25/11/2009

A Alquimia da Iniciação de Orisa




Uma tradição deve expressar algumas facetas particulares para ser corretamente referida como tradição, de outra forma ela é uma presunção, uma pseudo-tradição. Uma tradição necessita expressar uma mundovisão e também necessita uma sucessão de conhecimento que em última instância revela a conexão com espírito, mais comumente através do intercessor humano que serve como um intermediário na corrente de transmissão. Nesta última, a corrente de transmissão, é suficiente apontar à quantidade de discussões e batalhas de egos que ocorrem entre tantas crenças derivadas das Africanas no Novo Mundo para ao menos sugerir que a conexão com a fonte é na melhor das hipóteses, falha, dada a apresentação puramente profana aos mistérios atemporais. Isto também é revelado em como as pessoas, ao assumir o papel de sacerdotes, institucionalizam automaticamente disfunções de todos os tipos. Estas disfunções revelam-se nos jogos de poder, que variam das mentiras, engodos e o uso de mecanismos de controle de várias formas, onde o medo parece ser o fator principal.

Na teologia de Ifá, isto é conhecido como ‘ibi Egun’. Ibi Egun não significa que a morte (Iku) está atrás de você, como é geralmente visto pelos intérpretes modernos, mas que os ancestrais trazem má fortuna simplesmente porque sua última peça na corrente de ancestralidade demonstra padrões disfuncionais de comportamento que são característicos de sua família. Isto significa que estamos caminhando por uma trilha inútil para alcançarmos nossas metas, mas que nos mantemos nela porque nos identificamos com esta trilha em particular. O que ocorre é que os padrões inúteis são individualizados e nós continuamos com a maldição familiar – maldição no sentido de má fortuna – tornando-nos ‘proprietários da maldição’, ou Ol’Ibi simplesmente. Agora que já falamos de corrente de transmissão da luz da fonte, é talvez necessário apontar as más interpretações e más representações dos Orisa e como eles trabalham em nossas vidas. Se entendermos a natureza dos anjos em conformidade com a doutrina Tradicional, ela harmoniza com o conceito de Orisa. A doutrina tradicional concernente à natureza dos anjos de forma aplicável aos Orisas é encontrada em Mysterium Magnum de Böhme, onde lemos:

“a criação dos anjos tem um início, mas as forces de onde eles foram criados nunca conheceram um início, mas estavam presentes no nascimento do eterno início... Eles nasceram da Palavra revelada, à partir da natureza eternal, escura, ardente e luminosa, do desejo pela revelação divina, e têm sido transformados em imagens ‘criaturizadas’”, ou como o sábio e profeta René Guénon disse: “fragmentadas em criaturas isoladas”.

Isto significa que anjos representam idéias da razão divina que se tornaram reveladas. É também interessante ver que Böhme expressa claramente uma visão similar sobre a criação que encontramos em Ifá, onde as “forças” que ele fala são claramente sinônimas com o tecido da criação, ou seja, Odù. Odù são os padrões de energia da Criação que fazem com que a existência spiritual conhecida como Imole (Casas da Luz) sejam trazidas ao estado invisível, que dão nascimento às suas condições visíveis em Irunmole, e que se mostram na luz das estrelas e corpos planetários. Na Terra, estes padrões energéticos da Criação, todos os 256 deles, expressam tipos diferentes de consciência. Os diferentes tipos de consciência se expressam em diferentes personalidades, que demonstram uma relação com um Orisa em particular. Daí temos os comentários que geralmente ouvimos, que somos filhos ou filhas deste ou daquele Orisa.


Em nossa sociedade moderna que sustenta sobre classificações inúteis e idéias erradas sobre valor e quantidade, também ao Orisa é geralmente dado um horizonte partindo de uma perspective muito humana. Mesmo que agora vejamos ou aceitamos a isto, o homem tende a medir o mundo usando seu próprio ego e estado mundano como regra e compasso. Este é um erro sob a luz da doutrina tradicional, que se ancora no não-manifesto e simplesmente vê neste assunto uma contração do divino, que é tão grande que a ilusão da fragmentação é assumida como realidade dentre os humanos.

A meta da teologia de Ifá enquanto refere-se aos Orisa é encontrada na palavra Ìgòkè, a qual Baba Falokun traduz para ‘ascenção’. Ìgòkè refere-se como transgressão da consciência individual rumo à fonte. Isto é alcançado quando orí inú, ou seu self interno – e não a mascara condicionada e egoísta que você acredita que seja o seu self – forma um elo com Ìponri, o self superior. Quando isto ocorre, o elo com Orisa é feito em um nível supremo, e o OlÓrisa se torna uma manifestação do Orisa da pessoa. Em termos metafísicos, isto significa que o Ol’Orisa olha para cima e rumo à fonte e forma um elo com a expressão tangível com as divinas idéias. Ao se voltar para a fonte um renascimento da matéria, por assim dizer, também ocorre, desde que o espírito que anima a matéria partirá da fonte e não do self egoisticamente construído. O Ol’Orisa se torna uma expressão natural de um padrão da criação, uma consciência trazida pelo Orisa e expresso de formas únicas através do alinhamento da pessoa com a fonte. É como se fundir o Amor com o Amado, e é neste ponto que se pode realmente dizer que aquele é Ol’Orisa, dono do Orisa, ou que se é dono de sua própria consciência. Ase O O dabo!  


