Ogun & the couch potato
29/03/12 12:45
Everyone knows someone who is literally a couch
potato.
Their butts are glued to the sofa, and they can be found with a remote control in one hand and a beer in another. They always have excuses as to why they come up short. They never can find a job or keep one. They don’t believe in education and there is always someone who is plotting against them, dissuading them from meeting their goals. These people can be thrown into the category of having no ambitions, or personal power. They need Ogun, the orisha of iron and war to come and light a fire under their butts.
Ogun is the mighty warrior.
He is the patron of war and works with a machete to clear away paths and to help people overcome obstacles. Ogun is similar to Ares and Hephaestus in Greek mythology and Visvakarma in Hindu mythology. In Candomblé, he is syncretized with Saint George in Brazil. In Santeria, he is syncretized with Saint Peter. Ogun can also be associated with energy, in particularly personal power. In Sanskrit, under the chakra system, Ogun can represent the manipura or the third chakra.
This chakra is located in the area of the solar plexus of the body.
The manipura chakra, much like Ogun represents our potential to succeed in life. It is also a symbolization of self-esteem and vitality. People who are very much in touch with Ogun normally have a lot of self-confidence, a sense of self-worth and a great deal of personal power. In a sense, they can make things happen. They never do anything for the approval of others. They know what they want in life, and are supercharged when it comes to overcoming obstacles and hardships. They are survivors and are normally optimistic and enthused about their life choices.
Someone who possesses the qualities of Ogun is Jay Z, a hip-hop performer who created a multi-million dollar empire.
People who are Ogun types don’t follow trends they create them. People who are Ogun types know how to make money, and they exude power and influence over others. They are incredibly disciplined and never sell themselves short. People who are not Ogun types lack energy, feel insecure, and normally don’t trust others. They have goals, but have no idea how to reach them. They tend to attract people who hinder their growth and make them feel weak and unworthy.
These are the people who land jobs and only keep them for a week.
They are the people who are actually content sleeping on their mother’s sofa, or begging a child for change. Ogun is the deity of power; he incites wars and is most popular for his part in the Haitian revolution. However, Ogun represents the war that we all have to fight inside of us. Everyday is a battle, each day we are fighting against self-doubt, low self-esteem, feelings of inferiority, and unworthiness. We all have wars to fight, in the world and within ourselves, and it all begins with us getting our butts off the couch.
Their butts are glued to the sofa, and they can be found with a remote control in one hand and a beer in another. They always have excuses as to why they come up short. They never can find a job or keep one. They don’t believe in education and there is always someone who is plotting against them, dissuading them from meeting their goals. These people can be thrown into the category of having no ambitions, or personal power. They need Ogun, the orisha of iron and war to come and light a fire under their butts.
Ogun is the mighty warrior.
He is the patron of war and works with a machete to clear away paths and to help people overcome obstacles. Ogun is similar to Ares and Hephaestus in Greek mythology and Visvakarma in Hindu mythology. In Candomblé, he is syncretized with Saint George in Brazil. In Santeria, he is syncretized with Saint Peter. Ogun can also be associated with energy, in particularly personal power. In Sanskrit, under the chakra system, Ogun can represent the manipura or the third chakra.
This chakra is located in the area of the solar plexus of the body.
The manipura chakra, much like Ogun represents our potential to succeed in life. It is also a symbolization of self-esteem and vitality. People who are very much in touch with Ogun normally have a lot of self-confidence, a sense of self-worth and a great deal of personal power. In a sense, they can make things happen. They never do anything for the approval of others. They know what they want in life, and are supercharged when it comes to overcoming obstacles and hardships. They are survivors and are normally optimistic and enthused about their life choices.
Someone who possesses the qualities of Ogun is Jay Z, a hip-hop performer who created a multi-million dollar empire.
People who are Ogun types don’t follow trends they create them. People who are Ogun types know how to make money, and they exude power and influence over others. They are incredibly disciplined and never sell themselves short. People who are not Ogun types lack energy, feel insecure, and normally don’t trust others. They have goals, but have no idea how to reach them. They tend to attract people who hinder their growth and make them feel weak and unworthy.
