Oya

 

Yoruba goddess of Niger river. In the Triad of the Ancient Mothers she represents maternal power and passion. Oya was the warrior goddess of the wind represents the winds of change. As Yoruban goddess of the marketplace she creates changes in fortune. She was the main wife of Shango , lord of thunder and fertility. Her power is associated with lightning, tornadoes, cemeteries and death. Oya is tall, stately, and fierce in battle. She is the orisa of creative power and action. They say every breath we take is the gift of Oya. The other two Ancient Mothers are Osun and Yemaja.

Oya
is the goddess of the wind, fire and the thunderbolt. As the female warrior of the Yoruba pantheon, she represents female power. She is strong, assertive, courageous and independent and is always willing to take risks. When she is enraged, she can create tornadoes and hurricanes, but these also happened when she is ready to make changes. Oya is a great witch and the guardian of the gates of death. She is invoked when there are serious illness or when transformation is necessary.