PATAKIS
Patakí One - Odu Osetura
In the beginning, all the deities come down from Heaven to create and populate the Earth, including: Obatalá, the king of the kings, Ogún, the tool maker, and Changó, the lord of flame and ego. Among the deities, or orishas, there is only one female: Oshún. The male orishas bring down their hammers and axes and use their tools to start making the world. They think little of Oshún and let her know that she isn’t needed in their creation project. The other orishas see no use for her femininity and sweetness. Dismissed and disregarded, Oshún becomes resentful and leaves the Earth to go sit on the Moon. With Oshun’s departure, all the freshwater on the Earth dries up. The other orishas quickly learn that they can’t do anything without freshwater on Earth. They can’t grow crops, they can’t build homes, and they can’t quench their thirst. There is no water to drink on Earth because, without Oshún, love has left the planet.
The male deities go back up to Oludumare, the god of gods, and complain about the situation on Earth. Oludumare immediately notices that one deity is missing and asks, “Where is Oshún?” Oludumare then summons her to the heavens. Upon her arrival, Oshún explains that the other orishas had insulted her and had been stupid enough to think they didn’t need sensuality and love. Oludumare makes the male orishas apologize to Oshún. Oshún accepts their apology but she warns them not to make the same mistake again.
Priests and religious practitioners all over the world make offerings in dry rivers or go to the river to purify and pray. In doing so, they are recognizing the power of the divine feminine and how dangerous it is to have Oshún leave the planet. When our planet is deprived of love, nurturing, and tenderness it causes devastation. We see it in things like fracking, droughts, wildfires, risk of extinction in bees, human trafficking, and war. All of these are signs that we have angered Oshún by failing to appreciate her purpose.
The male deities go back up to Oludumare, the god of gods, and complain about the situation on Earth. Oludumare immediately notices that one deity is missing and asks, “Where is Oshún?” Oludumare then summons her to the heavens. Upon her arrival, Oshún explains that the other orishas had insulted her and had been stupid enough to think they didn’t need sensuality and love. Oludumare makes the male orishas apologize to Oshún. Oshún accepts their apology but she warns them not to make the same mistake again.
Priests and religious practitioners all over the world make offerings in dry rivers or go to the river to purify and pray. In doing so, they are recognizing the power of the divine feminine and how dangerous it is to have Oshún leave the planet. When our planet is deprived of love, nurturing, and tenderness it causes devastation. We see it in things like fracking, droughts, wildfires, risk of extinction in bees, human trafficking, and war. All of these are signs that we have angered Oshún by failing to appreciate her purpose.
Patakí Two - A legend of love: How Orula marries the beautiful Oshún
In a far away land, the lovely Oshún lived comfortably with her protective mother. Oshún was the most beautiful girl, with long hair, a sensual smile, and a captivating laugh. Men would fall in love by just looking at her.
Many men arrived at Oshún’s house to ask her mother for her hand in marriage. Oshún’s mother asked all of these suitors the same simple question: Do you know the name of my beloved daughter? None of the suitors knew the answer. Most of them were hypnotized by Oshún’s appearance and never thought to ask. Then the mother would ask the suitors: How do you intend to marry my daughter if you don’t even know her name?
Many men tried to guess the name of this beautiful lady and all failed at the attempt. The mother, tired of receiving so many suitors, decided she wasn't going to receive anyone else in her home who didn't know her daughter's name. The great oracle, Orula, was among the long list of suitors, but even he with his powerful board couldn't guess the woman’s name. Determined to learn the answer and marry the enchanting woman, Orula decided to call Eleguá for help. The great and powerful Eleguá, skilled at hiding and transformation, began to dress and act like an old man walking in the neighborhood, and at other times like a child playing at the four corners near the young girl’s house. Patiently, Eleguá hid behind doors, leaned against trees, and perched on walls, until finally he heard the beautiful woman’s mother calling to her softly.
The beautiful young woman was called: OSHÚN.
Happy to have fulfilled his task, Eleguá ran to Orula and told him what he had discovered. Without wasting any time, Orula hurried to Oshún’s house in search of her mother. Respectfully, Orula said to the mother: With your permission, I humbly ask to marry your daughter, Oshún. Oshún’s mother was happy for Orula to be her daughter’s husband, and she agreed to the marriage.
And so it was that in this patakí of Orula and Oshún, thanks to the intelligence and cunning of the little giant Eleguá, Orula managed to marry the most beautiful and solicited bachelorette in town: Oshún.
Many men arrived at Oshún’s house to ask her mother for her hand in marriage. Oshún’s mother asked all of these suitors the same simple question: Do you know the name of my beloved daughter? None of the suitors knew the answer. Most of them were hypnotized by Oshún’s appearance and never thought to ask. Then the mother would ask the suitors: How do you intend to marry my daughter if you don’t even know her name?
