I explain the strict protocols required when returning to African traditional spirituality, emphasizing that one cannot skip steps or ignore spiritual debts left by parents. I warn against trying to perform advanced rituals, like cleansing, without first addressing foundational rites such as naming ceremonies.
The Lesson of the Student's Grandmother
I recently encountered a student going through significant difficulties, which we often attribute to witchcraft. This student shared that when their grandmother passed away, she left a specific instruction: if the descendants ever decided to return to their traditional roots, they must first pay all the "debts" starting from the exact point where the family left tradition. This serves as a reminder that you cannot simply jump back in without addressing the backlog of spiritual obligations.
Tradition Tolerates No Dishonesty
You must understand that our traditions and origins do not accept "uhuni" (hooliganism or cheating). You cannot cut corners. When you decide to return to the old ways, there are specific spiritual debts that your parents may have left unpaid, and you are required to clear them. The system is rigid; it demands that you fix the foundation before you try to build anything new upon it.
The Importance of Identity Before Rituals
For example, many of you born in cities have never undergone the "Mbuzi ya Jina" (the goat of the name/naming ceremony). You lack a traditional identification. Yet, you rush to perform "Matambiko" (cleansing rituals) or make sacrifices to fix current problems. How can you perform a ritual when you haven't even been traditionally identified? You cannot go anywhere without an ID; the same applies here. You must start where your parents failed.
Handling Religious Conflicts with Parents
If your parents are still alive but refuse to perform these rituals because they follow "colonial religions," you are in a difficult spot. You cannot force a living person to go against their will. However, if they have passed, or if you are establishing your own path, you must still acknowledge that protocol. You have to find out what they refused to do and address it, because those obligations do not disappear just because they changed religions.
The Necessity of Consultation
This is why consultation is mandatory. You need to ask questions to understand what your father did, what he refused to do, and what he left hanging. Without knowing the history of your family's spiritual debts, you cannot effectively clear your path. You cannot simply wake up and say you want to perform a sacrifice; you must know the specific requirements and the order in which they must be done.
The Price of Spiritual Freedom
Ancestors do not have egos, but they demand protocol. There is no such thing as a "free lunch" in spirituality. It took me over six years of sorting out these issues before I could establish my own altar. You must be willing to pay the price—spiritually and procedurally—to clear the debts of the past before you can move forward effectively.
I explain the strict protocols required when returning to African traditional spirituality, emphasizing that one cannot skip steps or ignore spiritual debts left by parents. I warn against trying to perform advanced rituals, like cleansing, without first addressing foundational rites such as naming ceremonies.
The Lesson of the Student's Grandmother
I recently encountered a student going through significant difficulties, which we often attribute to witchcraft. This student shared that when their grandmother passed away, she left a specific instruction: if the descendants ever decided to return to their traditional roots, they must first pay all the "debts" starting from the exact point where the family left tradition. This serves as a reminder that you cannot simply jump back in without addressing the backlog of spiritual obligations.
Tradition Tolerates No Dishonesty
You must understand that our traditions and origins do not accept "uhuni" (hooliganism or cheating). You cannot cut corners. When you decide to return to the old ways, there are specific spiritual debts that your parents may have left unpaid, and you are required to clear them. The system is rigid; it demands that you fix the foundation before you try to build anything new upon it.
The Importance of Identity Before Rituals
For example, many of you born in cities have never undergone the "Mbuzi ya Jina" (the goat of the name/naming ceremony). You lack a traditional identification. Yet, you rush to perform "Matambiko" (cleansing rituals) or make sacrifices to fix current problems. How can you perform a ritual when you haven't even been traditionally identified? You cannot go anywhere without an ID; the same applies here. You must start where your parents failed.
Handling Religious Conflicts with Parents
If your parents are still alive but refuse to perform these rituals because they follow "colonial religions," you are in a difficult spot. You cannot force a living person to go against their will. However, if they have passed, or if you are establishing your own path, you must still acknowledge that protocol. You have to find out what they refused to do and address it, because those obligations do not disappear just because they changed religions.
The Necessity of Consultation
This is why consultation is mandatory. You need to ask questions to understand what your father did, what he refused to do, and what he left hanging. Without knowing the history of your family's spiritual debts, you cannot effectively clear your path. You cannot simply wake up and say you want to perform a sacrifice; you must know the specific requirements and the order in which they must be done.
The Price of Spiritual Freedom
Ancestors do not have egos, but they demand protocol. There is no such thing as a "free lunch" in spirituality. It took me over six years of sorting out these issues before I could establish my own altar. You must be willing to pay the price—spiritually and procedurally—to clear the debts of the past before you can move forward effectively.
I explain the strict protocols required when returning to African traditional spirituality, emphasizing that one cannot skip steps or ignore spiritual debts left by parents. I warn against trying to perform advanced rituals, like cleansing, without first addressing foundational rites such as naming ceremonies.
The Lesson of the Student's Grandmother
I recently encountered a student going through significant difficulties, which we often attribute to witchcraft. This student shared that when their grandmother passed away, she left a specific instruction: if the descendants ever decided to return to their traditional roots, they must first pay all the "debts" starting from the exact point where the family left tradition. This serves as a reminder that you cannot simply jump back in without addressing the backlog of spiritual obligations.
Tradition Tolerates No Dishonesty
You must understand that our traditions and origins do not accept "uhuni" (hooliganism or cheating). You cannot cut corners. When you decide to return to the old ways, there are specific spiritual debts that your parents may have left unpaid, and you are required to clear them. The system is rigid; it demands that you fix the foundation before you try to build anything new upon it.
The Importance of Identity Before Rituals
For example, many of you born in cities have never undergone the "Mbuzi ya Jina" (the goat of the name/naming ceremony). You lack a traditional identification. Yet, you rush to perform "Matambiko" (cleansing rituals) or make sacrifices to fix current problems. How can you perform a ritual when you haven't even been traditionally identified? You cannot go anywhere without an ID; the same applies here. You must start where your parents failed.
Handling Religious Conflicts with Parents
If your parents are still alive but refuse to perform these rituals because they follow "colonial religions," you are in a difficult spot. You cannot force a living person to go against their will. However, if they have passed, or if you are establishing your own path, you must still acknowledge that protocol. You have to find out what they refused to do and address it, because those obligations do not disappear just because they changed religions.
The Necessity of Consultation
This is why consultation is mandatory. You need to ask questions to understand what your father did, what he refused to do, and what he left hanging. Without knowing the history of your family's spiritual debts, you cannot effectively clear your path. You cannot simply wake up and say you want to perform a sacrifice; you must know the specific requirements and the order in which they must be done.
The Price of Spiritual Freedom
Ancestors do not have egos, but they demand protocol. There is no such thing as a "free lunch" in spirituality. It took me over six years of sorting out these issues before I could establish my own altar. You must be willing to pay the price—spiritually and procedurally—to clear the debts of the past before you can move forward effectively.