These are the people who land jobs and only keep them for a week.
They are the people who are actually content sleeping on their mother’s sofa, or begging a child for change. Ogun is the deity of power; he incites wars and is most popular for his part in the Haitian revolution. However, Ogun represents the war that we all have to fight inside of us. Everyday is a battle, each day we are fighting against self-doubt, low self-esteem, feelings of inferiority, and unworthiness. We all have wars to fight, in the world and within ourselves, and it all begins with us getting our butts off the couch.
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Warding Off The Enemy With Ogun
18/02/12 23:24
Years ago, I had the pleasure of going on an African safari. It
was an experience of a lifetime.
It was great to see animals living in their natural habitat. We must have drove for hours, catching glimpses of cheetahs, elephants, and rhinos. Suddenly, our tour bus came to a halt, we all looked around and spotted a pack of spotted hyenas. They haughtily strode pass our bus, eyeing us, as if they were daring us to make a move. It was only when they had passed and were clear out of site that our tour guide decided to speak. The hyenas are the gangsters that rule the jungle. Although the lion is considered king, its throne is constantly threatened by a pack of canines that will eat them and their prey.
Later, I learned that the lion didn’t have to only hunt and kill its prey.
The lion had to protect it as well. In many cases, a lion, or lioness would have to carry their prey for miles back to their cubs. All the while, the hyenas would be tailing them, licking their fangs, and waiting for the lion to make the wrong move. If the lion was weak, for only a mere second, the hyenas would attack. They would circle around the lion, trap it, and force it to surrender its prey. Then, one by one, the hyenas would pounce on the lion, digging their claws and teeth into its neck, marring it to death. The hyenas had no mercy, and neither do our adversaries.
The lions can be analogous to the rich and famous people in the world.
They work so hard to have it all. And, they have everything, fame, fortune, and beauty. But there are many people watching on the sidelines. Much like the hyena, they want what they have and are just waiting for the right opportunity to take it. They trail behind these people, sometimes in the guise of friends and supporters. Meanwhile, they are salivating, licking their lips, and waiting for them to make the wrong move. They long for their moment of weakness, and hope to catch a mere glimpse of vulnerability, so they can attack. It is sad to say that we live in a jungle, and there are many people who want others to fail, so they can walk away with their prey.
Everyone has moments of weakness. However, within those moments, we must dig deep and find the strength to fend off our enemies.
This is perhaps why it is so important to work with Ogun. He is the African deity who represents our internal power and is associated with the power chakra. The power chakra is the seat of the soul. It is a rechargeable source of energy that not only builds our stamina, but our will. It was this kind of energy that allowed our ancestors to hunt for days with virtually no food or water. It is this kind of energy that allows people to run a twenty-six mile marathon.
Exercise is not only good for the body, but for the mind.
We need to build our will by keeping our bodies fit, and training ourselves to go the extra mile. We need to learn to push ourselves passed our limits, and work through the fatigue and pain. By doing this, we are then able to fight off our enemies, even at our weakest state.
It was great to see animals living in their natural habitat. We must have drove for hours, catching glimpses of cheetahs, elephants, and rhinos. Suddenly, our tour bus came to a halt, we all looked around and spotted a pack of spotted hyenas. They haughtily strode pass our bus, eyeing us, as if they were daring us to make a move. It was only when they had passed and were clear out of site that our tour guide decided to speak. The hyenas are the gangsters that rule the jungle. Although the lion is considered king, its throne is constantly threatened by a pack of canines that will eat them and their prey.
Later, I learned that the lion didn’t have to only hunt and kill its prey.
The lion had to protect it as well. In many cases, a lion, or lioness would have to carry their prey for miles back to their cubs. All the while, the hyenas would be tailing them, licking their fangs, and waiting for the lion to make the wrong move. If the lion was weak, for only a mere second, the hyenas would attack. They would circle around the lion, trap it, and force it to surrender its prey. Then, one by one, the hyenas would pounce on the lion, digging their claws and teeth into its neck, marring it to death. The hyenas had no mercy, and neither do our adversaries.
The lions can be analogous to the rich and famous people in the world.
