PRANAVA: Period of 1997, II

PRANAVA: Period of 1997, II

The Real Deal

Sunday, Aug 17, 2014 A- A+ HomeLatest NewsMarketsToday's Paper BSE 26103.23(184.28)NSE 7791.70(52.15) Pti stories Press Trust of India | New Delhi Jan 14, 2014 Last Updated at 12:00 AM IST 'Pranic Healing' is not a trademark, says Delhi HC 'Pranic Healing' is not a trademark as it is an ancient technique of Yoga, a Delhi High Court has held while disallowing the plea of a Philippines-based institute seeking action against a woman from conducting courses on it without proper guidelines. "...It can be seen that the expression Pranic Healing on the date of the application for the registration was prima facie non-distinctive and was the name of the art or technique of doing exercise which was a facet of Yoga. "The expression was not capable of distinguishing the services of the plaintiff from others due to its wide spread use in the field dating back from centuries," Justice Manmohan has said. The court delivered the judgment on a petition filed by the Philippines based Inner Studies Institute established by Late Samson Lim Choachuy known as Master Choa Kok Sui on April 27, 1987 and has trusts in various cities in India as well. The institute had moved high court seeking injunction against one Charlotte Anderson and others from practicing pranic healing and conducting courses without proper guidelines and issuing certificates or selling substandard teaching material. Anderson, on the other hand, had submitted a letter of authorization, signed by the Master in his lifetime, entitles her to practice 'Pranic Healing' and even otherwise, she said she was an expert in the field by her own right and that, as a joint author, she has the same intellectual property rights over the work as the Master. She also contended that there is no copyright subsisting in favour of the institute or the legal heirs of the Master as all information relating to Pranic Healing is available in the public domain. "Prima facie, it appears to the court that it becomes generic name and cannot be protected being known as name of concept of Yoga at present. Even the Master was not the proprietor of the said expression 'Pranic Healing', hence at this stage, the institute is not entitled to claim the monopoly of the said words," the Court observed. It, however, directed Anderson and others not to reproduce and sell contents of the books and the trade literature, brochures, CDs, manuals in the manner used by the Master in his books, literature and other material or use them during imparting of courses. It allowed her to exercise her rights over nine books co-authored by her. Advertisements Open an account and see your money multiply Top Stories Stalled SEZs to get Modi booster Yeddyurappa gets place in Amit Shah's 'A' team; Varun out IDBI Bank to declare KFA wilful defaulter Hiring pace picks up but many sectors still await better days The Congress's torchbearer in Uttarakhand Markets Markets register highest weekly rise since Budget Small investors left out of divestment via OFS RBI in talks to ease foreign investors' trade in securities Indian ETFs liked more abroad 5 ETFs to hit market this year Companies IDBI Bank to declare KFA wilful defaulter DLF hires advisors to boost mall footfall Carnival in talks to raise Rs 300 cr, set to acquire 215 screens Neyveli to add 2,500 Mw in 3 years Wipro has strong succession plans in place: CFO Banking Forex reserves fall $643 mn Charging for higher ATM use will lead to more branch visits Now, pay to use even home-bank ATMs Reserve Bank board for talk with govt on COO post Redesigning financial inclusion: Feedback from earlier glitches key Opinion The Congress's torchbearer in Uttarakhand You cannot wish away 34 years of Left Front rule: Sugata Bose Kishan S Rana: Dealing with the Silk Route merchants Hardeep S Puri: Correcting the Bali error The five P's of financial inclusion Online News English marks not be included for gradation: UPSC to aspirants Mudgal committee questions Srinivasan and Meiyappan Anti-govt protestors vow not to back down till Sharif resigns States to get individual export promotion councils: Modi Govt aiming at 24x7 power supply: Modi Today's Paper Stalled SEZs to get Modi booster Yeddyurappa gets place in Amit Shah's 'A' team; Varun out IDBI Bank to declare KFA wilful defaulter Hiring pace picks up but many sectors still await better days DLF hires advisors to boost mall footfall Markets | Companies | Opinion | Banking General News | Today's Paper | News Now Copyrights © 2014 Business Standard Ltd. All rights reserved

Coast to Coast ....from Striesand to Jolie they keep coming back for the acute in sight of this rising Psychic Star.

​ Sunshine Intuitive, Psychic Tarot, Medium, Pranic Healer Sunshine's skills include: Psychic Tarot, Scrying, Guided Imagery, Mediumship, Animal Communication, Reiki II Healing, Pranic Energy Healing. I was born February 20 under a full moon in the caul into a family where I am 6th. Generation Psychic. I am a Scottish, English and Native American Clairvoyant Seer and Healer.

