All About Oggun: Maferefun Oggun, learn about his paths, popular prayers, and his day of worship. Complete guide to this Orisha, owner of the Metals.
The orishas are deities originating in the Yoruba religion in Africa. Over the years, these beliefs began to spread to other countries until they consolidated into a single religion.
Oggun Arere is one of the warriors of this religion, ready to protect you from your enemies and your home.
Who is Oggun?
Oggun is the Orisha of war, blacksmiths, the army, surgeons, police, and technology. He is a rather strong and violent deity when it comes to his enemies or evil intentions. He carries a machete with him to fight his rivals and to clear a path through vegetation.
He is placed to protect homes and temples, and is also the protector of workers in professions that work with metal. He is responsible for justice regardless of what others may say and safeguards the paths opened by Eleggua.
In the Catholic Religion
Many slaves came from Cuba or Africa, so when they encountered colonization, they were forced to keep their beliefs secret, having their saints adopt the name of a Catholic saint.
- To avoid problems and cross-referencing, in Catholicism, the syncretism is Saint Peter or Saint Michael the Archangel.
- The image of Saint Peter holds the keys to the kingdom of heaven, which are made of metal.
- Saint Michael the Archangel is associated with the symbolic metal element of Oggun, carrying a sword, and being a warrior with his helmet and spear.
In Spiritism
As we have mentioned, during the time of slavery, beliefs and associations were intertwined to make the colonizers believe they were Catholic:
- For Spiritists, the syncretism of Oggun is Saint Michael the Archangel.
- They are associated with the symbolic metal element of Oggun.
- Saint Michael the Archangel carries a sword and a helmet, and is also a warrior.
- Syncretism does not mean that they are the same, but on the contrary, they are different entities.
What is this Orisha’s day?
Oggun is the Orisha of the numbers 2, 3, and 7 (and all their multiples). He is worshipped on Tuesdays, and his feast day is April 23rd, when he should receive offerings and celebrate.
Keep in mind that this date should be worshipped and celebrated with his symbolic colors, which are green, black, white, and red.
How to ask him?
If you want to make a request to this Orisha, it is important to know that prayers are primarily intended for his veneration, but you can make the appropriate prayer depending on the request you are making:
- You should prepare an altar or a place in your home that is comfortable and quiet, where you will not be interrupted.
- The space should be well-conditioned.
- Greet Oggun.
- Approach him with faith and belief in what you are doing and in his religion.
- Place some candles on it, believing that Oggun will be able to solve your problems.
- Say the corresponding prayer according to the request you are making.
- Blow burning water or rum on it, along with tobacco smoke, in its attention.
- Sprinkle toasted corn, smoked jutia, and smoked fish on top.
How to put someone in the cauldron?
The Oggun cauldron is a receptacle in which the Orisha is placed. It is made of his element, iron, with three legs and a stone that must be collected on the train tracks or in the mountains.
If you want to put someone in this cauldron, you should know the following:
- Remember that Oggun is an aggressive and violent deity, so many tips are to avoid putting people in it.
- The person placed in it may be violently attacked by Oggun and Oshosi, who may be brutally attacked by these deities.
- You must perform the cauldron ceremony before you can put someone in it.
- You must justify why that person should enter the cauldron and why you want to put them in it.
- Write the full name of the person you wish to put in on a piece of paper.
- At the end of the ceremony, close it by placing or throwing the paper with their name into the cauldron.
What are the aldimu for Oggun?
The aldimu are a series of offerings that should be offered to this deity when making a request or on his day of celebration.
If you want to get a job and have stability, you should prepare the following:
- Bay tree.
- 1 sweet potato.
- Green triangular flags.
- 1 candle.
- Corojo butter.
- Smoked fish.
- Burning water or rum.
- Tobacco.
- Smoked jutia.
- Toasted corn.
- 3 centavos.
What characteristics do Oggun’s children have?
All believers and worshippers of Oggun who are members of the religion are children of Oggun, who are characterized by the following characteristics similar to those of the Orisha:
- They are generally violent in spirit.
- They are mostly hot-headed.
- They are not good at controlling their emotions.
- They don’t know how to apologize to another person for their actions.
- They are not picky eaters.
- They have a fun group of friends.
- They are not people who only have one relationship; they may meet a partner to hang out with or may have another who doesn’t.
- They are not rude or firm with anyone in particular.
- They do not forgive or forget offenses.
- They risk everything if they deeply believe in what they are doing or want to achieve.
- They are born leaders.
- They need to be reminded of affection and are resentful.
- They are jealous and possessive.
- They are sincere and quite direct, so they expect the same from others.
- They are noble and self-confident.
What are the prohibitions for their children?
You should know that all the Orishas are always watching and listening to what you do or say, so if they think you are acting wrongly, they can punish you. Oggun is the Orisha who carries out these punishments, especially if you fail to comply with these prohibitions:
- You must not slander other people, whether they are religious or not.
- Remember that the human tongue can be destructive.
- Do not create, invent, or spread gossip.
How many paths does this Orisha have?
This deity has a wide variety of paths, of which we will mention 44:
- Oggún Onile
- Oggún Alagbo or Alagbede
- Oggún Melli
- Oggún Arere
- Oggún Shibiriki
- Oggún Kobu Kobu
- Oggún Aguanile
- Oggún Meye
- Oggún Adaiba
- Oggún Jobí
- Oggún Adeolá
- Oggún Já
- Oggún Olokó
- Oggún Aroye
- Oggún Onira
- Oggún Oniré
- Oggún Oké
- Oggún Aladú
- Oggún Valanyé or Valenyé
- Oggún Ñako Ñiko
- Oggún Olode
- Oggún Soroké
- Oggún Warí.
- Oggún Talajó.
- Oggún Olobe.
- Oggún kasajó.
- Oggún Olobeté.
- Oggún Abagága.
- Oggún Bi.
- Oggún Deyi.
- Oggún De.
- Oggún Pátakori.
- Oggún Ondó.
- Oggún Igiri.
- Oggún Abesan.
- Oggún Orioko.
- Oggún Alará.
- Oggún Ikolá.
- Oggún Akirun.
- Oggún Makinde.
- Oggún Molé.
- Oggún Elémona.
- Oggún Gbenagbena.
- Oggún Olópa.
Prayer to Oggun
For Oggun, prayer is important and a way to communicate so that a bond can form between you. This Orisha usually attends immediately to his children.
Great Oggun,
you who represent human strength,
grant me that same ability to
face this great problem that torments me.
I come before you today to ask for your help.
I need your hand so that you (full name)
grant me (explain request).
I fully trust in you, my guide and father, Oggun,
I know that you will not fail me.
Ashe.
Prayer for Love
“Great warrior,
I invoke you in the name of all powers,
I invoke you and conjure you so that at the dawn of this day,
you grant me divine grace, that (name of person)
may be subdued by your powers and enamored by me,
that they may have no pleasure nor seek,
until they come to my side and you grant them no joy
until they realize that they must be by my side.
With your tools of power and
the aura of your mantle, may we be covered and blessed;
with your limbs, may we be bound to our destiny
of being together forever.
To you, divine saint of Oggún,
I implore you that (beloved person already mentioned)
may love and esteem me like no other person.
I need this person to love and adore me just as I am.
In body, soul, and spirit,
and only you are capable of this,
that is why I come to you, my great father.
Ashe.”
This Orisha is one of the most violent and impulsive, yet they always seek to help those around them, as long as they show respect and sincerity.
We hope you enjoyed this article and that it cleared up any doubts you may have.