7 - Yemanja
Goddess of the nation of Egbé, this Yoruba nation where the Yemojá river exists (Yemanjá). In Brazil, queen of the waters and seas. A highly respected and worshiped Orixá is considered the mother of almost all Yoruban Orixás, while the motherhood of the Dahomean Orixás is attributed to Nanã. That is why fertility also belongs to her. She is protective of fishermen and jangadeiros.
Compared to the other deities of the African pantheon, Yemanjá is an extremely simple figure. She is one of the best known figures in Brazilian cults, with her name always well publicized by the press, as her annual parties always attract a large number of initiates and sympathizers, both from Umbanda and Candomblé.
Due to syncretism, however, a lot of water flowed. The Portuguese Jesuits, trying to force the acculturation of Africans and their acceptance of Catholic rituals and myths, sought to make marriages between Christian saints and African Orixás, seeking commonalities in the myths.
For Yemanjá, the place of Our Lady was reserved, being, therefore, artificially more important than the other female deities, which was assimilated in part by many branches of Umbanda.
Even so, there is no denying the fact that his popularity is immense, not only for all that, but for his character, tolerance, acceptance and affection. She is one of the queens of the waters, both being salty: the waters caused by the crying of the mother who suffers for the life of her children, who sees them move away from their shelter, taking independent paths; and the sea, his abode, where he usually receives gifts and offerings from devotees.
Their parties are extremely popular. It is traditional in Rio de Janeiro, Santos (Coast of São Paulo) and on the beaches of Porto Alegre to offer gifts to the sea to this Orixá, thrown at the goddess's address, both on the specific date of her festivities and on New Year's Eve. Umbanda tents on the beach are common on New Year's Eve, where rituals take place and initiates incorporate caboclos and pretos-velhos, catering to anyone who is interested.
Despite traditional precepts relating both Oxum and Yemanjá to the function of motherhood, a good distinction can be made between these concepts. The two Orixás do not compete (Yemanjá practically does not compete with anyone, while Oxum is famous for her love disputes that put her against Iansã and Obá). Each dominates motherhood at a different time.
The majesty of the seas, lady of the oceans, sacred mermaid, Yemanjá is the queen of salty waters, absolute ruler of homes, protector of the family. Also called the Goddess of Pearls, she is the one who trims the head of babies at birth.
In a Casa de Santo, Yemanjá acts giving meaning to the group, to the community gathered there and transforming this coexistence into a family act; creating roots and dependence; providing a feeling of brother to brother in people who had not known each other for a short time; also providing the feeling of father to son or mother to son and vice versa, in cases of relationship between Babalorixás (Fathers in Santo) or Ialorixás (Mothers in Santo) with Sons in Santo. The need to know if the one we love is okay, the pain of worry, is a regency of Yemanjá, who will not let the sense of love for our neighbor die within us, especially when it comes to a son, daughter, father, mother, another very dear relative or friend. It is the concern and the desire to see the one we love safe, without problems, it is the maintenance of the harmony of the home.
It is she who will provide good fishing in the seas, governing aquatic beings and providing food from her kingdom. It is she who controls the tides, it is the beach in surf, it is the wave of the sea, it is the tidal wave. Protect marine life. It joins the orixá Oxalá, complementing it as the Feminine Generating Principle.
Features
| Color | Crystal. (On some houses: White, light blue. Also light green and light pink) |
| String of Accounts | Crystal beads and seed beads. Crystal firms. |
| herbs | Colônia, Pata de Vaca, Embaúba, Abebê, Jarrinha, Golfo, Rama de Leite (In some houses: water hyacinth, tears of ours, araçá da praia, orange blossom, guabiroba, jasmine, cape jasmine, pink jequitibá, white mallow, marianinha - blue ragweed, sea moss, water lily, white rose, milk leaf) |
| Symbol | Waning moon, waves, fish. |
| Nature Points | Sea. |
| Flowers | White roses, white palms, angelica, orchids, white chrysanthemums. |
| essences | Jasmine, White Rose, Orchid, Chrysanthemum. |
| stones | Pearl, Aquamarine, Lapis Lazuli, Chalcedony, Turquoise. |
| Metal | Silver. |
| Health | Psychism, Nervous System. |
| Planet | Moon. |
| Day of the week | Saturday. |
| Element | Water |
| chakra | Front |
| Salutation | Odô iya, Odô Fiaba |
| Drink | Mineral water |
| Animals | Fish, White Goat, Duck or White Chicken. |
| foods | Fish, Shrimp, Canjica, Rice, Manjar; Papaya. |
| Number | 4 |
| Commemorative Date | August 15th (In some houses: February 2nd, on December 8th) |
| Syncretism | Our Lady of Candeias, Our Lady of Glory, Our Lady of the Navigators |
| incompatibilities | dust, frog |
| qualities | Iemowo, Iamassê, Iewa, Olossa, Ogunté assaba, Assessu, Sobá, Tuman, Ataramogba, Masemale, Awoió, Kayala, Marabô, Inaiê, Aynu, Susure, Iyaku, Acurá, Maialeuó, Conlá. |
Assignments
This force of nature also plays a very important role in our lives, as it governs our homes, our homes. It is she who gives the sense of family to people who live under the same roof. She is the generator of the feeling of love for her loved one, which will give meaning and personality to the group formed by father, mother and children, making them cohesive. It governs unions, anniversaries, wedding parties, all family celebrations. It is the meaning of union by blood ties or not.
