Oshun Portrait (Ochun/Oxum)

Oshún/Ochun/Oxum
Goddess of Love and Beauty. Once a river spirit, she is now revered as the ruler of all sweet (non-salt) waters, including lakes. Guardian of women and children, of sensuality and fertility. Partial to gold, pumpkin, honey, brass, perfume,mirrors, cinnamon, champagne, and peacock feathers. Her colors are gold and yellow and her number is 5 and multiples of 5, andher day is Friday. Cognate with Our Lady of Charity (La Caridad del Cobre), Venus, Aphrodite, Freya, Ishtar, Erzulie Freda & others. Flirtatious and sensuous, she rules over lovers, family problems, children, fertility, and prosperity. As "La Caridad del Cobre" ("Our Lady of La Caridad") she is the patron of Cuba. She is sometimes depicted as a mermaid.