Aja teaches the specific herbal preparations used to bind Abiku children to the living world. Healers trained by Aja know the forest plants and incantations needed to sever the spirit pacts that draw abiku back to death.
Aroni's herbal knowledge includes remedies against Abiku spirits who cause children to die and be reborn in a cycle. Herbalists trained by Aroni use forest medicines and incantations to sever the bond between an Abiku and the spirit world.
Egungun and Abiku represent opposite movements between the spirit and living worlds. While Abiku spirits come only to die and return, the Egungun are honored dead who return to bless and guide the living.
In Yoruba tradition, twins are considered especially vulnerable to Abiku spirits. The Ibeji (divine twins) are invoked to protect twin children from being claimed by abiku companions in the spirit world.
Abiku spirits repeatedly deliver children to Iku, fulfilling prenatal pacts by dying young. Each cycle of birth and death strengthens Iku's claim while tormenting the earthly parents.
In some Yoruba traditions, Abiku spirits congregate in large trees, including the iroko, using them as dwelling places between their cycles of birth and death. The iroko tree serves as a gathering point where Abiku spirits plan their returns to the human world.
Abiku spirits choose a destiny of early death before birth, accepting an Ori marked for return to the spirit world. Rituals to save abiku children aim to alter the fate their Ori accepted.
Osanyin's herbal knowledge provides the medicines and charms used to bind Abiku children to the living world. Specific plant preparations are administered to break the spirit pact and anchor the child's soul.
Oshun, as orisha of fertility and protector of children, is invoked by desperate mothers to combat Abiku spirits. Her sweet waters and honey offerings are used in rituals to entice abiku children to remain in the living world.
Yemoja, as protector of mothers and children, is invoked to shield families from Abiku predation. Her nurturing waters are used in rituals to cleanse abiku children and sever their ties to the spirit world.
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