Honoring Oya: Celebrating the Feast Day of the Fierce Orisha of Winds and Transformation
The powerful Orisha Oya, the ruler of winds, storms, cemeteries, and transformation, is celebrated by devotees and spiritual practitioners worldwide on her feast day, February 2nd (though some traditions honor her on different dates). As the guardian of the threshold between life and death, Oya is a force of change, rebirth, and power, embodying both the destruction of the old and the birth of the new.
Who is Oya?
In the Yoruba tradition, Oya is the Orisha of storms, wind, and the marketplace. She is a fierce warrior, a protector of women, and a powerful goddess of transformation. She wields the machete and the horsetail whip, clearing the way for new beginnings. Oya governs the winds of change, bringing both chaos and renewal. She is also the guardian of the cemetery gates, guiding spirits between realms and ensuring balance between the living and the dead.
Oya, the Mother of Nine
Oya is known as the Mother of Nine, a sacred number representing her deep connection to birth, death, and transformation. She is said to have given birth to nine stillborn children, who became the Egungun (spirits of the ancestors). This reinforces her role as the Orisha who governs the cemetery and the link between the living and the dead. Because of this, the number nine is sacred to her, and many of her offerings and rituals involve nine items or repetitions in her honor.
Ways to Celebrate Oya’s Feast Day
Honoring Oya on her feast day is a powerful way to invite her strength, protection, and transformation into your life. Here are some traditional and modern ways to celebrate:
1. Set Up an Altar for Oya
Create a sacred space dedicated to Oya with the following offerings:
- Colors: Deep purple, maroon, burgundy, and brown
- Symbols: Machetes, lightning, winds, the number 9
- Offerings: Red wine, eggplants, plums, grapes, nine copper pennies, and spicy foods
- Candles: Purple, red, or brown candles lit in her honor
2. Offer Prayers and Invocations
Light a candle and call upon Oya’s energy, asking for her guidance in removing obstacles, embracing change, and gaining strength. A simple prayer may be:
"Oya, mighty Orisha of the winds and storms,
Clear my path of all that no longer serves me.
Bring transformation where it is needed,
And grant me the strength to walk through the storms of life with courage and wisdom.
Ashé!"
3. Work with the Wind
Since Oya is the Orisha of the winds, spend time outside and pay attention to the movement of the air. If the wind picks up, take it as a sign of her presence. You can also write down what you wish to release on paper and let the wind carry it away, symbolizing Oya clearing your path.
4. Visit the Cemetery (with Respect)
As the guardian of the cemetery, Oya is honored at graveyards. If you choose to visit, bring an offering (such as flowers, pennies, or a small candle) and speak words of gratitude to the ancestors and Oya for their wisdom and protection. Always enter and leave respectfully, and do not take anything from the cemetery.
5. Dance for Oya
Oya’s presence is often felt through drumming, music, and dance. Playing drums, dancing to the rhythm of the storm, or even moving freely with the wind can be a way to embody her energy and embrace transformation.
6. Perform a Cleansing Ritual
Since Oya is the force of sweeping change, you can perform a spiritual cleansing on her feast day.
- Sweep your home from back to front, clearing out negative energy.
- Take a spiritual bath with herbs like basil, rosemary, or cinnamon to wash away old energy.
- Burn Dragon’s Blood, frankincense, or myrrh to purify your space.
Divination and Oya
Oya is associated with divination and ancestral communication, as she governs transitions between realms. If you seek guidance, consider:
- Using cowrie shells (Diloggun divination) under the guidance of a trained diviner.
- Pulling tarot or oracle cards while asking for Oya’s wisdom. Cards related to transformation, change, or the Tower card are often signs of her influence.
- Scrying with fire or smoke, since she is also linked to lightning and storms.
Suggested Ritual: Oya’s Wind of Change Ceremony
You Will Need:
- A purple, red, or brown candle
- A small bowl of water (to represent cleansing and renewal)
- A piece of paper and pen
- A handful of natural herbs (such as basil, rosemary, or cinnamon)
- Incense (Dragon’s Blood, frankincense, or myrrh)
Instructions:
-
Light the candle and say:
"Oya, winds of change and transformation, I call upon you.
Clear my path, remove obstacles, and guide me toward my destiny.
With courage, I embrace the storm, for I know new blessings await." - Write down something you need to release or transform in your life.
- Burn the paper in a fireproof dish or hold it to the wind and let it be carried away.
- Wash your hands in the bowl of water, symbolizing renewal.
- Burn incense and meditate on the changes Oya is bringing into your life.
- Give thanks and allow the candle to burn safely until it is finished.
Embracing Oya’s Lessons
Oya teaches us to be fearless in the face of change. She reminds us that storms may be chaotic, but they clear the way for new life. When we honor her, we align ourselves with the power of transformation, resilience, and spiritual evolution.
Personal Reflection: Walking with Oya
Working with Oya is not for the faint of heart. She demands truth, courage, and an openness to change. She is not the Orisha you call upon for small, insignificant matters—Oya moves mountains, clears obstacles, and transforms lives. When you invoke her, be ready for shifts, revelations, and the clearing away of things that no longer serve you.
I have personally felt Oya’s presence in times of transition, loss, personal and spiritual breakthroughs. She is the wind that whispers, “You are stronger than this.” She is the storm that washes away what is broken so that something greater can be built. She does not bring change gently—she rips away illusions, forces growth, and demands that we step into our power.
But if you embrace her lessons, she will lead you to great strength, resilience, and clarity. She reminds us that sometimes destruction is necessary for rebirth and that true power comes from embracing life’s inevitable transformations.
Call to Action: How Will You Honor Oya?
In reverence to Oya on her feast day, I invite you to reflect on the areas of your life that need transformation. What are you holding onto that no longer serves you? What fears are keeping you from stepping into your power?
Take a moment to light a candle, say a prayer, or make an offering in her honor. Let Oya’s winds sweep away the old and welcome the new. Trust the process. The storm may be fierce, but what awaits on the other side is growth, wisdom, and unstoppable power.
On this Feast Day of Oya, may she bless you with strength, clarity, and the courage to embrace the winds of change.
Ashé! ⚡🌪️🔥