The Orishas: Divine Forces of Nature in Order of Creation

In the spiritual tradition of the Yoruba people of West Africa, the universe is alive with sacred energy. This energy known as Aṣe (Ashé) flows through all things, connecting humans to nature, the spirit world, and the divine. Within this cosmology, the Orishas are powerful expressions of that energy: deities, forces of nature, and spiritual intermediaries who guide, protect, and challenge us on our journey through life.

The Orishas are not “gods” in the Western sense. They are divine archetypes, deeply human in personality but eternal in essence. Each Orisha governs aspects of the natural world, human character, and cosmic order. They are venerated in Yoruba land (Nigeria, Benin, Togo) and across the African diaspora.

Let’s explore their order of creation and their sacred roles.

🌀 Olodumare – The Supreme Source

Before we even speak of Orishas, we must acknowledge Olodumare, the Supreme Creator genderless, formless, and beyond full comprehension. Olodumare is the source of all life and the distributor of Aṣe. The Orishas are extensions of Olodumare’s will and divine power.

🌌 1. Obatala – The Father of Humanity

Often called the first Orisha to descend to Earth, Obatala was entrusted with the creation of human bodies. A wise, calm, and just Orisha, he represents purity, clarity, and spiritual leadership.

• Domain: Creation, wisdom, justice, peace

• Symbols: White cloth, silver, staff

• Colors: White

• Offerings: White foods, coconut, shea butter

Obatala reminds us to lead with humility, patience, and grace. He is considered a “cool” Orisha calm and deliberate.

🌍 2. Oduduwa – The Earth Shaper

In some traditions, Oduduwa is the one who descended with Obatala to help form the earth from primordial waters. He is seen as the founder of the Yoruba kingdoms and an ancestral spirit of royalty.

• Domain: Earth, kingship, ancestral roots

• Role: Often paired with Obatala in the creation narrative

In certain stories, Obatala and Oduduwa are siblings or aspects of the same divine mission shaping the world from formlessness.

🔥 3. Ogun – The Warrior and Ironsmith

Next came Ogun, the Orisha of iron, war, technology, and transformation. Without Ogun, the other Orishas could not have cleared the path to Earth he hacked through the dense spiritual wilderness with his machete of iron.

• Domain: Tools, labor, war, innovation

• Symbols: Iron, machetes, blacksmith tools

• Colors: Green and black (varies)

• Offerings: Palm oil, red meat, liquor

Ogun reminds us that no progress comes without effort. He is raw, fiery, and essential to both construction and destruction.

🌊 4. Olokun – The Depths of the Ocean

Olokun governs the deep sea and represents the vast, mysterious forces of the unconscious, wealth, and hidden knowledge. In some traditions, Olokun came early in creation to stabilize the chaotic waters.

• Domain: Depth, wealth, secrets, oceans

• Gender: Sometimes male, female, or androgynous

• Symbols: Shells, coral, deep water

• Colors: Blue, white, silver

Olokun holds the secrets of the abyss and is deeply honored for their ability to bring prosperity and healing.

🌬️ 5. Oya – The Winds of Change

While not always listed immediately after the earliest Orishas, Oya is considered one of the key primordial forces. She governs the winds, cemeteries, and the transformational power of storms and change.

• Domain: Death, rebirth, change, weather

• Symbols: Whirlwinds, horsetails, lightning

• Colors: Burgundy, purple, brown

• Offerings: Eggplant, red wine, nine of anything

Oya is a fierce guardian of the threshold between life and death, reminding us that chaos often leads to rebirth.

⚡ 6. Shango (Ṣàngó) – Thunder and Power

One of the most well-known Orishas, Shango is the embodiment of divine masculine energy, lightning, rhythm, and fire. A warrior-king, he became an Orisha after death and was deified for his bravery and charisma.

• Domain: Thunder, drumming, leadership, virility

• Symbols: Double axe, fire, thunderstones

• Colors: Red and white

• Offerings: Spicy foods, ram, kola nut

Shango teaches us the balance between power and responsibility. His presence is felt in sudden inspiration, booming voices, and electrifying energy.

💧 7. Oshun (Òṣun) – Sweet Waters and Love

Oshun, the Orisha of rivers, love, sensuality, and fertility, is one of the youngest Orishas but also among the most vital. When the world became barren, only Oshun's sweet waters and feminine energy restored life.

• Domain: Love, beauty, creativity, fertility

• Symbols: Rivers, fans, mirrors, honey

• Colors: Yellow, gold, amber

• Offerings: Honey, oranges, cinnamon, river water

Oshun is gentle yet fierce, soft but deeply powerful. She teaches us about the sacredness of pleasure, joy, and self-worth.

🧿 8. Esu (Eshu, Elegua) – The Divine Messenger

Though often misunderstood and misrepresented, Esu is one of the most important Orishas. He is the Opener of the Way, the trickster, the guardian of crossroads, and the divine communicator between humans and Orisha.

• Domain: Communication, pathways, decisions, duality

• Symbols: Crossroads, stones, keys, shells

• Colors: Red and black

• Offerings: Candy, rum, cigars, cooked beans

Nothing in the spiritual world moves without Esu. He teaches discernment, consequence, and how to move with respect and clarity.

Honorable Mentions: Other Major Orishas

While not always part of the "first" group of Orishas created, these divine beings are equally important and deeply venerated:

• Yemaya (Yemoja) – Mother of oceans and all life

• Obaluaye (Babalu Aye) – Orisha of disease and healing

• Osanyin – Master of herbal medicine

• Orunmila (Ifá) – Orisha of wisdom, divination, and destiny

Final Words: Walking With the Orishas

Each Orisha is a universe of wisdom. They are not fictional characters they are living spiritual forces still worshipped, channeled, and honored today across Nigeria, Brazil, Cuba, Trinidad, the U.S., and beyond.

Respect for Orisha means learning their stories, but also learning their rituals, protocols, and traditions preferably from initiated practitioners and elders within the lineage.

Their stories are your stories. Their energy lives in rivers, mountains, fire, forests, and storms and maybe even within you.