Menu Healer, spiritualist, magtatawas, etc.. 5 Votes (Second part) Bella Cariaso THE faith healing recovery believing that a person or place has the ability to get treatment and cure, that an entity or object is able to deprive any illness or naked Pain by connection to a higher power. This is done through prayer, visiting a religious shrine or just a strong belief. According to those who believe in faith healing, the recovery can be achieved through prayer or ritual who calls the presence of unusual strength and power to heal. Typically, only hand used when performing the ritual for faith healing. Saying a prayer, immersion in an entity nakakapagpagaling various diseases, particularly those severe illness. Typically associated with an alleged miracle recovery of a person. With different classification faith healing based on the method of treatment as those who practice it. Herb doctor If doctors are general practitioners, in faith healing, the healer is said to its opposite. Medicinal herbs often used in the treatment of a healer. Often the grid healer of people in an area, especially in rural areas with little help from the government related to their health problems. Others are said to have the ability to actually practice it bequeath after a strange creature. Typically, the healer had no formal education. Their treatments are making a practice inherited from the elders.Because of the effort, becoming a familiar ritual healer, alleged illness of a patient and the method of treatment such as prayer, whispered spells and use of medicinal plants. Others became Gamay taking the pulse to determine a patient's disease. Varies as a trainee healer of sickness caused by a person, depending on the feel of a place with strange creatures like elves, great-mound, just land, tikbalang and Kapre. Among the rituals performed by local healer in his treatment is alum and luop ginagamitan while she also has various remedies such as veneer, remedy, stroke, preventive, and whispered spell. Healer often hear that the cause of the sickness was sire, that dwarfs and that Gnome. Spiritualist The spirits are said to belong to a sect and came to Europe. Nauso the spirit in the advent of the 20th century. Among the prominent alleged members of the spirit were Isabelo de los Reyes, the sculptor Guillermo Tolentino, and a governor of Pangasinan. The famous spirits in Northern Luzon, particularly in Pangasinan. They use the "seances" to communicate with the dead or other spirits. Practitioner also espiritistas. From the group spirit was the first surgeon to psyhic Eleuterio Terte was identified in the 1950s. Most of the previous psychic surgeons came to Northern Luzon and eventually spread to different parts of the country until it became popular in the 1980s and early 1990. Mangtatawas The alum is a popular diagnostic ritual conducted by most alternative healers provide clues for the cause or reason for a patient's illness. Acquired the name of pagtatawas word alum, or crystalline double sulfate of aluminum and potassium and from which it was exclusively used in diagnostic ritual. Right now, the alum is used in rituals or diagnostic procedures using various items such as candles, eggs, glass, plain paper, leather cigarette and alum. Manghihilot Typically, limited only does the midwife on Pain that naiibsan by panghihilot and massage. Facilities include a midwife is a fetish, an "empowered" cane, a nazarene-Garb to pinamana a teacher and a few rituals to determine the illness. An ancient technique of massage is using the symbol of the cross, crown of thorns, crucifixion bead and the hands and feet. Manghihilot often used coconut oil and leaves that makes dressing the affected part of the body. Approached the manghihilot the strain, tapilok, fractured and rub. Mangluluop The mangluluop a specialist to determine the cause of an illness through ritual luop. Among ritual is used kalanghuga, a kind of shell from fresh water or salt water, salt, supposedly to weaken the supernatural spirits, benditang palm, coconut shell charcoal from coconut, raffia and a tin. Paghahalu-mix the ingredients in cans and is dadasalan and results are based on the appearance of integrated components with tin. After that, the patient will be advised of mangluluop he ought to do. After performing the ritual, breaking the shell while dinadasalan patient. Dispose of used ritual under the stairs for allegedly did not return the evil spirit in the house. Manghihila Panghihilot usually done to determine the affected part of the body or the offender is panghihila. Minamasahe first coconut oil affected area prior to the panghihila using a glass, cellophane, and paper for cigarettes. Cover of medicinal leaves the treated part after isinigawang midwife. Faith Healers Begins the faith healers as a healer or midwife. Although different makes treatment, consistent with their statement from their physician to the Holy Spirit power, they are just tools of the Holy Spirit. Most faith healers say that they experienced a divine encounter, or else in their teens has a unique experience in which he appointed physician. Also included in the category of psychic healers faith healers which whispers and dinadasalan of the affected part of the patient. The others were placing flowers soaked in oil and dinasalan. Saliva also used by some faith healers. Besides psychic healers, as well as the faith healers are the psychic surgeons, or those who conduct operations using only the hands and without using any instrument. Also been some controversy in the psychic surgeons finish with some fake claims makes operation of the sick. One well-known faith healer today is Father Fernando Suarez, a priest said Katoloko that he discovered his talent in medicine at the age of 16. According to her, she saw a woman strain which he had compassion here. He sat here and prayed with him. After that, he saw a woman and bones grow there because of the excitement he ran away. Up to now, no woman claims seeing. He said he became a priest, he realized he should not monopolize his ability physician seepage began Sinyang physician. Since then, everywhere he nagpupupunta for a mass and pray with the sick. People January 25, 2008 at the Catholic Bishops reveal Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) that although they look for Suarez, he continues to watch over her pagmimisa and activities. On January 26 2008, two people died and seven were rushed to the James Gordon Hospital in Olongapo City while waiting with Suarez. Died that Juanito Eleazar, 69, after a heart attack while in line with the other 15,000 patients. In Mexico, the 39-year-old with colon cancer Tapnio Alberto died while in a wheelchair and he was blessed with Suarez. Add Tapnio was dead on arrival at a hospital and he tried to activate by electric shocks. People rejoiced, but also add Tapnio died after four hours. Now still Suarez's healing mass inside and outside the country. Ed: Have a question, comment or reaction you enjoy this article? Text your name, age, location and message to 09178052374. About these ads Share this: Share Related Atlantis End In "Features" Greenfield's prediction (Bandera resident psychic): Failing economy, turmoil, revolt In "Features" Afflicted, just sakitan old Ampatuan In "News" May 9, 2012Leave a reply «Previous Next » Leave a Reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Name * Email * Website Comment Notify me of follow-up comments via email. Bandera Digital Edition / Today's Issue BUENAS Subscribe to! 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OPRAH Sign In Featured HOME OWN TV VIDEOS O MAGAZINE STEEP YOUR SOUL OPRAH PRIME OPRAH'S TOUR SUPER SOUL SUNDAY THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW #OWNSHOW E-courses BRENÉ BROWN OPRAH & DEEPAK Interests INSPIRATION HEALTH & WELLNESS FOOD HOME FASHION & BEAUTY Own Shows IF LOVING YOU IS WRONG THE HAVES AND THE HAVE NOTS WHERE ARE THEY NOW OPRAH'S MASTER CLASS IYANLA: FIX MY LIFE LOVE THY NEIGHBOR OPRAH'S LIFECLASS OUR AMERICA WITH LISA LING LIFE WITH LA TOYA FOR BETTER OR WORSE WELCOME TO SWEETIE PIE'S OPERATION CHANGE LINDSAY DEION'S FAMILY PLAYBOOK SIX LITTLE MCGHEES HOME MADE SIMPLE RAISING WHITLEY MOM'S GOT GAME LOVE IN THE CITY OPRAH'S NEXT CHAPTER A NEW EARTH HERLARIOUS GOLDEN SISTERS RUNNING FROM CRAZY More DR. MAYA ANGELOU HELP/FAQ BOOKS OPRAH RADIO COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS SWEEPSTAKES OWNERS QUOTABLES Health and Wellness Advertisement 10 Ways Hypnosis Can Help You Lose Weight—For Good Close your eyes. Imagine your food cravings floating away. Imagine a day of eating only what's good for you. Imagine hypnosis actually helping you lose weight—because the news is: It does. Harvard Medical School psychotherapist Jean Fain gives you ten hypnotic suggestions to try right now. By Jean Fain Photo: Thinkstock 1.1K 158 48 Google+ 63 1.4K Shares ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT When I tell people how I make much of my living—as a psychotherapist hypnotizing people slim—they inevitably ask: Does it work? My answer usually brightens their eyes with something between excitement and incredulity. Most people, including my colleagues at Harvard Medical School, where I teach hypnosis, don't realize that adding trance to your weight loss efforts can help you lose more weight and keep it off longer. Hypnosis predates carb and calorie counting by a few centuries, but this age-old attention-focusing technique has yet to be embraced wholeheartedly as an effective weight loss strategy. Until recently, there has been scant scientific evidence to support the legitimate claims of respected hypnotherapists, and a glut of pie-in-the-sky promises from their problem cousins, stage hypnotists, hasn't helped. Even after a persuasive mid-nineties reanalysis of 18 hypnotic studies showed that psychotherapy clients who learned self-hypnosis lost twice as much weight as those who didn't (and, in one study, kept it off two years after treatment ended), hypnotherapy has remained a well-kept weight loss secret. Unless hypnosis has happily compelled you or someone you know to buy a new, smaller wardrobe, it may be hard to believe that this mind-over-body approach could help you get a handle on eating. Seeing is definitely believing. So see for yourself. You don't have to be entranced to learn some of the invaluable lessons that hypnosis has to teach about weight loss. The ten mini-concepts that follow contain some of the diet-altering suggestions my weight management clients receive in group and individual hypnotherapy. 1. The answer lies within. Hypnotherapists believe you have everything you need to succeed. You don't really need another crash diet or the latest appetite suppressant. Slimming is about trusting your innate abilities, as you do when you ride a bicycle. You may not remember how scary it was the first time you tried to bike, but you kept practicing until you could ride automatically, without thought or effort. Losing weight may seem similarly beyond you, but it's just a matter of finding your balance. 2. Believing is seeing. People tend to achieve what they think they can achieve. That even applies to hypnosis. Subjects tricked into believing they could be hypnotized (for example, as the hypnotist suggested they'd see red, he flipped the switch on a hidden red bulb) demonstrated increased hypnotic responsiveness. The expectation of being helped is essential. Let me suggest that you expect your weight loss plan to work. 3. Accentuate the positive. Negative, or aversive, suggestions, like "Doughnuts will sicken you," work for a while, but if you want lasting change, you'll want to think positive. The most popular positive hypnotic suggestion was devised by doctors Herbert Spiegel and David Spiegel, a father- son hypnotherapy team: "For my body, too much food is damaging. I need my body to live. I owe my body respect and protection." I encourage clients to write their own upbeat mantras. One 50-year-old mother who lost 50-plus pounds repeats daily: "Unnecessary food is a burden on my body. I'm going to shed what I don't need." PAGE 1 of 2 1 2 NEXT From the August 2004 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine Comment 2 Comments SubscribeRSS Elana Stanton85 days ago Hypnosis is great for weight loss! Hypnosis works by changing the way your mind experiences information. So for weight loss hypnosis, you would receive information that you are comfortable around food, that you crave healthy food and healthy exercise. You can hypnotize yourself by getting into a very relaxed state where your mind goes into alpha waves and becomes highly suggestible. Then, visualize yourself eating healthy and exercising and being calm and relaxed around food. You can do this before you go to bed at night. It will work! Try out the Think and Shrink weight loss hypnosis program. LikeReplyShare0 Alexander Ivlev120 days ago As a certified hypnotist and weight loss specialist I can add that if you have a goal then you will achieve it. The problem is not many people know what their goals are. Your goal is not losing weight, your goal is your slim body. Think about it. LikeReplyShare1 ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Advertisement The Big Pang: Why You Can't Stop Eating Who's in charge—you or your appetite? Eating right would be a piece of cake if it weren't for that overpowering urge called hunger. But where do those "feeeeed me!" signals really come from? Your genes? Our culture? The mysterious hunger hormones leptin and ghrelin? By Michelle Stacey Photo: Thinkstock 22 3 13 Google+ 0 38 Shares ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Like the insatiable houseplant in Little Shop of Horrors our bodies send a message to our brains: "Feeeeed me!" The monster within us makes its relentless demand, we comply, and soon enough it rears its ugly head yet again and roars for more. We're supposed to feel hungry when we need fuel, but hunger has become so fraught, so linked to our collectively ballooning girth, that it often seems less like a finely tuned bodily function and more like a beast in need of taming. Who's in charge—our appetites or our brains? And is there really such a thing as willpower? The answer to the second question is yes, of course, but if we try to live by willpower alone—to eat less than nature intended us to eat, to be thinner than our genes meant for us to be—we're in for a struggle. The sad truth is that for some people, staying thin means going hungry. The much happier truth is that scientists are beginning to understand much more about how we know when, and how much, to eat. Millions of people, from the clinically obese to those struggling with an extra five pounds, stand to gain (and lose) from the researchers' insights. A major advance in Big Pang theory came in 1995, with the discovery of leptin, the first recognized hormone that regulates body weight. "Since then, the pace of change in understanding appetite control has been exponential," says David E. Cummings, MD, associate professor of medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle. Two years ago, Cummings himself reported that surges of another hormone, ghrelin, prompt hunger before meals. Both breakthroughs have brought us much closer to figuring out how, when, and why the creature must be fed. In a perfect world, two to three and a half hours after eating breakfast, your empty stomach secretes ghrelin, which travels to the brain and triggers your appetite. You begin to feel physically hungry, you think about lunch, and pretty soon you're eating. The food then signals your ghrelin levels to drop off, decreasing your appetite. As you eat, other molecules and hormones—including PYY, which was recently found to have a role in hunger—tell your brain to stop eating: Your stomach expands, and nerve impulses from the stretch receptors there, as well as hormones stimulated by food in the intestine, alert the brain that you're full. Together, ghrelin and PYY are part of a tag team of hunger, turning appetite on, then off. Leptin also turns your appetite off, but in a longer-term way than PYY: It lets your brain know how much fat you've stored in your body. Leptin is made by the fat cells, and as fat stores rise, more leptin is secreted, traveling to the brain with the message You're fat enough—stop eating so much. If fat levels fall, so do leptin levels, and appetite increases. Mice that are genetically unable to produce leptin grow enormously obese because they never get the word to stop eating. PAGE 1 of 4 1 2 3 4 NEXT From the August 2004 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine Comment 0 Comments SubscribeRSS ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Advertisement Overeaters Anonymous: One Food Addict's Spiritual Cure Her cravings, in retrospect, were out of control—there wasn't enough pasta in the world to satisfy her. An anonymous, self-described food junkie learns to take it one dish at a time. By Anonymous Photo: Thinkstock 151 18 228 Google+ 6 403 Shares ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT I do not hide candy bars under the couch. I do not prowl dark country roads in search of all-night diners or steal cookies from my kid's lunchbox. Still, after years of denying that I suffered from compulsive eating habits, I joined Overeaters Anonymous (OA) and listened to these anecdotes with horror and empathy. While the details often exceeded my own most psychotic episodes with food, yielding to the clutches of uncontrollable eating was all too familiar, along with its certain, subsequent dive into remorse, shame, and humiliation. OA is patterned after Alcoholics Anonymous, and in the language of 12-step programs, I am a "high bottom" addict: My life had not become unmanageable. Weight was never an issue in my career or in my marriage. I fit easily into airplane seats, and I came to OA wishing to lose just 20 pounds, not 100 or more. Yet after finishing a normal helping of pasta, I have another. And another. Left alone with enough for ten people, I'd eat it all. A trigger goes off in my head or in my body or in my blood sugar—I don't know where it goes off, but I am rendered completely, utterly powerless. At those times, I am a junkie, a spasm of need and desire, wholly focused on ingesting that bowl of pasta (or doughnuts or ice cream). Wheat and sugar. The OA program doesn't promote any particular diet, but wheat and sugar so pervasively spark compulsive eating that many members make abstinence from them the turning point in overcoming their addiction. Food has always been my drug of choice. I eat to numb myself, to deaden the feelings of...is it loneliness? Grief? Anger? Could those circuits have blown out by age 5? That's how old I was when I began stealing loose change to buy candy. Eating became my one-beat response to every feeling. When I was tired, I ate. When I was wide awake, I ate. When I was elated, I ate to calm down. When I was sad, I ate to cheer up. Maybe it's biochemical. Maybe it's a disease like diabetes. "The reasons are unimportant," says the OA literature. This is hard for my psychologically oriented mind to accept. But OA is filled with people who have hit a wall trying to reason out their eating. Over and over again, their conclusion is that only reliance on God, or our "higher power," as we individually understand that concept, "can restore us to sanity." I had entered the program determined to remain open to the spiritual language of 12-step work. Between growing up as a secular Jew and then gravitating toward Asian traditions, the word God had never entered my vocabulary. But I prided myself on being a cut above those prickly, educated atheists who would rather remain drunks and overeaters than enter a program where their disorder was identified as a spiritual crisis. It did not offend me to hear that my disease couldn't be healed until I turned my will over to God or to a higher power, or to be told that prayer and meditation were instrumental to recovery. There was one problem, however: I had absolutely no idea what anyone was talking about. Then one day a man in his mid-30s compared the process of his recovery to driving a car when the windshield was fogged up. Initially, he cleared a small patch of the window and sat hunched over the wheel with his face pressed to the glass. The only view was, basically, the tip of his nose. But slowly the clear patch expanded; the view became wide, then immense, and then infinite. Bingo. PAGE 1 of 3 1 2 3 NEXT From the August 2005 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine Comment 0 Comments SubscribeRSS ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Advertisement Could You Give Up Fat-Free and Low-Cal Foods in Favor of the "Real" Thing? To keep her weight down, Jancee Dunn lived on a round-the-clock snackfest of chiplike things, frozen "treats," and other foods not found in nature. What would happen, we wondered, if instead of mountains of fake food, she tried reasonable amounts of the real thing? Steak. Cheese. Full-fat ice cream. Would she get ravenous? Tired? Fat? A month after accepting our challenge, Dunn weighs in. By Jancee Dunn Photo: Thinkstock 48 3 10 Google+ 5 66 Shares ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Here's what I eat on an average day: an energy bar, cheddar-flavored rice cakes, a banana, some baked chips, and for dinner, maybe a slice of pizza washed down with diet lemonade. Then if I'm feeling wild, I'll have a slice of fat-free pound cake. This menu horrifies my husband, an amateur gourmet cook. "Why do you eat that fake stuff?" he asks. I give him my usual answers: I don't have time for real meals. I like feeling "light" as opposed to stuffed. It keeps my energy up. But the real reason is that I am always thinking about food. I remind him that I've had a robust appetite since birth—my first word was more—and I can't exactly eat brownies nonstop. He shakes his head. We've had this conversation many times. He grabs my latest discovery, a box of jalapeño "munchies," a low-fat version of pizza rolls from the health food store, and says, "Can you please define a munchie?" I can't. All I know is that if I'm going to eat all day, then grazing on low-fat or low-carb snacks and meals is the only way I know to maintain my weight. But later, after polishing off a bag of cheddar and sour cream baked chips (not a two-ounce portion but a family-size bag), I think about my husband's questions and start wondering about the trade-off for feeling so light. Those chips were the color of a highway safety cone, and why was sugar the third item on the list of ingredients? What if I ate the real-food counterparts to all my low-cal foods—actual ice cream, for instance? Would my thighs expand faster than the Sun Belt suburbs? Would I feel sluggish from the changes? And if I started eating cheese or cookies or roast beef, would I ever be able to stop? I wasn't sure. My diet plan has always been about leveraging science and technology to fool my taste buds and Mother Nature, but when O asked me to give up my faux foods in favor of the real thing for a month, I thought it might be time to try something different. So I said yes. Week 1 Knowing that this will be a radical shift in my diet, I've arranged to talk to a woman who's written a best-selling book about enjoying fabulous food in tiny amounts, as well as two nutrition experts, and Danny Meyer, the incredibly busy owner of some of New York's consistently top-rated restaurants, who always tries to make time for a homemade lunch. The first of my unofficial advisers is Mireille Guiliano, president of the Champagne company Clicquot and author of French Women Don't Get Fat. The French, Guiliano explains in her book, refuse to think of a meal as a guilt-inducing activity. French women make a ritual of sitting down for a meal—they do not snack or eat on the run. They also don't torture themselves; they take pleasure in wine and cheese and pastries—all kinds of foods that I've deprived myself of—but in moderation. We meet at Jean Georges restaurant, a glorious, four-star paean to French cuisine in New York City. As a waiter serves Guiliano a jewel-like piece of salmon and a few perfect spears of asparagus, I tell her about my low-cal lifestyle. Like all the experts I'll meet, she's aghast. During our three-hour meal, she drinks a generous glass of Champagne and eats both bread and molten chocolate cake, but, following a key tenet of her book, only three bites of each. "The first bites are the best, anyway," she says. I try her rule, then put my fork down when she does. She's right: If you can just hold off that more-more-more urge for five minutes, you won't bolt down the whole serving. We share our dishes with much exclaiming (dining with her is a festive event), and Guiliano tells me about her passion for cooking with fresh, seasonal ingredients. For dinner that night, in the spirit of Guiliano, I leave the frozen diet angel hair pasta marinara in my freezer and make my own, using vine-ripe tomatoes and fragrant basil. I imitate Guiliano and eat slowly, putting my fork down frequently. I still devour the whole thing. French women may not get fat, but I'm afraid I might. PAGE 1 of 4 1 2 3 4 NEXT From the August 2005 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine Comment 0 Comments SubscribeRSS ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Advertisement 7 Foolproof Rules for Changing Your Diet Personal trainer Jim Karas suggests that you build a support system by telling friends and family about your plan. By Lise Funderberg 1 of 7 Photo: Thinkstock 34 10 46 Google+ 1 91 Shares ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Calories Count Go back to the basics and realize that your body weight is a function of the equation: Calories in minus calories out equals your body weight. If you're not happy with the outcome, then you need to work on your numbers. From the April 2002 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine RELATED RESOURCES DINNER WITH DR. OZ HOW TO EAT LESS—WITHOUT REALIZING IT DR. KATZ'S TOP 10 RULES FOR EATING RIGHT Comment 0 Comments SubscribeRSS ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Advertisement 7 Ways to Pass Your Weight Loss Plateau What to do when you hit the weight loss wall, and how to get over it. By Dr Katz Photo: Thinkstock 373 31 147 Google+ 2 553 Shares ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT One of the most common frustrations in weight loss is when all progress halts despite the fact that you are diligently following your plan. Such plateaus are predictable and explainable. Basal metabolic rate (BMR)—the energy required to keep the heart pumping, lungs expanding, kidneys filtering, and all other vital bodily functions going when the body is at rest—accounts for 60 to 70 percent of the calories you burn and depends, for the most part, on body mass. When weight loss occurs, body mass goes down; so does BMR. This article is part of Oprah.com's 2011 Feel Good Challenge. Join now—and move closer to the life you want! Consider an example: You weigh 162 pounds and eat 1,900 calories a day. To lose a pound a week, you've got to cut between 500 and 600 calories per day. So you restrict yourself to 1,400 calories, and the weight comes off. But suddenly, after week six, the scale refuses to budge. This is because with the weight loss, your BMR has also declined (say, from 0.95 to 0.75 calories per minute), and where your body used to burn 1,368 calories per day, now it's using only 1,080. At this weight, there's also less of you to move around, so you burn fewer calories working out and waste fewer calories as heat. All in all, your daily calorie expenditure is now pretty close to what you're taking in. You've hit a new—and probably very annoying—equilibrium. Now that you know why it happens, here's what to do: 1. Hang in there. You may feel stuck, but you're probably still losing weight—just not enough to register on the scale. But even dropping a third of a pound per week means that in a year, you'll be down a whole 17 pounds. 2. Avoid fuzzy math. It's common to overestimate calories burned and underestimate calories eaten. Look for places where calories may hide—dressings, spreads, sauces, croutons, and condiments. Are you tasting a lot while cooking? Finishing what the kids leave on their plates? Absentmindedly grabbing handfuls of nuts, chips, or candy? You might try keeping a detailed food diary. Remember that for each pound you want to lose, you need to cut at least 3,500 calories—and if you don't want to eat less, to lose the same pound you'll have to add about ten extra hours of brisk walking or the equivalent. 3. Put up some resistance. Increasing physical activity is particularly useful for moving beyond a plateau because exercise both uses calories and builds muscle. The more muscle you have, the higher your BMR, which is why working out with light weights or doing some kind of resistance training can be especially helpful. In fact, increasing your muscle mass as you lose body fat can compensate for the decline in BMR induced by weight loss. PAGE 1 of 2 1 2 NEXT From the August 2003 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine Comment 1 Comment SubscribeRSS Alexander Ivlev79 days ago It's all about losing motivation. Self-hypnosis is really helpful for solving such problems. Human perception needs to be corrected all the time. Changing is always painful that's why some people fail to lose weight. LikeReplyShare0 ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement INFORMATION PRIVACY POLICYTERMS OF USEDMCA COMPLIANCESCAMSPRESS ROOMAD SALESHARPO CAREERSOWN CAREERSCONTACT USHELP/FAQ SUBSCRIBE O, THE OPRAH MAGAZINE Subscribe to O, The Oprah Magazine for up to 78% OFF what others pay on the newsstand — that's like getting 19 FREE issues! SUBSCRIBE TO OPRAH MAGAZINE GIVE A GIFT OF O, THE OPRAH MAGAZINE CUSTOMER SERVICE NEWSLETTERS SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS TODAY AND ENJOY THE BENEFITS. Stay up to date with the latest trends that matter to you most. Have expert advice and tips delivered directly to you. Be in the know on current and upcoming trends. VIEW ALL NEWSLETTERS OPRAH IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF HARPO, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2014 HARPO PRODUCTIONS, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Dragon Body

HomeStudentsVideoInfoContactBiography/BooksEventsOnline ClassesEnergy Facilitators4 Pillars Of Tai Chi KungCircle WalkingStandingFlexingTransitional PalmJoint Manipulationmagnetism chi gungsong of the 9 laws of functionDragon Body ScrollSecret of the Sacred Palm ShapeHealing Palm Protection PalmAuthority of StillnessThe Secrets of SelfOrigin of The CenterLocking Hands / Flowing Palms9 Laws of Function9 Principals of Function Dragon Body The most revered and sacred creature of Chinese mythology is the dragon. Dragons have also played a prominent role in many ancient cultures around the world. The dragon may have had a factual base in nature (dinosaurs, snakes, amphibians, reptiles) but eventually it became mythological in order to explain important ideas. Myths were traditionally a way to explain abstract concepts (transmigration of the soul; origin of universe, etc…) using concrete concepts (things observed in nature) in order to explain some layer or facet of reality that wasn’t directly or easily observable. In reference to Sifu Roosevelt Gainey’s conceptualization of “dragon” in Body Energetics (Tai chi Kung; mind/body function), we ask” What is the true meaning of “dragon” and the “dragon body”? Secondly, we ask the question “Which particular style can defeat the dragon body in martial combat?” Lastly, we ask “How can one be an unparalleled fighter?” Not just in the ring, in the street, at home, or in the office, but wherever one may be and whatever circumstances may arise. We understand that life is not just physical confrontations but mostly mental and emotional “battles of power” that we go through in order to learn life’s lessons and gain strength. For the practitioner of Body Energetics, the above mentioned questions cannot be answered by reading books nor from watching kung fu instructional DVDs or having verbal discourses and debates with alleged masters. It is answered by self-actualization that comes from doing the required work! The required works are the required exercises as taught by Sifu Roosevelt Gainey. These exercises allow you to not only get stronger or more flexible but, more importantly, access the knowledge and wisdom that are inherent within the body. The whole body is used as the ultimate tool of investigation into the mysteries of how the mind/body functions. For Body Energetics, the term “dragon” is metaphorical and it symbolizes the unrestricted natural movement of mind, spirit, and body. Some cultures have a negative concept of the dragon (Judeo-Christian, Near East, European, etc...) but this is not the symbolism that we are adhering to in our school of thought. The dragon we are describing is the natural, wise, benevolent, free spirited, creative, unlimited, and energetic self. You must know that the concept of the dragon or reptile has been changed throughout history and depending on the time and place of your social and environmental conditioning you will get a different understanding of what a dragon is. In order to attain true knowledge you must destroy all prejudices and pre-conceived notions that have been programmed into you from birth. You should be an unbiased witness to the world around you so you can make an accurate assessment of what things actually are instead of what you assume them to be. This is the secret to true knowledge, wisdom, understanding, and spiritual power. Eventually we must return to our original nature (oneness with the All) with fully developed conscious awareness gained while living. The dragon body isn’t just the dragon body, it is the dragon mind. The person with a fixed technique and a set pattern of thinking will not easily (if at all) defeat the person who has acquired the dragon body. The person who has to have a particular plan of action will have the most difficult time against the person who responds instantaneously in any direction with full body power. A person thinking about how invincible their style is according to martial arts historical documentation is not the one who triumphs in battle. Only a person who knows how the mind and body functions and who can apply function can be victorious. The dragon bodied practitioner responds to any combat technique with instantaneous fluid motion. The body is trained so that there is no impeding of life force throughout the body because the body is filled with life force everywhere at once equally. The muscles, bones, tendons, fascia, nervous system are all developed to the highest degree so the whole body can move how it wants to when it wants to. There is no worrying about what to do. Just intend and “thy will be done”. You will move like a dragon soaring through the clouds, bending, twisting, folding, and unfolding as if you had no bones but instead a body of liquid steel. Any part of your body you touch your opponent with will feel like bone to them and soft tissue to you. This is the essence of effortless power and spontaneous, creative martial ability. This is what martial arts used to be until it was corrupted by those who wanted to keep secrets and those who were caught up in “worshipping” particular styles, patterns, or techniques. With the dragon body any movement can be a technique and everyone has their own individualized style determined by their own unique way of moving. Home | Students | Video | Info | Contact | Biography Copyright 2010 Mobile Site | Back to Top

Glove Anaesthesia

http://soundcloud.com/dragongate/pain-wellness-meditstion-at

Richard fitzgerald

ريتشارد فيتزجيرالد

Bi polar disorder

Pranic Healing:
1. Invoke and scan before, during and after treatment
.
2. Play the MCKS Om cd softly and continuously in the healing room.

