Over the course of the last 10 days all of those in the Olorisha community whom have wanted to, and felt the need to have participated in the three request from Orisha:
1. Wear white for 10 days
2. Do and Awan to Babalu
3. Play Anya for Obatala.
As a priest of Obatala. I have an obligations to Olofi, self, my god mother and my god children to participate in this global effort.
However, when I was presented with the idea of going to a Bembe (a drumming for Orisha) for world peace with the public at large I had MAJOR hesitation, if not out right I am not going attitude.
My position has not wavered. Constantly seeking reflection I wondered why did this hesitation present itself. It was my obligation to self to unpack that box of 'no'.
While doing the ebo of wearing white it coincided with Babaluaye's day. Which got me to thinking. How does peace come about? Where does that kind of global healing happen? As I prepared and prayed I prayed for that internal peace to present its self. With no expectation for anything to come back right away, I went on about the day and set up.
My intentions were to lean on Baba for my own piece of peace. To not stir the pot the wrong way. I waited for those who I had offered the moment to come and pray and clean to arrive, the irony not one person arrived whom was not obliged to come.
As the night ended as it was time to slumber. I sat at my boveda for a bit and the thing I heard was real clear:
"How can you ask us for peace and you all seem to hate each other? Like y'all scared to know each other. Maybe you should figure out what peace means to you!"
I slept on it. Egun was right how am I calling for pieces of peace when I had a war raging inside. When my own anger and resentment towards members of this community were stifled and filled with general disregard. When my own experience has shown me there is no love here.
It is my god daughter that constantly makes me show up. Her brave curiosity makes me set aside my feelings and participate in whatever is happening.
So these are the questions that I was presented with in relation to this huge ebo (international) and my own personal conversation with what peace is and looks like to me.
1. How is that we are all calling for peace, yet despise each other?
1a. Dismiss each other and alienate each other?
1b. How can you call for peace yet we collectively HATE and do not TRUST our brothers (white, black, Asian, Etc) next to us?
3. How can we call for the healing magic that is Aso, if we are not ready to calm our inside from the petty bickering?
3a. The gossip?
3b. The hateful speech?
3c. The back and fourth spiritual wars?
3d. Prejudicial behavior?
I ask these questions of myself..... and I am honest about where I am when it comes up and how it shows up...
My own experience has brought me to a place of constant question about people and their motives, and intent.
In wanting to remain steady in my own conversation despite it all I work on my 'Iwa' and 'Pele' which combined make "good character". I am slow to judgement, anger, fight. I remain respectful...regardless if that respect is not returned in any all forms.
As I have come to know intimately the energy that is Obatala I have learned that everything starts with me.
Okana (Dilogun)
Ejiogbe (Ifa):
It all is because of one.
Often times I do not want to be that one. I would rather hide away, remove me and not claim what is spiritually and rightfully mine.
In addition, because I do not "see" the world the way others do, I shy away from saying anything at all and in turn create turmoil internally.
Peace starts with me. Knowing that it starts with me and not knowing what to ask for, nor how to begin that conversation. Much like a child I went to Baba (Obatala) over the last ten days and asked for him to help remove the frozen ice box I have around my heart. Not knowing specifics in the beginning I just talked.
As the days dwindled down I specifically ask Baba to help alleviate the energy that allows me to loose my voice. I prayed for internal peace in regards to how I am treated, how people treat each other, the things I see in this community that turn my tummy and to help me keep my ori, lowo meji ati ocan clean.
I can only pray that we too find true peace inside our hearts not for just the next few days but for the rest of our lives. I pray we stop the spiritual wars, the ethnic fighting and the prejudicial behavior.
I come from both Spanish/Native American and Black/Colored people and I often feel torn between the two worlds, that is where I want peace.
Little things like feeling different for saying certain words and phrases in Spanish. Not knowing the word in Yoruba nor having the energy behind it in english. This is where I cannot find calm.
My peace is in being able to walk into an ocha setting and not feel like an outcast, or a leaper. This is where my intent, and where my prayer derives....for us in this community to put "our spiritual weapons down" and to learn to truly care about each...as a part of the human race...as a part of the group of people Olofi put on this earth to grow and build.
Awo/Babalawo (Solagbade) who came from Nigeria to speak to the people (as a part of CCCADI) said it best:
"Ifa/Orisha is a tradition of integrity, we have lost our integrity...Ifa/orisha lives in the belly...."
I ask what is in your belly?
What are your intention?
Is the Orisha tradition something that holds no weight for you?
Is it something you do on the weekend?
Do you hold this tradition to be sacred?
As with everything in life there needs to be a balance. I have no idea how to proceed forward or even how to go about creating the avenues of peace.
What I do know is I would like for us all to be more inclusive, for each and everyone of us in this community to come together and really build community. To stop caring about weather or not white people, gays, lesbians, transgender are in this tradition.
I would like us to become more impeccable with our words, intent and our general disposition as we go and represent Orisha.
If we could all address the four noble truths:
1. The truth of suffering: understand self (Self)
-not playing victim
-not placing externalized blame
-allowing the magic to happen
2. Why we suffering: understand why we suffer (reason/confidence/Logic)
-praying more
-getting more rogations
-sitting with Orisha
3. The ending of suffering: wish and desire (fight or flight)
-having the courage to start and stay the course of the journey
-to find your voice
-to awaken the sleeping buddha within
-to stand your ground without harming others
4. Finding self (awakening)
-teaching others how to address these truths
-creating space that allows these truths to manifest
-embracing change, difference
-Showing others unconditional love.
I would like for us to stop using Odu as a weapon formed against our brothers.
For the gossip to cease.
I would like for us all to clean with cloth more. Get more rogations and develop our psychological characters. To seek outside counsel without shame in having a counselor. Be of service more. Instead of assuming do not be afraid to ask questions.
Buddha(Obatala) teaches that in the process of seeking self it is those whom ask questions that are the true masters.
It is my desire that we all become masters.
May your burdens be light as a feather,
Love and Light-
Ochaalainu
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