Ibori Invoking, Praising and Feeding your Ori This knowledge was passed onto me by my own teacher. I give credit to him for this information. I also give thanks and honor to Chief Yuya for his teachings and his continuous support. Creating your Ori Altar is simple (this version is simplified version of a complex tool which you can get from a priest) Go into a meditative state by doing some deep breathing. Ask your Ori and ancestors for guidance and support. Cut a small lock of hair and bury it in a small (1-2 inch) earth container. Be sure the top is sealed properly else dirt will get into it. Bury it for 1 to 3 days during which time you can release or cleanse your space as well as study and prepare for your work. Write a small note of your desires (higher desires the better). Roll it up and tie it with a red piece of cloth or yarn. After the 1 st or 3 rd day, remove the container with the hair in it, clean it with a clean cloth and place it on your Ori altar (you can place this in a larger container). NO ONE else should touch it or have access to it. Place your small piece of sealed note with your requests (intention) near it. Add a bowl of cool water (glass) Add a small candle (white) which you will light when you do your invocation Some people have their Ori head washing and feeding (Ibori) done by a priest. Some would never let anyone else work with their head. How you choose to charge your own head is your choice. Your Ori is your own personal divinity, you have the closest relationship to it. A priest doing your Ibori is helpful, but keep in mind YOU are your Ori and your Ori is you. You are inseparable. Ori is the only Diety anyone should really worship. Here s why: Ori worship will support and enhance your spiritual powers such as intuition, prophecy, and intelligence. Your Ori is the only energy that will take you through your entire life from birth to death Ori worship can minimize addiction, reduce the effects of deep seated trauma and compulsive behavior. Ori is the head that selects the Orisa (Ori Sa). Orisa s cannot be selected without Ori s permission. Ori worship is the first component of building your personal and community character If you don t worship your Ori, no one else will. You should know how to ritually work with your highest self. 1
Connecting with your Ori. This first Oriki (prayer) is simple and does not include a feeding. This is a good place to start, but you may want to go further. Divine and let your Ori decide for you. Oriki to invoke our Ori Ori guide me, Ori guide me, Ori guide me. Ori support me, Ori support me, Ori support me. Ori support my abundance. Ori support my future children. Ori support my relationship. Ori protect my house. It is my Ori whom I shall worship, it is my Ori whom I shall worship, it is my Ori whom I shall worship Protector of the children, my inner character is thankful. Let all good things come to me, Ori give me life. I shall never die. Let all good things come to me. The Spirits of light belong to Amakisi You can sprinkle cool clean water on your head as you do this prayer. Always keep your head wrapped in white after you work with your Ori to protect the integrity of your head. Now that you are comfortable with calling forth your Ori, take the next step by learning to charge up your Ori. This can be done at another time. Feeding Your Ori Here s a basic Ibori (feeding) you can perform: 1. First, you must divine to determine what specific offering your Ori needs 2. Do a basic yes or no question divination a. Here are some other questions you can ask 1) Does my Ori need an offering at this time? 2) Does it need *insert type of offering/see list below? 3) Is there any other offering that my Ori needs? i. Keep asking until you get a no answer. ii. Write it down and prepare the Ibori Types of offerings you can choose from: Cool water (omi tutu), honey (oyin), gin (oti), Kola nut, sugar cane (ireke), red palm oil (epo pupa), efun (chalk), shea butter (ori), as well as coconut milk/meat and assorted light colored fruits. Reasons: 2
1. Cool water Cools, calms, and refreshes 2. Honey Joy and sweetness in one s life 3. Gin Pleasure and Gin 4. Dark rum - En 5. Kola Stimulation, life giving, avoid challenges, and bring wisdom 6. Bitter kola Strengthen, increases protection and longevity 7. Sugar cane For sweetness and Ire 8. Palm oil For abundance, sustaining, ease life, smooth issues 9. Shea butter For protection and to soothe 10. Coconut milk/meat Best for cooling the head (also offered to Obatala/Dambalah) 11. Assorted fruits For fruitful destiny and to offer nourishment The simplest offering is pure cool water. Use this when nothing else is available. Cool water will remove head from your head. Keep your altar space clean and well maintained. Use the following prayer to invoke and feed your Ori. Your work is 75% intention and 25% the tools you use. Prepare and be in correct mindset before you do this work. 3