3. General sweeping with LWG several times then once with ordinary LWB then ordinary LWV.

4. Work on one chakra at a time : solar plexus chakra, back heart chakra, throat chakra, ajna chakra, crown chakra, basic chakra.
a. Using EV - Cut negative energy cords then pull out the negative energy. Throw the pulled out negative energy into a basin with salt water.

b. Rescan. Pulling, cutting then throwing the negative energy until all the negative energy cord is pulled out of the chakra.
c. Repeat steps 4.a. and 4.b. on the next affected chakra.

5. Localised thorough sweeping using EV on the front and back solar plexus chakra with the intention to remove and disintegrate negative thoughts, negative emotions, negative elementals. Energise the front and back solar plexus chakra with EV - 3 with the intention to disintegrate any remaining negative energy and seal holes in the chakra's web. Rescan. Continue sweeping, energising and rescanning alternately until the energy is clean and stable ending with energising.

6. Localised thorough sweeping with EV on the throat chakra. secondary throat minor chakra, the entire brain, the ajna chakra, forehead chakra, crown chakra, back head minor chakra, and ear minor chakras with the intention to remove and disintegrate negative thoughts, negative emotions, negative elementals. Energise each one of the chakras with EV - 3 with the intention to disintegrate any remaining negative energy and seal holes in the chakra's web. Rescan. Continue sweeping, energising and rescanning alternately until the energy is clean and stable ending with energising.

7. Localised thorough sweeping using EV on the entire spine and both sides of the spine with the intention to remove and disintegrate negative thoughts, negative emotions, negative elementals.

8. Localised thorough sweeping with EV on the back heart chakra with the intention to remove and disintegrate negative thoughts, negative emotions, negative elementals. Energise the heart chakra through the back heart chakra with EV - 3 with the intention to disintegrate any remaining negative energy and seal holes in the chakra's web.

9. Localised thorough sweeping on the meng mein chakra, basic chakra and spleen chakra with LWV. Energise the basic chakra, and spleen chakra with LEV - 3. Do not energise the meng mein chakra. Rescan. Continue sweeping, energising and rescanning alternately until the energy is clean and stable ending with energising.

10. Rescan the ajna chakra, throat chakra, solar plexus chakra, meng mein chakra and basic chakra. If any one of the chakras is overactivated, energise the overactivated chakra with LB - 3 simultaneously will the chakra to become smaller. The meng mein chakra is 1/2 of the average size of the other major chakras.

11. Localised thorough sweeping with EV on the navel chakra, sex chakra, armpit minor chakras, elbow minor chakras, hand chakras, hip minor chakras, knee minor chakras and sole minor chakras with the intention to remove and disintegrate negative thoughts, negative emotions, negative elementals. Energise them with EV - 3 with the intention to disintegrate any remaining negative energy and seal holes in the chakra's web.

12. Stabilise and release projected energy.

13. Repeat treatment every one hour on the first several days of treatment. Gradually reduce frequency of treatment based on scanning results. Continue healing treatment for as long as necessary .

14. It is understood that medical treatments and therapy are continued. The rate and degree of healing are directly related to the patient's degree of cooperation and will to get healed.

Flesh eating bacteria

ma Namaste One of our Pranic healers mother needs healing for a flesh eating bug, she also has other health issues, but this one is of the Main priority now. I have attached her the email below. Scanning results are as follows: Crown - C - OA Forehead - D Back head - D Ajna - C - OA Throat - D Sec Throat - D L Jaw Minor - D R Jaw Minor - D F Heart - C - OA B Heart - C - OA F Solar Plexus - C - OA B Solar Plexus - C - OA F Spleen - C - OA B Spleen - C - OA Liver - D Navel - D L Kidney - D R Kidney - D Basic - D - OA Sex - D - OA Perineum - D ….Meng mein - D Lungs - C Brain - front, back, left, right, - D Centre and base -C Thyroid -D ... Your help and guidance is very much appreciated as always. Much Love, regards and respect. Jyoti S ================= > Dear Jyoti > > Further to my earlier healing request for my mum ( - - -). a photo a couple of years old and list out the current predicament. > > She had a blood blister (what now seems to be an ulcer) on her left leg on below the knee on the back of the leg burst after falling, it bled substantially at the time, it wasn't healing or closing up as time went by in hospital and then it bled a couple of time since. She has been in hospital for over 5.5 weeks. Anyway the vascular surgeon was brought in and he said he would need to treat it with laser surgery and oxygen chamber therapy to cure it. Bear in mind that beneath the bandages she had a massive hole on her leg, and everyone was surprised as they had not seen something quite severe. > > Anyway today she has had the surgery he has stopped the bleeding, dealt with the ulcer but it looks like the wound was infected by a flesh eating bug and its done quite some damage. He is very concerned and has put her on the strongest antibiotic to kill the bug although he can't guarantee anything. They have taken swabs etc to find out what it is. I don't know at what point they treat her with the oxygen therapy but that seems to be going ahead. If the antibiotics don't work she could lose her leg. This is what we are all so worried about. She has been told op went well and that is it. No need to worry her with the rest. > > Apart from that the reason she went to hospital in the first place was due to a urinary infection, she has had problems with her kidneys( the don't work to full capacity but she does not require dialysis although never to be discarded) for most of her life but with medication she has managed it. > > She was on warferine but because she had had poor balance not just due to the urine infection the drs decided to take her off it and were giving her heparin to avoind internal bleeding after a fall if that occurred, I believe she was going to be give aspirin once she left hospital. > > She suffers from blood pressure problems. She had anemia when she went into hospital 5 weeks ago so they gave her 2 blood tranfusions which did the trick, they could not identify why she had lost 2 quarts of blood as there were no visible signs for it and drs had no explanations either. She was confused and bewildered when she went into hospital, that was probably down to the kidney infection. She has since gone back to her usual self and no more confusion. > > She misses my dad a lot who passed away 2 years ago so she is depressed. > > She has a curved spine due to childhood work in spain where they did washing in the river and carried wet clothes back to town carrying the load on their head and shoulders. > > She has a lot of health issues/complications which are manageable but what is pressing is the destruction of that bug and healing that wound. > > I think that is all. > > Your help and senior guidance for her healing will be appreciated forever. > > Thanks > > Vanessa ================ Dear Jyoti, Atma namaste. Thank you for the additional information. Pranic Healing: NOTES: Apply the treatment gently, energise gradually. Throughout the treatment, touch your heart with the pads of the fingers of your passive hand. Smile. 1. Invoke and scan before, during and after treatment. 2. General sweeping twice or thrice. 3. Localised thorough sweeping on the affected part of the leg alternately with LWG and LWO - 100 to 300 times. Energise with LWG - 3, LWB - 3, then gold - 3. 4. Localised thorough sweeping on the kidneys alternately with LWG and LWO. Localised thorough sweeping on the meng mein chakra. Energise the kidneys with LWG - 10, LWB - 10, then ordinary LWV - 10. Apply more localised thorough sweeping on the meng mein chakra. 5. Localised through sweeping on the sex chakra and the surrounding area alternately with LWG and LWO. Energise the sex chakra with LWG - 5, LWB -5, then ordinary LWV - 5. NOTE: Steps 1 through 5 are applied after every one to two hours on the first several days of treatment or until there is substantial relief.. 4. Localised thorough sweeping on the lungs. Energise through the back lungs with LWG -3, LWO -3 then ordinary LWV - 3. Point your fingers away from the patient's head when energising with LWO. 5. Localised thorough sweeping on the entire spine alternately with LWG and LWO. 6. Localised thorough sweeping on the basic chakra. Energise with W - 3. 7. Localised thorough sweeping on the arms and legs and their minor chakras. Energise the minor chakras with ordinary LWV - 3. 8. Localised thorough sweeping on the front and back spleen chakra and the navel chakra with LWG. Energise the navel chakra with ordinary LWV - 3. 9. If the spleen is painful, energise it carefully with LWG -3, then ordinary LWV - 3 Apply more localised thorough sweeping on the front and back spleen chakra. 10. Localised thorough sweeping on the front and bad solar plexus chakra and the liver. Energise the solar plexus chakra with LWG -3, LWB -3 then ordinary LWV - 3. 11. Localised thorough sweeping on the throat chakra, the sides of the neck, the armpits, the sides of the body and the groin alternately with LWG and ordinary LWV. Energise the throat chakra with LWG - 3, LWB - 3, then ordinary LWV - 3. 12. Localised thorough sweeping on the front and back heart chakra. Energise the thymus gland through the back heart chakra with LWG -3, then ordinary LWV - 3. 13. Localised thorough sweeping on the entire brain, the crown chakra, forehead chakra, ajna chakra and back head minor chakra. Energise them with LWG - 1, then ordinary LWV - 5. 14. Stabilise and release projected energy. 15. Repeat entire treatment 3 times per week for as long as necessary. Reduce frequency of treatment based on scanning results.

Je t'aime parce que comme le soleil la lune monte et descend donc fait mon cœur pour vous

The Inner Sciences

Master Choa Kok Sui Charlotte Anderson ____________________________ Why we use the name "The Inner Sciences" ____________________________ "What we call science is actually physical science. What we call spirituality is actually inner sciences or sciences not dealing with the physical world. The process of the union between science and spirituality is already in progress... ...spirituality deals with the inner sciences." The Existence of God is Self Evident, Master Choa Kok Sui, ©2006, Page 11 & 12 ____________________________

What is the Sunconscious by Dolores Cannon

What is The Subconscious?

Dolores' Definition The Subconscious that is contacted by Dolores and the practitioners of her QHHT technique is the polar opposite to the subconscious referred to by psychologists and conventional medical professionals. During her early years as a hypnotherapist, Dolores became aware that through her unique technique of induction she was contacting and communicating with a portion of an individual's consciousness that was indeed a part of them, yet lay far above the level of their conscious mind, which is the part of ourselves we are aware of and use to interact with others on a personal level.

The Subconscious is a suitable label given the context of Dolores' work; however, religions and spiritual teachers alike have attempted to identify and label this larger part of ourselves throughout history using a variety of different labels: the Higher Self, the Oversoul, Christ Consciousness, Higher Consciousness, the Universal Mind and Oneness. The Subconscious has stated to Dolores that it does not care what we call it, it simply ?Is? and is willing to work with those with a pure heart and true intent.

Yes.roots in truth.

“The general Principles of Pranic Healing rest on the fact that Prana may be transferred or transmitted from one person to another, in many ways. The usual method, and the most effective way, is to use the hands and make passes over the sick person, and at the same time directing a current of Prana to the affected part." - Extracted from The Science of Psychic Healing, by Yogi Ramacharaka, ©1909, Chapter 6, Page 37

ANGER management hypnosis.

Emotional Intelligence >
Anger Management
Emotional Intelligence
Road Rage
Accept Things
Anger Management
Be Kinder Be More Humble Birthday Blues
Controlling Emotions
Dealing with Guilt
Dealing With Rejection
Don't Be Ashamed
Express Your Emotions
Express Your Love
Feeling Down
Feeling Like a Failure
Forgive Yourself
Forgiveness
Get In Touch With Your Emotions
Grass Is Always Greener Improve Your Mood
Impulse Control
Increase Emotional Intelligence Let Go Of The Past
Let It Go
No Embarrassment
Overcome Envy
Overcome Greed Overcome Jealousy
Respect Loved Ones
Stop Being Irritable
Manage Your Anger
Anger Management Hypnosis Anger Management . in line with our continuous quality improvement program.
Anger management - everything you need to know How to control anger effectively with hypnosis .
   Could you do with some anger management know-how?
     Are your own angry emotional reactions causing you problems?
  Life,
  
Some famous person once said, is just one darn thing after another.
From our earliest days (just take a proper look at toddlers), our plans and wishes get frustrated. Things don't work out how we expect. People don't do what they're supposed to do. We don't get what we want. It's no wonder we get emotional, and feel like breaking things, shouting, and even hitting people. As we grow from toddlers to adults, we learn that there is a distinction between the unalterable laws of physics which govern why the natural world doesn't bend to our wishes and the behavior of the people around us.
People could give us what we expect or want or ask for, if they wanted. We know this. And so we can get even more frustrated when they don't. It feels so wrong!
Of course, sometimes it is 'wrong' in the objective sense. But even when it is merely a matter of not getting our own way, it feels just as 'wrong' to us.
This powerful feeling of being 'wronged' is anger.
It is a useful, energizing emotion in its place. It drives us into action against perceived threats.
The trouble is, anger is a primitive mechanism, and its simple primitive structure has not yet caught up with the complexities of modern life,

Where it isn't a good idea to treat your incompetent co-worker, say, as if they were a saber-toothed tiger threatening your very existence. What happens when we get angry

The chemical changes that anger triggers in our bodies to get us to focus on and act very directly on a source of threat, without paying attention to any distracting surrounding circumstances, lead us to lose our rational perspective. We become blind to the subtleties of situations, totally convinced that we are 'right', and ready to bulldoze over others, no matter what the objective circumstances are.
That's not great for our relationships with other people, at home or at work.
What's more, if we are in the habit of getting angry when things don't go as we expect, research shows that our health will suffer.
But how do you get in control of this primitive force and use it more wisely and appropriately?

Hypnosis is an ideal way to get in control of your anger Anger management is an audio hypnosis session developed by Richard Fitzgerald C.ht that will put you back in charge. As you relax and listen repeatedly to your sessions recording.you'll notice that a number of profound changes take place within you.
In particular, you'll notice that you find yourself feeling

more relaxed and 'laid back'

in general you are less and less likely to be roused to anger when you do find yourself getting angry, you can quickly calm yourself down you can think much more clearly and calmly in frustrating situations and work out a way forward you feel more in control your relationships with everyone around you begin to improve. Make a appointment today for Anger management and rule your emotions rather than letting them rule you.

Triangles World Goodwill The Great Invocation e-pamphlets e-mantrams Worldwide Network Start a Meditation Group Resource Center Questions & Answers Start a Meditation Group Meditation is a potent method of service to humanity when the mind is used as a channel for the reception of the energies of light and love and the will-to-good and their direction into human consciousness. And the moment of the full moon each month offers the greatest opportunity for meditation - particularly in group formation - to be used as a means of cooperation with the divine Plan or Intention for our world. Go to the next section to download booklets, flyers, meditation outlines for the full and new moon, brochures and other information about the full moon meditation. There is also a link to full moon talks given at previous Headquarters meetings, and information on how to be added to our full moon e-mail list or our postal mailing list so that you will be notified of the upcoming meditation meeting at one of the three Headquarters (New York, London, Geneva). We encourage you to read through the FAQ which will help you understand more about starting a full moon meditation group. Should you need assistance or have questions concerning starting a meditation group, please do not hesitate to contact us. We would be happy to provide you with any information you need to carry on the group effort.

Enter the Dragon Gate 行大道: Brief Introduction to Ling Bao Bi Fa

Enter the Dragon Gate 行大道: Brief Introduction to Ling Bao Bi Fa: to

Home TIS Founder Courses Donations Links The Wesak 2014 Master Choa Kok Sui Charlotte Anderson ____________________________ Why we use the name "The Inner Sciences" ____________________________ "What we call science is actually physical science. What we call spirituality is actually inner sciences or sciences not dealing with the physical world. The process of the union between science and spirituality is already in progress... ...spirituality deals with the inner sciences." The Existence of God is Self Evident, Master Choa Kok Sui, ©2006, Page 11 & 12 ____________________________ TIS Founder Charlotte Anderson, the Spiritual Companion or Consort of Master Choa Kok Sui, received comprehensive personal training from this Great Master of Energy - that lasted for the entire period of their amazing relationship - which covered the last 14 years of His life. Wherever He taught globally, they were constantly together - both during periods of work and relaxation and their relationship was both personal and professional. Their constant loving interaction, also took the form of years of unprecedented instruction designed to sustain His Work. During their travels, she acted as a liasion* for MCKS, corresponding actively with key people on 5 continents. His daily personal guidance, nurturing and extensive personal instruction - in both Practical and Spiritual Teachings - occurred constantly throughout their time together.

After He left His physical body, during the struggle within the hierarchy of His organizations, certain individuals tried to relegate her to the role of having merely having taken care of His physical body (announcing this publicly during a Retreat in the Philippines in January 2008). During this period, Charlotte continued to work quietly in the background for over 3 years, while officially she remained connected to various organizations - both Charitable and de facto - established by MCKS. Her work during this time included being active in positions granted to her by Him - sitting on the Board of 7 of His organizations - in the Philippines, India & the US. His trust and personal confidence in her was further demonstrated - when
He granted her 20 year, global licenses from IIS Hong Kong, for all of His courses in 2006.

She was the only one He ever personally granted this confidence. These licenses were subsequently revoked by the organization after His death. She continued to teach under a 2004 Authorization personally signed by Master Choa Kok Sui, as President / Founder of his original Manila based Organization "Institute for Inner Studies Inc." This document (the only one given to any of MCKS senior students) granted her the unique right to Teach in all countries, up to the Year 2025.
Finally due to numerous requests, Ms. Anderson separated and established a series of international, "not-for-profit" organizations intended to continue the Spiritual Work they have shared - in new and creative ways.

Charlotte Anderson is also widely recognized as the compiler, transcriber and editor of Master Choa's last 11 books and collaborated with Him as

Executive Producer

for numerous CD's (all of this work having been done without monetary compensation), collaborated on all issues of

The Prana World Magazine, established together with Him in 1998
The Planetary Peace Movement (now in more than 70 countries), founded the PHQandA Egroup (to answer questions about the applications of Pranic Healing in 2000),
The Endowment Fund for World Peace & Global Healing
(501c3 US Tax Exempt organization, established in 2001) and founded The PPM Audio Stream (1, May 2006). In 2010, in accordance with His instructions she began to publish the first in a series of posthumously produced books,

The Sphinx (www.TheSphinx.cc).
Clearly no other associate of

Master Choa Kok Sui was Blessed
by having this kind of unique exposure or saturation of interactions with this great Spiritual Teacher. Ms. Anderson's dedication to the Work of Master Choa Kok Sui and other Spiritual Teachers which has been the primary focus of her life for many years. For more Information about the Beloved Spiritual Teacher of Charlotte Anderson.

C R P S

Atma namaste.

Medical Background: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain condition that is believed to be the result of dysfunction in the central or peripheral nervous systems.

Typical features include dramatic changes in the color and temperature of the skin over the affected limb or body part, accompanied by intense burning pain, skin sensitivity, sweating, and swelling.
CRPS I is frequently triggered by tissue injury; the term describes all patients with the above symptoms but with no underlying nerve injury.

Patients with CRPS II experience the same symptoms but their cases are clearly associated with a nerve injury.

Older terms used to describe CRPS are "reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome" and "causalgia," a term first used during the Civil War to describe the intense, hot pain felt by some veterans long after their wounds had healed. CRPS can strike at any age and affects both men and women, although most experts agree that it is more common in young women.
What are the symptoms of CRPS? The key symptom of CRPS is continuous, intense pain out of proportion to the severity of the injury (if an injury has occurred), which gets worse rather than better over time.
CRPS most often affects one of the extremities (arms, legs, hands, or feet) and is also often accompanied by: "burning" pain increased skin sensitivity changes in skin temperature: warmer or cooler compared to the opposite extremity changes in skin color: often blotchy, purple, pale, or red changes in skin texture: shiny and thin, and sometimes excessively sweaty changes in nail and hair growth patterns swelling and stiffness in affected joints motor disability, with decreased ability to move the affected body part

Often the pain spreads to include the entire arm or leg, even though the initiating injury might have been only to a finger or toe. Pain can sometimes even travel to the opposite extremity. It may be heightened by emotional stress.
The symptoms of CRPS vary in severity and length. Some experts believe there are three stages associated with CRPS, marked by progressive changes in the skin, muscles, joints, ligaments, and bones of the affected area, although this progression has not yet been validated by clinical research studies.
Stage one is thought to last from 1 to 3 months and is characterized by severe, burning pain, along with muscle spasm, joint stiffness, rapid hair growth, and alterations in the blood vessels that cause the skin to change color and temperature.
Stage two lasts from 3 to 6 months and is characterized by intensifying pain, swelling, decreased hair growth, cracked, brittle, grooved, or spotty nails, softened bones, stiff joints, and weak muscle tone. In stage three the syndrome progresses to the point where changes in the skin and bone are no longer reversible.
Pain becomes unyielding and may involve the entire limb or affected area.
There may be marked muscle loss (atrophy), severely limited mobility, and involuntary contractions of the muscles and tendons that flex the joints. Limbs may become contorted. What causes CRPS?
Doctors aren’t sure what causes CRPS. In some cases the sympathetic nervous system plays an important role in sustaining the pain. The most recent theories suggest that pain receptors in the affected part of the body become responsive to a family of nervous system messengers known as catecholamines.

Animal studies indicate that norepinephrine, a catecholamine released from sympathetic nerves, acquires the capacity to activate pain pathways after tissue or nerve injury.

The incidence of sympathetically maintained pain in CRPS is not known. Some experts believe that the importance of the sympathetic nervous system depends on the stage of the disease.
Another theory is that post-injury CRPS (CRPS II) is caused by a triggering of the immune response, which leads to the characteristic inflammatory symptoms of redness, warmth, and swelling in the affected area.
CRPS may therefore represent a disruption of the healing process. In all likelihood, CRPS does not have a single cause, but is rather the result of multiple causes that produce similar symptoms.

How is CRPS diagnosed? CRPS is diagnosed primarily through observation of the signs and symptoms. But because many other conditions have similar symptoms, it can be difficult for doctors to make a firm diagnosis of CRPS early in the course of the disorder when symptoms are few or mild. Or, for example, a simple nerve entrapment can sometimes cause pain severe enough to resemble CRPS.
Diagnosis is further complicated by the fact that some people will improve gradually over time without treatment. Since there is no specific diagnostic test for CRPS, the most important role for testing is to help rule out other conditions. Some clinicians apply a stimulus (such as touch, pinprick, heat, or cold) to the area to see if it causes pain. Doctors may also use triple-phase bone scans to identify changes in the bone and in blood circulation. What is the prognosis? The prognosis for CRPS varies from person to person. Spontaneous remission from symptoms occurs in certain people. Others can have unremitting pain and crippling, irreversible changes in spite of treatment.
Some doctors believe that early treatment is helpful in limiting the disorder, but this belief has not yet been supported by evidence from clinical studies. More research is needed to understand the causes of CRPS, how it progresses, and the role of early treatment. Source:  

Office of Communications and Public Liaison, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health Pranic Healing:
1.  Invoke and scan before, during and after treatment.
2.  General sweeping several times with LWG then once with LWB.
3.  Localised thorough sweeping on the front and back solar plexus chakra and the liver alternately with LWG and LWB. Rescan.  Continue sweeping and rescanning alternately until the energy is clean and stable. Energise the solar plexus chakra with LWG - 3 cycles, LWB - 3 cycles then ordinary LWV - 3 cycles. Rescan.  If the chakra is still overactivated, inhibit with LB - 3 cycles.
4.  Localised thorough sweeping on the front and back heart chakra. Energise through th eback heart chakra with LWG - 3 cycles then ordinary LWV - 3 cycles.
5.  Localised thorough sweeping on the front and back lungs. Rescan.  Continue sweeping and rescanning alternately until the energy is clean and stable. Enegise through the back lungs with LWG - 3 cycles, LWO - 3 cycles then LWR - 3 cycles.
6.  Localised thorough sweeping on the entire head, crown chakra, forehead chakra, ajna chakra, back head minor chakra and throat chakra alternately with LWG and ordinary LWV. Rescan.  Continue sweeping and rescanning alternately until the energy is clean and stable. Energise with LWG - 2 cycles then ordinary LWV. - 5 cycles
7.  Localised thorough sweeping on the entire spine and both sides of the spine alternately with LWG and LWV.

8.  Localised thorough sweeping on the basic chakra alternately with LWG and LWO. Rescan.  Continue sweeping and rescanning alternately until the energy is clean and stable. Energise with LWR - 7 breathing cycles.
9.  Localised thorough sweeping on the entire arms and legs with emphasis on the painful  joints and their corresponding chakras alternately with LWG and ordinary LWV until there is complete relief from pain Energise the painful parts with LWB for localising effects. If the painful part is delicate, energise it and its corresponding chakra with LWG-V -  5 cycles then LWG-Y 5 cycles. If the affected part is not delicate, energise it and its corresponding chakra with LWG - 3 cycles, LWO - 3 cycles then LWR - 3 cycles.
11.  Localised thorough sweeping on the front and back spleen and the navel chakra. Rescan.  Continue sweeping and rescanning alternately until the energy is clean and stable. Energise the navel chakra with LWR - 3 cycles.
12.  If the spleen is painful, energise the spleen with LWG - 3 cycles then ordinary  LWV - 3 cycles.  This has to be done with caution. Apply more localised sweeping on the front and back spleen chakra.
13.  Localised thorough sweeping on the kidneys alternately with LWG and LWO. Rescan.  Continue sweeping and rescanning alternately until the energy is clean and stable. Energise the kidneys with W. - 3 cycles.
14.  Localised thorough sweeping on the meng mein chakra. Rescan.  Continue sweeping and rescanning alternately until the energy is clean and stable
. 15.  Stabilise and release projected energy.
16.  Repeat treatment 3 times per week. Love,

Green Tara

Padmasambhava' s way

Reclaiming the Unbroken Lineage Buddhist principles and practices for survival in the concrete jungle or any place you may be at any given time  

Wednesdays, 7 to 9 pm at Yeshe Nying Po  

with Tej Hazarika   Every session will be a guided inquiry into the causes of our experience,
to expose the underlying self-generating entity
which manifests as a complex system of billions of organisms

       breathing and co-existing symbiotically, all within view of

        our own five senses,  describable by words, with the mind aware of itself as the          
mirror of it’s objects.  
     The aim of this presentation is to allow us to see how solutions to problems are usually found in the close proximity of our nostrils...

The course will familiarize seekers, skeptics or believers, with the un-fabricated bases of what are known as the

Preliminary Practices or Ngondro of the ‘lightening path’ (Vajrayana).

Far from being ‘preliminary’ these practices are in reality highly skillful and essential to learning how to ‘stand up’ our inner gyroscopes so that our paths and the goals become one, not two,
along the great highway of boundless compassion.  

at Yeshe Nying Po, Inc. 19 West 16th Street, New York, NY (between 5th and 6th Avenues. 212-691-8523  

(Check the calander at www.tersar.org or call)   Suggested donation $15/session Basic members: free Basic membership is $60/year.  

The guide About the Guide: In 1979 Tej Hazarika (Sherab Dorje) received this Ngondro teaching from Dudjom Rinpoche. 

Since then, he made efforts to keep his connection to it and now enjoys every opportunity to present it as a course of discovery.  
The Tradition These Ngondro teachings and practices have been passed down to us by unbroken lineages of realized masters, male and female, of the Nyingmapa or Ancient tradition initiated in the 9th Century Tibet by Buddhist master Padmasambhava also known as the Lotus Born.
Outstanding examples of realized men and women are Vimalamitra,  Yeshe Tsogyal, and Vairotsana (9th century), Machig Labdron (1055 – 1149), Longchenpa (1308-1363), Jigme Lingpa (1729-1798), Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo (1820-1892) and Dudjom Lingpa (19th century), the immediate predecessor of H. H. Dudjom Rinpoche (1904-1987).  
The Location Yeshe Nying Po was the historic New York City residence of His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche (Jigdrel Yeshe Dorje) in New York City.
Established in the mid-seventies the Center with its Temple (recently expanded), has served as a hub for Nyingmapa Buddhist teachings and as well as a place for offering services.
The lineage continues under the guidance of H. H. Shenphen Dawa Rinpoche.     

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Call me today at 908-752-5367 for free consultation right now
Richard Fitzgerald C.Ht

10 years experience.

Who is Rishi Prana?

