#ochossi

Technically speaking, Ochossi is the orisha of hunting, but like Artemis, his Greek counterpart, his powers encompass so much more than that. In addition to his role as hunter and warrior, Ochossi (Oxossi in Brazil) holds dominion over prisons and prisoners, and all sorts of confinement, especially solitary. As patron of prisons, he may be appealed to for release, improved treatment or just plain staying out of jail.

Appeal to Ochossi directly or, if necessary, someone else may make the appeal for you.

Ochossi accepts offerings of game, venison or game birds, for instance, but he is also please with a fish of honey or honey-roasted peanuts---simple food for a solitary hunter.

Offer him an arrow or the image of an arrow. Draw one, if necessary.

Tell him explicitly what you need.

Should your desires be realized, create a larger, more lavish offering to Ochossi.

Is it crucial to have someone release from prison? This spell is not cast by the prisoner, but by someone who fervently desires [their] release. Once again, appeal to orisha Ochossi, the hunter.

Obtain a handful of dirt from a forest and also handfuls of dirt from four prisons, keeping each source of dirt distinct.

Spread a cloth on an altar.

Make a square by placing each handful of prison dirt in a corner of the cloth.

Place the forest dirt in the center.

Place an image of an arrow or a cross-bow on top of the forest dirt, burn a small white candle or white cross candle beside it, praying and petitioning for your desire. Let it rest overnight.

In the morning, blend the dirt together in a bowl, leaving it on the cloth.

Place a photo of the target of your spell on top of a white or terracotta plate.

Sprinkle it with the blended dirt.

Burn either a red seven-day candle on top of the dirt or a single red candle daily for a total of seven days.

Sprinkle the candle with a little dirt daily.

On the eighth day, or when the candle has burned completely, wrap all remnants, including all the dirt, inside a cloth.

Dispose of it as close to the prison where the spell’s target is incarcerated as possible.

The following ritual actions serve as a petition to prevent incarceration.

Leave a bow and arrow by the prison gates. This could be, in descending order of power, a real bow and arrow, toys, or even an image. You must be bold enough to approach the gate however. For a really supercharged spell, linger long enough to light a while candle dedicated to Ochossi, too. Of course, many spells derive from different eras: make sure that this action doesn’t defeat the purpose of the spell by landing you right in jail.

Each of the Seven African Powers is affiliated with specific colors and numbers; incorporate these into spells dedicated to them individually or en masse. Because African slaves were forbidden their own spiritual traditions, each orisha was also syncretized to a Roman Catholic saint, although exactly which one depends upon the African Diaspora tradition to which one subscribes.

Elegba:

Color: Black, Red

Number: 3, 7

Syncretized Saint: Saint Anthony, Saint Peter, the Anima Sola, Holy Child of Atocha

Obatala:

Color: White

Number: 8

Syncretized Saint: Jesus Christ, Our Lady of Mercy

Ogun:

Color: Black, Red (green in some traditions)

Number: 3, 7

Syncretized Saint: Saint James the Major, Michael the Archangel, Saint Peter, Saint George, Saint Anthony

Chango:

Color: Red, White

Number: 6

Syncretized Saint: Saint Barbara, Saint Jerome

Yemaya:

Color: Blue, White, Crystal Clear

Number: 7

Syncretized Saint: Stella Maris

Oshun:

Color: Yellow, Orange, Coral

Number: 5

Syncretized Saint: Our Lady of Charity

Orunmila:*

Color: Green, Yellow

Number: 4

Syncretized Saint: Saint Francis

Oya:*

Color: Purple, Maroon, Brown or Multi-colored

Number: 9

Syncretized Saint: Saint Barbara, Our Lady of Candelaria, Saint Catherine

Ochossi:*

Color: Lavender, Brown

Number: 2

Syncretized Saint: Saint Sebastian

*The seventh African power is subject to interpretation. Because the magic number seven cannot be changed, orishas cannot simply be added to the list; should one wish to incorporate a different orisha, one of the original seven must be removed. Orunmila is the traditional seventh power, one of the original seven. However, Orunmila has less personal individual interaction with his followers than other orishas, and is therefore less familiar (and less beloved) then other orishas; he is often replaced in this pantheon. Orunmila is most frequently replaced by the orisha Oya, who, in a sense, is the feminist choice. The hunter-warrior Ochossi has become increasingly prominent (as demonstrated by the number of spells dedicated to him) and has very recently begun to appear among the Seven African Powers as well.

Ochossi, the Yoruba [orisha] of hunting, never misses his prey. Ochossi is an old-fashioned hunter: he is a master archer, a lover of the forest and has little patience with chemically toxic methods of pest control. Request that he remove your pests. Supplement the spell with traps as needed, so that Ochossi can implement his magic. This spell is meant quite literally: it was given to me by a friend, a resident of New York City, who was plagued by a brave and seemingly unbeatable mouse. Within hours of initiating the spell, that mouse was in the trap.

Add cornmeal and honey to a glass of milk and stir it gently to blend. This is your offering to Ochossi: place it on an altar, together with candles and/or other gifts.

Leave the offering out for several hours at least.

Promise Ochossi more gifts, if the vermin go quickly and stay gone.