Legacy

I'm at a crossroads of sorts where I have been questioning many things about myself. One of the largest questions I have is "What now?" What is it that I want to do that will benefit my community? What lasting impression can I leave as my contribution? What needs can I fill in my community?...

What I’ve Been Up To: Practicing

  My prayer is that I find an elder who will teach me the proper way to do traditional elekes, ides, and other beadwork. I am practicing until Elegua opens the door. I am putting the energy of my new passion out into the world with prayers it will return with more. Ase

New Discoveries

I submitted my DNA to Ancestry.com just because I wanted to find my ethnic mix. I had submitted to MyHeritage, but my godbrother is a genealogist and recommended I resubmit to Ancestry as well, and so I did. I thought I would find out what percentage of Congo, Nigerian, and Senegalese I was, which I...

Iyaworaje 50 Weeks Old! Nearing Year in Review

The past year when looking back has been a lot like a roller coaster, and the ride is not over yet. Preparing for ocha I had so many doubts about myself, my truest level of commitment, and so many fears. There was sleeplessness, irritation, and mind numbing worry. The money was an obstacle, pulling everything...

Unconditional Love

I am now nearing my 11th month of iyaworaje and may not post another thought until after my year has completed,  but seeing an issue come up has inspired me on the topic of godparents again. One of the most important steps is establishing and building relationships with godparents.  Meeting potential godparents is the time, ...

Iyaworaje 10th month: Ripping off the Band-aid

Today, I've been processing a recent lesson, and I am still working on it. This year in white not only brings up the people who see the beauty in Lukumi faith, but the people who only see Hollywood movie and social media propaganda. It breaks my heart but the end realization I came to after...

The Garden of Eden

I remember I was a nursing student and we were doing clinical rotations in this small hospital in Gonzales,  TX.  I had this lady I had been caring for a couple of days.  I really liked her,  something about her just clicked for me. This was nearly 20 years ago. When she asked me for...

Right Perspective

I was working in what I believed was a toxic work environment.  The emails were nasty,  no one wanted to address work related issues so we had the same problems continuously.  When I brought it up,  I was treated like a troublemaker.  I was going to leave. During my ocha, the Orisha said the problem...

Orisha Song Class with Baba Oludare

Education in Lucumi tradition is so important because there is misunderstanding of what our tradition is about. My madrina is big on education, and when she asked me if I wanted to take this class I jumped on it. (She never asks questions without a reason.) I am forever grateful that I am taking Baba...