Obaluaiê (also known as Omolu) is the orixá of disease and plagues. Obaluaiê is feared yet revered, possessing the power to heal with familiar plants and herbs at anyone’s disposal. Obaluaiê is a powerful earth spirit and named after a combination of several African gods. Calling Obaluaiê envokes any of the separate spirits independently. Obaluaiê must be approached with caution. When angered, Obaluaiê has been known to cause disease instead of cure it! On an interesting pop culture note, the Desi Arnaz (I Love Lucy) song Babalu is about the Cuban counterpart of this orixá. |
