Orisha Archetypes in Leadership: African Wisdom for Entrepreneurs

By Nicole, Founder of Mystic Ryst

In Yoruba tradition, the Orishas are divine forces of nature—each embodying specific qualities, powers, and wisdom. They're not just deities to worship; they're archetypal energies you can embody, learn from, and channel in your life and business.

Each Orisha represents a different leadership style, business approach, and entrepreneurial archetype. Understanding which Orisha energy resonates with you—and learning to work with multiple Orisha energies—can transform how you lead, build, and succeed.

For spiritual entrepreneurs seeking to understand their natural leadership style and expand their range, the Orishas offer a rich framework of archetypal wisdom from African spiritual tradition.

Let's explore the major Orisha archetypes and discover how to embody their wisdom in your entrepreneurial leadership.

Understanding the Orishas

What Are Orishas?

Orishas (also spelled Orisa or Orixa) are divine spirits in the Yoruba religion, originating in West Africa and now practiced worldwide through traditions like Santería, Candomblé, Vodou, and Ifá.

Orishas are:

• Forces of nature (ocean, thunder, wind, river, etc.)
• Archetypal energies (warrior, nurturer, transformer, etc.)
• Divine intermediaries between humans and the Supreme Creator (Olodumare)
• Embodiments of specific qualities and powers
• Teachers and guides for human development

In business: Each Orisha represents a different leadership archetype and business approach you can learn from and embody.

The Major Orisha Leadership Archetypes

Elegua - The Strategic Opener of Ways

Domain: Crossroads, opportunities, communication, beginnings
Colors: Red and black
Number: 3
Symbols: Keys, crossroads, roads

Leadership style: The Strategic Opportunist

Strengths:

• Sees opportunities others miss
• Opens doors and creates pathways
• Excellent communicator and networker
• Strategic thinker at crossroads
• Playful and clever problem-solver
• First to act, quick decision-maker

Business approach:

• Spots market opportunities early
• Creates new pathways and innovations
• Networks strategically
• Makes quick, intuitive decisions
• Opens doors for others

When to invoke Elegua: New beginnings, important decisions, opening opportunities, removing obstacles

Shadow: Can be trickster energy—too clever, manipulative, scattered

Obatala - The Wise Visionary

Domain: Wisdom, purity, peace, creation, clarity
Colors: White, silver
Number: 8
Symbols: White cloth, staff, dove

Leadership style: The Wise Elder

Strengths:

• Clear vision and wisdom
• Patient and thoughtful
• Creates from purity and integrity
• Peaceful and diplomatic
• High ethical standards
• Sees the big picture

Business approach:

• Leads with wisdom and integrity
• Makes decisions from clarity, not emotion
• Builds on strong ethical foundation
• Patient with long-term vision
• Creates peace and harmony in team

When to invoke Obatala: Need for clarity, ethical decisions, peace-making, vision-setting

Shadow: Can be too detached, perfectionist, slow to act

Shango - The Powerful Warrior King

Domain: Thunder, lightning, fire, justice, power
Colors: Red and white
Number: 6
Symbols: Double-headed axe, crown, thunder

Leadership style: The Charismatic Warrior

Strengths:

• Powerful and commanding presence
• Charismatic and magnetic
• Fights for justice
• Passionate and intense
• Natural authority
• Protects fiercely

Business approach:

• Leads with power and passion
• Commands attention and respect
• Fights for what's right
• Takes bold action
• Inspires through charisma

When to invoke Shango: Need for power, justice, bold action, commanding presence

Shadow: Can be domineering, arrogant, too aggressive, womanizing energy

Oshun - The Magnetic Attractor

Domain: Sweet waters, love, beauty, prosperity, sensuality
Colors: Gold, yellow, amber
Number: 5
Symbols: Mirrors, honey, peacock feathers

Leadership style: The Magnetic Charmer

Strengths:

• Attracts through sweetness and beauty
• Diplomatic and charming
• Creates abundance effortlessly
• Nurtures relationships
• Wins through grace, not force
• Celebrates joy and pleasure

Business approach:

• Attracts clients magnetically
• Builds through relationships
• Creates beautiful brands
• Leads with sweetness and care
• Makes business pleasurable

When to invoke Oshun: Client attraction, relationship building, abundance, beauty, diplomacy

Shadow: Can be vain, manipulative through charm, overly focused on appearance

Oya - The Transformational Change Agent

Domain: Winds, storms, transformation, marketplace, death/rebirth
Colors: Burgundy, purple, brown
Number: 9
Symbols: Whisk, lightning, tornado

Leadership style: The Fierce Transformer

Strengths:

• Brings necessary change
• Speaks truth powerfully
• Clears what's dead or stagnant
• Fierce and courageous
• Rules the marketplace
• Transforms through destruction

Business approach:

• Leads transformation and change
• Speaks truth without apology
• Pivots and adapts quickly
• Clears obstacles decisively
• Succeeds in competitive markets

When to invoke Oya: Major changes, transformations, truth-telling, marketplace success

Shadow: Can be too destructive, harsh, impatient, overwhelming

Yemaya - The Nurturing Mother

Domain: Ocean, motherhood, fertility, deep abundance
Colors: Blue, white, silver
Number: 7
Symbols: Shells, pearls, ocean, moon

Leadership style: The Nurturing Matriarch

Strengths:

• Nurtures and protects
• Creates deep, sustainable abundance
• Emotionally intelligent
• Builds strong foundations
• Fiercely protective of team
• Gives abundantly

Business approach:

