Polarity and Gender Modality
Controlled terms for describing metaphysical polarity or gendered alignment in ritual address, cosmology, and manifestation. This scheme does not describe biological sex. Multiple concepts may apply to a single entity via different paths (iroko:RelationshipAssertion with assertionScope for camino-level distinctions).
Polaridad y modalidad de género
Polarité et modalité de genre
Polaridade e modalidade de gênero
Ìṣọ̀kan agbára àti ìwà ìbálò
Spirit Kinship Relation Types
Controlled kinship relation types for spirit-to-spirit relationship assertions. Used as the range of iroko:relationType on iroko:RelationshipAssertion nodes. Kinship in this context is cosmological, not biological.
Spirit Kinship Relations
Relaciones de parentesco espiritual
Relations de parenté spirituelle
Relações de parentesco espiritual
Ìbátan ẹ̀mí sí ẹ̀mí
temperament
General temperament classification. Values from TemperamentScheme: iroko:temperament-cool-sweet, iroko:temperament-hot-fierce, iroko:temperament-transformative, iroko:temperament-liminal. Access: public-unrestricted.
color
Sacred color or color combination associated with this entity. Example: white (Obatala), yellow and gold (Oshun), red and white (Shango). Access: public-unrestricted.
path offering (detailed)
Offering details specific to this path. May differ significantly from parent entity offerings. Access: initiated-only.
The human dead bound to a nganga in Palo Monte and Mayombe. Ontologically distinct from free ancestors (egun): the nfumbe enters a specific contractual and coercive relationship with the Palero and the nganga vessel. The nfumbe works within the nganga and is not free.
Nfumbe
Nfumbe should not be classified as egun. The bound nature of the nfumbe is a defining characteristic with significant ethical and archival implications.
element
Natural element or sphere associated with this entity. Example: ocean (Yemaya), river (Oshun), cemetery (Oya Igbale, Baron Samedi), forest (Ochosi, Ogun). Access: public-unrestricted.
offering (general)
General category of offering accepted by this entity. Values from OfferingTypeScheme. Access: public-unrestricted.
related entity
Another spiritual entity with a significant relationship to this one. Example: Elegba and Ogun (road and iron); Oya and Shango (consort). Access: public-unrestricted.
Spiritual Entity
A divine power, ancestral spirit, nature spirit, adversarial force, or personal essence recognized and engaged within an Afro-Atlantic tradition. Includes orisa, lwa, mpungo/inquice, vodun, egun, ajogun, Ori, Espiritismo guides and commissions, and spirits of place and element.
taboo
Prohibitions associated with this entity: foods, behaviors, or materials to avoid. Access: community-only.
path color
Color specific to this path, which may differ from the parent entity's general colors. Access: public-unrestricted.
Seasonal polarity shift
Polarity shifts according to time of year, liturgical calendar, season, or ritual period. The shift is cyclical and predictable, not camino-specific.
Temporal
Temporel
Gẹ́gẹ́ bí àsìkò
Liquids offered to an entity: water, rum, wine, honey, etc.
Drink
Masculine and feminine qualities are simultaneously present and inseparable. Distinct from aspect-dependent, where polarity shifts between manifestations.
Obatala in many lineages simultaneously embodies masculine and feminine principles, expressed in white, stillness, and completion.
Androgynous
Andrógino
Androgyne
Akọ àti abo papọ̀
Path
A distinct manifestation, aspect, or camino of a spiritual entity. Paths share the parent entity's fundamental nature but have distinct domains, temperaments, colors, numbers, offerings, and sometimes distinct syncretic identities. Example: Oya Yansa (fierce warrior aspect) vs. Oya Igbale (governess of the cemetery). Paths are not separate entities but distinct faces of the same power.
Entities whose primary nature is change, transition, and transformation. Neither simply cool nor hot; work with both destruction and creation. Example: Oya, Elegba.
Transformative
Ancestors
Eggun
The Dead
The ancestral dead across Afro-Atlantic traditions. Not tradition-specific: encompasses egungún (Yoruba), the dead honored at boveda (Espiritismo), ancestral courts in Vodou, and the honored dead in all traditions where ancestors are engaged. The dead precede and supersede the orisa and lwa in most traditions.
Egun
Egun as a category is deliberately cross-traditional. Tradition-specific practices of ancestral engagement are documented via the iroko:tradition property on individual instances.
Commission Type Classification
Named commissions (comisiones) in Espiritismo. Each commission represents a group of spirits sharing a common historical, cultural, or archetypal identity. Documented on espiritu-commission entities via iroko:commissionType.
sibling of
hermano o hermana de
frère ou sœur de
irmão ou irmã de
ará fún
Use when gendered sibling distinction is absent or contested in source material.
