orixá

Orixá (plural orixás; singular orixá) is a term from the Yoruba religion and its Afro-Brazilian adaptations that designates a deified spirit or divine energy. Orixás are considered mediators between Olodumare, the supreme deity, and humans. Each orixá has specific attributes, domains, and myths, and is invoked in worship through offerings, songs, dances, and rituals. In many traditions, orixás can possess their followers during ceremonies, guiding behavior, decisions, and healing.

In Brazil, particularly in Candomblé and Umbanda, orixás are central to religious life. Major orixás include Ogun (iron and war), Xangô (thunder and justice), Iemanjá (the sea), Oxum (waters and love), Oxóssi (the hunt), Ossain (herbs), Iansã (winds and storms), and Omolu/Obaluaê (disease and healing). They are associated with colors, offerings, and symbols, and often presented as male or female. Some orixás are linked to natural features such as rivers, forests, or the sea, reflecting the embodied forces of nature and community values.

Some communities in Brazil practice syncretism with Catholic saints, reflecting historical influences. The concept of orixá encompasses a diverse set of beings in which regional and personal variations exist, but they share the understanding of living spiritual forces that guide practitioners.