Along with the idea of Black Americans appropriating African culture, this is one of the most sensitive subjects I have explored: Do Black Americans have a distinct culture? The question started to emerge when I was a diversity trainer. I started to notice a trend during our workshops. There seemed to be an assumption that Blacks were Americans who just happened to be darker skinned and descended from slaves. The idea that we had a distinct identity, world view and culture was alluded to in general terms, but we never went into Hoodoo, family and settlement patterns or rites of passage, in the same way that we would consider the details of Chicanos, Filipinos or the heritages of other hyphenated Americans.
It was not until I met Baba Imodoye Shabazz that I was exposed to the simple, but penetrating question that would help me gain a better understanding of the problem: Can you define Black culture? immediately, people will respond by saying Black culture is Jazz, soul food and sports. And while these are certainly cultural expressions, they are NOT culture. That is, just because a person "talks jive," plays the sax and walks with a limp, that does not make him Black. To be Black, you must carry the identity and practice the culture. Once upon a time, just about 99% of all Black Americans lived in the South. Their lifestyle, personal experiences and values were very consistent, if not homogenous. Even as recently as the 1970's, most Blacks returned to the South every summer and under special circumstances (e.g., when Lil John got in trouble with the law, or when Trina got pregnant). If Big Mama didn't live with one of her children, several of the children lived with Big Mama. Uncle Antoine and cousin June Bug stayed in the garage, there was a broom behind the door, children were to be seen and not heard, there was a huge Bible opened to the Psalms, the family ate dinner together on Sundays. The Spiritual Basis of Black Identity & Culture "Odù is the word of the Ifa oracle, the voice of Olodumare, the Supreme Being, as it pertains to the identity of each person who comes into existence. 'Odù to bi enikan' literally means the Odù which gives birth to someone. Each of us is born under the protection of particular Odù, which indicates our natural gifts and talents, as well as our prohibitions and liabilities. Not only that, each lineage has its own Odù, which outlines that family's Ancestral Promise, including taboos, ideal forms of work and power symbols. As the voice of Olodumare, Odù is the way that spiritual identity is traced from the unseen realm and used to indicate the path of one's spiritual journey. Odù is the 'word of life' given and entrusted - first to one's parents, and later to one's babalawo - as a measure of guidance for the one who has just made her entry into the world. In this regard, Odù represents one's personal governance system, which is based upon an historical precedent or archetype. The Odù governance system enables birth parents and priests to anticipate varying degrees of personal experience, as well as the most appropriate response, relative to Ifa's mandate that all human beings strive to bring about the Good Condition, both personally and collectively. In this regard, one's personal Odù is akin to a spiritual hypothesis. It is neither a guarantee of success nor a condemnation to failure. An Odù is a framework of possibilities, a trajectory of human experience. No two individuals are identical. And so, the true meaning of one's Odù is derived from APPLICATION. In other words, two people may be born - biologically or spiritually - under the same Odù but the significance of that particular set of rules has no meaning independent from the lifelong series of decisions, actions and developmental stages of the individual. Ultimately, Odù is merely potential. You must CREATE meaning by actively pursuing opportunities to make a contribution to the lives of those you serve. This is what it means to LIVE THE MEDICINE. Historically and intuitively, we know that our lives have purpose. We understand that there are certain parameters that govern what we must do and what we must not do in order to stay in alignment with our personal destinies, with our family's Ancestral Promise and with the worldview of our culture. the challenge seems to be finding ways to define those parameters in a consistent way. Your Brand is Your Culture, your Culture is Your Brand Your brand is not your logo any more than the RBG is the Black American brand. Your brand is the image, the main idea and the EMOTION that is invoked when ANYBODY comes into contact with your people, your products or your services. Today, the Black American brand has become conflated with "urban" culture, which is synonymous with criminality. Somehow, we have lost control over the narrative. Even the most astute members of the community are TOTALLY incapable of defining Black culture, in terms of our distinctive rituals, values and customs. What is needed is for individuals and organizations to pay far less attention into aesthetics and techniques and instead, to invest strong, relentless focus and energy into those few principles that distinguish Black Americans from ALL others. In other words, we need to rediscover our collective Odù. Metanoia The Greeks have a term, metanoia, which refers to a change of mind as a result of spiritual transformation. It speaks to the process by which a group of individuals, who have had