THE ARCANE ARCHIVE
	a cache of usenet and other text files pertaining to occult, mystical, and spiritual subjects.

Subject: 45 Paths of Obatala

by Hector Izaguirre

From the usenet newsgroup alt.religion.orisha, December, 2000

The book "Obatala: El Padre Creador del Hombre" by Hector Izaguirre, 
(1998, Editorial Panapo de Venezuela, C.A.) lists 45 "caminos de Obatala."  
With the help of Babelfish, I've given them here in English, although 
some terms were not translatable by the software.

-- Kevin Filan (rakshasanyc@my-deja.com)

FIRST PATH: OBATALA ORISHA AYE

Here we find the purest and most mystical aspect of Obatala.  S/he is
feminine and born of the sea.  S/he is represented by means of a large
shell, named Okinkonko.  In Santeria this path is tied to the Orisha
Ochun.  The necklace for its adoration is fashioned with twenty-five
stones (?) the color of egg yolk and (to make the connection?) you
sacrifice white doves.

SECOND PATH: OBATALA ORISHANLA

Is imagined as a trembling old woman who wants to be covered with a
white sheet.  She protects you from traps and has large hands  She eats
cocoa butter.  Her necklace is made with egg-yolk yellow and ivory.  In
Santeria she is syncretized with St. Anne.

THIRD PATH: OBATALA IGBA IBO

Represents divine thought and is symbolized by the eye of Divine
Providence.  It cannot be seen, and those who manage to see it are left
blind.  It is symbolized by an old person with wrinkles and white hair.

FOURTH PATH: OBATALA OBA LUFON

Represents the sun and is identified with Jesus of Nazareth.  It was he
who gave man speech and taught him proper ways of sexual practice(?).
When you want to request something from him, you must place sixteen
parrot feathers on your head.  It was he who taught man to weave with
needles.  He is the inventor of carpentry and is the protector of
mothers.

FIFTH PATH: OBATALA OCHA GRINAN

He is the messenger of Olofi.  He raises the mountains from the low
places.  (Sube y baja la montana)? Represented by the Crucified
Christ.  He is also considered a soldier (guerrero) and he taught to
Orula the secrets of (de pelar el name).

SIXTH PATH: OBATALA ACHO

His presence stimulates the dance and directs the rhythms.  He is a
soldier and wears a red waistband.

SEVENTH PATH: OBATALA OBA MORO

Represented by an old person and represents the pain and sacrifice
necessary to reach one's goals.  Is represented by a crown of thorns.

EIGHTH PATH: OBATALA EFUN YOBI

In the past he was worshipped in ways which are forgotten today.  He is
represented by San Jose de la Montana.

NINTH PATH: OBATALA YEKU YEKU

The protector of health, syncretized with the Holy Trinity.  Represents
patience and humility.  Its necklace is made of white beads with balls
of mother of pearl and ivory.

TENTH PATH: OBATALA AYAGGUNA

Is male and represented by an intrepid, aggressive warrior.  Uses a
cane and is most fine and elegant.  His necklace is made with eight red
beads and sixteen white.  Is syncretized with Jesus Christ in his 33rd
year.  He is clothed in white and carries a sword.

ELEVENTH PATH: OBATALA ALAGUEMA

Owns the ceiba and is tied to visions, and for that reason is tied to
Santa Lucia and the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  Is related to friendship
and protection.  Is also a messenger of Olofi; takes a silver chain
with nine doves and dresses in red and white.

TWELFTH PATH: OBATALA TALABI

Is female and identified with indifference.  Protects children and is
syncretized with Saint Rita de Casia.

THIRTEENTH PATH: OBATALA ONDO

Is female and a virgin.  Lives in the rocky places bordering the sea.
Protects boats arriving at port.

FOURTEENTH PATH: OBATALA AYALUA

Functions as the exterminator.  Lives in the center of the sea and has
secrets which no man knows.

FIFTEENTH PATH: OBATALA OKEILU

Lives in high places and grants houses to the (desposeidos).

SIXTEENTH PATH: OBATALA OLUFON

Protector of speech and oratory.  Is old and calm (apacible) and must
have much light.  Is symbolized by a crown of white stones with sixteen
parrot feathers.

SEVENTEENTH PATH: OBATALA AGUINYAN

Is very little known, directs the contacts of the Orishas with the world

EIGHTEENTH PATH: OBATALA OBALABI

Is female and is the one in charge of announcements.  S/he is attracted
by striking a silver-plated triangle.

NINETEENTH PATH: OBATALA ELEFURO

S/he is the protector of the oil.  Is illuminated with oil lamps and
lives behind a curtain.

