{"id":22448,"date":"2020-06-01T01:10:30","date_gmt":"2020-06-01T05:10:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/?p=22448"},"modified":"2020-05-27T14:56:14","modified_gmt":"2020-05-27T18:56:14","slug":"goodgod-35","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/2020\/06\/01\/goodgod-35\/","title":{"rendered":"GoodGod!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Meet the Gods: Babal\u00fa<\/span>–<\/span><\/span>Ay\u00e9 <\/span><\/b><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b><\/u><\/h1>\n

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Babal\u00fa<\/span>–<\/span><\/span>Ay<\/span>\u00e9<\/span>, the God of Healing in Santerian practice and Yoruba religion, is an Orisha. God checker.com describes an Orisha as \u201ca spirit cocktail with a slice of saint and a tiny dash of divinity for flavor.\u201d A few \u2013 including <\/span><\/span>Babal\u00fa<\/span>–<\/span><\/span>Ay<\/span>\u00e9 <\/span>\u2013 <\/span>were worshiped as gods. Babal\u00fa-Ay\u00e9 translates to \u201cFather, Lord of the Earth.\u201d What began with a single tribe in Nigeria spread to many tribes all along Africa\u2019s western coast. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

He is closely associated with infectious diseases, and healing the physical body, wealth and possessions. In West Africa, smallpox, Ebola, leprosy, influenza and HIV\/AIDS epidemics are affiliated with him. He works to combat infections and epidemics, making him well respected. But as much as he can cure these diseases, he can also strike someone ill with them, making him greatly feared.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This god, with his magical healing powers, makes him one we can turn to during the Covid-19 pandemic. Some no doubt see the virus as a testament to <\/span><\/span>Babal\u00fa<\/span> Ay<\/span>\u00e9<\/span>\u2019s<\/span> fearsome power <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

According to Wikipedia, \u201cHis worship is widely associated with the Earth itself, and his shrines are often separated from commonly traveled areas. His ritual tools include a ritual broom for purification, a covered Terra-cotta vessel, and abundant cowrie shells. Usually considered hobbled by disease, he universally takes grains as offerings.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Some traditions say Olofi, the Supreme God, gifted Babal\u00fa Ay\u00e9 with \u201cthe ache\u201d to have sex with any woman he desired. The story goes that Olofi asked Babal\u00fa Ay\u00e9 to refrain from promiscuity for one holy day. When Babal\u00fa Ay\u00e9 did not, Olofi punished him with syphilis and he died days later. Women who had delighted in his embrace pleaded with Olofi to restore his life. He refused. A trap was set and sorcery was used so a woman was able to drive Olofi crazy with passion, showing him the pleasures of the body. The god ended up returning Babal\u00fa Ay\u00e9 to the living. One tale has Babal\u00fa Ay\u00e9 being given all his same gifts and another has him stricken with smallpox. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The latter fits with the many descriptions of him being a man \u2013 sometimes muscular, sometimes sickly \u2013 walking with the help of a staff, and covered in straw to hide his smallpox sores and scars. He is typically depicted wearing a necklace of cowrie shells that can also adorn his headpiece. Often he is accompanied by two dogs, which has also made Babal\u00fa Ay\u00e9 the protector of all animals, especially dogs. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes when people suffer from life-threatening diseases, they wish for death for peace,\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>mojosiedlak.com<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/u><\/span><\/span> states. \u201cBabal\u00fa Aye helps grant them their wish and helps to guide<\/span><\/span><\/span> those souls over to the other side. Babal\u00fa Aye is often found in hospitals, hospices, places where people are cured, gyms and the desert as well.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Because he is the lord of many diseases, he is the patron deity of those who are sick or infirmed.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

According to <\/span><\/span><\/span>mojosiedlak.com<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/u><\/span>, \u201c<\/span><\/span><\/span>The ceremony for worshiping Babal\u00fa Aye is known as the Awan in the Santeria tradition. Burlap is sacred to this Orisha and is often offered as a sacrifice to him. Babal\u00fa Aye\u2019s sacred number is 17 and his sacred colors are purple, brown and yellow [the colors of a bruise]. December 17th is Babal\u00fa Aye\u2019s [feast] day. His favorite food offerings are a roasted ear of corn, popcorn, black-eyed peas, rum, tobacco, and beans.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

