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
whole house cleaning Deerfield ..We humans are a funny, funny breed. We spend our... Read More
The truth revealed as we read about Hazael also reminds... Read More
As I sat down today to write this article, I... Read More
I was in the bank's vault. The Brink's armored truck... Read More
Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in... Read More
I often ask myself this question. Not in the times... Read More
Some may ask what is the true will of God... Read More
Because of the bright lights behind me, the golf balls... Read More
The tongue is such a tiny little organ. Yet, it... Read More
Do you ever have one of those days when you... Read More
The word means different things to different people. Is it... Read More
Knowing what is right and what is wrong in your... Read More
"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on... Read More
Hello, My name is Mellody Davis and here is my... Read More
Yesterday, a marketing guru asked me a question that left... Read More
I very often see rants, complaints, wishes and dreams that... Read More
Has America known its finest hour? Are we losing our... Read More
During my childhood days, I disliked Lenten season because radio... Read More
Surveys show that religion and spirituality play a central role... Read More
Love...it's a deep emotion. Sometimes we say it in jest... Read More
Anything can be used for divination; coins, tea leaves, cards,... Read More
"For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisors... Read More
Have you ever noticed how much our lives resemble a... Read More
As we proceed further into the 21st century there is... Read More
I was recently asked how I interpreted the Mayan and... Read More
home cleaning services Des Plaines ..Green Principles: SoulBestABeing aware here now My path is progressive.... Read More
I have a long-term goal--a life-long goal really--to develop the... Read More
Originating in what is now modern India; Tantra is at... Read More
Many look outside of themselves for an experience of the... Read More
ADDICTION: - There are numerous obsessions and addictions which prevent... Read More
In the movie "A Beautiful Mind" John Nash (played by... Read More
Uh, oh. I'm in trouble now. I found God. Now... Read More
One of the most frightening things... Read More
There once was a man who wanted to teach himself... Read More
If you have a longing to connect with something higher,... Read More
Stress is amazingly persistent, even seductive. We get used to... Read More
Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus said unto him, "Thou shalt love the... Read More
Jesus said, "No one can see the Kingdom of Heaven... Read More
A subject of debate for thousands of years, spirituality will... Read More
So I met a friend recently and we went to... Read More
We've all heard the saying, "You have to forgive, but... Read More
I said something last week I haven't said in years.... Read More
The Mind in an Advanced Thought System:The center of our... Read More
Are you always looking for bargains, especially something that you... Read More
During my childhood days, I disliked Lenten season because radio... Read More
Well I had a website that I was posting on... Read More
When the Tsunami struck Asia and East Africa on December... Read More
Most forms of psychotherapy I know either tries to help... Read More
Being"You have taken yourself to be something that you are... Read More
We make sense of our world via the senses. The... Read More
Spirituality |