THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO

ORISA LIFESTYLE ACADEMY

EVERYTHING YOU
NEED TO KNOW
ABOUT
ORISA SHRINES,
INCLUDING:

1. SUMMARY

2. SYMBOL

3. SHRINE

4. OFFERINGS

5. TABOOS
ObafemiO.com By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA
 Complete guide to
orisa shrines
Quick Guide to Working With Orisa Shrines









Copyright 2018 by Obafemi Origunwa, MA

All rights reserved. This book or any porBon thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner
whatsoever without the expressed wriEen permission of the publisher except for the use of brief
quotaBons in a book review or scholarly journal.

Orisa Lifestyle Academy
PO Box 18941
Oakland, CA 94619
(510) 485.2336
OrisaLifestyle.com

ObafemiO.com By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA

 Table of Contents
Introduc6on: The Yoruba say, “The wisdom it takes to build the house is small,
compared to the wisdom it takes to LIVE in the house.” It means, receiving a shrine is
a simple event. But to maintain a shrine is a lifelong process. You need to know what
goes on the shrine, how to approach it and what offerings to give. In this Complete
Guide to Orisa Shrines, I will share a simple overview of 17 Orisa shrines, including
their implements, taboos and offerings. This will be extremely useful at every stage of
your spiritual development.

I. Ori
II. Orunmila
III. Sango
IV. Ogun
V. Obatala
VI. Osun
VII. Esu
VIII. Osanyin
IX. Obaluaiye
X. Orisa Oko
XI. Osoosi
XII. Yemoja
XIII. Oya
XIV. Egungun
XV. Ibeji
XVI. Egbe
XVII. Awon Agba






ObafemiO.com By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA

 introduction
This eBook version of the Complete Guide to Orisa Worship part of a series of
educaBonal materials I have designed to support your spiritual pracBce.

First, in Oriki Awon Orisa, my co-author – Fayemi Abidemi – and I shared two, disBnct
levels of insights into Orisa devoBon. On one level, we provided an overview of the
theological and cultural framework for worship. On another level, we provided a
complete breakdown – wriEen in Yoruba and in English, and with and accompanying
audio – of how to invoke and praise twenty different Orisa.

Next, in Pataki: Prac0cal Guide to Orisa Devo0on, I focused on four Orisa worship
calendars, as well as the four part structure of prayer in Orisa Lifestyle. This is
extremely useful for people who do not have consecrated shrines.

As a companion to Pataki, I also published Agbole: Prac0cal Guide to Orisa Family
Management. In Agbole, I idenBfied four, easy-access checklists for resource
management associated with Orisa devoBon. It’s super useful for helping you organize
your family’s spiritual pracBce.

Then, in Dida Obi, I gave step-by-step instrucBons on three forms of kola nut
divinaBon. It includes prayers, ritual sequences and offerings and can be used to
communicate with just about any Orisa.

Now, in the Complete Guide to Orisa Worship, my objecBve is to share with you a
quick and easy reference guide to making offerings according to best pracBces of Orisa
Lifestyle. More precisely, in this guide you will get the following for each orisa; a
summary profile, a brief descripBon of symbols, the place of worship, a list of
offerings, a list of taboos and the worship posture.

The Complete Guide to Orisa Worship will work very well, in conjuncBon with any or
all of my previous works. With a liEle paBence and pracBce, you will gradually broaden
your ability to tap into the Orisa through sincere devoBon.

In the School of Orisa Studies, I offer live instrucBon on everything listed above. Enroll
today at bit.ly/OrisaStudies.

ObafemiO.com By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA

ObafemiO.com ONE | ori By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA
 ori
The Supreme Divinity

SUMMARY: Ori is the supreme divinity, greater than any other. It is the
indwelling consciousness of Olodumare that resides in every living
being. As the one who selects desBny, Ori is synonymous with human
potenBal and spiritual capacity.

SYMBOL: Ori is represented by ibori. It is a cone-shaped crown icon,
embroidered with cowries. Ibori is kept inside another container, which
is also embroidered with cowries or beads, called Ile Ori (the house of
Ori).