The Alchemy of Orisa initiation





Tradition must express some particular facets to be rightly referred to as tradition, or else it is a pretender to tradition, a pseudo tradition. A tradition needs to express a traditional world view and it also needs a succession of knowledge ultimately revealing connection with spirit, most commonly through the human intercessor that serves as the intermediary in the chain of transmission. As for the latter, the chain of transmission, it would be sufficient to point to the extent of quarrels and battling egos happening between so many African derived faiths in the New World to at least suggest that the connection with source is at best faulty given the purely profane presentation given to the timeless mysteries. This is further revealed in how people in assuming the role of priests and priestesses automatically institutionalize dysfunction of various kinds. This dysfunction reveals itself in plays of power ranging from lies, deceit and the use of control mechanisms of various forms, where fear seems to be a main factor. In Ifá theology this is known as ibi Egun. Ibi Egun does not mean that death (Iku) is after you, as is an often seen modern interpretation, but that the ancestors are bringing misfortune simply by the last living ancestor displaying the dysfunctional patterns of behavior characteristic for his family. It means that we are threading a path that is useless for achieving our goals, but we hang on to this useless path because we identify ourselves with this particular way. What happens is that the useless patterns are individualized and we continue a family curse, but curse in the sense of misfortune, and become ‘owners of the curse’, Ol’Ibi simply. So much for the chain of transmission of the light from source, more critical is perhaps the misunderstandings and misrepresentations of Orisa and how they work in our lives. In the New World the Orisa is often referred to as an angel, and this is quite right, insofar as we understand the nature of the angel in conformity with Traditional doctrine. Traditional doctrine concerning the nature of angels in a way that makes it applicable on Orisa is found in Böhmes Mysterium Magnum where we read:


 “the creation of the angels has a beginning, but the forces from which they were created never knew a beginning, but were present at the birth of the eternal beginning… They are born of the revealed Word, out of the eternal, dark, fiery, and luminous nature, from desire for divine revelation, and have been turned into “creatured” images, or as the sage and prophet René Guénon said: “fragmented into isolated creatures”.


This means that angels represent ideas in the divine reason that has become revealed.  It is also interesting to see that Böhme clearly expresses a similar view upon creation as we find in Ifá, where the “forces” he speaks of is clearly synonymous with the fabric of creation, namely Odù. Odù are the energy patterns of Creation that causes the spiritual existence known as Imole (houses of Light) to be brought forth into a invisible state that gives birth to its visible condition in Irunmole, which shows itself in the light of stars and planetary bodies and on earth these energetic patterns of Creation, all 256 of them expresses different types of consciousness.  The different types of consciousness express themselves in different personalities that express a relationship with a particular Orisa. From this we have the often heard comments that we are sons and daughters of this and that Orisa.


In our modern society that thrives upon useless classification and erroneous ideas of value and quantity also Orisa is often given horizon from a too human perspective. Even if we do now see it or accept it as such, man does tend to measure the world using his own ego and mundane station as ruler and compass. This is an error in light of traditional doctrine that anchors its point in the un-manifest and simply sees in the matter a contraction of the divine that is so great that the illusion of fragmentation is assumed as a reality amongst humans.


The goal of Ifá theology insofar as it concerns with Orisa is found in the word Ìgòkè, which Baba Falokun translates into ‘ascension’. Ìgòkè refers to a transgression of individual consciousness towards source. This is accomplished when orí inú or your inner self, not the conditioned egoistic masque you believe to be self, is forming a link with Ìponri, the higher self. When this occurs the link with orisa is made on a supreme level and the OlÓrisa becomes a manifestation of one’s Orisa. In metaphysical terms, this means that the Ol’Orisa is looking upwards towards source and form a link with the tangible expression of the divine ideas. By turning towards source a rebirth of matter, so to speak, is also occurring, as the spirit animating the matter will be from source and not from ones selfish self construct. The Ol’Orisa becomes a natural expression of a pattern of creation, a consciousness brought by Orisa and expressed in unique ways through ones alignment with source. It is like the merging between the Love r and the Beloved. It is at this point one can truly say that one is Ol’Orisa, owner of Orisa, or that you own your own consciousness. Ase O O dabo!          

21/11/2009

The Oath



Oh! Be Thou Consecrated
As Thy word is given and taken
So mote it be
Be Sacred Accursed One
Be Accursed Sacred One
Watchful eyes be upon your brow and hand
As your foot steps the wheel of Fate
Oh! Be Thou Consecrated
By word and silence
May the Blessing, Curse and Cunning pass to be Thine
Amen

Consecration is the act of setting something aside, to make it sacred, The mystery of consecration is deeply related to the Greek Anathematizo, which means “to bind under a curse”, which is derived from anathema, which does not only mean “different”, but also “consecrated” and “accursed” In the Latin language the words detestor  and sacer are both giving head and tale to “consecration”. The latter refers to someone being set aside as belonging to a deity, while detestor means “to bring down a curse”. Naturally, the consecration is walking hand in hand with the oath, to give ones word as a man and woman of honour. The oath as taken in the Craft is always rewarded with the act of anathematize, the word of honor is bound under the curse of the watchful eyes of the angelos watching the moment when the oath is given and bound.

