The orisha, Yemaya, is one of the "Seven African Powers." The orishas are often described as the emissaries of Olodumare, or God Almighty.
Yemaya is the "Mother of All" as such rules the maternal aspects in human lives. She likewise is mistress over the oceans of the earth. All life started in the sea; with Yemaya there is life and hope. She is also known as Yeye Omo Eja means "Mother Whose Children Are Like Fish." Her many children are uncountable as the fish in the seven seas.
Yemaya lives and rules over the seven seas and large lakes. She is one of the most popular orishas in Santeria. Yemaya’s day is Saturday. Yemaya’s number is seven (or multiples of seven) for the seven seas. She dresses herself in seven skirts of blue and white, thus her colors are blue and white. Her feast days are: February 2, September 7, and Mother's Day.
The symbols of Yemaya are related to the sea--shells, dolphins, fish. Though she is sometimes depicted as a beautiful woman standing amidst the sea waves or a double tailed mermaid, particularly surrounded by fish, Yemaya is syncretized to at least four manifestations of the Virgin Mary: Our Lady of Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of the Seafarers, Nuestra Senora La Virgen de Regla, and Maris Stella.
In order to petition Yemaya for her protection with this spell, a person should gather six candles (three white and three blue), seven "silver" colored coins (quarters, dimes, etc), "silver" colored pins, dark molasses, brown wrapping paper, blue pen, and a fish.
After lighting the candles, the person requests protection and writes "whoever seeks to hurt ___" (either "my son," "mi nina," "mi enamorado," "me," whatever) on a piece of brown wrapping paper. Then s/he rolls up the paper and stuffs it in the fish's mouth and closes the mouth with the "silver" pins. The fish is placed on a plate and covered with dark molasses, and then wrapped up neatly in the brown wrapping paper. Place the seven coins on the plate around the wrapped fish.
The candles must be lit for seven days.
The fish with the paper inside is eventually tossed into the ocean along with the seven silver coins--apparently after sitting wrapped up on the plate for seven hours.
Yemaya’s offerings should be arranged in an ascetically pleasing manner on a white, blue, or silver plate. Traditionally, her offerings include whole fried fish, molasses (melaco), all kinds of seafood, dried seaweed, lettuce, white wine, white flowers, and watermelon.
It is probably a good idea to pour a glass of white wine to sit with her candles as an offering. At the end of seven days, the wine should be given to Yemaya in the sea.
I have never enacted this particular spell. However, I am struck by the similarity between this spell and ancient Roman spell against gossip. Both spells involve sealing a fish's mouth.
If someone walks into the ocean waves to greet Yemaya, that person should step into the water sideways with her/his left side pointing towards the waters. This action shows Yemaya that the person respects the orisha's power and strength.
Prayer for Yemaya: Iya eya ayaba okun oma ire gbogbo awani Iya.
Virgin Mary and the Sea Images
Working the Spell
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