Breathing With Orisha

By Oludare Bernard and Aishah Murray

Breathing With Orisha introduces the use of Orisha dance, song, and prayer as a tool for deep breathing, meditation, and spiritual clarity. It presents the healing philosophy and practical, daily breathing benefits of Orisha dance and song rituals. The book explains how these rituals help you to free yourself from the stagnation caused by racial

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kìire Wellness
• Release date: Sep 24, 2020
• ISBN: 9781735539355

Book preview

Oludaré Bernard

Breathing With Orisha

Deep Breathing through Culturally Restorative, Afro-Ancestral Respiratory Rituals

First published by Indie Mamma 2020

Copyright © 2020 by Oludaré Bernard

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

Oludaré Bernard asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

Oludaré Bernard has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party Internet Websites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such Websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book and on its cover are trade names, service marks, trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publishers and the book are not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. None of the companies referenced within the book have endorsed the book.

If you experience any discomfort or pain during an activity in our wellness content, such as breathing training or exercise routine, you must immediately cease the activity and seek the assistance of a physician or other applicable professional care provider.

The exercises provided in this book are for educational and entertainment purposes only, and are not to be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific treatment plan, product, or course of action. Exercise is not without its risks, and this or any other exercise program may result in injury. They include but are not limited to: risk of injury, aggravation of a pre-existing condition, or adverse effect of over-exertion such as muscle strain, abnormal blood pressure, fainting, disorders of heartbeat, and very rare instances of heart attack. To reduce the risk of injury, before beginning this or any exercise program, please consult a health care provider for appropriate exercise prescription and safety precautions. The exercise instruction and advice presented are in no way intended as a substitute for medical consultation. We disclaim any liability from and in connection with this program. As with any exercise program, if at any point during your workout you begin to feel faint, dizzy, or have physical discomfort, you should stop immediately and consult a physician.

The information provided in this book is for educational and entertainment purposes only, and is not to be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific treatment plan, product, or course of action. Kiire Wellness, LLC does not provide specific medical advice, and is not engaged in providing medical services. Information in this book does not replace consultation with qualified health or medical professionals who sees you in person, for your health and your medical needs. Please see a physician or health professional immediately if you suspect you may be ill or injured.

First edition

ISBN: 978-1-7355393-5-5

Editing by Zach Everson

This book was professionally typeset on Reedsy

Find out more at reedsy.com

To my nieces, nephews, godchildren and biological children yet to be born,

In this world, I pray that you learn the importance of breathing, resting and trusting yourself.

May you ground yourself in all that brings you joy, honor, freedom and good health.

The Nkisi, Orisha, Lwa, Bosum, Egun, Spirits, Ancestors, Natural Forces are all your friends.

Trust them before people.

Know that Africa lives in you no matter where you go in life.

Treasure your melanin & culture.

They will save you.

The Yoruba religion is the science of allowing God to flow through you, so that each breath becomes a prayer, and as God breathes, you breathe.

– Baba John Mason

Contents

Foreword

Preface

Acknowledgement

I. UMBILICALLY CONNECTED TO GOD

Mama Said, "...

Breath is my Elder

How I Breathe is My Business... Literally

Who are Your Ancestors?

There is a Debt Owed to Black Woman

Reparations and Respiration Re(s)parations

II. BREATHING WITH ORISHA

Respiratory Rituals

The Breathing Body

Why Mimi Kàrá?

Why Adura and Orin

Why Emi?

What does a BWO session look like?

