The Orisha are the Messengers of Oludumare, the God/dess of the Yoruba Traditional Spiritual Tradition known as Ifa. The Yoruba Spiritual Tradition is centered in West Africa in what is now called Nigeria. During the time of the enslavement of African people in the New World, known as the Maafa ( Kiswahilli for Great Disaster), Ifa came to the Americas and the Caribbean. Anyone caught practicing the religion was put to death.
Since Christianity was the only religion allowed to the enslaved Africans, the Orisha of Ifa were hidden behind the Catholic saints wherever similarities were seen between the two. For example, Shango, Orisha of Thunder and Transformation, carrier of the double headed ax, was served through Saint Barbara since she too was portrayed with the double headed ax. This assured that the Orisha would survive the transatlantic passage and live on.
Centuries later the Orisha are still being worshipped behind the masks of Saints...and openly by their original African names and images. People of all colors, genders, and nationalities now celebrate the Orisha in the privacy of their own home and along with their spiritual families, commonly called Houses or Iles.
Here are five suggestions to help you to connect with the beauty and harmony of the Orisha.
1. Attend lectures about traditional West African Spiritual Practice. Check with your local universities to learn of lectures in the Comparative Religions, Anthropology, and African Studies Departments.
2. Subscribe to reputable lists about Orisha and African Traditional Spirituality on the internet. You can find Orisha focused discussion listed by doing a search at Yahoogroups.com and at Google.com. Be prepared to state your intentions and to show respect to the guidelines of the list.
3. Attend lectures and view exhibits of West African Art at your local museums. Call them and ask to be added to their mailing lists for to learn of upcoming events
4. Check your local holistic newspaper for workshops, seminars, and lectures in your area given by initiates in the Ifa tradition or one of its adaptations in the New World, such as Santeria, Candomble, Shango Baptist, or Lucumi.
5. Attend conferences and workshops that are centered around Orisha practice. Check with local metaphysical bookstores and botanicas for a list of upcoming events.
Supplementing your reading about Ifa with hands-on contact with people who are involved in the Ifa tradition will give you a different perspective and enhance your experience of the Orisha immensely.
Meri Tahset is a rootworker, aborisha, spiritual counselor, and sistaservant of the spirits dedicated to helping people to heal themselves and to maintain their connection to spirit in their daily lives. Meri can be reached at http://www.sistahealer.com
executive chauffeured services Bradford .. Madison to Airport carIt's the most powerful weapon on Earth. It can turn... Read More
It is important and necessary that we regularly spend time... Read More
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.... Read More
This article is the 1st part of an open response... Read More
There is an old tradition song called, The Lighthouse and... Read More
I am not saying this because I am in need,... Read More
(Channeled)Roy-when does the end of physical life come? Is it... Read More
A while back the Lord had given me this message... Read More
There are many contradictions in life and none more easily... Read More
So I met a friend recently and we went to... Read More
The following fragment was found in Qumran along with the... Read More
In Habakkuk, the prophet cries out in a lament complaint... Read More
It happens to us all from time to time, especially... Read More
I have been counseling people on weight loss, exercise efficiency... Read More
As Christian's we are often very independent. We try to... Read More
For many years of my life, I thought the spiritual... Read More
A spiritual event is what happens in every moment of... Read More
One of the biggest myths to evolve in the growing... Read More
WHAT IS E.V.P.?EVP stands for electronic voice phenomena, some believe... Read More
God !"My son will be brought up in a place... Read More
"If you can't dance with the devil You will never... Read More
The first gospel written by Matthew,who is Levi, is the... Read More
Prayer. It's the foundation of a Christian mom's life. Why?... Read More
Do you ever get into those moods where you just... Read More
How do you feel when you see homeless people on... Read More
O'Hare Chicago prom limo ..Attachment... Bondage... Moha... state as we may but the meaning... Read More
Human beings originally have three forms of existence. The first... Read More
The famous prayer of Jabez, where Jabez prayed for prosperity,... Read More
Every month I usually sit down and write an article... Read More
Actually I have 'helped' exorcize spirits more than once but... Read More
An acrostic prayer poem.The Lord loves me and is gracious... Read More
Following are 17 questions that can be used as a... Read More
What does it take to live life holistically?It definitely does... Read More
The ultimate purpose of dreaming is to provide you with... Read More
There is no shortage in the abundance of blessings we... Read More
In our fast paced society we often want everything done... Read More
We humans are a funny, funny breed. We spend our... Read More
"Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Caught... Read More
What could be a scary thought for some? How bout'... Read More
What kind of foolishness is astrology? You read about Sun... Read More
Let me explain my approach to the practice of ritual.... Read More
According to H. G. Bosch, the newspaper cartoonist H. T.... Read More
What does it mean to be comfortable in your own... Read More
Paul is led up a 512 ft. hill, Mars Hill,... Read More
The Kundalini is a pool of energy that lies dormant... Read More
This article is a reply that deals with certain criticisms... Read More
For it is written in Bible in chapter 2 Peter... Read More
It's amazing how - even when we're working from a... Read More
You are a Creative Worker:God carries on creative work through... Read More
What is a Christian? According to The American Heritage? Dictionary... Read More
Spirituality |