What Is Ori? Understanding & Venerating Your Ori

What Is Ori? Understanding Ori, Appeasement, and Daily Ori Prayers

When most people hear the word Ori, they think of the Yoruba word for “head.” But Ori is far more than the physical head. Ori is your spiritual head, your higher consciousness, the creator and dispenser of your destiny, and your inner divine self. It is where thoughts and emotions merge to become wisdom, where consciousness is both born and resides.

In Yoruba spirituality, Ori is the highest level of communication between Olodumare (the Supreme Being) and all of creation. Ori mediates between the spirit realm and the physical world—between what is and what could be. Every blessing, every manifestation, every destiny unfolds through Ori.

Why Is Ori So Important?

Ifa, the wisdom of Olodumare, teaches us that before we venerate any Orisha, we must first honor our Ori. Your Ori is your personal creator, inseparable from your destiny. What many people call “luck” is, in truth, your Ori at work.

Your Ori:

• Aligns you with your destiny

• Guides your feet towards favorable places and opportunities

• Protects you from negativity and evil

• Increases your intuition, clarity, and focus

• Steers you away from harmful people, places, and situations

• Helps you grow into the best version of yourself
  

When your Ori is appeased and strengthened, it becomes the greatest ally in your spiritual growth and personal development.

How Do I Venerate My Ori?

Your Ori can be venerated through Ori appeasement and also Ori work.

Appeasing Ori is known as Ibori(Ibo-Ori) or Ori Bibo. Traditionally, this can be done through offerings, prayers, and rituals facilitated by an elder or spiritual practitioner. However, appeasement isn’t limited to ritual sacrifice. Ori can also be fed through words, prayers, and even your thoughts.

For ease of understanding, I differentiate between:

• Appeasement (Ori Bibo/Ibori): ritual feeding of Ori, often facilitated on your behalf after divination or whenever requested. Experienced devotees and initiates can also feed their Ori after being taught how.

• Daily Ori Work: personal invocations, prayers, declarations accompanied by simple rituals you can perform every day to connect with and strengthen your Ori.

How Can Ori Help My Life?

Your Ori is always with you, 24/7. By doing daily Ori work, you invite its blessings into every area of your life.

When you honor your Ori consistently, it can:

• Bring prosperity, abundance, and good health

• Guide you toward fulfilling your destiny

• Reveal answers and guidance through dreams

• Protect you from evil and negative energies

• Develop your inner qualities, like patience, kindness, or courage
  

I often share my own story: I once struggled with patience, rushing through life without enjoying it. By asking my Ori to fill me with patience—a quality of Orunmila, the father of Ifa—I transformed. Now, I engage with people more kindly, I form better connections, and I experience life in a richer, more fulfilling way. That is the power of Ori at work.

Simple Ori Prayers for Morning and Night

Incorporating Ori prayers into your morning and night routines is one of the best ways to honor your Ori. Traditionally, when praying to Ori, men cover their heads with a fila and women with a gele or scarf.

Here are simplified examples you can begin with.

MORNING PRAYER:

Iba Olodumare, Iba Ori, Iba Eleda

I pay homage to Olodumare, Ori and Eleda, my Creator.

I, say your name, child of say your mother's name

I give thanks to Ori for protecting through the night and ask Ori to protect guide and lead me through this day.

I have total trust and confidence in my Ori that today is going to a good day and at the end of the day I will have reason to give thanks.

Ori, I ask you to put a protective shield around me,

protecting me for any and all evil and negativity

Wherever my name is called in evil altars or shrines my Ori will not answer.

Ori, I ask you to guide and lead my Ese towards good health and happiness

Ori, I ask you guide and lead my Ese towards fulfilling my destiny

Ori I ask you guide and lead my Ese towards prosperity and abundance

Ori I ask you steer me away from evil, negativity, ill health, poverty and all which no longer serve me.

Ori, bless me abundantly

Ori do not let me labor in vain. x3

Ori san mi

Ori gbe mi

Ori ja fun mi

Ori mi ma pada l'eyin mi x3

Ori guide me

Ori support me

Ori fight for me

My Ori do not forsake me x 3

Ase


NIGHT PRAYER:

Iba Olodumare, Iba Ori, Iba Eleda, Iba Omi Tutu

I pay homage to Olodumare, Ori, Eleda and Cool Water.

I, say your name, child of say your mother's name

I give thanks to Ori for protecting through the day and ask Ori to protect me through this night.

If there is anything you want revealed to you while you sleep ask your Ori to reveal it to you.

Ori san mi

Ori gbe mi

Ori ja fun mi

Ori mi ma pada l'eyin mi

Ori guide me

Ori support me

Ori fight for me

My Ori do not forsake me x 3

Ase

Put some of the cool water on your head and you are done.

When it comes to spiritual growth, never underestimate the power of your Ori. Before turning to the Orisha, turn first to your Ori. It is your closest guide, your protector, your personal deity, and the key to unlocking your destiny.

Make Ori work part of your daily life—through prayer, gratitude, and mindfulness—and you will see your path illuminated, your obstacles removed, and your blessings multiplied.