Wednesday, October 22, 2008

It's All Good

Take the time to line up the Energy first, and action becomes inconsequential. If you don't take the time to line up the Energy, if you don't find the feeling place of what you're looking for, not enough action in the world will make any difference.
Esther Abraham Hicks

I post quotes from Esther Abraham Hicks because some of what she says resonates with me. Lots of times she gives me inspiration (in spirit) to write about spirit, and that is good. Ifa is a cultural spiritual tradition that allows for influences of other religions, mindsets and practices to work in harmony with Ifa practices. One of the main pillars of Ifa is Iwa Pele -- Good Character. Devotees strive to develop and maintain good character. Like Society of Soul said, "If your heart holds no truth, then your name holds no honor." I am striving for Iwa Pele, and when I do strive consistently for Iwa Pele, my energy lines up perfectly and reality is created.

According to Ifa Temple of Light, Iwa-pele sits at the threshold of the development of the individual. It is only a beginning. Even though it is a beginning, it must be attained before all other levels of development. The emphasis on the mundane levels of material attainment causes major issues and problems within the individual and within the religion itself. This emphasis overshadows the religious endeavor and perpetuates the negative stereotypes given to African religions.

One must also take into account that the development of good character produces a shield around the individual who has attained it. Baba Olaoluwa Fasade states in his book, The Orisha Speaks, "Character is like an orisha. If we behave right, it supports us." To not attain it allows the negating forces to penetrate an individual's spiritual fabric and literally "feed" on the them.

In certain instances, seekers come to a diviner believing that they are under the influence of negating forces when in actuality it is the actions of the individual that has opened the gate for them to enter. Iwa-Pele is the element that not only closes off the spiritual fabric to the negating forces, it also opens the gate for the divinities to elevate and bless a devotee."

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