They work so hard to have it all. And, they have everything, fame, fortune, and beauty. But there are many people watching on the sidelines. Much like the hyena, they want what they have and are just waiting for the right opportunity to take it. They trail behind these people, sometimes in the guise of friends and supporters. Meanwhile, they are salivating, licking their lips, and waiting for them to make the wrong move. They long for their moment of weakness, and hope to catch a mere glimpse of vulnerability, so they can attack. It is sad to say that we live in a jungle, and there are many people who want others to fail, so they can walk away with their prey.
Everyone has moments of weakness. However, within those moments, we must dig deep and find the strength to fend off our enemies.
This is perhaps why it is so important to work with Ogun. He is the African deity who represents our internal power and is associated with the power chakra. The power chakra is the seat of the soul. It is a rechargeable source of energy that not only builds our stamina, but our will. It was this kind of energy that allowed our ancestors to hunt for days with virtually no food or water. It is this kind of energy that allows people to run a twenty-six mile marathon.
Exercise is not only good for the body, but for the mind.
We need to build our will by keeping our bodies fit, and training ourselves to go the extra mile. We need to learn to push ourselves passed our limits, and work through the fatigue and pain. By doing this, we are then able to fight off our enemies, even at our weakest state.
Ogun, The Deity of Compassion
27/12/11 21:00
Ogun, the Yoruba deity of war and iron is much more than people
perceive him to be.
There are a lot of stories that portray him as being a fearless warrior. He is a deity that is stringent, bold, and powerful and will stop at nothing to get what he wants. However, the most powerful warrior in the Yoruba religion has a dirty little secret. He has a heart, a big one.
I mentioned in previous articles that Ogun is associated with the manipura chakra.
This chakra works as a storage unit, housing our judgments, opinions, and beliefs that we have gathered about the world and ourselves. The third chakra is also a source of cognition, where virtually all thought forms are produced.
Our power center also works as an energetic field that surrounds our body.
It protects us from external influences and it ensures that we receive information that is necessary for our survival. Just imagine a huge fort surrounded by a fleet of soldiers with machine guns. Their job is to keep the riffraff out, and only let in the people who are going to bring happiness, love, and piece into your life. Then, it happens, someone sneaks pass your guards and invades your fort. You get angry and vow to never let anyone into your fort ever again.
However, there is one small problem.
You need food, provisions, and resources to survive. So then, you start making judgments about who to let in and who to keep out. You start to form opinions based on previous experiences. You understand that your soul needs love in order to survive. But, you just can’t get passed the last person who snuck into your fort. Then, you start to get hungry, you’re guards revolt because they are not getting paid, and the fort that you created to protect yourself from the outside begins to implode and kills you from within.
Judgments are forts that destroy us from within.
As humans, we all have judgments and opinions. However, we need to have compassion and be willing to forgive to grow spiritually. We must understand that the people, who hurt us, were operating from a bad place. Perhaps they were at their weakest point. Or maybe they were struggling with one of life’s lessons. People need to understand that the power of forgiveness is not about amnesty. It is about growth. The power of forgiveness and growth is explored in the fiction book When The Shadows Began To Dance. It speaks about the healing powers of African deities and Orishas.
There are a lot of stories that portray him as being a fearless warrior. He is a deity that is stringent, bold, and powerful and will stop at nothing to get what he wants. However, the most powerful warrior in the Yoruba religion has a dirty little secret. He has a heart, a big one.
I mentioned in previous articles that Ogun is associated with the manipura chakra.
This chakra works as a storage unit, housing our judgments, opinions, and beliefs that we have gathered about the world and ourselves. The third chakra is also a source of cognition, where virtually all thought forms are produced.
Our power center also works as an energetic field that surrounds our body.
It protects us from external influences and it ensures that we receive information that is necessary for our survival. Just imagine a huge fort surrounded by a fleet of soldiers with machine guns. Their job is to keep the riffraff out, and only let in the people who are going to bring happiness, love, and piece into your life. Then, it happens, someone sneaks pass your guards and invades your fort. You get angry and vow to never let anyone into your fort ever again.
However, there is one small problem.
You need food, provisions, and resources to survive. So then, you start making judgments about who to let in and who to keep out. You start to form opinions based on previous experiences. You understand that your soul needs love in order to survive. But, you just can’t get passed the last person who snuck into your fort. Then, you start to get hungry, you’re guards revolt because they are not getting paid, and the fort that you created to protect yourself from the outside begins to implode and kills you from within.
Judgments are forts that destroy us from within.
As humans, we all have judgments and opinions. However, we need to have compassion and be willing to forgive to grow spiritually. We must understand that the people, who hurt us, were operating from a bad place. Perhaps they were at their weakest point. Or maybe they were struggling with one of life’s lessons. People need to understand that the power of forgiveness is not about amnesty. It is about growth. The power of forgiveness and growth is explored in the fiction book When The Shadows Began To Dance. It speaks about the healing powers of African deities and Orishas.
Ogun, Energy Gone Wrong
26/12/11 22:41
We have all seen them, men with huge beer bellies.
They walk around with spare tires, plumber’s butts, and A cup boobs. What has happen to these men? Maybe they got older? Or maybe they just gave up on life and decided to let themselves go? Well, it all boils down to one thing, power.
Aside from sexual organs, men and women are quite different.
Men are reared to be courageous and powerful. This power comes from the manipura chakra, also known as the third chakra or power chakra. It is located in the solar plexus, in the center of the body. The power chakra is commonly associated with the Yoruba deity Ogun. The manipura chakra is considered the seat of the soul. It is a place that manages the digestive system. However, the digestive process is the reflection of one’s ability to assimilate and “digest” not only food, but also thoughts, emotions, and beliefs. This center determines the health of both our bodies and mind.
Have you ever had a “gut” feeling? This is the manipura chakra working to process information, to help you make the best decision possible.
However, a blocked manipura chakra can lead to problems. Many men have a difficult time expressing their emotions. So they go through life with all of their feelings balled up inside of them. This is why men like to watch violent movies, or listen to music with explicit lyrics. These forms of entertainment resonate with men, because it gives them a vicarious thrill.
However, the fantasy world is just a temporary solution to a permanent problem.
Sooner or later, men are going to have to release the energy that is trapped inside of them. And they are either going to punch a wall or someone’s face. Some men have the opposite effect. They just give up entirely. These are the men who have no “guts” they don’t stand up for what they believe in. They’re scared to go after what they want, and they are always making excuses for their shortcomings. In worse situations, these men become deadbeat dads, convicts, and losers.
Men with blocked manipura chakras need to reach out to Ogun.
Somewhere along the line they have been robbed of their personal power. In many situations, their feelings were never appreciated or validated. Other things like cruelty, abuse, ridicule, shaming, blaming, and guilt, destroy a man’s confidence, resulting in them losing the desire to live full and productive lives. These issues are reflected in the fictional character Ali in the book When The Shadows Began To Dance. It is the first novel that touches on the power and healing abilities of Orishas and African deities.
They walk around with spare tires, plumber’s butts, and A cup boobs. What has happen to these men? Maybe they got older? Or maybe they just gave up on life and decided to let themselves go? Well, it all boils down to one thing, power.
Aside from sexual organs, men and women are quite different.
Men are reared to be courageous and powerful. This power comes from the manipura chakra, also known as the third chakra or power chakra. It is located in the solar plexus, in the center of the body. The power chakra is commonly associated with the Yoruba deity Ogun. The manipura chakra is considered the seat of the soul. It is a place that manages the digestive system. However, the digestive process is the reflection of one’s ability to assimilate and “digest” not only food, but also thoughts, emotions, and beliefs. This center determines the health of both our bodies and mind.
Have you ever had a “gut” feeling? This is the manipura chakra working to process information, to help you make the best decision possible.
However, a blocked manipura chakra can lead to problems. Many men have a difficult time expressing their emotions. So they go through life with all of their feelings balled up inside of them. This is why men like to watch violent movies, or listen to music with explicit lyrics. These forms of entertainment resonate with men, because it gives them a vicarious thrill.
However, the fantasy world is just a temporary solution to a permanent problem.
