The Secrets of Manifestation – The Yoruba Concept of Consciousness Reinterpreted
Many have been enamored by the powerful and inspirational book and movie, The Secret. It reveals a simple yet profound principal for manifesting one’s dreams and desires. It revolves around the idea that whatever thoughts predominate in one’s mind eventually translate into a physical reality. For example, if you are always thinking negatively, you will manifest negativity in your life and vice versa. It is the power of consciousness. The funny thing is that this concept is not new but one which has predominated the thought of Yoruba people for thousands of years.
The Yoruba are an African people in the southwestern part of Nigeria. They have an elaborate system of traditional worship with a pantheon of over 400 deities called orisha. Though they believe in God, they appease the orisha on a regular basis as intermediaries. However, despite the presence such a large pantheon of spiritual forces, in the …