Making Orisa worship relevant
Most of the difficulties in both practice, and benefits, from Orisa worship in this country stem from trying to overlay the practices of far different cultures upon our own. In a recent series of communications with a quite knowledgeable, and sincere, Lucumi Babalawo, he expressed the belief that most of the Foundation's participants "would not have the stomach for our cultures practices." Initially, I responded that most would reject some of the Lucumi practice based upon inconsistencies and a sense of the part logic must play in our religious practice. Then, as I thought more about it, I realized that what he was attempting to point out were the cultural differences that create a chasm between the Western way of life and the Latin/Caribbean society. The same difficulties and inconsistencies arise when we try and import the Yoruba culture into our own.
In addition to the obvious differences in climate, education, industrialization, political and religious freedom, there are other more important issues. One culture sprang from an almost 100% Catholic base, one culture emanates from a strong Polygamous Tribal influence and identification. Both cultures reflect far differing views on the equality of women and the legitimacy of sexual diversity and individual sexual orientation.
The specific expressions, ebbos, interpretations etc. of eternal Orisa energy have shaped themselves to conform to the everyday realities of those specific cultures and their world view. For the most part, that reduces or eliminates their relevance and efficacy in our culture!
This is in no way meant to be disrespectful to either culture. If anything, it is to admire the development of their rules and practices in their cultural reality. It is also to acknowledge that they do not translate to our cultural reality.
While it is perfectly reasonable to identify with, and seek to retain, one's cultural roots, the truth is those roots are immediately, and continually, modified by our Western culture. It isn't simply a matter of fitting in; it's a matter of personal prosperity and emotional fulfillment. Try speaking Yoruba to the person you're being interviewed by for a job you seek. Try telling your boss that you need three hours at lunch because you take a siesta. In hundreds of ways we adjust to the society we live, work and raise our children in. It's the reason why wearing white for a year after initiation, or having your head entirely shaved, or leaving your sacrifice at the intersection of your cities streets simply will not help you in this society. You can continue to adhere to another cultures way of expressing itself, but in so doing you separate yourself from the system. The Truth is that we are no longer in Africa, Cuba, Brazil etc. We are here.
The greater Truth is that the Orisa are also here. They are not only capable of, it is imperative, that they are addressed, worked with and revered within the current culture of those that worship.
It is this reality that allowed the energy to transform and work in the Diaspora. It is not a matter of TRUTH being perverted.it is a matter of TRUTH adapting to where it is applied. ALL are right.but ONLY within the confines and context of their own cultures.
The danger of those who come to America and profess that their Truths must be your truths, is that those truths frozen in the modalities and expressions of a totally different culture will not work nearly as effectively as they should in ours.
The goal of the Ifa Foundation is to make the ancient and powerful philosophy of Ifa/Orisa relevant to our culture. This can only be accomplished by allowing this eternal energy to express itself within the reality of our Western society. I invite you to visit and learn from our site in the context of that reality.
Blessings,
Oluwo Philip Neimark
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