     Being a rishi is different from getting moksha. Let me elaborate using the same metaphor of acting in a drama. A lot of actors (people) in a drama (samsara, i.e. world) take the drama too seriously, do not like what happens in the scene they act and try to change the script to enhance their role or make it look better. They do not realize that the director (supreme power running the universe) picked characters and scenes based on how one acted before (previous lives) and what suits one.                                     They complain endlessly, not realizing the futility. When people’s scenes end, they are sent out of the drama room (death). Being used to the drama so much, they want to come back and the director finds another role for them (rebirth). When their scenes end, some people realize that it is just a drama and not real. They leave without any regret or a desire to come back. They do not act again (no rebirth) and they are free from the drama (moksha). Some people realize while acting in their scene (when still alive) that it is just a drama and not real (jeevanmukti, liberation while alive). They go through the motions, finish their scene and leave the drama (leave body). They do not act after that (no rebirth) and they are free from the drama. Now, there are some special people (rishis) who realize that the drama is not real and stop taking it seriously and yet are at the disposal of director *forever*.                          They never leave the drama and do whatever director wants them to do, without complaining and without any attitude. It is also because they understand the director fully and are in sync with the director. They are free in the sense that they are not taking the drama seriously like other actors (unliberated people) and yet they have not left the drama (like liberated people)! For them, there is no difference between Shiva (or Purusha) and Shakti (or Prakriti), i.e. non-dual Self and the field of duality are one and the same for them. They can act in the field of duality using an individualized consciousness and yet not trapped because they are in oneness with the non-dual Self at the same time. Rishis have perfect control over the field of duality, but the word “control” is not in an egoistic sense here. They have no ego. In terms of the metaphor, they are the trusted assistants of the director who are in perfect sync with the director and are fully empowered to do anything they want to do with the drama.       Thus, being a rishi is different from moksha. .this explanation given about a Rishi is something not very clear. in this cosmic drama, th Lord assumes different roles Himself and there is no other- neither a script writer nor a director, actor or a spectator. Shakespere has mae it very clear. Now, as regards a Rishi. he is mantra drishtara. His Mantra is spelt as ut-geetha. His mantra is written by Ganapati seated i the Muladhara as the Gana adhipati, Lord of the Earth and He writes what Lord Narayana seated in the cavity of the heart as antaryamin (tad srushtva tat evaanupravishat) as te Vedavyasa. So who is here in the spiritual world of the supreme Self vibrating reverberating and creating images of forms on the clouds, MInd Screen? explanation given about a Rishi is something not very clear. in this cosmic drama, th Lord assumes different roles Himself and there is no other- neither a script writer nor a director, actor or a spectator. Shakespere has mae it very clear. Now, as regards a Rishi. he is mantra drishtara. His Mantra is spelt as ut-geetha. His mantra is written by Ganapati seated i the Muladhara as the Gana adhipati, Lord of the Earth and He writes what Lord Narayana seated in the cavity of the heart as antaryamin (tad srushtva tat evaanupravishat) as the Vedavyasa dictates. So who is here in the spiritual world of the supreme Self vibrating reverberating and creating images of forms on the clouds, Mind Screen? now, for that matter, let us think what happens even if we close our eyes for a minute or two, or, fall unconscious, or go to deep sleep> the whole paraphrernalia of the objective world disappears! Even the wife does not know that her husband has passed away in sleep while she was in deep sleep! Then, what is it we are speaking about all these Veda, the Rishi, the mantra, etc. Yes, the Mantra is real. It is the Creator. This Mantra is the Brahmana, the Technology of Consciousness. Everything is Consciouness. Consciousness is consciously aware of itself as pure Consciousness (parabrahman) There is nothing here but vibration of Consciouss, cittavrutti. After all what is human life of a span of 100 years in billions of years of earth. Moreover, nothing is created or destroye here! I only appear as my wife, children, grandchildren, parents and grandparents. There is none else besides me. I teh Purusha vibrate and create this world. vibration stops everything stops! this is the Reality of Existence, Om tat Sat. Dr. T. N. Achuta Rao, Centrefor Study of Consciousness Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Belgaum Kendra Divine Grace Foundation.org Reply dhriti on January 19, 2011 at 6:12 pm Thank you Dr.Rao for your fascinating Advaitic perspective and also the nice explanation of mythological incident of Ganapathi, Vyasa, Narayana and the multiple universes springing forth from the conception of mind. Everything indeed is consciousness and a lila of the eternal Self.  excellent rendition of a Rishi, if you trust in the wisdom of your heart, you will realize that the first explanation of the Rishi is absolutely correct….. wonderful….and why do I say this….???? because I am a Rishi…