SHRINE: Offerings to Ori are presented to six points on the human body
(tongue/mouth, crown of the head, navel, right big toe, lee big toe).
Once offerings have been presented to the body, they are then
presented to the ibori.

OFFERINGS: Obi abata, orogbo, atare, cool water, palm oil, gin, white
pigeon, guinea fowl, rooster (for males) or hen (for females), duck,
coconut, shrimp, ram, honey, salt, sugar cane, edible foods.

TABOOS: Adin

POSTURE: Kneeling posiBon, do not bow down or use your head to
touch the floor. Wear some form of head gear.

ObafemiO.com By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA

ObafemiO.com Two | ifa By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA
 ifa
The Custodian of Fate

SUMMARY: Orunmila is the Orisa who governs Ifa. The two are used
interchangeably. Ifa is the living blueprint of CreaBon. It serves as an
intermediary between humanity, the Orisa and Olodumare.

SYMBOL: Ifa is represented by ikin, which are black palm seeds. In
addiBon, the opele (divining chain), opon (divining tray), iyerosun
(divining powder) and otutuopon (brown and green beads) are all
emblems of Ifa.

SHRINE: Offerings to Ifa are presented inside the agere (pot), where
ikin are kept. Opele also must receive offerings from Bme to Bme.

OFFERINGS: Obi abata, orogbo, atare, cool water, palm oil, gin, honey,
salt, pigeon, guinea fowl, hen, she goat, pig, iyan (pounded yam).

TABOOS: Adin

POSTURE: Kneeling posiBon, bow down and use your head to touch the
floor. Do NOT wear any form of head gear.

ObafemiO.com By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA

 Three | sango
ObafemiO.com By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA
 Sango
Lord of Koso

SUMMARY: Sango is the Orisa who governs rainfall and thunder. He is

a keeper of truth and jusBce. Sango is associated with victory, conquest
and willful expansion.

SYMBOL: Sango is represented by the Ose Sango (double-headed axe),
edun ara (thunderstones), an inverted mortar, seere (a specially-
prepared maraca) and aba Sango.

SHRINE: Offerings to Sango are presented inside the Arugba Sango
(pot), or the calabash where edun ara are kept.

OFFERINGS: Orogbo, rooster, palm oil, gin, amala, gbegiri soup, he-
goat, ram and roasted beans.

TABOOS: Adin, sheep, she-goat, hen

POSTURE: Standing up

ObafemiO.com By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA

ObafemiO.com
Four | ogun
By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA
 ogun
Chief of the Divinities

SUMMARY: Ogun is the Orisa who governs metals, machinery, law

enforcement, civil services, hunBng and the like. He is also lord of the
arts, including wriBng, theater and design are all disciplines of Ogun.

SYMBOL: Ogun is represented by anything made of iron or steel,
including weapons, tools and instruments of any variety. Mariwo (palm
fronds) are emblemaBc of Ogun.

SHRINE: Offerings to Ogun are presented to his metal implements,
which are always kept outside.

OFFERINGS: Raffia wine, palm wine, cooked beans, fish, roasted yams,
dog, snail, tortoise, pounded yam, obi abata, orogbo, he goat, ram,
rooster and pigeon.

TABOOS: Female animals, whistling and adin.

POSTURE: Standing up, early morning or evening.

ObafemiO.com By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA

 Five | obatala
ObafemiO.com By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA
 obatala
Orisa of Piety

SUMMARY: Obatala is the Orisa who governs creaBon. He sculpts

children in embryo, shaped the surface of the earth and protects
people with deformiBes.

SYMBOL: Obatala is represented by efun (white chalk), lead bracelets,
white cloth, sese efun (white beads), Opa Osooro (Obatala staff), Ajija
(double gong), Awe (pot), eekan (mat).

SHRINE: Every morning, Obatala’s awe is filled with an offering of fresh
water. Other offerings are presented inside the (pot), or the calabash
where Obatala’s implements are kept.

