As a Priest
As an Orisa Priest, I am not at liberty to provide complete descriptions or insight into spiritual teachings that are provided in Traditional African Religion, but I will attempt to give all of you some basic bullet points that stimulate conversation, not from a point of conjecture, but from a position of knowledge and personal experience. I rushed a little to post this, but I hope it's still coherent and that I covered as much as possible without confusing anyone.
I have chosen to do so because there continues to be a pressing need to disrupt or circumvent the traditions of Africa, while reaping the benefits of Africa. This is impossible. The etiquette, laws and processes associated with Classical and Traditional African Religions (Spiritual Systems) exist to protect not only you, but others around you. There is no traditionally mandated egotism, sexism, elitism or classism. (no matter what the books say) These things exist because of people, not Gods or Ancestors. (and mostly because of colonialism in modern Africa or slavery and acculturation in the Americas) For this reason the process is unlike the what Christians, Muslims or Jews do - it is formulated by Beings outside of us and confirmed by Beings outside of us. (Outside as in non-Human)
Follow Tradition - It's Your Safety Net
My hope is that people that are interested in Traditional African Spirituality will chose to commit to spiritual communities, seek training, follow protocol and grow within the traditions of our Ancestors, rather than copy the ways of Europeans and Western culture and attempt to pull and tug until they get what they "think" they have come for, which is impossible to do without damage to Self and Others. So I hope these responses are useful. I probably won't be back to offer further insight. I've deliberately left parts out or provided a vague description of others to do two things (a) protect tradition and my Priestly oaths (b) protect some of you from yourselves. (please be safe out there)
You know where to find me if you have any substantive questions or what help getting involved in Traditional African religion. (I can help you find a reputable community if you are seeking Akan, Kemetic, Orisa'Ifa or Vodun paths.)
Why Non-Initiates Should Not (Can Not) Perform Animal Sacrifice
1. Animal sacrifice and animal slaughter (like what your local butcher does) are not synonymous. During animal sacrifice a large buildup and expenditure of energy occur. This energy is a intentional culmination of both the Priest actions and the actual death.
2. Initiation and training prepare the Priest’s body/spirit/mind for the energy associated with Animal sacrifice.
3. Animal sacrifice is requested by an African Deity or by an Ancestor. Training is required to determine how to know the request has actually come and how it is to be honored.
4. Divination is the most common way of determining if a Deity or Ancestor require animal sacrifice. The kind of divination available to non-initiates will not address animal sacrifice. That is, it will refuse to accurately assess the need, prescribe a process or authorize the user to perform animal sacrifice.
5. Not all animals are sacrificed in the same way. Sacrifice is in the words of Adefunmi “alchemy” and requires a certain set of circumstances, additional ingredients/tools/items to be deemed suitable by the Deity or Ancestor in question and effective (and safe). This information can only be obtained in two ways: through initiation and training and/or through heavy spiritual possession or dream state.
6. Deity and Ancestor require specific prayers for each type of sacrifice, circumstance and animal involved. These prayers (mantras, words of power) are not passed down to the non-initiated and many do not work when used by the non-initiated.
7. The right to perform animal sacrifice is passed to some Priests via a special ritual. Many Priests do not have the right to perform animal sacrifice. Even those that do have to wait a period to adjust to other elements of their spiritual development and training before they can be chosen (not request) to be among those than can perform this important and powerful community task.
8. Those that perform animal sacrifice must have a deeper understanding of Life than the general public. This understanding is not intellectual in nature.
9. There is certain way to sacrifice every kind of animal and it requires the tools or technique of that particular Deity or Ancestral Body. Some use knife, hands, feet, etc. Performing sacrifice incorrectly nullifies the efforts and can WORSEN situation, both for the person performing the act, those in close vicinity, the situation being addressed, even the people that are in the “neighborhood” while the mishandling is occurring.
10. I will not address human sacrifice as it would be irresponsible and counterproductive.
11. Lastly, African traditions are not referred to as or grouped with things called Magick. In fact, no legitimate indigenous culture calls any of their spiritual systems Magick, because if its genuine, they know it is in fact a SCIENCE. This small misstep can help you to separate the chaff from the grain. I am tempted to delve deeper on this topic, but maybe another time.
(Please note that my post here cannot be reproduced, quoted, reposted or otherwise copied in emails, other forums, etc. without my permission. Please honor this simple request.)
Ol'Orisa Olokuntogun Ifasehun Ojedele
