His symbol is a staff topped with a crown made up of sixteen small birds, confronting a larger bird at the top. Others show him clad in leaves, like a tree. Some artwork depicts him as having roots in place of his missing arm and leg. He typically hides his head behind a mask made of grass. His ears are asymmetrical - one is large and deaf, and one is very small and sensitive to even the slightest sound. Physically, he has one leg, one arm, and one eye. He is a hermit that spends most of his time alone in the mountains, surrounded by wild plants. Some have sought to obtain his power for themselves, so they can understand the mysteries of plants. Naturally, not all of the Orishas are happy about this. As the only Orisha with express power over plants, any other Orisha who needs help with an injury or illness is indebted to him. This means that he is required for any formal religious observance to take place. Much of the Candomblé and Santeria religions hinge upon him, because, without his herbs, no ceremonies can happen. He sprang from the earth like a seedling, and his birth marked the emergence of all sacred herbs and roots. Ossain also knows the secrets of using plants for luck, love, and other magical and spiritual purposes. This does not extend merely to their medicinal or poisonous qualities, either. Rather than being associated with sickness itself, his realm is entirely composed of herbs. While Ossain is somewhat akin to Babalu Aye in that he has the power to heal illness and cause harm, his focus is different. Ossain's domain is the wild spiritual, medicinal, and poisonous plants. Though he is a deity of plants, he does not like to work within the narrow confines of a garden. He is known as the God of the Herbs - both those that heal, and those that can be used to harm enemies. Ossain is one of the dualistic deities of the Candomblé, Santeria, Palo Monte, Yoruba, and other religions.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |