 In the photo above, I was telling my niece a story taken from the Holy Odu OyekuL'ogbe. It reminded me of the days when all the children were bright eyed, little babies.
I am an accidental storyteller. When my children were very young, I would tell them bedtime stories of the Orisa. Later on, when my eldest was in kindergarten, I was asked to read a story to his class. In an effort to spend quality time with my children, I started a summer camp where I had the students dramatize Yoruba folktales. In the process, I had to sort through all the different stories, so as to tell the most appropriate tales for school aged children. I inadvertently made a profound discovery: There are stories for every occasion.
Because of a twist of fate, I ended up working as a corporate trainer. Much to my surprise, I still found myself telling stories on a regular basis. I was fascinated by the fact that Fortune 100 executives responded to stories in much the same way as children did at summer camp. They listened attentively. They laughed out loud. They shook their heads in amazement. Of course, I didn't tell the executives same stories that I would tell the children. In the same way that there is a story for every occasion, there are also many different types of stories, depending upon the setting.
When told properly, all stories have one thing in common: They are easy to remember. Even if you cannot remember all the details, you are bound to remember the way a story made you feel. This is in keeping with a popular saying, "People will forget what you did, but they will remember how you made them feel." Stories, like songs, convey deep emotion: Happiness, fear, confidence. All of these can be captured beautifully by a well-delivered story. Until now, I have never tried to teach storytelling. It's not something I was taught so I am admittedly uncertain about the breakdown of "How to tell a story." None the less, as I work to cultivate a complete learning experience for my students, I have come to appreciate how important it is for them to master the art of storytelling. So, in the months to come, I will start to integrate storytelling lessons and techniques into the Orisa Lifestyle methodology. Learn more: Visit OrisaLifestyle.com In Orisa Lifestyle seniority is of the utmost importance. The Yoruba say, the youth know how to cut the tree, but the elder knows where it will fall. Similarly, the youth know the road, but the elder knows how to travel it. Likewise, what the youth cannot see standing up, the elder can see sitting down. Consequently, young practitioners - age forty and under - struggle to find a place for themselves. Ultimately, becoming an authority in this tradition as a goal sought by many, but attained by few. With just a cursory glance at the amount of content being generated on social media every day, you can clearly see that orisa practitioners of all ages recognize the fact that becoming an authority is a great way to stand out from the competition and position themselves as go-to thought leaders. Admittedly, once you're recognized as an authority you are free to tap into opportunities you would never imagined. You can gain access to levels of success you wouldn't necessarily reach otherwise. So, what's the secret to becoming an authority? Here are three tried-and-true methods of becoming influential in Orisa Lifestyle: Power is the ability to have one’s will carried out despite the resistance of others. The immature practitioner believes that power is attained through acquiring beads, pots and titles. As you mature, however, you will learn to accept the inevitable fact that power is the ability to conduct energy through a system. Ifa teaches us in the Holy Odu OfunIrete that it was ORI who defeated all of the orisa in heaven and sent them to earth as masters of various disciplines and power systems. It was ori who sent Obatala to Iranje and made him the master of clay. It was ori who sent Ogun to Ire and made him the master of iron. It was ori who send Orunmila to Oke Itase and made him the master of Ifa. And so, each orisa has his or her domain and its corresponding power system, which he or she manages without fail.  Highly effective systems consistently generate and distribute controlled volumes of energy over long periods of time. No system, no power. No power, no authority. Ask yourself a question, Who knows about your natural gifts and talents? Who knows your dreams and aspirations? Who knows your story and what you're made of? Now, follow that up with an even more penetrating question, Who NEEDS to know? The Holy Odu EjiOgbe reveals how ori rejects false humility and the imposter syndrome: I tried in vain to hide myself But my Ori said it will not allow me to hide myself I tried to take the backstreets But my Eda refused to allow me to take the backstreets In this verse, those who were naturally endowed with positions refused to sacrifice to maintain authority. One by one, they were all overcome until, ultimately it was the lowly fly who sacrificed and was able to dine with kings.  