a shared experience, come a collective conclusion about what that experience means to the group. that conclusion forms the basis for constructing a new story, a new identity and a new vision of the future. Daniel in the Lion's Den, David and His Multicolored Coat and the Suffering of Jesus are all manifestations of Black metanoia in America. Today, we are afforded a unique opportunity to reevaluate our story - juxtaposed against the stories of other Africans in Trinidad, Guyana and West Africa - and come to a higher understanding of who we are, what we believe and where we are going next. We are the future of African consciousness and identity. We are the living proof that, no matter how far a river flows, it never forgets its source. What is most important today is that we look to the source with the deliberate intent to create competitive advantage for our future generations. LEARN MORE: OrisaLifestyle.com Obafemi Origunwa, MA | #OrisaLifestyle #PersonalPriesthood #LivetheMedicine #TiwanTiwa Heat from the fire disturbs the fish
Too much run harasses the crab the vulture ate yesterday' offering Without thanking the offering maker the next day If he had thanked the offering maker, He would have eaten another The Akala bird Ave some ritual food without thanking the ritual maker the next day If he had thanked the ritual maker for yesterday's offering He would have eaten another one These were Ifa's teachings to Ori Who was lamenting the inability to find a suitable wife He was advised to make sacrifice He performed the sacrifice When his the came to marry He married Apere, a state of perfection, the daughter of Olokun... - Holy Odu OgbeAte Ori wanted to marry an extraordinary woman, who would complement his stature as the apex of all things. Consequently, he set his sights on Apere, who is universally recognized as a state of perfection. When the word got out that Ori wished to wed Apere, he was advised against it because her mother, Olokun was known to take her daughters back after they have been married. When Ori insisted, they gave him examples of those who had tried to marry Apere before, including King Alara, King Ajero and King Orangun. Fortunately, Ori was counting on Orunmila's spiritual guidance and not the wisdom of the commoners. Orunmila advised Ori to accompany him back to the palace of Olokun the day after the wedding just to show gratitude. Ori followed Orunmila's advise. Olokun was so deeply impressed that she sent Ore, kindness to marry Ori as well. This was the start of the Omo iyawo tradition, through which younger sisters will accompany the bride to their husband's home. The evolution of consciousness takes place through merging impulse, experience and change. Your ability to live the medicine that will heal your life and the lives of those you serve is realized through first being true to the impulse that drives you to action. In this, you will become eligible to ascend to a state of perfection and become one with kindness and comfort. This is why, the more true you are to your essence the more successful you will become. And the more successful you are, the more opportunity you will enjoy. Live the medicine. Obafemi Origunwa, MA | ObafemiO.com #OrisaLifestyle #LiveTheMedicine #PersonalPriesthood #BlackSpirituality "Bó ti wù kí ojú kan tóbi tó, ojú méjì sàn ju ojú kan lọ." No matter how big an eye is, two eyes are better than one. This proverb reminds us that team effort is superior to going solo. As a priest, as well as devotee, you will eventually reach the limits of your individual capacity. It is then that you will acquiesce to the necessity to join forces with like-minded people and groups.
Everything I do is to build a platform for collaboration with eniyan rere, good people. That is, after all, what Ifa has told us it's all about. Good people are who we are seeking. Good people are the ones we call out to. May all the Odu Ifa join us in support of identifying and uniting with good people. Ase. Of course, the combination of personalities and agendas is not without complication. Even good people have issues! But it is through our commitment to a greater vision that we overcome the little differences that challenge our ability to cooperate smoothly. The exact same is true of organizations. Sometimes, the systems fit together like a hand in glove. Other times, they separate like oil and water. But it is their ability to resolve conflict that will create lasting bonds and legendary impact. And so, it is with sincere heart that I extend my hand to all good people who are committed to building a better community for future generations of practitioners. Please join us in helping to bring about the Good Condition. We need your support! Ase. Obafemi Origunwa, MA | ObafemiO.com #OrisaLifestyle #LiveTheMedicine #PersonalPriesthood #BlackSpirituality Orí lo da mi. Ori is one’s creator. Even the òrìsà are created by orí. In reality, orí is what makes you a creator. Because of orí, you cannot NOT create. To be human is to create. In that regard, creativity is not reserved for the artists alone. The key is to become confident in your creative capabilities. Some of that confidence will result from you trying new things, doing new things, accepting failures as learning opportunities and creating opportunities for successes. This is true of every aspect of your life. Sexually, intellectually, artistically, professionally and spiritually, creativity is part of your development.
