like parrots, vultures and peacocks, but She also has command over fish, the water fowl, and the reptiles that come to Her river banks. In fact, because we are all dawn to Her sweet water to drink. She is the medium that connects all worlds, from the largest animal, to the arid climate vegetable, the smallest mineral, and we cannot resist Her call. According to the Yoruba elders, Oshun is the “unseen mother present at every gathering”, because, in Yoruba, Oshun is the cosmological forces of water, and attraction.

Oshún represents the intensity of the feelings and the spirituality, the human sensuality, the gentleness, the refinement, the love and all related to women. She protects the pregnant; she is a beautiful woman, cheering and smiling but inside she’s very severe, suffered and sometimes sad.

It’s said she lived in a cave that still exists in Ijesa
Therefore She is omnipresent and omnipotent. Yoruba scribes reminds us that “no one is an enemy to water” and therefore everyone has need of and should respect and revere Oshun , as well as Her followers.