Many men tried to guess the name of this beautiful lady and all failed at the attempt. The mother, tired of receiving so many suitors, decided she wasn't going to receive anyone else in her home who didn't know her daughter's name. The great oracle, Orula, was among the long list of suitors, but even he with his powerful board couldn't guess the woman’s name. Determined to learn the answer and marry the enchanting woman, Orula decided to call Eleguá for help. The great and powerful Eleguá, skilled at hiding and transformation, began to dress and act like an old man walking in the neighborhood, and at other times like a child playing at the four corners near the young girl’s house. Patiently, Eleguá hid behind doors, leaned against trees, and perched on walls, until finally he heard the beautiful woman’s mother calling to her softly.
The beautiful young woman was called: OSHÚN.
Happy to have fulfilled his task, Eleguá ran to Orula and told him what he had discovered. Without wasting any time, Orula hurried to Oshún’s house in search of her mother. Respectfully, Orula said to the mother: With your permission, I humbly ask to marry your daughter, Oshún. Oshún’s mother was happy for Orula to be her daughter’s husband, and she agreed to the marriage.
And so it was that in this patakí of Orula and Oshún, thanks to the intelligence and cunning of the little giant Eleguá, Orula managed to marry the most beautiful and solicited bachelorette in town: Oshún.
Patakí Three - Ibu Kole
In the early days of creating the Earth, the orishas grew tired of serving the god of gods, Oludumare.They started resisting orders from Oludumare and even began planning to overthrow his kingdom in Heaven and on Earth. With Oludumare all the way in the sky, he was far removed from the real challenges the orishas were facing on Earth and they felt like they didn't need him. The orishas thought it would be more efficient to deal with their pain and obstacles without Oludumare in the way.
When Oludumare realized what the orishas were planning, he made a hard decision and unleashed a flood upon the planet. The flood destroyed the orishas’ houses, their animals, their crops, and everything they had been building. It was impossible to continue creating on Earth with the unstoppable floods. Very quickly, the orishas’ roaring bellies and sallow faces began to speak louder than pride and rebellion. But there was one problem: none of the orishas could reach Oludumare so far up in the Heavens. The orishas sent all the different birds on Earth to try to reach the Palace in the Skies, but each of them failed, getting tired before reaching Olodumare. It felt like all hope was lost.
One day, a small peacock came to offer their services to save the world from the flooding. The orishas all laughed at the peacock’s suggestion: how could a bird so vain and spoiled possibly undertake such a difficult journey? But the peacock insisted, and since they had nothing to lose, the orishas sent the peacock up to Oludumare. The peacock, who was really Oshún in disguise, was getting tired quickly but she kept flying higher and higher, determined to plead for humanity’s safety.
As Oshún flew higher, her feathers got thinner and became charred by the heat of the sun. Most of the feathers on her head burnt off. Nevertheless, she kept flying. Through her own will and determination, Oshún finally arrived at the doors of the Palace in the Skies nearly dead. Oshún was found outside the palace and was taken inside to receive food and treatment for her wounds. When Oludamere asked Oshún why she had gone on such a dangerous journey, she replied that she was willing to risk her life to save humanity, and she begged him to stop the deluge on Earth.
Oludumare took a look at the state of the world and at Oshún's mournful face. He was moved by Oshún’s capacity for love and by her courage to take a deadly flight up to the sky to save humanity. The journey had transformed Oshún from a beautiful peacock into a stark vulture. Oludumare turned to the vulture’s form and he ordered for the floods to stop. He looked deeply into Oshun’s eyes and heart and announced that for all eternity, she would be his messenger on Earth. Oludumare then proceeded to crown Oshún the savior of humanity.
Upon Oshún’s return to Earth, she saw the shame on the orishas’ faces, but she didn’t remind them of how they had mocked her offer to fly up to Oludumare. Instead, Oshún enjoyed the beauty of Earth without the destruction of the floods, and the other orishas’ respect for her new role.For this reason, when any person initiates as a priest of Yoruba religions, they must first visit Oshún in the freshwater of the river to consult with Olodumare’s messenger about their calling.
When Oludumare realized what the orishas were planning, he made a hard decision and unleashed a flood upon the planet. The flood destroyed the orishas’ houses, their animals, their crops, and everything they had been building. It was impossible to continue creating on Earth with the unstoppable floods. Very quickly, the orishas’ roaring bellies and sallow faces began to speak louder than pride and rebellion. But there was one problem: none of the orishas could reach Oludumare so far up in the Heavens. The orishas sent all the different birds on Earth to try to reach the Palace in the Skies, but each of them failed, getting tired before reaching Olodumare. It felt like all hope was lost.
