Many Meanings of Ises - Praises & Prayer

Blessed Love

I have been trying to think what to post about - there are so many topics to write about - but I am also trying to crochet new handbags and manage a very active almost 5 year old. So, I decided to talk about something that is very important, that is a part of RasTafari life, but is also the very best friend of any Dawta out there: Ises, praises, prayer, having a moment to talk to JAH, the healing within, the strength to persevere and endure.

What is Ises? Can it have more than one meaning, can it do more than one thing?
I believe Ises can mean and be so many things at once or at a particular time based on one's emotions. Sometimes I want to pray for everything and everyone, sometimes for myself, sometimes its for particular persons, sometimes its for Afrika, sometimes it's to bunn a serious fyah on the wickedness that is rampant in the world today, sometimes I'm just giving thanks for everything JAH created and loves... you know what I mean? There are so many things that I and I face on a daily basis - thousands of thoughts that we think each day and what we are moved to feel passionate about each day changes rapidly...

Here is a summary  or even message I wrote called "Iditations on Ises" where I tried to list all the different ways we use prayer or give praises, and what it means for and to us. I did not include the Nyahbinghi Creed and the other important declarations that have been with RasTafari from the beginning, but they cannot be forgotten.

It is important for every I to Iditate on Ises and Giving Ises efficiently in order to be Iritually whole and secure throughout life. Ises is the language of Wise Mind, Ever-living Life and healing as it awakens the Word of JAH and its accompanying Iritual vibrations in the mind-space, body temple and soul.

More than asking for help, healing, guidance or wisdom, prayer is an affirmation. Prayer and Ises are about speaking and pledging confident truths, and willing those who receive them to share in this Godly power.

Ises is on the other hand, a supplication. In that we often use this time to off-load our emotional distress, and to relate to JAH our fears, problems and weaknesses. It is a time to ask for help and to search within for the source of the help. “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7).

Ises is an Iditation. While you don't worry about whether your prayers will be answered, you keep them with you each day in your thoughts, as inspiration to make you live up to your faith and goals. You must think about your prayers, and do positive deeds and say blessed things in honour of them. Iditation is most of all the Iritual guidance of Ises where you deeply consider and aim to overstand the purpose of life as JAH intended for this world.

Ises is a declaration. Ises speaks to Iration, declaring JAH Rastafari's glory in the heavens and the earth. Prayer harmonizes man and woman with the living environment around us, balancing the individual energy and vibrations we declare/emit with the energies and vibrations we receive. Making a declaration of Ises is therefore a consciously controlled statement that honours Iration and marks your place within it; because what you declare to JAH and His omnipotence, you receive. Declarations can be affirmations of righteousness or denials of sin and iniquity.

Ises is a joyful noise. No matter how depressed you feel, you serve JAH Rastafari with gladness and stand in His/Her presence with love and admiration, giving thanks for the good and the bad, and even that which you do not overstand.

Ises is a freewill offering, according to Psalm 119 - which perfectly summarizes the state of man and his journey in trying to be upright, but suffering with the burdens of carnality. A freewill offering, is the ideal gift and praise that you can offer to your Creator, your JAH. Taking the time to praise JAH and Iditate, and committing to such an act daily, shows your humility towards JAH, and your free will to set aside your life and desires just to acknowledge that you are a part of something Greater and more powerful. While the law and feasts or festivals are appointed times for offering and praises, we still are obligated to abide by them. On the other hand, a freewill offering is something natural and uniquely specific to every one of us. A freewill offering is something that comes freely, earnestly and abundantly direct from the heart; and not from the law. It is a sign of Nazirite devotion, honour and love – such being unique to those “who wish to separate themselves unto the Lord.”

Ises is a living testimony. Only the living can give testimony of JAH's power over evil and wickedness. There is no praise in the grave of the dead or the pit of the sinful. While you have life you must acknowledge it as the greatest gift you own, and give thanks for the blessings it brings you from the Creator's bosom.

