Òṣùmàrè: The Rainbow Serpent of Renewal and Wealth
Main Domain
Sacred Symbols
Colors and Day
Greeting
1. Introduction: The Principle of Continuous Motion
Òṣùmàrè is the deity of movement, continuity, and renewal. He is represented by the great serpent biting its own tail, symbolizing the infinite cycle, and by the rainbow, the bridge connecting Earth and Heaven. Oxumarê represents wealth, not just material wealth, but the wealth that comes from the perpetuation of life. He carries water from Earth to Heaven so that rain can fall and fertilize, ensuring that the cycle never ends.
2. Fundamental Myths (Itan)
One of his myths tells of Oxumarê, a servant of Xango, whose beauty was so great that the king always wanted him close by. Oxumarê, however, desired freedom. Olodumare, seeing his desire, allowed him to ascend to the heavens for six months in the form of a rainbow and live on earth for another six months in the form of a serpent. This myth explains his dual nature and his connection to the cyclical movement between the two worlds.
3. Domains and Symbols
His domain is the sky (when he is the rainbow) and the earth (when he is the serpent). His symbols are the metal serpent (usually bronze) and beads of all colors. His colors are the colors of the rainbow, or a combination of green and yellow.
4. Archetype and Personality
Oxumarê's children are persevering, patient people who go through great cycles of ups and downs in life, but always renew themselves. They are elegant, vain, and possess artistic talent. They dislike monotony and are always seeking movement and change. They can be somewhat ambiguous and difficult for others to understand due to their dual nature.
5. Syncretism and Qualities (Paths)
In Brazil, he was syncretized with Saint Bartholomew, who in Catholic iconography was a martyr flayed alive (a process of shedding skin, like a serpent). Oxumarê is worshipped as an androgynous or gender-fluid deity, possessing no distinct "qualities." His duality is already contained in his essence, with the serpent (masculine) and the rainbow (feminine) being two faces of the same deity.