Your Oriki (Prayer) Elements, your ancestors, Orunmila (Loko), and Esu (Legba) Homage to the power of the East Homage to the power of the West Homage to the power of the North Homage to the power of the South Homage to all things that live in the invisible realm Homage to the Spirit of Consciousness Homage to the Spirit of the Inner Self Homage to the Spirit of the Higher Self who lives in the Invisible Realm of the Ancestors The Invisible Realm of the Ancestors is the permanent home of the Inner Self, it is there that the Inner Self accounts for what it has done during the Journey to Earth Homage to the Spirit of Destiny, Witness to Creation, the averter of Death, the Power of the Word that opens all doors Homage to the Diviner named Akoda, the first student of Orunmila Homage to the Diviner named da, the one who taught Ifa to the world Homage to the Ancestors, I give respect to the realm of the ancestors Homage to our Mothers, Owners of Birds Homage to the Divine Messenger of Transformation, the Man of the Crossroads, from the Hill of Creation, we will use your sword to touch the Earth Homage to the sacred energy of the twins Homage to all the Orisa Homage to all the Irunmole Homage to my father and homage to my mother Oriki to invoke our Ori: Ori guide me, Ori guide me, Ori guide me. Ori support me, Ori support me, Ori support me. Ori support my abundance. Ori support my future children. Ori support my relationship. Ori protect my house. It is my Ori whom I shall worship, it is my Ori whom I shall worship, it is my Ori whom I shall worship Protector of the children, my inner character is thankful. Let all good things come to me, Ori give me life. I shall never die. Let all good things come to me. The Spirits of light belong to Amakisi 4
Orunmila, please descend Orunmila, please descend Orunmila, please descend Ori, I call on you Ori, I call on you Ori, I call on you! cast divination oracle for Ori-Apere It is certain that Apere is the quintessence of well-being. Wherever Ori is wealthy, let mine be included. Wherever Ori has many children, let mine be included. Wherever Ori has all good things of life, let mine be included. Ori, place me in good condition. My feet, carry me to where condition is favorable. Where Ifa is taking me to, I never know. Cast divination oracle for Sasore In the prime of his life If there is any condition better than the one I am in. at present May my Ori not fail to place me there. Support me, my Ori. Make me prosperous, my Ori. Ori is humankind's supporter before deities. (I give thanks to Chief Yuya of Anu, my teacher for this English Ori Oriki) After finishing your Oriki (chanting and prayers), you can introduce and offer each of your offering. Say WHY you are making the offering: Coolness, alignment, fulfillment of your destiny, etc.) Present each offering followed by the reason. For example: Ori, as I present you honey for sweetness, please make my life sweet and full of joy. Ori, I give you this gin to bring strength and pleasurable experiences to my path. Present your offering as if you are presenting it to your own head. Remember the meaning of each finger. If you are presenting liquids, use the middle finger of your left hand. Going from front to back of the skull. If it s a solid object place it against your forehead. After the head then touch the navel and big 5
toe while asking that your Ori is in alignment from top to your base. You can also use the following: May my feet not lead me astray. May the wisdom of the Ancestors guide me toward my destiny. CLOSING THE RITUAL At this point, do one more yes or no reading to determine if the offerings have been accepted and if anything else is needed. Follow direction of your Ori. Once all your offerings have been made to your head, wara=p your head with a clean white cloth that you used only for this purpose. Tie it securely to prevent anything from falling out. KEY: The white cloth deflects energy away from your Ori. Because your Ori is OPEN at this time, you must take care to protect it. No TV, radio or other interferences. It may be best to do this when you are able to enjoy some privacy. If you must go to work be sure to remain cool and calm. Avoid anything too mentally or emotionally taxing. You can also do this at night. Avoid any activity that will strain you, specially sexual activity. The chi//life Force energy that was presented needs time to settle. Discarding your offering Again, use divination to determine where to discard of the offering you used. Often people use rivers, forest (woods), railroad tracks or crossroads. You can also use the trash IF YOUR ORI confirms that is is fine for you to do so. AYIBOBO 6