Alaafia family! Have you ever felt like the work you do doesn’t get the respect it deserves? We’ve all been there at some point, and this week’s Orisa Prayer and Meditation message is a reminder of how indispensable the most disrespected work can be.

The story I shared comes from the odu Ifa osa oturupon and tells of a time when the head and the anus got into a dispute because the head disrespected the work the anus does. The head felt that its job thinking and reasoning was much more important than the anus’ job of helping to remove waste from the body and it began to taunt the anus, calling it dirty and smelly and encouraging the other body parts to do the same.

What did the anus do in response? It closed and refused to let any waste out of the body. At first the body was still working well and not sensing any problem but, after several days, the body grew uncomfortable and ill, prompting all of the body parts to come together to tell the head to apologize. Realizing the error of its ways, the head made amends and begged the anus to open and do its very important job so that the body could be well again. It did, in fact, open releasing all that it had been holding back and the body recovered. All of the parts then praised the anus and joined the head in apologizing for not recognizing how vital the anus really was.

Lessons on lessons here! One being that humility is crucial. No matter how lofty our position, none of us can do our work alone. In order for us to reach the highest heights, someone has to do the “dirty work” (pun intended!) it takes to support us. A part of demonstrating iwa pele (humble and gentle character) is recognizing all the work it takes—from cooking, to cleaning, to serving, to disposing of waste—to keep our lives running smoothly and treating those who do that work with respect and appreciation.

The story also teaches us that getting rid of ish is just as important as taking things in. Just like our body takes what it needs from what we eat and expels the rest, we have to know when we’ve gotten what we need from any particular person, place, thing or situation and recognize when it’s time to let it go. Holding on to things that are no longer nourishing us keeps us weighed down and stopped up and leaves us no room to take in what we need in this moment. We must release so that we can receive!

Our cards for the week speak to this so beautifully—I love how spirit moves! The page of cups encourages us to be on the lookout for happy surprises and to understand that the improbable doesn’t mean impossible! We often hold onto things beyond their expiration date out of fear that we won’t be able to get more. The page of cups says release fear and empty your cup to make room for the newness seeking to fill it.

A bonus message came in the form of nyansapo from the Bresi-Ando Adinkra Ancestral Guidance deck, also known as the wisdom knot. Just like nobody has to tell you when you have to go to the bathroom, nobody has to tell you when it’s time for a change. You just feel it! Trust your inner wisdom and know that you know what you know.

Amazonite, our crystal ally, known as the gambler’s stone” brings us luck and good fortune. It also helps to soothe anxiety and open our hearts to all the possibilities that lay before us as well as to protect us from negative thoughts, including the fear of scarcity that keeps us holding on.

May these messages and lessons resonate with you whenever you connect with them! Ase!

~Iya Funlayo

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