Oshun – Orisha of Sweet Waters, Beauty, Love, Fertility, and Sacred Joy

Oshun (Òṣun) is one of the most beloved and radiant Orishas in the Yoruba tradition — the Orisha of rivers, sensuality, beauty, femininity, fertility, prosperity, enchantment, and sweet love. She is the shimmering gold at the bottom of the river, the laughter of water over stone, the sweetness of honey, the softness of touch, the warmth of desire, and the healing that flows from tenderness.

Where Yemaya is the deep ocean, Oshun is the shimmering river, winding through forests and villages, bringing life, nourishment, and irresistible grace.
She is the maiden among the Orishas — bright, flirtatious, playful — yet she possesses astonishing depth, the kind born from self-worth, power, and ancient wisdom. She possesses human attributes, like jealousy, vanity, and spite.

She is sweetness, with teeth.
Honey, edged with iron.
A smile that can heal — or destroy — depending on what is deserved.

The Divine Origins of Oshun

Oshun is one of the original 17 Orishas sent by Olódùmarè (the Supreme Creator) to create the world, the only woman.
But when the male Orishas arrived on Earth, they dismissed Oshun, believing they could shape creation alone.

They tried.
And the world remained dry, cracked, lifeless.

Rivers would not flow.
Seeds would not sprout.
No birds sang.
No children were born.

Defeated, the Orishas returned to Olódùmarè, who listened quietly and finally said:

“You failed because you ignored Oshun.”

Creation cannot flourish where sweetness, beauty, femininity, and fluid power are denied.

Humbled, the Orishas returned to Earth and begged for Oshun’s help.
She forgave them, poured her waters across the land, and the world bloomed with life.
Rivers filled.
Flowers opened.
Women conceived.
Music returned to the air.

This is Oshun’s essence:
Nothing grows without her. Nothing thrives without the feminine principle she embodies.

Oshun and Honey – The Sacred Sweetness

Oshun’s signature substance is honey — the nectar of seduction, healing, blessing, and magic.
She uses honey to:

• soothe the wounded

• enchant the resistant

• bind love

• sweeten relationships

• heal broken hearts

• restore joy

Yet honey is not merely sweet — it can ferment, burn, and sting. In myth, when Ogun retreated into the forest in fury, refusing to return to civilization, none of the Orishas could coax him out. But Oshun, adorned in yellow cloth and perfumed oils, danced before him with a gourd of honey.

With her laughter, hips, and sweetness, she softened him.
She fed him honey from her finger and drew him back, saving the world from chaos.

This myth shows her irresistible charm, yes — but also her diplomacy, intelligence, and emotional mastery.

Oshun the Lover, Healer, and Mother

Oshun is often portrayed as flirtatious and loving, but her love is not shallow.
She represents:

• heartbreak that turns into wisdom

• sensuality that becomes empowerment

• love that heals instead of consumes

• motherhood that nurtures with fierce devotion

She is the patroness of pregnant women, midwives, dancers, artists, and anyone seeking beauty or joy.

But she is also the avenger of the wronged woman.
If disrespected, her sweetness turns to fire, and her waters rise in flood.
She is kind — not weak.

Oshun and Shango – The Tempting Flame

Oshun is famously connected to Shango, the Orisha of fire, thunder, and masculine beauty.
Their union is electric — passion meeting passion, sweetness meeting strength.
Together they represent:

• balanced love

• pleasure without domination

• partnership rooted in mutual admiration

Yet Oshun also shares stories with Ogun, Orunmila, and even Obatala in some traditions — showing her multi-dimensional nature. But her relationship with Shango remains legendary: a love that crackles like lightning along a river’s edge.

Oshun’s Compassion — and Her Wrath

In another story, the world fell into famine once again when the male Orishas failed at a task involving human fertility and creation.
Oshun, heartbroken at being overlooked, withdrew her waters — and humanity began to die.

Only when the Orishas apologized with sincerity did she relent, returning life to the land.

This myth shows an essential truth:
When the feminine is dishonored, the world collapses. When she is loved, it blooms.

Oshun’s love is not passive — it is sacred.

Her Symbols, Colors, and Presence

Oshun is almost always envisioned in:

• flowing yellow or gold garments

• shimmering jewelry

• mirrors

• riversides

• dances filled with grace and allure

She is accompanied by:

• peacocks

• vultures (revealing her fierce, hidden aspect)

• freshwater fish

Her music is the sound of rushing water, the jingling of anklets, and the hum of a woman who knows her worth.

Her presence is felt as:

• warmth

• sweetness

• tingling sensual energy

• sudden inspiration

• a desire to beautify one’s life

• or a gentle emotional release

When she walks with someone, that person begins to remember their own beauty and power.

Crystals That Resonate With Oshun’s Energy

In modern metaphysical practice, crystals associated with Oshun mirror her qualities:
love, sensuality, beauty, fertility, joy, prosperity, and flow.

Citrine glows with Oshun’s radiance, calling forth abundance, creativity, and charm.
Yellow Aventurine channels her joy, optimism, and self-worth, matching her golden garments.
Honey Calcite echoes her honey magic — warmth, sweetness, emotional healing.
Carnelian reflects her sensual fire, dancing energy, and fertility.
Rose Quartz embodies her capacity to heal heartache and attract loving relationships.
Sunstone carries her playful, sparkling energy and strengthens self-expression.
Tiger’s Eye brings confidence, allure, and the ability to step boldly into one’s beauty — very Oshun.

These crystals shine on an altar with:

• Honey

• River water

• Flowers

• Sweets

• Yellow cloth

• A mirror

• Offerings of copper and perfume

Oshun Today – The Orisha of Self-Love, Beauty, Joy, and Renewal

Those called by Oshun often experience:

• sudden bursts of creativity

• a pull toward adornment, dance, or sensual expression

• emotional healing through sweetness rather than struggle

• the urge to love oneself more deeply

• renewed confidence

• restored joy after long sorrow

• dreams of rivers, gold, or honey

She comes to:

• heal broken hearts

• awaken pleasure

• bring prosperity

• guide pregnancies

• teach self-worth

• rekindle beauty in one’s life

• restore joy where it was forgotten

Oshun teaches that sweetness is sacred, that sensuality is not shameful, that joy is a birthright, and that beauty — both inner and outer — is a form of divine magic.

To walk with Oshun is to walk with a river at your side:
cool, healing, shimmering, and always alive.