Osanyin (was Re: Yemaya...)
Stephen C. Wehmeyer
In article <blair-ya02408000...@nntp.best.com> bl...@best.com (Blair Whitmer) writes:
>From: bl...@best.com (Blair Whitmer)
>Subject: Re: Yemaya/Yemoja (please add to this thread)
>Date: Fri, 13 Feb 1998 16:34:57 -0800
>In article <34e58cb1...@news.pipeline.com>, deol...@pipeline.com
>(Denise Oliver-Velez) wrote:
><snip>
>>Foods/animals: duck, turtle, goat, black-eyed peas, rats, waterbugs,
>>watermelon, molasses
>Hmm...I've never heard about a turtle. I thought that was exclusively
>Chango's.
Osanyin also eats turtles.
>>Yemaya is said to have given birth to many of the other orisha among
>>them: Shango
>> Dada
>> Ogun
>> Olokun (this is debated)
>> Oya
>> Oshun
>> Oba
>> Osanyin
>> Babaluaiye
>> Ibeji (others say Ibeji are Oya's or Oshun's but raised
>> by Yemaya)
>>
Interesting! The children of Osanyin say that he has no father and no
mother, rather that he arose like the grass. This is also consistent with
his position on the periphery of the social network as an Orisha of the Bush
rather than the Village. Of course, each Orisha has its own individual corpus
of stories which centralize and privilege that particular Orisha...
Maferefun Osanyin,
Maferefun Yemaya!
Steve
___________________________________________________________________________
Stephen C. Wehmeyer, M.A. "The Green Blade is Mightier
UCLA Folklore and Mythology Program than the Iron Blade."
/\ /\ /\
* ** *
* ** *
* ** *
* ** *
****
Ache Omo Osanyin
Eoghan Ballard
In article <wehmeyer.8...@ucla.edu>, wehm...@ucla.edu (Stephen C.
Wehmeyer) wrote:
> Interesting! The children of Osanyin say that he has no father and no
> mother, rather that he arose like the grass. This is also consistent with
> his position on the periphery of the social network as an Orisha of the Bush
> rather than the Village. Of course, each Orisha has its own individual
corpus
> of stories which centralize and privilege that particular Orisha...
I too have heard this of Osain. Of course, Osain plays a role in Las
Reglas de Congo as well, where he is often known as Gurunfinda. In Kimbisa
he goes by the rather short name "Sindaula Ndundu Yambata Butan Seke". All
who receive Osain in Palo are called Osainistas. He also eats talking
parrots.
He is associated with San Jose, San Benito, San Antonio Abad, San
Silvestre (logically) and in Kimbisa with San Ramon Nonnato.
Nsala Maleko,
Eoghan
--
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Kutu kani kuditi, kalendi vioka ntuko.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ebal...@sas.upenn.edu
Denise Oliver-Velez
Well now we have a second thread in the series (grin). Thank you
Steve.
~~~Meaning of Yoruba name -
he is called "Agbe N'igi" the one who lives in trees
~~~Spiritual Principle - healing/medicine
~~~Element - the forest
~~~Colors - green
~~~Feast Day - (?)
~~~Day of the week - (?)
~~~Syncretized with: Saint Joseph (San Jose)
~~~Number: 3
~~~Gender - male
~~~Offerings: turtle, herbs
~~~Emblems - leaves, staff surmounted with a bird
~~~Paths/caminos - (?)
On Fri, 13 Feb 1998 23:01:59, wehm...@ucla.edu (Stephen C. Wehmeyer)
wrote:
>In article <blair-ya02408000...@nntp.best.com> bl...@best.com (Blair Whitmer) writes:
>>From: bl...@best.com (Blair Whitmer)
>>Subject: Re: Yemaya/Yemoja (please add to this thread)
>>Date: Fri, 13 Feb 1998 16:34:57 -0800
>
>
>>In article <34e58cb1...@news.pipeline.com>, deol...@pipeline.com
>>(Denise Oliver-Velez) wrote:
>
>><snip>
>
>>>Foods/animals: duck, turtle, goat, black-eyed peas, rats, waterbugs,
>>>watermelon, molasses
>
>>Hmm...I've never heard about a turtle. I thought that was exclusively
>>Chango's.
>
>Osanyin also eats turtles.
>
>>>Yemaya is said to have given birth to many of the other orisha among
>>>them: Shango
>>> Dada
>>> Ogun
>>> Olokun (this is debated)
>>> Oya
>>> Oshun
>>> Oba
>>> Osanyin
>>> Babaluaiye
>>> Ibeji (others say Ibeji are Oya's or Oshun's but raised
>>> by Yemaya)
>>>
>
>Interesting! The children of Osanyin say that he has no father and no
>mother, rather that he arose like the grass. This is also consistent with
>his position on the periphery of the social network as an Orisha of the Bush
>rather than the Village. Of course, each Orisha has its own individual corpus
>of stories which centralize and privilege that particular Orisha...