An article on <\/span><\/span><\/span>originalbotanica.com<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/u><\/span><\/span> suggests when praying to him for compassion and mercy, offer some of his favorite foods, and that in addition to rum, <\/span><\/span><\/span>a dry white wine is also appropriate. His gemstones \u2013 tanzanite, bloodstone, jasper and snowflake obsidian \u2013 can help set the altar, along with candles in white, yellow, or purple, and an image of <\/span><\/span><\/span>Babal\u00fa Aye<\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A shrine to him was described as a Terra-cotta pot decorated with cowrie shells, kept someplace dark and quiet where he will not be bothered. Eighteen loose cowrie shells kept for divination \u2013 a tradition to get advice and guidance from the Orishas and departed ancestors.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

***<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

About the Author:<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Lynn Woike<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

thewitchonwheels.com<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

All my life I have known magic was real. As a child, I played with the fae, established relationships with trees and \u201cjust knew things.\u201d In my maiden years I discovered witchcraft and dabbled in the black-candles-and-cemeteries-at-midnight-on-a-fullmoon magick just enough to realize I did not understand its power. I went on to explore many practices including Zen, astrology, color therapy, native traditions, tarot, herbs, candle magic, gems, and, as I moved into my mother years, Buddhism, the Kabbalah and Reiki. The first man I dated after my divorce was a witch who reintroduced me to the Craft, this time by way of the Goddess. For 11 years I was in a coven, but with retirement, I have returned to an eclectic solitary practice. When accepting the mantle of crone, I pledged to serve and teach. This is what I do from my skoolie \u2013 a 30-year-old school bus converted into a tiny house on wheels that I am driving around the country, following 72-degree weather, emerging myself into nature, and sharing magic with those I meet. Find me at <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>thewitchonwheels.com<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>, Facebook and Instagram.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Meet the Gods: Babal\u00fa–Ay\u00e9     Babal\u00fa–Ay\u00e9, the God of Healing in Santerian practice and Yoruba religion, is an Orisha. God checker.com describes an Orisha as \u201ca spirit cocktail with a slice of saint and a tiny dash of divinity for flavor.\u201d A few \u2013 including Babal\u00fa–Ay\u00e9 \u2013 were worshiped as gods. Babal\u00fa-Ay\u00e9 translates to \u201cFather, Lord of the Earth.\u201d What began with a single tribe in Nigeria spread to many tribes all along Africa\u2019s western coast. He is closely associated with infectious diseases, and healing the physical body, wealth and possessions. In West Africa, smallpox, Ebola, leprosy, influenza and HIV\/AIDS epidemics are affiliated with him. He works to combat infections and epidemics, making him well respected. But as much as he can cure these diseases, he can also strike someone ill with them, making him greatly feared. This god, with his magical healing powers, makes him one we can turn to during the Covid-19 pandemic. Some no doubt see the virus as a testament to Babal\u00fa Ay\u00e9\u2019s fearsome power According to Wikipedia, \u201cHis worship is widely associated with the Earth itself, and his shrines are often separated from commonly traveled areas. His ritual tools include a ritual broom for purification, a covered Terra-cotta vessel, and abundant cowrie shells. Usually considered hobbled by disease, he universally takes grains as offerings.