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"Ewemilere. Elube. Oba Oyo:
Effective leaves have profit. Brilliant red Indago, you are truly over brimming"
(Oriki to Chango / Lukumi / Translation by John Mason)
I have spent the last few days listening to YouTubes by "El Conquistador" on Lucumi Orisha songs. He teaches how to sing the song for English speakers and also provides the translation for John Mason in the comments. Learning Chango's song with the videos and translation made me pause for reflection. I always need to learn each part of our religion with spiritual intention and mindset no matter the setting or the source. So while learning I kept feeling the meditation surface, a reflection on what it is that we sing in tambores. What am I saying as I sing Wemilere - the meaning of the words hit me and joined all I have lived with Baba.
Over brimming - meaning "you are truly abundance."
In the song the lyrics exalt Chango as abundance over and over. The lyrics also exalt Chango's status as King, the main character of many Pataki's where his character is tested. Sometimes he wins. Sometimes he fails. But in the end we always find him as the first Alaafin of Oyo. He overcomes and becomes abundance in masculine form / as Oshun is in female form.
My own heart is overwhelmed by what abundance Chango has brought to my life. Not just in dollars and cents but in freedom, in joy, in passion of life. When my smile shines with light and warmth that is Chango loving me from deep inside the sun - the secret of fire. He is an incarnation of God, as mighty and high to me. So deep is his love for me that I am never to deny I am his child, no matter what Orisha rules my head. Just saying that brings tears to my eyes.
I remember one time I had a conversation with my Iyugbonakan after her own meditation, and she places these very words in my ears - "I have to be in awe, I am overcome with how much Baba loves us." I am never going to forget those words from my Godmother. She could have easily personalized those words by saying "how much he loves me..." but his love is so deep and wide for his children that I feel she couldn't just own it in individualism. She had to be faithful to Chango's great love for his collective family. Those words from my Iyugbona ring in my ear every time I prostrate in Moforibale to salute him. His love is so great that his mariwo (skirt made of palm fronds) will caress everyone who passes under it, from the tiniest baby, to the aleyo/aborisha uninitiated, to the eldest amongst us, making his love accessible equally.
That the Iyalochas of the great Kingdom of Oyo who were brought to Cuba survived, resisted, protected and gifted us this mystery. That the good people of Oyo even brought forward this love from within their community. That we in the diaspora can benefit from this abundance - its a special privilege, a blessing beyond words.
Chango understands that we are all in a path of trials. Chango understands that we can all receive abundance - that no one should be a slave to no one. He places the initiate on the throne to find regal success such as he did after growing in his trials.
Right after I realized I was not entirely Christian and Lucumi was my main source of spirituality - I began to feel how I did not really connect with Christmas. While the festivities and the lights are all pretty - I could only feel them in the surface. But when I thought of Nature's rhythm and the rebirth of the sun after the long night of Winter solstice, I realized all I wanted was to celebrate the birth of a different King - and for me that became Chango. He who knows the fire at the heart of the sun. It was very fortunate for me that in Lucumi we celebrate Chango on December 4th - during the feast of St. Barbara. But I decided to celebrate my King all of December.
The Oriki We mi 'lere specifically speaks of Chango acknowledging and accepting the offerings of his followings. He mentions all of his ebbos, and he asserts that he eats them. He listens to his followers proclaim that they pray for him to pour over his abundance on them.
As I have walked with Baba as an Aborisha these 20+ years I felt those words of his acknowledgements were so powerful. He is the one Orisha who happily proclaims what he sees we do for him and that he accepts them. The tone of his lyrics tell me he is happy with every ebbo - every effort from us.
He eats the Amala and is happy to transmute the energy of his followers' devotion into his abundant love, manifested in joyous blessings and lessons (some hard with trials, and some very pleasurable -- but all with love).
As an Iyawo - this means I have no fear of new beginnings because he is about to make them so very amazing.
Maferefun Chango every day. Moforibale my Alaafin Oyo, Oba Oyo, Oba Ikoso. Kabiesile.
Effective leaves have profit. Brilliant red Indago, you are truly over brimming"
(Oriki to Chango / Lukumi / Translation by John Mason)
I have spent the last few days listening to YouTubes by "El Conquistador" on Lucumi Orisha songs. He teaches how to sing the song for English speakers and also provides the translation for John Mason in the comments. Learning Chango's song with the videos and translation made me pause for reflection. I always need to learn each part of our religion with spiritual intention and mindset no matter the setting or the source. So while learning I kept feeling the meditation surface, a reflection on what it is that we sing in tambores. What am I saying as I sing Wemilere - the meaning of the words hit me and joined all I have lived with Baba.
Over brimming - meaning "you are truly abundance."
In the song the lyrics exalt Chango as abundance over and over. The lyrics also exalt Chango's status as King, the main character of many Pataki's where his character is tested. Sometimes he wins. Sometimes he fails. But in the end we always find him as the first Alaafin of Oyo. He overcomes and becomes abundance in masculine form / as Oshun is in female form.
My own heart is overwhelmed by what abundance Chango has brought to my life. Not just in dollars and cents but in freedom, in joy, in passion of life. When my smile shines with light and warmth that is Chango loving me from deep inside the sun - the secret of fire. He is an incarnation of God, as mighty and high to me. So deep is his love for me that I am never to deny I am his child, no matter what Orisha rules my head. Just saying that brings tears to my eyes.
