Spirit Osanyin

forest sprite of the Gods

Dance bell of power

messenger of heaven

bows down for father

evil penis with blade to cut

evil vagina

medicine rubbed

visible and invisible

body of palm tree

bearing thorns from the beginning

one-legged man running faster

than two-legged men

evil forest

who knows no master

O, forest who collects the debts of men

Ase

Osanyin's name is linked with the sound of the agogo gong (dance bell of power), which is linked with a leaf, agogo igun (vulture's beak - the vulture is a symbol for the Aje), used to turn away evil.

The sound of the agogo communicates immediate aural pleasure to Aje - the witches, better referred to as awon iya wa (our mothers), “Iyaami” (my mother, Spirit Bird) or “eleiye”(owners of birds) - calming there destructive powers.

In Odu Ogbe'Fun, it is prescribed for anyone "born" of this sign, to hang chimes by their beds for basically the same reason.

Messenger of heaven like Esu (he dances on one leg and links this world to the other)

evil penis with blade to cut

evil vagina, medicine rubbed

(Osanyin can cure sickness of a sexual nature)

visible and invisible

(like the Aje, he has the power of astral travel)

body of palm tree

bearing thorns from the beginning

(the palm tree is sacred to Ifa. He is powerful and not to be messed with)

one-legged man running faster than two-legged men

(redemption)

Here we get into the story of how Osanyin was crippled.

There was once a talented diviner who couldn't find work. Worried about feeding his family, he went to Osanyin, who because of his extraordinary talents had gained wide fame.

Osanyin was hogging all the work. The diviner pleaded with Osanyin to share some work but Osanyin told him to take a hike. On the way home, diviner ran into Esu, who asked him why the sad face.

The diviner told Esu what had happened, so Esu caused Osanyin's house to collapse on top of him. From then on, Osanyin has needed a diviner to collect his leaves for him.

He further suffered (the loss of voice) when he arrogantly refused to follow Orunmila's advice. In Osanyin we have a warning against arrogant behavior.

The “moral of the story,” is that Osanyin admitted and learned from his mistakes, redeemed himself (iwa pele), let go of ego and was re-born (the whole point of initiation).

So now he is stronger than before (one-legged man running faster than two-legged men).

Some interpret the Osun (staff) as a symbol for Osanyin who in the above itan (story) becomes arrogant and learns humility by losing an eye an arm and a leg.

The pole represents Osanyin with one eye one arm and one leg or Osanyin after he has learned the lesson of humility (however, in odu there are references to Osanyin without the deformities, so perhaps different incarnations).

In this story is the idea of knowledge of herbs coupled with humility leading to altered states that include astral travel. It is also symbolic of the idea that astral travel is a function of right brain activity or half the body.

Ifa symbolism more often than not contains several layers of meaning. In addition, the reference to the diviner and Osanyin working together is another reminder of the symbiotic relationship between Osanyin and Orunmila.

O, forest who collects the debts of men

This last line refers to the fact that we must ask permission and pay tribute when we enter the forest to collect foliage. "Evil forest" simply reminds us that the forest can be a dangerous place.

The iron beak of the bird (igun-vulture) and agogo bells of the Opa Osun have deep meaning. The iron beak represents the herb "vulture's beak," which drives away the Ajoogun and the Aje, the conquering by Orunmila of the Aje.

The bells and the bell like cones of the Opa Osun represent leaves; a magically healing leaf of iron, which brings us to another story of how bells protect (in addition to their sound pleasing the mothers).

All the Orisa were afraid of the power of the mothers. They begged Orunmila to protect them since it is remembered that Esu found out the mother's secrets and told Orunmila.

So, Orunmila consulted Ifa and made the prescribed offering (this is the medicine inserted in the cones or inverted agogo bells of the opa osun): the leaves of ojushaju, oyoyo, aanu, and agogo igun, some honey, a parrot feather, ofun and camwood.

the oyoyo leaf certifies that the witches are pleased (yonu); ojushaju that they respect (shaju) him; aanu that they will take pity (shaanu) on him; and agogo igun so that everything he asks for by means of a bell (agogo) shall be obtained.

If you know the Odu that incarnates the Opa Osun, then you (awo) can activate the ase of the herbs by simply putting it together. For example, after you summon Osanyin and state your intent, you would start with a herb, say: oyoyo, pray over it saying, "ewe oyoyo, oyoyo'nu may you please the Aje" or whatever.

There is a deep connection between the Opa Osun and the mind or Ori of the initiate. Some have these materials rubbed into small incisions in the top of the head at initiation.

If you mark Okanran Oturupon on your opon (or on a tree, at the base of a tree in the dirt, etc.) and then chant the oriki Osanyin, you can connect with the ase to communicate with plants.

They will tell you what they are used for and the plants in your neighborhood will identify themselves. Before picking we say, "Osanyin eboda." It is custom to leave some sort of payment.

Besides his powers of healing and clairvoyance, Osanyin has the power, through his staff (opa), to neutralize the ajoogun and the Aje’. There are different types of staffs.

Opa Osun are Osanyin staffs and are big staffs with 16 small birds encircling one larger bird.

Thank you for reading, leave a comment

Osanyin, The one legged spirit is Demon of Darkness in the group of Lucifer. Born Again Spirits are much more than mere Initiation. You get initiated into a Cult within a Circumference. God owns the Circumference within which are many Cults. So you get initiated into a Cult but Born Again into the Circumference. God is Peace.This includes Patience, Perseverance, Endurance and Humility. Humility is "Iwapele". Humility incorporates Prayers and Prayers is the Incantations of The Righteous to obtain Good Results from God. The Book of John 16:24 gives a simple Instructions to ask for anything in the Name of Jesus. This is Prayer, incantation to get whatever herbs you require to cure whatever ailments. Thanks for explaining thus far but we must find the usefulness of all these in modern lights.

orisa37:
Osanyin, The one legged spirit is Demon of Darkness in the group of Lucifer. Born Again Spirits are much more than mere Initiation. You get initiated into a Cult within a Circumference. God owns the Circumference within which are many Cults. So you get initiated into a Cult but Born Again into the Circumference. God is Peace.This includes Patience, Perseverance, Endurance and Humility. Humility is "Iwapele". Humility incorporates Prayers and Prayers is the Incantations of The Righteous to obtain Good Results from God. The Book of John 16:24 gives a simple Instructions to ask for anything in the Name of Jesus. This is Prayer, incantation to get whatever herbs you require to cure whatever ailments. Thanks for explaining thus far but we must find the usefulness of all these in modern lights.

Learn to respect other people's religion. To equate Osanyin to a demon is an insult to African Tradition Religion. We serve an ALMIGHTY GOD "ELEDUMARE" whose unlimited powers flow through the Orisas to sustain life and Osanyin is one of them. Your so called god or jesus to some people is a demon, don't forget about that. Learn to respect other people's religion!

Thanks for your admonition.

orisa37:
Thanks for your admonition.

You are welcome

This is very interesting. I once learnt about this but later stopped. I was once close to a neighbor like that who was a babalawo and he claimed to have one.

I want to know more about this Africanus powellite and claimed power.

HCpaul:
This is very interesting. I once learnt about this but later stopped. I was once close to a neighbor like that who was a babalawo and he claimed to have one.

I want to know more about this Africanus powellite and claimed power.

You can go through my write ups on this forum, you will be educated about African Tradition Religion after going through them