Religion:Aja (orisha)

From HandWiki
Short description: Orisha of the forest in the Yoruba religion


Ajá ("wild wind") is an Orisha, the spirit of the forest, the animals within it and herbal healers. In her forests she would find plants with medicinal properties and mix the herbs and roots and other plant parts together to find cures for the sick. She holds the secrets of botany and can be also looked to for help with trading and economic prosperity. Ajá shared much of her knowledge with humans waiting for someone to come and find her to share it with. This person was usually a shaman in training, or someone of the like.

It's believed that if someone is carried away by Ajá and then returns, they become a powerful “jujuman” or (babalawo). The journey supposedly will have a duration of between 7 days to 3 months, and the person is thought to have gone to the land of the dead or heaven. Ajá is considered one of the rarest Earth Spirits because she reveals herself to humans and not to harm or scare them.