Ori (Yoruba)

Ori
Choices made in the Pre-life, Destiny, Personal Identity, Fate
Member of Orisha
Other namesOri
Venerated inYoruba religion, Umbanda, Candomblé, Santería, Haitian Vodou, Folk Catholicism
RegionNigeria, Benin, Latin America, Togo,
Ethnic groupYoruba
Traditional Yoruba Ile Ori. This is one of many models.

Ori (known as Orí in Nigeria and Latin America as influenced by the aforementioned from the slave trade displacements and migration) is a Yoruba metaphysical concept.

Ori, literally meaning "head," refers to one's spiritual intuition and destiny. It is the reflective spark of human consciousness embedded into the human essence, and therefore is often personified as an Orisha in its own right. It is believed by the Yoruba religion that human beings are able to heal themselves both spiritually and physically by working with the Orishas to achieve a balanced character, or iwa-pele. When one has a balanced character, one obtains an alignment with one's Ori or divine self. It is also believed that Ori be worshiped like Orisha. When things are not going right, Ori should be consulted. And to make things right Ori should be appeased. This is because whatever one becomes or whatever happens in one's life is as destined by Ori.