Oshun
Ifá and the Spirit of the River
Awo Fá' Lokun Fatunmbi
Original Publications, 1993
Oshun is the Spirit of the river in the West African religious tradition called Ifá.
The word Oshun is the name given to describe a complex convergence of Spiritual Forces that
are key elements in the Ifá concept of fertility and the erotic. Those Spiritual Forces that
form the foundation of Oshun's in the Spirit Realm relate to the Creation of new forms through
the interaction between polar opposites. According to Ifá, Creation occurs through the polarity
between the Forces of expansion and contraction. Together these Forces create light and darkness, which
in turn sustains and defines all that is. Ifá scripture often refers to Forces of expansion
as "Orisha Okunrin", which means "Male Spirit" and to Forces of contraction as
"Orisha Obinrin", which means "Female Spirit".
Both forms of Spiritual Power are considered of equal importance in the evolution of all that exists.
One is not better than the other because it is only throught the balance of opposites that life comes into Being.
This title is part of a series of eight booklets about the Orisha by Awo Fá' Lokun Fátunmbi.
Please feel free to write us and tell us which of the Orisha you would like to know more about.
(The text above comes from the back of the book)