The Characteristics of the Children of Yemanjá
Because Yemanjá is Creation, her daughter usually has a very maternal type. The one who transmits kindness, trust, great counselor to everyone. It's mom. She always has open arms to welcome all those who seek her. The door to his house is always open to everyone, and he likes to tutor people. Like the big mother. That loving woman who always joins other people's children with her own. The male son of Yemanjá carries the same temperament: he is the protector. Take care of your wards with lots of love. He is usually calm and calm, except when he feels threatened by the loss of his children, because he does not share this with anyone. It is always discreet and very tasteful. Dress very carefully. He is frank and does not admit the lie. He usually gets angry when he is offended and what he has as the orixá Ogum, becomes very aggressive and radical. It is different when the ajuntó is Oxóssi, then yes, it is a calm, calm person, and always reacts with great tolerance. The biggest flaw of Yemanjá's son is jealousy. He is extremely jealous of everything that is his, especially the things that are in his custody. They like to live in a comfortable environment and, even when they are poor, one can notice a certain sophistication in their homes, compared to the rest of the community to which they are a part. They appreciate luxury, expensive jewelry and bright fabrics and good perfumes. However, they do not have the same coquettish vanity as Oxum, always being older, more responsible and decisive than Oxum's children. Strength and determination are part of its basic characteristics, as well as the sense of friendship, always surrounded by some formalism. Despite their taste for luxury, they are not ambitious people or obsessed with their own careers, focusing more on the day to day, without big plans for long-term activities. Due to the importance it attaches to rectitude and hierarchy, Yemanjá does not tolerate lies and betrayal. Therefore, their children are slow to trust someone, and when they finally start to accept a person in their true circle of friends, they no longer have restrictions, accepting them completely and defending them, whether in mistakes or successes, having great capacity to forgive small human flaws. They do not forget an offense or betrayal, and this hurt is rarely forgotten. A son of Yemanjá can become resentful, brooding over old issues for years and years without ever forgetting them. Physically, there is a tendency to form a full-bodied figure, a calm look, endowed with irresistible fascination (the siren song). While the children of Oxum are diplomats and meandering, those of Yemanjá are more direct. They are capable of emotional blackmail, but never diabolical. Strength and determination are part of their basic characters, as well as a sense of friendship and companionship.
They are people who don't like to live alone, they miss the tribe, ancestral unconscious, and they tend, therefore, to marry or associate early. They don't like travel, they hate hotels, preferring houses where they can quickly repeat the mechanisms and quasi-rites they do in everyday life.
All these data present us with a somewhat rigid figure, refractory to change, appreciative of everyday life. At the same time, they indicate someone sweet, affectionate, emotionally involved and with a great capacity to empathize with the problems and feelings of others. But not everything is qualities in Yemanjá, as in any Orisha. His character can lead the son of this Orisha to have a tendency to try to fix the lives of those around him - everyone's fate would be under his responsibility. They like to test people.
Ritualistic cuisine
white hominy
Cooked white hominy, coconut milk. Place the hominy in a white earthenware bowl, pouring honey on top, and white grapes, if desired.
Cooked hominy
Sautéed with sweet olive oil, onion and dried shrimp.
delicacy from heaven
Milk, cornstarch, coconut milk, sugar.
Sago with coconut milk
Soak the sago in pure water in order to swell, after swelling, remove the water and put it on the fire with coconut milk, in order to make a very thick porridge, put it in a white ceramic bowl.
Legends of Yemanja
Yemanjá had many problems with her children. Ossain, the wizard, left home very young and went to live in the virgin forest studying plants. Against his mother's advice, Oxossi drank a potion given by Ossain and, bewitched, went to live with him in the bush. After the effect of the potion, he returned home but Yemanjá, irritated, expelled him. Then Ogun rebuked her for treating her brother badly. Desperate to be in conflict with her three children, Yemanjá cried so much that she melted and formed a river that ran into the sea.
Yemanjá was married to Okere. As her husband mistreated her, she decided to run away to her father Olokum's house. Okere sent an army after her, but when she was being reached, Yemanjá turned into a river to run faster. Farther on, Okere caught up with her and asked her to come back; as Yemanjá didn't answer, he turned into a mountain, barring his way. Then Yemanjá asked Xangô for help; the orixá of fire gathered many clouds and, with a lightning, caused a great rain, which filled the river; with another bolt, it split the mountain in two and Yemanjá was able to run to the sea.
Exu, her son, was enchanted by her beauty and took her by force, trying to rape her. A great fight took place, and Yemanjá bravely resisted the violence of her son who, in the fight, tore his mother's breasts. Maddened and regretful for what he did, Exu “went out into the world” disappearing into the horizon. Falling to the ground, Yemanjá between the pain, shame, sadness and pity she had for her son's attitude, asked for help from her father Olokum and the creator Olorum. And, from her lacerated breasts, the water, salty as a tear, came out giving rise to the seas. Exu, for his bad attitude, was banished forever from the table of the orixás, having as his eternal duty to be the guardian, not being able to join the others in the court.
That's why Yemanjá is represented in the image with large breasts, symbolizing motherhood and fecundity.