OFFERINGS: Snails, chalk, shea buEer, spinach prepared with shea
buEer, white he goat, white rooster, white obi abata, pounded yam,
millet beer.

TABOOS: Adin, palm wine, salt, maize beer, dog, pig, stale water,
masquerade.

POSTURE: Kneeling in complete darkness.

ObafemiO.com By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA

ObafemiO.com
Six | osun By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA
 osun
Wealthy, Benevolent Mother

SUMMARY: Osun cares for children. She uses fresh water to heal, to
nourish and to bless children. Osun is gentle persuasion.

SYMBOL: Osun is represented by ide (brass), Ooya (combs mafe of
either brass or elephant tusk), abebe (brass fan), awo abokadele (large
plates used to hold Osun’s implements).

SHRINE: Osun’s pot, filled with water, is tradiBonally placed in a hole in
the ground, inside of her shrine. Her implements are placed onto the
awo abokadele.

OFFERINGS: Obi abata, orogbo, adie agada (hen with Bed legs), she
goat, pig, eko, gin, pounded yam, yanrin, water and palm oil.

TABOOS: Millet beer, duck, adin.

POSTURE: Kneeling.

ObafemiO.com By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA

ObafemiO.com
Seven | esu
By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA
 esu
Divine Messenger

SUMMARY: Esu is a forerunner of the diviniBes. He is the first to be

greeted. Esu acts as an intermediary between humanity and the Orisa.
Each Orisa has its own, accompanying Esu. Orunmila is his closest
friend.

SYMBOL: Esu is represented by yangi, a laterite stone. Ado isubi isure is
his calabash of manifestaBon. His club or baton is the Kunmo Esu. His
knife is the Obe Esu. He uses red and black cloth.

SHRINE: The Esu shrine is always outside, at the front of the house.
Offerings are made directly to the yangi stone.

OFFERINGS: Obi abata, orogbo, palm oil, pigeon, rooster, he goat,
beans, dog, fish, amala, pounded yam, eba, eko, dried rat, guinea fowl,
pig.

TABOOS: Snail, profanity, offerings must be eaten outside.

POSTURE: Standing, touch offerings to the back of the head before
presenBng them to Esu.

ObafemiO.com By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA

 Eight | osanyin
ObafemiO.com By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA
 osanyin
The Herbalist

SUMMARY: Osanyin is the Orisa who governs herbs. He has mastered

the medicinal properBes of roots and leaves.

SYMBOL: Osanyin is represented by the Opa Osanyin, an iron staff with
various symbols on top. Carvings made from oruru wood of Osanyin,
which have been ritually washed with herbs. Ewere Osanyin, divining
mat.

SHRINE: The implements of Osanyin are sually kept with the Ifa altar.

OFFERINGS: Atare, obi abata, orogbo, gin, water, snail, hen, pigeon,
sheep, he goat, ekuru.

TABOOS: Adin, roasted corn, tobacco, osun (camwood), efun.

POSTURE: Kneeling.

ObafemiO.com By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA

 Nine | obaluaye
ObafemiO.com By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA
 obaluaiye
Lord of Pestilence

SUMMARY: Obaluaiye is the Orisa who governs pesBlence, especially

small pox. He is quick-tempered and wrathful. Obaluaiye demands
upright behavior.

SYMBOL: Ose Sanponna is his iron club. His alre is a short sleeved
shirt and pants soaked in camwood. He uses kerense, a string of
cowries.

SHRINE: Obaluaiye’s shrine is always kept outdoors. The entrance,
which is called Laba Sonponna, is a curtain made of leather or cloth
strands strung with many cowries. Inside the shrine, there is a pot of
cool water, called Awe Sonponna. Also there are small pebbles, called
Ota Olode, inside the water pot.

OFFERINGS: First, palm wine, followed by water and then any of the
following; Obi abata, orogbo, gin, palm oil, snail, camwood, egbo,
ekuru, rooster, he goat, dog.

TABOOS: Palm wine must be conBnuously drank while making
offerings. No whistling, no drumming, no completely bald people must
approach, no profanity, the shrine cannot be in front of the house.

