Olokun is a spirit deity in the Yoruba religion.
The Yoruba, Candomble, and Santeria religions in Nigeria, Benin, Cuba, and Brazil worship this Orisha.
These religions view Olokun as male, female, and androgynous.
In the Yoruba religion, Olokun is the parent of Aje, a deity of wealth and the bottom of the ocean.
This deity can present as a man to worshippers and a woman in the hinterland.
The Candomble religion recognizes Olokun as the mother of Yemoja, a water spirit of the Ogun River in Nigeria, and oceans in Brazilian and Cuban orisa religions.
In the Santeria religion, Olokun is an androgynous orisha: they are both a man and a woman.
Olokun is the most worshipped deity in Benin-City.
Benefits of Olokun
Olokun is regarded as one of the most powerful deities in the Yoruba religion.
He is associated with wealth and prosperity. Those who receive Olokun enjoy success in their business ventures and can secure great wealth.
Olokun also provides his followers with great health. People invoke this orisha to receive physical and spiritual healing and to thrive in good health.
As a god, Olokun protects those who receive and seek to appease him.
Receiving him brings spiritual growth and helps one better understand their inner self.
As an ocean deity, Olikun possesses a great connection with the greatest force of nature.
Therefore, pure devotion and dedication to this spirit enable worshippers to understand the working of nature and the universe at large, as well as connect with deep waters.
How to Receive Olokun
Receiving Olokun requires an initiation ceremony. The Yoruba community views the process as sacred, and they perform rituals and ceremonies with the spiritual guidance of their approved religious elders and practitioners.
If a person hopes to receive Olokun, they are required to do the following:
1. Have An Understanding Of Olokun
Priests, elders, and practitioners in the Yoruba community guide those interested in a path leading them to Olokun.
You need to seek them to understand all that the initiation requires, the level of devotion Olokun expects of you, and what to offer as a pleasing sacrifice.
Since the Yoruba religion has many deities who serve different needs of worshippers, the elders, practitioners, and priests will help you understand the significance of Olokun in the Yoruba society, the role it serves, and the qualities you must possess for the spirit to choose you.
2. Respect The Yoruba Culture
Though Olokun grants requests from his followers, one must not worship him for selfish gain.
Before expressing interest in receiving Olokun, you need to seek help and guidance to understand the significance and role of Olokun.
However, that is not enough. You must assess yourself and ensure your interest in receiving Olokun is genuine.
Whether from the Yoruba region or not, you must honor and respect the Yoruba culture.
3. Preparation and Consultation
All those interested must undergo a preparation period which helps ready themselves for Olokun.
That process entails fasting, cleansing rituals, and attending classes where the teachings of Olokun are offered.
That is also the time to consult with those with a full understanding of Olokun worship.
During said consultations, the Yoruba religious priests assess each individual and single out those suited for the initiation process.
If you are among the shortlisted, the religious leaders guide you through the preparation process for successful completion.
4. Initiation
Once ready, you now enter into the rituals and ceremonies phase. That includes giving offerings, praying, reciting chants, dancing, and other things that help you connect with Olokun’s energy.
Everyone performs these ceremonial rituals.
However, the initiation is a personal sacred event. That is when you develop a connection with Olokun and receive your blessings.
You will be required to dress in special attire and be empowered spiritually.
5. Continued commitment
For Olokun to continue blessing all of your endeavors, you must abide by certain rules and principles and give continued offerings of sacred things Olokun accepts.
And like any other venture, there is no end to how much growth you can accomplish.
Continued learning and devotion will strengthen your connection with Olokun, resulting in the orisha’s continued blessings and protection.
Does Everyone receive Olokun?
Receiving Olokun is a personal decision. Even so, each person undergoes preparation and consultation to determine whether they have what it takes to receive Olokun.
That is pure devotion, commitment, sincerity, and respect.
Disrespecting the Yoruba culture could result in angering Olokun, which has serious outcomes for those involved.
It is also important to understand that, like all other orishas, Olokun decides whom to receive and bless and who not to.
To Sum Up
To those in the Yoruba culture, receiving Olokun is a huge part of their lives.
In either form, it provides them wealth, good health, prosperity, and spiritual and personal growth.
Though Olokun fulfills the needs of their worshippers, continued devotion and sacrifice are required to stay connected with the spirit and keep reaping the benefit of loyalty to the religion.
True, Olokun blesses its worshippers, but one should not receive this spirit for selfish gains.
Also Read: 12 Most Important African Gods of Wealth
