Spiritual Evolution Through Ori Worship

Points of Focus:

Ori worship stimulates increases spiritual powers such as intuition, prophecy, mental capacity and inspired decision making.

Ori worship is an invaluable tool in preventing and treating all forms of addiction, compulsive behavior, deep seated traumas and self concept issues

Ori worship is the first level of teaching ethical behavior and community values

We can insure that Orisa worshippers evolve spiritually by mandating correct and powerful Orisa rituals and Ori enhancing exercises.

All worshippers should know how to invoke (thereby strengthening) the presence of Ori through recitation of Iwure and participating in Ibori.

All worshippers should know how to ritually appease their own Ori.

All worshippers should know how to use meditation as a way to "get to know" and surrender to the Divine wisdom and plan posessed by their Ori.

All worshippers should know how to access their own Ori to manage everyday life choices.

Prayer: Opening the way and clarifying the Relationship

When we recite the ancient Iwure or prayers and take part in the cleansings called Ibori, we invite the Spirit to come out in the clear, out of the recesses of our mind to be more than a peripheral thought. We invoke the Spirit to join us for a moment in this world and share it's healing power. On these occassions, the Spirit of our Ori inhabits our head in a "strong way." Some of us feel a pressure, a tapping or experience a feeling of light or heavy headedness. If we prepare ourselves and give into the experience, this wave of energy can wash away some of the negative energy that has built up in us since last time we performed Iwure and Ibori.

Ritually, we feed the Ori with all the traditionally prescribed foods and gifts. Over the years our Elders have found shea butter, coconut butter and milk, palm oil, catfish, honey, bitter kolanut, as well as white pigeons to all work exceedingly well in placating our Ori in varying circumstances. Oba Adefunmi eluded eloquently in "Ol'Orisa: A Handbook to Yoruba Religion" to the alchemic power of adimu and ebo in generating the proper kind and amount of energy or Ase neccesary to awaken, charge and empower the Orisa that walk with us. Ritually, we placate and interact with the Ori, (an Orisa) so that it can and will act in our best interests. We seek continuity in our relationship with Divinity. If we succeed at doing so, we can clean ourselves up and loosen up the grip of unethical theories and evil forces (both internal and external) that act on our progress.

The Orisa, including our personal Ori, always know what we need and yearn. However they are not in the the business of seeking us out. It is our job to find them. When a devotee prays she clarifies what it is that she wants or needs to happen. We want to make better choices, to free ourselves of some pain, to understand why something has happened. Prayer is as much for us as it is for the Divinity. We need to be sure we know what it is we are looking for in life.

Sometimes we need only ask for something once, and wait. Indeed a lot of times the Ori needs to hear us say it once to know if and how it will assist us. Other times we repeat the petition over and over again because we need to be sure that we are ready for the blessing or that we are asking for the right thing to enter our life. Repitition is a proven aid in training the mind.

Deviant behavior like worry and anger can take time to heal. It would be real convienant if Ori would clean us up overnight. Most of us would probably be [back at it] the next day. Changing, growing are as much spiritual events as personal choices. What would you do for a heavenly klondike bar? The clearer we are-the more we participate in the discipline of prayer-the closer we come to realizing our goals. You have to put in the work. Even the person that learned a language or instrument with apparently no effort probably did some work on another level in this or another lifetime. (The Ori keeps a running tab of points earned!)

Meditation. Learning how to talk to your Ori.

Although modern Orisa worship does not "seem" to own and teach a formal method of deep contemplation, meditation does have roots in Africa and complements and accelerates the work that we do with Our Ori in prayer and ritual. In meditation, we learn to refrain from asking for we we perceive as most important and pressing, and allow the Ori to inhabit the head and take us on a journey of It's own making. We might be taken to the distant future and shown a ritual or initiation that awaits, or shown an enemy that will strike us on the job very soon. During meditation, the Ori might take us to the past and show us former lives and how we seem destined to meet a certain temptation until we develop the proper skill and ethics to overcome it.

Meditation is like stepping into a great abyss. It is every bit of intimidating at times, for it holds everything we cherish and fear, love and hate. After walking around you will see that your Ori is waiting to be your guide through this world of the beyond. It is a deep journey, a kind of trance.