Service & Creativity Lots of people get caught up on the THING (e.g., the song, the poem, the dance, etc.). But the thing you’re creating is a distraction. Like your own body, it is a vehicle through which to express a creative idea. So, one way to get closer to the idea is to focus on the people you serve. What problems are they experiencing? What aspirations are they pursuing? As you get deeper into the reasons WHY you are creating, it will take your mind off of the self conscious, ego driven need to look and sound “good”, whatever that means. Evolution & Development of Creativity You know this, but I need to say it anyway: A creative solution to does not manifest as a finished product. It’s crude at first. It might not even seem to match the concept you had in your head in the beginning stages. Gradually, however, it evolves over time through trial and error. In my classes (I teach art and Spanish at Ile Omode, Oakland’s premier African-Centered Academy), I use a four-step process, I learned in the consulting industry. It’s called Creative Inquiry and consistes of these four main steps: Dream, Design, Deploy, Debrief.
Cultivate Creativity Another tactic I learned as a consultant was the creation of opportunities to act. You have to deliberately create contexts that will stimulate ideas and give you opportunities to try new things. Think like a traveler! Explore! Literally get out there and seek new environments. Ask “why” more than you think normal, perhaps. Assemble a Team Eniyan laso mi. People are my clothes. That’s what the elders say and for good reason. But you have to get the right people, the right leadership and the right context to elevate your creative efforts. It sometimes starts with a single person who will challenge you and guide you towards unseen aspects of your ideas or environment. When you have tried your hands at many things or at the same thing many different ways but not been successful, it is time to be more creative about the approach. Live the Medicine! Take action. Know that you’re building a prototype, not a finished product. If you’re thinking too big, scale it down until you can be successful most of the time and LEARN from the experience. You need a model for excellence, no matter how small. But mostly, be passionate about it. If you don’t get excited by the prospect, then it’s a dud! No creativity will follow a dead idea." Obafemi Origunwa, MA | ObafemiO.com #OrisaLifestyle #LiveTheMedicine #PersonalPriesthood #BlackSpirituality Live the Medicine | ObafemiO.com
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The single, most important principle of OrisaLifestyle is identity. Everything we do hinges upon it. The problem is that too many people confuse identity with identifiers. Identifiers are attributes. They are reminders of identity. Not until you fully grasp your identity will you understand your right and proper relationship to all of the resources that OrisaLifestyle provides.
Obafemi Origunwa, MA | ObafemiO.com #OrisaLifestyle #LiveTheMedicine #PersonalPriesthood #Tiwantiwa What destiny commands is what the orisa will support. Likewise, what destiny forbids the orisa cannot influence. Ori is the entity that chooses destiny. It is synonymous with the head. And as the head governs the body, ori governs destiny. It is the embodiment of spiritual identity and ultimate authority. The primacy of ORI is reflected in the common sayings:
Ori lo da ni, enikan o ' d'Ori o It is the Head that created us; nobody created the Head and Ori eni, l'Eleda eni One's head is one's creator As these sayings indicate, the apical position of the physical head resonates in the traditional Yoruba psychology of competitive advantage.* In fact, I can assert, without contradiction, that ori IS your competitive advantage. To align yourself ori is to gain full command over your ability to CREATE AT WILL. Ironically, ori remains one of the most commonly overlooked sources of power and progress. Ori is not at all about beads, pots and titles, nor is it simply a catch-phrase for "destiny." The most important value you can glean from ori is that it enables you to make a meaningful contribution to the people you're destined to serve. Here, let me emphasize the fact that this value is very difficult, timely and expensive to build. At the same time, it is quite fragile and relatively easy to destroy. The difficulty of building, maintaining and projecting your spiritual identity is one reason why the majority of priests, priestesses and devotees refuse to spend much time or money on SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT (i.e., education and training). This is a shame, because well-managed spiritual development is so powerful that it can overcome almost any other competitive element or threat. A well-known song for ori says: Ko mo p'ori ni o They don't know that it is ori Araiye ko mo p'ori ni The people of the world don't know that it is ori Keni ma ni se