Sooner or later, men are going to have to release the energy that is trapped inside of them. And they are either going to punch a wall or someone’s face. Some men have the opposite effect. They just give up entirely. These are the men who have no “guts” they don’t stand up for what they believe in. They’re scared to go after what they want, and they are always making excuses for their shortcomings. In worse situations, these men become deadbeat dads, convicts, and losers.
Men with blocked manipura chakras need to reach out to Ogun.
Somewhere along the line they have been robbed of their personal power. In many situations, their feelings were never appreciated or validated. Other things like cruelty, abuse, ridicule, shaming, blaming, and guilt, destroy a man’s confidence, resulting in them losing the desire to live full and productive lives. These issues are reflected in the fictional character Ali in the book When The Shadows Began To Dance. It is the first novel that touches on the power and healing abilities of Orishas and African deities.
Ogun and The Power of Making Money
21/12/11 22:57
Having a difficult time making money? Can’t find a job? Are you
working two jobs to compensate for the one that you lost?
Are you tired, overwhelmed, overburdened with debt and credit card bills? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you need to work with the African deity of iron, known as Ogun.
Some people are reading this article and probably thinking, what the hell does iron have to do with me not having money?
Well, that is a really great question. Ogun is the deity who is revered throughout the diaspora. Venerations for Ogun started in the Iron Age around 500 BCE. The adoption of iron tools sparked progressive growth in African communities. Iron tools significantly increased agriculture. Craftsmen and artisans were able to carve pots, pans, masks, and statues. And medicine men had sturdier tools to work with.
Ogun symbolizes fertility and growth.
He may not be the patron of agriculture, but he is credited as being the mastermind that made agriculture possible. You don’t need to be an inventor, beauty queen, or rocket scientist to attract money, power, and success into your life. Iron is in our blood, and we are each born with gifts and special talents that enable us to earn money.
Bill Gates didn’t invent the computer he just created software that revolutionized the technology field.
Gates is a man who knew what he wanted, and didn’t waste anytime going after his dreams. Many people believe that they can manifest things that are outside of themselves. So they work to manifest someone else’s ideas, someone else’s plans. People who don’t have money, waste a great deal of time, doing what is expected of them, as oppose to doing things that they truly love. People have to take their traits, their talent, and skills, turn them into “tools” and manifest them into something bigger.
There are a lot of people who believe in pipe dreams.
They feel that if they make the necessary sacrifices and offerings that Ogun is going to send them a winning lottery ticket in the mail. They feel like someone is going to just call and offer them their dream job. Ogun doesn’t work like that. He is stringent, precise, and a tireless worker. He is a deity who will believe in you, as long as you believe in yourself. You just need to be a visionary and take the necessary steps to make things happen.
Are you tired, overwhelmed, overburdened with debt and credit card bills? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you need to work with the African deity of iron, known as Ogun.
Some people are reading this article and probably thinking, what the hell does iron have to do with me not having money?
Well, that is a really great question. Ogun is the deity who is revered throughout the diaspora. Venerations for Ogun started in the Iron Age around 500 BCE. The adoption of iron tools sparked progressive growth in African communities. Iron tools significantly increased agriculture. Craftsmen and artisans were able to carve pots, pans, masks, and statues. And medicine men had sturdier tools to work with.
Ogun symbolizes fertility and growth.
He may not be the patron of agriculture, but he is credited as being the mastermind that made agriculture possible. You don’t need to be an inventor, beauty queen, or rocket scientist to attract money, power, and success into your life. Iron is in our blood, and we are each born with gifts and special talents that enable us to earn money.
Bill Gates didn’t invent the computer he just created software that revolutionized the technology field.
Gates is a man who knew what he wanted, and didn’t waste anytime going after his dreams. Many people believe that they can manifest things that are outside of themselves. So they work to manifest someone else’s ideas, someone else’s plans. People who don’t have money, waste a great deal of time, doing what is expected of them, as oppose to doing things that they truly love. People have to take their traits, their talent, and skills, turn them into “tools” and manifest them into something bigger.
There are a lot of people who believe in pipe dreams.
