OGUN: Orisa Of Iron.. must read

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Oya – OgunOgun, as historical figure, a fearsome and bloodthirsty warrior who fought constantly against kingdoms. He always brought his expeditions rich booty and a considerable number of slaves.  Oniiré king of Iré but for reasons unknown to us, he never had the right to wear a crown, ade, made of small beads of glass assembled, and decorated with fringes of beads conceal the face, symbolizing royalty among the Yoruba.

Many years after placing his son on the throne of Iré and to be left to make war elsewhere, Ogun decided to return to see and visit the scene of his former exploits. Unfortunately, the day of his arrival, the people of the city celebrating a festival during which the participants cannot speak for any reason. Ogun was hungry and thirsty. H
e lives jars that had contained palm wine but he knew they were empty. Nobody had welcomed nor had answered his questions. He did not recognize the scene after a long absence. Ogun whose patience is short, was angry, shocked by the general silence he took for a mark of contempt. He began to break saber jars, then carried away by the action, he began to cut the head of the closest people, until his son offered him the foods he likes displaying prominently, dogs and snails, beans washed down with palm oil and a jar of palm wine.

Ogun sated and calmed, regretted his past violence and declared that he had lived long enough. He lowered his arm and directed the point of his sword to the ground and sank into the earth with a terrifying noise. Before disappearing, he uttered some words. When these words are spoken during a battle, Ogun immediately appears and helps to the one speaking; but these words cannot be said in other circumstances because if his appearance, Ogun did not find enemy in front of him, it would be unwise to who would have invoked it would take.forces5

Ogun is the God of iron, blacksmiths and all who use this metal: farmers, hunters, warriors, butchers, barbers,
carpenters carpenters and sculptors. Ogun is the spirit of dynamic creativity. Often associated with the blacksmith or metal worker, Ogun is the energy of focus and work that brings our tools into form. Ogun often possess an incredibly fierce work ethic and tireless energy. Ogun is the energy that decides to do something and doesn’t stop until that task is completed.

The energy of Ogun can clear away blockage at any level.

We can learn more of Orisha Ogun from its relationship with Iron. The Iron Age was the beginning of humankind’s quantum leap into technology, which has helped us progress into the modern era. This Orisha is also associated with the spirit of the forest – a fecund and complex ecosystem full of medicines and organisms that sustain themselves and each other. Ogun provides us with the tools, creative ideas, and the sheer force of will that are needed to evolve and achieve our goals.other9

” The usual sacrifice offered to Ogun is a dog, together with fowls, palm oil, and minor articles of food. A proverb says, “An old dog must be sacrificed to Ogun,” meaning that Ogun claims the best; and a dog’s head, emblematic of this sacrifice, is always to be seen fastened up in some conspicuous part of the workshops of blacksmiths. On very important occasions, however, a human victim is offered. The victim is slain by having his head struck off upon the stool of Ogun, over which the blood is made to gush. The reason of this is that the blood is believed to contain the vital principle, and therefore to be an offering, particularly acceptable to the Gods.”

** The priests of Ogun usually take out the hearts of human victims, which are dried, reduced to powder, then mixed with rum, and sold to persons who wish to be endowed with great courage, and who drink the mixture. The reason of this is that the heart is believed to be the seat of courage and to inherently possess that quality; and that when the heart is devoured or swallowed the quality with which it is inspired is also taken into the system.**

In addition to his power over metal, Ogun holds special dominion over the forest. Some view him as the archetypal “wild man of the woods.” For this reason, shrines to Ogun are often located outdoors, at the base of trees or near a forge. A sacred shrine may also be located on the floor behind the front door. It all depends on which tradition one is honoring. The forced migration of the middle passage is perhaps the most important explanation for the multiple incarnations of the Ogun spirit. Everyone needs a warrior. Ogun is his name among the Yoruba people. Among the Fon he is called Gu. In Cuban Santeria (Lukumi) he is known as Ogun, or Oggun; In Brazilian Candomble , Ogum; in Haiti’s Vodou and New Orleans Voodoo Papa Ogou.

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