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It's 5am. I've been awake since 4 something. Sleep has been interesting since the Hurricane. I'm still a bit hyper vigilant. I figured there must be something I am supposed to do. I scrolled a little and got a thought so here we are.
Ofo Ase vs Prayer
So let's talk about the concept of Ofo Ase in Yoruba Ancient Spirituality/Religion. Ofo translates (probably loosely) to Incantation. Now, I know some of you are like Oh it means spell, but that would be an oversimplification. I looked up the Etymology of the word.
In - Inside, Upon, Among, During
Can - Sing
Ta - Gratitude
Tion - Action, State, Result
I know Oriki is a form of Ofo, Praise Poetry that is chanted or sung.
I would say an incantation is something that, in the midst of singing, shows gratitude for certain outcomes.
So for those of you who think your Ancestors didn't know anything about communing with God prior to slavery, singing in veneration and worship has long since been part of the culture. Singing, dancing, drumming, all used to raise the energy.
Ase is multifold. It means "Make it so". Notice please or would you is not included in that. Ase is also a reference to the energy of Olodumare within everyone and everything. It's your personal power. We all have it.
So Ofo Ase is considered power of the word. It is our ability to "Incant" something into existence.
How does this differ from prayer? The etymology of prayers is, "to ask in earnest, beg (someone).
From a Western religious lens, you are considered so much less than God, or Deities, that you have to beg them for their favor. In some religions, you are not even worthy, thus i commonly see, "Oh Lord you blessed me even though I wasn't worthy."
From what I have seen most African (and African American) religions do not have a concept of worthiness or not. You are either on path or off path regarding certain goals or outcomes. Your existence made you worthy. You have nothing to prove.
Considering Ori, which everyone has, is Olodumare (the Creator), in us as us, how could we be unworthy. We all have a destiny that includes various forms of good fortune (blessings) and we are already worthy of them all. It's simply a matter of, knowing and calling for them.
Even the idea of "sin" from a Hebrew perspective is not about "OMG you're evil or bad", it's about being off path. How can they control you though if you believe you should be blessed and don't have to prove yourself?
When you look at old black churches that haven't been totally colonized, they are simply Hoodoo churches. They ain't begging for nothing. They are singing, chanting, bringing down Spirit, and Co-creating their reality.
A Hoodoo I follow said her grandma told her to, "Remind God of what He said was for her" and so she does.
Pre-colonization and slavery, our Ancestors didn't want to simply survive, they wanted to thrive. They wanted to not only have a good life, but for it to remain so. They did this using Ofo Ase daily.
Prayer - "Please Lord...."
Ofo Ase - "Thank you for ensuring that I have...Ase"
However, Ofo Ase is not limited to when we are singing in veneration. It is how we use our words overall. That's why incantation is a loose translation.
During times where we are hit with something beyond our control and we're trying to come out the otherside ok, how we use our words is important. Do I simply want to survive, or do I want to thrive as much as possible.
Survive, I'm alive but my house or car may have been damaged or destroyed
Thrive, I'm in the calm center, this is happening around me but I will not experience loss or destruction. My house will be fine, My family is safe. My car is undamaged.
Some may say, as it relates to a Hurricane, well God is doing His work. When you have a different relationship with the Creator not built on the idea of trauma being a badge of honor, you move different. Hey, I know you got Sango and Oya out here working, y'all see me and my kids though right? You see my parents? My sister? Ok bet, thanks for making sure we are not met with ... at this time while you do your work. Gratitude. Ase.
I acknowledge that this is happening, but I don't need to learn through loss and destruction.
I see the folks in my city in need of things, and all I really can do is offer to help them call it forward. They would have to know that there is nothing that can't be done to improve their life.
I would love to get a group together that truly knows the power of their voice. Just each calling forward what the blessing as needed. We then gather our offering together. Bless it. Then live knowing it was accepted.
I feel like I need to add in a final word on Ofo Ase, Prayer and Manifestation. I don't have a problem with the spiritual community and the use of manifestation as a concept. I do feel less than enthused when they can't seem to give their Ancestors credit for this being how they lived their life as opposed to quoting this "Occultists" and "Metaphysicians" that stole that wisdom before enslaving them.
Manifestation is simply bringing it into existence. And when you use words to do it, that is you using your Ofo Ase, an African concept.
I will leave you with a method to effectively use your Ofo Ase. I am quoting my dear friend and Babalawo (Baba Teju on TikTok) with this one.
Who you talking to? Who are you asking for the blessing? Your Ori? Olodumare? Who?
Give gratitude for any already manifested blessings
What do you offer? (I'll do an offerings blog next week) This can be tangible or intangible. What's the energy exchange
How would you like the offering used? What are you bringing into existence" "Please use this offering to ....)
Why you want it? What are you going to do with the blessing?
Thank you.
Ase - Make it so
Orunmila told humans to give gratitude every morning for what you already received and then ask on a daily. Well what do you ask for when you feel you have everything? I would challenge you to sit and genuinely think, "Do you actually have everything?" Do not compare yourself to others. Everyone has their own destiny. This is about you.
If you truly have everything, then what you call for is that you have longevity to enjoy it and the blessings have longevity so they don't go anywhere.
How will you use your Ofo Ase today? Drop a comment below.
Thanks for reading and sharing.
Ase!
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