Fear of Change...

St Theresa

About a year and a half ago, I felt as though Someone was trying to give me a message. In the grocery store, I'd be in the Goya section picking up some Sofrito, and the large glass votive candles of either St Theresa or La Virgen de la Candelaria would fall off the shelf. Finally, I bought a candle of La Virgen, and the second I stepped out of RiteAid, the sun dramatically appeared from behind the clouds making the temperature on the street feel much warmer. When I would pass by a certain cemetery, the winds would pick up very suddenly, and with force...


La Virgen de la Candelaria

On a trip to a metaphysical bookstore with a friend, by chance I pick up a book on Santeria and proceeded to flip through it. The book opened up directly to the section describing the orisha Oya, and I felt like I was shocked with static electricity!

I was formally introduced to Santeria in college classes I took, Religions of Latin America, and Puerto Rican Studies 101, but I didn't know much else. I had friends that "had a Saint," and visited Botcanicas, but if they weren't comfortable sharing, I wasn't going to push. So on my own, I did a little research, which simultaneously calmed me and made me nervous...


Oya, by Thalia Took

Oya, the African Goddess of the Niger River, was represented in the Americas using Catholic images of St Theresa and La Virgen de la Candelaria. She is the Spirit of the Wind, and with Her machete She cuts through stagnation and clears the way for new growth. She can represent sudden and drastic change. She is a perfect example of a true Goddess of Rebirth-- As breath is wind, Oya is there at birth and when you die, She calls the wind back to Her.

Her
power sweeps over all injustice, dishonesty, deceit from her path. Although
unpredictable, Oya understands everything, but will only accept the truth.

Warrior queen Oya, the loyal and favorite wife of Sango would
often go into battle by her husband's side and is known to be indispensable to
her husband in every way. She is the strong wind that precedes the thunder. She
can fan any fire set by Sango's thunderbolts into a high blaze and she also has
the ability to use forked lightening, to assist him in his battles. It is said
that without Oya Sango cannot go into battle. She is also known for her
intelligence, independence, fearlessness, gracefulness, sensuality, power,
razor-sharp tongue, and deep intense passion.

I've noticed that since I've been hesitant to truely involve myself with showing reverence to Her, I've developed quite severe allergies. (Oya is supposed to rule the lungs and mucus membranes.) It is one thing to refer to the abstract, and say that fear of change can be detrimental... It is quite another to experience it in the way I have, trying to fight the changes that must come........