Orí, Pure Consciousness
Orí, in Yoruba, is a metaphysical concept, and thus, I find, an interesting addition to the orisha pantheon. Also known as cabeza in Spanish. Orí meaning “head”, referring to one’s spiritual intuition and destiny. It is the reflective spark, the aura of human consciousness within and around the human body, and therefore is often personified as an orisha. Many orisha-based traditions of the world believe that people are not only able to heal physically (think of the scab formed after a cut), but also spiritually to achieve balance (iwa-pele). This balance in character is achieved by being in alignment with one’s orí or divine self, thus Orí is consulted. To come to know the Orí is to come to know oneself. This is best captured in the Yoruba proverb: “Ori la b abo, a ba, f’orisa sile”, meaning: It is the inner self we ought to venerate, and let divinity be.
Orí is praised across the diaspora, including in Umbanda (Afro-Brazilian), Candomblé (Afro-Brazilian), Santería, Haitian Vodou, and folk Catholicism traditions.
Orí works very closely with Obatalá: Orí represents the spirit, and Obatalá, the skilled potter, who oversees shaping the head. In their collaboration, they endow humanity with the virtues of intelligence and reason.
According to Ifa (Yoruba religion), Orí has four distinct areas of perception: the internal experience (identity emotions), relationship with other people, objects, places (evaluate level of trust and empathy), the past (access memory), and envisioning the future (activate the imagination). Humans quickly activate these four areas of Orí consciously and subconsciously throughout the day, as we process and make meaning of life. These four modes of consciousness is symbolized by the four equal quadrants of a circle, which is a symbol (commonly known as the mandala) found in almost every religious and spiritual tradition throughout the world: in the sand paintings of Hopi shamans, healing circles in Tibetan Buddhism, temple art in Islam, and stained-glass windows in gothic cathedrals, as well on the Ifa divination tray.
A well-known oriki (praise poem) for Orí:
Oriki Orí
Ori o,
When I look for my path, it is you who walks beside me
may we walk in harmony and not stumble upon each other’s feet
When I am in my darkest hour, it is you who shine a light
may our depths of sorrow always be matched by heights of joy
When I am lost and without direction, it is you who takes my hand
may wisdom reign in the kingdom of our soul
When I am alone in the darkness I ask
my Ori, what are you?
you are the other reality inside
you are the owner of righteous intuition you are my power to observe,
reason and inspire you are my one real identity
you are me
Ori o bless your omo
Ase o
-
References:
