Eshu-Elegba

Messenger of the Orishas, the Guardian at the Treshold, Elegba is everywhere, but dwells at the crossroad, opens and close all doors, and show multiple possibilities for our Path. At the same moment he can be the one who lure us away from it, thereby putting us to a test. He can appear as a young child or an old wise man.

Since the Self/Ori is at the center of the Crossroad, Esu will help you or prevent you from centering, according to the quality of
your relation with him and your Ori. Divine Trickster, he can bring you bad luck or good luck in often unpredictable ways.

He is the personification of chance and swift activity. His totem is in fact the rat, who lives on the streets and feeds on garbage.
He is the interface between the Orishas and humans: without him no communication is possible to the spirit world. His colours are
red and black, and he is represented by a cement head with cowries for eyes and mouth which is prepared according to a secret
recipe by experienced santeros, but is better to receive Eshu by a Babalawo, together with Ogun and Ochosi.

Typical offerings to Eleggua are palm oil, rum, cigar smoke, toasted mais, dried fish, jutia (dried rat powder). In Palo his name is Lucero or Tata Eleggua. In Voodoo he is called Legba. In his many aspects he can be compared to the following gods: Hermes, Mercury, Set, Loki (but also Heimdall), Ganesh.

Ogun

Ogun is the keeper of the mystery of iron. He is the Warrior Spirit who clears the path and gives you strenght.
He is the lord of war and bathes in blood, the patron of metal workers, car drivers, soldiers, and his offers are often placed near the rails. All oaths and pacts are sacred to him, and he is the one which will guarantee justice.

He is called upon to remove obstacles of all kind. Together with Elegba and Ochosi he is part of the set of Warriors, which is given as a
protection to the aspirant santero.

Ogun is represented by a black stone which is put in an iron cauldron with his other metal implements, usually a big knife or machete, keys, railroad spikes etc. The cauldron clearly represents the melting pot where destiny is prepared, therefore Ogun is the owner of Ire
(good destiny). His totem is a black dog. He drinks lots of rum, and appreciates offerings of name, palm oil, roosters. In Palo he is called Zarabanda, in Voodoo Ogou Ferraille. He can be compared to the following gods: Mars, Tyr, Mithra (also lord of war and pacts), and maybe Horus.

Ochosi

Ochosi is the Sorcerer Orisha of the Left-Hand Path. He lives in the forest, and is Lord of the Hunt and of good or bad "medicine".

He is an accurate killer, shape-shifter and tracker, and blood-brother to Ogun, living as he is in the same cauldron with him, in form of a
metal bow and arrow.

He helps you to find and follow the shortest path to your highest destiny. He is the Master of astral travel and dream-control.
Offer him your total, continuous alertness. He drinks Anisette and eats all that Ogun eats. He can be compared to these gods: Orion, Herne, Kernunnos, Wodan, and all the Gods of the Hunt of Shamanic cultures.

Obatala

God of creativity, the wisest of the Orishas. Untouchable in His purity. He dwells on the top of mountains, on the far, snowy peaks.
Has both male and female aspects.

Representing morality and rarionality, he abhors everything dirty and stupid. His thoughts are calm and deep, immortality is his abode.

He is the White Light which contains all colours and yet trascends them. As Orisanlaa he is the creator of human form, lords of all heads and of Enlightment, Keeper of the Sacred. Totems: elephant, boa, gorilla.  His offerings are coconut meat, white pigeons, cocoa butter, efun. His name in Palo is Tiembla Tierra. He can be compared to the gods Brahma, Jupiter, the Voodoo god Damballah, and in his female aspect, to the Goddess Tara.

Yemaja

Mother of the Orishas and of all mankind. Her womb is life-giver but also the place of eternal rest. Queen of the Witches and of all which lives under the sea. Her compassion is a healing force rescuing the faithful from all trouble. She rules also over the powers of regeneration. Her tipical offerings are fruits and molasses. Her name in Palo is Madre de Agua, and she can be compared to the goddess Isis.

Olokun

Lord of the ocean. Knows all secrets of the Deep and of Time. He represents the Unknowable. He is the King of the Kingdom under the Sea. Sometimes depicted as a mermaid holding a mask and a snake. In psichology he is the Subconscious. In these attributes he is identical with the gods Dagon, Neptune, Nerthus-Njord, Nodens, and Chtulhu.

Chango

A very popular Orisha: Lord of thunder and lightning, of malehood and vigor. He tries by fire, that means he puts your faith to the test.  He is the leader who has no patience and speak only once. His is the power of illuminating ideas and sparkles of light. He is a very masculine Orisha, and promotes the intensity of experience. His totems are among others the black cat and the horse. His symbol is the double-headed axe. Called 7 Rayos in Palo, he can be compared to Thor and Apollo.

Oshun

She is the Venus of the Orishas. Enchanting lover of sweet things and of all that is beautiful. Goddess of the rivers and also of the rivers of blood which are our veins. Sister to Yemaya, and can be also a powerful enchantress.
Her symbol is the mirror, her weapon the Magical Mirror, because the knows how to travel through it unto the astral realm to operate her charms. She favours the pleasure of the senses and all shades of love. Similar if not identical to the Erzulie of Voodoo, the greek Aphrodite, the nordic Freya.

Oya 

Called also Yansa, she is the Goddess of the Winds: the winds of change, the winds of the Mind. She is represented by a fearless amazon, keen to war and possessing strong individuality. She is married to Chango. Also the Queen of Cemeteries, she knows the secrets of Transformation and of Necromancy. Her totem is the buffalo. Similar but not identical to Kali, Lilith, Hekate, Hel, and some forms of Pombagira.

Osain

The spirit of herbs and of their powers. Ally to the sorcerer who has to propitiate him by leaving an offering at the entrance of the woods.

Aganyu 

Orisha of wilderness and of volcanoes. He is the Owner of the Cave. Detached from the superficial things of the living, he carries the faithful across great obstacles. He gives tremendous inner strenght. Compared to the Greek God Pan.

Ibeji

Twin Orishas, protectors of home and children. They simbolize the dual poles of existence. Appeal to them for good luck in money matters.

Babalu Aje

The Lord of the World who punish the excesses of mankind with viral diseases. Simbolized by the sick outcast. His totems are jackals and stray dogs. God also of psychosomatic illnesses. His name in Palo is Coballende. Can be compared to Saturnus.

Orunmila
 
The Wisest among the Orishas. Witness to Creation, Father of the Secrets, second only to Olodumare (the absolute remote divinity). Orisha of divination and of destiny. His special order of priests are called Babalawos and are devoted to divination. He can be compared to the Egyptian god Thoth and the Gnostic Aion.

Ori

The personal divinity which typically resides in one's inner head. Unborn and thus immortal. Only one's Ori can guide to the right choices in life. Should be worshipped before going to sleep and first in the morning. Many deep misteries are connected to the concept of Ori: is it indeed the Higher Self and the Superconscious. One can connect to the Ori via deep meditation. Compared to the gods Ishvara and Kia.