The Meaning Behind the Name

To understand YemaShun is to begin to understand a little of what I'm about.  This name comes from the religion of Yoruba Slaves of Cuba, Santeria.

 The slaves in Cuba and the Caribbean were forced to follow the practices of the Catholic Church, which went against the beliefs of their native religions. Noticing the parallels between their native religion and Catholicism, and in order to please their slave-masters and fulfill their own religious needs, they created a secret religion. Santeria uses Catholic saints and personages as fronts for their own god and Orishas (spiritual emissaries). Thus, when a slave prayed to an Orisha, it looked as if they were praying to a saint.

 Many years ago I choose to put a very personal tattoo on my hip, this tattoo has a dragon coming out of the ocean.  I choose the dragon because I was born in Japan and spent 10 years studying Okinawan Shorin Ru.  Which is a form of Okinawan martial arts.  The ocean to me represents purity and the sustainment of life.  I also have 3 initials C, S, & C, which represent courage, strength and compassion.  These are 3 values that I try to live my life by.

 I wanted to choose a name that would combine my own personal beliefs with the roots of my passion for the clave.  It is the African slave that our love of mambo/salsa trace back too.  Out of respect for where our music comes from, my own Catholic faith, and my love of the waters of our world I felt that combining Yemaya and Oshun would best represent me.  

 Yemaya Is the Orisha that rules over seas and lakes. She is the Mother of all and the root of all riches. She is deep and unknowable, like the waters, which she rules. She is also the queen of witches and of secrets. She is considered the Orisha of mercy, while she never turns her back on her children. Her saint is Our Lady of Regla, the patron Saint of Havana's port. Her colors are blue and white.

Oshun also written as Ochun Is the Orisha that rules over the water of the world -- rivers, streams, and brooks. She embodies love, beauty, and fertility. She represents the blood flowing through and creating human life. She is also associated with culture and the fine arts. She is the youngest of the Orishas and the messenger to the house of Olorun. Her saint is Our Lady of Charity, Cuba's Patron Saint. Her colors are yellow and gold.