Olokun Orisa of the sea & Adimu

Mysterious olokun-ohun to olokun
fresh herbs for orisa and egun worship. 

Oba Olokun baba eye

King Olokun father of fish

This Ebo/Orisa is said to be a very mysterious being.  His realm is the depths of the sea.

One can call him the great Poseidon of Greek mythology.  The Yoruba legends given to us by Odu, speak of Olokun as a being of great political position and  benefactor to orisa and humankind. Many of the worship practices of Olokun did not arrive to the new world of the americas until slavery was abolished by royal decree on October 7, 1886. After this event Africans and afro-cubans were able to travel to and from the islands in freedom. 

 This allowed a very important women name Obatero “Ma Monserrate” to travel and return with the ikoko-secrets of Olokun including the sacred Olokun drums used to invoke this Osha. The Babalawos began to arrive shorty after to the new world bringing with them the extended versions or practices of Olokun.

Olokun is known to be undefined as male or female. If you ask the Iwos they will say its female or male or they may say it’s unkown.  Some legends in Ifa make Olokun female. Odu teaches us in the Odu Iroso-gunda (4-3) that Olokun was left undefined by Obatala. This caused a great war, a war of titans. as the pataki goes. 

 Obatala in adding the definitions to the world  in hast, Olokun, Osumare and Irinle asked Obatala to give them their definition, Obatala replied “ I have great work to accomplish, I will not go back in time to address your needs, I have to go forward to be able to Finish.” Once again Olokun states So you are leaving me like this? Obatala response to Olokun question “TOO BAN ESU!  

Olokun in furious emotions, caused him to declare war on Obatala.  Olokun struggling with the war against Obatala’s great army asked his friend Shango for assistance. Shango in response to the request sent Olokun what is called dragons,  sending with these creatures the gift of fire breath.  Olokun then summoned his legions of armies on land and sea with a greater power, using the dragons of fire.  defeating Obatala armies.

The war lasted months, with Olokun on the winning side, Obatala and Olokun armies reaching their ends. The two Titans have their face off battle, Obatala tells Olokun “you only beat me and my armies with your creatures from the other world, Olokun responded, I had too! look how you have left me.

This is the reasoning of the confusion if Olokun is male or female. Yet this concept of male or female is a human thought. My personal opinion is a Deity is a Divinity not ruled by gender but by the deities ability to show kindness,strength, wisdom, compassion,Love. A spiritual being is Asexual if we have to frame a deity in a "descriptive word" then Asexual. Thinking this process in the mindset of Males are stronger and females serve the male etc. Is something we have added to all the Gods, God the "Supreme" we make him male gender, but to be supreme it can only be a energy. for only females birth children in our planetary species. If this is how we choose to think then the supreme is Female for all life came from, it birth all creation.
Once again this would favor more the female power. Just keep in mind that the ancestors would arrive in a new form, no choice in whom their parents would be or if the body would be a male body or female. This avatar state is why when Yemaya or Oshun or any of the other orisa, would emerge and be asked what is your name they would respond with a different name, later to be a title of that spiritual essence.

In the house of Orumila, Olokun is the benefactor of the newly initiate of Ifa.  It is Olokun that bestoles the new Ifa child with his ability not Orunmila, Orunmila gives him the directions and guides him in obtaining his triumph.  On the third day of initiation the newborn offers sacrifice, gifts to Olokun to gain his favor for without Olokun’s approval this newborn initiate will be a lost cause, having to return sooner than later back to the heavens.  Having done the offerings he then returns to the Ile to view the final process of initiation.  

Olokun pleasures coming onto land and visiting the cemeteries, walking within the fog and mist, rolling on the dust of bones. The Cemetery is where he exchanges conversations with Oya (B.F.F), and her sister Iyawo (The cyclone). Here too he meets his friend Osain. I write about this because these subjects are almost tabu in our community.  Many do not know of the nine additional powers that are received with Olokun or that his pillar is in shape of a pyramid, This pillar is representation of his island home, that was rich with every kind of bird, mammal and beast one can imagine. He and his Wife “Ayaroma Elusu” ruled in pure harmony with is sons and daughters.

Olokuns Family:

Elusu

aye Shaloga

Ikoko

olosa osara

olona

bromu

Brosia

yembo

Helpers of Olokun:

the (Carpenter bird)and the (White wing Coot bird)

These two constructed the mask of Somu saga (Mask-represents LIfe)

This is why when we receive olokun there is a awon made and all sorts of offerings are given to him in remembrance and acknowledgement of his endowments. This is taken to the rivers or oceans. Olokun is the owner of all fluidic waters. All waters return to the  source of the sea.

Offering to Olokun or Yemaya: Adimu

when a situation is out of control Offering Olokun one of his favorite grants the person Olokuns blessing.

When I first started in the religion, my god mother Nancy Castro "Oshun ede" showed me this simple offering. Nancy told me "when you want to have a situation reveal itself or a person doing you harm you buy a piece of Pork fat back, or Bacon, you slow fry it, once its been rendered get two plates, place the grease in one and the Pork crisps (chicharon) on the other and offer them to Olokun, light a candle, offer him water and say aloud, after the Fatback is cooked you see the grease that remains.

Sure enough I tried it. It worked! I shortly separated from the person. Leaving me free.  Works well for a love separation needed or to reveal the face of a false friend. 

Another offering Adimu:

1.Plantains with Fried Pork.

Adimu: Offerings of Blue Lapis 

Maferefun Olokun.