Monday is for Eshu
Before there was organized religion, Eshu ruled the Crossroads in the Tales of the African Tribal Folk...why do Ya think the system works so hard to demonize Voodoo???
Eshu and Yemoja were the first Orisha that i worked with. The Papa Legba face is the one that i resonate with, but it seems like the power of Him with whichever face that He is using is almost limitless. I have been a "tool" used to trick or test other people, and have been disciplined by Legba. Nevertheless, i have found every time i was chastised was necessary for my soul growth. It is not exactly easy to figure visions out; to me Papa Legba is kind, gentle, loving, and He gives me dicipline; however, to others He can be nastyish. Eshu is a complicated subject, and it seems most logical to report what others have said about Him. May all who honor Eshu have the right Gates opened and closed for them +++ase+++
Wikipedia
"Role[edit]
Eshu partially serves as an alternate name for Eleggua, the messenger for all Orishas, and that there are 256 paths to Eleggua—each one of which is an Eshu. It is believed that Eshu is an Orisha similar to Elugga, but there are only 101 paths to Eshu according to ocha, rather than the 256 paths to Eleggua according to Ifá.[2] Eshu is known as the "Father who gave birth to Ogboni", and is also thought to be agile and always willing to rise to a challenge.[3]
Both ocha and Ifá share some paths, however. Eshu Ayé is said to work closely with Orisha Olokun and is thought to walk on the shore of the beach. Eshu Bi is a stern and forceful avatar, appearing as both an old man and young boy, who walked with Shangó and Oyá (the initial two Ibeyi), and Eshu Bi protects both of these, as well as all other small children. Eshu Laroye is an avatar believed to be the companion of Oshún and believed to be one of the most important Eshus, and the avatar of Eshu Laroye is thought to be talkative and small.[2]
Other names[edit]
The name of Eshu varies around the world: in Yorùbáland, Eshu is Èṣù-Elegba; Exu de Candomblé in Candomblé; Echú in Santería and Latin America; Legba in Haitian Vodou; Leba in Winti; Exu de Quimbanda in Quimbanda; Lubaniba in Palo Mayombe; and Exu in Latin America.[1]"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eshu
Ifa Foundation
"Eshu (Èṣù, Elegba, Elegbara, Echú), the divine messenger of “God – Olodumare” and the Orishas. Eshu can bridge the spiritual world with the tangible world. It is said that Eshu is everywhere at any given moment, and waits at the crossroads between heaven and earth between the two worlds. He is the divine messenger that clears a path for you, brings you success, and provide you with wisdom and Ashé.
For Ifa followers, having a personal Eshu is one of the fundamental steps in their spiritual journey. Typically done after you’ve had a “life path reading”. The reading would indicate which of the 256 Odu, or spiritual experience you’re having in this life. This is why you will often hear that Eshu has many paths (Spanish: “caminos”), the paths actually correlates to the 256 Odu. Your personal Eshu is created in a way that would resonate with you and your life path. Your personal Eshu becomes your guardian, protector, and spiritual messenger. There are many variations in how they look, so don’t fret if yours looks different from others you’ve seen, Eshu is Eshu, no matter the size of how it’s adorned."
http://www.ifafoundation.org/blog/2016/10/26/eshu-and-the-trickster.html
Tribe of the Sun
Traditional Colors: Black and red
Number: 3
Areas of Influence: Messages and all communication, crossroads, doorways (physical and spiritual), keys, sex, cemetery gates, children and protection
Entities associated with: St. Benito and the devil (Umbanda)
Symbols: Keys, anything to do with gambling (cards, dice, etc.), Neptune’s trident, a necklace with red and black beads.
Offerings: Liquor (Rum is excellent), tobacco, chili peppers, candy, anything hot and spicy, drugs.
Feast Days: August 24th
Astrology: Saturn
Tarot: Magician or Magus, the Devil
Chakra: Throat
Gemstones: Onyx, Jet, Mahogany Obsidian, Rubies, black pearls
Animals: Coyote, raven, snakes and other trickster animals. Rottweilers and Doberman Pinschers.
