Why Do We Call Ori? Pt I
The Pursuit of Knowledge & Spiritual Transformation
September 2018
Homage To The One Who Sends and to those who are sent! Homage to Orisa and Egun!
Ifokanbale Omo Orisa! Peace of Mind from Olodumare Children of Orisa!
Ire ati Ayo!
Good Tidings and Joyfulness!
I honor your gods, I drink from your wells, I bring an undefended heart to our meeting place. I have no cherished outcomes, I will not negotiate by withholding, and I am not subject to disappointment. I am here! And They are all here with me! Ase! Ase! Ase!
Lord of my Ancestors, I have no knowledge except that which is given to me through inspiration, that which is sent to me by way of an angel, and that which I am blessed to acquire by way of some discipline. I thank you for guiding my words, my thoughts, and my actions so that all that I say and do may serve to point the seekers in the right direction. Ase! Ase! Ase!
Our beliefs and our understandings will shape our choices, our actions, our thoughts, and our very lives. Not necessarily because of the truth of what we believe, but because of the power of belief itself. Belief is the acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists. It is a firmly held opinion or conviction. Core beliefs provide part of the infrastructure around which we build our daily lives. But beliefs are a soft metal and can bend and twist under pressure. Knowledge is tough, strong enough to withstand adverse conditions or rough or careless handling. Knowledge produces the confidence and determination to cope in difficult situations, to endure hardship and pain. It provides a more reliable infrastructure for our process of creating.
I often reflect on the history of our brother, Prophet Abraham, reported in the Holy Qur’an where he says to Allah, ‘My Lord, show me how you raise the dead to life! Not that I do not believe, but that my belief may be supported by (raised to the level of) knowledge.’ Likewise, we should not be satisfied with belief without knowledge about that in which we are choosing to believe. Knowledge transforms belief into certainty. Certainty is born of the original creative impulse and provokes a feeling of spiritual power, Ase! We should strive for knowledge. When belief is transformed into certainty, and that certainty, that sense of conviction, is acted upon, knowledge is then transformed into wisdom, and ‘The road to wisdom is paved with questions!’
In addition to weaving the fabric of Yoruba civilization and Ifa culture, Ifa and its spiritual traditions, stories, parables, ceremonies, rituals, and sayings, are meant to provoke growth, growth in understanding, growth in self-awareness, growth in knowledge, growth in all of the divine attributes that can emerge from the relationship between our Ori and our heart; attributes like love, empathy, compassion, forgiveness, insight, intuition, creativity, and Ase (spiritual power). Our Spiritual Ori is the ‘knower’ of what we must come to know in order to grow from mere belief into the certainty of knowledge.
Ori is sensitive to, responsive to our energetic vibrations, especially the vibration of inquiry, seeking to know. Spiritual Ori loves to feed the growth of our physical Ori so that they can eventually merge while we are still in this life, the L’oja, the marketplace. Spiritual Ori cannot, will not ‘descend’ into the energetic vibration of the L’oja, so the only solution for their eventual merging is for the transformation and elevation of the energetic vibration of our physical Ori. I was told, somewhere along my spiritual journey, that the word Orisa (Orisha) is a blended word of Ori (to see) and Sha (to choose), meaning ‘to choose to see’. The pursuit is knowledge of the path taken by those who choose to see.
During divination our Spiritual Ori responds to the energetic vibration of inquiry emanating from our heart, the seat of our Ase Ami (energy signature, true energetic vibration). No matter what we say, our words will not matter if they are not consistent with the energetic vibration of our Ase Ami, emanating from our heart. You might picture the heart pulsing out the rhythm of your true, deep emotional state of being, and sending that vibration to your physical head, your pineal gland, your 6th and 7th Chakras, that in turn send that vibration pulsing directly to your Spiritual Ori. And, your Ori responds only to ‘your truth’, expressed as an energetic vibration from the heart.
As that pulse of energy travels from the heart (4th Chakra) to the brow (6th Chakra) and Crown (7th Chakra), it must pass through the throat (5th Chakra). The heart, brow, and crown chakras are all related to energetic communication. The throat is associated with verbal communication. If what we say during verbal or nonverbal (thought) communication is not in alignment with the three energetic centers of communication then our communication will lack power and effect. Awo means mysteries. In order to unravel the awo, to comprehend even the right questions to ask about the mysteries of Ifa, the mysteries of life, the mysteries of our true self, we must seek knowledge and let it carry us into the realm of wisdom.
Bi Owe! Bi owe ru Ifa soro! Like Proverbs! Like proverbs is how Ifa speaks!
Why does Ifa speak in proverbs? Because the brain thrives on associative links, the mind needs to complete pictures, and the imagination loves stories. Because proverbs and stories, feed the imagination, generating branching stories and ideas, and provoking reflection and inquiry. Ifa is a vehicle for maintaining mindfulness of our connection with the spirit world, while also assisting us in navigating the L’oja, taking on the responsibilities and seizing the opportunities we have on our journey.
We have spoken about the importance of Ori in a previous Post (July 2017). Here’s an excerpt:
Who Can You Trust? Your Ori! Your Spiritual Ori! Your Inner Head!
Did you know that even the Orisa use Ifa divination to navigate their existence? The Ese Ifa and the Sacred Oracles of Ifa is replete with stories of the Orisa who consulted with their Babalawo so that they could be successful in some endeavor or avoid some difficulty or danger. In fact, even Orisa Orunmila - the Prophet of Ifa, the Author of Ifa Divination, the One Who is Second to Olodumare, the Mouthpiece of the other gods, the Witness of Man’s Choice of Destiny - utilizes Ifa Divination. Since the Destiny of every person has been chosen and decided in heaven, it is considered vital for every person to consult Ifa from time to time so that he or she might know the pleasure or displeasure of his or her Ori, regarding their past, present, and future choices. If you follow this tradition you will be able to tread the path already laid out for you, by you, in heaven – your chosen Destiny – without having to beat-around-in-the-bush.
It is important to remember that when you consult Ifa all you are doing is using this particular belief-based methodology to find out the wishes of your own Ori. Ifa is merely a mouthpiece – a medium of communication – between you (your egoistic mind) and your Spiritual Ori. Remember also that the role of the gods (Orisa) is to aid your Ori in leading you to fulfill your Destiny in life. Any other god cannot grant whatever your Ori has refused to approve. Even the Orisa have Ori directing their daily and eternal lives.
Iku, Arun, Ofo, Egba, Ese,
Gbogbo won ni nyo Orunmila wo.
Won nwi pe ojo kan
Ni awon o pa a.
Ni Orunmila ba gbe oke Iporii re kale. (Ogunda Meji)
Death, Disease, Loss, Paralysis, and Wickedness
Were all staring at Orunmila.
They said that one day
They would kill him.
Orunmila then set down his divination instruments ready to consult his Ori.
To be continued:
If you would like to donate to any of the annual Festivals or to any of the Ifa Temples, Shrines, School, Electronic Communications Center Initiative, or general funds, please contact me by email and I will provide you with the bank transfer information so that you can make your donation directly and securely.
Modupe!
I hope you will reflect on this message and share your comments and questions with me for our future Posts on this and other topics.
Aajiirebi! May the Unblemished Cloth of Orunmila Continue to cloth us with the Wisdom Of the Here and the Hereafter!
Ase! Ase! Ase!
Click on the Contact Us link above or below to email your comments or questions.
Ki Olodumare, Orisa, ati Egun fifun e ni Itona, Imoye, ati Opo Ire!
My Olodumare, Orisa, and Ancestors bestow on you Guidance, Wisdom, and Abundant Blessings!