One day, a small peacock came to offer their services to save the world from the flooding. The orishas all laughed at the peacock’s suggestion: how could a bird so vain and spoiled possibly undertake such a difficult journey? But the peacock insisted, and since they had nothing to lose, the orishas sent the peacock up to Oludumare. The peacock, who was really Oshún in disguise, was getting tired quickly but she kept flying higher and higher, determined to plead for humanity’s safety.
As Oshún flew higher, her feathers got thinner and became charred by the heat of the sun. Most of the feathers on her head burnt off. Nevertheless, she kept flying. Through her own will and determination, Oshún finally arrived at the doors of the Palace in the Skies nearly dead. Oshún was found outside the palace and was taken inside to receive food and treatment for her wounds. When Oludamere asked Oshún why she had gone on such a dangerous journey, she replied that she was willing to risk her life to save humanity, and she begged him to stop the deluge on Earth.
Oludumare took a look at the state of the world and at Oshún's mournful face. He was moved by Oshún’s capacity for love and by her courage to take a deadly flight up to the sky to save humanity. The journey had transformed Oshún from a beautiful peacock into a stark vulture. Oludumare turned to the vulture’s form and he ordered for the floods to stop. He looked deeply into Oshun’s eyes and heart and announced that for all eternity, she would be his messenger on Earth. Oludumare then proceeded to crown Oshún the savior of humanity.
Upon Oshún’s return to Earth, she saw the shame on the orishas’ faces, but she didn’t remind them of how they had mocked her offer to fly up to Oludumare. Instead, Oshún enjoyed the beauty of Earth without the destruction of the floods, and the other orishas’ respect for her new role.For this reason, when any person initiates as a priest of Yoruba religions, they must first visit Oshún in the freshwater of the river to consult with Olodumare’s messenger about their calling.
Patakí Four - Hijas de dos Aguas - Daughter of Two Waters
Once upon a time, Oshún was a beloved and wealthy queen who spent long hours admiring her reflection in the mirror and in the clear river waters. Then came the wars of conquest that destroyed her queendom and forced Oshún to flee and abandon everything.
Suddenly, Oshun was poor, alone, and in misery. So great were Oshún’s struggles that she lost all of her treasured hair from her head.
Oshún’s tears flowed into the river, and the river flowed into the sea, and at the bottom of the sea was her older sister, Yemayá, the owner of all the riches of the world and the person who loved Oshún the most. When the tears of the orisha of love reached Yemayá at the bottom of the sea, she went to console her sister.
“Oh, Oshún, your tears pierce through my heart,” said Yemayá, “Don't cry anymore. You were a queen and a queen you shall be again. From now on, you will own all of the gold found on Earth and all the corals at the bottom of the sea will be yours, so you can adorn yourself with them. You won't work as a slave woman anymore but instead you will sit on a golden throne and you will fan yourself with peacock feathers, just as a queen deserves. As of today, peacocks will belong only to you.”
“Don't torment yourself any further, dear sister. Take my hair. It used to be my pride, just as yours was to you. Now you can make a wig with it and cover your head until your hair grows again. No one will have to see you in this state.”
And so, Yemayá cut her own hair and gave it to Oshún.
The ripples of Yemayá’s care for Oshún echo on, and it is said that daughters of Oshún and Yemayá will always protect each other. They are the daughters of two waters, as they will always have both orishas looking over them.
Suddenly, Oshun was poor, alone, and in misery. So great were Oshún’s struggles that she lost all of her treasured hair from her head.
Oshún’s tears flowed into the river, and the river flowed into the sea, and at the bottom of the sea was her older sister, Yemayá, the owner of all the riches of the world and the person who loved Oshún the most. When the tears of the orisha of love reached Yemayá at the bottom of the sea, she went to console her sister.
“Oh, Oshún, your tears pierce through my heart,” said Yemayá, “Don't cry anymore. You were a queen and a queen you shall be again. From now on, you will own all of the gold found on Earth and all the corals at the bottom of the sea will be yours, so you can adorn yourself with them. You won't work as a slave woman anymore but instead you will sit on a golden throne and you will fan yourself with peacock feathers, just as a queen deserves. As of today, peacocks will belong only to you.”
“Don't torment yourself any further, dear sister. Take my hair. It used to be my pride, just as yours was to you. Now you can make a wig with it and cover your head until your hair grows again. No one will have to see you in this state.”
And so, Yemayá cut her own hair and gave it to Oshún.
The ripples of Yemayá’s care for Oshún echo on, and it is said that daughters of Oshún and Yemayá will always protect each other. They are the daughters of two waters, as they will always have both orishas looking over them.