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Iwa Pele - Character Not Obedience!

Iwa Pele refers to good character, which should be the core of orisa worship, rather than obedience. Some priests and priestesses incorrectly use the concept of Iwa Pele to demand unthinking obedience rather than promote good character. They twist it to maintain power and control over others. True Iwa Pele is about making choices with understanding of the world, doing what is universally right rather than what gives some individuals power. It is a tool for growth and enlightenment, not control.

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Hazel Aikulola Griffith
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183 views

Iwa Pele - Character Not Obedience!

Iwa Pele refers to good character, which should be the core of orisa worship, rather than obedience. Some priests and priestesses incorrectly use the concept of Iwa Pele to demand unthinking obedience rather than promote good character. They twist it to maintain power and control over others. True Iwa Pele is about making choices with understanding of the world, doing what is universally right rather than what gives some individuals power. It is a tool for growth and enlightenment, not control.

Uploaded by

Hazel Aikulola Griffith
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Iwa Pele - character not obedience!

At the core of successful, and meaningful, orisa worship, is the concept of Iwa Pele,

or "good character." In a certain sense, everything else is secondary. For example, what

good is divination, or the ability to work with orisa energy to manifest observable, pragmatic

changes, if those understanding and changes are not processed within the overall, and

overriding, context of good character?

Too often, blinded by the power inherent in the philosophy, or confused that the universe's

energy is their own, individuals will manifest changes that stem, not from good character,

but from self-interest, arrogance or anger. These changes will always, in the long run, fail to

benefit any involved.

Just as the magic and power of the Orisa is often misused, so also is the very concept of

Iwa Pele! Pompous and arrogant priests and priestesses will often use the concept of Iwa

Pele to imply obedience rather than character. I can remember, early in my days of

initiation, a large celebration was being held for a newly crowned woman. The celebration

was being held in a small home in the Western suburbs of Chicago. The home was

overflowing with people. Tables for lunch had been set up everywhere...from the basement

to the second floor, and food was being served. A couple of young, recently initiated

Babalawo, including myself, sat down at the table in the basement along with a dozen or so

guests to have lunch. A short time later, the Babalawo who had initiated us appeared at our

table. He was furious. We had eaten before him! The fact that we hadn't the slightest idea

that there was an "order for eating" or where in the house he was, and that we presumed

he was eating at the more visible tables upstairs, did nothing to diminish his ranting and
raving. From his point of view we had shown disrespect to him. We were guilty of bad

character.

Today, decades later, I understand that the flaw in character was his, not ours. That his

own issues of power and control motivated him to corrupt the important concept of good

character into his personal desire for unthinking obedience! As the years have passed I have

seen this twisting rear its head in many ways. Often, an individual's desire for knowledge is

met with a doorway of secrecy, the lock of which is guarded by those who would control

your knowledge, not because you were not yet prepared for it, but because it retained their

power and control. If you question their decisions, their response is you are not showing

respect or good character. I have seen priests and priestesses exhibit the worst possible

behavior, yet defy their godchildren to question or challenge this behavior because of the

absolute concept of respect and character. I am appalled as certain groups within ethnic

boundaries shun or punish any of like color or ethnicity who have dared seek knowledge or

understanding outside that group! And, they do it from the same twisted and corrupt

position of their manipulated and control oriented concepts of respect and character!

Iwa Pele is about a good heart and soul. It is about making individual decisions within the

context and understanding of the world we live in. It is about doing what is universally

correct, not simply arbitrarily correct to some individual or group. You cannot nourish your

own character by accepting or ignoring the bad character of others...even if they were

initiated before you. Iwa Pele is a tool for growth, knowledge and enlightenment, not for

control, power or personal indulgence. Ultimately, it is the only way to make use of the

power and energy of the orisa. Ultimately, it is the only roadmap for someday fulfilling your

destiny and taking your place in Counsel with the other Elders.

Blessings,

Oluwo Philip Neimark

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