INITIATIONS AND SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT: SOME THOUGHTS
Over the past several months, I have noticed a massive uptick in the number of divination clients who come for advice or guidance, who also happened to get burned by an initiatory community. Unfortunately, it is not a unique or isolated experience. In ADRs/ATRs (African Derived or Traditional Religions), the problems being burned can run the gamut from shoddy initiations to being scammed out of thousands of dollars to people paying exorbitant amounts of money for indigenous medicine and never receiving it. I have heard them all, I think, and it is making my heart break for the religious abuse I can see with my own eyes.
When I encounter a client or stranger like this, I remember not long ago that I had my own experiences of such burnings. I have talked with practitioners across traditions in and outside of my own, and most of us agree that the KEY to an initiation is the initiator themselves. Most of the focus in ADRs is on the godkid and everything the godkid is expected to do to progress in any tradition, as it should be.
However, this is a BIG. However, everyone needs to bear the same commitment to their work themselves. It is a huge red flag in any initiatory tradition if the elders do not periodically self-reflect out loud with their charges. It is a huge red flag if they speak harshly and do not apologize. It is also a huge red flag if the elder gives you just enough information to start to resolve a problem you bring to them, but they always require you to come to them to fix your life, and you never learn how to do it for yourself. I could keep going!
Some of us have a destiny to be initiated in a tradition. We can feel it in our bones. The first public worship may cause something to click. The first time we go for a divination session, something may click. If this is you, then by all means pursue it.
But remember this: in the Orisha tradition, Ori is “king.” Your Ori is, for all intents and purposes, your spirit. The image of God in you, to use Christian language. If an elder cannot respect the power of Ori and force issues to suit their agenda, take a hard look at that dynamic. Ori is so significant that, in some ways, it is more powerful and holy than the Orishas themselves.
Like an abusive relationship, rarely is it that the abuse appeared out of nowhere. When we look back, we can see that elements of abuse were probably going on from day one. But when love and other emotions get involved, we overlook what is not working. Let your Ori guide you to what’s right for you.
This brings me to my main point: initiation is only for some. For many, it’s likely not even necessary. In Palo Mayombe, most people do not advance beyond the first initiation. It is similar to the Orisha tradition. There are also other modalities one can study, learn, and practice that WILL give a sense of fulfillment to a person’s life. One reason I teach my hoodoo brand is to introduce a tradition that does not require any formal initiation whatsoever. If someone initiated you into Hoodoo today, they likely made it up. There may have been initiations in the fledgling years of the practice, but I have not heard of any modern rendition.
I am not knocking anyone for creating an initiatory system out of the Hoodoo tradition. Doing so strikes me as unnecessarily making things way more complicated than they need to be. As I understand it, the whole history and character of Hoodoo conspires against that because it was, first and foremost, evolved and created to sustain the family and the community. It was not a practice for the select few who had specialized access. Again, that may have existed in some families back in the day. But the modern iterations of Hoodoo put this power in the hands of those who feel called to it.
This is the spirit behind my Hoodoo classes. I celebrate who my students are, understanding that their identity and social location will power their work. Students will receive what they seek from my classes and learn how everything weaves together and where to innovate their unique personalized practice.
If this interests you, my “Working the Roots” course is still open for registration. I would be honored to be a part of your spiritual journey! I hope you’ll join me, and I look forward to seeing you in class.
