OBATALA
Ọ̀bàtálá is a primordial lord, a Sky Father of pure bliss, a father of creation, a king and spirit of the
white cloth, and father of the Orishas(Ìrúnmọlẹ/Ìmọ́lẹ̀). He dispels anger, hostility and bad moods.
Ọ̀bàtálá is godfatherly, dignified, the spirit of the good samaritan. He can be called upon for help with
a medical issue, he smooths one’s physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual healing processes.
Olódùmarè’s representative on Earth, he is considered to be one of the primary creator deities.
Ọ̀bàtálá is a spirit of divine clarity, faithfulness, truthfulness, a symbol and physical representation of
purity and the divine light of consciousness. Many stories are told of him and his life, some of which
are true, but best to get to know him one on one. He has a very soothing voice, he will not beat around
the bush, he gets right to the point. He speaks from his heart and from a place of the highest wisdom in
the Universe. Ọ̀bàtálá has the ability to turn dreams and ideas into reality. I feel his literal presence,
divining higher than any Orisha, he is strong, lovable, handsome, inside the mind of the highest
divinities and an extension of them. His beautiful, harmonious energy has been imperative in the hive
of my house spirits, his consciousness unique to the integration processes of every spirit, everything to
have submitted to Ifá as their godhead and their grandest high priest. He is the sorcerer reshaping us
into something better, somebody better. He is yearning the cultivation of your own workings with his
magick, yearning for more, and still working on his feelings about us, about human kind period.
Ọ̀bàtálá is cool-headed, calm, the wisest of wise, loved, loving, respected and respectful. He prefers to
hear your truth, your true feelings unabridged and admires the intestinal fortitude it takes to stay the
course of a most sage path so very few are cut out for. He is saddened by the devastation incurred upon
Mother Nature, he is saddened by one’s self-sabotage, and by disrespect of the ancestors and one’s
failure to deal with their karma, especially how it pertains to the necessity of rectifying issues of
systemic languishing in their own bloodlines. Some will disagree with me about that, but I know what
Ọ̀bàtálá has shown me. He acknowledges all the sweat equity one puts into their practice, all the love
they give their spirits, all that still needs to be done, and he places emphasis on all that matters and all
that is important. Krishna is considered to be an affinity of Ọ̀bàtálá and I must say from experience,
they do have much in common. Ọ̀bàtálá is also known as Oxalá, Batalá, Ochalá, and has been
syncretized with Our Lady of Mercy. Many believe Ọ̀bàtálá does not like alcohol offerings, but he has
never said no to wine or liquor I have given him. He likes treats and offerings like any other spirit. It
is not necessary to always stick to strict offerings for him. Feel free to do your own research on what
works for him, what doesn’t, and when. He happily accepts offerings given out of love, especially
random ones. He enjoys eggs(unboiled and boiled, still in the shell), white and red wines, rum(even
shared rum from another altar), fruit(mandarins, oranges, pineapple), sweet breads, cookies, brownies,
and various candies. He appreciates a statue, candles, a pretty, decorated altar and a proper reverence,
especially an elaborate altar(he loves all the love he can get). He is even open to sharing an altar.
His is the most peaceful one in my house. Ọ̀bàtálá quiets the mind, especially in the darkest of days, he
can remove the stresses of the external world from your thoughts. He is patient, honorable, sweet,
humble, most mindful and most definitely irreplaceable. Seek him and you shall find a source of
perpetual inner and outer sanctuary.