How to Worship, the African Way

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:

1. How to observe the worship calendar
2. How to recite Ijuba/Iba
3. How to recite Oriki for Esu, Egungun and Ori
4. How to perform Obi divination

• Recognize the five signatures
• Demonstrate the proper gesture for each
• Interpret the message

5. How to offer water, gin, palm oil and Obi  

If you don't have a system, you don't have a spiritual practice. In the School of Orisa Studies, you can learn my proven system, which I guarantee will guide your practice & transform your Ancestral, Mental, & Spiritual Energy. 
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