Obatala Festival

TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE Celebrating our African historical personalities,discoveries, achievements and eras as proud people with rich culture, traditions and enlightenment spanning many yearOBATALA FESTIVAL: HONORING ORISHA DEITY OBATALA ACROSS THE WORLD The Obatala festival is a festive, cultural and religious gathering to honour one of the great Yoruba deities, Obatala, who was sent on a very crucial mission by the Almighty Creator. And because the deity left an indelible mark in the life of mankind, the Yoruba in particular often celebrate him because he was an intercessor between mankind and the Almighty. A cultural troupe performing during the Obatala festival at Igangan, Oyo State, Nigeria Obatala festival is celebrated in Igangan in Nigeria as well as Cuba, United States and Trinidad and Tobago. Praying Obatala priests in their temple in Ile-Ife In Trinidad and Tobago, Obatala Festival opened with the women coming together in prayer ,devotion and educational gathering. They chant to heavens until powers come down. They give advice , counsel and heal. Obatala festival in Ille Iere The Festival now advances to it’s next stage – focus on the children. The festival usually take place in Ita Osa on Alberto Street,Woobrook in Trinidad and Tobago. The festival is under the auspices of Ojise Obatala of Edena – Chief Oriyomi Orisagbemi. Participants at Obatala Festival, Republic Trinidad & Tobago Obatala festival in Cuba and USA In a small Orisa temple in Jovellanos province Matanza, Cuba a young man Walter Eugene King began his history making destiny. This young man would become the first of the African Americans to be re initiated into the religion of his ancestors. The year is 1959 during the month of august on the 26th day young King sat on the throne of ordination with his friend as twins. Walter ( Baba Oseijeman) being the child of the Orisa Obatala was initiated first his friend Oliana was initiated to the Orisa Aganju. The entire Community rejoiced because they had never seen an American African receive such a high level of initiation. Baba Oseijeman and his friend Oliyana traveled back to the USA and opened up the Sango Temple. Thus making an ancient stolen way of life available to the American African nation wide. Today, the Yoruba religion and culture is very popular throughout North America and thousands re enter their strayed culture. The credit for the ground work for making Yoruba culture popular goes to Oba Oseijeman Adelabu Adefunmi I. The culture he re-created in the USA and the Oyotunji African village became an enigmatic part of the emerging south. Madelaina Bolouc, of Boulder, Colorado, performs a dance of reverence to Orisha and Obatala, in gratitude for blue sky and luminous clouds during Burning Man 2000. telegraph.co.uk This Years Obatala festival in Oyotunji will be one of great importance to all of us who practice what is commonly know as ATR ( African Traditional Religion). Upon arrival at this years festival you will be as Baba Oseijeman was in Cuba... in the midst of history. Expect to also take part in an history forum with Oba Adefunmi II. This event gives the attendees the opportunity to meet and mingle with an array of priest from across the globe. The Obatala parade and bembe will be well attended by you. This historical occasion deserves your presence and vice versa. Orisa Bless. Brief history of Obatala One of the ORISHAS of Yoruba mythology, he’s a Creator God who didn’t get a chance to create. He was issued with the task of building the Earth by Sky God OLORUN, who gave him blueprints, a handful of mud, a chain, a five-toed chicken, and detailed instructions. Obatala ...Unfortunately, on his way to perform this important task, OBATALA accidentally gatecrashed a Godparty and spent the rest of the evening roaring drunk on palm wine. Seeing the chance for fame and glory, his younger brother ODUDUWA pinched the holy building materials and attempted to jerry-build the Earth himself. Obatala Advised by a friendly chameleon, he lowered the chain over the edge of heaven, climbed down, and tossed the lump of mud into the primeval sea. The chicken hopped onto the mud and began scratching it in all directions. Ojise Obatala Nejie Doyle, centre, with wife Iretiola Philliper, left, and Ologe Orawale Oramfe lead the street procession in celebration of the anniversary of the Orisha Obatala festival in Woodbrook, Port-of-Spain Pretty soon there was a decent size landscape and thus was the Earth born. OLORUN was so pleased with ODUDUWA that he promoted him to God of the Earth, while the disgraced and boozy OBATALA was put to work making mankind as punishment. In Yoruba theology, Obatala must never be worshipped with palm wine, palm oil or salt. His worshippers may eat palm oil and salt, but never taste palm wine. Oriki (Praise Names) Oluwa Aiye or Oluwa Aye - Lord of the Earth Alabalase - He who has divine authority Baba Arugbo - Old Master or Father Baba Araye - Master or Father of all human beings (lit. citizens of the earth) Orisanla (also spelt Orisainla, Orishanla or Orishainla) or Oshanla - The arch divinity The following praise poem (oriki) to the artist deity Obatala commemorates this archetypal event: Obatala Obatala O da’mo, da’ya He created the child and its mother O se baba lo ore tan, After doing good to the father O ranse si omo ko wa gba ore… He sent for the child to come and collect its own good… Oun lo da pete owo, He molded the inner surface of the hand called the palm Oun lo da pete ese He molded the underside of the foot called the sole Oun la da aya j’anka, ti a npe ni igba aya He molded the massive part of the body called the chest Oun lo da omi lojolojo, ti a npe loju He created the refractive water ball called the eyes Oun lo da oru rebete, ti a npe ni Atari… He molded the small pot called the skull… Oosona, Alamorere… The-Orisa-has-made-a-work-of-art, Owner-of-choice-clay From the Yoruba perspective, the variation in human appearance is due to Obatala’s unpredictable artistic temperament, earning him the epithet: “A da ni b’o ti ri” (He who creates us as he wishes). Besides, he is known for his occasional drinking bouts during which he creates cripples, hunchbacks, albinos and people with deformities. Thus it is customary for the Yoruba to greet pregnant women with the prayer: “Ki Orisa ya ona ire ko ni ” (May the Orisa [Obatala] fashion for us a good work of art). Obatala The implication here is that, in spite of its biological aspect, procreation has an artistic dimension as well. The human body (ara), the handiwork of Obatala, is much more than blood and flesh. It is a kinetic sculpture, activated by ase, the vital force, concealing and revealing the soul in the physical world, enabling an individual to have iwa (physical existence). Iwa denotes both the fact of being and the distinctive quality or character of a person. Its preeminence in Yoruba aesthetics is clear from the following poem often recited by Yoruba elders to educate the younger generation: Omo t’o dara tiko n’iwa If a child is beautiful but has no character, Omolangidi ni i He is no more than a wooden doll Iwa rere l’eso eniyan Good character is the beauty of a person B’obirin dara bi Egbara, bi ko n’iwa A woman can be as beautiful as the Egbara, if she has no character Omolangidi ni i She is no more than a wooden doll B’okunrin suwon, suwon, bi eja inu omi A man may be very, very handsome, like a fish in the water Bi ko n’iwa rere If he has no character Omolangidi ni i. He is no more than a wooden doll. The reason for the stress on intrinsic worth is self-evident: physical beauty (ewa ode) is a natural endowment and depends, for the most part, on the whims and caprices of Obatala who, as mentioned earlier, “creates us as he wishes.” To over-emphasize ewa odeis tantamount to penalizing the physically unattractive for a biological fact they could not have personally prevented. The premium placed on iwa (character), as in popular sayings such as “Iwa rere l’eso eniyan” (Good character beautifies a person) and Iwa l’ewa (Character determines beauty), therefore, affords everyone an equal chance of living up to a moral ideal in order to be fully admired. Conversely, a physically attractive person with a bad character runs the risk of being categorized as an awobowa, that is “the outwardly beautiful, but inwardly ugly.” For even when the physical beauty of an awobowa attracts attention, the initial admiration will disappear as the inner ugliness of that individual manifests itself like smoke. On the other hand, a pleasant disposition has the potential of transforming the physically disadvantaged into a likeable person, or into what the Yoruba call an omoluwabi, that is, a role model or “the good-natured and internally beautiful person.” Self-discipline thus becomes the key to social mobility, enabling an individual to make up for a physical deficiency or maximize the potentials of a natural endowment. As one Yoruba aphorism puts it: “Iwa l’orisa—bi a ba ti hu si ni i fi i gbe ni” (Good character is like an orisa—the more we cultivate it, the more it favors us). For the human body—a “masterpiece” by Obatala—localizes a special ase (enabling power), that generates life, simultaneously inspiring and sustaining the creativity reflected in the visual and performing arts and enabling the Yoruba to continually redesign their environment. Obatala Festival held at Ita Osa , Ile – Iere , Republic Trinidad & Tobago Obatala's wives Yemoo (known as Yembo in Cuba) Yemaya (daughter) Igbin (who became a drum still played for him) Excellencies : Mr. & Mrs. Ademola Onafowokan with Head of the Council of Afrikan Traditional Chiefs at OBATALA FESTIVAL 2011 In Ile Ife: the dying and rising god According to mythical stories Obatala is the eldest of all orisha and was granted authority to create the earth. Before he could return to heaven and report to Olodumare however, his rival Oduduwa (also called Oduwa, Oodua, Odudua or Eleduwa) and younger brother usurped his position by taking the satchel and created in his stead the earth on the Primeval Ocean. A great feud ensued between the two that is re-enacted every year in the Itapa festival in Ile Ife, Nigeria. Ultimately, Oduduwa and his sons were able to rule with Obatala's reluctant consent. Itapa festival concerning Obatala It appears from the cult dramas of the Itapa festival that Obatala was a dying and rising god. He left his Temple in the town on the seventh day of the festival, stayed in his grove outside the town on the eighth day and returned in a great procession to his Temple on the ninth day. The three-day rhythm of descent into the netherworld and subsequent resurrection on the third day shows the closeness of Obatala to the pre-canonical Israelite Yahweh and the figure of Jesus Obatala symbol at Obatala festival (Irawe festival) Obatala in Candomble In Candomblé, Obatalá (Oxalá) is the oldest "Orixa funfun" ("white deity"), referring to spiritual purity and pure light, both physically and symbolically as in the "light" of consciousness). In the Bahia State (Brazil), Obatala has been syncretized with Our Lord of Bonfim and is the subject of a large syncretic religious celebration, the Festa do Bonfim, which takes place in January in the city of Salvador and includes the washing of the church steps with a special water, made with flowers. Obatala in Senteria worship In senteria worship Obatala represents Our Lady of Mercy. Obatala is another aspect of the Divine Trinity. Like Yemaya, he is associated with the Virgin Mary, this time in the aspect of Mercy. As the first-born of the gods, Obatala is regal and wise. He blows away negative energies and resolves ethical issues. As Yemaya is the patron of mothers, Obatala is the patron of fathers. He has dominion over all white things, from bones to the clouds in the sky. Your offerings to Obatala must be white foods: white hens, rice, milk, etc. Unlike the other gods, Obatala abhors alcohol. Leave your offering to Obatala at the base of a tree. To cleanse your aura, make a bath into which you have poured a cup of milk, seven white carnations, seven teaspoons of sugar, and seven drops of holy water. Light a white candle and slip into the bath. As you immerse yourself in this bath, say seven Our Fathers (The Lord’s Prayer). Obatala as Our Lady of Mercy in Senteria OBATALA- Ifa and the Chief of the Spirit of the White Cloth Obatala is the Spirit of the Chief of the White Cloth in the West African religious tradition called “Ifa”. The word Obatala is the name given to describe a complex convergence of Spiritual Forces that are key elements in the Ifa concept of consciousness. Those Spiritual Forces that form the foundation of Obatala‟s role in the Spirit Realm relate to the movement between dynamic and form as it exists throughout the universe, According to Ifa, dynamics and form represent the polarity between the Forces of expansion and contraction. Together these Forces create light and darkness, which in turn sustains and defines all that is. Ifa teaches that it is the interaction between light and darkness that generates the physical universe, and it is Obatala who brings this interaction into Being. There is no literal translation for the word Ifa. It refers to a religious tradition, and understanding of ethics, a process of spiritual transformation and a set of scriptures that are the basis for a complex system of divination. Within the discipline of Ifa, there is a body of wisdom called “awo”, which attempts to preserve the rituals that create direct communication with Forces in Nature. Awo is a Yoruba word that is usually translated to mean “secret”. Unfortunately, there is no real English equivalent to the word awo, because the word carries strong cultural and esoteric associations. In traditional Yoruba culture, awo refers to the hidden principles that explain the Mystery of Creation and Evolution. Awo is the esoteric understanding of the invisible forces that sustain dynamics and form within Nature. The essence of these forces are not considered secret because they are devious, they are secret because they remain elusive, awesome in their power to transform and not readily apparent. As such they can only be grasped through direct interaction and participation. Anything which can be known by the intellect alone ceases to be awo. The primal inspiration for awo is the communication between transcendent Spiritaul forces and human consciousness. This communication is believed to be facilitated by the Spirit of Esu, who is the Divine Messenger. Working in close association with Esu is Ogun, who is the Spirit of Iron. Ogun has the power to clear away those obstacles that stand in the way of spiritual growth.According to Ifa, the work done by Ogun is guided by Ochosi, who as the Spirit of the Tracker has the ability to locate the shortest path to our spiritual goals. The essential goal that Ochosi is called upon to guide us towards is the task of building “iwa-pele”, which means “good character”. This guidance takes the form of a spiritual quest which is called “iwakiri”. One of the functions of Obatala is to preserve the Mystic Vision for those who make the quest of iwakiri in search of iwa-pele. The power of Obatala is described by Ifa as one of the many Spiritual Forces in Nature which are called “Orisha”. The word Orisha means “Select Head”. In a cultural context, Orisha is a reference to the various Forces in Nature that guide consciousness. According to Ifa, everything in Nature has some form of consciousness called “Ori”. The Ori of all animals, plants, and humans is believed to be guided by a specific Force in Nature(Orisha) which defines the quality of a particular form of consciousness. There are a large number of Orisha, and each Orisha has its own awo. The unique function of Obatala within the realm of Orisha Awo (Mysteries of Nature) is to provide the spark of light that animates consciousness. To call and Orisha the Chief of the White Cloth is to make a symbolic reference to that substance which makes consciousness possible. The reference to White Cloth is not a reference to the material used to make the cloth, it is a reference to the fabric which binds the universe together. The threads of this fabric are the multi-leveled layers of consciousness which Ifa teaches exist in all things on all levels of Being. Ifa teaches that it is the ability of Forces of Nature to communicate with each other, and the ability of humans to communicate with Forces in Nature that gives the world a sense of spiritual unity. It is the understanding of this ability which gives substance to the Ifa concept of good character, and it is Obatala who guides us towards developing this understanding. Ifa teaches that all Forces in Nature come into Being through the manifestation of energy patterns called Odu. Ifa has identified and labeled different Odu which can be thought of as different expressions of consciousness. But because consciousness itself is generated by Obatala, every Odu contains an element of Obatala‟s ase(power). In metaphysical terms, this means that all of Creation is linked to Obatala as the Source of Being. Ifa teaches that all forms of consciousness contain a spark of ase(spiritual power) from Obatala, and it is this spark that links everything that is, to its shared Beginning. ALO IRINTAN OBATALA- (Folktales of the Spirit of the Chief of the White Cloth) OBATALA IRIN-AJO IKOLE ARE- The Chief of the White cloth travels to Earth Olodumare(The Creator) called Obatala (Chief of White Cloth) to Ikole Orun (the Realm of the Ancestors) on the day that he wanted to create dry land on the waters of the Ikole Aye(Earth). Obatala kneeled before Olodumare and said that he did not know the awo (mystery) of creating land on Ikole Aye(Earth). Olodumare told Obatala that he would give him the ase (power) to make land on Ikole Aye(Earth). Ogun took all the iworo (gold) and forged a long ewon (chain), which he flung towards Ikole Aye(earth). Obatala placed his ase (power in a pouch and began the descent down the ewon (chain). When he came to the last rung he could see that he was still some distance from the primal waters. Obatala removed the igbin (snail) shell from his pouch and sprinkled soil upon the primal waters. Then he removed the five toed etu (guinea hen) and dropped it in the land. As soon as the etu (guinea hen) reached the soil it started scratching the ground, spreading dirt across the surface of the primal waters. Seeing the ground had become firm, Obatala removed an ikin(palm nut) and dropped it on the land. The ikin (palm nut) sprouted and became a palm tree. When the palm tree grew to its full height, it reached the last ring of the iworo „won(gold chain). Obatala was able to step from the ewon (chain) to the palm tree. After climbing down the tree, Obatala started to mold humans from the clay in the earth. As he worked, he became tired and decided that he needed a rest. Taking the fruit from the palm tree, he made palm wine and drank until he was ready to return to work. The humans that he molded while drunk did not look like the others, but Obatala did not notice and he kept drinking until he fell asleep. While Obatala slept, Olodumare gave the task of finishing Creation to Oduduwa (Owner of the Womb of Creation). Olodumare waited for Obatala to awaken from his drunken sleep and told him that it was taboo from Obatala to taste palm wine ever again. When Obatala saw what had happened to the humans he had created while he was drunk, he agreed to protect all children for future generations. It was Obatala who said that he would never again let his White Cloth become soiled. To this day those that worship Obatala say, “Obatala o su n‟na ala, Obatala o ji n‟nu ala, Obatala o tinu ala dide, Iba Obatala,” which means, “The Chief of White Cloth sleeps in white, the chief of the White Cloth awakens in white, the chief of the White cloth gets up in white, praise to the Chief of the White Cloth”. Commentary: The word Obatala translates to mean “Chief of the White Cloth.” In metaphysical terms White Cloth is the primal source of the physical universe. Ifa teaches that light becomes transformed into darkness and that darkness becomes transformed into light. Within the unfolding if this transformation, Evolution creates greater and greater levels of complexity. The original explosion that created the universe produced massive quantities of light in the form of subatomic particles. As the universe cooled these particles joined together to form simple elements. The elements in turned joined together to form stars. In time, certain stars collapsed, forming black holes that imploded on themselves until they created a fission reaction. This sent huge clouds of complex elements throughout the universe. It was a cloud of complex elements that cooled to form the solar system, and within the solar system evolved the ecosystem that exists in earth. The Myth of Obatala is the Ifa version of this sequence of events. It uses symbolic language to describe a series of evolutionary events that match closely with the theories of Creation that have been proposed by contemporary Western science. At the beginning of the Myth, Olodumare gives Obatala the instruction to create the world. Olodumare represents all potential form that exists in the universe as it remains dormant prior to manifestation. It is the White Cloth or light particles of Obatala that bring potential form into physical existence. Western science teaches that all of Creation evolved from the light produced during the primal explosion at the beginning of time. Ifa teaches that all Creation evolved from the White Cloth of Obatala‟s a robe. The chain used by Obatala to travel from the Realm of the Ancestors to Earth appears to be a symbolic representation of the structure used to transmit genetic information from one generation to the next. The genetic code that is used to form each species is passed through a biochemical substance called DNA. When DNA is viewed under a microscope it appears as a double helix, which is similar to the pattern of a chain. In Ifa scripture the reference to the Realm of the Ancestors includes all those Natural Forces that led to the development of human life and is not