Ochosi

Ochosi is one of the warrior orishas. He rules the forces of justice and of the hunt.

Ochosi (also spelled Ochossi, Oxosi, or Oshosi) is a skilled, stealthy hunter orisha who upholds the highest ethical standards and always hit the mark with his arrow. Ochosi knows the wilderness better than anyone else and has mastered the art of tracking his prey and killing it while being totally undetectable. While he knows the wild parts of the world he does not make his residence there. He lives in Obatala’s palace and hunts on his behalf. He is often times depicted as the force of blind justice in the world, and is said to rule the court systems, police officers, jails and other executors of the law. He is the piercing tip of the arrow, drawn across a bow and launched through the air with purpose. He helps us attain our goals while maintaining an ethical and straight path through life.

Ochosi is often found with his inseparable friends Elegguá and Ogún. These three orishas along with Osun are “The Warriors” – one of the initiations a person receives making him an Aborisha or worshipper of the orishas. Elegba, Ogun and Ochosi work together to help a person’s spiritual development. Eleggua opens the road, Ogun clears it and Ochosi helps that person attain their goal as easily as possible, like the straight shot of his arrow. Ochosi’s main symbol is the crossbow, and when a person receives The Warriors as a set, Ochosi’s presence is a small iron crossbow inside of Ogun’s cauldron. Later, if the initiate needs to receive Ochosi’s full shrine, he will receive his own container with an assortment of hunting tools and his own otá (stone) and diloggún.

Priests who are crowned with and of the warrior orishas including Elegguá, Ogun or Ochosi receive Ochosi’s complete shrine (pictured to the right) at their Kariocha ceremony. Some lineages give Ochosi’s shrine in a clay vessel, while others give his shrine in an iron cauldron. This is a normal variation that is seen between spiritual houses.

Symbols, Numbers, Colors and Attributes of Ochosi

A typical eleke for Ochosi uses royal blue and transparent honey colored beads. This unique eleke also contains coral and jet beads.

Number: 3 and 7

Sacred Place in Nature: In the wilderness, forests, jails, courthouses

Colors: Blue and amber

Tools: Crossbow, arrows, shields, spears, hunting tools

Temperament: Focused, diligent, stealthy, just

Syncretized Catholic Saint: Saint Norbert

Ochosi’s Caminos (Avatars or “Roads”)

Ochosi is singular in nature and consequently does not have any avatars or roads (caminos).

Offerings for Ochosi

Ochosi has a huge apetite for all kinds of hunted game animals or fowl. He enjoys pears, grapes, plantains, smoked fish, jutía, pomegranates, anisette and bananas. His animal sacrifices include he-goat, rooster, pheasant, quails, deer and pigeons. Below are some recipes for addimús you can prepare for Ochosi.

Roasted Sweet Potato Fries for Ochosi

Sweet potatoes are a great addimú for Ochosi. For this recipe buy three medium sizes sweet potatoes. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Peel the potatoes, cut the ends off, then cut them into wedge shapes (the size of dinner fries). Place these in a large bowl and season them with salt, a pinch of sugar, palm oil and paprika. Toss them with your hands to make sure they are lightly coated with the oil and seasonings. Spread the sweet potato wedges out on a cookie sheet in a single layer. Bake them in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes, turning them over half way through the cooking time. Remove them from the oven and allow them to cook. Place them in a large bowl and present them to Ochosi as an addimú offering. Remove them after the appropriate amount of time and dispose of them in nature as determined through divination.

Anisette and Cigar for Ochosi

This is a very simple addimú that you can give Ochosi on a regular basis. Select a dry anisette (not the sweet kind) and a nice cigar. Start by taking a small mouthful of the anisette and spraying it from your lips all over his shrine. Light the cigar and make sure it has a good burning ember on the end. Turn the cigar around and carefully place it inside your mouth taking care to keep your tongue away from it so you don’t burn yourself. Exhale through your mouth and out the cigar to blow smoke all over and inside Ochosi’s vessel. Place the cigar on a fire-proof dish beside his shrine. This is a nice offering for Ochosi that can be done weekly to keep him happy in your home.