Let me cut to the chase here. Stop hiding out in the little pond of your comfort zone and get in front of the experts. Identify the heaviest hitters and IMPRESS them with your ability to serve with poise and precision. Nobody likes a showoff. Everybody - especially people who have already achieved success - will appreciate your ability to help them solve problems and improve conditions. If you want to be recognized as an authority, show and prove your ability to add value in the most influential circes. Authority is never associated with being a scatterbrain. Ever. The best way to fail is to try to be everything to everybody. If you're serious about being recognized as an authority, you need to commit to a single, visionary goal and stick with it, season after season. In the Holy Odu OyekuObara teaches us of the idere monkey, who wanted desperately to become human, but lacked the focus necessary to complete the rituals that would enable total transformation: A rough dance is the dance of an Insane Exhibition of overjoy is the joy of a fool Ifa divination was casted for Idere Monkey He was instructed to make ebo so enjoyment Would not destroy his body Idere went to Ifa one day. He wanted Obatala to elevate him to human status. He was told what to gather and what sacrifice to perform. He gathered the materials and the medicine was made for Idere. Idere was told to remain focused and composed. He must not get caught up and start to count his eggs before they hatched. Idere managed to follow the instructions for a time. He began to evolve miraculously. But, as he could feel the difference and see himself elevating, Idere lost concentration. He started to enjoy his progress and forgot about the ultimate goal, which was to become fully human. One day before the ritual was complete, Idere's jubilation made him spill the remaining medicine. He tried desperately to apply it to his body, but to no avail. And so, Idere only managed to evolve partially. So, ask yourself, If you could only do ONE thing with your life, what would it be? That is where you need to focus. Let everything else either support that single ambition or fall away, like autumn leaves. I am looking for leaders, who want to improve the word through positive influence. Is that you? If so, find out how Obafemi Origunwa and the Orisa Lifestyle Academy can take your life to the next level.  Let's get straight to the point; we will NEVER forget the year 2020. Everything we had considered normal was completely rearranged. Our lives will never be the same. Some people were overwhelmed by adversity. Others experienced a boom of unprecedented opportunity. In either case, the question everybody's asking is, Where do we go from here? So, with that in mind, I was to show you how to make 2021 the best year of your life in five, simple steps. Before you continue, bookmark this page. Email it to yourself for future reference. Clarity is absolutely essential to fulfillment. This is where most people fail. Be clear and specific about what you intend to accomplish this year. For example, "By December 31, 2021 I will..."
Limit your focus. I gave three examples in three different areas of life. But that's only for the purpose of sparking ideas. Three intentions are too many. If you could only pursue ONE intention this year, what would it be? That's where you need to focus. Everything else must support that single, most important intention. Nothing is as simple as it seems. You need to slow down and get granular about the sequence of events, the resources and the activities associated with fulfilling your deepest intentions. If, for example, your intention is to earn $44 thousand monthly, you have to break down the sources of that kind of money. How much will come from salary? How much will come from investments? How much will come from your side hustle? If you don't know, then you need to ask somebody who does, even if that means you have to pay for consultation. Let's face it, if you're not energized and inspired, you're more likely to drop out. The first time I visited the Pixar campus I was amazed by how comfy and fun the place was. Employees were playing frisbee on the lawn. There were video games, walking paths and an array of DELICIOUS food available, free of charge. That enabled the employees to work ridiculous numbers of hours, with plenty of play time scheduled into their day. So, every couple of hours, every few days and every few months, you need to take SCHEDULED breaks that are just as mandatory as working at your desk. This is another major point of failure. People are too easily frustrated. They take shortcuts, which undermines the quality of their work and then, at the first signs of imperfection, they quit. You cannot take shortcuts and expect high quality. Stop lying to yourself. Greatness takes time... Not necessarily decades, but hours and days of tedious, boring work. You're not finished when your workday is done. You're finished when the job is complete and exceeds the highest existing standard. Until then, you sit yourself down and put in the work. PERIOD. Did you ever use a butter knife as a screwdriver? Well, those days are over. You are not going to build a house with a butter knife. Whatever your craft is, you need to invest in the tools associated with it. Not only that, you need to invest in getting properly trained in the best use of those tools. As your ambitions and intentions elevate, expect to increase your investment in self improvement. Remember, you will never see an olympian without a coach. The more talented you are the more important self improvement is. I am looking for leaders who are devoted to improving the world through positive influence. Is that you? If so, find out how Obafemi Origunwa and the Orisa Lifestyle Academy can take your life and your practice to the next level.
ENROLL NOW  You don't have to be an artist in order to be creative. According to Yoruba worldview, you are the very embodiment of creative energy, which is one reason why the head is referred to as eda (one's personal creator).