III. THE EXERCISES

Breathing With Ori

Breathing With Esu*Elegba

Breathing With Ogun

Breathing With Ochosi

Breathing With Shango

Breathing With Obatala

Breathing With Oya

Breathing With Yemoja

Breathing With Oshun

Recommended Applications and Warnings

Citations

Additional Resources

About the Author

Foreword

Reimagining Cultural Activism

Contemplating energy beyond the physical body impacts how we perceive and connect to ourselves and the natural environment. When taking an Orisha dance class, intricate drum patterns inform the action and quality of movement. The intention is both physical and ethereal, as participants engage with how their external world and social customs manifest themselves through the divine archetypes known as Orishas. In secular contexts, Orisha dancing is sometimes accompanied with singing, which a teacher may perform openly or incorporate into a call-and-response demonstration; however, these occurrences are not consistent. Moreover, the primary goal of these spaces is to acquire movement technique with less emphasis on historical legacies and the continuity of traditional perspectives.

What distinguishes Kìire Wellness from other African-based arts programs, is the specificity and fluid communication of cultural elements that are interdependent within the context of the class as well as the lifestyle of spiritual practitioners. Where most dance teachers may briefly introduce an Orisha and their symbolic representations, Kìire’s founder, Oludaré Bernard, tells a sacred story of the Orisha, leads the group in a song with lyrics that express the narrative, and shares how that Orisha’s experiences are reflected within our bodies and social events.

Each person who attends his class embarks on a spiritual journey of eemi (breath), as the voice and movement to address collective trauma and activate a personal resolution. Oludaré interweaves what cultural anthropologist and educator Angeles Arrian calls the universal healing salves (music, dance, storytelling, and silence) in a manner that is relatable and socially relevant to an intergenerational audience from diverse backgrounds. His Saturday afternoon class offers an engaging learning space for holistic wellness and cultural exploration to hundreds of online attendees who reciprocate appreciation through a ripple of comments and heart emojis. This service, although educational in format, is a virtual sanctuary for the African diaspora to heal, celebrate, and explore what it means to be divinely human.

From the lens of mind-body philosophy, Kìire Wellness showcases how spirituality facilitates our ability to maneuver mental difficulties, express emotion, and increase our awareness of psychosomatic inefficiencies. Kìire Wellness’ signature offering, Respiratory Ritual, is integrated into every session. It bridges the relationships between prayer, breathing pathways, and African movements by physically transforming inhalation-exhalation into dance.

Progression in the work is the result of one’s receptivity to deep breathing and exercise of carnal willpower which paves the way for resilience and deeper connection with one’s inner source. The performance of this practice illustrates the experience of what physician-author Larry Dossey calls the non-local mind, where consciousness transcends the brain to encompass the body and extends beyond conventional understandings of space and time. This concept is analogous with Orisha teachings and Afro-ancestral practices——the heart of Kìire Wellness.

Oludaré’s sensitivity to the body’s communication expands from his class structure and facilitation to his interactions with community members. During a shekere drum class, I observed Oludaré pause the lesson to ask a young student what was wrong because he noticed that their drum playing diminished. The student’s response became an opportunity for all of us to massage our wrists and release tension by engaging our full breath through an elongated stretch of the arms, neck, and torso. Before resuming our percussion, he shared the importance of nurturing our bodies throughout drum performance and led an activity that emphasized the gentle flow of the wrists without the use of the drum.

Oludaré embraced this teachable moment to support the individual and cultivate the entire group. This approach not only highlights his compassion for his students, but also his attunement to mind-body interconnectivity and its relationship to stress or trauma. Through the symbiosis of somatic restoration, cultural reclamation, and social activism, Kìire Wellness is en route to shifting the efficacy of African healing arts.

Igniting Intention into Reciprocal Healing

I had the opportunity to witness Oludaré’s social-emotional discernment through private sessions. When I entered our first meeting, I did not have specific expectations and was receptive to the process and outcome. Nevertheless, my emotional state informed the direction of the session, transforming what would be a simple transaction of service to a patron into an organic exchange of support. Oludaré connected the sentiments I expressed to an Orisha and recommended we do a combination of singing and movement.

As we unearthed the song’s translation, Oludaré described the lyrics’ sonic legacy, which progressed into a cadence. His song selection became an access point for meditation in the form of call-and-response. Through the