Imori is a divination ritual performed for children or adults seeking further spiritual and material advancement via initiation into the mysteries of a particular deity, secret society, or religious path.
Esen’taye identifies and reports one’s genetic composition, while Imori provides further analysis of the esoteric spiritual dimensions of an individual’s genetic composition.
Imori focuses on revealing the specific earth spirits, deified ancestors, deities, and religious practices that a person must follow in order to enjoy a prosperous life on earth and in the afterlife. Imori emphasizes the messages, desires, and needs of a person’s astral (Ori), ethereal (Emi) and physical (Ara) identities.
Imori identifies whether an individual has reincarnated from the mother’s or father’s side of their ancestral lineage.
This information is all-important because it is understood that specific physical strengths/weaknesses and supernatural powers/vulnerabilities are passed onto our offspring via the male and female sides of our familial lineages. As such, many West African Orisa (deities and deified ancestors) that convey material blessings to an offspring genetically through the father’s lineage include the divination divinity Ifa and the patron deity of children Korikoto.
Meanwhile, the Yoruba Orisa associated with the mother’s lineage that genetically convey intuition and psychic aptitude to an offspring include the river spirit Osun, the deified sorcerer Osanyin, and the patron divinity of herbalists, Erinle.
In essence Esen’taye and Imori employ Ifa divination to improve people’s lives by identifying destinies, improving psychic defense capabilities, reinforcing strengths, bolstering weaknesses, preventing calamities, reversing potential misfortunes, maximizing predestined blessings, and minimizing the adverse impacts of predestined hexes (or black magic).
Abure, aboie, abosise.
Baba, Can you explain to me more about imori ceremony; I wnt to know more about that.
Im babalawo and I m studing IFA and yoruba traditions.
Thanks.
Ogbo Ato Alex;
Thank you for your visit, and your question. It is a very important one. I will attempt to answer it as best as I can. The University of Iowa has an Art & Life in Africa blog. In that blog they addressed the definition and purpose of the imori ceremony.
“The Yoruba ifa divination ritual known as imori is performed within the first three to six months of a child’s life in order to “know the head” that is, to discern something about the child’s ori inu (inner head)—especially whether the child’s prenatal destiny is associated with the mother’s side of the family or the father’s, and/or with a particular orisa (deity).”
University of Iowa
There are several questions stipulated in that explanation. To “know the head” is to discern something about the destiny and character chosen by the soul of the child. This information is critical for the parents. They learn what skill sets and aptitudes the child was born with. They are told which career fields are best suited for the child’s temperament. They are also told which life experiences the child chose to have as part of his/her destiny.
Another question which the first paragraph posited is the importance of identifying the child’s prenatal destiny. Here, a cultural context must be taken into consideration. In the old days of the Yoruba people, each family had a particular trade that was pass-down through generations. Questioning if the child’s prenatal destiny is associated with the mother’s side of the family or the father’s would reveal the trade the child is to learn.
The closest cultural context I can give you that has become ingrain into the collective consciousness of the Diaspora is “The family business”. This is why you hear of so many children joining the family medical profession, or the police force. It is in their destiny to do so because they chose it while still in the spirit realm.
If the child’s prenatal destiny is associated with an Orisa, then initiating that child into the traditions of that Orisa will make the child’s live fortunate.
This is a ritual that should be performed by a traditionally trained and an experienced Babalawo. It is perhaps the single most important ritual a Babalawo needs to master. This ritual will help the Babalawo create “Community”.
I hope this helped, and congratulations on your Ifa Studies.
Ogbó àtó Asure Ìwòrìwòfún.
O dábò!
Chief Awodele Ifayemi
Atunwase Awo of Ilobuland
I’m in my late 20’s can I still do my imori ceremony
Alaafia Busayo;
At this point your best (and least expensive) alternative would be to get a “Life Path Reading.” Visit the following link to learn more about this service
https://ileifa.org/life-path-reading/
Ogbó àtó Asure Ìwòrìwòfún.
O dábò!
Chief Awodele Ifayemi
Atunwase Awo of Ilobuland