Yemaya

Yemay is the orisha of motherhood, and queen of the sea. She is the mother of all living things and the owner of all waters. Yemay (also spelled Yemoja, Iemoja, or Yemaya) is one of the most powerful orishas in Santeria. She is the mother of all living things, rules over motherhood and owns all the waters of the Earth. She gave birth to the stars, the moon, the sun and most of the orishas. Yemaya makes her residence in life-giving portion of the ocean (although some of her roads can be found in lagoons or lakes in the forest). Yemayas ach is nurturing, protective and fruitful. Yemaya is just as much a loving mother orisha as she is a fierce warrior that kills anyone who threatens her children. Yemaya can be found in all the waters of the world, and because of this she has many aspects of caminos (roads), each reflecting the nature of different bodies of water. She, like Oshn, carries all of the experiences of womanhood within her caminos. Contrary to popular belief she is not just a loving mother. Some of Yemayas caminos are fierce warriors who fight with sabers or machetes and bathe in the blood of fallen enemies. Other roads are masterful diviners that have been through marriage, divorce and back again. Some roads of Yemaya have been rape survivors, while other roads betrayed her sisters out of jealousy and spite. No matter what camino of Yemaya, all are powerful female orishas and fiercely protective mothers. Yemaya has a very special relationship with two orishas in particular: Oshn and Chango. Oshn is often depicted as Yemayas sister, and Yemaya allows Oshn to take residence in her rivers. Yemaya and Oshun relate to one another like typical sisters; they love each other and also have a bit of sibling rivalry. Chango and Yemaya are inseparable. Some followers of Santeria say Yemaya is Changos mother. The two of them eat together and Chango shares his wealth with Yemaya. Yemaya helped mold Chango into the wise leader he was meant to be from birth (although he initially lacked the skill to rule with grace). Different roads of Yemaya have had relationships with many of the male orishas including: Orunmila, Ogun, Inle, Orisha Oko, Obatala and Aggayu. She is one of the four pillars of the Santeria religion along with Obatala, Oshun and Chango. Therefore every initiated olorisha will receive her pot with her mysteries at his kariocha initiation. Symbols, Numbers, Colors and Attributes of Yemay An eleke for Yemaya Agana, distinguished by the use of royal blue, clear, green and coral beads. Number: 7 Sacred Place in Nature: the ocean, lagoons and lakes

Colors: blue and clear

Tools: oars, boat steering wheel, anchor, life preserver, machete (for Ib Ogunte), a scimitar (for Ib Okoto)

Temperament: Nurturing, loving, direct, frank

Syncretized Catholic Saint: The Virgin of Regla

Yemayas Caminos (Avatars or Roads)

Yemaya has many caminos or roads. Each road has a slightly different temperament and is found in a different place in nature. All roads of Yemaya are called Ib and each takes a slightly different shade of blue in her eleke. Here is but a sampling of her caminos.

Ib Ases - this road of Yemaya is born in the odu Od Meji (7-7). She lives in the sea foam where the waves crash on the shore. She is said to be forgetful and slow to answer her childrens prayers. Her color is sky blue. Ib Achab this road of Yemaya was the wife of Orunmila. She is a mighty diviner that learned how to read the composite odu by watching her husband when he divined. Her color is turquoise or medium blue. Ib Ogunte (Okuti) this road of Yemaya was married to Ogn. She lives in the lakes and springs in the forest. She is a mighty warrior that fights with a machete, and enjoys rum and cigars. Her color is cobalt blue. Ib Agana this road of Yemaya is Olokuns favorite but deformed daughter. She betrayed her sisters and is forced to carry a mask and serpent, and act as Olokuns slave and messenger as her punishment. She brings rain. Her color is royal blue. Ib Mayelewo this road of Yemaya lives in the middle of the sea and controls the currents of the seven seas. She wears seven different colors and owns the colors of the world which she keeps in a calabash around her waist. She lives in a basket surrounded by plates and her color is aqua.

Ib Okoto this road of Yemaya is a powerful warrior, almost like a pirate. She wears pants and kills her enemies with a scimitar or daggers. She lives in the red tide that is dyed with the blood of her enemies she has murdered. Her color is navy blue. Yembo this road of Yemaya is an orisha funfn (white orisha) that many consider in the court of Odudua. She gave birth to all of the orishas and in many ways is the cosmic mother of all things. She is the calm sea at the seashore. Her color is pale blue and white.

Offerings for Yemaya

Yemaya enjoys rich and delicious foods, many of which she shares with Chang. Yemaya enjoys rooster, ram, and guinea hen.

Sweet Mashed ame With Coconut for Yemaya

A delicious cooked addim you can make for Yemaya is Candied ame with Coconut for Yemay. Youll need a large ame, sweetened coconut flakes, a can of coconut cream, and sugar cane syrup. ame is a root vegetable from the tropics related to the yam thats white on the inside, rough and brownish gray on the outside. Remove the peel from the ame and cut it into 1 inch cubes. Boil the ame until it is fork tender. Toast half a cup of sweetened coconut flakes in a pan to get them slightly golden and set aside to cool. Remove the ame from the water and roughly mash it up with a fork. Stir in a can of coconut cream and mix well. Serve the mashed ame in a bowl and drizzle cane syrup over it (you can substitute molasses if you cant find cane syrup). Garnish by placing the toasted coconut on top of the molasses drizzle. To serve, place a grass mat (estera) on the ground and place Yemayas pot on the mat. Place the bowl of the Sweet Mashed ame with Coconut beside Yemay and light a seven day blue candle before her. Remove the addim after the proper amount of time and dispose of the offering in nature as marked through divination.

Watermelon for Yemay

A great addim for Yemaya is a whole watermelon. Buy a large watermelon with seeds, and wash it clean. Place a grass mat (estera) on the floor, place Yemayas pot on the grass mat, and place the watermelon on a white plate beside her. Leave the watermelon there for the appropriate amount of time as determined through divination. Once the time has come remove the watermelon and take it to

the ocean or a large lake if the ocean is not near your home. Present the watermelon to Yemaya in the waters before you. Then out of respect for the environment, dispose of the melon in a trash can near by (to prevent litter) and leave seven pennies with it.