Temporary Setbacks, Eternal Hope and the Path of Personal Transformation

Oturuponwori
Cast divination for Ololo omi ikere,
a type of water
On the day that his life was dirty and unsettled
He was asked to offer 330 cowries
So that Ololo omi ikere's life would be settled
He heard about the offering and performed it
Ever since, even if a horse steps into it
And it becomes dirty and unsettled
Not before long it will become peaceful
- Holy Odu OturuponIwori


There is a great Blues song that says, "I'm so glad that trouble don't last always." It reminds me that the difficulties of today will eventually pass. There is a verse of the Holy Odu OgbeOse that reinforces this simple truth; "The difficult times facing the babalawo are not permanent. Today's poverty will end in wealth." Verses and folklore like these help to inspire us to remain hopeful in the face of adversity.

No matter how daunting your circumstances have been, there is always hope for improvement. No matter how contentious your relationships may be, there is always hope for reconciliation. The value of hope is what you develop from excercising it. In order to be hopeful in the midst of difficult circumstances, you have to start by recognizing the gravity of your present situation. You also must draw upon a variety of past experiences, as well as your ability to imagine a better outcome for your current situation.

Orisa Lifestyle is much more than ritual and ceremony. In reality, the ritual can only set the stage for you to make the right decisions and thereby carry out right actions. This is what I call the path of personal transformation. Through your ability to stay mentally and emotionally present, you internalize the energy that is most necessary for your development. In the teaching above, you are invited to practice hopefullness in the face of doubt. Live the medicine.

Obafemi Origunwa, MA | www.ObafemiO.com

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