bo ogun ni The adversaries believe I'm using magic Ko mo p'ori ni o They don't know that it is ori Hence the popular Yoruba slogan, Orilonise, "Ori is the authority." Thus the head is to an individual what Olodumare is to the cosmos and a king to the body political source of power. This one fact is the reason why the Orisa Lifestyle Academy invests considerable time and money on helping our people achieve spiritual development through ori. I realize that the statement above sounds pretty abstract. But practically speaking, ori serves as a shield that protects you from competitors. Developing your ori narrows your focus on what you do best; your natural gifts and talents. It gives you a unique position in the marketplace of life, so the right people know why they should choose you over your competitors. Failure to focus on ori will reduce you to the status of a mere consumer, perpetually victimized by the ever-changing whims of others and market forces. Obafemi Origunwa, MA | ObafemiO.com #OrisaLifestyle #PersonalPriesthood #LiveTheMedicine #Tiwantiwa * Babatunde Lawal "At least once a week, I am thankful for having studied psychology. A few years ago, I was introduced to a documentary called The Century of the Self, which outlines the relationship between psychology and marketing. More precisely, it defines how Sigmund Freud's nephew, Edward Bernays, used Freudian concepts of group consciousness to promote consumerism in the guise of democracy. Women were especially targeted, but nobody has been spared the effects. The technique was simple:
1. Stimulate the irrational, all-consuming self by manipulating hidden irrational impulses. 2. Make her feel more powerful and independent by linking products to her personal desires. Satisfy a pain, hunger or a yearning by offering up some product as a symbol of freedom. Here, it is important to note that completely irrelevant objects can symbolize how you want to be seen and perceived by others. 3. Turn EVERYTHING into shopping. Marriage, religion, and children become no different from shopping for phones, shoes or clothes. Ultimately, more than purchasing a product or service, shopping engages a part of the self by sending the message 'You will feel better just by having this product or service.' Today, Orisa Lifestyle is fast degenerating into a spiritual mall experience for many men and women in the USA. The pursuit of global identity, local activism and spiritual destiny survive in name but they are quickly disregarded when the consumer feels like 'I DIDN'T GET MY MONEY'S WORTH.' When I consider the African American experience, the situation becomes even more intriguing. Once upon a time, we integrated lunch counters and department stores for the purpose of DESEGREGATION. But instead, we got seduced by the idea of INTEGRATION, which has degenerated completely into conspicuous CONSUMERISM. Service is not even an after thought. And so, in a single generation, the brilliant political, cultural and social activism and commitment of great pioneers like OBA ADEFUNMI, BABA MEDAHOCHI and BABA ISHANGI have been all but lost. The Holy Odu OturuponMeji says: It is now a pitiful play The Iyere is now a dirge When eyes are two, they watch events unfold When legs are two, they walk with heavy treading The rumps are two, they sit on a mat One hand does not jingle Also, one leg will not walk with fast treading How can one refuse to answer a call from responsible people? I am asked to kneel and greet those before me I knelt and greeted those before me I am asked to kneel and greet those behind They ask, “who are those before one?” I say one’s paternal ancestors are those before one They ask, “who are those behind?” I say it is the Orisa in one’s paternal household that are behind me When the Swallow Bird builds its nest It is suspended in the sky Looking at Olodumare Looking at human beings on earth Atangegere, divined for Odusola, child of Arannase Whose father died when he was a little child Without the knowledge of how to cast Ifa Without the knowledge of how to print the Odu And not having been to Ile Ife to witness Ifa festival When all ritual elements were assembled for Odusola to start propitiating, he broke into tears. Saying he did not know if water was to be offered first Heavenly spirits, descend to make this ritual a success for us Whether it is gin that should be offered first, I do no know Whether it is obi that should be offered first, I do not know... - Holy Odu OturuponMeji And herein lies the painful reality: WE DON'T KNOW. Too many of us have gotten completely carried away with the idea that, because we have purchased Ifa, we know Orisa Lifestyle. Nothing could be further from the truth. There is still much to learn and even more to UNLEARN." Obafemi Origunwa, MA | www.ObafemiO.com Destiny cannot be reduced to a single thing: Not a place, not an object, not a task. Destiny, like identity, is a composite that comprises multiple layers of existence, consciousness, awareness, manifestation and restoration. For this reason, we cannot separate destiny from ijo l'aiye [the journey of life]. Consider what Ifa says in the Holy Odu IkaOfun:
