Every part of your existence requires regular nourishment. Your physical body, mind, spirit and divine nature each need appropriate forms of care.

The body depends upon food, water, movement and rest. Prolonged deprivation or poor nourishment can weaken the body and make it more vulnerable to illness. In the same way, the mind becomes stagnant when it is denied knowledge, reflection and constructive thought.

The spirit must also be nourished. Prayer, sacrifice, ritual, offerings, meekness, good character, patience and initiation are among the foods of spiritual life within Ìṣẹ̀ṣe tradition.

Nourish the Physical Body

The physical state must be properly fed and cared for. A well-supported body provides a stronger foundation for mental focus, emotional balance and spiritual alertness.

Care for your body through:

• Regular movement and suitable exercise
• Strength training according to your ability
• Walking, dancing and other enjoyable activities
• Singing and conscious breathing
• Nutritious food and sufficient water
• Vegetables, fruits, legumes and other natural foods
• Adequate sleep and restorative rest

Drink water mindfully and prayerfully. Eat with gratitude and recognize food as part of the sacred support through which life continues.

These practices cannot guarantee freedom from illness, but they can support physical and emotional well-being. Seek appropriate medical care whenever it is needed.

Feed the Mind with Knowledge

Read every day whenever possible. Continue learning and train yourself to think clearly and constructively.

The mind is nourished through knowledge, reflection, gratitude and disciplined thought. What you repeatedly read, watch, hear and discuss influences your mental state.

Do not feed your mind constantly with gossip, fear, resentment and conflict. Choose knowledge that develops your intelligence, strengthens your character and helps you contribute something meaningful to the world.

Mental nourishment includes:

• Reading and studying
• Learning new skills
• Thinking positively and realistically
• Reflecting before speaking
• Practising gratitude
• Developing emotional awareness
• Seeking wise counsel

A disciplined mind helps us make better decisions and respond more calmly to life’s difficulties.

Feed the Spirit

Prayer, sacrifice, rituals, offerings, meekness, patience, initiation and good character nourish the spirit. Spiritual development also includes honouring and caring for the ancestral lineage.

Some spiritual observances are performed daily. Others may be weekly, monthly, yearly, once in several decades or only once during a lifetime.

Their timing and purpose depend upon the individual, the spiritual lineage and the guidance received through proper consultation. Sacred rites should be undertaken with knowledge and under the direction of a qualified priest or authorised elder.

Spiritual practice should refine character. If our rituals do not lead us towards patience, wisdom, honesty and compassion, we must examine how we are applying the teaching.

Divine Nourishment

The foods of divine life include:

• Love
• Light
• Wisdom
• Appropriate fasting
• Empathy
• Gratitude
• Peace
• Service to others

Divine nourishment helps us move beyond selfishness and uncontrolled emotion. It teaches us to use our abilities for the benefit of our families, communities and future generations.

Fasting should be appropriate to a person’s health and circumstances. It must not interfere with essential nutrition, prescribed medication or necessary medical treatment.

Protect Your Inner Power

Be mindful of the way you live and of the forces you awaken within yourself.

Intoxication can impair judgment, reduce self-control and weaken a person’s ability to make responsible decisions. Substance dependence deserves compassionate and professional support; it is a health problem, not merely a failure of character.

Smoking can damage physical health, while compulsive or exploitative sexual behaviour can disturb relationships, emotional balance and spiritual focus. The deeper teaching is to avoid becoming enslaved by any habit that controls the mind and harms oneself or others.

You can weaken your inner power through repeated destructive choices. You can also strengthen it by changing your habits, seeking help and acting with discipline.

Change the Direction of Your Life

Transform the course of your life through reading, proper nourishment, gratitude, prayer and the necessary spiritual steps.

Let every movement you make bring light, wisdom and love into your surroundings. Allow your character to deify your being and illuminate your existence in the jungle of life.

Iwo gangan l’Orisa — you are the true deity.

Improve your essence now. Avoid unnecessary anger, fighting and resentment. Light and love flourish in an atmosphere of calmness, wisdom and peace.

Take care of your body. Educate your mind. Nourish your spirit. Express your divine nature through good character.

It is well with you today, and it shall be well with you forever.

Ase.