Lil’ Oshun Statue

Oshun – Orisha of Love, Rivers, Beauty, and Sweetness

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

• Oshun (also spelled Osun) is the Yoruba Orisha of fresh waters, love, fertility, beauty, sensuality, and joy. As one of the most beloved Orishas, she governs the rivers and is associated with sweetness, harmony, creativity, and the sacred feminine.

• Often seen as a gentle, enchanting goddess, Oshun also holds fierce power beneath her sweetness—she defends women, children, the vulnerable, and the balance of love and justice.

• Revered in Yoruba religion, Santería, Candomblé, and other African diasporic traditions, Oshun is called upon for healing, prosperity, self-love, fertility, and emotional restoration.

FAVORITE OFFERINGS:

Crystals:

• Citrine – abundance, joy, and golden energy

• Rose Quartz – love, softness, and emotional healing

• Carnelian – sensual empowerment and creativity

Herbs:

• Cinnamon – attraction, sweetness, and warmth

• Chamomile – gentle healing and feminine calm

• Honey – her most sacred offering, symbolizing pleasure and divine sweetness

Oils:

• Orange Blossom – joy, love, and flirtation

• Vanilla – soft sensuality and comfort

• Ylang Ylang – attraction, romance, and sacred beauty

Colors:

• Gold – radiance, prosperity, and divine femininity

• Yellow – joy, playfulness, and personal magnetism

• Orange – creativity, sensuality, and vitality

Rituals:

• River offerings (ethically done) of honey, oranges, or yellow flowers

• Bath rituals with honey, cinnamon, and golden light to invoke love and healing

• Mirror work or adornment rituals to honor your beauty and emotional truth

• Dancing, singing, or sensual movement as acts of celebration and devotion

MODERN WORSHIP PRACTICES:

• Create an altar with honey, mirrors, sunflowers, oranges, river water, or peacock feathers

• Offer sweets, cinnamon, coins, perfumes, or songs sung from the heart

• Call on Oshun when seeking love (romantic or self-love), fertility, or emotional restoration

• Honor her on Fridays or near rivers, especially during joyful ceremonies or healing rituals

• Use affirmations such as: “I radiate love. I flow with joy. I am worthy of beauty and blessing.”