All About the 7 African Powers: Learn how to attend to them and pray for them, what their candles are, and the strong prayer to achieve everything.
Every religion has powerful deities with higher ranks who mark an important point and who have been worshipped for a long time.
In Santeria, as in Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and many other religions, there are saints who have great value and significance and have helped many people over the years. If you want to learn more about this, this article is for you.
Who are the 7 African Powers?
The most important and venerated deities are those who possess a strong connection between the saint and nature, and this gives them diverse powers, qualities, and even different stories that have transcended for many years.
This group is composed of both female and male deities, each of which refers to a type of symbolic value. If you’re not familiar with them, here they are:
- Elegguá: This deity is in charge of opening or closing the doors of destiny; that is, she can open the paths to good situations or she can close them. Elegguá is the one who opens the doors when you join this cult. He is the main warrior of the Oddé group, as God’s main messenger.
- Yemaya: She is the mother of each of the Orishas that exist in the world, as she was the one who brought them to life. Her womb is the most fertile; she belongs to the main group of Orishas; she is loving and represents the intelligent.
- Obatalá: Also known as Ochalá, he is one of the main gods within the Santeria pantheon and is believed to have founded almost all of the Santeria deities. He is highly intelligent and is considered the kindest, a kind of Jesus Christ.
- Oshún: She is the patron saint of every river, waterfall, and freshwater spring in the world. If you are experiencing economic or financial problems or wish to have a child, you should turn to her, as her main ability is to resolve financial difficulties and provide fertility.
- Orula: He is the only African deity who witnessed the creation of the Earth as we know it, making him the oldest of all, as well as the most self-centered. He was the one who bestowed the various qualities of the Orishas that make up the Yoruba pantheon.
- Oggún: He occupies one of the most important positions in Yoruba and is responsible for guiding those who carry out the work of blacksmiths, the army and police of each country, surgeons, large-scale conflicts, and every technological advance. He is violent and very strong against those who intend to harm his children.
- Shangó: He is one of the most famous, strongest, and popular warriors in the Yoruba pantheon. He symbolizes strength, thunder, dance, warmth, justice, and courage, thus having the power and ability to ward off devastation and conflict.
As you can see, the seven deities form a religious syncretism, as they are associated with two types of cultural traditions.
How can we care for them?
Something very important in this type of ritual is the offerings you can offer, as they must please the deity. Some of them could be the following:
- Flowers.
- Prepared foods.
- A glass of water. This cannot be missing on an altar.
- Honey.
- Shredded coconut.
- Brandy.
- Fruits.
After placing them, it is important to do the following:
- Foods such as fruits, honey, and prepared foods can only be served when the request has been fulfilled.
- Offerings must remain in place until they deteriorate.
- Dispose of them in a container far from where you are.
- Depending on what you have requested from the deities, you can place a new offering or leave the space empty.
Remember to always keep the promises you make, since, just as the deities give, they also take away. Keep this in mind.
How to ask for it?
As you can see, since each deity fulfills a different function, whatever you ask for must be related. If you want to request material prosperity from the 7 African Powers, you must do the following:
- Prepare the altar for the deities.
- You must lay a white tablecloth.
- Place a seven-colored candle on a ceramic or clay plate.
- Place the corresponding offerings.
What are their candles?
For each ritual of each religion, it is important to have a series of elements that accompany the altar and are of great importance for making requests. In this case, a seven-colored candle is used, but here is a list of objects that must accompany it:
- The presence of an expert santero, or babalawo, is required to coordinate every aspect of this ceremony.
- Candles or votive candles for the moment of offering prayers. You can use a candle in the color of the deity.
- A white tablecloth to place under the candles or votive candles.
- Offerings you wish to offer.
- Each deity’s favorite food.
- Prayers.
What are their necklaces?
In Santeria, there are various accessories that are responsible for providing protection to their wearer. These are necklaces and bracelets that seek to protect the person from all evils. These are placed during an initiation ritual.
The necklaces are made with beads that represent the colors of each Orisha to symbolize that wherever you go, the deities will be with you, making it a very powerful object.
Those who sponsor the person who will wear the necklace must teach the proper respect for this object through various rules.
What are their colors?
As you’ve surely noticed, in Santeria, there are different colors for each deity, and each has a meaning. Don’t worry if you get confused about the meaning of each one; slowly you will learn each one. Here is a list:
- Green: The color of this candle represents wisdom and the extension of nature. It corresponds to Oggún. Red: This candle symbolizes power and passion. It is represented by Shango.
- Yellow: This candle represents wealth and represents the deity Oshun.
- White: This candle shows us the purity that exists on planet Earth and corresponds to Obatala.
- Blue: This last candle represents the purity and depth of the oceans and belongs to Yemayá.
Prayer to the 7 African Powers
If you already have everything mentioned above and have understood every detail, the next step is to say a prayer. You can say the following:
Oh seven powers of Africa,
I humbly turn to you
So that you may fulfill my request.
I ask you with all my being to
Fill my life with light, peace, and serenity,
Remove all evil that may come near
And the hateful desires of others toward me.
Elegguá, open the doors to a prosperous life,
Obatalá, look upon me with good eyes,
Listen to me, powerful Shangó and Oshún,
So that I may achieve my goal.
Blessed be all of you
Alongside the most powerful God. Amen.
As you can see, there are many objects you must seek in order to pray to these powerful deities for what you need. Remember not to use them for evil. I hope my article has been helpful.
