Spirituality in One Dimension-Part One

I am going to examine what sometimes occurs in three religions that I am familiar with, that of Neo-Paganism, the Orisha traditions, and Christianity. I call it the one dimensional view of the gods.

Let's start with the Afro-Caribbean religions. Sometimes there is this one dimensional, human based idea of orisha in which the divinities are sometimes described as dramatic soap opera characters. Grant it there are stories of the orisha in which they may behave in less than perfect ways. However these stories are meant to teach us how to behave better. Many initiates justify their bad behavior because they say well "I am a child of this orisha so I can.." Ok, but you are the child of the orisha not the orisha. Wear your crown proudly but leave your ego at the door.

Also this pinning the orisha down in rigid categories. One time, this woman who was not an initiate criticized me for saying "Mama Oshun". She said, "I see Yemaya more at the Mother and Oshun is the flirt. This is some stupid modern Western concept that says that motherhood and mothers by extent cannot be sexy. Oshun is a Mother of several orishas and is called YeYe, the Good Mother. Oshun also has warrior aspects as does Yemaya, but many overlook this because these orishas are considered "feminine". Yeah, like women never fought before. Yemaya, although maternal is quite sensual, the siren of the seas. Again, the whole idea that sensuality and motherhood is not sensual rears its ugly head. There are some aspects of Yemaya that are often mistaken for Oshun because of her behavior.

Many forget the orishas are aspects of the Divine. Some may have been deified ancestors, some aspects of orishas may have been older divinities that were absorbed. After all there are 401 orisha in Nigeria and only a mere fraction of those are honored in the Diaspora. The orishas exist on many levels, aspects of the Supreme Being Olorun, deified ancestors who were once human, and forces of nature and the cosmos. Also while I am on the subject of Olorun, why do people equate the Supreme Being in Yoruba belief with the Judeo-Christian concept of God. Olorun is neither male or female and cannot be comprehended by human belief. I know some of us come from Jewish, Christian, or Islamic background but that storm and war deity of the Hebrews is not the same as the Supreme Being in Yourba religion or in any religion for that matter. The idea of a Supreme Being transcends human comprehension.

I had an interesting discussion with a young Lucumi priest of Obatala. We were discussing the significance of Ogun. How he represents the iron in our blood that allows us to live, the force that moves our muscle, and the whole idea of civilization itself rests with the concepts of Ogun and Oshun. That story of when Oshun leading Ogun out of the forest has so many deeper meanings. One, that love, represented by Oshun was able to lead him out of the forest of his despair and isolation. Two, the waters of Oshun and the metalworking of Ogun are necessary for civilization as all of civilization came to a halt when Ogun retreated into the forest. The earliest civilizations on earth of Egypt/Africa, Indus River Valley/India, Yellow River/China, and the Tigris/Euphrates/Middle East, they all began in river valleys and learned to use metals and agriculture to forge civilizations. The waters of Oshun are needed to cool and temper the force of Ogun in order for civilization to exist.

Well I guess I will get to the neo-pagan and Christian parts another time as this post became quite long. My purpose is not to rant or criticize but I think we need in general to become better researchers and look deeper into the meanings and dimensions of our spirituality.