Shrine
A consecrated physical space or vessel housing a spiritual entity. Includes ile (houses), soperas, nganga, peristyle altars, and boveda. Shrine records link physical location and custody to the entity and tradition. Operational shrine details are access-restricted.
Commission of Kongo-derived spirits in Espiritismo. Work with earthy, transformative, and protective matters. Bridge between Espiritismo and Palo traditions in syncretic practice.
Congo
Guide
Spirit Guide
A personal spirit guide in the Espiritismo tradition. Part of an individual's cuadro espiritual (spiritual frame). Guides may be ancestral relatives, historical figures, or evolved spirits assigned to assist a specific person. Identified through mediumship and misa espiritual.
Espiritu Guia
Vodu
Divine forces in Fon/Ewe-derived traditions including Arara in Cuba. Related to but distinct from Haitian lwa; represents the continental Dahomean tradition.
Vodun
Loa Petro
Spirits of the Petwo nanchon in Haitian Vodou. Hot, fierce, and transformative in temperament. Kongo, New World maroon, and creole origins. Associated with fire and gunpowder.
Lwa (Petwo)
shrine
Links a spiritual entity to a documented shrine or vessel. Access: community-only.
Elemental Spirit
Spirits governing elemental forces — water, wind, fire, earth, lightning — not otherwise classified as orisa, lwa, or other named divine powers. Includes elemental presences recognized in folk traditions and syncretic contexts.
Spirit of Element
salutation
Formal greeting or praise name used when addressing this entity in ceremony. Access: initiated-only.
offering (detailed)
Specific offering details: exact foods, quantities, preparation methods. Access: initiated-only.
Fabric, beads, or clothing offered or draped for an entity in the entity's sacred colors.
Cloth/Fabric
Consistent masculine polarity in ritual address, manifestation, and alignment across known caminos.
Masculine
Masculino
Masculin
Akọ
Fresh water, ocean water, river water, or blessed water offered to an entity.
Water
child of
hijo o hija de
enfant de
filho ou filha de
ọmọ fún
Offering Type Classification
General categories of offerings given to spiritual entities. Specific quantities and preparation are access-restricted; these general categories are public.
twin of
gemelo o gemela de
jumeau ou jumelle de
gêmeo ou gêmea de
ìbejì fún
In Lucumí cosmology, Ibeji (twins) hold specific sacred status. This relation type should be used with iroko:assertionStatus to indicate whether the twin relationship is consensual or lineage-specific.
Gede
Loa Gede
Spirits of the Ghede nanchon in Haitian Vodou. Govern death, sexuality, resurrection, and the boundary between living and dead. Liminal in temperament. Composite New World origins distinct from both Rada and Petwo.
Lwa (Ghede)
Arab
Moro
Commission of Arab or Moorish spirits. Work with commerce, prosperity, and esoteric knowledge. Reflect historical Moorish presence in Iberian culture transmitted to the Caribbean.
Arabe
father of
padre de
père de
pai de
bàbá fún
Frio
Rada
Entities of cool, gentle, beneficent energy. Approached with white and light colors, cool water, and gentle offerings. Example: Obatala, Yemaya (certain paths), Rada lwa.
Cool/Sweet
path
Links a SpiritualEntity to its known Path instances (caminos/avatars). A single entity may have many paths. Access: public-unrestricted.
path domain
The specific domain of this path, which may differ from the parent entity's general domain. Example: Oshun Ibu Kole governs vultures and transformation, distinct from Oshun's general river domain. Access: public-unrestricted.
Faires
Spirit of the Land
Woodland Spirit
Spirits tied to specific locations, landscapes, or natural features: forests, rivers, crossroads, mountains, specific trees or stones. Not the dead, not divine powers, not malevolent by nature. Engaged through offering and acknowledgment. Found across multiple traditions including Hoodoo and syncretic folk practices.
Spirit of Place
The term Faires may reflect crossover from European folk traditions into Hoodoo and syncretic contexts. Terminological certainty varies by regional tradition. Document tradition-specific terminology via iroko:alternateNames and iroko:tradition on individual instances.
syncretic identity
Catholic saint or other syncretic correspondence for this entity. Prevents santos from slipping through classification gaps. Example: Shango syncretizes with Santa Barbara in Lucumi; Ogou with Saint Jacques in Vodou. Free text to accommodate regional and lineage variation. Access: public-unrestricted.
Commission Spirit
A spirit belonging to a named commission (comision) in Espiritismo. Commissions are groups of spirits sharing a common historical, cultural, or archetypal identity. Commission type is documented via iroko:commissionType property and the CommissionTypeScheme.
