Oriki: Increasing The Vibrations Without and Within

A Spiritual Consultation I performed for her incited the following question in a sistah...

"Peace Sistren,

It has been a few months since you have done a reading for me and I have yet to formally thank you; so let me take the time to do so now. The reading you did for me inspired and comforted me. I thank you and I hope many blessings are being sent your way. Since I requested your services I have been doing some spiritual searching in an attempt to form a stronger to connection with our glorious mother Oshun. She has made her presence in my life very apparent and she has given me many blessings. I always remember to thank her and acknowledge her but I'm wondering if you know the best way to pay respect. I also wonder what ways I can pay respect to Chango. I feel as if maybe I haven't accepted him the same way I have Oshun because I don't recognize his influences as often. If you can advise me of any ways to pay respect to my parent Gods I would be very appreciative. Also do you have any advice on how to ask for assistance or for a favor? Lastly are their any books you'd recommend reading? I hope to hear from you soon!Ashe"

I am especially pleased that your Spiritual Consultation was a comfort to you. To consult the deities is to have a dialogue with those amongst the Oldest of Ancestors and as such should be a source of security, warmth, and positivity for all who participate. Please click on the Buy Now button underneath the words Order a Spiritual Consultation from Yeye to the right of this blog to have Oshun consulted on your behalf.

The orisha known as Chango, Xango, Sango, Shongo, and Shango is the force of Divine Justice in the universe. After saying his name we always say "Kawo Kabiesile" meaing greetings to his majesty to pay homage to his royal status. He is also known as Oba Koso meaning the King of Koso and often misinterpreted to mean "the king did not hang" due to colonizers spreading a story of him hanging himself to try and persuade his followers to convert to Christianity. He is physically manifested in thunder, lightening, cedar and iroko trees and rain. Animals that contain his ashe are rams and horses. The colors that contain his vibration are red and white together and the color purple that the sky becomes during lightening. His numbers are four and six. These are the colors, numbers and images used to create altars or shrines to Shango. Children of Sango, regardless of gender are referred to as "sons". His sons have a deep love of adornment, dance, and the drum. They abhor liars but struggle to be honest themselves. They are powerfully attractive and always have a host of disciples. They feel injustices deeply even if the injustice involves someone other than themselves or folks they have never met. They have the power to influence others very heavily with their words. They are extremely good parents with a natural connection to youth. They are highly sensual with a high sex drive and are good lovers when they are open to this side of themselves. Look for these qualities within yourself and you will see the many ways in which Oba Koso is influential in your life.

Pay homage to the orisha that rule your head daily by chanting Oriki. Oriki means praise chant. Oriki is used in Yoruba culture to stimulate the vibrations of the ori-the highest self/the truest self of the person who is being chanted to. Oriki are used daily by the Iyalode ("mother of the outside") the "Big Mama" or matriarch in the Yoruba compound to awaken the rest of the family. Oriki to family members include phrases such as Asabi-she who is of select birth and Arike-she who in spite of being small is strong, Ajamu-he who fights for what he wants and Akande-he whose turn it is to come into the world. Each family member is awakened by the elder mother of the compound singing his or her praise, what a powerful way to start each day!!! Every time I think about this practice I am awed by our Ancestors anew. When naming a child in the Yoruba tradition, an oriki name is always selected.

As part of the tradition, the Orisha too have their own oriki. Phrases and terms that increase the vibration of that deity within you, within your space and within your life. One of Oshun's orikis is Laketi-she who has ears to hear the cries of her followers. Obatala has an oriki of Aremu-the first born. Oriki to the various orisha have been preserved in the form of lyrical poems which contain several of that deities praise names as well as mention of his or her heroic feats and exploits. As a son of Oba Koso, you should chant his oriki daily to excite his vibration within you...here is one you may use:

Kawo kabiesile, Oba Koso
Etala mojuba gdagba mojuba
Sango pele o
Sango pele o
Sango pele o
Ngba meta
Sango pe o
Sango pe o
Sango pe o
Baba aladufe
Sango nuaaa jeke awon wa iku
Ma ja kiki wa orun
Aiku Baba wa

We greet His majesty, the King of Koso

Sango we request permission to greet you

we request permission to greet you

we request permission to greet you

Thirteen times we greet you

Sango we are thankful for you

we are thankful for you
we are thankful for you

Ruler in the realm of the spirits

We greet the citizens of the Spiritual Realm

May we not see the death of our fathers

I recommend my book Ona Agbani: The Ancient Path Understanding and Implementing the Ways of Our Ancestors. It was written to give an intense culturally and historically correct understanding of the spiritual tradition of the Yoruba people. Within Ona Agbani there are prayers, incantations, descriptions of the Orisha and the ways in which the ashe of each orisha manifests in humans, on the Earth and in the cosmos. A Yoruba language pronunciation guide is also included as well as an explanation of the role of women from a Yoruba perspective. What our Ancestors viewed as the meaning of life and the reason for living is also included.

To ask for assistance or a favor, first chant the oriki of your orisha to awaken the energy of that deity around you and inside and then verbally request what you need. Chanting should take place in a quiet,peaceful area where you are not distracted. Ideally, before your Shango altar or at a cedar tree would be places where you can access the energy of Oba Koso readily. Make your request as you would to a loving, indulgent father for that is exactly what Shango is for his sons.