Shango Statue

5"

Shango is the immensely powerful Lord of Thunder, Lightning, and Fire. Lover boy supreme, Shango epitomizes virility, male beauty, and procreative energy. Petition him to share a little of his essence: he provides fertility, luck in love, and male sexual prowess. Shango is invoked for courage and justice. In Yoruba cosmology, lightning is understood as an instrument of divine justice, retribution, and protection. As the wielder of lightning, Shango provides victory over enemies and protects from all evil. Shango breaks hexes, curses, and evil spells.

Also known as:

Chango; Xango; Oba Koso (“The King Does Not Hang”)
Color:

Red and white—in Yoruba cosmology, this indicates the balance between aggression and compassion, respectively.

Plants:

Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris); Ipomoea jalapa, also known as High John the Conqueror

Day:
Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday depending upon the tradition

Number:
6

Elements:
Fire, wood

Planets:
Sun, Mars

Petitions:
Those made during a thunderstorm are most effective.

Offerings:

Shango likes his food spicy and his portions large. Offer red foods, like red apples and red palm oil. His favorite meals include yams, corn, and peppers as well as cooked crab. He drinks red wine, rum, and cachaça. Other offerings include cascarilla powder (powdered eggshell) and sugarcane.