It is from this mystery we can understand that the Art defends itself and how the oath given in dishonor will always turn back upon the one set aside who will then untie to curse and walk astray into the exile of his or her choice. The act of consecration is commonly seen as a significant part of traditional craft initiation, and can be as simple and to the point as giving ones word or oath to more elaborate and lengthy procedures. The most important aspect of the initiatic oath is the silence that perforates it. It is here in the silence the breath of nous will invigorate the oath and bring it to meaning and effect. Actually, the oath and the silence are factors of the initiatic ordeal that verifies the claim to traditional pedigree. In traditional African faiths the consecrated one is physically isolated for a time, as in traditional strands of the Craft, where the consecrated is isolated to meet the sworn deities and submit to the oath.

By the involvement of detestor a reference to temptation, to forces attempting to shake your faith and word is reminded upon, for also the unruly forces are released for the sake of making your disposition firm. St, Anthony and his temptations in the desert is famous is as the 40 days and nights in the desert by Jesus Christ when he confronted his angelos detestoris and solidified his oath in silence under the curse. And it is this mystery the wayfarer encounters when his or her word is given within the stream of genuine traditional transmission of the living light, from whatever true lantern. The silence profound is hidden within the solitude and its many shades, the all-oneness, but in the loneliness it remains a creeping shadow of the accursed, the twine blade of word and commitment.

From this we have the cunning phrase that says so much more than the few words it speaks, May the Blessing, Curse and Cunning Be.

14/11/2009

At the Sweet Crossroad of the Salt



The nanchon or division of Haitian Vodou known as Congo breaches across the rites of Rada and Petro, especially is this the case of Simbi Andezo, the lwa that is seen as having one foot in the sweet waters and the other in the salty waters. Andezo is like all Simbi lwa enigmatic and mysterious, as revealed in many of his songs, which speaks of how his votary seeks to know him, but he hides from getting known.



The nanchon Congo is a complex fanmi where their complexity is well demonstrated amidst the Simbi lwa. In Congo these spirits were called basimbi and designated the spirits living around ponds, rivers and fresh waters. They were at times considered to be a class of spirit composed of highly developed ancestral spirits. The Simbi ranges from the balanced and benevolent, as we find in Simbi Andezo to forms like Simbi Macaya, the lwa that was adopted as patron for the Bizango cult formed by Makandal during the rebellion in 1757. Simbi Macaya is seen as violent and dangerous and it is said that slave masters were sacrificed to him in the time of Makandal. The Congo petro rites are said to be bakongo in origin, and some say that it is the bakongo way that informed Petro rituals as well as many secret societies and more obscure rites, such as Zandor. The patron for the Zandor rites is Ti Jean Zandor and Erzulie Zandor, but it also count in its fold, Krabinay, Marinette and Simbi Yan-Kita. The Kita lwa being a sub division within the Congo nanchon together with Boumba, Caplau, Kanga and Mandange. According to Metraux the Congo division is also parted into Congo du bord de la mer, “Seashore congos” and Congo savane, ‘wild congos”. It is the latter that forms the influence into the Zandor rites and take of ferocious and nefarious qualities where they impart superior knowledge of herbalism, malefica and wanga.


The seashore congos are said to be of fair skin and possess long black hair and be of a superior intellect and possess better manners than the wild or interior congospirits. This form suggest a connection with La Siren and Agwe and therefore with the potency of prophecy, dreams and inspiration. Interestingly it seems that this class of lwa was already known in Haiti prior to the population from Africa as the Tayino Indians knew a spirit called Zimi, said to have a copper red hue and long black hair, living around springs and fresh waters. Usually these spirits are called Ti-Simbi.


Simbi Andezo is the Simbi that, like Leghba and Danballah possesses the perspective that sees two sides at the same time. Like Leghba he opens the crossroad for entrance into the rite, but Andezo opens the crossroad between the rites themselves. He possess the power to make the sweet into vinegar and the sour into honey. He is a Simbi of inspiration and secrecy, and albeit shy and difficult to know, as all Simbis, he possess a unique Janus qualities between the Rada and Petro rites where he brings a form of equilibrium between the sides.


The Catholic imagery used to display Simbi varies from Moses to St. Charles Boremeo, but quite typical the Three Magi Kings are used to represent Simbi and thus the 6th of January becomes an important day for the celebration of this mystery.


Simbi is served with the colours white and greed, Andezo for instance is served with white, red and green. On his vévé we give a plate of white china, where a glass of kleren and a cup of coffee are presented along with candles. We give a twist of lemon in his coffee and kleren, as the sitwon tree (lemon tree) is sacred to him.
Simbi Andezo Sa ki fe yo pa vle we mwen yo poko konnen mwen.


Yo bay mwen pwen a




Se pou m mache la nwit O Simbi Andezo!          



Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...