Espiritu de Commission
Domain module. Vocabulary for documenting spiritual entities across Afro-Atlantic traditions. Covers orisa, lwa, mpungo/inquice, vodun, egun, ajogun, nature spirits, Espiritismo guides and commissions, and Ori. Supports path/camino modeling, shrine documentation, and syncretic identity tracking. Use with iroko-agency for manifestation events; iroko-authority to govern who may assert claims about entity identity, kinship, or caminos; iroko-narrative for patakí, odù verse attribution, and contested kinship claims.
Iroko Framework: Nkisi Module (Spiritual Entities)
Beyond polarity
Not described in gendered or polarity terms, or explicitly transcending the masculine/feminine binary. Not the same as unknown.
Apolar
Apolaire
Àìní ìṣọ̀kan
path syncretic identity
Catholic saint or other syncretic correspondence specific to this path, if different from parent entity. Example: some paths of Oshun correspond to Our Lady of Charity; others to Our Lady of Candelaria. Access: public-unrestricted.
path name
The name of this specific path or camino. Example: Oya Yansa, Oya Igbale, Oshun Ibu Kole, Obatala Ocha Grinan. Access: public-unrestricted.
sacred number
Sacred number or numbers associated with this entity. Example: 8 (Oshun), 16 (Obatala), 4 and 6 (Shango). Access: public-unrestricted.
Temperament Classification
Temperament or spiritual disposition of an entity or path. Reflects the nature and quality of the entity's energy and how it is approached in ritual.
Loa Rada
Spirits of the Rada nanchon in Haitian Vodou. Generally cool, sweet, and beneficent in temperament. Primary Fon/Dahomey origins. Received with white and light colors.
Lwa (Rada)
brother of
hermano de
frère de
irmão de
ẹ̀gbọ́n tàbí àbúròkùnrin fún
entity type
Classification of this spiritual entity within the EntityType scheme. Values: iroko:entityType-orisa, iroko:entityType-lwa-rada, iroko:entityType-lwa-petwo, iroko:entityType-lwa-ghede, iroko:entityType-mpungo-inquice, iroko:entityType-vodun, iroko:entityType-ori, iroko:entityType-egun, iroko:entityType-nfumbe, iroko:entityType-espiritu-guia, iroko:entityType-espiritu-commission, iroko:entityType-spirit-of-place, iroko:entityType-spirit-of-element, iroko:entityType-ajogun. Access: public-unrestricted.
traditional name
Name of this entity in its tradition of origin. May differ from diaspora names. Example: Sango (Yoruba continental) vs. Shango (Lucumi) vs. Xango (Candomble). Access: public-unrestricted.
domain
The sphere of influence or governance of this entity. Example: iron, war, roads (Ogun); love, rivers, beauty (Oshun); wind, death, transformation (Oya). Access: public-unrestricted.
Gypsy
Commission of Romani spirits. Work with divination, luck, commerce, and love. Often approached for card reading and matters of fortune.
Gitano
path number
Sacred number specific to this path. Access: public-unrestricted.
Entity Type Classification
Classification of spiritual entity types across Afro-Atlantic traditions. Organized by ontological category: divine powers, personal essence, ancestral spirits, nature spirits, and adversarial forces.
Comision Celestial
Commission of highly evolved or elevated spirits associated with light, purity, and spiritual advancement. May include spirits identified as angels or exalted ancestors.
Celestial Commission
Adversarial Force
Adversarial cosmic forces in Yoruba cosmology. The principal Ajogun are Iku (Death), Arun (Disease), Ofo (Loss), Egba (Paralysis), Oran (Legal Trouble), Epe (Curse), Ewon (Imprisonment), and Ese (all other afflictions). Powerful forces that are propitiated or deflected rather than worshipped. Not deities; not ancestors; ontologically distinct from orisa.
Ajogun
Ajogun are not evil spirits in a moral sense but cosmic forces of adversity that must be balanced. Their propitiation is a legitimate archival and ritual category distinct from orisa worship.
Entities who exist at thresholds — between life and death, sacred and profane, this world and the next. Example: Ghede lwa, Eshu/Elegba as gatekeeper, Oya Igbale.
Liminal
Commission of African spirits, often depicted as enslaved Africans or African elders. Work with strength, protection, and grounding. Among the most powerful commissions.
Africano
Inquice
Mpungu
Divine forces in Bantu-derived traditions: Mpungo in Palo Monte and Mayombe, Inquice in Candomble Angola. These are the same cosmic powers known by different names in the Kongo religious continuum. Example: Zarabanda (Palo) corresponds to Ogum (Candomble Angola).