• Nurtures business like a child
• Creates family-like team culture
• Builds for long-term sustainability
• Leads with emotional wisdom
• Protects fiercely when needed

When to invoke Yemaya: Nurturing business, abundance consciousness, emotional healing, protection

Shadow: Can be overprotective, smothering, emotionally overwhelming

Ogun - The Determined Builder

Domain: Iron, technology, war, work, determination
Colors: Green and black
Number: 3 or 7
Symbols: Machete, tools, iron

Leadership style: The Relentless Worker

Strengths:

• Incredibly hardworking
• Builds and creates tangibly
• Determined and persistent
• Clears paths (like machete through jungle)
• Masters technology and tools
• Protects and defends

Business approach:

• Builds through hard work and determination
• Masters systems and technology
• Persists through obstacles
• Creates tangible results
• Protects what's built

When to invoke Ogun: Hard work needed, building systems, persistence, overcoming obstacles

Shadow: Can be workaholic, too aggressive, isolated, stubborn

Finding Your Primary Orisha Archetype

Discovery Questions

Which resonates most?

• Do you lead through wisdom and clarity? (Obatala)
• Do you lead through power and passion? (Shango)
• Do you lead through sweetness and attraction? (Oshun)
• Do you lead through transformation and change? (Oya)
• Do you lead through nurturing and protection? (Yemaya)
• Do you lead through strategy and opportunity? (Elegua)
• Do you lead through hard work and building? (Ogun)

Your Business Approach

How do you naturally operate?

• Spot opportunities and open doors? (Elegua)
• Create with wisdom and vision? (Obatala)
• Command with power and charisma? (Shango)
• Attract through beauty and charm? (Oshun)
• Transform through fierce change? (Oya)
• Nurture with deep care? (Yemaya)
• Build through determined work? (Ogun)

Working with Multiple Orisha Energies

The Balanced Leader

The most effective leaders can access multiple Orisha energies as needed:

Example balanced approach:

• Elegua: Spot opportunities and make strategic decisions
• Obatala: Set clear vision with wisdom
• Ogun: Build systems through hard work
• Oshun: Attract clients with sweetness
• Oya: Transform when change is needed
• Yemaya: Nurture team and business
• Shango: Lead with power when necessary

When to Call on Each Orisha

Business phase: What energy do you need right now?

Starting: Elegua (opening ways) + Obatala (clear vision)
Building: Ogun (hard work) + Yemaya (nurturing)
Growing: Oshun (attraction) + Shango (power)
Transforming: Oya (change) + Elegua (new paths)
Sustaining: Yemaya (nurturing) + Obatala (wisdom)

Orisha Leadership Practices

The Daily Orisha Invocation

Each morning, invoke the Orisha energy you need:

1. Identify what your day requires
2. Choose the appropriate Orisha
3. Invoke their energy: "[Orisha name], I call upon your [quality]. Guide me today."
4. Embody that energy throughout your day

The Orisha Altar Practice

Create a multi-Orisha altar with sections for each:

• Elegua (red/black, keys) - at the entrance
• Obatala (white, peaceful) - center or high place
• Shango (red/white, powerful) - prominent position
• Oshun (gold/yellow, beautiful) - with mirrors and honey
• Oya (burgundy/purple, transformative) - with wind symbols
• Yemaya (blue/white, nurturing) - with ocean items
• Ogun (green/black, tools) - with iron or work symbols

The Orisha Council Meeting

For major decisions, consult all the Orishas:

1. Present your decision/challenge
2. Ask each Orisha for their perspective:
   • What would Elegua say? (strategic opportunity)
   • What would Obatala say? (wisdom and ethics)
   • What would Shango say? (power and justice)
   • What would Oshun say? (attraction and relationships)
   • What would Oya say? (transformation needed)
   • What would Yemaya say? (nurturing and sustainability)
   • What would Ogun say? (work and building required)
3. Integrate all perspectives
4. Make your decision from wholeness

The Orisha Team Dynamics

Building a Balanced Team

Recognize Orisha energies in your team members:

• The Elegua person: Spots opportunities, networks, opens doors
• The Obatala person: Provides wisdom, vision, ethical guidance
• The Shango person: Leads powerfully, inspires, commands
• The Oshun person: Attracts clients, builds relationships, creates beauty
• The Oya person: Drives change, speaks truth, transforms
• The Yemaya person: Nurtures team, creates culture, sustains
• The Ogun person: Builds systems, works hard, creates tangibly

A balanced team has all energies represented.

The Orisha Business Audit

Rate your access to each Orisha energy (1-10):

• Elegua (strategic opportunity): ___
• Obatala (wisdom and vision): ___
• Shango (power and passion): ___
• Oshun (attraction and beauty): ___
• Oya (transformation and change): ___
• Yemaya (nurturing and abundance): ___
• Ogun (hard work and building): ___

Where you scored low: That's an Orisha energy to cultivate.

The Promise of the Orishas

When you work with Orisha archetypes:

• You understand your natural leadership style
• You can access different energies as needed
• You build a more balanced approach
• You honor diverse ways of leading
• You connect to ancient African wisdom
• You lead with archetypal power

The Invitation

The Orishas offer a rich framework of leadership archetypes from African spiritual wisdom. Each one teaches a different way to lead, build, and succeed.

Discover your primary Orisha archetype. Learn from all of them. Invoke their energies as needed.

And let these ancient divine forces guide your modern entrepreneurial journey.

Ase to all the Orishas. May their wisdom guide our businesses.

Which Orisha archetype resonates most with you? How do you embody their energy in your leadership? I'd love to hear your insights.