December 5, 2022

11:12

Priscilla Peixoto – from Amazon Agency

MANAUS – Noise of thunder that precedes a storm, lady of the winds and protector against lightning, Iansã, one of the most popular female orixás and worshiped in Umbanda and Candomblé, is celebrated this Sunday, December 4. Known as Oyá, the “mother of the sunset and of the pink sky” exalts the spiritual power and feminine strength of the one who does not run away from the fight.

Iansã’s cult was born in Nigeria, more specifically on the banks of the Niger River, and became popular in Brazil with the arrival of slaves. In the Christian scenario, she is syncretized with Saint Barbara, popularly known for protecting against storm lightning and for wearing red-coloured robes, the same colour as Iansã’s clothing, as Xɛ́byosɔnɔ̀n Alberto Jorge Silva explains.

“I dare say that Iansã possesses much more than we can allow, she represents much to the libertarian feminine imaginary. She comes to be “a throwback” to the matriarchal period, where the woman was the one who dominated society, and in syncretism, we see Santa Bárbara, princess, crowned and with a sword in her hand, for which she was murdered by her father. But even in the afterlife, she manages to be strong, and as she is beheaded, lightning strikes and kills her father and all the soldiers; she got the image of the woman who triumphs above macho aggression. Iansã, as well as Saint Barbara, is the one who puts herself above this male domination”.

Eparrei Iansã!

For Nelzilane ti Yemonjá (daughter of a saint and candomblé initiate), the figure of Iansã means strength and renewal. “Oyá represents, for me, the strength of the warrior woman, the woman who fights, who does not bend before difficulties, the woman who is wind, windstorm, who is everywhere, who is present even when we do not see her, the strength that is born when we do not see her”, explains Nelzilane.

Just as for Alberto Jorge, in Nelzilane’s reading, Iansã has become one of the most admired and respected entities for bringing to life the meaning of winning with strength and courage. “She represents the breaking of this paradigm of the fragile woman and puts the woman on a level of strength, of war, of struggle. Without losing the beauty and femininity and even the docility of a mother”, she considers.

‘Owner of herself’

Bringing with her the strength of sensuality, some consider the entity as the owner of herself and that reinforces the female sexual potency, alluding to the history of Xangô, Iansã and Ogum, as pointed out by father Alberto Jorge.

“She is the prototype of the woman who chooses the man she wants to be with. Let’s remember the story of Xangô, Iansã and Ogum. In which she was Ogum’s wife, falls in love with Xangô, and goes to live with him as the figure of the woman who loves, who lives her sexuality and affections without fear of being happy (…) she is the partner, the wife, the lover, the warrior and the proud”.

Curiosities

• Known in Africa as “Akarà”, the acarajé (a deep-fried bean cake fried in dende oil) is used in the ritual of Iansã;
• The children of this entity are usually strong, loyal and have explosive temperaments, with direct, competitive, intense and sometimes difficult to deal with dialogues. Intelligent, constantly in search of knowledge, they are creative, protective and engaging;
• Transmutes the old and stagnant into the new;
• It is represented in the colours red, yellow, gold, orange and brown;
• Just like Obalauê, Iansã also has the power to guide the dead to the spiritual world;
• Because she has many faces and qualities, there are almost 30 types of Iansã, who show themselves in different ways and archetypes, according to their personalities and postures;
• Wednesday and December 4th are known as Iansã/Oyá day;
• Elements: air in movement, any kind of wind, fire;
• Domains: storms, windstorms, lightning, death;
• Eparrei Iansã! It’s the known greeting in reverence to the entity – corresponds to a SALVE! With respect and admiration.

Prayer to Iansã

“My Mother Iansã, My Mother Warrior, may your winds and storms do a cleansing in my life, clearing all and any negative energy, clearing all resistance, procrastination and illusion.

My Mother warrior, give me strength to pursue my goals in favour of my material and spiritual improvement. My Mother Iansã, My Mother Warrior, may your winds and storms cleanse my life, clearing out all negative energy, clearing out all envy, dishonesty and falsehood.

With your sword, allow me to triumph over all those who wish me harm, removing from me all veiled enemies and declared enemies.

My Mother warrior, give me strength to pursue my objectives, for my material and spiritual improvement.

May the good winds of good changes come into my life, may your energy come like the Sun, illuminating my steps and my life.

Eparrei!”