Orisa Lifestyle for Beginners: Stages of Spiritual Development 

welcome... we are here to teach and learn.

@@ObafemiO how do I start.

thank you for your support. also, if you want to learn even more, consider my School of Orisa Studies. when you become a member, you get access to the activities associated with my videos!!! learn more bit.ly/OrisaStudies

what a great blessing

The exact same thing pushed me to this as well as my family being from Africa

Thank you. I'm still on this journey. It can frustrating not knowing where to start. I'm just learning on the job

Welcome, welcome, welcome

thank you for your support. also, if you want to learn even more, consider my School of Orisa Studies. when you become a member, you get access to the activities associated with my videos!!! learn more bit.ly/OrisaStudies

Same here

beeni (yes!). we cannot use a one-size-fits-all approach. it requires that we start at the true beginning, which is spiritual identity!!!

@@ObafemiO love the statement sensi. Can u explain it more in dept?

thank you for your support. also, if you want to learn even more, consider my School of Orisa Studies. when you become a member, you get access to the activities associated with my videos!!! learn more bit.ly/OrisaStudies

the experience is what matters most, but it's a hardest part to teach. this is where mentorship becomes in... it's the difference between being a STUDENT and an APPRENTICE. studetns learn information and maybe techniques. apprentices cultivate an awareness and connection to the information/techniques. big difference. both are necessary.

i give thanks that the message has reached you at the right time. let us continue to teach and learn together. ase!

We thank ifa

ifa is truly great. ase!

Welcome!

Thank you very much. Your approach is very proper. I strongly recommend that you learn as much as you can about the history, the culture and the fundamentals of the tradition BEFORE you do any kind of ritual. Start with my class, Intro to Yoruba Spirituality and then get my book, the Fundamentals of OrisaLifestyle. Both are available at ObafemiO.com/classes.

we thank ifa

Ori is the bestower of blessings

ase!

i give thanks! rest will come soon enough... for now, i have a little more work to do :)

timing is everything!!!

Begin with the end in mind

agto ato o...

Get trained before you get initiated. Learn more about learning opportunities at OrisaLifestyle.com

agbo ato ooo

We thank Ifa

Glad it helped! we thank ifa.

you are very welcome!!!

I would like to know this as well

i believe what is clear is simple and what is simple gets done. also, if you want to learn even more, consider my School of Orisa Studies. when you become a member, you get access to the activites associated with my videos!!! learn more bit.ly/OrisaStudies

i am grateful for your participation and glad that the message resonates with you.

we thank ifa

you might consider my work on dreams, called ALAKONERI. ct obafemio.com/publications

we thank ifa

I'm glad that you feel that way. Please check out my complete course menu at www.ObafemiO.com/publications

i haven't written it yet!!

Those are different appellations or praise names for the Supreme Being, who we call Olodumare. Olofin is the law giver and Olorun is the Lord of Heaven.

We thank Ifa

I ask because there is this book God Is Not One by Stephen Prothero where different religions are solutions to problems. The problem of Christianity is sin and its solution is salvation. The problem of Buddhism is suffering and its solution is enlightenment. The problem of Confucianism is chaos, its solution is social order. None of these problems/solutions are my central focus. What grabbed my attention is this: The problem of Yoruba is disconnection, its solution is connection. THAT is what I have been seeking this whole time.

I myself would humbly like to no

control requires discipline and patience. have you ritualized your day? have you established a spiritual plan... a plan for your life, based upon your spiritual development? the plan is important to control. you cannot actually exercise control without a plan. otherwise, what are you controlling for? you can join the academy at various levels. visit www.orisalifestyle.com for more details, please.

bloodline and destiny determine orisa. the zodiac has no relationship whatsoever.

All of the above and a bit more. They're forces of nature, ancestral guides and founders of vocational disciplines.

@@ObafemiO Thank you so much for your quick response. I've been studying about Babalou Aye. What focus of nature is he? Is it just illness? Was he really a person that was deified?

obaluaiye is primarily the deity of smallpox and, by extension, infectious disease. but strict categorizations will not be beneficial to your understanding. the best thing to do is to limit internet research and focus on sacred text; oriki and odu ifa. that is where you will gain a clear understanding of the orisa, as well as any aspect of our tradition. in order to gain access to that kind of teaching, you must establish a relationship with a qualified priest or priestess. it will take time. you will be required to establish trust. anything else will prove useless if you are serious minded.

@@ObafemiO Thank you again! 🙏🏽. I'm working on a community project to raise awareness of African traditions and spirituality. This Orisha is the first one that is on my list. Because of the times we live in at present, I thought our people would relate best to him. I want to make sure the information that I share is accurate. This is why I'm asking so many questions. Want to impress upon those who take the time to learn the importance of WHY Babalou Aye needs to be recognized and venerated.

Thanks for the inquiries. Please visit ObafemiO.com for all the answers you seek.

Study a lot: ObafemiO.com/publications

yes, the classes are also on my website. every book has a link to the classes. www.ObafemiO.com/classes

ObafemiO Do you have to be initiated to work with the Orishas?

I recommend prayer. I suggest that people learn the formalities and details of traditional prayers.

Yes, please visit www.ObafemiO.com/publications

Visit ObafemiO.com/publications

Well... i suppose it's possible but I would not recommend it. For example, how would you know the difference between the message that comes from one deity or another, versus your ancestors or your own internal Spirit? The first thing is to learn discernment from the inside out. Orisa should be the furthest from your mind, speak less of initiation. Connect with your ancestors and your ori first.

within yoruba culture, there is a well-defined marriage process. but within the religious practitioners, there are no fixed ways to go about the process. you would have to work with a priest or priestess who is adept in that way.

i would not do it, personally. make prayers and meditate on your problems. when you want to make offerings, go to a qualified priest/priestess and learn the protocol. if you believe in orisa then you also respect the rules of engagement, just as you would fire, ocean, electricity, etc.

yes, my website is www.obafemio.com or you can email me at obafemio@yahoo.com

Yes, you can. Many do. The challenge is to be equally sincere about both in private and public