There are many who due to society and structural issues as well as institutionalized circumstances, are out here SKRUGGLING in these Skreets. It happens. We live in a space where commercialism and capitalism is rampant and ever present in some form of fashion. Many not yet initiated into Orisa are wary when they are told of pricing for certain initiations or rituals. It raises eyebrows and so many things come up for someone emotionally.
One of the things is a feeling of otherness or outsideness experienced most usual from POC, who are taught from early on to embrace a poverty mind or the notion that they cannot accomplish anything because (insert a myriad of reasons).. Then only to embrace a route of connectivity and spirituality that connects them to some ancestral source, and they feel yet again they can’t achieve it.
Get ready for the CLICHE!.... Faith.
Oh poverty is real, but its most real and tangible in the mindset. The belief that you are limited by circumstances and cannot attain anything more. This may be another facebook note all together.
While we know there are charlatans galore hidden in the community with dark and light skin alike offering Cheshire cat smiles, colorful beads and bracelets, and warm embraces galore and a manner in which they appear warm and knowledgeable, but there is a rhyme and reason for charging for initiations and ritual ceremonies.
It unnerves me to see people being charged $45000 for Orisa initiations in the Bronx or anywhere else for that matter (I am warning you now, if you have received this number from an individual from the Bronx.. RUN!) but it unnerves me just as much when I hear things like, “Why should I pay for something that is in my blood? My heritage.” or “Why do things have to cost so much? Surely one cant buy spirituality!” While that very last line is truer than true, there are so many factors you are not aware of as a non initiate and although we as priests tend to be secretive (and you would know why if you have access to google, wikipedia, or youtube) I would like to shed some transparency on my particular tradition in hopes to increase and foster some understanding.
The unspoken is that there are many variations of traditional lineages all with variations on how to initiate into orisa.
That being said there is an issue of resources.. For instance many herbs used are not suually from your back yard (unless you live in a place that actually grows the tropical flora) they have to be ordered by someone who picks them out by hand, reaps them, possibly even grows them, and then has to 1-2 day deliver them.
Then there is a matter of access to geographical locations. Bringing someone to the river, ocean, forest, mountain... all may take a drive or some travel depending on where one lives and if they have access to any of these points. There is rituals that may happen there at that location as well, sometimes requiring other priests assistance in the dead of night or early morning.
Then there is the matter of other priest called to lend their ashe/energy and expertise to the ceremony at hand. This means time away from their family and/or loved ones and time away from their general life and daily business and affairs all who are being gathered to work your ceremony which can take 5-8 hours on average... that is a whole work day.
There is also someone hired to feed the people through out the day who are laboring spiritually and physically during the course of the ceremony. They also are responsible to cook breakfast every day for the Iyawo (new initiate) for the first 72 hours of that persons initiation. That being said they are also paid for their culinary services and that does not including the food items that must be purchased for not only parts of the ceremony as offerings but for the iyawo, Mentors/Spiritual Godparents, and the priests who come to work said ceremony but also on the the next day when the community comes to witness the new initiate by way of a drumming celebration. The guests are fed and libated that day as well.
There is a sacred space built for the iyawo which included cloths/fabrics that design the space as well as two outfits made for the iyawo to wear. One post initiation early morning after, and one for the presentation to the community as a new initiate. That means a seamstress is also paid for their services.
There is also the matter of supplies and vessels for the ceremony, the labor to retreive certain items and implements that will be ceremonially prepared usually carried out by the spiritual mentor/Godparent.
There is also the matter of 7 day seclusion to the space the ceremony is held at. If a person does not have a house to do this in many people will rent a space for the week. This also costs money.
There is also the two godparents/spiritual mentors who are expected to stay with the iyawo for those first 7 days.. which often means taking off of work and using vacation time and such or unpaid time.
The above are some of the factors that effect pricing, and we are ancestorally tied to the idea of community yet none of us often live together in the same community or neighborhood. Some of us do not own but rent and so are limited with access to space. Some of us have cars others require transportation to do some of these things... Many factors range regarding pricing. However, all must be compensated for their time and ase.
Now, lets be clear... your spirituality is not being bought. Your spirituality is your own, the Godparent or better yet spiritual mentor is there to help guide you on the path to orisa. To help you the best way they know how to utilize orisa to better yourself and the life of others. For the changes that have happened in my life and in the life of many others I can tell you that there is no price tag amount you can place on the initiation nor the allowance of Orisa to do the work in your life that is required. Simply put, because it is priceless. The key word in the previous statement is... allowance.
When one allows Orisa to work through them... that you cant necessarily teach it must be learned as one figures out what changes they want to make in their life even the really hard ones that leave you exposed and vulnerable and humbled as you face the parts of your self you thought you already shifted or changed or things you never really looked at that have existed in you and must be examined if not altered.
Again what you are paying for is a tradition passed on by the hands of ancestors who paid with their sweat, tears, lives and meager means to set into motion a set of rituals that have been in existence for over a millenia. A methodology that has been proven to work, and countless testimonys exist to the power of Orisa in some peoples lives.
May Oshun reach those with questions and attract you to the right teachers who are accountable, responsible, honest and competent.
May you invest in your betterment and in your progression be it through actual initiation or ritual receipt of addimu orisa or their implements.
Love and Light,
David Sosa- Eni Osun
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