Finding Soul on the Path of Orisa: A West African Spiritual Tradition

by Tobe Melora Correal

Book Overview

In the realm of African spiritual pathways, no tradition is so widely embraced and practiced as the West African religion Orisa. Awakened by her own spiritual journey, Tobe Melora Correal, an... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1580911498
• ISBN13: 9781580911498
• Release Date: March 2003
• Publisher: Crossing Press
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.59 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

A Book that Goes Past the Mechanics

Iya Correal's book is excellent reading for anyone on the traditonal path but wants to go past being just religious and on to intergrating their spirituality with growth as a human being. She gives insight on how to have a real relationship with our ancestors and the Orisa. The book is well written and encourages devotees to seek a deeper relationship with the Divine. I must say that Iya's book is one of those that I continually go back to when I am in need of rememberance of what magic truly is: that connection with the force that animates us and the world that we live in.

restored my faith....

this book is a great gift. i found it at a time that i had nearly lost all faith in the orisa community, especially the community in the united states. once i received this book i sat with it, touched its spirit and its spirit touched me. iya is grounded in her writing, honest in her sharing and clear about not only the beauty of this path but the challenges that can also accompany one's journey down this road. i wish more authors wrote in this way - without pretense, without pomp and with clear hearts. this book has ase. it is real. it can communicate its purpose clearly without the weight of human ego all too often seen in what should be a road humbly walked. in a moment when i was disheartened by what i've seen in the community this book gave me heart. it gave me enough hope to hold on and to allow the love for this road to reopen me to my own relationship with it. it has, in many ways, restored my faith. our community needs more books like this. it is like water in the heat of the desert. thank you iya.thank you ori. thank you ancestors.thank you orisa.thank you olodumare. ase.

A Masterpiece for both Aleyo AND Aborisha!!!

Finding Soul on the Path of Orisa by Tobe Melora Correal is a much needed scholastic piece of literature whose time has come. Explorations of both the Orisha Religions AND spirituality make this book indespensible.Initiates will find this author's writing clean, clear, and consice. Non-initiates will appreciate Correal's vivid imagery and literary illustration as it relates to Orisha worship/spirituality. This book really puts things in perspective in regards to clarity and truthful information without revealing cult secrets. Highly recommended!

Destined to be a classic, a must read for all Aborisha!!!!!!

I received this book during my "Iyaworaje' year in white, by one of my good friends and Abure "Spiritual Brother" within our Spiritual House. This book is one of the most important books on Orisha Spirituality. For the first time, the author does not reflect or even touch the subject of Orisha sacred items, numbers, and all that other stuff than is found in many Orisha books these days. This gem of a book reflects on starting to honor the Orisha starting from within. The book focuses on self-reflection, healing inner pains, honoring commitments, mindfulness, honesty, and other true wisdoms that our found in the teachings of religions such as Zen, Buddihsm, and Hinduism. The book is written for the followers of the various Orisha traditions, but can be applied by any person no matter race, religion or sexual preference. There is a small section on Orisa Soul work, which again can be applied by anyone. A section on honoring ones Ancestors and creating a shrine for them. A most beautiful, and well-written book that does not dabble, with silly "how to do magic spells" or superstitions. But instead teaches how to work with ones inner spirits, how to seek blessings from the divinities within, how to find peace through meditation with the mysteries of the Orisha tradition. This book is a basic fundamental to the truth, beauty and wisdom that lie within the Orisha tradition. I have to highly recommend this book to all newly initiated Iyawo, it will bring deeper blessings and meanings to your first year in white. But I also have to recommend this book to all that are looking for their first book on Orisha Spirituality. Bravo and Ashe! To you Iyalosha Omilade, "Tobe Melora Correal" your book is important, groundbreaking, and will be forever listed under the greats such as John Mason, Chief Fama, and Iyanifa Ileana

The Experience of Yoruba Religion

American-born, with pilgrimages to Brazil and Africa, Ms Correal has become a priestess of of the Yoruba goddess Yemaya. She talks about dealing with her ancestors, including her own racist white great-grandfather's spirit, who is "humbled by the irony that his only living descendants are not white. Not a single white person is left from his bloodline to hold his memory -- just me, the amber-skinned, full-lipped daughter of his daughter's 'niggerchild.'" She speaks in a soft voice of her connection with the powerful deities of Yoruba religion, "the master builders of the human spirit." She discusses the warmth (and difficulty) of growing one's spirit in the families of Yoruba religion. Prohibited by her vows from telling details of her initiation and ceremonies, Ms. Correal instead reveals her own heart as it has been shaped by the practice of Orisa.