Keeping a Cool Head with Obatala

In this world of quick fixes and instant gratification, one of the most difficult things to do is
wait. Without spinning our mental wheels overthinking. Without beginning to doubt
ourselves when something doesn’t happen as quickly as we think it should. Simply
embracing the journey with an open heart and faith in ourselves and our ability to make
magic in the world!

Obatala is the patient father divinity, the one who was commissioned by Olodumare to
create dry land on top of the waters that formerly covered the earth. While the telling of the
story can make it sound like this all happened instantaneously, it didn’t. It took time for the
land to spread, for the mountains to rise, and for the ground to become solid enough for
agemo, the chameleon, to come down and test it to make sure it was stable enough to
support life. Each step of the process took time–maybe millenia!–and he had to wait
patiently until each step was done before moving on to the next.

Not only did Obatala have to be patient, he also had to trust the process. He had to have
faith that each step was moving him closer to his ultimate goal, even when he couldn’t see
where it was leading. Uncharted territory is just that: uncharted! No one has ever lived this
exact life you are living right now, no one has ever been you. So be patient and loving with
yourself, keep your head cool, and when in doubt… chill.

I am cool and patient

I embrace healing and transformation.
Obatala help me to keep my head cool,
protect me from overthinking and self-doubt.
Ase!