\u201d     Some traditions say Olofi, the Supreme God, gifted Babal\u00fa Ay\u00e9 with \u201cthe ache\u201d to have sex with any woman he desired. The story goes that Olofi asked Babal\u00fa Ay\u00e9 to refrain from promiscuity for one holy day. When Babal\u00fa Ay\u00e9 did not, Olofi punished him with syphilis and he died days later. Women who had delighted in his embrace pleaded with Olofi to restore his life. He refused. A trap was set and sorcery was used so a woman was able to drive Olofi crazy with passion, showing him the pleasures of the body. The god ended up returning Babal\u00fa Ay\u00e9 to the living. One tale has Babal\u00fa Ay\u00e9 being given all his same gifts and another has him stricken with smallpox. The latter fits with the many descriptions of him being a man \u2013 sometimes muscular, sometimes sickly \u2013 walking with the help of a staff, and covered in straw to hide his smallpox sores and scars. He is typically depicted wearing a necklace of cowrie shells that can also adorn his headpiece. Often he is accompanied by two dogs, which has also made Babal\u00fa Ay\u00e9 the protector of all animals, especially dogs. \u201cSometimes when people suffer from life-threatening diseases, they wish for death for peace,\u201d mojosiedlak.com states. \u201cBabal\u00fa Aye helps grant them their wish and helps to guide those souls over to the other side. Babal\u00fa Aye is often found in hospitals, hospices, places where people are cured, gyms and the desert as well.\u201d Because he is the lord of many diseases, he is the patron deity of those who are sick or infirmed.     According to mojosiedlak.com, \u201cThe ceremony for worshiping Babal\u00fa Aye is known as the Awan in the Santeria tradition. Burlap is sacred to this Orisha and is often offered as a sacrifice to him. Babal\u00fa Aye\u2019s sacred number is 17 and his sacred colors are purple, brown and yellow [the colors of a bruise]. December 17th is Babal\u00fa Aye\u2019s [feast] day. His favorite food offerings are a roasted ear of corn, popcorn, black-eyed peas, rum, tobacco, and beans.\u201d An article on originalbotanica.com suggests when praying to him for compassion and mercy, offer some of his favorite foods, and that in addition to rum, a dry white wine is also appropriate. His gemstones \u2013 tanzanite, bloodstone, jasper and snowflake obsidian \u2013 can help set the altar, along with candles in white, yellow, or purple, and an image of Babal\u00fa Aye. A shrine to him was described as a Terra-cotta pot decorated with cowrie shells, kept someplace dark and quiet where he will not be bothered. Eighteen loose cowrie shells kept for divination \u2013 a tradition to get advice and guidance from the Orishas and departed ancestors. *** About the Author: Lynn Woike thewitchonwheels.com All my life I have known magic was real. As a child, I played with the fae, established relationships with trees and \u201cjust knew things.\u201d In my maiden years I discovered witchcraft and dabbled in the black-candles-and-cemeteries-at-midnight-on-a-fullmoon magick just enough to realize I did not understand its power. I went on to explore many practices including Zen, astrology, color therapy, native traditions, tarot, herbs, candle magic, gems, and, as I moved into my mother years, Buddhism, the Kabbalah and Reiki. The first man I dated after my divorce was a witch who reintroduced me to the Craft, this time by way of the Goddess. For 11 years I was in a coven, but with retirement, I have returned to an eclectic solitary practice. When accepting the mantle of crone, I pledged to serve and teach. This is what I do from my skoolie \u2013 a 30-year-old school bus converted into a tiny house on wheels that I am driving around the country, following 72-degree weather, emerging myself into nature, and sharing magic with those I meet. Find me at thewitchonwheels.com, Facebook and Instagram.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":210,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10004],"tags":[10888,11893,11901,11906,11899,10035,11903,11897,10229,10129,10115,11902,11904,11898,11549,11900,11684,10760,10098,11896,11894,11905,11838,11274,11895],"class_list":["post-22448","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-monthly-columns","tag-africa","tag-babalu-aye","tag-coast","tag-cowrie-shells","tag-disease","tag-earth","tag-ebola","tag-father","tag-god","tag-gods","tag-healing","tag-infection","tag-influenza","tag-lord","tag-meet","tag-nigeria","tag-orisha","tag-power","tag-religion","tag-saint","tag-santeria","tag-terra-cotta","tag-virus","tag-western","tag-yoruba"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22448","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/210"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22448"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22448\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22452,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22448\/revisions\/22452"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22448"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22448"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22448"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}