Tag: orishas

Posted on by

Babalu Aye ~ Saint Lazarous

Babalu Aye, San Lazaro, Azojano is one of the most loved, respected, feared, and venerated Orishas in the Cuban Santeria tradition.
Babalu Aye is the Orisha who reigns over all matters related to health, psychical, and spiritual.
Babalu Aye is the protector of the sick, the weak, the hurt, the injured.
Babalu Aye is a miraculous and humble Orisha, the Orisha of healing and disease.
Babalu Aye appears as a sick man with sores and trembling arms and legs that is why it is syncretized with Saint Lazarus in the Cuban Santeria tradition.

Babalu Aye teaches compassion, love, and responsibility.
Babalu Aye is worshipped and respected for all the miracles he performs, he is particularly known for his healing powers.
Babalu Aye is accompanied by two dogs and wears cloth made of burlap with purple adornments.
In the Lukumi tradition, Babalu Aye was punished by Olofi (God) with sickness & afflictions. He lost his health, riches & prosperity for not having good character and for being disobedient. Babalu Aye’s trials on earth are a lesson of humility; perseverance, integrity, and good character.
Babalu Aye is also the protector of all animals, especially dogs. Dogs were his only companion (besides Elegua) when he was suffering his trials & tribulations.
Babalu Aye is loving but stern, no one wants to be on his bad side and meet his wrath. Babalu Aye is loved, respected, and feared.

Babalu Aye’s colors are royal purple, yellow and brown. His sacred number is 17. Burlap is sacred to him and used in his offerings & items made for him.
December 17th is a day we honor Babalu Aye, many celebrations are done on December 16th waiting for midnight.
In the Santeria tradition, the ceremonial for worshiping Babalu Aye is called The Awan

In this ceremony, Babalu Aye is placed next to a basket lined with burlap material with offerings are placed around it. At nighttime, the lights go down, the only lighting used are the candles, everyone gathers around the basket and cleanse each one with the contents of the plates to remove negativity, for protection, health, and prosperity. After cleansing, the items are cast into the main basket. 

This ceremony brings the Ashe of Babalu Aye to the lives of those present.

Babalu Aye represents health and sickness, humility and pride, abundance and scarcity, love and fear.

PRAYER TO BABALU AYE

Posted on by

Who are the Santeria Orishas?

orishas

There are many Orishas in the Santeria tradition, some are very known: Elegua, Ogun, Ochosi, Obatala, Chango, Oshun, Yemaya, Oya, others are not as popular, but not least powerful.

Anyone can call the Orishas for help, the Orisha Spirits are everywhere and you do not need to be initiated to call for their help or favors.

You can prepare small altars, make offerings and pay homage to any Orisha, however, you must understand and acknowledge the fact that that building an altar or having an amulet done for any Orisha does not mean that you have that Orisha, you cannot self-initiate to Santeria. Santeria initiations and consultations must be done in person by a qualified Santero or Babalawo!

It is always a good idea to discuss what you want to do with an initiated priest, sometimes the Orishas may not want what you are offering or there may be other Orishas willing to come and help you.  In the Santeria Tradition, initiated priests have the tools to ask the Orishas what they want for every situation and we always ask them before we set any offerings. Sometimes the Orisha you feel attracted to may not be your guardian or ruling Orisha.

The Orisha’s energies are part of nature, Elegua is everywhere, but always work for him in the bushes, if you want to talk to Oshun, you go to the river, if you want to talk to Yemaya, go to the ocean, to reach for Obatala, go to the highest mountain close to you, works for Ogun are best if done in the railroads, for Oya in the Cemetery and so on ..

But It is not wise to invoke the energy of any Orisha if you are not initiated, even initiated priests have to train themselves how to work with their own Orishas, this is living energy and can cause huge problems in untrained hands or unprepared bodies.

The energy of the Orishas is everywhere, just look around you, they always protect and hear you even when you think they may not.

Ashe
Yaya Maria

Posted on by — 1 Comment

Prayer to The Orishas

May Elegua open the doors of opportunities and remove obstacles from your path
May Ogun to give you the courage to overcome your problems and defeat your enemies
May Oshosi bring Justice and Balance to your life
May Orula bestow his Wisdom upon you
May Obatala bring Peace, Tranquility, and Harmony to your life
May Babalu Aye heal your body and soul
May Olokun grant stability to your being
May Yemaya renovate and refresh your life with the powers of her waters
May Chango give you the strength to fight and win your battles
May Oshun fulfill your dreams of love and riches
May Oya bring with her Winds of change and prosperity to your realm

Ashe
Yaya Maria