They feel that if they make the necessary sacrifices and offerings that Ogun is going to send them a winning lottery ticket in the mail. They feel like someone is going to just call and offer them their dream job. Ogun doesn’t work like that. He is stringent, precise, and a tireless worker. He is a deity who will believe in you, as long as you believe in yourself. You just need to be a visionary and take the necessary steps to make things happen.
Ogun, And Rites of Passage
19/12/11 22:34
I had the most difficult time writing about Ogun.
From my research, I found that he was the patron of war, check. I found out that he was instrumental in the Haiti Revolution, check. I found out that he clears paths with a machete, check. With all the information that I gathered, I still had the most difficult time writing about Ogun. Then, I had a breaking point. I stopped menstruating and the words began to flow. I learned that the powerful deity of war hates bloodshed, and avoids it like the plague. To Ogun, a woman menstruating is a “period” of mourning, for it is a child that failed to be born. Wow! Ogun is deep and incredibly compassionate. The more I began to write about Ogun, the more I began to develop a deep respect and a profound love for a deity that every male should strive to be like.
Ogun is a savior, a breadwinner, and a hero.
He is the patron of war, of clearing paths, of tool making, and agriculture. He is the Orisha who makes sacrifices for his family and community. He is the patron of iron and he is commonly associated with the manipura chakra. Our ancestors understood that men have ten times more testerone than women. It is believed that testerone makes men, in particularly teenage boys more aggressive. So in traditional times, every boy went through rigorous ceremonies to be come a man. Back then; boys didn’t get cake and ice cream when they came of age. They were sent away from their mothers and sisters, to work with the men in the village to perform, backbreaking grueling work.
They wrestled and fought, kicked and punched.
They did this so they would know not only how to throw a punch, but how to take one too. I suppose that these rituals were very much like boot camp today. Only, they didn’t have all of the fancy gear and equipment to protect them from the elements. No, our ancestors were out in the fields for days, with bare feet and just the clothes on their backs. There are many people who view the Africans as primitive, engaging in barbaric practices that didn’t make any sense.
However, these rituals taught men how to become men.
The rituals reared boys to be like Ogun, strong, powerful, and controlled. These rituals molded boys to make the necessary sacrifices for their family and loved ones. Most importantly, these rituals taught boys about compassion and the pain that comes from bloodshed. They knew how much it hurt to be hit, so they would never hit their wives and children. They knew how hunger felt, so they ensured that their family ate well. They understood pain and would do anything to keep their loved ones from experiencing it. Lastly, they understood that the essence of being a man was caring for a woman.
From my research, I found that he was the patron of war, check. I found out that he was instrumental in the Haiti Revolution, check. I found out that he clears paths with a machete, check. With all the information that I gathered, I still had the most difficult time writing about Ogun. Then, I had a breaking point. I stopped menstruating and the words began to flow. I learned that the powerful deity of war hates bloodshed, and avoids it like the plague. To Ogun, a woman menstruating is a “period” of mourning, for it is a child that failed to be born. Wow! Ogun is deep and incredibly compassionate. The more I began to write about Ogun, the more I began to develop a deep respect and a profound love for a deity that every male should strive to be like.
Ogun is a savior, a breadwinner, and a hero.
He is the patron of war, of clearing paths, of tool making, and agriculture. He is the Orisha who makes sacrifices for his family and community. He is the patron of iron and he is commonly associated with the manipura chakra. Our ancestors understood that men have ten times more testerone than women. It is believed that testerone makes men, in particularly teenage boys more aggressive. So in traditional times, every boy went through rigorous ceremonies to be come a man. Back then; boys didn’t get cake and ice cream when they came of age. They were sent away from their mothers and sisters, to work with the men in the village to perform, backbreaking grueling work.
They wrestled and fought, kicked and punched.
They did this so they would know not only how to throw a punch, but how to take one too. I suppose that these rituals were very much like boot camp today. Only, they didn’t have all of the fancy gear and equipment to protect them from the elements. No, our ancestors were out in the fields for days, with bare feet and just the clothes on their backs. There are many people who view the Africans as primitive, engaging in barbaric practices that didn’t make any sense.
However, these rituals taught men how to become men.
