What is an Awo?
There is so much to share with you about what an Awo is. Truly, an Awo wears “many different hats” and can be many different things to different people depending on the context. How an Awo views self is largely determined by their upbringing, their experiences, and their education. Myself being a “healer” or one that facilitates the process of others being able to heal themselves. I feel an Awo is really aligned to the concept of being a traditional healer.
An Awo is someone who has been initiated and trained in the art and science of traditional medicine, divination, counselling, effective prayer, mediation, and utilization of the forces of nature to influence ones life circumstances. The way I have come to understand what an Awo and their unique and divine function within society is one who becomes a living embodiment of divine balance and equilibrium. An Awo exists to support and engender balance to individuals lives by restoring energetic and spiritual equilibrium between Self and the Universe. All through the spiritual guidance system that is Ifá.
Awo facilitate an environment that is conducive to healing. And they do this largely through counselling, medicinal preparations and through the power of prayer and ritual aimed at harnessing the power of right intention. Because an Awo is trained to work and communicate with spiritual forces and because they are trained to influence spiritual energies, Awo are gifted with the ability to make a lasting impact in the lives of those whom they serve.
Awo are considered many things by many people. Some view them as shamans, others see them as spiritual workers, while others consider them priests. An Awo are all these things and more. My elder says it is the knowledge of Ifá that allows an older person to come bow down and give reverence to a younger a person. It is not that the elder is bowing to the child because the child demands it; but that the child having obtained knowledge of Ifá and applied its principles has impacted the elders life to such a degree that they must acknowledge the source of their wisdom.
The word Awo is a Yoruba word meaning “one who keeps secrets, secret” or “one that possess hidden knowledge”. Indeed, the knowledge that an Awo has is not common knowledge. It is a esoteric and sacred knowledge passed down from elder to disciple and student. It is knowledge of how the Universe works and what laws of nature can be harnessed and manipulated if need be.
I really see Awo as healers because so much of what they do, I can liken to a healing practice and holistic form of care. In my background as a Chinese Medicine physician we are trained to identify patterns NOT conditions or diseases. Why? Because when we treat the pattern, we treat the person. An Awo identifies patterns too. The diagnostic method is ancient and relies on Spirit to speak through ancient technology. Awo are trained to read and interpret patterns. Because it is the patterns inherent in nature which when seen clearly can be manipulated and changed to suit our highest purpose.
An Awo is an energy worker rooted in Earth Medicine. We are gifted with the knowledge of how to tap into the forces behind animate and inanimate objects, effecting change in the lives of others. We are a balancer of spiritual and energetic forces. We understand that life if full of ups and downs and we see the needs for people to come into greater depths of relationship with their Spirit and the Divine through the path of least resistance.
Ifá divination is a spiritual “check-up system”. An Awo is likened to a traditional “doctor”. The difference being is that an Awo effectively takes themselves and their ego out of the diagnostic process and allows Spirit to define a clients core issues and prescribe the right remedies.
In truth we are all Awo in various contexts. The same way a Chinese Medical physician can lay their fingers on a persons wrist and know at what age they experienced significant trauma is an Awo. Or, the way a mechanic can listen to the sounds of a car and be able to pinpoint the exact area and issue needing to be repaired is an Awo.
We are all Awo in various contexts. The concept and principle transcends West African Indigenous Spirituality and can be applied to all vocations and those trained in their said fields. In the context of the Ifá Tradition an Awo is one that has really made their lives mission and purpose to serve and support the Universe by embodying equilibrium and by harnessing the forces of creation to intervene in our lives through right communication.
Awo are symbolically represented as a “door”. A door is fixed within a wall and looks both to the inside and the outside of a room. Metaphorically an Awo is capable of hearing a clients issues while at the same time knowing the reason behind those issues. The door does not favour one part of room over another. Thus, an Awo must be as objective in their position and unbiased in their opinion as the door is.
My elder always likes to say that a Babalawo or an Awo is the “soul” of society. And I had to ponder this a moment. Not coming from a place of arrogance, but traditionally, Awo were the ones whom all classes of people regardless of social status would consult with to know how best to proceed at life’s most significant junctions. From forming communities, to bringing children into this world, to making the best business decisions. Ifá as consulted by an Awo allows the universe to provide direct mentorship and guidance that is beyond the human realm of existence for people seeking healing, transformation, and change.
To learn more how Ifá can support and guide you. Contact Rian Opeifa @ diviningprovidence@gmail.com Follow me @divining_providence