Osogbos in Santeria

Osogbo (Spiritual Misfortunes)

1. Osogbo

   • English: General term for spiritual misfortune, adversity, or imbalance; indicates that things are out of harmony and blocking blessings or progress.

   • Lukumí / Notes: Opposite of iré; must be addressed through ebó, purification, or corrective ritual work to restore alignment.

2. Osogbo Arun (Aro)

   • English: Misfortune of sickness or disease—can be physical, emotional, or spiritual illness that debilitates the person.

   • Lukumí / Notes: Often appears connected to Babalu Ayé or Obatalá; healing baths, herbal remedies, and specific offerings are used to remedy it.

3. Osogbo Ofo

   • English: Misfortune of loss—loss of a person, status, opportunity, spiritual power, or other valued aspect.

   • Lukumí / Notes: May require recovery rituals, releases, or restitution to reclaim balance and recover what was lost.

4. Osogbo Eyonu / Otonú / Otoniwa

   • English: Misfortune of envy or negative attention—being targeted by jealousy, covert harm, or malicious spiritual pressure.

   • Lukumí / Notes: Protective and cutting works involving Eleguá, Ochún, and defensive ebó are typical to break and neutralize this influence.

5. Osogbo Arayé

   • English: Misfortune of conflict, discord, or interpersonal strife—quarrels, arguments, or breakdowns in relationship harmony.

   • Lukumí / Notes: Calls for reconciliation, peace offerings, and sometimes mediation through spiritual intermediaries to restore peace.

6. Osogbo Iña

   • English: Misfortune of tragedy or great loss—deep suffering often with ancestral or karmic roots.

   • Lukumí / Notes: A heavy spiritual wound requiring strong intervention, potentially including ancestral work or major ebó.

7. Osogbo Okan

   • English: Misfortune of sorrow, depression, or broken heart—emotional and spiritual blockage affecting one’s inner life.

   • Lukumí / Notes: Frequently addressed with work involving Oshún, head feeding (rogación de cabeza), or alignment of Orí to uplift the spirit.

8. Osogbo Akoba

   • English: Misfortune of sudden unexpected disaster or upheaval.

   • Lukumí / Notes: Can sometimes be mitigated if caught early via divination; otherwise requires cleansing and spiritual rebalancing after impact.

9. Osogbo Iku Lobi Ocha

   • English: “Death tries to take the Orisha”—a critical spiritual crisis threatening one’s core connection to their Orisha or foundational spiritual structure.

   • Lukumí / Notes: Symbolic and severe; usually handled by senior priests with preservation rites and deep consultation.

10. Osogbo Ikú

    • English: Misfortune of death—literal death or symbolic death (loss of identity, project, relationship, etc.).

    • Lukumí / Notes: One of the most feared osogbos; demands immediate attention to determine cause and enact protective or restorative work.

11. Osogbo Epe

    • English: Misfortune through curse or negative spoken word—spiritual attack delivered via harmful language, malediction, or hex.

    • Lukumí / Notes: Focused on reversal, breaking, and cleansing rituals to restore lost or damaged aché.

12. Tiya-tiya

    • English: Malicious gossip and negative speech that spreads division, undermines unity, and stalls spiritual growth.

    • Lukumí / Notes: Considered a “spiritual pandemic”; practitioners are urged to avoid it and foster mindful, harmonious communication.