limited to human form. In Western science that DNA which exists in mammals is believed to be an extension of a chain of transmission from single cell life forms at the bottom of the ocean to complex life forms that populate the earth. When Obatala climbs down the chain towards land, he takes soil a from snail shell. The shape of the snail shell is a pattern that recurs throughout Nature. The early Greeks called this pattern the “Golden Mean”. It is a series of expanding circles that get progressively larger at a steady rate. This growth pattern occurs in trees, plants, and sea life. It is the same pattern that regulates the distance of planets from the sun. The snail shell as a sacred object associated with Obatala symbolized the expansive quality of evolution. When Obatala places the guinea hen on the ground, the Earth becomes a place that can support life systems. The guinea hen is sacred to Oshun and it has five toes, which is Oshun‟s sacred number. Oshun is the spirit of eroticism, fertility, and abundance. At this point in the myth, Obatala is introducing sexuality, reproduction, and the allure of the erotic into the unfolding pattern of Creation. In order to reach the Earth, Obatala plants seeds which grow into a palm tree. Within the religion of Ifa the palm tree is regarded as the sacred tree of life. Most earth-centered religions designate a particular tree to symbolize the transformation of all things as they progress through the cycles of birth, life, death, and rebirth. When a Myth refers to a deity bringing the tree of life to Earth, it is a reference to the existence of natural laws which guide the development of ecological systems on the planet. Obatala reaches the ground and then begins to make humans. At the point Obatala becomes intoxicated, and the task of finishing Creation is given to Oduduwa. In mythic terms, this part of the creation story suggests that the unfolding of evolution can be flawed. Defects occur in Nature and the Ifa Creation myth reflects this truth. Ifa cosmonology tends to describe the world as it is and not as it should be. The fact that the task of Creation was taken from Obatala and given to Oduduwa appears to be a reference to the Natural Law of entropy. That law says that once an ecological system is set in motion it always moves towards inevitable extinction. By placing Oduduwa in charge of Creation, the myth is suggesting that there is awo, or a mystery beyond the visible universe and beyond the inevitability of death. Oduduwa is the womb of darkness through which all rebirth emerges. When Obatala agrees to keep his White Cloths unsoiled, it is a promise to continue the struggle for perfection in a flawed universe. Without this struggle there is no existence, only primal unity. Primal unity is described in Ifa scripture as the loneliness of the Ancestors in Ikole Orun. THE STORY OF OBATALA No living creature, they are dead or alive is able to tell us the exact origin of the chief divinity ORISAALA or OBATALA. There are several conflicting stories surrounding the mystery of this divinity. GOD created the positive and dynamic powers of the heavens, known as IRUNMOLES (the great and extremely positive divinities) led by the personality of OBATALA. These divinities include IFA ORUNMILA BABA AGBONMIREGUN, OGUN, SANGO, ESU, ORO, YEMOWO and many others. In the same fashion OLODUMARE formed in the beginning of creation (IWASE) the alternatives of the positive and dynamic powers – negative spiritual vibrations called AJOGUN ORUN – THE PUNITIVE KNIGHTS OF HEAVEN. The divinities are entities created by OLODUMARE to justify his own glory, nature and his phenomenal status in creation. Divinities are creatures that never saw the beginning of days nor will they see the end of life – they are immortal and permanent. They share the same original characteristics of GOD which signifies that they cannot change or be tarnished by error or age like men – they share the infinite divine quality, completeness and wholeness of OLODUMARE The name OBATALA is derived from the words: OBA TI O NI ALA, meaning THE KING IN THE WHITE APPAREL, THE LORD OF THE WHITE CLOTH, THE KING THAT BROUGHT HUMANS INTO BEING or THE KING WITH DISTINCTIVE BOUNDARY He is also known as ORISAALA or ORISANLA, which means the great divinity, or ‘the one of most grandeur’. Divinities however should not be viewed as a women or men, because their statutes or image could not be defined in terms of natural physical structures like men or women. Since OLODUMARE could not be seen as either a man nor a woman, hence divinities takes after him as an embodiment of this perpetual glory and reveals themselves in whatever form they see fit. The woman/man relationship of OBATALA depends on the odu in question - or the tradition employed by the writer. In one stanza of Ogunda Meji it is stated that Obatala is a woman and further down in the stanza it is said that Obatala is an ageless divinity that came into iwarun – together with a host of other potent divinities. Ogunda meji claimed that ORISAALA had no father and that she was the mother of all creatures in creation, while OGUN was the father of all creatures. In other words, they both were considered to be directly created by OLODUMARE. This was the main reason for why ORISANLA was viewed as the mother goddess of IWARUN - the physical existence – and why OGUN was named ONIWARUN, ONIRE OKO EYO, meaning THE LORD OF IWARU, THE LEADER OF IRE HUSBAND OF EYO Traditions reveals that it was ORISAALA who was the mother of Obanla and Obalufon, both of them were men. ORISAALA had other children, amongst them Yemoja. Yemoja gave birth to Osun - the grand-daughter of ORISAALA. Orisanla or Orisa ala had another daughter called EFUNSEEKE. Efunseeke came of age and married. One day Ogun was celebrating one of his annual festivals in which he was drunk and as a consequence of a joke wine and alcohol entered the eyes of EFUNSEEKE and she became blind. Orisaala went to consult IFA to know why such a horrific event happened to her daughter. Orunmila made the divination and the odu OGUNDA IGARA appeared. Orunmila bowed down and knocked his head on the ground three times for IFA saying ABORU ABOYE meaning, ‘obeisance to you oh divinity’- and while his devotees who were with him responded ‘a agbo a a to’ meaning: “we will live long , with wisdom and understanding”. Orunmila asked Orisaala: IRU IGARA WO LO FE DA ALANIYAN YI OO, meaning: ‘what kind of challenges is facing the owner of this odu? ORISAALA replied and told IFA how OGUN poured gin in the eyes of her daughter EFUNSEEKE and how Eefunseeke went blind. This was the challenges they were facing right now. Without mincing words, ORUNMILA replied that: BI AWO BA KI FUN NI, AA KI FAWO NI, TITI DI ONI OLONI, meaning: IF THE INITIATED ONE BLESSED ANOTHER INITIATED THE BLESSED ONE WILL RETURN THE BLESSING UNTILL THIS DAY (THAT IS , IF ONE IFA DEVOTEE GREETS OTHER IFA DEVOTEE, THE GREETED ONE, MUST RETURN THE GREETING) Orunmila instructed Orisaala according to the odu to bring five snails as a sacrifice. The blood water from the snail would be used to cure the blindness of Eefunseeke. (Water from the snail is called OMI- ERO). Orunmila instructed Obatala to drop little by little OMI ERO into the eyes of her daughter until she would regain her sight. OBATALA (Orisaala) did all what was expected of him and followed the advice of IFA and indeed Eefuseeke regained her sight. From that moment, gin or alcohol became a taboo for all the worshippers of ORISAALA, OGUN and IFA to ensure a sound mental state, a good spiritual state and physical fitness during worship and day to day activities. OBATALA, IFA and OGUN worshippers should refrain from drinking alcohol, smoking, behaving contrary to what is godly. They should also be moderate with consuming salt, sugar and oil - if not completely abstain from it – at least keep it to a minimum. In the case of salt, sugar and oil - they are taboo to all worshippers of OBATALA. After the incident of blindness, and how she regained her sight, Eefuseeke got pregnant - but it was a complicated pregnancy. Orisaala went to the same Ifa priest, ORUNMILA, to know the cause for all the pains of this pregnancy. Orunmila threw the Opele again and the odu that came out was Ofun meji. Orunmila instructed Orisaala to prepare 6 snails, 16 obi, 16 orogbo, 16 yams, 16 eko (corn flour stew) as an offering to divinity. Orisaala performed the rituals as directed and the water from the snails was to be drunk by Eefunseeke. Again it was OMI ERO that stopped the tumultuous state of her pregnancy and she got healed from her pains. Eefuseeke gave birth to a child in the 16th month of her pregnancy and the baby was albino. Indeed, it was because of this that albinos were called OMO-ORISA or ORISA ADARA (the children of deity or good deity) It was believed from that day on that albinos intuitively know the secret behind 16 cowries. They are seen as natural diviners of 16 cowries called Erindinlogun. IFA says that all albinos must practice a spiritual trade as their chosen profession and study the art of divination according to the odu ogbe irosun, that tell us: Ogbe Irosun stanza 11 TAWO LEPO TO OGBERI LEJE LO DIFA FUN OBATALA TI O MA SE EBO, OMO RE TAN LORUN IFA SO WIPE IRE AJE, IRE TILE, IRE ISEGUN IFA NI KI A RUBO, AIKU, NITORI OMO AWON NKAN TI EJE RE TI GBE NI OHUN EBO OPA EKU, OPA EJA, EPO, OBI, OROGBO OMI, IGBIN, EYELE, ADIYE, KI BABALAWO FI JERU KI WON MA PA OHUN ELEJE YEN OBATALA GBO, O RUBO AIKU, NITORI AWON OMO RE OBIRIN ATI AWON OMO RE OKUNRIN IGBA YI NI IKU KO PA WON MO TI ARUN KO SE WON OMO RE TAN LORUN TAWO LEPO TOGBERI LEJE IFA SEBO OMO RE TAN LORUN IFA SEBO OMO RE TAN LORUN TAWO LEPO, TOGBERI LEJE TAWO LEPO, TOGBERI LEJE TRANSLATION: The initiated ones have palm oil The uninitiated ones have blood This the IFA oracle divined for OBATALA That decides to offer sacrifice to his heavenly children IFA says, the blessing of prosperity, the blessing of manifold success, the blessing of victory IFA directs him to offer sacrifice of longevity for his children The sacrifice of dry materials that include dried rats, dried fish, obi, orogbo, water, snail, pigeon, ori, OBATALA heard and offered a sacrifice of long life, because his male and female children, that was how they got victory over death and sickness Hence, the heavenly children of OBATALA were blessed and so the chant goes initiated ones have abundant oil initiated ones have abundant oil while uninitiated ones have abundant blood while uninitiated ones have abundant blood Albinos are natural prophets from GOD, sent here to direct our spiritual steps. The second school of thought believed that OBATALA was a male deity, one of the greatest powers – a leading figure who led other divinities from the heaven above to the physical plain of existence. It was believed that ORISALA was the only divinity given a place at the right hand side of OLODUMARE in his majestic kingdom - ENI OTUN ELEDUA. Because of his greatness, praise names were given to him from town to town, from village to village among his followers. In all Yoruba towns and cities worshippers see Obatala as their king, leader and their protective divinity of immense importance. Obatala according to the tradition is called ALABAA LASE meaning the giver of authority or the holder of absolute authority. The vibration or odu that created Obatala according to tradition was EJIOGBE that states: Gbogbo ola omi ti nbe laye Kole to ti olokun Gbogbo iyi odo kole to ti olosa Lodifa fun obatala oseere igbo Lojo ti yio je alabaalase Ti gbogbo irunmole nleri pe Awon yoo gba okan ninu oriki re Orunmila agboniregun yehun E su lalu elegbara ogo yera kosi ifa ti ni yi koja ejiogbe alase ni a fi ase fun gbogbo odo keekee kee ti oba so pe ti olokun ko si laye gbogbo won nii gbe lau-lau bi papa bajo, eruku asoloju won mo toro ola lowo olosa ibikeji odo mo rije bee ni mo yo rara tani ko mope ola OLORUN nikan loto ni ije dojo iku eni Translation: Of all the honor of the earthly water None can match the honour of OLOKUN (the goddess of ocean) All the glory of the river, none can match the goddess of sea This was divined for OBATALA OSEREMAGBO the day he was crowned the head of all divinities All the divinities were jealous and promised That they will take one of his numerous honour and glory Orunmila Agbonniregun did not utter any word Esu lalu elegbara stayed away None of the odu has honour comparable to ejiogbe Honour is given to whom it’s due Ejiogbe, you are the greatest of them all if the little river wants to claim superiority over the ocean it will dry to its source if the bush is burning, those who need to go into hiding must do that l ask for prosperity from the goddess of the sea, the second in command to the ocean l am full with blessing , Everybody knows that the blessing of GOD is sufficient for us Till the end, This odu ifa under Ejiogbe make it clear that it is from heaven above OLODUMARE chose to make ORISAALA the leader of all divinities. It was noted that he was full of meekness, calmness, patience and gentleness – and this became the traits of his character - which must be imbibed by all his followers. Obeisance must always be given to him in quietness and meekness, as a sign of perfect communication with GOD. Animals without bones are his preferable sacrificial animals, like the snail, shows that Obatala does not like to hurt nor animal or human. He loves to maintain the sanctity of life and to ensure their preservation in the universe. Based on this Obatala was saluted in the following way: OBATALA O KU OOO ORISA FUNFUN AJIMAJE NNKAN TO LEEGUN APA IGBIN JE LEHIN IKAARAHUN TRANSLATION: OBATALA LONG LIFE, TO YOU OH DIVINITY DEITY IN WHITE APPAREL THAT WAKES UP WITHOUT EATING BUT A BONELESS ANIMAL THAT EATS SNAIL AFTER REMOVING HIS SHELL We use the following items when performing rituals and making ebó for Obatala: IGBIN (SNAIL) AKE EWURE (GOAT PLACENTA) OBI (KOLANUTS) ATAARE (ALLIGATOR PEPPER) OROGBO (BITTER KOLA) OMI (WATER) The hierarchy amongst his followers is as follows Males: Aboosa, Tabi aaje Females: Elegun White cloths are the symbol of his presence and should be worn frequently by his worshippers. Taboos for Obatala: None of his followers should drink strong wine or alcohol Oil and salt must not be used to prepare food during his rituals and initiation; Melon soup (obe egusi) is forbidden during OBATALA ceremony and Corn should not cooked during the week of rituals for Obatala (a ko gbo do se ase ti o ni agbado lojo ose obatala). OBATALA was the first divinity and he chose the first day of the week as his own day of worship. He is believed to be the real image of GOD and true representative of GOD in the world. Obatala festival at in USA It was believed that those who are looking for the fruit of the womb must offer prayer, sacrifice and indulge into regular fasting to Obatala. The barren must give daily obeisance to Obatala for the gift of children from GOD. GOD has given Obatala the authority to put smiles on the face women that are in dare need of children, hence all barren women should give obeisance in the following way: ORISA ADATAN APAPA LAELAE ALAGBO OFE A BI IWOMO WERE TRANSLATION: THE DIVINITY OF ADATAN WITH INFINITE LOVING HAND THE OWNER OF THE COMPOUND FULL OF BLESSED CHILDREN WHO IS GIVING CHILREN OUT TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN NEED Indeed, in the odu Ogbedi IFA says that Obatala and Orunmila were chosen to receive the absolute authority to bless all barren women in the universe and bring to them the gift of children Ogbedi says: BI OJO IKU ABARAMEJI BA DARA LAYE EHIN IWA WON KII SAN LORUN LO DIFA FUN EJIOGBE ATI OBATALA LOJO TI WON YOO NA ADO OMO BIBI TI AWON ELEGUN WON YIO FI JEUN OGBEDI NI GBOGBO ERAN ENI TI E BAJE OTOTO ENIYAN NI YOO MAA DA AWON LA FI TETE OHUN KI A TO TORO OHUN LOWO ENI A KII FI TULASI GBA NNKAN APO ENI WARA- WARA LODIFA FUN OBATALA OSERE LASO (OSEERE MAGBO) NIGBATI TI EDA YOO MAA RAWO – RASE KI WON TO TORO OMO LOWO RE AWON EDE NI EETISE ORUNMILA NI A SE EYIN KO MO PE OBATALA KII TA OMO RE LOPO TRANSLATION: IF THE DEATH OF PEOPLE WITH TWO PERSONALITY IS GOOD IN THE PHYSICAL WORLD LIFE AFTER DEATH WILL BE WORSE IN THE HEAVEN THIS THE IFA ORACLE DIVINED FOR EJIOGBE AND OBATALA WHEN THEY WERE PLANNING TO HAVE A CHILD WHEN THEIR FOLLOWERS WERE SEEKING FOR FOOD OGBE-DI SAYS, ALL THE MEAT WE SHALL EAT WILL BE GIVEN TO US BY DIFFERENT PEOPLE THIS IS POWER OF WORD BEFORE ASKING ANYTHING FROM OTHERS NOBODY MUST USE FORCE TO TAKE WHAT DO NOT BELONG TO HIM THIS ALSO DIVINE IFA FOR OBATALA OSEERE IGBO WHEN THE PEOPLE ARE BEGGING HIM FOR THE BLESSING OF THE WOMB PEOPLE ARE ASKING WHAT CAUSE THE DELAY ORUNMILA ANSWERED THEM DID YOU NOT KNOW THAT OBATALA WILL NOT GIVE OUT HIS CHILDREN WITHOUT A COST? Orisa devotees at Obatala festival. Trinidad and Tobago Before Orunmila left to earth from heaven GOD gave ORUNMILA the authority of teaching IFA to mankind while the ability to look patiently towards GOD for blessings of all kinds were given to OBATAALA. Both Orunmila and Obatala performed rituals to attract multitudes of followers that would spread their names throughout the universe. According to OGBEKA it was like this: Aki I yo eyin adie ninu omi Lati owuro ki dale ko to gbe Bi omunu ogede ba pe ninu omi Kio gbe boro boro A fo aso tan ninu eji Eji ko da , a ko ri oorun saa Lo difa fun akoka Ti nko gbogb aye ni ifa Lo difa fun aseda Ti nko gbogbo agba ni imoran Won ni awon mejeeji rubo ajalu Ki won ma baa j anile aye Ki oruko won ma baa si parun Mo juba akoda mo juba ase da Gbogbo omo awo ni kii o maa juba yi Iba ni a a ju fun oniba Omo awo ti ko ba juba akoda Bi o ba difa , ifa re ko le se Omo awo ti ko ba juba aseda Bi o rubo, ebo re ko le da Iba ni a a ju fun oniba Mo ji mo juba akoda Mo ji mo juba aseda Gbogbo ohun ti mo ba wi ni ki o se Ase Translation: No one removes the eggs of the hen from the water From morning till dawn without being dry up Whenever a banana plantain is put inside water It will not ripe in time We wash the cloth in the rain The rain does not stop While the sun does not appear to dry up the cloth This IFA divined for AKOKA (teacher) That teaches Ifa’s oracle to the whole world It equally divines ifa oracle to aseda – the creator That teaches wisdom to the sages and initiates The two eminent divinities were advised to offer ritual against disagreement So that they will not disagree when they reach the physical world To avoid a situation where their names would not be blot out From the book of life I give obeisance to the first creature My obeisance to the creator All the initiates give their obeisance Obeisance to those that deserves obeisance Whoever among the initiates that do not give obeisance to the first creatures Whenever he consults ifa divination, it will end up in total fiasco Who among the initiate that do not give obeisance to creator Whenever he offer sacrifice, such sacrifice will not be accepted by the divinities Obeisance must be given to those that deserve obeisance I wake up in the morning to give my obeisance to the first creature I wake up in the morning to give my obeisance to the creator All my steps and plan should witness the support of creator Ase Oriki Obatala AGBALAGBA ORISA TI GUN SILE AYE A GREAT DIVINITY THAT DWELLS IN THE PHYSICAL STATE OF EXISTENCE ONILE OJU POPO O JI REBI THE OWNER OF THE HOUSE ON THE WIDE ROAD THAT WAKES UP TO DETER EVIL AGBALAGBA BI O BA JI IRE ABUSE-ABUSE THE GREAT DIVINITY THAT WAKES UP WITH IMMENSE RESPONSIBILITIES AND BENEFITS ONIPOPO OMO AROOGBEE THE LORD OF POPO, THE CHILD OF AROOGBEE IWIN SO NGADA MERI APA THE MYSTERIOUS PHENOMENON TIED FOUR TO ARM IWIN OLUOGAN KO DADE THE MYSTERIOUS OWNER OF THE JUNGLE WITHOUT CROWN IWIN ODE NII TA IRINWO EFON THE MYSTERIOUS HUNTER THAT SELLS FOUR HUNDRED BUFFALO IWIN ODIDE YOMI YOWU OGBONNA SONU THE MYSTERIOUS WEAVER THAT REMOVES THE WOOL AND THROUGH IT AWAY IWIN ODE NII TA IRIN O EFON THE MYSTERIOUS HUNTER THAT SELLS FOUR HUNDRED BUFFALO IWIN A MAA TA META AJAGBO THE MYSTERY THAT SELLS THREE OF THE JUNGLE WILD DOGS O MAA TA LEKA ORUN HE WHO IS OF IMMENSE IMPORTANCE IN THE HEAVEN KI O LE BA A DUNNI JANJAN BI ABAJO THAT WILL BE OF IMMENSE PAIN LIKE AS IF ENI TI KO DURO GBO EJO WHO DOES NOT CARE TO LISTEN TO ANY COMPLAIN OR TO HEAR ANY LAWSUIT ENITI KO DURO DE ONILU RE HE WHO DOES NOT WAIT FOR HIS OWN DRUMMER TI O FI DE EJIGBO AKIRE UNTIL HE REACHES THE CITY OF EJIGBE AKIRO KO DURO GBEJO TO FI DE EJIGBO KORO HE DID NOT LISTEN TO THE COMPLAIN UNTIL HE REACHES THE CITY OF EJIOGBO KORO ONIPOPO OMO AROOGBEE THE LORD OF POPO, THE SON OF AROOGBEE IWIN SONGADA MERI APA THE MYSTERIOUS BEING THAT TIED FOUR TO HIS HAND IWIN OLUOGAN KO DADE THE MYSTERIOUS LORD OF OGAN WITHOUT CROWN MAJE KI A TA OFA NI LE YI NEVER ALLOW THE EVIL ONES SEND EVIL VIBRATION TO THIS LAND EMO IYAN NI O JE KI A TA SENU (UNSMOOTH) POUNDED YAM WILL NO GO TO THE MOUTH AGBALAGBA ORISA NILE EKEETA A GREAT SAGE AND DIVINITY IN THE THIRD HOUSE NIGBA TI O SOLESAYE TAN AFTER HE HAD DESCENDED IN THE PHYSICAL STATE OF EXISTENCE AYEWA DI GBARUGBADA THE WORLD BECOME SETTLED AND PEACEFUL MAJE KI A TA OFA NI LEYI NEVER ALLOW THE EVIL ONES SEND EVIL VIBRATION TO THIS LAND EMO IYAN NI KI O JE KI A TA SENU A BAD POUNDED YAM WILL NOT BE TAKEN TO THE MOUTH OLE ONISO ESE WO DO MOJA APA HE PURSUED THE EVIL ONE TO THE RIVER WITH HIS FIST ORIN (Songs) AGBALAGBA ORISA OOO THE GREAT DIVINITY OOO OUN LO LAYE OOO YOU ARE THE LORD OF THE UNIVERSE IDA ILE OGUN BI ORI BA A NI THE MARCHET OF THE HOUSE OF OGUN LOOK LIKE THE STRUCTURE OF THE HEAD ASE Ifa says that the first devotee of Obatala was ONIYAGBE who lived in a town called DOROMI - AWISE and was married to a woman named OMOJINKUN. Tradition impart to us that this couple farmed and planted corn in proportion to the land given to them by their ancestors. Omojinkun, the wife of ONIYAGBE was barren and they tried all possible means to have a child but to no avail. One day ONIYAGBE took his wife to consult IFA with a reputable IFA priest in the land. It was there ODU IRETE AAYA or IRETE MEJI appeared and in this odu we read the following: I I I I II II I I Ogbori ngbiri, a tehin dopo Ona taa ba to ri Nii se ni siba sibo Ohun rere ni yowo obi ninu aso Ohun buburu ni yowo ofa ninu apo Lodifa fun ako aaya Lodifa fun abo aaya Lojo, ti won lo oko iwaje