The Meditator, the Artist, and the Warrior
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A View from a Vodúnvi
Sɛ́lìntɔ - the Meditator
In the Fɔ̀n dialect of the Ajã language, the word sɛ́lìn means to think or meditate on the soul/life/situation. It can be used as a spiritual practice or in a more mundane way. In each of us there is a meditator. It can possibly be buried deep down but it’s there. The Meditator in us is the wish to be calm, to be real humans, to bring the best out of ourselves, and to deposit good into the world. Our inner sɛ́lìntɔ brings lucidity, calm, and deep insight. It comes about by actualizing the desire to create the right condition for such.
Diɖótɔ – The Artist
In the Fɔ̀n dialect of the Ajã language, the word diɖó means to create, to do art. A diɖótɔ is one who does art or who creates. In a healthy society, and within the self, the artist is very important. The artist brings freshness, joy, and meaning to life. Allow the artist in you to be creative so you can experience the joy of mindfulness. The artist within creates the joy and inner bliss we experience.
Ahwantɔ – The Warrior
Ahwan is “warrior” in the Fɔ̀n dialect of the Ajã language. In everyone of us there is a warrior; or at least it should be. The ahwantɔ is that aspect that does not give up. It fights for what is right and doesn’t back down. It brings the determination to go ahead when all the obstacles say “no”.
All three of these are part of your sɛ́ – soul, essence, that which brings power to your being, that aspect of the Creator within you. This is evident in one of the Ajã names for the Creator, Sɛ́gbo. This literally means the biggest/greatest sɛ́ – the origin and distributor of all sɛ́. Each Afrikan human has a sɛ́ (soul). The Meditator, The Artist, and The Warrior are three aspects of who you are. We have to utilize each aspect and never allow either of them to become weak. However, balance must be kept in mind when contemplating these aspects.
From Ayìnɔ̀n Àgɛ̀lɔ̀gbàgàn Jǐsovì Azàsinkpontín Àgbɔ̀vì I