>
Stephen C. Wehmeyer
In article <eballard-140...@dialin0176.upenn.edu> ebal...@sas.upenn.edu (Eoghan Ballard) writes:
>From: ebal...@sas.upenn.edu (Eoghan Ballard)
>Subject: Re: Osanyin (was Re: Yemaya...)
>Date: Sat, 14 Feb 1998 08:41:42 -0500
>I too have heard this of Osain. Of course, Osain plays a role in Las
>Reglas de Congo as well, where he is often known as Gurunfinda. In Kimbisa
>he goes by the rather short name "Sindaula Ndundu Yambata Butan Seke". All
>who receive Osain in Palo are called Osainistas. He also eats talking
>parrots.
>He is associated with San Jose, San Benito, San Antonio Abad, San
>Silvestre (logically) and in Kimbisa with San Ramon Nonnato.
And also with San Sebastian (whose chromolithographs depict a nearly naked
saint pinned to a tree by numerous arrows -- both the tree and "battle
scarred" saint suggest Osanyin)
A note on spelling... while I'm pretty sure this differs from house to house
(and certainly from religion to religion) the convention the house with which
I have the closest ties uses is: "Osanyin" for the Orisha, and "Osain" for
the numerous sacred objects created "under" him -- f.e. "Niche Osain."
Elsewhere the two seem to be pretty interchangeable...
Haitian Vodou has a figure called "Ossangne" or "Ossange" who is rather
elusive, but whose veve and sacred objects suggest shared characteristics with
the Lukumi Osanyin.
I should also add that the Osanyin track (#3) on Spiro's Bata Ketu CD is
fantastic! I recommend it for listening while reading this thread!
Maferefun Osanyin,
Blair Whitmer
In article <34e7e005....@news.pipeline.com>, deol...@pipeline.com
(Denise Oliver-Velez) wrote:
>Well now we have a second thread in the series (grin). Thank you
>Steve.
>
>~~~Meaning of Yoruba name -
>he is called "Agbe N'igi" the one who lives in trees
>
>~~~Spiritual Principle - healing/medicine
>
>~~~Element - the forest
>
>~~~Colors - green
>
>~~~Feast Day - (?)
>
>~~~Day of the week - (?)
>
>~~~Syncretized with: Saint Joseph (San Jose)
>
>~~~Number: 3
>
>~~~Gender - male
>
>~~~Offerings: turtle, herbs
>
>~~~Emblems - leaves, staff surmounted with a bird
>
>~~~Paths/caminos - (?)
This brings up an interesting topic concerning the difference between
Osanyin and Osun. I don't really know very much about either, and the info
that I DO have is often jumbled between the two. I'll need to talk to my
Madrina to get some more info.
He (they) have only one leg to stand on, and there is an apataki (which I
don't really know) that talks about Ogun blinding Osanyin to protect the
secrets of the forest. Somewhere in the dim recesses of my brain I also
seem to remember an eleke that I THINK was for Osanyin: opaque,
medium-green and opaque medium-brown beads, alternating. It was made with
largish beads and worn as a bandera (over one shoulder). I definately
remember the eleke, but can't swear it was for Osanyin.
Also, at least here in the SF Bay Area, receiving Osanyin (Osain) FULL is
rather rare... I only know of one person (or at least only one who TALKS
about it). And I wonder if it was via Santeria that he received it, its in
a huge calderon that looks more like a nganga. It definately has that "Old
Cuba" look and feel to it. This, of course, is different than the small
hanging Osains that people have in their house for various reasons.
I should stop now...It is very dangerous for me to try to talk about things
I really don't know very much about. Not that I feel that I've divulged
any secrets, but I simply don't have enough information. Also, it might
become necessary over the course of this discussion to differentiate
between Osanyin the Orisha, Osain the ceremony, and Osain (omiero) the
substance. Of course, it must be understood that "Osain the ceremony" is
santero-only information, of which I cannot divulge any information.
Though it MAY be appropriate at a later date to list what ewes (herbs) are
used for which Orisha. And even if my Madrina approves of the desemination
of that info, it will be controversial for me to do so, because really only
a priest can make use of it or an aleyo who's gathering herbs for their
godparents.
I said I should stop now...I'll get some more info, and see what of it I
can post.
Alafia!
Omi Ire'lokun (Blair Whitmer)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Maferefun gbogbo Orisha!
Moyuba gbogbo Egun Ara Onu!
Bendecion Iya mi, Olo O–i Iya
Bendecion Ajugbona mi, Obafun
Alafia!