Meditation can lock on pain, uncertainity and give it over to the Ori. Discard and replace it; this is what happens. For the devotee that is isolated with no community or teach nearby, this can be a real tool for self-examination and growth. For some people it might be the only tool they will ever own.

Allowing us to sense parts of our Destiny, meditation tells us what we must do to achieve success. It strengthens the connection with the spirit world and reminds us that we are only visiting the physical world. We gain a greater awareness and idea of how much more exists beyond our little lives.

Are we alone in the World?

Ori worship should give the devotee some feeling of being constantly aided and protected on her journey through this lifetime. With practice, the devotee should reasonably expect to be able to contact the Ori day or night, in any situation for guidance in decision making, so that she does not go far from her Destiny. That is, she should literally come to develop the ability to "hear" or sense her Ori. Afterall, that is why we have a personal Ori. Besides telling us to avoid certain careers or getting involved with certain people, the Ori can/could bestow upon the discipline, powers that are consider extraordinary in western terms. Prophecy, simple intuition, telepathy, telekinesis, healing capacity can all come from indulging in Ori worship and meditation. Devotees begin to realize that Olodumare has give them all the ability to manifest spiritual power.

Why do we Worship? Why should we be concerned with Growth?

All forms of Orisa worship should be viewed as a method of spiritual evolution. We are here to serve our Lord Olodumare, to exemplify certain teachings in form and to internalize the timeless truths of Oneness, Infinite Potential, Selfless Servitude and Reciprocity. Ori worship is a process of elevating our Self, to connecting with our Divine origins.

Spiritual Evolution.

The most popular misconception is that spiritual wisdom or evolution will protect us from irritating obstacles. Spiritual evolution does not make the challenges of life disappear. Enlightenment can offer clues to how life will flow or clog as it may be, and at times how to avoid or lessen the tragedies that befall people. More often, spirituality is about learning how to cope effectively, to remain at peace and feel fulfilled no matter what life deals you. This can be a real let down for students that are aspiring to "invincibility." We are here to grow, so we need even the trickiest setbacks so that we can learn about ourselves and the world around us. The greatest saint, sage, gurus, godparents and teachers amongst us live relatively good lives because they practice good spiritual technique, thereby avoiding the pitfalls of disappointment. They learn to accept and act within their Destiny.

Our Ori knows where we came from, where we should go and the odds of whether we will make it. We can surrender to that Plan or petition for a new One, but ultimately we must know what was originally intended for our Life. Was I born to be a physician? Am I unhappy because I have not pursued that direction? Questions like these fuel our daily desires and objectives. In the spiritually evolved mind, petitioning a new or altered destiny is akin to running from a holy duty. They make do, rise to occasion and pledge to learn how to excel with the tools given. if you have a good relationship with your Ori it is not disheartening to know that being a billionaire is not in your Destiny. You know that every Destiny has it's own route to bliss. You practice methods of opening up blessings within your own lifepath and you are happy to see others live their own lives.

Ethically led, we want only what what we are destined. We know that our right to happiness is not necessarily a right to be a star in movies and being the boss of the corporation. We enter in the deep recesses of our mind to be guided by our Ori. "Show me which way to go, lead me to myself."

Addictions develop most often out of impatience, boredom, and disappointment. We indulge in something accessible to replace what we thing we deserve or can not wait to receive. Ori worship brings peace, and assurance. We never go to the substitute, we can wait for what is truly ours to have. To those already addicted to some fantasy or habit, Ori worship will eventually snap them out of their regressive selfishness. Ori says, "stop wanting what is not yours, worrying about what you don't have and start positioning yourself to receive a blessing that could only be meant for you!"

Because most of us are not born spiritually enlightened, it is inevitable that we will feel pain, have to backtrack and relearn what makes us truly happy. This pain and series of miscalculations sometimes serves as the very blessing we are looking for...That pain or obstacles serves as inspiration to improve ourselves or aid others in their path.

Ori Worship is our Foundation

More to come soon...

Please consult with your own spiritual teacher if you have questions as to how this article relates to your own spiritual lineage.

Resources

	Ibori – A Ceremony for Praising and Feeding the Ori PDF
	Ori Mi O
	Blinding Tears