Eshu Eleggua

Master of The Crossroads

Yoruba Santeria African Spirituality

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Eshu Elegbara

Source: https://occult-world.com/eshu-elegbara/ 

Tree of Justice

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Eshu Elegbara is the master of the crossroads. He is the lord of communications, guardian of gates. He is the owner of all roads, paths, and thresholds, literal and metaphoric. He owns the highway, the path to your door, and the Road to Success. Eshu Elegbara is venerated throughout West Africa. He is incorporated into different pantheons, and thus different myths are told of him; however, his essence remains the same. Because he is venerated by different cultures with different languages, different variations of his name exist:

-Eshu

-Elegba

-Legba

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Eshu Elegbara journeyed to the Western Hemisphere with enslaved devotees, where he emerged as one of the most significant, widely venerated spirits of African-Diaspora religions. He is called Papa Legba in Haiti, Elegua in Cuba, and Exu in Brazil. He may or may not be the same spirit as Palo’s Lucero. Eshu opens and closes roads. He is invoked to remove obstacles from your path and to obstruct enemies and misfortune so they can’t reach you. He is an intense trickster but also a force for justice. Eshu is a lover of truth. Nothing can be hidden from him.

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Eshu Elegbara mediates between people and the other spirits. Traditionally when one wishes to communicate with other spirits, one first asks Legba to open the door. He is the first spirit invoked in African-Diaspora spiritual ceremonies. Legba opens the gate for the other spirits to follow.

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Papa Legba may be invoked when you stand at any crossroad and need direction. If you are literally lost and don’t know which way to turn, call his name and wait for a sign. Invoke him when spiritual communications are not going well. Invoke him by crossing bones at a crossroads or by leaving a small cairn of bones for him there.

Read More Papa Legba God of The Crossroads Guardian Angel click

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Theoretically, there is nothing Papa Legba cannot do. He enables the lame to walk. He transforms bad luck into good and vice versa. Eshu Elegbara blesses devotees with the gift of manual dexterity, thus he is beloved by musicians as well as gamblers, dice players, and practitioners of three-card monte.

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Legends of bluesmen like Robert Johnson receiving extraordinary musical talents at the crossroads may derive from vestigial memories of Papa Legba. All one must do to receive these blessings is go to the crossroads and ask. There’s no selling of souls involved. At worst, Elegba will ignore you and you’re left where you started. Bring your instrument to be blessed (guitar, dice, whatever).

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Eshu Elegbara is something of a practical joker. He likes word games. Be careful how you phrase requests, and cultivate a sense of humor. He is an easily pleased spirit and not particularly avaricious: a glass of rum once a week and a cigar or some candy on special occasions keeps him content. He is among the most powerful and proactive of spirits: don’t ask for his help unless you’re ready for change. He is syncretized to the Holy Child of Atocha, the Anima Sola, Saint Anthony, and Saint Peter, another guardian of gates.

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He may have over 121 paths and manifestations. His original form in Africa was as a handsome, virile young man. This manifestation did not survive the Middle Passage. In the Western Hemisphere, Eshu Elegbara may manifest as a merry, tricky little boy or as an old limping man, weary from walking the world. He may dress in Masonic garb. In Africa, he is sometimes venerated in the form of a phallus. His iconic image is a ritually prepared concrete head with cowrie shell eyes and ears. Statues of the Holy Child of Atocha are used to represent him. His image is usually kept near or behind the front door.

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Attributes: Key, cross, crutches, cane, shepherd’s crook, walking stick

Colors: Red, Black

Number: 3 (two legs and a phallus)

Animal: Mouse

Planet: Sun

Day: Monday

Tree: Calabash

Offerings: Rum, candy, cigarettes, candy cigarettes, toys; he likes his food spicy: lace with hot sauce and peppers.

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Eleggua / Eshu

Source: https://sites.google.com/site/theyorubareligiousconcepts/eleggua 

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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.

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As the head Ajogun, Eshu commands the eight warlords of the left, agents of mischief

Iku (death)

Arun (sickness)

Egba (paralysis)

Epe (curse)

Ewon (imprisonment)

Oran (great trouble)

Ofo (great loss)

Ese (all other problems)

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For this reason, Eshu is feared as he is loved by all. Eshu is offered sacrifice before any other Orisha in every ceremony. He is unique in that everywhere where the Orisha are worshiped he is also honored, his manifestations are many and so are his attributes. It is said there are 256 paths, Esu's  that one for each 256 Odu's of Ifa.

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In Cuba he is generally called Eleggua. Although it is commonly believed that Eleggua is a mispronunciation of Elegbara. One of Eshu's many manifestations in Africa, the tradition is that Eleggua is the Hispanic form of Elewa, a praise name for Eshu meaning "Handsome one".

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Eshu is considered the god of fate and as such can be said to be the most important Orisha. His ability to facilitate one's aspirations, as well as his being able to block them, makes him indispensable: simply stated without Eshu nothing can be accomplished. Eleggua, Elegbara, Eshu is the messenger of the orisa and the direct contact with mankind. 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.

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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 always just.

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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 an accident. Eleggua's favorite day is Monday you may take him a dish of candies, rum and a cigar also corn, smoked fish and possum.

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The origins of Eleggua are mysterious some say he is the child of Alabwanna - the lonely spirit. Which is also one of his aspects. Some say he chained his mother’s hands and wandered off in the woods. Eleggua is the first orisha to be fed, for without his blessing no goodwill can be done. Eleggua also cured Obatala who was the father to creation, In thanks Olodumare/ Olofi gave him the keys to all doors and ordered that Eleggua be first before any orisha.

Read More Papa Legba Guardian of The Crossroads click