Attributions
Yemoja is a powerful and respected orisha in the Yoruba religion, often considered the mother of all orishas and human beings. She is the goddess of waters, especially oceans and rivers, and symbolizes motherhood, fertility, and life. Yemoja is a protector of family and children, and she is invoked for all matters concerning fertility, pregnancy, motherhood, and women's affairs. Her nurturing and protective nature makes her a maternal figure for her entire community of followers, providing support and comfort.
Correspondence Table
| Stones | Lapis lazuli, Aquamarine |
| Planets | Moon (for its association with emotions, femininity, and fertility) |
| Day | Monday (day associated with the Moon) |
| Related Deities | Orishas (deities associated in the Yoruba religion) |
| Creatures | Fish (animal associated with femininity, intuition, and the sea) |
| Plants | Reed (plant associated with flexibility and resilience), Water lily (plant associated with purification and prosperity) |
| Signs | Cancer (for its association with the Moon, motherhood, and intuition) |
| Direction | West (associated with water, intuition, and emotion) |
| Sabbats | Not applicable |
| Element | Water (associated with emotion, intuition, and femininity) |
Symbols and Appearances
Yemoja is often depicted as a majestic and maternal woman, sometimes in a partially aquatic form to emphasize her connection with water. She is usually dressed in blues and whites, symbolizing water, purity, and peace. Her symbols include shells, especially cowries, fish and other marine creatures, as well as coral and aquamarine. Pearls and mirrors are also associated with Yemoja, symbolizing beauty and clarity.
Myths
Yemoja is at the heart of many Yoruba and Afro-diasporic stories. One myth describes her as having given birth to all the orishas, with the world’s rivers compared to her children spreading across the land. In some stories, she is the wife of Orungan and the mother of Olokun and Aganju, reflecting her central role in Yoruba mythology. Another tale tells how she became the mother of all living beings after her waters were used to create the wet earth from which all living beings were formed.
Spiritual Message
Yemoja’s spiritual message centers on motherhood, protection, and unconditional support. She teaches the importance of care and compassion to maintain the unity and health of the community. Yemoja encourages patience, love, and understanding, reminding that emotional and spiritual nourishment is as vital as physical support. As the goddess of water, she also symbolizes the ability to adapt and transform, highlighting the importance of flexibility and resilience in facing life’s challenges.
