Ori ni Nkan

Religion is the vision of spirituality. Lifestyle is a activation of spirituality. Even when you perform divination, sacrifices, rituals and ceremonies, you're still only coming into contact with spiritual principles. In the Holy Odu OdiOgbe, Orunmila posed a riddle to a conclave of Babalawo. As they were all assembled, he said, "The divinity who would make life better has truly arrived. Who can name that divinity?" First they thought that it was Ogun. Orunmila reminded the awo that Ogun is given to decapitating people. "That's not an improvement." Next, the awo proclaimed that it must be Olodumare. Now, Orunmila reminded them that Olodumare had left humanity at the mercy of Esu, the ajogun and omo araiye. "That's not improvement." Again, Orunmila insisted that the one who would improve people's lives had truly arrived and again he urged the all the awo present to identify that entity. Now, the awo replied that it must be Orunmila himself! At this, he just laughed and reminded them that when people come to Ifa with pressing questions, Orunmila will speak in the cryptic language of aphorisms, proverbs and axioms. He illustrated the point by saying that if there is a snake in one's backyard, Ifa will only advise that person not to go into the yard because there is danger. If, in defiance, the individual decides to go into the yard anyway and runs into the snake, it is only then that he will remember that Orunmila had told him not to do it. Finally, the awo conceded. "We do not know the identity of the one who will make life better. Baba, please reveal it to us." It was at that point that Orunmila declared that it is ORI alone who will improve one's life! It is only ori who leads the soul from heaven to earth and back without ever departing.  This sentiment is fully expressed in the Holy Odu OgundaMeji: 

Ifa said it is Ori
It is Ori alone, who can follow his devotee to a distant journey over the 
seas without turning back.
If I have children on earth, it is Ori whom I will praise.
My Ori it is you.
All the good things that I have on earth.
It is my Ori to whom I will give praise.
My Ori, it is you.
Ori I hail you,
You who always remembers your devotees,
You who gives blessings to your devotees more quickly than other gods.
No god blesses a man without the consent of his Ori.
Ori I hail you,
You who allows children to be born alive,
A person whose sacrifice is received by his own Ori,
Should rejoice exceedingly
- Holy Odu OgundaMeji

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