The Universe
There is a phenomenon called the Universe. People throughout time have attempted to understand the Universe. Today in the United States of America, the Scientists are held to be the most knowledgeable people regarding the understanding of the Universe. They have developed equipment that enables them to objectively observe and examine the Universe. They examine the components of the Universe to understand how it is organized, how it moves and how if effects our lives, here on earth.
Throughout time, throughout recorded history there have existed human beings who have studied the Universe in a different way. They have used their subjective experience, their mind, their heart and their soul, to look inward to find the Universe. In each culture, in each nation, there has always been a group of people who could see the Universe in this way and who recorded what they saw so that others could benefit from the knowledge.
Seers
Among these people, called Seers, there were those who could observe the Universe in its totality. Imagine the expansive quality of perception of these Seers, that they could observe the Universe in its totality. And in that awareness or perception, they could see vibrations, motion, and energy patterns within the silence of the Universe.
Not only could they observe the totality of the Universe, and the fact that the Universe contained vibration, but they could also perceive that there are different vibrations. And in their research on the vibrations of the Universe they were able to distinguish 2,684 different vibrations. Within these 2,684 vibrations, they were able to find commonality and group the vibrations first into 386 qualities, then into 68 groups, and then 16 qualities. They were also able to find the commonality between all of these vibrations and the elements of fire, earth, water and air that are found on earth.
Orixás
The Seers gave a name to the totality of the Universe that they were able to perceive. They gave the name Orixá. Furthermore they gave names to each of the vibrations or energy patterns that they were able to observe in the Universe.
The Seers perceived that the various Orixás were filled with life, with personality, and with intelligence. They named each of the different vibrations as a parent would name a child, with love and reverence. They gave names like Oxalá, Iansã, Tempo, Ifá, Exu, Ogum, Oxumaré, Xangô, Obaluaê, Oxossi, Ossaim, Obá, Nanã, Oxum, Iemanjá, Ewa.
In addition to that grand accomplishment, these Seers were able to show other people how to perceive what they saw. They were able to show people how to make a connection to the Orixás.
These Seers set a standard. They could perceive the totality of the Universe, they could perceive the details of this totality and they could relate this totality and the vibrations that make up the totality to the four elements on earth. In addition, they could show people how to know the Orixás themselves.
History
These Seers were on earth thousands of years ago. Recorded history shows they were on earth before Africa and Brazil became nations, but today it is in Africa and Brazil where one can find this knowledge that had been discovered thousands of years earlier.
These Seers passed their knowledge, experience and understanding of the Universe to the people around them, who in turn passed this science, this information and experience to succeeding generations. It became a tradition in that there were people who had the interest to preserve the knowledge of the Orixás and people who were given the responsibility to pass on this science to the next generation. All the people along the way learned how to perceive the Orixás and how to enter into a relationship with the Orixás.
By entering into a relationship with the Orixás people could find those qualities or vibrations of the Universe within themselves. Once that experience was enlivened within their Self, they found that the experiences brought harmony, peace, and joy to their lives. They found their lives were lived in accord with the organization of the Universe.
Individual Orixá
In addition to perceiving the Orixás, the Seers were also able to perceive that various Orixás become predominant at various times. The Seers were able to perceive which Orixá is prevalent when a man and woman come together to form a child. The Seers came to understand that an individual gains the maximum benefit from the Orixás if the individual can connect to the Orixá that was predominant when the individual was conceived. The Seers saw that making a connection to the predominant Orixá allows the individual personal protection and guidance from that particular Orixá for the duration of the individual’s life on earth.
Different Expressions
From these experiences and understandings of the Orixás came an increased interest to pass this knowledge on to the next generation so that people could be insured of enjoying the benefit of living life in accord with nature and the Universe.
Throughout the passage of time, as people came to know the Orixás there arose different stories and different interpretations of the Orixás. Different knowledge came forth; different understandings and different expressions became apparent.
People utilized drums to give expression to the vibrations of the Universe. And in time the drum become the modality to establish the link between the Universe and the individual. In addition people created songs about the Orixás to express their understanding of the Orixás, to give gratitude for the experience of the Orixás and to ensure that future generations would understand what they knew and experienced.
Dress became another expression of the Orixás. The Universe that had become alive within the person needed to be clothed externally to give expression to the particular experience and to honor that expression.
Countries
All people, everywhere, have the ability to experience Orixás. At the same time the expression of the Orixás differs with different countries, cultures and traditions.
The Orixás can be experienced in thousands of Terreiros (Temples) that exist in Africa and Brazil today. Thousands of books are available. There is both a common understanding of the Orixás as well as different expressions of the Orixás.
In Brazil the knowledge and understanding of the Orixás is more clearly understood by the largest number of people than anywhere else on earth.
Already the study and expression of the Orixás is present in America, but only with small groups of people here and there.
And within those groups most commonly the Orixás are known through dance. There are classes that teach dance movements of the Orixás, utilizing choreography, drum, dance and costume. One is given specific movements to follow and one follows those dance steps to create a movement of the Orixás. The dance classes and performances are beautiful to behold and wonderful to experience.
Places of Learning
However there exists today in the rich tradition of the Orixás, places of learning, deemed sacred, that prepare people for the experience of the Orixás in a different way, from deep within the soul. These places of learning are called Terreiro or Templo (Temple). Through initiation one is personally guided by people specially trained called Babalorixá or Yalorixá. These Spiritual Teachers spend years in training and are given certification by their Babalorixá or Yalorixá on how to guide people to know the Orixás directly.
Individual Experiences
Over time an individual begins to form a pattern that has characteristics each time they move with a particular Orixá. Throughout the individuals development there is the Spiritual Teacher who observes this development and gives the proper guidance. The Teacher is there to provide the initiation for the next level of learning when the individual is ready to receive that information and experience. The process is carefully orchestrated to insure that the individual has the correct experience at all times.
It is important that the Spiritual Teacher have the full understanding of the Orixás and know how to properly guide an individual through their personal development to connect to the Orixás.
Hayehwatha Institute (Orixás)
The Hayehwatha Institute (Orixás), located in the San Francisco Bay Area, has developed relationships with various world teachers of the Orixás to bring the knowledge and understanding of the Orixás to the United States. The Institute is interested to integrate the tradition of the Orixás with existing scientific disciplines so that the Orixás can be understood and accepted by a larger population in the United States.
To receive further information, click here: Contact
Summary
Americans do not know about Orixás. The understanding of the Orixás has not become integrated within the culture as have other sciences and spiritual disciplines that study the Universe and its relation to humanity.
Over the past 30-40 years, teachers, scientists, academicians, and educational institutions throughout America have researched and developed an understanding of Consciousness. The study and experience of Consciousness provide a framework for subjectively and spiritually understanding the Universe.
The Hayehwatha Institute (Orixás) provides the proper environment to know the Orixás and to experience and understand the various vibrations or energy patterns that form the details of the Consciousness of the Universe - the Soul of the Universe, and the Universe of the Soul.
The Institute provides an opportunity for one to know their specific Orixá, to receive the protection of their Orixá, and to learn to live more fully in harmony within the organization of the Universe.
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