Oshun and the Creation of the World

Long before Ọ̀ṣun became known through the many stories told about her, she was part of a much older story—the story of how the world came to be.

In Yoruba tradition, Olódùmarè, the Supreme Creator, sent the Irunmole, divine beings who would descend to Earth and carry out the work of creation and development.

Among those sent was Ọ̀ṣun.

She was the only female among the group.

The Irunmole began their journey and started the work they had been given. They carried out their responsibilities and attempted to establish life on Earth.

But there was a problem.

Ọ̀ṣun was not included in their work.

The other Irunmole continued without her.

They believed they could accomplish what they had been sent to do without her participation.

But the work did not progress as expected.

The Earth would not flourish.

The things they attempted to establish were not developing properly.

They tried again.

Still, something was missing.

Eventually, the Irunmole returned to Olódùmarè to seek an explanation.

They had followed the instructions they had been given.

They had done the work.

So why wasn’t the Earth developing as it should?

Olódùmarè asked them about Ọ̀ṣun.

Where was she?

The Irunmole explained that they had continued without her.

And this was the problem.

Ọ̀ṣun had been sent with them for a reason.

She was not an unnecessary addition to the group.

Her presence was part of the work.

The Irunmole returned to Ọ̀ṣun and asked her to join them.

When Ọ̀ṣun became part of the work, the situation changed.

The work of establishing and developing life could finally move forward.

What the other Irunmole could not accomplish on their own required Ọ̀ṣun’s participation.

Her àṣẹ, her sacred power, was necessary.

And this is where the story of Ọ̀ṣun begins to take on another dimension.

Ọ̀ṣun is deeply connected to fresh water.

Her sacred river is central to her identity, and water is inseparable from life itself. It moves across the earth, nourishes what grows, supports fertility and creates the conditions necessary for life to continue.

So when Ọ̀ṣun entered the work of creation, she wasn’t simply another divine being joining the group.

She carried something that the others did not.

The world needed what she carried.

The story also gives us an important detail about the nature of divine power.

The other Irunmole were powerful.

They were capable of doing great things.

But their individual powers could not replace Ọ̀ṣun’s.

They had to return to her.

They had to recognize that the work could not be completed without her.

And Ọ̀ṣun did not have to become someone else to contribute.

She came with the power that was already hers.

Her connection to water.

Her ability to nurture.

Her relationship to fertility and growth.

Her sweetness and attraction.

Her àṣẹ.

All of these qualities became part of the world that the Irunmole were trying to establish.

This is one of the reasons Ọ̀ṣun’s stories extend far beyond love and beauty.

Her mythology places her among the divine forces involved in the establishment of life itself.

She was there at the beginning.

And when the others attempted to move forward without her, the world showed them what was missing.