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​The Passage

Beads fall
across your face
pearl water drops
hidden dark beauty
radiant beneath
Queen that holds the iruke
Owner of all mysteries deep
I thank you
for dressing me in your clothes
Mo dupe O Mamae
Your body moves
glistening foam
steel blue
under moon
slivered
ships rock tossed
as you spray
salt fury
to the heavens
churning below
you roar undeniably
Who is foolish enough
to challenge you?
Centuries ago
branded,
beaten,
forced
the last step from land
your people
entered
darkness
Mother of all Waters
your groans mix
with sobbing pleas
crying out to you
Deep water
fear
deep water
fear
sliding tipped sideways
smeared in
excrement
vomit mixed with tears
crossing the infinite
Mysterious Mother
children carried away
on your breast
crying mother
hoarse father
skin bloodied raw
from terror
beating boards
above
below
no escape
only the rise and
fall
of ocean where
none had gone before.
Your promise your love
glows shining bright
night star
you hung
in the sky
closest star to earth
like a lamp
your people
sailing silently
womb imprisoned belly
of the ship
cargo wailing to the sky
those
who did not sink
who did not float
down
in grace
buried deep
in watery arms
took
weak steps on sand
while you kissed
their bodies quivering
fear
deep water
fear
unknown
Olokun
you did not
abandon your children
what agony
cut you
to ferry them away
against your will
Olokun seri aje
we learn from you
vast Mother of wisdom
owner infinite and deep
Even Orunmila went to you
looking for all riches known
and unknown to man
Great Mother
bring peace now
upon your people
wherever they walk
on whatever land
carry us back
through the Akoko
though scattered far
bring peace of mind
and heart
Bring us hope
the ASE of goodness
health
riches, happiness
long life
and loved ones
to our hands
Please, bring us understanding
bring us wisdom so when old
we may wear crowns
on our heads
Ase Ase Ase oooo!

© 2009 – 2016 by Farin da Silva, All Rights Reserved. Pursuant to the Copyright Act of 1976 and subsequent amendments, codified as 17 U.S.C. §§ 101-810, the works contained within are protected by United States laws and by international treaties. This includes the literary and pictorial works created by Farin da Silva contained herein, as well as any other original works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression. The unauthorized copying, distributing, displaying, or production of derivative works is strictly prohibited by Farin da Silva. Copyright infringement may subject you to civil liability of a minimum of $750 per infringement for statutory damages, as well as the costs incurred to enforce these rights. 17 U.S.C. § 504. A court may award up to $150,000 per infringement. This copyright holder takes copyright infringement seriously and does enforce their rights.

 

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The Importance of Prayer and Ori

God/Olodumare is Supreme

For followers of Ifa, known as elesin ibile, prayer is a daily practice. When one understands their place in the Universe along with all the irunmole, it is only natural (or with a little practice), to give thanks for everything one has, no matter how small. Our heavenly Father Olodumare has given us the gift of life along with this magnificent planet we live on. I like to start each day praying to God, starting with giving thanks for everything I have in detail, adding prayers for loved ones, and stating: “As I take my place in your world today, I ask that I be given the ability to send and receive Divine Ase.” This is because I know that everything I do is only because of the Power of God who animates my life and who gives me breath. I owe everything I have to Olodumare.

THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAYING TO ONES ORI
In my work as a priestess I encounter many people who are passing through difficult times, so as a basic foundation I try to instill the practice of daily prayer by my clients as a means of stabilizing the mind and generating positive thoughts, words and actions that will see the person through their day. Over time, changes do occur as the benefits of prayer, the spoken word, bring harmony. Prayer focuses and harmonizes one with their place in the Universe, God’s realm and prepares one to receive blessings.

Principle to this is our ori. Our ori is what is translated as the head, or higher self. Each person is born with an ori that guides them. Much like a bird that instinctively knows the migratory routes it must fly to reach food and their nesting grounds to lay eggs and continue the circle of life, so does our ori know what is best for us. We have both an inner ori and an outer ori. Within our own personal Odu, or road/path/destiny of life, we have innate tendencies to think or behave in certain ways. These can be both positive and negative. This is why we ask when praying to our ori: ” My Ori, do not spoil my inner wisdom, or “ori inu” . Though we might be a mild mannered and calm person, if we “lose our head” in a fit of anger and utter words that we might regret later, we are in essence spoiling our outer and  inner destiny by letting our head run away with and rubbish our “good head”, our inner wisdom that knows right from wrong, good decisions from bad decisions.

While it can be difficult to understand the concept of having an ori, ori is simply our higher self that knows what it is we need and can lead us to it. Sometimes we have personality disorders, perhaps a drug habit or dependency that effectively shuts down our ori; we simply cannot “hear” it. Some people are born with impaired mental functioning, emotional problems, psychological disorders that keep them from enjoying life. The stresses of life here on earth are many, and it is our thoughts and attitudes towards these challenges that will make or break us. We are meant to be happy and there are steps we can take to improve our happiness.

Ifa is all about bringing ourselves into alignment with the Universe around us, our environment, our social, material and emotional landscape. By understanding that our ori is something to venerate, we now see that having good guidance from within is a very precious thing. Many times I tell people, “if we are not for ourselves, than who will be?. If we do not love ourselves, than who will?” We must be our own best friend and our ori IS our very best friend, protection and guidance in life.

HOW TO PRAY TO YOUR ORI
After waking I advise people to pray, even before getting out of bed. If you want to rinse your arms, legs, mouth with water first and then kneel on the ground, even better, but the main thing is to do it as soon as you wake up. After praying to Olodumare, move on to your ori. Place your hands on your head, one on the forehead and the other on the back of the head and pray out loud:

“Ori Ori Ori! You are the first and foremost, you are the King and the Head. You are the first amongst all orisa. Without ones ori, we cannot find our way, please listen and hear my prayers. It is I (state your name), the son/daughter of (state your mother’s name), who received the odu of (state your odu name. If you do not know, skip this.) My ori, please guide me to the people, places and things which will help me in life today. Bring me the people and things I need to receive wealth, health, happiness. I am asking you my ori to….(state your prayers/desires/wishes), listen to my prayers and take them to heaven Ase Ase Ase O!”.

Starting our day in this manner aligns us positively. We have clearly stated what we are looking for, and as we have spoken it, so shall it be. The Yoruba speak of ori as such: 

ORI APERE!       ORI, THE MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL!
ORI EWU!          ORI, I ADORE YOU!
ORI OKUN!       ORI, YOU ARE PRECIOUS!
ORI IDE!             ORI THAT SHINES/IS PRECIOUS AS BRASS!

When we take the time and effort to venerate and honor God first, then our own ori, we are opening ourselves up to receiving and radiating positive energy which affects how we move in our environment. Just try this as an experiment for one week. You will be rewarded!

© 2016 by Farin da Silva, All Rights Reserved. Pursuant to the Copyright Act of 1976 and subsequent amendments, codified as 17 U.S.C. §§ 101-810, the works contained within are protected by United States laws and by international treaties. This includes the literary and pictorial works created by Farin da Silva contained herein, as well as any other original works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression. The unauthorized copying, distributing, displaying, or production of derivative works is strictly prohibited by Farin da Silva. Copyright infringement may subject you to civil liability of a minimum of $750 per infringement for statutory damages, as well as the costs incurred to enforce these rights. 17 U.S.C. § 504. A court may award up to $150,000 per infringement. This copyright holder takes copyright infringement seriously and does enforce their rights.