The term “worship” comes from the Old English word weorthscipe, or worth-ship. It means to give someone the honor or respect they are due. The German word, Gottesdienst, means roughly “God act” or “God service.” It can mean either God’s service or act toward us, or our service or acts toward God—or both. This word describes a relationship between God and people and mutual service. Theologically, it has been interpreted as first God’s act toward us followed by our response of thanks and praise. In Yoruba, worship is called isin. It refers to the many ways through which we give reverence to Olódùmarè, the Orisa, our ancestors or our destinies. Worship is the most essential element of spiritual development and personal greatness. Stated differently, when you worship, you are actually conditioning many of the activities associated with a highly cultivated intuition, as well as a clearly defined sense of purpose. More specifically, the act of worship sets the stage for you to pray, meditate, chant, sing, play music, dance, divine, perform sacrifice, participate in ceremonies, festivals and so on. Each one of these practices is essential to your spiritual development because they activate the body, heart, mind and soul. For example, something as simple as prayer becomes very powerful over time. Consider the fact that the intensity of your prayer in an emergency is likely to be much greater than when everything is flowing nicely. Several years ago, when I was just starting to see clients, I went outside my house to see that my car had been stolen. Immediately, I started to think of all the important things I could not do without my car. But as my anxiety grew, something interesting happened: I went straight to the shrine to ask Ifá. The Odù directed me to appease my mother’s spirit. The offering was relatively small, consisting of foodstuffs from my own kitchen. I did as instructed, then called the police to file a report. Within 4 hours my car was returned. After the fact, I reflected upon the intensity and focus of my prayers that day. Before then, I had been performing my rituals with sincerity, but I lacked a real sense of urgency. However, after that experience, I learned to make every prayer as if someone’s life depended upon it. So, the more you pray – under varying circumstances and conditions – the more reverent and humble you become towards the power that sustains the universe, Olódùmarè. Intellectually, prayer also sets the stage for meditation. It has been said that prayer is invoking the spirit and meditation is listening to the spirit. Within the Orisa Lifestyle Academy, we have said since our inception that the Holy Odu is our measuring stick for religious precision and authenticity. When it comes to the structure, content and purpose of devotion, our reliance upon the sacred text is illustrative: Olódùmarè is the Pinnacle of Devotion: All forms of worship, from divination to sacrifice, is devoted to Olodumare, the Almighty. In the verse that follows, we see that Orunmila, who is Olodumare's delegate on earth, was unable to accomplish anything of significance until he took Olodumare as his father: Here would I have followed And there would I have passed through In stages does one bury the corpse of one's friend These were Ifa's declarations to Orunmila When he was doing all things Without succeeding at any of them He was advised to take his Olodumare as his father Without succeeding at any of them He was advised to take his Olodumare as his father Rescue me, oh my Olodumare, please accept me You are the only one I rely upon Rescue me, oh my Olodumare, please accept me You are my pillar of support Rescue me, oh my Olodumare, please accept me You are the one I look up to Rescue me, oh my Olodumare, please accept me Nobody relies on Olodumare For him to be put to shame Rescue me, oh my Olodumare, please accept me - Holy Odu OseBiile Ancestry is essential to effective devotion: Your spiritual identity and divine mission have been handed down from one generation to the next, by way of your lineage. In the following verse, you will see how the Ancestral Promise is responsible for maintaining balance between heaven and earth: There is no childbearing woman Who cannot give birth to an Ifa priest There is no woman who cannot give birth to Orunmila Our father, if he gives birth to us in full Inevitably, we shall, in time, Give birth to him, in turn Our mother, if she gives birth to us in full Inevitably, we shall, in time, Give birth to her, in turn This was Ifa's message to Orunmila Who said he would bring heaven down to earth Who said he would bring earth back up to heaven - Holy Odu IworiOdi Ori is Supreme: All devotion, and all blessings that result from proper worship are associated with ori, which is the seat of destiny. In the verse that follows, you will see the unique relationship between Olodumare, Ifa and Ori: Otura set out on a journey to Ira town but never reached Ira Akoki, a traveler set out on a familiar journey but never returned Honesty is more rewarding It is higher than dishonesty This was the Ifa cast for “I have kindred And I am blessed with relations But I do not have sympathizers” There is no sympathizer as Ifa One's Ifa is one's greatest sympathizer There is no sympathizer as Ori One's Ori is one's greatest sympathizer There is no sympathizer as Olorun, Olorun is one's greatest sympathizer - Holy Odu OturaOgunda Elements of Orisa Devotion
In the Orisa Lifestyle Academy, we teach FIVE elements of devotion:
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3 Comments
Earline
3/26/2021 06:38:38 am
Thank you. I opened this message today thanking Olodumare for the grace, the gifts, the life, and the blessings I have received today. Your message was so perfectly timed. Again, thank you!
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Grace Ferguson-Lyon
3/26/2021 08:58:38 am
Alfalfa
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Nicholas Millington
6/4/2021 08:17:31 am
I think that I am ready to enroll in this school and looking learn more.
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