Ako aaya ni Koloko o ma kuu Ki igi ogunbere ma faya Ti o ba di iwoyi amodun Ki a ribi jo Gbantete, gbantete Abo aaya ni boloko le ku ko ku Bi igi ogunbere le yak o ya Bi o ba di iwoyi amodun A o ri ibomiran jo Gbantete, gbatete Translation: The heavenly destiny could bring surplus and prosperity Unknown path never walked before Could bring confusion Mentally, physically and spiritually Good words bring good things from the pocket, that is good word bring harmony, luck Peace and serenity Evil utterance attract evil manifestation This divine IFA –oracle for the male ape This divine IFA –oracle for the female ape When they were going to the forest of plantation and harvest The male monkey says ‘’the owner of the farm should not die And the tree of ogunbere should not fall So that by this time of next year I shall be able to dance Gbantete, Gbantete’’ While the female monkey offered contrary opinion ‘’ If the owner of the farm could die Let him die And the tree of ogunbere (leucaena leucocephala) should fall Let it fall So that by this time of next year We shall look for another farm to eat and harvest We shall also seek another tree to pluck its fruit” After the IFA priest had chanted the IFA verse he instructed ONIYAGBE that on getting to his farm the day after he should hide himself to witness a strange phenomenon at his farm. Whatever happened he was told to inform the Ifa priest of so he could be able to prescribe the necessary sacrifice to overcome the evil establishment. What he saw that night was two apes who liked to eat the corn in ONIYAGBE’s farm. Very early in the morning ONIYAGBE went to his farm and he saw the two apes, a male and a female. Upon seeing them he hid to witness the mystical phenomenon. The male ape started first to pluck the corn, using both hands to pluck, like he used to do in past while he jumped from tree to tree saying KI OLOKO MA KUU OOO KI IGI OGUNBERE MA FAYA BI O BA DI IWOYI AMODUN KI A RI IBI JO GBANTETE – GBANTETE Meaning The owner of the farm should not die And the tree of OGUNBERE should not fall By this time of next year I shall be able to dance Gbantete gbantete (the rhythmic sound of the drum) The owner of the farm, ONIYAGBE, was overwhelmed with happiness on hearing the strong words of the male monkey. After this the female monkey followed suit, plucked the corn with the left and right hand and ate all what she needed and jumped from tree to tree saying BI OLOKO LE KU KO KU BI IGI OGUNBERE LE YA KO YA BI O BA DI IWOYI AMODUN A O RI IBOMIRAN JO GBANTETE – GBANTETE Meaning If the owner of the farm could die Let him die If the tree of OGUNBERE (leucaena leu cocephala) could fall Let it be By this time of next year We shall look for another farm to eat and harvest We shall also seek another tree to stand on Gbantete, gbantete When the owner of the farm heard this he got furious. He pulled out his gun and shot the female ape and killed her. ONIYAGBE later opened the bowel of the female monkey and removed the placenta in her womb. He encountered another phenomenon in her womb called SESEFUN. He took the SESEFUN to the IFA priest. On getting to the house of the priest, there was another round of divination in which he was told that his prayer had been answered and his wife would conceive and he would need to do another set of sacrifices. ONIYAGBE was asked to bring a plain white cloth to be tied to PEREGUN TREE (DRACAENA FRANGRANS OR DRACAENA ARBOREA). He should place a pot under this tree and always pour water on the tree and the water would be dropped into the pot. The chief priest told the wife that the water in the pot should be the water to be taken every morning (both for drinking and for bathing) and the SESEFUN the husband found in the womb of the female ape must be kept inside the pot with the water. The wife of Oniyagbe did all the rituals according to the instruction of the Babalawo and in a short time she conceived and gave birth to a beautiful child. She bathed the baby with the spiritual water in the pot as instructed by the IFA priest while the cloth wrapped on the PEREGUN tree was the only clothing used by the baby. In reality, when a child use such spiritual water and divine cloth, the child will be called the child of OBATALA because the materials are the emblem of ORISAALA ALASO FUNFUN - white cloth, SESEFUN - these children are given names like ABIAPE, that is , they have come with divine names which is derived from divinity and thus informs their destiny. The above IFA myth teaches us two important things. The first important thing is the importance of learning to speak good about one self and also about others. One should avoid speaking evil, no matter how grave our challenges or evil circumstances might be so that we will not be attracted to greater evils and thus bring into motion greater calamities from our utterances and from our mind. IFA says that good words and good minds draw spiritual and physical sympathy and love while a strong word or evil utterance are like weapons. Good and kind words according to IFA can serve as a mechanism for progress, long life, and happiness, whereas, a mean word or evil utterance can attract strong negative consequences. The second important lesson is the act of conforming to spiritual guidance, to be able to achieve certain physical, mental and spiritual objectives, that is, one should adhere to spiritual instructions to fulfill one`s destiny . SECOND STORY Irete meji speaks of ILE (the mother earth) as the element of worship in the cult of OGBONI and ILE is seen as the most important and dominant force in creation. She secures all the living and the non living creatures of the OMNIPOTENT GOD – OLODUMARE. ILE according to IRETE MEJI encompasses rivers, lakes, seas, hills and mountains - which are the spiritual personification of the mother – goddess of fertility to whom regular worship was made and unto whose bowel man finally returns at the end of his life The below IFA verse from IRETE MEJI summarizes the importance of ILE (IRETE MEJI VII- ESE IFA KEJO) Iyan bemu – bemu nii kun inu igba Oro bemu- bemu ko kun ikun agbalagba A difa fun ILE To ni oun loun o kere gbogbo aye je Ko I pe Ko I jina Ki ire gbogbo Ka I ba wa ni jebute ire Translation: Food (pounded yam) may fill a dish until it can take no more words No matter how secret, the secret will ever remain safe In the repository of an elderly people Declared the oracle of IFA to earth Who craved universal worship Let all prosperity meet us at our domain See how blessing follows sacrifice IFA tells us that ILE (earth) consulted the oracle of IFA asking how she would profit from men’s undertakings and blessings in life. IFA instructed ILE to offer a sacrifice of 16 OBI, 16 OROGBO, 16 ATARE, 16 RATS, 16 PIGEONS, and 16 GUINE FOWLS AND 16 BAGS OF COWRIES. ILE agreed and offered the sacrifice as directed by IFA. Indeed the work and the profit of all living being returned to ILE with profit. We build and all our undertakings and investment, our achievements and children is made possible because of ILE – and to Her we return - to the bosom of earth - after our earthly journey. We grow, we struggle, we become poor or rich on earth and later we are all swallowed up by the same ILE. Men ‘s profit and poverty in life will in death end up in the belly of the earth – AGBALAGBA - another name for OGBONI in the context of earth worship and propitiation Irete meji says the Ogboni Society was founded to secure the worship of mother – earth. This forms the central part of all the ceremonies of the society. The proper time for propitiating the earth and ensuring its fertility is after all the necessary ceremonies were done and all rituals are carried out. Another myth tell us that all divinities, including ILE –the mother earth, joined forces to dethrone OBATALA OSEMARAGBO (the ancient of days) and take for them his creative powers. Bitter rivalry emerged amongst the divinities and deities who wanted to share the glory of OBATALA. ORUNMILA was invited to join in the conspiracy but refused. ESU was invited into the evil plot against the ancient of the days OBATALA, but ESU refused. In the end the divinities lost the fight to take the glory of OBATALA. Consequently a universal glory was conceded to him forever according to the IFA stanza below. However, the refusal of ORUNMILA BABA AGBONNIREGUN and ESU LALU OGIRI OKO, to join in the conspiracy against, the illuminated one –OBATALA –was with great benefit and enormous advantages. ORUNMILA and ESU were both promoted to co –exist as equals with OBATALA in the trinity of divinities Irete Meji says the following: Igangan IFE Orunmila wo suu , o ko won E e ri i Awon ojise aye Awon igangan ife Awon ni Orunmila maa Nranse si ELEDUA Translation: Envoy from earth Town –crier of IFE Were suddenly seized and slashed by Orunmila You see The messenger The town crier Are the emissary Orunmila always send to GOD the omnipotent The emissary from the earth and the town crier of IFE were ORUNMILA`S regular messengers to ELEDUMARE, the omnipotent. The message to the omnipotent was: “such being the state of things in IFE today, what sacrifice should I appoint as remedy?” The reply would come ‘’offer a bush rat’’. Acting on this recommendation ORUNMILA would receive good auspices for the city and all would turn out well, but as time went on things changed. When the Omnipotent indicated the sacrifice of a goat, these messengers reported to ORUNMILA that a Lamb should be offered. The sacrifice would result in failure. What could be responsible for this turn of events wondered Orunmila. Eventually the truth came out but ORUNMILA said nothing, he merely stopped the messengers from bearing further request to the OMNIPOTENT. One day ORUNMILA seized the messengers and killed them. The people of IFE wondered how ORUNMILA could do such an evil thing, killing his messengers who were always bringing good tidings to the people of IFE. The answer given to them by ORUNMILA was not satisfying, and the people decided to attack ORUNMILA, and without mincing words ORUNMILA hid himself from the anger of the people. They beat one of the disciples of ORUNMILA called IMULEGBE and AKALE – ORUNMILA`s guest was not spared. ORUNMILA could not hide his emotions and he came out from his hiding and challenged the people. Orunmila left the city in annoyance, IMULEGBE and AKALE went with him. ORUNMILA warned the entire council of IFA priests to stop divining for the people of IFE, so that they may know the implication of their habit and actions Orunmila later travelled to the forest with his friends until they got to a place called ‘’THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE’’ and here they built three hut’s, one for AKALE – ESU, one for IMULEGBE – OBATALA, and one for ORUNMILA. Soon, there was a report from IFE that the city was under heavy plague and many problems. Fishes were dying in the river, sickness and illness became the order of the day. The pregnant women would no longer find it easy to have their children, men became infertile and the barren could not conceive. There was total chaos and pandemonium and nobody in the city was able to find a solution to the problem. The chiefs of IFE went out of their domain to seek solution but all to no avail. One day they met a diviner named CRAB THAT CRAWLS IN HOLES IN THE MARSH AWAY FROM WATER HABITANTS, but he declined to divine for them because of what ORUNMILA the chief diviner had said. He then instructed the people of IFE to look for ORUNMILA so that they might find solutions to their problems. They replied that ORUNMILA could not be found, and he said they should look for an antelope and bring him the animal so that he would help them look for another diviner. They brought the animal and were led to another diviner called GOLDEN –HUED LIKE FRESH PALM OIL who was expected to take them to where ORUNMILA resided. The diviner then asked the people of IFE to look for an antelope for sacrifice like was given to the first diviner. This request was more laborious than that of the first diviner, but since they did not have alternatives, they prepared to go into the deep bush and look for an antelope. They found an antelope which they pursued up hill and chased the animal into the forest until the people of IFE found themselves in the MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. Here, suddenly the antelope disappeared and they continued searching for the disappeared antelope until they found the three huts built for ORUNMILA, AKALE and IMULEGBE (ORUNMILA, ESU AND OBATALA). The people of IFE could not believe that a sane man could live in this remote area, but to confirm their doubt and curiosity, they threw a stone at one of the huts and immediately ESU – AKALE, came out in annoyance asking them who threw the stone. They actually saw that it was ESU, and ESU asked them what was the problem with them and why they needed to find them here in the deep forest. They pleaded with ESU and told him the predicaments that were currently haunting them at IFE. ESU listened to them and asked them to go and look for some sacrificial materials if they wanted any solution to their problems. The materials they needed to get was 2 BUSH –RATS, 2 DRIED FISH, 2 OBI, 2 OROGBO, 2 ATARE and several other things in pairs. They returned to IFE in order to secure the materials. They told about their experiences to the king and the king advised them to take all the materials and that they should try to find ORUNMILA himself. Immediately after they left ESU reported how the citizen of IFE came and stoned his hut to ORUNMILA and how he came out to question them and how he instructed them to look for some sacrificial materials so that their predicaments could be solved. Then ESU asked ORUNMILA how he could help them if they returned. ORUNMILA told ESU to go to the hut of OBATALA to report the case to him exactly as he had told to ORUNMILA. ORUNMILA pleaded to OBATALA – IMULEGBE that OBAORISA would listen to ESU – AKALE and the story of the disasters in IFE. If nothing was done there could be even more severe situations unfolding. OBATALA, in the first instance did not comply with ORUNMILA`s plea and despite numerous attempts, OBATALA did not give in to their plea. Then ORUNMILA chose and used stronger, wise and mystic language before ORISAALA heeded to the plea, and what was this language? Obatala, you must return to your work The blacksmith moulds iron over and over again Until, it is straight and perfect The barber has not finished his work Until backs and sides are well trimmed You must return to your unfinished work Generations of kings have reigned on earth Yet have I not seen one to rival this one To rival Obatala, king of all divinities Royal artificer of perfection Who came from above but place His earthly home in the city of IRANJE He alone has power to lock the rain –gates He alone created the white dome of the sky He created the species of RAT to last for ever He created the species of the FISH to last for ever He created the species of the bird to last for ever He created the species of the beast to last forever And ordained that the species of man be never destroyed With these mystical words, OBATALA replied “you are blessed, you ORUNMILA have the unique wisdom to recollect all these mysteries, I will heed to your plea.” When the people of IFE returned with the sacrificial materials, ORUNMILA forgave them, ORISAALA forgave them and ESU also forgave them. With the materials a sacrifice of atonement was performed and the three divinities and the people of IFE returned to the city of IFE with dance and song, rejoicing that their city and the people had been saved from calamity. From that time on the city of IFE spread in all directions until it touched every corner of the world. The story shows this trinity in the primordial order. ESU represents the junior divinity in this hierarchy and his role is to receive and forward sacrificial offerings, he is morally neutral, he represents chance, the unpredictable component of life, The rating between ORUNMILA and OBATALA is extremely difficult to analyze, but since the junior should first seek the favor of the senior and in the beginning of the myth we see that OBATALA was the senior, being sought after by ORUNMILA. But if we go by the power of words, and the significance of what words and its beauty could do, one would wonder that a good word could give us a leadership role. The power of forgiveness too should not be seen as an ordinary power - it is one of the strongest vibratory power in the universe and if we go by the last phrase of the concluding part of ORUNMILA`S pleading statement, it shows that ORUNMILA forgave them, OBATALA forgave them and ESU forgave them. The above story shows the position of Obatala as a leading figure in the primordial order, and those searching for blessings in any form must not hesitate to pray to OBATALA Obatala is next to GOD in order of importance. He takes precedence over all divinities. GOD endowed Obatala with the responsibilities of creating all creatures. He made the head, nose, eyes, mouth, skull, while OLODUMARE placed within man the breath of life which is the spirit and the soul that make man a living being. He is the maker of the image of man from clay and place man in the uterus of a woman. Woman seeking the blessing of children must constantly give obeisance to OBATALA for a sound, perfect and whole child free of deformities and any blemish whatsoever. Deformed and blemished children like albinos are dedicated to him and takes a special prominence in relation to Obatala. Obatala is also regarded as the sole protector of the town or city gates. He enjoys the uniformity of color among his devotees. His preferable color is white, that is, he enjoys using white in all his activities. White clothes, white food, abstaining from red meat, using white kola nuts and bitter kola instead of normal red kola nuts are some of his sacrificial material. The worshippers tend to use snail instead of animals when performing rituals to his honour. They go without food for a day or two while they pray and sing of praises to him. They abstain from sex and food during rituals to Obatala Prayers for the gift of womb (child bearing) are offered to him by women finding conception difficult. He serves as arbiter of disputes among initiates all over the world. OBATALA is a divinity of purity. He represents highest moral and physical discipline among his devotees. The initiates are to ensure humility, purity, peace, calmness and patience in dealing in any matter concerning spiritual steps, mental activities and physical interaction with others. Obatala is known as the lord of vision and the lord of whiteness. Some of his names are 1) Orisa elemi: divinity that brought all being into existence 2) Alaba lase: proposer and disposer of great authority 3) Baba – baba , iya- iya: is the father before fathers, and mother before mothers. Both feminine and masculine attributes are exhibited in the traditional ad historical attributes of OBATALA Tradition makes it clear that OBATALA was the chief male divinity in creation just like ODUDUWA was once the greatest female divinity in the world. The union between the two (OBATALA and ODUDUWA) resulted into the spread of humanity on the surface of the universe Tradition also reveals for us that ODUDUWA was the first wife of OBATALA and their union being symbolized by the union between earth and the sky, which makes part of the mysteries of the Cult of OGBONI. The union is made manifest by the two parts of a white calabash joined together meaning what GOD has join, let no one tear asunder. This is also replicated in the traditional position of husband and wife when they take hold of the palace of love-making when they generate life in accordance with Idi Meji: Ojo nla ta di sasa A difa fun won ni di okunrin A bu fun won ni di obirin Nijo ti won nmekun oju se rahun omo laye Idi ni a apa asa Igba ti idi ba di meji Ngba ye la dolomo Obatala , oseremagbo Majeki gbogbo olusin re yagan Ase Translation: Success depends on perseverance; see how rain drops in time wear out granite Thus declare the oracle of IFA to the husband The same was declare to the wife when they sorrowed daily For lack of children Commence your effort From bottom upwards For when two ends meet A child is born OBATALA OSEREMAGBO Never allow all your devotes witness barrenness in the world and the world to come Ase ODUDUWA is known as IYA AGBE, ‘the mother of the gourd’ or ‘mother of calabash’. She is represented by a woman nursing a child in a sitting position. Going by name ODUDU WA that is ODU TO DA IWA, which means the vibration that creates IWA. IWA according to Yoruba is ‘character’, ‘being’, ‘life’, ‘destiny’, and ‘heaven’ (like in the phrase ‘o losi iwa ORISA’ meaning; he has departed to the land of ancestors or divinities). Iwa here becomes a word on which the word ODUDUWA is patterned upon. Consequently He or She may be the father or the mother of all beings, but those who see ODUDUWA as the wife of Obatala did not miss the way – actually they reinforced the position of ODUDUWA as a divinity or deity of immense importance in creation. Hence Obatala, the divinity of union, whiteness and purity join with ODUDUWA, the divinity of conception and from this comes all living beings. The union between the two gave birth to Aginju, Okanbi and many other illustrious children, deities and kings We should not forget that the original IGBA IWA, The Calabash of Character, was given to OBATALA. Orunmila helped him to carry IGBA IWA from IWARUN to the ISALU AYE where the IGBA IWA was snatched from him by ORO and retrieved by ESU and returned to Obatala through patience and extreme spiritual wisdom. This was all OBATALA needed to endure and pass through challenges that transformed him into the greatest divinity of all. GOD gave to OBATALA the secret to attract the blessing of wealth, prosperity, long life, happiness and strength – which he gave to his followers and other faithful followers of OLODUMARE. kwekudee at 8:52 PM Share No comments: Post a Comment ‹ › Home View web version About Me kwekudee Tema, Greater-Accra, Ghana I am cool and radical person.I love to do my research to surprise you. I love to write! View my complete profile Powered by Blogger