Where do we end, and where do they begin.

For those of us who have undergone initiation into a religion, becoming priests and priestess' of it in as much - how do we decide where the priest(ess)hood begins and ends. We all step into the shoes of our roles of our own accord - if a diviner tells you that you are going to die, if you are sick and dying, if you are scared, if you made a promise for something to be given to you - you still choose of your own accord whether or not to enter into the compromise of the priesthood.

For those of us in the Lucumi (Santeria) faith, we come into the roles of our own free volition. One thing that I know is that if you are dying of disease, you still have a choice - you can die, or you can take the priesthood in hopes and faith of getting better. If this is the case, and you are mandated to help others - do you turn around and say, "I only did this to get better, I don't want to help anyone." Or do you do as told?

The whole point I am getting to was inspired by someone who asked me if they would be allowed to take photos as an Iyawo (bride to the Orisha, a year dressed in white in which we abstain from many things) because she would be getting married. My answer to this was no - when you underwent the Osha ceremony, you knew that the rules stated no make up, no rules, no parties, no drinking, et al.

So why question this? Others have said the person should be allowed to, she is getting married - fine, but at what point does our comittment become something that is more than just an ideology?

Do we not owe it to the divinity we have entered into a pact with to abide by the rules - regardless of whether or not we agree with them? I have heard many times, "Oh that is so old fashioned" when it comes to the rules that we practice in Santeria. At the same time, however - I have come to see that many of this rules, though obviously innane, built a sense of moral character, a sense of strength, that you do not see in many people these days. Many people are hard pressed to give up on the simple things asked of as an Iyawo - drinking, taking photos, being promiscuous, going out, make up, being vain, perfume, etc. These things are not at all pertinent to our lives, as that one may continue to live without them. Even some major events - weddings, birthdays, parties, celebrations - must be sacrificed. If one cannot put these events aside, then where do we stand?

When did it become popular for humanity to say, "Well, ORISHA has to understand that I am a person, and I am not going to do it because I don't want to".

To me, I entered into this deal willingly - I realized that I was giving up my life completely, to be in the whims and the guidance of a divine force that I believe in, that would never steer me wrong. One may be led to ask, "Does the divine force lose power because of the way I treat it?" If one can throw off the rules and the directions given us, is it really faith that we have in them, are they gods, or merely energy forms that we hurl about as tools?

One question all should be asked before making this commitment is - how far are you willing to go? If you only abide by what the Orisha say when it is convenient, than you aren't really willing to go far at all.