Ises is a living sacrifice. When you pray, you offer your sinful mind and body over to JAH for regeneration and purification. Confessing your sin sacrifices your ego and pride, making way for overstanding and positive reinforcement or change. Sacrificing the ego and its carnal lusts through Ises is the way you clean out your inner defilement, so that you can be prepared and offered up as a living pure sanctuary – a refuge of God and peace, a place of rest from burdens. The only living burnt sacrifice worthy of your use is the herbal sacrament which opens your an Iritual and helps you to weigh your actions.

Ises is genesis. Prayer is the first step in the creation or conception of a new life, mind, heart, body, faith, hope and Irit. Each time you pray, you aim to start something new and better within and around you.

Ises is closure. Starting over, beginning a new path or chapter in life, entails leaving something old or past, behind. Ises is the energy you gain strength from – strength to move on from sins, arguments, disappointments, heartbreak – to make it through another day. Closure releases parts of your Consciousness eradicates a habit or mentality or thought or emotion from your everyday living. Ises hands these things over to JAH so you can grow into your Higher Self free from worry, doubts, regrets and baggage.

Ises is instruction. You gain much guidance from JAH when you read your Ises from the Holy Scriptures and Law of Isra’el and Ithiopia. You evolve as an individual I with the instruction given to you from Zion; and the advice and wisdom of the Patriarchs. Ises helps you to build strength in this instruction as shown in the Book of Psalms. Ises allows you to beseech JAH in maintaining His holy path.

All in all, Ises is the greatest remedy. The act of worship and the power of love, hope and faith, can cure any ailment and inspire every heart.

Selah!
I hope this is inspiring to the Sistren, giving ones a spark of renewal in hope, zeal and faith.
JAH RasTafari Love and Itection!
Sis. Ila

Defining True Worship

Blessed Uprising to all Dawtas of Holy King Selah and Mama Omega!

I went to bed early and got up super early, so I decided to get a headstart on my post for today as I want to be finishing up an order, sewing, crocheting and whatever else later on,JAH willing.Sunrise is truly meolodic with the sounds of the birds and neighbourhood dogs. Even the blue and gold colours of the sky were just as beautiful as the full moon sky first night (meaning last night).

Today's topic is about the importance of goodwill, righteousness and the Krist-Life, which ultimately define worshipping JAH in "The Way" most preferred. I chose this topic because I wanted to make the point that it is important for Rastafari Sistren to remember the footsteps and character of Queen Omega, and to come together in this effort. The post I made on Queen Omega Livity Principles ideally is a collection of principles the Queen lived by which were expressions of Her Faith and Possession of the Hola Irit of the Goddess. Many posts that are made on RasTa WifeLine, will relate back to Her principles and how best Sistren can endeavour to achieve the same blessings.

   

I belong to the Roots Dawta Connection Trinidad and Tobago Chapter, and I and I get together to reason, strengthen one another and also perform charity services as well as tutoring services. All members and supporters love and strive to honour Empress Menen in all things, all the time. I also feel inspired by my fellow Roots Dawtas and coincidentally this post is for them.  

Defining True Worship: A Reasoning on Isaiah 58

 The show of Brotherly love and Sisterly love is the substance of harmony, peace, joy, enlightenment, healing and goodness; it defines the civility of any nation, the Godliness of any religion and the humanity of any race. One of the most important things to notice and recall about the last reigning Monarchs of Ethiopia - Emperor Haile Selassie I and Empress Menen - is Their devotion to JAH and all members of society: the children, elderly, poor, the military and other service industries and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church with its congregation. Such service and holy submission started long before Negus Tafari Makonnen was crowned Negusa Negast Qedamawi Haile Selassie - being an embedded part of Their Personalities. And what is the definition of God or Godliness if not the Provider of the poor and oppressed, Champion of Truth and Justice, Speaker of Wisdom and King of Righteousness?