POSTURE: Standing.

ObafemiO.com By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA

ObafemiO.com By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA
 Orisa oko
Lord of Agriculture & Fertility

SUMMARY: Orisa Oko is the Orisa who governs agriculture and ferBlity.
He is generous and lively.


SYMBOL: Opa Orisa Oko, Ewu Orisa Oko, a carved human image,
painted with osun and efun, cowries and bees.

SHRINE: Orisa Oko’s shrine is always kept outdoors. Opa Orisa Oko (the
staff of Orisa Oko) is a metal staff, made of used farming tools. It is
covered by a beaded sheath, called Ewu Orisa Oko, and rests inside of a
pot.

OFFERINGS: Obi abata, orogbo, snail, camwood, efun, pounded yam,
egusi.

TABOOS: Adin, fresh yams, masquerade.

POSTURE: Kneeling or silng.

ObafemiO.com By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA

ObafemiO.com By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA
 olokun
Lord of the Sea

SUMMARY: Olokun is the Lord of the Sea. As such, all waters belong to
him, as does Orisa Aje, who is Olokun’s daughter. Olokun is a strict
keeper of honesty. In Edo cosmology, Olokun is a divinity of the highest
significance, who was essenBal to the creaBon of the world.

SYMBOL: Shells, efun (chalk), iyun (coral), aso funfun (white cloth).

SHRINE: Olokun’s shrine consists of awe (terra coEa water pot), kaye
(chalk ground drawing), sekere, agogo, ema (drum), white cloth.

OFFERINGS: Obi abata, orogbo, yams, egbo (cooked hominy corn),
orange drink, pigeon.

TABOOS: Lying, gossip, black cloth.

POSTURE: Kneeling or silng.

ObafemiO.com By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA

ObafemiO.com By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA
 yemoja
Matron of Fertility

SUMMARY: Yemoja is the Orisa who governs ferBlity. She is paBent,
nurturing and kind. AddiBonally, Yemoja is associated with the Oogun
River, in Nigeria. Oogun is medicine, which recalls Yemoja’s role as a
medicine woman.

SYMBOL: A necklace of painted palm nut shells, Awe Yemoja (a
calabash filled with ocean water), Aso Iyamoje (a braided strip of cloth),
the peregun tree.

SHRINE: Yemoja’s shrine is typically near a stream.

OFFERINGS: White obi abata, gin, corn pudding (egbo), snail, sugar
cane, melon and garden egg stew (osinsin), ekuru, palm oil.

TABOOS: Fish, biEer kola (orogbo), guinea corn, tobacco, adin (palm
kernal oil)

POSTURE: Kneeling or silng.

ObafemiO.com By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA

ObafemiO.com By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA
 oya
Deity of Storms

SUMMARY: Oya is the Orisa who governs storms, especially tornados,
strong winds and lightening.

SYMBOL: A pair of buffalo horns, an ax (Edun ara Oya), horse tail switch
(irukere), pot of water (Bumu Oya), Beads (Kele Oya), Calabash with
cover (pakata), woven cloth (Laba Oya).

SHRINE: Oya’s shrine is frequently kept inside the pakata Sango.

OFFERINGS: Obi abata, gin, she goat, hen, duck, female pig, mashed
yam with palm oil, corn pudding, honey comb, coEon wool, okra
leaves.

TABOOS: Adin (palm kernal oil), sheep, wool, dog

POSTURE: Kneeling or standing.

ObafemiO.com By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA

ObafemiO.com By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA
 egungun
Orisa of Ancestral Promise

SUMMARY: Egungun is the Orisa of Ancestral Promise. Each and every lineage has
a mission, which was established at Akodi Kankan, the ancestral home. The souls of
the ancestors are empowered through offering and prayer. In exchange, they
conBnue to guide and protect the family members, helping them to deliver on the
Ancestral Promise.

SYMBOL: A quilted cloth, called Aso Iyamoje.

