Changó
is a warrior, the Orisha of lightning, dance, and passion. He is the epitome of all things masculine, and the dispenser of vengeance on behalf of the wronged. He has the power to help win wars, defeat enemies, and gain power over others. He will ensure victory over all difficulties.
Changó was a royal ancestor of the Yoruba as he was the third king of the Oyo Kingdom and was deified after his death.
According to Yoruba and Vodou belief systems, Changó hurls bolts of lightning at the people chosen to be his followers, leaving behind imprints of stone axe blade on the Earth’s crust. He is one of the most loved and celebrated orishas in Yoruba land because of his generosity and the protection he confers upon his followers.
He is central to every initiation performed in Santería. Obatala, Oshun, Yemaya and Shango make up the four pillars of Santeria.
Personal Life:
Changó has three wives.
Because of her excellent cooking, Oshun is his favorite. His other wife, Oba, another river goddess, offered Changó her ear to eat. He scorned her and she became the Oba River, which merges with the Oshun River to form dangerous rapids. Lastly, Oyá was Changó’s third wife, known for stealing the secrets of his powerful magic.
As the legend is told, Changó had his own house and each wife had her own house next to his. He would visit his wives in their houses to eat and to sleep with them. Oba noticed that when Changó went to Oshun’s home he would eat all of the food that she prepared for him; yet, when he came home to her he would just pick. Desiring a closer relationship with her husband, Oba asked Oshun how she kept Changó so happy. Oshun was offended by the inquiry and became filled with resentment. For one, Oba’s children would inherit Changó’s kingdom because they were his first children. Oshun’s children would not have nearly the same status, being born from his concubine. So, Oshun decided to play a trick on Oba, out of jealousy.
She told Oba that many years ago she had cut a small piece of her ear off and dried it. From this she made a powder that she would sprinkle on Changó’s food. Oshun told Oba that the more he ate, the more he desired her. Excited by this information, Oba ran home to prepare Changó’s favorite meal. Once it was done, she decided that if a little piece of Oshun’s ear produced such a great effect, her whole ear should drive Changó crazy with desire for her and he would forget Oshun forever. So, Oba sliced off her ear and stirred it into Changó’s food. When Changó came home, he sat down and began to eat without looking at his dish. When he finally glanced down, he saw an ear floating in the stew. Thinking Oba was trying to poison him; Changó drove her from his house. Oba ran away crying, and fell to earth to become a river, where she is still worshipped today. As an Orisha, Oba is the goddess of marriage and is said to destroy marriages in which abuse occurs.
Parents
Shango, also called Kabiosile, is the son of Yemaya and Aggayu Sola but was raised by Obbatala because Yemaya did not want him. When Obbatala and his wife Yemu adopted him, they offered him a red and white collar and a castle and they told him that he would be the master of the world.
When he came down to earth, he took his castle, his pylon and the divination tray. When he arrived, he lived with the Congo people but he had problems because of his character and he was exiled.
Chango fathered the Ibeji – the first twins. (Their mother is Oshún.) He also fathered Boromú and Borosia, who were born by Yegguá, the virgin girl he had raped. When he was young he was very unruly but through a healthy dose of reality checks from Obatalá, Changó eventually matured and learned the fine arts of diplomacy, royal grace and charm.
He’s a fast talker, lies a lot and can be manipulative. He can also be a gambler and wasteful with money. As long as his children are obedient, he’s a good father, but punishes them if they don’t live up to his standards. When his ego gets out of control, he’s arrogant and domineering.
Characteristics of Shango
Number: 6 and 12
Colors: red and white – His colours are red and white,
Tools: single headed axe, thunder stones, his best-known symbol is the oshe, a double-bladed axe.
Temperament: bombastic, outspoken, assertive and charming.
Day: Fridays and the 4th day of every month.
Syncretized Catholic Saint: He is represented under the colonial guise as St. Barbara, and is sometimes associated with Vodou’s Petro Loa, Erzulie Dantor.
Sacred Place in Nature: the royal palm tree.
Feast Day of St. Barbara/Changó: Dec 4th .
Favorite offerings: Cornmeal porridge with okra, plantain bananas, red apples or fruits, grilled corn, red wine, raw or cooked yam, barley, brandy.
Sacred Symbol: double bladed axe, lightning bolts, fire balls and Chango’s eleke.
The eleke is made with alternating red and white beads and decorated with elaborate alternating patterns and cowrie shells.
The Shango Altar
Changó altars often contain a carved figure of a woman holding a gift to the god with a double-bladed axe sticking up from her head. The axe symbolizes that this devotee is possessed by Shango. The woman’s expression is calm and cool, for she is expressing the qualities she has gained through her faith.
If you have the space and opportunity to make a specific Shango altar, then prepare it at the fire place because he likes fire. You should make fires for Shango on stones, glass, clay, or any kind of earthen material but avoid any metallic container.
Place your Shango items nearest to your Eshu items, and far from the Ogun items. If you have any Shango necklace, keep them stored in a red and white bowl or cloth in the Shango section whenever you are not wearing them. Also remember to place Shango tools, offerings and figurines on the altar.
Recipes for devotional incense and oil
Below is a recipe for preparing an acceptable incense to be used during Chango worship ceremonies.
Shango Devotional Incense
This incense should be used only for outdoors purposes. Below are the items required:
- a spoonful of black pepper or coffee grounds for Eshu,
- a spoonful of millet, yam, corn, or amaranth flour,
- a small handful of myrrh or copal resin, powdered,
- 2 heaping spoonful of sandalwood powder,
- 2 heaping spoonful of red pepper,
- 2 heaping spoonful cinnamon,
- 2 heaping spoonful of oudh/aloes wood powder,
- a small handful of dragon’s blood resin chunks, powdered in a mortar and pestle.
Note:
After preparing your incense you should place it on fire and stand far away from the smoke or you will feel like you’ve been teargassed. You can burn it on charcoal or other suitable censers.
Shango Devotional Oil
Recipe:
- 12 dried red hot peppers,
- 12 dried hot light or green peppers,
- 6 coffee beans ( You can also use 3 peppercorns for Eshu or vanilla bean cut into 3 parts)
- Two fingers grab of tobacco,
- 1 liter of pure almond oil, or olive oil for lamps,
- The skin of a yam, sweet potato, or the hairs of an ear of corn.
Note:
Put the ingredients in a jar, and place it in a cool dry place for six months. This oil isn’t recommended for use on the skin however you can burn it in an oil burner during rituals or use it for consecrating and anointing Shango items.
Image Source: https://www.originalbotanica.com/blog/chango-shango-orisha-santeria/
References:
- http://soulmindbody.net/esu/2010/11/shango-chango/
- http://obeahwoman.com/2014/08/shango-ebbo-2014/