Òrìsà Names & Spiritual Development

"A kì í bí ọmọ ká má mọ ìrìn ẹsẹ̀ rẹ̀. " One can't have a son and not know his ways. That is, when you raise a child you become familiar with his nature. You know his moods, preferences and habits.  And on a much deeper level, if you've done the esentaiye ceremony, you have a blueprint of via  child's life path.  It is the information presented during that ceremony that enables the parents to not only get to know their child through careful observation, but also to anticipate their child's journey based upon the context of his or her destiny. 

One of the most powerful outcomes of the esentaiye is the child's proper name. That is, òrìsà families who perform the esentaiye give their children names that reinforce the children's destinies. These names are actually invocations that call the child's essence into action. The name pronounced as a result of esentaiye defines the child's relationship to the spiritual entities most responsible for supporting his or her total success. 

And while the ceremony is exclusive to newborns, a similar process can be created for adults who wish to bear names that reflect their destinies. In my personal journey, the naming ceremony was actually my first rite of passage.  Through it I was initiated into the culture, the social psychology and world view of the Yoruba people.  Only later did I receive icons of any sort. Learn more about Òrìsà Lifestyle and naming conventions. Email me at [email protected]. Enter Yoruba Names in the subject line.