I remember one time I had a conversation with my Iyugbonakan after her own meditation, and she places these very words in my ears - "I have to be in awe, I am overcome with how much Baba loves us." I am never going to forget those words from my Godmother. She could have easily personalized those words by saying "how much he loves me..." but his love is so deep and wide for his children that I feel she couldn't just own it in individualism. She had to be faithful to Chango's great love for his collective family. Those words from my Iyugbona ring in my ear every time I prostrate in Moforibale to salute him. His love is so great that his mariwo (skirt made of palm fronds) will caress everyone who passes under it, from the tiniest baby, to the aleyo/aborisha uninitiated, to the eldest amongst us, making his love accessible equally.
That the Iyalochas of the great Kingdom of Oyo who were brought to Cuba survived, resisted, protected and gifted us this mystery. That the good people of Oyo even brought forward this love from within their community. That we in the diaspora can benefit from this abundance - its a special privilege, a blessing beyond words.
Chango understands that we are all in a path of trials. Chango understands that we can all receive abundance - that no one should be a slave to no one. He places the initiate on the throne to find regal success such as he did after growing in his trials.
Right after I realized I was not entirely Christian and Lucumi was my main source of spirituality - I began to feel how I did not really connect with Christmas. While the festivities and the lights are all pretty - I could only feel them in the surface. But when I thought of Nature's rhythm and the rebirth of the sun after the long night of Winter solstice, I realized all I wanted was to celebrate the birth of a different King - and for me that became Chango. He who knows the fire at the heart of the sun. It was very fortunate for me that in Lucumi we celebrate Chango on December 4th - during the feast of St. Barbara. But I decided to celebrate my King all of December.
The Oriki We mi 'lere specifically speaks of Chango acknowledging and accepting the offerings of his followings. He mentions all of his ebbos, and he asserts that he eats them. He listens to his followers proclaim that they pray for him to pour over his abundance on them.
As I have walked with Baba as an Aborisha these 20+ years I felt those words of his acknowledgements were so powerful. He is the one Orisha who happily proclaims what he sees we do for him and that he accepts them. The tone of his lyrics tell me he is happy with every ebbo - every effort from us.
He eats the Amala and is happy to transmute the energy of his followers' devotion into his abundant love, manifested in joyous blessings and lessons (some hard with trials, and some very pleasurable -- but all with love).
As an Iyawo - this means I have no fear of new beginnings because he is about to make them so very amazing.
Maferefun Chango every day. Moforibale my Alaafin Oyo, Oba Oyo, Oba Ikoso. Kabiesile.
Nothing as an Aborisha or Aleyo can prepare you for what this is. Of course coming in with a good foundation of spiritual work and shadow work will help a lot - in fact it is essential to start the process. But for all that I have just lived, nothing prepared me for that. It was all devotion, love, community and dedication to loving Oshun and Orisha.
I am Iyawo de Oshun. My Mother. Beautiful. Essenial to the world. Essential to the birth of Kariocha. I owe her my life. She manifested in every single essence of me from Day 1 and she continues to understand me and love me as no one has. I want to dedicate my writing in this year to the beautiful reflections of my soul and my growth. To reflecting and being an ambassador to Oshun but also who she is in humbleness. How wonderful to have Her as my Mother so that I can take each little step in love and in her care, in the divinity that she is. I'm not sure that I will ever be someone to share a lot about my spiritual work in depth.
You see I think there has to be some very respectful and loving care to how we speak of the mysteries. It is good to demystify who we are as practitioners but, this religion is very much about relationship building. Respect and relationship hand in hand. And so no matter what reflections I write here or what information I give, it will never really describe anyone's experience with Orisha. Only Ifa can give you insight on what each Odu and each Pataki and each lesson means for you.
There are also many things from my Ita and my tratados that will never be talked about in this space because that secrecy is what keeps the religion sacred.
But what I do want to reflect is personal growth. It is personal experience in the daily. It is lessons that I have that perhaps will help someone along the way in their spiritual life.
Maferefun Oshun every day. Maferefun my Yeye, My Mother, Iyalorde every second and every breath of my life.
I am Iyawo de Oshun. My Mother. Beautiful. Essenial to the world. Essential to the birth of Kariocha. I owe her my life. She manifested in every single essence of me from Day 1 and she continues to understand me and love me as no one has. I want to dedicate my writing in this year to the beautiful reflections of my soul and my growth. To reflecting and being an ambassador to Oshun but also who she is in humbleness. How wonderful to have Her as my Mother so that I can take each little step in love and in her care, in the divinity that she is. I'm not sure that I will ever be someone to share a lot about my spiritual work in depth.
You see I think there has to be some very respectful and loving care to how we speak of the mysteries. It is good to demystify who we are as practitioners but, this religion is very much about relationship building. Respect and relationship hand in hand. And so no matter what reflections I write here or what information I give, it will never really describe anyone's experience with Orisha. Only Ifa can give you insight on what each Odu and each Pataki and each lesson means for you.
There are also many things from my Ita and my tratados that will never be talked about in this space because that secrecy is what keeps the religion sacred.
But what I do want to reflect is personal growth. It is personal experience in the daily. It is lessons that I have that perhaps will help someone along the way in their spiritual life.
Maferefun Oshun every day. Maferefun my Yeye, My Mother, Iyalorde every second and every breath of my life.
