Where All Paths Begin
In Umbanda, divinity flows freely—not confined to one temple, one book, or one name. It moves through rivers, rises with smoke, speaks in thunder, and whispers in the wind. Umbanda teaches that all spiritual paths return to the same sacred source: the creative force behind all life. This idea lies at the heart of monotheism and Orishas in Umbanda, where divine unity takes many sacred forms.
In this way, through the Orishas, the spiritual entities, and the echoes of ancestral wisdom, the soul meets the divine in movement, in symbol, and in silence. Every prayer, every drumbeat, every gesture is a conversation with the sacred.
Monotheism in Umbanda: One God, Many Names
The Nature of the Divine in Umbanda
Umbanda is a monotheistic faith grounded in the reverence of a single, supreme divine presence—a singular consciousness from which all existence flows. Unlike distant or abstract notions of divinity, Umbanda presents this origin as something intimate and alive.
This sacred force is a living presence, experienced in the breeze, the flow of rivers, and the rhythm of life itself. Honored through ritual and symbol, it breathes in everything that surrounds us: the breath in our lungs, the rustle of leaves, the silence before dawn. In Umbanda, God is not a separate being, but the very essence of all that is.
Names of the One God
Though nameless in essence, this divine force takes on many names across Umbanda’s diverse roots:
- Zambi – The most widely used name, especially in southern Brazil. Rooted in Bantu cosmology, Zambi is the source of life, the origin and return.
- Olorum or Olodumaré – From Yoruba tradition, often found in terreiro (spiritual house or temple where Umbanda rituals take place)s influenced by Candomblé Ketu, representing the infinite and unknowable Creator.
- Obatalá (Oshalá) – Not God himself, but the Orishá that represents the purest divine expression in the form of wisdom, creation, and peace. Obatalá acts as the bridge between the Creator and the created.
- Other sacred names include Nzambi Ampungu (Great God, in Kongo cosmology), Mawu (Supreme Being, in Fon tradition), Pai Celestial (Heavenly Father), Pai Criador (Creator Father), and Senhor do Universo (Lord of the Universe)—each reflecting Angolan, Fon, and Christian cosmologies.
These names do not divide the divine—they reflect different cultural lenses through which Umbandistas honor the same sacred presence. As a result, each tradition expresses the inexpressible in its own way.
In Umbanda, the divine is approached not through fear or hierarchy, but through relationship and experience. This reverent intimacy helps Umbandistas understand how the sacred unfolds into creation—through the Orishas, the divine forces that guide, teach, and reflect our spiritual journey.
How Umbandistas Relate to the Divine
Practitioners of Umbanda interact with this supreme divinity in ways that are both mystical and practical. This sacred force transcends dogma and image—it reveals itself in experience, ritual, and the silent rhythm of existence. In each gesture and offering, the divine takes shape—not as a distant ruler, but as a constant presence that invites us to listen and respond.
Umbandistas live this connection through:
- Honoring nature as a living expression of the divine
- Cultivating ethical actions that reflect harmony, humility, and love
- Seeking connection with the Orishás, divine forces that channel aspects of God’s will into the world
Ìwà Pẹ̀lẹ́—good and gentle character—represents a path of honoring the divine through daily action. Though the term comes from Yoruba philosophy and is not used in Umbanda, its essence resonates throughout the tradition. To cultivate Ìwà Pẹ̀lẹ́ means to embody humility, kindness, patience, and integrity. It is a living expression of spiritual alignment and ethical commitment.
In Umbanda, this alignment takes shape through charity, respect, and simplicity. When we care for one another, walk with compassion, and offer our best to the world, we mirror divine harmony.
This attitude opens the heart and spirit to the Orishás—the sacred forces that translate the universal will into personal guidance.
The Orishas as Expressions of the Divine
As sparks of this divine fire, we do not worship God as distant, but as the essence that animates all. The Orishas, then, are not separate gods but expressions of the Divine—mirrors of our own becoming. They are radiant facets of that one light, divine forces that help us remember what we truly are: chosen to choose, and born to gather the scattered shards of the sacred.
Building on this foundation, let us now walk toward these forces of nature, these sacred bridges between heaven and earth: the Orishas. To understand how monotheism and Orishas in Umbanda shape personal spirituality, explore our detailed guide to each Orisha.
Orishas in Umbanda: Divine Forces of Nature and Spirit
Orishas in African Cosmology
The word Orishá comes from ori (head) and ṣa (king/divine), meaning the divine that governs the head. In Yoruba cosmology, there are hundreds of Orishas—divine forces that govern natural elements and aspects of human life. Just a few of these Orishas reached Brazil, but only a portion of the few are present in Umbanda.
Umbanda works with a condensed pantheon, selecting Orishas whose energies best align with its seven vibrational lines and ritual practice. Umbandistas preserve the religion’s spiritual rhythm and honor its African roots by focusing on a selected group of Orishas.
