01/09 THE ORISHA AND THE HUMAN BODY

01/09 THE ORISHA AND THE HUMAN BODY A spiritual correspondence guide OLORUN Head consciousness, destiny, spiritual connection SHANGO Heart, circulation, vital energy, passion OGUN Muscles, bones, strength, protection, discipline 02/09 HOW TO READ THIS This chart shows spiritual correspondences between the Orisha and the human body. These links are symbolic and religious. They are not medical diagnosis or treatment. Different traditions and lineages may teach these correspondences a little differently. 03/09 OBATALA Brain, bones, and white fluids of the body In this system, Obatala is linked with clarity, structure, calm, and the shaping of human life. The brain and bones reflect thought, order, form, and stability. BRAIN Center of thought, memory, awareness, and mental clarity. BONES Framework of the body, structure, support, and stability. WHITE FLUIDS Life-sustaining fluids such as saliva, mucus, sperm, and other purifying secretions. 04/09 ELEGBА The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system Elegba is linked with pathways, signals, crossroads, and communication. The nervous system fits because it carries messages and opens movement throughout the body. THE NERVOUS SYSTEM PARASYMPATHETIC NERVES Rest, digest, and restore SYMPATHETIC NERVES Activate, mobilize, and respond 05/09 YEMOJA Womb, liver, breasts, and buttocks Yemoja is linked with motherhood, gestation, nurture, protection, and deep water. These correspondences reflect carrying life, feeding life, and holding emotional depth. WOMB LIVER BREASTS BUTTOCKS 06/09 OSHUN Circulatory system, digestive organs, elimination system, and the female sensual center Oshun is linked with sweetness, fertility, attraction, pleasure, and flow. Blood, digestion, and elimination all speak to nourishment, movement, beauty, and the ability to receive and release. CIRCULATORY SYSTEM DIGESTIVE ORGANS ELIMINATION SYSTEM FEMALE SENSUAL CENTER 07/09 OGUN Heart, kidneys, adrenal energy, tendons, and sinews Ogun is linked with iron, work, survival, discipline, and force. The heart speaks to courage, the adrenal system to action, and the tendons and sinews to strength, labor, and endurance. HEART KIDNEYS & ADRENALS TENDONS & SINEWS 08/09 SHANGO Male reproductive system, bone marrow, and vital life force Shango is linked with fire, virility, passion, authority, and charged power. Bone marrow and life force speak to inner heat, potency, and the core energy that animates the body. MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM BONE MARROW VITAL LIFE FORCE 09/09 OYA Lungs, bronchial passages, and mucous membranes Oya is linked with wind, storms, transition, motion, and breath. The lungs and breathways fit her because breath is life, movement, voice, and change moving through the body. NASAL CAVITY PHARYNX LARYNX TRACHEA BRONCHI BRONCHIOLES ALVEOLI ORI & ASHE KNOW YOUR ORI. WALK IN YOUR ASÉ. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? The Orisha exist in nature and in us. The same forces that shape the world also live within the human body. When an area or function of the body is out of balance, a practitioner may see the corresponding Orisha as spiritually relevant. Spiritual support may include: Prayer/Invocation Ewe (sacred herbs) Baths Offerings Other ritual work IMPORTANT: Divination (Ifá) reveals what is needed. Always consult a priest or herbalist. 2/9 7/2/13 The Handbook Yoruba Religious Concepts ORISHA COLOR NUMBER NATURAL ENVIRONMENT Obatala White 8, 24 Mountains, Woods Elegba Red and Black 1, 3, 21 Woods, Crossroads, General Yemoja Blue and Crystal 7 Oceans, Lakes (salt water) Oshun Yellow 5 Rivers, Lakes (fresh water) Ogun Green and Black 3 Railroads, Woods, Forges Shango Red 6, 12 Places struck by light- ning, base of trees Oya Reddish-brown, Rust, Earth-tones 9 Cemetery, places hit by Hurricanes, Storms *Numbers of the orisha may also include their multiples. Colors may be taken in shades. Table 4. Physical Correspondences. ORISHA PHYSICAL CORRESPONDENCES Obatala brain, bones, white fluids of the body Elegba sympathetic, parasympathetic nervous system Yemoja womb, liver, breasts, buttocks Oshun circulatory system, digestive organs, elimination system, pubic area (female) Ogun heart, kidneys, adrenal energy, tendons, and sinews Shango reproductive system (male), bone marrow, life force or chi Oya lungs, bronchial passages, mucous membranes My source The use of herbs and plants, called ewe in Yoruba, is one of great emphasis. Herbs are picked for medicinal, and spiritually empowering purposes. In Yorubaland herbs are gathered by the priestly and/or by the various types of herbalists who inhabit the regions. The herbs are often made available to the population either through private practice, or they can be purchased in the marketplace. In the New www.scribd.com/doc/148614640/The-Handbook-Yoruba-Religious-Concepts 39/151