Orisha Days of the Week

Though any day is a good day to stay in touch with any Orisha, certain days have a special mood to them, and these affect the way we reach out.  It also helps to remember all of the Orishas you know of, if you have a schedule for daily observances.  Then there are the tried and true traditions of elders in Africa and the diaspora.  Over hundreds or thousands of years, the way they practice has stood the test of time in keeping people mindful and getting things done.

Different regions and sects have different days of the week they consider most auspicious.  If your culture has a different schedule, you should adhere to that unless it feels wrong to you or an Orisha has instructed you to change the day for your own practice.  Some cultures also have a monthly schedule or lunar schedule.

Here’s the basic 7 day weekly schedule that we keep in Ile Baalat Teva in Israel.

Sunday: Obatala, Orunmila

Monday: Papa Legba, Elegua, Eshu, Exu

Tuesday: Ogun

Wednesday: Ogun, Babalu-Aye

Thursday: Oldumare, Olofin, Olorun, Holy Spirit, Obatala, Jesus, Orunmila, Ifa, Orula

Friday: Shango, Babalu-Aye, Oba, Oya

Saturday: Yemaya, Oshun

As it is for Jews, for Vodun practitioners as well, the day begins at sundown.  So Monday, for instance, begins on Sunday night.  Also, there are many more Orishas than listed here.  Much knowledge has been lost, but some elders still remember.  If you do, please feel free to leave a comment, ask an elder, and follow your soul.

The original Yoruba calendar was lunar, and had a four day week.  The month begins on the new moon, and is counted from there.

For those who are okay with a solar calendar, we have a convenient Vodun Calendar that you can subscribe to in Google Calendar.  If you set it to do so, Google calendar will even send you reminders before events.

Sheloya's Altar February 2016

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K. Sis. Nicole T.N. Lasher

Webmatron of Orisha.me.

5 Comments:

  1. I’m in need of a elder. My Ilè is very backed up and busy. I’m feeling very off and saddened. I feel the spirits are reaching out to me. I’m not in position to have alters. I want to still take care of my ancestors and orishas but don’t know how.

    • Thank you for your comment, Shalena. 🙂 If you can’t have an altar, you have all of the outdoors. The Orishas are forces of Nature, and you can simply give offerings or observance in any place associated with that Orisha. Eshu lives in every crossroads, corner, or in-between place. If there’s a fork in a road or a place between two trees that you won’t be bothered too much, make that your shrine.

    • Latrice Crosby

      Over the past 2 years, I have been led up to the point of honoring my Orishas and ancestors and taking care of my mind body and soul.. Being that I am from a very small town full of Christian believers , I dont know where to turn for help and guidance. The information has helped me so far.. thank you for sharing.

  2. Where can I leave offerings for oshun?

  3. Im in need of a shaman and or God parent because a child of ohcun approached me and said shango was my head and she didn’t know if he he reins over me alone or if oya Yamaja ochun were along him or if he chose only me and no other could cover my head she saw a crown and I had read and gold on it made the hairs on her arm rise she told me I was royalty and I need to be initiated to for the answer her brother is in Cuba they really don’t money jus the things to preform it I see things like a picture scene on TV before they happen thunder and lightning sooth me my ancestors visit me in my sleep when something is about to happen as well as empathic abilities that are so strong other emotions come out through me my daughter see auras I live an roanoke va and I have no commun

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