Mpungo/Inquice
Caliente
Petwo
Entities of hot, intense, warrior energy. Approached with fire, iron, rum, and strong offerings. Example: Ogun, Shango, Petwo lwa.
Hot/Fierce
Comision Medica
Commission of spirits who were doctors, healers, or medical practitioners in life. Work with healing and health matters. Sometimes called upon in misa for diagnosis.
Medical Commission
Camino-dependent
Polarity varies by named camino, avatar, path, or manifestation. Individual paths should carry their own polarity assertion via iroko:RelationshipAssertion with assertionScope.
Oya presents as feminine in most lineages but some roads (caminos) of Oya are understood as masculine or androgynous.
Aspect-Dependent
Dependiente del aspecto
Dépendant de l'aspect
Dependente do aspecto
Gẹ́gẹ́ bí àwòrán tí a fihàn
Offering
A material or symbolic offering given to a spiritual entity. Includes food, drink, objects, colors, animals, and actions. General offering categories are public; specific quantities, combinations, and preparation details are access-restricted.
Dedicated labor, service, or action performed as offering. Example: building a shrine, completing a vow, acts of charity associated with an entity's domain.
Labor/Action
Candles or other light sources offered or burned for an entity.
Candle/Light
Commission of maternal African or Afro-Caribbean women spirits, often depicted as market women or healers. Work with protection, home, healing, and practical matters.
Madama
Ritual objects, implements, or symbolic items offered or dedicated to an entity.
Sacred Object
Consistent feminine polarity in ritual address, manifestation, and alignment across known caminos.
Feminine
Femenino
Féminin
Feminino
Abo
Sailor
Commission of sailor or seafaring spirits. Work with travel, navigation, and matters of the sea. Reflect Caribbean maritime culture.
Marinero
mother of
madre de
mère de
mãe de
ìyá fún
parent entity
The SpiritualEntity of which this Path is an aspect or manifestation.
spouse of
cónyuge de
époux ou épouse de
cônjuge de
alábàáṣiṣẹ́ ìgbéyàwó fún
sacred day
Day of the week or calendar feast day associated with this entity. Access: public-unrestricted.
The individual divine head and personal destiny in Yoruba and Yoruba-derived traditions. Not an external spirit but the innermost self and personal divine principle. Ori has a shrine (ile ori), receives rogacion and propitiation, and is considered the most important force in an individual's life. Its guidance supersedes that of the orisa.
Ori
Ori is ontologically distinct from the orisa — personal rather than cosmic, internal rather than external. It should not be classified under orisa.
parent of
progenitor de
parent de
genitor de
òbí fún
Use when the gendered parent role is unspecified or ambiguous in source material.
Plants, flowers, or herbal preparations offered to an entity. Links to ewe:Plant instances.
Plant/Herb
path taboo
Prohibitions specific to this path. Access: community-only.
Coins or currency offered to an entity, particularly common with Elegba, Oshun, and market-oriented spirits.
Money/Coin
path temperament
Temperament of this specific path. Values from TemperamentScheme. A path may have a different temperament than its parent entity. Access: public-unrestricted.
Native American
Commission of Indigenous American spirits. Work with nature, healing, and the land. Common in Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Dominican Espiritismo reflecting indigenous Taino presence.
Indio
commission type
For espiritu-commission entities: the specific commission they belong to. Values from CommissionTypeScheme. Access: public-unrestricted.
sister of
hermana de
sœur de
irmã de
ẹ̀gbọ́n tàbí àbúròbìnrin fún
Orisha
Orixa
Divine forces in Yoruba and Yoruba-derived traditions (Lucumi, Candomble Ketu, Trinidad Orisha, Oyotunji). Orisa are cosmic powers governing natural and human domains, each with specific attributes, offerings, colors, and numbers.
Orisa
lineage notes
Notes on which lineages recognize this path and any contested aspects of its identity or attributes. Access: community-only.
Animal sacrifice or offering. Category is public; specific animals, method, and context are initiated-only.
Animal
Songs, drumming, or music performed in honor of an entity. General category is public; specific songs and rhythms are initiated-only.
Music/Song
plant association
Plants associated with this entity. Links to ewe:Plant instances. Inverse of ewe:entityAssociation. Access: public-unrestricted.
Prepared or natural foods offered to an entity. Specific foods are tradition and entity specific.
Food
Espiritu Intranquilo
Spirits who died in conflict, trauma, or without resolution. Worked cautiously; associated with unrest and unfinished business. Distinct from the other commissions in that they are engaged for specific workings rather than as ongoing guides.
Intranquil Spirit
Intranquil spirits occupy a contested category in Espiritismo — some practitioners consider them dangerous and do not work with them. Document lineage position via iroko:contestedNotes.