Encountering Eshu Again
From Orisha University Podcast · 00:39:09
Show by The Ashe Shop
Years ago, I introduced Eshu-Elegua as the guardian of the crossroads, divine messenger, and trickster. This time, we’re going deeper.In Encountering Eshu Again, we explore Eshu through three of his most important functions: Mediator, Divine Enforcer, and Trickster. Through traditional stories and the writings of respected authors and practitioners, we examine Eshu’s role in communication between Spirit and humanity, spiritual justice and consequence, disruption, humility, sacrifice, and the limitations of human perception.We’ll also look at the complexity of Eshu’s identity, his many names, his relationships with other Orisha, and why reducing him to either a mischievous trickster or the African equivalent of the Christian Devil completely misses his place within Yoruba cosmology.Stories discussed include Eshu mediating humanity’s request for inequality, enforcing the consequences of ignored spiritual instruction, and even becoming caught by the rules of his own clever plan.This isn’t simply another introduction to Eshu.We’re encountering him again—with more context, more stories, and a deeper understanding of what happens when we meet the Orisha standing at the crossroads.Fatunmbi, Fa’lokun.Ebora: The Metaphysical Foundations of Ifa, Book 2.See especially pp. 29–30 for discussion of Eshu as mediator between Spirit and humanity, Divine Enforcer in matters of spiritual justice, and Divine Trickster.Cuoco, Alex.African Narratives of Orishas, Spirits and Other Deities.See especially pp. 400–401 for background on Eshu, his names, characteristics, relationships, functions, and praise descriptions.Cuoco, Alex.Tales of Eshu: Yoruba Divine Messenger and Trickster Orisha.Source for several of the traditional narratives retold and discussed in this episode, including stories illustrating Eshu’s roles as mediator, enforcer, and trickster.Additional Note:Orisha traditions are living traditions with regional, lineage, and diasporic differences. Names such as Eshu, Elegua, Elegbara, and related forms are used throughout this episode to explore the complexity and continuity of this Orisha while recognizing that individual traditions may make important distinctions between them.
More episodes of Orisha University Podcast
More episodes
- Welcome to The Ashe Shop Podcast
- Storytime 1- Olorun Creates a Man
- Olodumare: The Owner of Creation
- Storytime 2- Creation Story
- Storytime 3 - Separation of Heaven and Earth
- Storytime 4- Olodumare Gives the People What They Want
- Storytime 5- Eshu at the Crossroads
- Storytime 6- Why Eshu Lives Outside
- Storytime 7- Eshu is Angry
- Eshu-Elegua Guardian of the Crossroads
PodSearch is a free, independent podcast search engine. Read about PodSearch, the privacy policy or contact us.