Entities of Similar Energy: The god Mercury, Kokopelli, Odin, Coyote, all tricksters
Plants associated with: Marijuana, chili peppers, sugarcane
I think of Eshu as Ellegua’s older, darker brother. Eshu understands the darkness in the world and in men’s hearts. One story about him says that when evil first entered the world, the Orishas didn’t know how to combat it because it was so different from themselves. Eventually, Eshu stepped forward and sacrificed half of himself to become half evil. Because he did this, he now understands evil and knows how to fight it.
While many of the areas of interest and traits of Ellegua and Eshu overlap, Eshu seems to show up when a situation involves drugs, dirty sex or black magick. In Brazil, Eshu is seen as the devil but please don’t think of this as some sort of Satanic thing. The Brazilian’s concept of the devil is much different than ours. To them, Eshu represents the major issue or weakness in each person. There are 21 different Eshus. For some, their Eshu is drugs or alcohol, for others, sex, maybe for you, your Eshu is compulsive gambling or an eating disorder or stealing…. the list goes on. Whatever your Eshu is, the Brazilians believe that you have to make peace with him and learn to live with him. He’s a part of you. For those of you familiar with the tarot, this is very much in line with the Devil card in the major arcana.
Eshu’s Children
Eshu’s children will have some of the same characteristics as Ellegua’s children but have a darker edge (moodier and more pessimistic). They could also be involved in illegal activities. I bet many of those involved in the drug trade belong to Eshu.
http://tribeofthesun.com/deities/eshu/
Yoruba Religion
"Eshu is an Orisha, of the group of the Orisha Oddé (warriors). He governs the manifestations of the malevolent. For the good to manifest, it's neccesary to know the evil and the ways to evade it. He is the one who is always making traps and deceives the Orishas and men in the different legend or patakines. He means the misfortunes that happen in our lives when we are not in syntony or balance with which surrounds us. Eshu is of exclusive power of the Babalawos, they load it and give it, Eshu is not crowned. According to ifa it has 201 ways or paths. The Babalawos consecrates it with diverse elements of the nature. It does not speak by the Dilogún and it does not go to itá. It works directly with Orunla; he is the one that takes ebbó and gives account of the offerings. Most of the Oshas and Orishas are accompanied by a specific Eshu. In addition, all the Odun of Ifá has their particular Eshu. Eshu as adoration object is made by the Awó of Orunmila.
The Eshu-Eleggua combination represents the constant bond between the positive and the negative, so that all change demands a crisis and there is no calm without calmness. When a home is protected denotes the presence of Elegua and when there there are problems it is that Eshu has entered. The western culture confused Eshu with the Devil, but that's not correct, in any case it could be confused with the Devil that tempted Jesus; Eshu, the trickster, but in nothing else it is resembled, since its objective is to provoke chaos so that measures to obtain the balance are taken ."
http://cubanyoruba.blogspot.com/2007/04/eshu.html
The Yoruba Religious Concepts
"The Yoruba theology teaches us that there are 201 powers of the right (Ibora/Irumole) called Orisha whose role is to act as protectors and facilitators of humankind, But there are also 201 powers to the left called "Ajogun"(Demons) whose role is to present humans with challenges and obstacles.
Eshu's place alone is unique because he is both an "Orisha" and the leader of the " Ajogun" He is the one deity that is found as the "one" on both sides Orisa (201) and Ajogun (201) being able to be in all places at the same time. Given the name the porter voice of the orisa by Olodumare himself for being so honest and just.
He who is the trickster who stands in corners and the crossroads and guards the doors of homes from evil. He is kept behind the front door of the house to keep away the evil .
Because he is mischievous in nature some traditions like Candomble . He is known by the name EXU the orisa associated with the devil.
Eleggua is way beyond good and evil , He is justice in person he can punish or reward one for their deeds. Eleggua, is the symbol of destiny and perfect balance in nature. He can create havoc in the life of one who behaves improper .
Only Eshu knows the past , the future without recourse or divination systems. Although ,his actions may not be justified at that moment or difficult to understand , he is just always.