Ifa teaches us that the head - which is more commonly known as ori - is the lord of the body and therefore must be acknowledged and given premium attention. More exactly, in the beginning, the head used to live on its own, in isolation. After consulting Ifa and performing the necessary sacrifices, the head was blessed in a very big way; eyes, ears, nose and mouth joined the head and it was elevated to the highest point of the body. This reality is clearly expressed through Yoruba sculpture. The head is almost always the biggest and the most elaborately finished part of a typical sculpture. Oftentimes, it's also adorned with crownlike headgear. One of the most important fundamentals of this worldview is that the visible head (ori ode) is no more than an enclosure for the inner, spiritual head, called ori inu. Not only that, the ase that empowers the physical self actually emanates from the inner head. This means that your creative energy comes from within. Your imagination is synonymous with ori inu. Whereas the inner head is called ori inu, imagination is called oju inu (inner eye) in Yoruba. It alludes to your ability to look within yourself and to discern the most appropriate response to your environment. WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU You have a unique set of natural gifts and talents. It is through them that you will succeed in ways that others cannot. Blaze a trail and follow up on your ambitions, even if that means you have to abandon those habits, associates and places that do not support self mastery. Where your talents meet the needs of your environment, that is where you will discover your purpose. This intersection represents your opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the people who matter most. Creativity enables internal gratification, which is the ideal place for you to seek out material enjoyment experience total comfort within your own body. When you make this your daily practice, it will give you confidence and flair. It is from this position that you will finally be able to unapologetically authentic, and lead by example. Ori literally means 'you see' and its mythical symbol is the head, which is the one who observed your soul choosing your destiny in the prenatal state. This divine entity symbolizes the pursuit of a tremendous aspiration to live, learn, love and leave a legacy. Ori's obsessive drive to create manifests through your ability to focus your heart and mind on a target that adds eternal value. The heart of your quest is to provide fulfillment, which also requires that you embody the life giving source of creative energy. You might express yourself through art, science, or intimate relationships. You might be the leader, a supporter or an ally. What is most important is that you recognize the need to show up and shine in the place where you truly belong.  Grind or get left behind. There will always be problem people and situations. Unlike the way it was in school, however, you will NOT always have the solutions. If you're on the cutting edge, you will find it difficult to find others who can provide useful answers. Somehow, you must still make progress in spite of that reality.
To be very clear, I'm not talking about surviving the battle, maintaining your position or proving your point. I'm talking about measurable advancement, whereby you actually INCREASE your holdings. One mark of greatness is the ability to excel in the face of adversity. In a chaotic circumstance, it is natural for people to seek stability. Here's the problem: When real stability cannot be achieved, most people will settle for hiding out in familiar places. TEST yourself: When things get unpredictable, do you find yourself spending more and more time in your emotional, social and behavioral default zone? This can be a dangerous habit because it inhibits your ability to GRIND. When I say grind or get left behind, I mean that you need to be proactive about pursuing your vision. If you have to get up early and stay up late in order to gain the competitive advantage, then that's what you do. Stop complaining. Make no excuses. Find out what needs to be done and start doing it with what you have, where you are, right this moment. Others may stop when they get tired, when they get angry or when their feelings are hurt. If you intend to attain LEGENDARY STATUS, your exhaustion, anger and pain only add fuel to the fire! Like Les Brown said, it's not over until I win! GRIND!!! GRIND!!! GRIND!!! I am looking for leaders who are devoted to improving the world through positive influence. Is that you? If so, find out how Obafemi Origunwa and the Orisa Lifestyle Academy can take your life and your practice to the next level. Learn more: ObafemiO.com #LivetheMedicine  "A man can never hope to be more than he is if he is not first honest about what he isn’t." Such was the lesson learned the hard way by Egg, who insisted upon going into battle. He was advised to steer clear of the battle field but refused, on account of being a close friend of the warrior, Kanakana. It wasn't until he reached the field that Egg realized the fact that he was not prepared for the rage of war. But by then it was too late. Here, The Holy Odu EjiOgbe teaches us the importance of introspection and honest Assessment.
The power of accurate Assessment is what drives all forms of transformation. Ifarinu is a name that reminds us that Ifa sees our inner worlds. Thus the babalawo is uniquely qualified to Assess where every individual is on the journey of life. Oftentimes, this requires a good look at where an individual is NOT, in spite of what he or she would like to believe. LEARN MORE  Authenticity can only be attained by remaining true to your source. In Yoruba, this is called ORISUN. As human beings, it is essential to remember what Ifa has taught: Earth is a marketplace. Heaven is our home. It means that our source is divine.
