By Kefentse Akim Bandele
Aboru Aboye Abosise
Alafia to all of my elders, friends and family.
As I sat and watched the movie Star Wars; Revenge of the Sith with my children, I could barely enjoy it as entertainment without looking at it from a analytical perspective. The character Anakin Skywalker had the future of the Jedi lineage in the palms of his hands. Anakin was the prodigy child and probably would have brought the war to an end had it not been for his impatience, selfishness and his insatiable lust for power. Anakin ended up not only betraying the very people who properly trained him but he killed his wife, his future as a Jedi master and ultimately killed himself. Was this his destiny or did he alter his righteous path?
Many of my peers have what I call the Anakin complex. We are ready to lead without the main ingredient and attribute of a leader, patience. Ready to be initiated in to an Orisa or Ifa by any and all means possible. I often ask these peers of mine what is the purpose of their initiation or what will they do once they have realized their goal? The answer is usually the consistent. "I don't know." Many wish to obtain a power that they do not understand and will not be able to utilize with the good character and training that it takes to be an effective priest. Most never mention probably the most important aspect of initiation which is the ita (destiny) or the taboos that come along with this process. They just want power and the keys to enter this exclusive "clubhouse".
I find this behavior to be most damaging not only to the individual but the community at large. The Anakin complex is based on an out of control ego and not having the proper relationship with spirit. A ego that allows a person to believe that they are prepared for the next level of work when they haven't began the hard and necessary work on the most basic level. How can you master the ase' (primordial substance) or awo (mystery) of the Orisa or Orunmila when you haven't mastered your relationship with your own ancestors? How can a person who hasn't began the critical work on level 1 be ready for level 5?
Instead of Anakin becoming the leader of the righteous revolution he became a monster, a cancer to those who sought liberation and a predator to mankind. He became the ultimate Sith Lord. I write this because I see so much potential in many of my peers who are not initiated and eat, sleep and pray for that day. I would suggest that you first build the proper relationship with your own blood lineage, learn the lessons in route to that beautiful process, listen to those who have been there and live a life of good character in the meantime. Anakin Skywalker chose his fate by making hasty and poor decisions. Luke Skywalker, Anakin's son learned the basics of the force, the lessons of patience and character as well as the little things that made the Jedi supernatural beings and ultimately crushed the ruthless empire his father had sworn to protect.
Will you be Anakin
or will you be Luke?
Ire O!
Aboru Aboye Abosise
Alafia to all of my elders, friends and family.
As I sat and watched the movie Star Wars; Revenge of the Sith with my children, I could barely enjoy it as entertainment without looking at it from a analytical perspective. The character Anakin Skywalker had the future of the Jedi lineage in the palms of his hands. Anakin was the prodigy child and probably would have brought the war to an end had it not been for his impatience, selfishness and his insatiable lust for power. Anakin ended up not only betraying the very people who properly trained him but he killed his wife, his future as a Jedi master and ultimately killed himself. Was this his destiny or did he alter his righteous path?
Many of my peers have what I call the Anakin complex. We are ready to lead without the main ingredient and attribute of a leader, patience. Ready to be initiated in to an Orisa or Ifa by any and all means possible. I often ask these peers of mine what is the purpose of their initiation or what will they do once they have realized their goal? The answer is usually the consistent. "I don't know." Many wish to obtain a power that they do not understand and will not be able to utilize with the good character and training that it takes to be an effective priest. Most never mention probably the most important aspect of initiation which is the ita (destiny) or the taboos that come along with this process. They just want power and the keys to enter this exclusive "clubhouse".
I find this behavior to be most damaging not only to the individual but the community at large. The Anakin complex is based on an out of control ego and not having the proper relationship with spirit. A ego that allows a person to believe that they are prepared for the next level of work when they haven't began the hard and necessary work on the most basic level. How can you master the ase' (primordial substance) or awo (mystery) of the Orisa or Orunmila when you haven't mastered your relationship with your own ancestors? How can a person who hasn't began the critical work on level 1 be ready for level 5?
Instead of Anakin becoming the leader of the righteous revolution he became a monster, a cancer to those who sought liberation and a predator to mankind. He became the ultimate Sith Lord. I write this because I see so much potential in many of my peers who are not initiated and eat, sleep and pray for that day. I would suggest that you first build the proper relationship with your own blood lineage, learn the lessons in route to that beautiful process, listen to those who have been there and live a life of good character in the meantime. Anakin Skywalker chose his fate by making hasty and poor decisions. Luke Skywalker, Anakin's son learned the basics of the force, the lessons of patience and character as well as the little things that made the Jedi supernatural beings and ultimately crushed the ruthless empire his father had sworn to protect.
Will you be Anakin
or will you be Luke?
Ire O!