Eleggua punishes usually like a child being mischievous much like a game a child would play . But, when very angered he may cause a person to be robbed or have a accident ."
https://sites.google.com/site/theyorubareligiousconcepts/eleggua
Myths Encyclopedia
Eshu, also known as Elegba or Legba, is a trickster god of the Yoruba people of Nigeria in West Africa. He is unpredictable, sly, and fond of pranks that can be cruel and disruptive. Eshu, who knows all the languages spoken on earth, serves as a messenger between the gods and people."
www.mythencyclopedia.com/Dr-Fi/Esh
The Hermetic Linguist
Of all European pagan deities, Hermes is the one most closely aligned with Eshu. Like Hermes, Eshu is the divine messenger, and relays information between the gods and between humans and the gods. A small, very dark man, he walks with a large staff, and is often sucking on a pipe, candies, or his fingers. He the "roadmaker;" he "sets the affairs of the earth in order,...is so swift that he can be the messenger for many,...[and] can circle the earth in an instant."[1] Eshu's caprice, quickness, and agility of body and mind are all characteristics he shares with Hermes, perhaps reflecting the perennial spiritual characteristics of communication.
Because Eshu is the messenger, in orisha rituals (today performed from Nigeria to Rio to Montreal) one must "feed" or call him first, before any other gods are invoked. For the Fon people, the primacy of Eshu (whom they call Legba) comes about through his linguistic ability, his proficiency at communicating. In the beginning, Mawu, the female aspect of Mawu-Lisa, the androgynous high god of the Fon, gives her seven children different realms to rule--earth, sea, animals--and gives them a language separate from her own. But she allows Legba, her youngest and most spoiled child, to remain with her and to act as a relayer of information to her children.
So Legba knows all the languages known to his brothers, and he knows the language Mawu speaks, too. Legba is Mawu's linguist. If one of the brothers wishes to speak, he must give the message to Legba, for none knows any longer how to address himself to Mawu-Lisa. That is why Legba is everywhere.[2]
As the hermetic linguist, then, Legba knows the cosmic language as well as the earthly language. This is why humans must ritually acknowledge him before any other god. In our monotheisms, God's information is distant, except for the occasional prophet, and the rest of us are lost in babble and books. But Legba is always traversing that region of babble, and embodies the hope and the peril of a more open channel: hope, because he allows us to speak with the gods and for them to speak with us; and peril, because he tends to play tricks with the information he has, to keep us perpetually aware that he oversees the network of exchange. His nickname is Aflakete, which means "I have tricked you."[3]
http://www.levity.com/figment/trickster.html
Thank You for reading about Eshu :) Blessed Be )O(
the days of week that i am using is @ https://steemit.com/religion/@paigemoore/orisha-days-of-the-week
the Orishas are introduced @ https://steemit.com/religion/@paigemoore/introduce-the-orishas
some insider info on the Orishas is provided @ https://steemit.com/religion/@paigemoore/what-an-honest-and-pure-hearted-insider-says-about-the-orishas
I absolutely love your posts! I love learning about our true African spirituality! I am overjoyed! Have a wonderful day!
thanx so much @thequeeniskey :) i love it too!!! i LOVE African spirituality !!! the Diaspora has such wonderful qualities and They are my FAVE !! Blessed Be )O( .if U are interested in some insider info i have @ https://steemit.com/religion/@paigemoore/what-an-honest-and-pure-hearted-insider-says-about-the-orishas & https://steemit.com/religion/@paigemoore/what-an-honest-and-pure-hearted-insider-says-about-the-esux-or-possibly-the-ghede i have found what she taught me 2014 to be true for my life
Thank you for sharing 💗
i am just more than happy to :) <3 i REALLY REALLY REALLY LOVE the Orishas with ALL of me <3 They changed my life and made me improve myself & save myself
I've been following your posts with great interest. I've always been fascinated with the religions of other countries. It's interesting that each has their own version of light and dark, death and life, and good and evil.
Keep up the good work.
thanx so much for reading with an open mind @josephweiss ...i agree with You that it is very fascinating the differences... i prefer Voodoo to what i was taught because it is very in touch with Nature ...if U are interested in some insider info i have @ https://steemit.com/religion/@paigemoore/what-an-honest-and-pure-hearted-insider-says-about-the-orishas & https://steemit.com/religion/@paigemoore/what-an-honest-and-pure-hearted-insider-says-about-the-esux-or-possibly-the-ghede i have found what she taught me 2014 to be true for my life