Across Afro-Brazilian traditions more broadly, especially those with stronger roots in traditional African worship like Candomblé, many terreiros recognize a set of sixteen Orishas as foundational. Each of these Orishas holds distinct roles and qualities and actively shapes many spiritual houses in Brazil.
Sixteen Foundational Orishas
You can explore each of them more deeply in our Orishas section:
- Eshú – The Orisha of communication and crossroads, guardian of energy movement.
- Nanan – The grandmother of the Orishas, connected to earth, death, and wisdom.
- Ogún – Warrior Orisha of iron, roads, and justice.
- Oshóssi – Hunter of knowledge and guardian of the forest.
- Oshun – Goddess of love, beauty, and fresh waters.
- Yemanjá – Queen of the ocean, mother of creation.
- Ibeji – Divine twins representing joy, innocence, and protection.
- Obá – Orisha of loyalty and the strength of the home.
- Oshumaré – Rainbow serpent of cycles and transformation.
- Oyá – Orisha of winds, change, and the threshold between worlds.
- Yewá – Guardian of purity, springs, and the passage between worlds.
- Logun Edé – Youthful balance of land and water, duality of gender and energy.
- Omolu (Obaluayê) – Orisha of disease, healing, and ancestral karma.
- Obatalá (Oshalá) – Embodiment of peace, creation, and elder wisdom.
- Osanyin – Keeper of the sacred herbs and master of healing.
- Shango – Orisha of thunder, fire, and divine justice.
Orishas and Irunmole
Orishas shape nature, human personality, destiny, and the cycles of life. They reflect divine energy in motion—dynamic, transformative, and deeply present in the world around us.
On the other hand, there are the Irunmole—primordial forces like Onilé (Earth) or Oké (Mountains). These entities shape the broader structure of creation but do not directly govern an individual’s head. While central in Yoruba cosmology, Irunmole do not appear in Umbanda. Umbandistas often integrate their influence into the attributes of the Orishas.
Syncretism: A Sacred Strategy for Survival
Syncretism blends different spiritual or religious traditions. In Umbanda, it provided a vital means of survival and resilience. When colonial rule forbade African traditions, enslaved people preserved their sacred knowledge through syncretism. They aligned their Orishas with Catholic saints—not to replace them, but to hide and protect them in plain sight, using the imagery of the colonizers as veils for deeper truths.
This act of spiritual resistance honored African deities even under the watchful eyes of colonizers. Through sacred adaptation, the divine continued to speak in coded prayers, hidden songs, and silent rituals. Syncretism became more than adaptation—it embodied a deliberate act of preservation. Over time, this fusion shaped new spiritual landscapes like Umbanda, where African roots intertwined with Indigenous and Christian elements to form a rich and enduring spiritual current. This merging never signaled submission—it radiated resilience.
Examples of syncretism in Umbanda include the sixteen foundational Orishas often found in African-rooted traditions:
- Eshú → Saint Anthony
- Ogún → Saint George
- Oshóssi → Saint Sebastian or Saint George (varies by region)
- Omolu (Obaluayê) → Saint Lazarus
- Shangó → Saint Jerome or Saint Peter
- Ossain → Saints Cosmas and Damian
- Obatalá (Oxalá) → Jesus Christ
- Oshun → Our Lady of Conception
- Yemanjá → Our Lady of Navigators
- Ibeji → Saints Cosmas and Damian
- Oyá (Iansã) → Saint Barbara
- Obá → Saint Joan of Arc
- Logun Edé → Saint Expedito or Saint Anthony (varies by region)
- Oshumare → Saint Bartholomew
- Yewá → No widely recognized Catholic counterpart
- Nanan → Saint Anne
The Orishas in Umbanda Today
Umbanda does not follow a strict or standardized list of Orishas. While many terreiros honor a core group—such as the Orishás Obatalá, Yemanjá, Ogún, Oshóssi, Shango, Oshun, Omulú, Oyá, Ibeji, and Nanan—others incorporate additional Orishas like Logun Edé, Obá, Yewá, Oshumaré, and Osanyin, depending on local traditions and the spiritual heritage of the house.
One notable distinction is the treatment of Eshú. Although Eshú holds a central place in many African traditions, most Umbanda houses do not worship him as an Orishá. Many terreiros with stronger Christian influences reinterpret or even exclude his figure.
In summary, this diversity highlights the flexible and evolving nature of Umbanda. Some terreiros adopt a Christian-influenced structure, honoring Orishas through the imagery of Catholic saints. Others embrace syncretism as a bridge between traditions. Still, some houses are rooted in African cosmology, where Orishas are venerated directly and independently.
Moreover, not all terreiros use the term “Orishas.” In some, particularly those influenced by Candomblé Jeje or Bantu traditions, these divine forces may be called Voduns or Inquices. While Umbandistas shift names and ritual forms, they preserve the essence: a devotion to the sacred forces that shape nature, character, and life.
Umbanda does not follow a fixed pantheon. Its strength lies in its capacity to breathe, to adapt, and to speak to the people it serves—across different lands, lineages, and histories.
