West African Òrìsà Tradition

The ÌsÈse Tradition

The Ìṣẹ̀ṣe tradition is rooted in the observation and awareness of human beings symbiotic and intrinsic relationship to nature. It is a living tradition and a complete way of life which has been practiced for thousands of years by the indigenous people of West Africa. Ìṣẹ̀ṣe as a system of transmitted oral knowledge it is a way of life that intertwines both spiritual principles with practical and applicable wisdom. Ìṣẹ̀ṣe as a West African spiritual tradition is rooted in the observation and contemplation of the laws of nature evident in the world around us. It is an ecological spiritual tradition founded upon respect and reverence for the life-giving and life-taking forces of nature. Ìmàle and Òrìṣà as aspects of Olódùmarè reside in energetic places of power and can be awoken, acknowledged, appealed to and appeased to bring about spiritual and material equilibrium and alignment. The Ìṣẹ̀ṣe tradition is an empowered and interactive spiritual tradition where channels of direct communication between human beings and Spirit are a fundamental component for growth and development.  

The indigenous peoples of West Africa, in particular the people now identified as the Yorúbà, are similar to other indigenous cultures throughout the world. The Yorúbà people were also able to tap into the infinite repository of divine intelligence and utilize its power and wisdom to develop their belief systems, organize their societies, solidify their family structures and enhance their medical and spiritual practices. It is from this area of West Africa, primarily Benin, Dahomey, Togo, Ghana and Nigeria, that the Ìṣẹ̀ṣe tradition as it is popularly known spread through the trans Atlantic slave trade to the Americas. 

The West African indigenous worldview is that our universe is intrinsically benevolent. The creative and Divine forces of the universe inspire us toward inner peace, harmony, and equilibrium. Ìṣẹ̀ṣe as a wisdom tradition is practiced throughout West Africa, the Caribbean, and the Americas albeit in various forms.  The Ìṣẹ̀ṣe tradition remains the core source of a multitude of spiritual practices and religions, albeit with distinct similarities and differences: there is Vodou in Haiti, Lukumi and Santeria in Cuba, Candomblé, Umbanda and Quimbanda in Brazil, and Orisha and Shango Baptist in Trinidad and Tobago, to name a few.