SHRINE: The Egungun shrine consists of decorated switches and whips, Bed into a
bundle, a masquerade (Eku).

OFFERINGS: Obi abata (kola), orogbo (biEer kola), gin, akara, ekuru, moinmoin,
guinea fowl, palm oil, ram.

TABOOS: Adin (palm kernal oil), palm wine, women are forbidden from entering
the Egungun shrine, Obatala devotees are forbidden from being Egungun
masqueraders, nobody must see the face of the masquerader.

POSTURE: Silng, kneeling, standing.

ObafemiO.com By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA

ObafemiO.com By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA
 ibeji
Orisa of Twins

SUMMARY: The uniqueness of Ibeji is that they have no iniBated priests or
priestesses. It is only the mother of twins who is the true custodian of their
mysteries. Her bedroom is their shrine. Ibeji are special beings, who are blessed
with notable spiritual capabiliBes.

SYMBOL: Carved images of twins (ere), which are tradiBonally made when one or
both twins die.

SHRINE: The mother of twins’ bedroom is the original shrine of Ibeji.

OFFERINGS: Obi abata (kola), orogbo (biEer kola), gin, honey, black beans, akara,
ekuru, moinmoin, coconut, rooster, edible foods.

TABOOS: Adin (palm kernal oil), one must never feed one and not the other.

POSTURE: Silng, kneeling, standing.

ObafemiO.com By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA

ObafemiO.com By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA
 egbe
Spiritual Cohort

SUMMARY: Egbe represents a group of heavenly spirits who guide collecBve
acBon. Egbe is the spirit of acBvism, leadership and progressive movement. As
such, Egbe is closely associated with promises and agreements, which are the bond
of any group.

SYMBOL: The fan, fashioned with cowries, awe (terra coEa pot)

SHRINE: Egbe is usually kept at the base of a banana tree, near a stream or at the
foot of an Odan tree.

OFFERINGS: Obi abata (kola), orogbo (biEer kola), sugar cane, cooked beans, gin,
honey, akara, ekuru, moinmoin, coconut, rooster, hen, snack foods.

TABOOS: Adin (palm kernal oil), swearing

POSTURE: Silng, kneeling, standing. Singing and dancing.

ObafemiO.com By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA

ObafemiO.com By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA
 awon eleye
The Powerful Beings

SUMMARY: Awon Eleye (The Bird Owners) are commonly called witches. Together,
with Orunmila and Esu, they help govern the world. Although they are not Orisa,
Awon Eleye are highly influenBal. There are said to be three categories of Eleye;
Red, black and white. Red are aggressive. Black create confusion, but can be
appealed to. White are benevolent, kind and helpful. None of these categories
should be considered fixed.

SYMBOL: Red, black or white cloth, nocturnal animals, birds, and cats.

SHRINE: The base of the papaya tree, three way intersecBon, abandoned lots.

OFFERINGS: Obi abata, orogbo, palm oil, chicken eggs, banana, gin, pigeon, hen,
she goat, asaro (yam porridge).

TABOOS: N/A

POSTURE: N/A

ObafemiO.com By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA

 Obafemi Origunwa, MA

Ifá Priest, Counselor and
Educator with twenty
y e a r s ’ e x p e r i e n c e . I
believe in the healing
c a p a c i B e s o f Ò r ì s à
Lifestyle.

By mapping the anatomy
o f Y o r u b a s p i r i t u a l
consciousness, I hope to
make the basic tenets of
o u r t r a d i B o n m o r e
accessible to those who
are interested in the
wisdom of Òrìsà Lifestyle.

“Live the Medicine that will heal your life

and heal the lives of the people you
are destined to serve.”
- Obafemi Origunwa, MA

ObafemiO.com By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA

 Join the
Òrìsà Lifestyle Academy!
Orisa Lifestyle is a philosophical and iniBatory tradiBon. As you develop
physically, emoBonally, mentally and spiritually, you are introduced to
deeper ways to live the medicine that will heal your life and the lives of
those you serve.

ObafemiO.com By Obafemi Orig-nwa, MA