Denise Oliver-Velez
On Sat, 14 Feb 1998 11:57:13 -0800, bl...@best.com (Blair Whitmer)
wrote:
(snip)
>
>This brings up an interesting topic concerning the difference between
>Osanyin and Osun. I don't really know very much about either, and the info
>that I DO have is often jumbled between the two. I'll need to talk to my
>Madrina to get some more info.
John Mason goes into a long discourse about Osanyin - Osun in "Four
New World Yoruba Rituals". He indicates that "Osun" , which we
receive with our warriors is in actuality the "staff of Osanyin".
I remember my Baba of Ifa telling me once, some time ago, that Osanyin
actually got to Cuba later than some of the other orisha - brought by
a Dahomeian priest. Osun was already being received - but that in
Yoruba land Osanyin is the orisha, Osun his symbol.
Don't know - will wait to see what others have to say on this.
I have Osun, but I have also received Osanyin. Will not comment on
any of the differences ceremonially. I can say however that after
receiving Osanyin, my gardening skills went from "brown thumb" to
"bright green".
I will quote directly form JM here - it is interesting:
"Before his fall, tradition pictures Osanyin as a robust and
powerfully-built healer, whose knowledge and powers caused all in need
to entreat his aid. This position of advantage had a twofold effect.
It hardened Osanyin's heart to the needs of the other Orisha, whose
worship suffered as Osanyin's fame spread. His refusal to share his
knowledge caused those twin demons jealousy and hate, to spring to
life. Curse is the child of jealousy and hate, and as Osanyin more
and more ignored the needs of those around him, their curse grew and
grew until its very weight brought the walls of his home crashing down
around him. After, he rose from the rubble less than before. where
once there were two legs, two arms, two eyes, there remained only one.
His voice reduced to a chirping whisper, one ear cauliflowered and
useless.
Osanyin rose like a Phoenix to seek a new beginning. ELESE KAN JU
ELESE MEJI LO _THE ONE LEGGED MAN WHO IS MOE POWERFUL THAN THOSE WITH
TWO LEGS. The odu Ose Ejiogbe teaches that "we never know what we
have until we lose it". Osanyin embodies the idea of coming to grips
with the evil side of existence. He represents the ability to
maintain poise. He is the balanced mind flying up and soaring over
all adversity. He possesses the mind to guard against man's
inhumanity to man Because of his loss, he stands firmer on one leg
than those with two legs."
>
>He (they) have only one leg to stand on, and there is an apataki (which I
>don't really know) that talks about Ogun blinding Osanyin to protect the
>secrets of the forest. Somewhere in the dim recesses of my brain I also
>seem to remember an eleke that I THINK was for Osanyin: opaque,
>medium-green and opaque medium-brown beads, alternating. It was made with
>largish beads and worn as a bandera (over one shoulder). I definately
>remember the eleke, but can't swear it was for Osanyin.
>
>Also, at least here in the SF Bay Area, receiving Osanyin (Osain) FULL is
>rather rare... I only know of one person (or at least only one who TALKS
>about it). And I wonder if it was via Santeria that he received it, its in
>a huge calderon that looks more like a nganga. It definately has that "Old
>Cuba" look and feel to it. This, of course, is different than the small
>hanging Osains that people have in their house for various reasons.
>
>I should stop now...It is very dangerous for me to try to talk about things
>I really don't know very much about. Not that I feel that I've divulged
>any secrets, but I simply don't have enough information. Also, it might
>become necessary over the course of this discussion to differentiate
>between Osanyin the Orisha, Osain the ceremony, and Osain (omiero) the
>substance.
Agree
> Of course, it must be understood that "Osain the ceremony" is
>santero-only information, of which I cannot divulge any information.
Agree!!!
>Though it MAY be appropriate at a later date to list what ewes (herbs) are
>used for which Orisha.
there is a long list in the back of John's book, and an even longer
one in Lydia Cabrera's "El Monte" that lists which herbs belong to
which orisha. I don't think there is any problems with posting
these...but we certainly cannot talk about how they are prepared.
> And even if my Madrina approves of the desemination
>of that info, it will be controversial for me to do so, because really only
>a priest can make use of it or an aleyo who's gathering herbs for their
>godparents.
>
>I said I should stop now...I'll get some more info, and see what of it I
>can post.
>
>Alafia!
>Omi Ire'lokun (Blair Whitmer)
>
Alafia Omi Ire'lokun and thanks.
Denise Oliver-Velez
Just noticed that there is a long article on Osanyin on Church of
Lucumi Babalu Aye web site - as well as a glossary of herbs - still
under construction (no descriptions) but Latin name, Spanish, English
and Yoruba listed.
http://home.earthlink.net/~clba/
