Welcome, Ile Okandinije!
Thank you for joining the Foundations of Òrisà Worship Curriculum. It is a pleasure for you to join us.
This is a study that introduces interpretations of various spiritual elements found within the teachings of òrìṣà worship through Yorùbá proverbs. This study has been prepared for newcomers to Yorùbá spirituality or the novice òrìṣà devotee to provide them with an understanding of practices of òrìṣà worship from a theological approach. This course is an attempt to give a clear picture of Ifa-centric customs observed in Yorùbá spirituality, as well reference points for advanced studies in òrìṣà worship. This is the first foundation for an intimate knowledge of Yorùbá spirituality.
This is the first course in the Foundations of Òrìṣà Worship Curriculum. This course examines how proverbs express spiritual truths in Yorùbá culture, especially for awareness of social values. They are used in the practice of òrisà worship to exemplify the relationship devotees should have with themselves and the World around them. Yorùbá proverbs are the foundation for òrisà worship, and they are rooted in Ifá-centric practices that rely on them as spiritual scriptures.
Proverbs show that truth is always going to change in our perception. They remind us that we must never stop our quest for understanding truth. Proverbs contained in this module are used to make clear some of the spiritual and social beliefs for the Yorùbá people. They identify key aspects of the typical character that an òrisà devotee will need to understand as being a practitioner of Yorùbá spirituality.
Course Curriculum
- Proverb 1: "Bit by bit we eat the head of the rat." (31:46)
- Proverb 2: "The hands belong to the body and the feet belong to the body." (18:12)
- Proverb 3: "Water sinks lower than land." (18:37)
- Proverb 4: "The person who harms others, when they have been harmed, is unable to settle a dispute." (20:07)
- Proverb 5: "It takes a large stick to ring a big bell." (22:45)
- Proverb 6: "Those who conquer the enemy within have nothing to fear from the enemy without." (25:07)
- Proverb 7: "The root of the tree never casts a shadow." (17:18)
- Proverb 8: "If it does not matter where you are going, any road will do." (11:39)
- Proverb 9: "It is a straight road that leads to Ile Ife." (30:03)
- Proverb 10: "The one who never stops talking become silent when walking through thorns." (13:16)
- Proverb 11: "The person who fails to make sense of their wisdom becomes a fool." (15:08)
- Proverb 12: "At sundown a different person enters the house than the one who left in the morning." (12:48)
- Proverb 13: "If we only eat sweet things and avoid the bitter kola, all food will loose its flavor." (13:07)
- Proverb 14: "If you never ask the question, you will never receive an answer." (17:27)
- Proverb 15: "When water boils over the side of the pot it smothers the flame." (17:23)
- Proverb 16: "The person who makes their own bed sleeps in it." (12:49)