Today, we celebrate the feast day of our beloved orisha, Eleguá. Also known as Eleggua, Èṣù-Ẹlẹ́gbára, Ẹlẹ́gbá, Legba, Esu, or Eshu, Elegua is the orisha of crossroads, the "owner" of caminos, roads and paths, chance and uncertainty.
Honored in Santería, Espiritismo, Sanse, Winti, Umbanda, Quimbanda, and Candomblé, Elegua is associated with protection, wisdom, and healing. He is a warrior and is often called upon for guidance, protection, and strength.
Seen as both a young, mischievous trickster and an old, wise being, Elegua represents the different phases of life and fate. Elegua is often depicted with two faces, which is said to represent duality, reciprocity, and his level of observation on Earth. He is the messenger for all Orishas, and opens the doors between worlds and roads in life. Images of Elegua also tend to include keys and a cane, which symbolize his control over passageways, locks, and gates, as well as communications. He opens the road to the divine - you could say that he activates the divinity which lives in us all.
Eleguá is paired with Eshu, the trickster. Some of the sacred stories consider them to be the same, some consider them to be brothers. Due to this nature, some consider him the devil, but that could not be further from the truth. Elegua/Esu may be considered the orisha of tower moments, but remember, with tests, comes growth. The Tower card is followed by Death. Chaos clears the way for rebirth.
In the Americas, Eleguá is syncretized with Saint Anthony of Padua, the Holy Child of Atocha, or the Archangel Michael.
Feast day: June 13
Colors: Red, Black, White
Numbers: 3, multiples of 3, and 21
Day of the week: Monday