Yemanjá is one of the most revered Orixás of the Afro-Brazilian religion, it carries great spiritual power. Just as the sea appears limitless, the power of Yemanjá is imaginatively limitless. Yemanjá is known for its calm and welcoming energy that brings deep peace and harmony. It is associated with water, which represents the emotions and depths of our subconscious. It is Yemanjá that can descend with us to the bottom of our consciousness, to our innermost experiences, and embrace us in matters of love, self-acceptance, partnership and family relationships.
In the Umbanda tradition, it is believed that just as the surface of the sea reflects light and the sun, anything shone upon by the presence or attention of Yemanja will be transformed into light. The symbol of this is the "abebe" (the mirror that Yemanjá holds in his hand). This Orixá has the power to connect us to the light and depths of knowledge and to bring these qualities into the family and our interpersonal relationships. From a certain point of view, just as the fish in the sea are connected and form an ecosystem, so too are humans, and it is Yemanjá who teaches us the quality of belonging, communication and caring for one another.
She is called "The Mother whose children are like fish", which comes from the African language Yoruba: "Yejé omo ejá". Therefore, prayer and petition for offspring is often brought to her. She is seen as the guardian of pregnant women, children and families, bringing comfort and support in times of trouble. She guards family ties and emotional relationships, promoting unity, love and harmony among people. Her motherly and welcoming energy brings safety and protection to those who seek her guidance and help.
Yemanja is the Queen of the Salt Waters. She has power over the sea and over all who enter its waters. She is revered and respected by fishermen and all who live on the sea, for their lives are in their hands. According to legend, it is Yemanja, Queen of the Waters, who decides the fate of those who enter her maritime kingdom: the beaches, the bays and the coves. Her domain also includes the two opposing qualities of calm and storm at sea.
Invoking the spiritual energy of Yemanja can bring inner peace, emotional balance and spiritual protection. Rituals for her reflect gratitude and devotion to her power and wisdom. Connecting with Yemanja allows us to access her peaceful and loving energy, which promotes well-being and harmony in our lives.
How to connect with the energy of Yemanja?
- It can be a bit of a challenge in a land without a sea, but you'll be sure to be reminded of its energy by the various seashells, white flowers and silver ornaments.
- Colour of Yemanja: blue
- Herbs: white rose and most white flowers such as jasmine or orange blossom
- Her day: Saturday
Salutations to Orixá Yemanjá, who we use and invoke her power:
Odoya!
Salve Yemanjá, rainha do mar!
A day dedicated to Yenajá in Brazil
On February 2, Brazilians dress in white and go to the seashore to bring their dear female Orixá offerings in the form of white flowers or rosemary perfume, which they either throw directly into the water or drop in small boats along with their prayers. The same ritual can be seen in Brazil on the first of January, when, in addition, the seven waves of the sea are jumped over for good luck.
Orixás statues tradition in Brazil
Orixás statuettes can be found not only in Brazilian households that practice the Afro-Brazilian religion of Umbanda, but also in families that do not participate in these rituals, but believe in the power of Orixás to represent the forces of nature and to represent male and female archetypes. We can have Orixás at home that we identify with or, conversely, by acquiring a statue of a particular Orixás, we contact the qualities and abilities we would like to have. It is good to know that there are several Umbanda lineages in Brazil, and so it is possible that the information we bring you that we have encountered in central Brazil will be slightly different in other parts of Brazil. There are sometimes differences of opinion, for example, about the colour of the candles that are lit by individual Orixás - for example, Ogum is sometimes blue, sometimes red. Therefore, if you use Orixás statues for your rituals and energy work, we recommend that you take our recommendations as inspiration, but ultimately it is you who develops your intuition and defines how you honor your Orixás.
How to work with Orixás archetypes for your personal development
The characteristics of the individual Orixás and the archetypes they represent easily lead to projections in meaning: This Orixá will help me win love, another will give me courage. And to some extent, that's okay - Orixás give us the strength and the necessary approaches to deal with our life situations. However, it is the underlying perception that leads us to animism.
We, in working on ourselves, offer you an approach to Orixás as impulses that come into our lives and show us something essential. They teach us on a moral and spiritual level.
"When we imagine that we are walking on the path of our lives, Orixá is like a horse that appears on the path and invites us to ride. When we agree, it adds another dimension to our life's journey."
If you're serious about studying Umbanda and Orixás, get yourself a white outfit, which is typical of Brazilian umbandistas. White symbolizes peace, purity and positive energy.
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