Oshosi

Oxossi, (alternately Ochossi or Oshossi) is the orixa of the forest, and one of the three Guerrero, or warrior orixas. He is a hunter, and his role as an often solitary figure in the wilderness lends him another role as a shaman. Oxossi is connected with the cabaclos, or spirits of the native american dead, as well as the nature spirits of the forest. He is most important to the people of Brazil in Candomble, as the Amazon rainforest brings this element to the fore in Candomble more than it is found in it's cousins, the island religions of Cuban Santeria and Haitian Voudoun.

During the period in which most orixa worshippers were slaves to catholic europeans, Oxossi came to be identified with St. Sebastian in the Rio area of Brazil. San Sebatian is most often depicted tied and shot full of arrows, which lead to his association with the hunter orixa. He is alternately depicted as St. George in the Bahia region, and in Cuba, he is identified with St. Norbert.

Oxossi is the patron of hunters, and prayed to when devotees are looking for something, a job or a house for example. He also is the patron of those who work with animals, dogs in particular.