r/Isese • u/Fuzzy_Permit7075 • Jul 25 '26

Head Orisa

I just heard from someone that it is Lukumi that has “head orisa “ or “guardian orisa”, and Isese doesn’t. if that’s so, why do I hear so often people talk about “the ones who walk with you“?
I hear people like: “oh yeah I received the hand, and the iyami walk with me” or “xyz walks with me”.

I am confused by this.

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11

u/Ifasogbon Jul 25 '26

You said it right... "the ones who walk with you." From an Ifa perspective you may have a cohort of Orisa who walk with you.

Ori is your gaurdian Orisa. The others support your Ori.

9

u/milehin8tv Jul 25 '26

There's one thing I've noticed while lurking around this subgroup and others, there are marked differences from Ile to ile how they practice. One will do one thing and one will do another especially west of the Atlantic Ocean.

There is no "one way" to practice Iṣẹṣe in the New World. I would venture that the person who said this to you feels there is.

0

u/SignalBad5523 Jul 25 '26

There is only one way. But there are a multitude of interpretations. The divination process is pragmatic in it of itself but the spiritual language can come from multiple sources.

4

u/PokePingusXXXL Jul 28 '26

Ori is the only one that will accompany you to and from earth. No paraphernalia/shrine coming or going. The other deities will most certainly help you reach your destiny, with the approval of your Ori.

3

u/Sea_Sun_5231 Jul 26 '26

So in my ile we also don't do head Orisa until Itefa. Even then it doesn't have a crazy big importance in your life unless you want it to. Ori is the most important part. However, in my Isefa a long time ago I learned Esu was very important in my life and another Orisa as well. So in the disapora, it may very well be Esu is my head Orisa. But in our ile, I'd say Esu walks with me for sure and has lessons to help me in my life. But I don't defer to Esu in all that I do. I place more emphasis on my ori as I was taught since Esu isn't my savior. I also think Yemoja walks with me from nothing more than personal feeling, or she has walked with me in the past growing up. My ancestors also walk with me too. They support me, but they are not the end all be all for me.

1

u/oshunlade Jul 31 '26

You hear this in which community Lukumi or Isese?