TWENTIETH PATH: OBATALA ORISHA YEYE

Protector of femininity and represented by a beautiful woman.  She
wears a crown with sixteen shells and carries a bow and arrow.  She
lives in the deserts and is owner of monkeys.

TWENTY-FIRST PATH: OBATALA OBON

Is in charge of the souls of the departed.  Has the original secrets of
Egypt.  Is given a small metal chest, where it hides a secret golden
scarab.  It is near the heads of those who are dying.

TWENTY-SECOND PATH: OBATALA OBANLA

Is female and lights the pathways.  She is given a crown, a silver cane
and a sun with sixteen rays.

TWENTY-THIRD PATH: OBATALA AYCALAMBO

Represents a drunkard.  Lives in a tinaja (?) covered with shells

TWENTY-FOURTH PATH: OBATALA ORISCHA IWIN

Protects the door of Obatala's palace, protects potters.

TWENTY-FIFTH PATH: OBATALA YEMMU

The Mother.  Their (?) necklaces are made of coral and fourteen clear
and blue crystals, with a key and an anchor.  Is identified with the
Immaculate Conception.

TWENTY-SIXTH PATH: OBATALA AGGUIDAI

The messenger who takes petitions to Obatala.  Necklace is white with
sections of colors.

TWENTY-SEVENTH PATH: OBATALA EYUARO

An unalterable and immovable Saint.  Stimulates consent or (mimosidad)

TWENTY-EIGHTH PATH: OBATALA AYENOLU

Stimulates calm.  Takes a necklace of sixteen jet beads and is pledged
to him with eight candles (? -- Lleva collar de dieciseis azabaches y
se le prenden ocho velas).  Wears handkerchiefs of many colors.

TWENTY-NINTH PATH: OBATALA ABANY

Protector of the blind.  Lives in the water and takes a (botecito) of
tin.

THIRTIETH PATH: OBATALA EURURU

The advisor of young people.  Symbolized by a silver cane upon which is
placed a cross, a horse, a pen, a book, all adorned with palm leaves.

THIRTY-FIRST PATH: OBATALA OSHEREILBO

Is male and female, and is adorned with many shells and parrot feathers.

THIRTY-SECOND PATH: OBATALA OYE LADE

Is a hunter, carries (un tarro de venado), ivory, and a carved figure
of a woman in wood.

THIRTY-THIRD PATH: OBATALA OYU ALUEKO

Is a diviner.

THIRTY-FOURTH PATH: OBATALA EDEGU

Is king of the earth.  Represented by a mounted lead doll (a tin
soldier on a horse?) carrying sixteen seashells.

THIRTY-FIFTH PATH: OBATALA BIBI NIKE

Is represented by an enormously large cyclops and represents the fight
for difficult things.  Manifests with a sword, a lance and a shield.

THIRTY-SIXTH PATH: OBATALA EKANIKE

Guardian of the town, an expert warrior and ancient (tembloroso).
Wears red and white.  You put a horn full of gunpowder outside its
sopera.

THIRTY-SEVENTH PATH: OBATALA OLOYU OKUNI

Ruler over human eyes.  Carries arrows; its crown is decorated with
four parrot feathers.

THIRTY-EIGHTH PATH: OBATALA OCHA ORULU

The king of metals, his sopera is wrapped with a silver chain

THIRTY-NINTH PATH: OBATALA ALABALACHE

Represents the oracles of Obatala and knows the past, present and
future.  Guide to the seashells.

FORTIETH PATH: OBATALA ANA SUARE

Magnificent in suffering (? Es sufrido y soberbio).  Represented by two
machetes, two lances, two whips, one crown, and one crucifix.

FORTY-FIRST PATH: OBATALA OCHALUFON

The deity who taught man how to speak, takes a silver tongue, a cane
and rules over bees.

FORTY-SECOND PATH: OBATALA OGAN

Guards Obatala's back and is always near the sopresa.  His necklace has
sixteen (corojos?) and is washed with green coconuts.

FORTY-THIRD PATH: OBATALA AIRANIKE

Warrior and companion of (arcoiris?).  It goes mounted on a horse and
its tools are made of silver.

FORTY-FOURTH PATH: OBATALA EKUNDIRE

He rides a tiger and in his hand he has a sword

FORTY-FIFTH PATH: OBATALA OBRALA

He is young and always lives near a (mata de peregun).  Rides a wooden
snail which lives in a small house.

=========================================================

Note: This article was compiled by from four separate 
posts made by Kevin FIlan to the usenet newsgroup
alt.religion.orisha in December, 2000. The text itself
is presumed to be © 2000 Hector Izaguirre.