New Jerusalem Spiritual Home of Praise Ministry
"We Walk By FAITH, not by sight! 2 Corinthians 5:7"
SHAKPANA / SOPONNA / BABALU AYE
Shakpana (also known as Babalu aye, Omoluaye, Asojano, Soponna, Shonponno and Sakpata) is the orisha who rules over infectious diseases and healing. He is one of the most feared and revered orishas because of his power over life and death.
He is the divinity of infectious disease and illness (particularly smallpox, leprosy, and HIV/AIDS). Shakpana is frequently called upon for help with healing and overcoming these plagues.
The traditional African imagery of Shakpana shows him covered head to toe in a mariwó masquerade comprised of palm frond fibers (Cocoyea) with which he hides his wounds from the casual observer.
One of his main symbols is an ajà (cocoyea broom made out of dried palm branches). He uses his aja to swat away the flies and mosquitoes that follow him everywhere he goes. He keeps a large piece of wood in hand to aid movement and as a pestle in medicinal mixtures.
His shrine is usually in an enclosed terra cotta pot decorated with cowrie shells, and is kept in a dark place. His ritual numbers are 7 and 17. His colors are red, black and brown.
Shakpana is petitioned when one is sick with an epidemic. He doesn’t like water to be placed in front of him. The only water he likes to be placed in front of him or on top of him is coconut water (It is cool and refreshing for him) or his medicinal mixture which is in a calabash usually kept on a fork on his stool. His offerings includes ram goats, roosters, pigeons, guinea hens, dry wine, parched corn and special white bread.
Shakpana has many children on this earth. His children are very solitude individuals and are always taken care of. They are very spiritual and they can heal spiritually.
Shakpana (also known as Babalu aye, Omoluaye, Asojano, Soponna, Shonponno and Sakpata) is the orisha who rules over infectious diseases and healing. He is one of the most feared and revered orishas because of his power over life and death.
He is the divinity of infectious disease and illness (particularly smallpox, leprosy, and HIV/AIDS). Shakpana is frequently called upon for help with healing and overcoming these plagues.
The traditional African imagery of Shakpana shows him covered head to toe in a mariwó masquerade comprised of palm frond fibers (Cocoyea) with which he hides his wounds from the casual observer.
One of his main symbols is an ajà (cocoyea broom made out of dried palm branches). He uses his aja to swat away the flies and mosquitoes that follow him everywhere he goes. He keeps a large piece of wood in hand to aid movement and as a pestle in medicinal mixtures.
His shrine is usually in an enclosed terra cotta pot decorated with cowrie shells, and is kept in a dark place. His ritual numbers are 7 and 17. His colors are red, black and brown.
Shakpana is petitioned when one is sick with an epidemic. He doesn’t like water to be placed in front of him. The only water he likes to be placed in front of him or on top of him is coconut water (It is cool and refreshing for him) or his medicinal mixture which is in a calabash usually kept on a fork on his stool. His offerings includes ram goats, roosters, pigeons, guinea hens, dry wine, parched corn and special white bread.
Shakpana has many children on this earth. His children are very solitude individuals and are always taken care of. They are very spiritual and they can heal spiritually.