What About the Irunmoles?
The term Irunmole is rarely used in Umbanda, and the worship of these primordial forces is generally absent—unless the house is deeply rooted in African traditions. While Yoruba cosmology distinguishes between Orishas and Irunmoles—assigning cosmic forces like the Earth, Sun, and Mountains to the latter—Umbanda often integrates these elements differently.
In most Umbanda terreiros, such forces are associated with Orishas. For example, the Sun is typically linked to Obatalá, not regarded as an independent Irunmole. Umbandistas integrate these aspects of nature into the personalities and domains of the Orishas.
The Seven Vibrational Lines of Umbanda
Umbanda organizes its spiritual current into seven sacred Lines, each expressing a divine principle and led by an Orishá:
- Line of Oxalá – Faith and Illumination
- Line of Yemanjá – Love and Fertility (includes Oshun and Nanã)
- Line of Oxóssi – Knowledge and Abundance
- Line of Xangô – Justice and Harmony
- Line of Ogum – Law and Action
- Line of Omulú/Obaluayê – Healing and Evolution
- Line of Iansã – Transformation and the Ancestors
The seven lines of Umbanda may vary from house to house and from tradition to tradition. Some terreiros substitute lines to reflect their unique spiritual focus. For example, certain traditions recognize the Line of Yori, which is sometimes included to represent the Erês—childlike spirits closely associated with Ibeji. Similarly, the Line of Yorimá is dedicated to the Pretos-Velhos, wise spirits often connected with the energy of Omulú.
These substitutions don’t just adjust the structure—they also influence how Orishás are grouped within the spiritual framework. Each house shapes its cosmology in response to its heritage, teachings, and spiritual resonance—highlighting the living, evolving nature of Umbanda.
The Entities in Umbanda: Spirits That Walk With Us
Not Orishas, But Aligned With Them
Entities are not Orishás, but they are deeply connected to them. These are evolved spirits, beings who have walked the human path and continue their spiritual evolution by guiding others. Their work is one of mutual growth: as they help us develop, they too ascend.
Much like mediums and devotees, these spirits are also governed by Orishás—a divine force that shapes their essence, their mission, and the way they interact with the world. This connection is similar to the relationship between a person and their ori (spiritual head). At the same time, entities serve as intermediaries to the vast cosmic energy of the Orishas, offering guidance, healing, and protection.
To explore the broader diversity of spiritual lines in Umbanda, including those beyond the seven traditional ones, see our full post on The Spiritual Lines in Umbanda.
The Relationship With People
We invite entities with respect, intention, and openness—and they respond.
They present themselves in familiar, symbolic forms: a wise grandmother, a playful child, a silent warrior, or a clever guardian. These are spirits who have lived, learned, struggled, and transcended—and because they know the human path, they walk beside us with empathy and purpose.
Practitioners honor these spirits not as deities, but as prestigious companions—respected guides, mentors, and friends on the journey. Their mission is not only to help individuals evolve but to support the spiritual growth of the collective. Through their work, healing and clarity ripple beyond the self into families, communities, and the broader spiritual current of Umbanda.
For mediums who serve as their channels, the relationship with an entity is not limited to ritual. It extends far beyond the gira (ritual gathering), becoming a vivid and ongoing spiritual dialogue. Over time, this bond often takes on the warmth and closeness of family—built on trust, humility, and shared growth. As the medium nurtures the spirit’s evolution, the guide responds with support and direction throughout the path of service.
These spirits continue to guide and support us beyond ritual—through intuition, quiet moments, and the subtle stirrings of the heart. Walking beside us, these spirits don’t lead—they awaken our inner strength. They guide us to act with courage, choose with clarity, and grow with integrity.
A Closing Reflection: One Light, Many Flames
Ultimately, Umbanda is a sacred river of many currents. Its source is One God—Zambi, Olorum, Olodumare—known by many names, felt in many ways. The harmony between monotheism and Orishas in Umbanda shows us that divine unity and spiritual diversity are not opposites—they are reflections of the same sacred truth.
The Orishas are divine principles, the forces of nature, the voices of energy itself. The entities are ancestral spirits, helpers on the path, embodying the Orishas’ will in human form.
Together, they show us that divinity is not far—it walks beside us, dances with us, teaches through simplicity.
Umbanda does not ask for belief. It asks for presence. For listening. For respect.
And when the drum begins, when the candle is lit, when the guide arrives—Umbanda reminds us: the sacred is already here.
We’d love to hear your experience. Have you ever felt the presence of a spiritual entity or received guidance from one? Share your story or reflections in the comments—your voice helps keep this living tradition alive.
Ashé! — May your path be guided by light.
Dive Deeper: See our Blog about What Is Umbanda? Origins, Beliefs, and Spiritual Practices, about The Caboclos in Umbanda: Strength, Simplicity, and Ancestral Knowledge and about The Mysterious Force of Exus and Pomba-Giras in Umbanda
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