Olokún
The Orisha of the Depths of the Sea.
The Owner of the Sea.
No one knows what lies at the bottom of the sea, as the Odú Irosún tells us. Olokún is the Orisha of the depths of the sea, and much like those dark depths is somewhat unknowable. Is Olokún male, female, or androgynous? Is Olokún a manifestation of Yemayá or his own separate Orisha?
In the world of the Orisha, Olokun is like a Titan - one of the most primordial and mysterious of the Orisha. He, she, or they, are wealthy, because all treasure eventually winds up at the bottom of the sea. And for this reason, Olokún is said to bring prosperity and stability.
But Olokún is also connected to Egún - the dead. Like the dead, Olokún wears a mask. This connection may be traced back to the horror of trans-Atlantic slave trade, during which many enslaved Africans died and were thrown overboard from slave ships, or jumped and attempted to swim back. Olokún protectively holds these spirits close to her.
Painting: Olokún by Erik Olivera.
With the incredible weight of the water experienced at the ocean floor, Olokún prompts inner reflection and brings stability to lives of those who receive them. Many people who receive Olokún speak to the incredible transformations he brings to the foundations of their lives.
Moforibale Olokún!