The rituals reared boys to be like Ogun, strong, powerful, and controlled. These rituals molded boys to make the necessary sacrifices for their family and loved ones. Most importantly, these rituals taught boys about compassion and the pain that comes from bloodshed. They knew how much it hurt to be hit, so they would never hit their wives and children. They knew how hunger felt, so they ensured that their family ate well. They understood pain and would do anything to keep their loved ones from experiencing it. Lastly, they understood that the essence of being a man was caring for a woman.
Ogun, A Necessary Evil
19/12/11 22:33
Sigmund Freud was perhaps the first person to mention the
ego.
He wrote long articles and books about how dangerous the ego was. Then, there were others who jumped on the Freud bandwagon, claiming that people needed to free themselves entirely from the ego. I have read numerous books by self-help gurus, spiritualist, and holistic health practitioners who all say the same thing, “get rid of the ego.” However, after studying Ifa, and learning about Ogun, the patron of iron and war, I believe that it is best for everyone to hold on to it.
I studied Western thought practically my whole adult life.
I wasn’t exposed to African principles until my later years, and when I finally came across the works of Ifa, I was blown away. Ifa, unlike many other religions is a practice of balance. I know, there are a lot of religions that talk about balance. However, balance is about understanding the male and female, or negative and positive forces in nature, and in life. Ifa is about acceptance of all things, and that means taking the good with the bad. The ego is a necessary human element that is needed for our survival. People need to have a strong sense of self. They need to understand their worth in order to develop spiritually.
In fact, the people who are incredibly successful have tremendous egos.
They took a chapter out of Ogun’s book, borrowed his machete and not only cleared pathways, but chopped their competitor’s heads off to get to the top. Other forms of thought would teach people to play nice. However, we don’t live in an equalitarian society. We live in a world where winner takes all. We live in a world where we are judged on our accomplishments, our wealth, and success. We live in a world where there are limited resources, and we all have to fight to get a piece of the pie.
Ogun is the deity of power.
He represents our personal power, our self-worth, and our ability to believe in ourselves. He is the Orisha who gives us the stamina to pursue our goals. He is the Orisha who gives us the courage to face our worse fears. It is Ogun who creates pathways and helps us to overcome obstacles. As I mentioned in earlier articles, Ogun is a deity of compassion. Having a huge ego doesn’t give anyone a free pass to exploit others. Rather, having a huge ego can protect people from being exploited.
He wrote long articles and books about how dangerous the ego was. Then, there were others who jumped on the Freud bandwagon, claiming that people needed to free themselves entirely from the ego. I have read numerous books by self-help gurus, spiritualist, and holistic health practitioners who all say the same thing, “get rid of the ego.” However, after studying Ifa, and learning about Ogun, the patron of iron and war, I believe that it is best for everyone to hold on to it.
I studied Western thought practically my whole adult life.
I wasn’t exposed to African principles until my later years, and when I finally came across the works of Ifa, I was blown away. Ifa, unlike many other religions is a practice of balance. I know, there are a lot of religions that talk about balance. However, balance is about understanding the male and female, or negative and positive forces in nature, and in life. Ifa is about acceptance of all things, and that means taking the good with the bad. The ego is a necessary human element that is needed for our survival. People need to have a strong sense of self. They need to understand their worth in order to develop spiritually.
In fact, the people who are incredibly successful have tremendous egos.
They took a chapter out of Ogun’s book, borrowed his machete and not only cleared pathways, but chopped their competitor’s heads off to get to the top. Other forms of thought would teach people to play nice. However, we don’t live in an equalitarian society. We live in a world where winner takes all. We live in a world where we are judged on our accomplishments, our wealth, and success. We live in a world where there are limited resources, and we all have to fight to get a piece of the pie.
Ogun is the deity of power.
He represents our personal power, our self-worth, and our ability to believe in ourselves. He is the Orisha who gives us the stamina to pursue our goals. He is the Orisha who gives us the courage to face our worse fears. It is Ogun who creates pathways and helps us to overcome obstacles. As I mentioned in earlier articles, Ogun is a deity of compassion. Having a huge ego doesn’t give anyone a free pass to exploit others. Rather, having a huge ego can protect people from being exploited.
