Bestiary

With arrows drawn and arm held straight, Oshosi never misses his mark. He’s the great hunter, steady and strong, who can always catch his prey. This archer enjoys being out in nature, where he can rely on his quick reflexes and primordial instincts in order to hunt and trap game. A patron of quiet meditation, craftiness, and art, Oshosi can remain completely silent and track each target undetected. He always, always, he gets what he’s tracking. Even a moving target many miles away is his when Oshosi’s on the hunt.

Oshosi the Hunter doesn’t restrict his craft to animals. People, too, who break oaths and corrupt the world with lies, can fall beneath his arrows. When fired in pursuit of justice and honor, Oshosi’s arrows never miss; their blades can pierce

through corruption and reveal the truth. Pure-hearted devotees call upon the hunter to avenge wrongs done against them, and occasionally he answers. An arrow from nowhere pierces the wrongdoer’s heart or hide. Anyone who calls upon Oshosi’s vengeance, though, had better be as honest as the sun. A liar who invokes the hunter’s arrows will soon feel their edge as well.

(Ironically, Oshosi gets associated, in Santeria, with St. Sebastian — a martyr pierced to death by arrows. Because St. Sebastian in the modern world is often venerated by gay male Catholics, Oshosi is occasionally associated with queer male identity, too, especially since his interest in beauty and the arts is considered “unmanly” by certain men.)

The hunter helps needy people attain their goals, as he’s sharp-sighted and understands the long game. As orisha of the hunt, he’s the god of anyone who participates in the justice system, courts, police officers, or jail. Oshosi’s arrows, flying in a straight line, symbolize his ethical and virtuous nature. If a mortal needs the power of a steadfast and targeted arrow to pierce its objective, no matter what the distance might be, Oshosi can be called upon to grant accuracy to that devotee. And since Oshosi doesn’t rush into anything, he can also grant you the patience you need when waiting for the right moment to strike.

If someone wants to invoke Oshosi’s presence, this orisha enjoys the color blue, and likes amber-hued items as well. You can win his favor with wild game like roosters, pheasant, quails, deer, and pigeons, but foods like pears, grapes, plantains, pome­ granates, anisette, and bananas please the hunter, too.

As a hunter should, Oshosi dresses lightly and carries only what he needs. Always armed with his ofá (bow and arrows), or occasionally a crossbow, Oshosi prefers life in the wilderness over the dull confinements of the city. When he isn’t spending his time barefoot in the grass, he works for Obatala, the Sky Father, and sometimes hunts in the sky god’s vast white palace. He’s honest and clear-sighted, loyal, tireless, and fair. Some folks might consider Oshosi to be simple, but they don’t understand the artistry of nature or the refinements of a good hunt.