Akun ‘le yan eda Oun l’ada ‘ye ba A d’aye tan oju ukan gbogbo wa Sugbon eda na ko see pada lo yan omiran A fi etutu lo ku - Odu Mimo IkaOfun Translation: What was chosen kneeling down Is what we find on arrival in this world On arrival in this world, we became too impatient (We are in too much of a hurry to achieve our potentials). But it is impossible to go back and choose another, To prevent the deterioration of things is the only course of action left. - Holy Odu IkaOfun Here, I want you to make note of a profound teaching that is embedded in this particular verse: "...It is impossible to go back and choose another. To prevent the deterioration of things is the only course of action left." While Ifa is referring to one's personal destiny, the teaching has powerful implications for our entire planet. That is, we only have one Earth. We cannot go back and choose another. The amount of water on our planet neither increases nor decreases. We cannot go back and choose to create more. Even energy, which transforms everything it touches, remains essentially unchanged. It is not possible to CREATE energy!!! Quality cannot be added. It is what it is. You only have one destiny. Beads, pots and titles will not change it. Stop running from yourself. Instead, establish a practice of self discovery, self discipline and sacred service. Self acceptance is the greatest investment in your fulfillment that you could ever make. Orisa do not govern your destiny. They support it. Every day, you should re-enact the ritual of choosing your destiny by kneeling down to practice devotion to your destiny. Give sincere thanks and offer heart-felt gratitude for your prenatal choice. Learn to LISTEN to your destiny, and let it guide you along the path of protection and empowerment. This is a sure way to activate the spirit of ORI, the Supreme Divinity, in your life. In the Holy Odu Ogundatatura, Ifa affirms the power of ORI: Ori rere nii segun ota Ori aisan l’ota di ni adipa Translation: It is a good head that overcomes the enemy It is the defective head that the enemy renders permanently impotent. The wisdom of ORI permeates every dimension of Orisa Lifestyle. Consider, for example, this selection of IJALA, which is recited by the hunters: Bi ori ba nda rokoroko l’aamu Yio da bii pe ko le roko t’egbe re Ika kii fe k’a r’eru k’a so Bi ori ba nda sodesode l’aamu Yio da bii pe ko lee p’eran t’egbe re Atari l’alayanmo, ori l’elejo Ko s’oosa tii –ba ‘nii –ja l’ehin ori eni Ori eni nii wipe k’o ye ‘ni, Akande omo o see fi ‘ja gba. Meaning: If a farmer’s head is against him It will appear as if he cannot work like his colleagues The wicked don’t want one to unburden his burden If a hunter’s head is against him It will appear as if he cannot fish like his colleagues A man’s head is his most intimate deity There is no orisa working against one except ones head It is a man’s head that decrees success for him Akande is a difficult child to earn by quarrel. Resist the temptation to compromise your spiritual development by minimizing the power of your destiny. Beads, pots and titles are effective tools. However, they become harmful when mistaken as the goal of spiritual discipline. Likewise, charms are meant to serve. Never allow them to usurp the throne of destiny. It is a mistake to allow yourself to become carried away by spiritual materialism. Orisa Lifestyle is plagued by an ever-increasing number of pitiful imitators, who have willingly abandoned their natural gifts and talents in favor of merely looking and sounding like true adepts. If your tradition is Haitian, Cuban, Brazilian, Trinidadian or West African, please remember that the method is simply a path on the ijo l'aiye [journey of life]. Your objective is not to merely imitate the rituals and ceremonies of your tradition. Your true objective is to cultivate your destiny, with all of its imperfections, flaws and contradictions. Turn inward and intensify your devotion to your destiny. Live the Medicine! Obafemi Origunwa, MA | ObafemiO.com #OrisaLifestyle #LiveTheMedicine #PersonalPriesthood #Tiwantiwa And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. - Genesis 1:26
The Yoruba have always known that they descended from angelic beings. OrisaLifestyle is the reflection of what the divinities perfected in the heavens. Live the medicine! Obafemi Origunwa, MA | ObafemiO.com #PersonalPriesthood #OrisaLifestyle #LiveTheMedicine #Tiwantiwa |
Live the MedicineObafemi Origunwa, MAThought leader, Ifa priest and author of four definitive books, Obafemi Origunwa inspires metamorphosis through living the medicine that will heal your life and heal the lives of the people you're destined to serve. ![]() Raise Awareness
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