It was in the heavenly realm that we knelt down to choose our destinies. And so, while you are here on earth, the true measure of your success is determined by your devotion to your prenatal choice, which we call AKUNLEYAN. MORNING RITUAL: Every single day, when you awaken in the morning, kneel down and invoke your ori. Double down on your devotion to your prenatal choice! Commit to it without hesitation or stipulation. Your prenatal choice is what brought you to where you are. Let it carry to all the way to the throne of destiny! When the time is ripe, know that you will ascend that throne and sit in regal majesty. Let your source be your crown. Ase! Live the Medicine! Obafemi Origunwa, MA | ObafemiO.com  The inevitable awaits you, like the sunrise or the phases of the moon. When I first started to practice Ifa, I wanted to avoid the unpleasant and painful experiences of that chapter of my life. I prayed for my problems to disappear and never return. It never happened!
In my mind, I thought it was merely a question of due diligence. In an effort to do better, I made it a point to complete all my sacrifices THE DAY OF my readings. I remember one year, when my annual festival happened, Ifa demanded a goat. But it was a holiday or something, which meant that I could not cross the bridge. So I ended up driving AROUND the San Francisco Bay twice to get the goat and then make the offering. Of course, it was not enough to complete the ritual. I had to go all the way. So I skinned the goat, stretched the skin, cured it in salt, butchered the meat and prepared a stew for everybody to eat the next day. I think I worked nonstop for at least 18 hours... All to escape THE INEVITABLE. Guess what happened... It didn't work! I mean, all the adversity that Ifa predicted truly manifested. Sometimes, I would just sit in bewilderment, trying to understand, What am I doing wrong? I thought the sacrifice was supposed to remove all obstacles. Eventually, after years of practice, I figured out the fact that my expectations were the problem. Certain things must be experienced in order for you to le transformed. If you skip them, you will not grow. You will not increase in wisdom. You will not fully know compassion. You will be shallow and unaware of what you're really made of. Many people talk about destiny like it's a Utopia. They would have you believe that the realization of destiny is one step away from walking on water. They will add a healthy dose of Orisa talk to make you believe also have super powers, too! Just do this ritual, wear these beads and keep this pot. You will be above it all!!! Foolishness! Sometimes, you can't go around, above or beneath the problem. Sometimes, the only option is to go through. Don't be afraid to uncertainty. Do not run from discomfort. Remain focused on discovering your purpose and your mission. Call out to it on the journey, knowing that your destiny is seeking you as much as you are seeking it. Ultimately, remember what Ifa says; Let us do all things with joy. I pray that you will prosper in spiritual wealth today. Ase! May your internal richness translate to financial growth as well. Ase! Obafemi Origunwa, MA | ObafemiO.com  No matter how far a river flows, it cannot forget its source. When I was seven or eight years old, I used to play at the river not far from my house. It was actually more of a stream.
Either way, it was irresistible, especially during the rain. I remember the smell of the trees and the soil, the sound of the water as it flowed over the rocks and the occasional sight of a snake or a salamander. Most of all, however, I remember the freedom. The source of the river is freedom. When my first child was born, I buried his placenta not far from the riverbank where I used to play as a boy. I prayed that he would go far, but never forget his source. Today, as I sit down by the river, I remind myself of who I am and where I'm from. It's not enough to have a purpose; you must remember it, you must act upon it and manifest it again and again. Like a river, you will flow through many terrains and meet many people. Some will flow with you for a long time. Others will simply watch you pass by. No matter what happens, you must continue the journey... But never forget. Live the medicine. Obafemi Origunwa, MA | ObafemiO.com  Just because they understand doesn't mean they will start to support you. It doesn't mean they'll start to like you. It does not mean they'll respect you either.
Stop making it a requirement that everybody understands everything about you. Those who wish to go, let them go. Those who wish to stay, let them stay. Your first concern is making sure you're doing your very best work. How do you do your very best work? How do you get your most impressive results? These are the kinds of questions you ask when you're committed to excellence. Now... Are you committed to excellence or being accepted? Do you want to be great or do you just want people to like you? I am looking for leaders who want to improve the world through positive change. Is that you? If so, find out how Obafemi Origunwa and the Orisa Lifestyle academy can take your life and your practice to the next level. Learn more: ObafemiO.com |
PODCAST
Live the Medicine
Obafemi 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
Internalize Principles
Embody Truth
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