Eleguá Says EnJoy!

Eleguá says EnJoy!

Acrylic on Canvas, Reclaimed Found Frame,
Found Objects, Cowrie Shells
30” X 42” ©Tania Guerrera, 2012

 

 

🛍️  https://www.TANiA.GURU/product/elegua

Orisha Art by Tania Guerrera

Eleguá says EnJoy!
(Eleguá as Eshu Anaki)

Mixed Media

This artwork is a painted Altar to honor Eleguá. Eleguá is known in the Voudun Yoruba Religion as the Orisha who is the intermediary between the Spiritual and the physical worlds. The most powerful healer, the first Shaman, holder of keys and in charge of The Paths.

There are many “paths” or manifestations of Eleguá for example Eshu Bi, teaches the hard lessons and Eshu Anaki is Eleguá as a Woman, keeping all of the other Orishas organized and in line.

Details and close ups of the painting below. 🙂

The Story of Elegua’s Power

Olofi, one of the three manifestations of the Supreme God, at one time was greatly ill and depressed of the situations among the universe. He grew tired and frail since he was doing so much, creating life, giving Orishas Ache and so on.

The Orishas were summoned to see if they could do anything for the great king and cure him of his dilemma. The Orishas gathered in the great hall where Olofi slumped in his throne, soon they began conversing with each other on methods for curing him.

Obatalá went first and tried to clean him with his white cloth with no effect. Orula prepared a tonic to drink and Olofi remained the same, Ozain tried an herbal rub and the great king remained the same.

Every Orisha tried to cure Olofi and they were unsuccessful.

Eleguá walked amongst the Orishas but since he was a child the Orishas out ranked him. He pulled on Yemaya’s skirt to get her attention and asked if he could try, Yemaya told him to behave and be quiet. He went to Oya and with the look she gave him, he ran to the legs of the others. He shrugged Aggayu’s pants and Aggayu told him his presence was not needed, for him to go play outside since this was a matter for the elders. Eleguá soon grew upset.



None of the Elder Orishas took him seriously.

He ran to Obatalá and asked him if he could try. Obatalá told him that his Ache was no match to heal Olofi. He told Eleguá that all the other Orishas are trying their best to do what they can for the great king.

Eleguá looked at Obatalá and told him he should be given a chance as he is an Orisha as well.

Obatalá raised his staff and ordered silence. He told the Elders to step aside and let Eleguá try and revive Olofi, all the Orishas sneered under their breath, so as to not to make Obatalá hear them, as he is a father figure and the eldest.

They quieted down but were still feeling very condescending towards Eleguá.

Eleguá walked slowly to Olofi’s throne and looked at him from head to toe. Eleguá reached into his nap sack and pulled out three types of herbs. He was always roaming the woods and he has seen Ozain work with the different herbs of the forest.

He picked out a leaf from each herb branch and placed it into the mouth of Olofi.

All the Orishas were seeing this child on the lap of Olofi and wondered how long would Obatala make this mockery last. Eleguá grabs the mouth of Olofi and manually moves it so that he can chew and swallow.

After Olofi swallowed the herbs, Eleguá takes out a feather and passes it over the body of Olofi.

After he is done, he walks off from the throne and Obatala has grief in his eyes as Olofi remained the same. All the Orishas began to talk about how Elegua’s tactics were unforgivable and he should be reprimanded for it.

After a short while a light glow began to rise from Olofi’s chest…

The light began getting brighter, brighter until the great king stood mighty tall on his throne with light so powerful all Orishas fell to their feet.

Olofi called to Eleguá and thanked him for what he had done. He asked how had he done it and Eleguá responded that he studied every part of the forest and its secrets. He has seen how every Orisha worked differently and he went on telling Olofi that none of the Orishas would let him try but Obatalá.

Olofi smiled and told Eleguá that from this day he would have virtue of opening all gates and doors and pathways.

He gave Eleguá a gold key that unlocked Olofi’s home and every door in the universe. He also blessed his feather, telling him with this feather he would be able to walk forward and backwards through time, through light and dark, through evil and good.

Olofi then proclaimed that Eleguá would be his personal messenger and that they must always count on him in all they do. If Eleguá wasn’t pleased, then their work and messages would not reach the castle. He then said that Eleguá must be the first to eat at every ceremony and the first to be prayed to. With all this said, Olofi touched his head and an inner light glowed from Eleguá.

As a kid at heart, he faced the court of Orishas and stuck out his tongue laughing. Olofi smiled at him and sent him on his way to maintain order in the crossroads of humanity and the Orishas.

Also known as:

Elegba
Elegbara
Legba
Eshu
Exu

Offerings:

Smoked Fish, Hutia and Roasted Corn
Coconut
Palm Oil
Candy