the simplest way to describe the Olodumare/Orisa thing is diffused monotheism...

Olodumare is the Supreme Being
He/She who spreads across the Universe like a mat

the orisa while considered to be "deities" are simply manifestations
of Olodumare

Olodumare as made manifest in sweet water is Osun
Olodumare as made manifest in epidemic illness and healing is Babaluaiye
Olodumare as made manifest in the ocean is Yemoja
Olodumare as made manifest in farming is Orisa Oko and Onile

etc. etc.

the word Orisa means "select head" meaning that an orisa is the head of a particular thing

for example Sango is the "select head" of the thunderstorm
but Oya mixes it up in there, and if it's a hurricane believe that Yemoja and Olokun are up in there too

and you have to be careful of humanizing the orisa...the orisa are forces of nature...the personification of these forces of nature is designed to assist us in recognizing the Ase of the forces of nature as they manifest within ourselves...

essentially...everything that is, was, and shall be is a manifestation of the Most High



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Love...it is just friendship on fire.

--some dude in a lifetime movie