 To walk as JAH RasTafari walked is therefore to honour Them, obey the Commandments, to find the true connection to JAH and the meaning of life. To walk as the Black Krist walked also defines True Worship and the ultimate realization of human destiny or perfection. The following essay is a reasoning on Isaiah 58 which is about defining true worship by Jahovah's standards, not man's. It is taken from an Ises guide and Iditation book called the Rastafari Book of Ises which I also wrote and which will soon be available, JAH willing. 

            Prophet Isaiah, during his sojourn in Judah, observed how the children of Judah conducted themselves during the holy times of fasting, prayer, feasts and Sabbath. What was made abundantly clear was that vanity tarnished the spirituality of Isra’el, because their own pleasures decided how they conducted themselves rather than JAH's will and word through His righteous Commandments. There was little consideration for morality and goodwill, Isra’el did wrong, and didn't care. Carnal satisfaction was higher than thanksgiving and all else.

                According to Isaiah Chapter 58, Isra’el was guilty of finding their own pleasure, speaking their own words (gossip, complaints, goals), doing their own will (instead of the requirements of the holy period and goodwill), exploiting others, bowing to idols, arguing and fighting. During the Sabbath or times of fasting, there was no rest from their ways and means, and no time was truly ever fully reserved for the Living God of their Covenant. They forgot that the Sabbath was instituted so that man would not forget to rest from his daily creations, and just reflect on and abide with himself, his I-Self.

                Embodying both the holy ways of Sabbath and True Worship or Ises is like a petition for blessings. Through Isaiah, Jahovah imparted what was right/ideal to consider True Worship. Man would:

•  loose the bands of the wicked/wickedness
• release heavy burdens and bonds of yolk or free the oppressed
• feed the hungry
• house the poor
• cover the naked
• gather with family
• put away finger pointing
• refrain from speaking vanities
• satisfy the afflicted soul
• call Senbet a delight, honourable, holy of the Lord
• honour JAH by not doing his own ways, or finding pleasure or speaking his own words. (The ego is silenced)

               

Summarising Isaiah's key points of true worship, it is clear that the greatest form of Ises, the truest form to be exact – has nothing to do with personal desires! JAH's definition of worship is that man think of others and God, before himself.

                True Worship or the powers of Ises, are wrapped up in a mixture of love, humility, selflessness, goodwill and righteousness. True Worship is about not talking the talk,  and making empty vows to JAH with the sweetest prayers -  it is about walking the walk that Kristos laid out and doing all the above selfless deeds - which for the benefit of your receiver - are Angels of JAH; or deliverance, salvation and comfort. We each bless Isra’el through goodwill on one hand, and as a result, on the other hand we worship and positively communicate to JAH at the same time, because of this willingness to serve others as JAH serves us by providing life and sustenance.

                True worship, through the power of such love for JAH with humility, selflessness and righteousness; takes The Creator's power to the bosoms of those who need it and creates the glory of Zion because the Name of JAH is praised in our actions. When we act in Isaiah's way, as Hebrews, we act in the name Jahovah, the Living God.  Worship is therefore something not to be solely confined to silent prayer or church gathering as it can and must be performed outside of allotted Ises times through community service and other good deeds.

Consequently, True Worship can also be summarised as the exhortation to be Righteous by being willing to: give, be good, obedient and praise the Lord with our “whole hearts”. Worship entails the healing of souls by the Irit and Word of JAH, and so when I and I pray, we are preparing and starting the healing process for others, and as a reward, or because we put blessed vibrations into the world, the healing returns for us also.

Not only is it important to do, but to keep Ises undefiled. This means that the thoughts and deeds behind our worship or prayers and goodwill, are of JAH RasTafari also; the attitude is correct. True worship in this perfection of Word and Act thus only knows and renders true blessings.

                Isaiah lists the blessings upon Isra’el when Jahovah is praised in the Highest manner:

• our healing shall spring forth speedily (regeneration)
• our righteousness shall go before us (protection)
• the glory of JAH shall be our reward (salvation)
• JAH shall answer our call (comfort)
• JAH shall always guide I and I (guidance)
•  He shall satisfy our souls in drought (satisfaction)
•  He shall strengthen our bones (endurance)
• He shall cause us to ride upon the high places of the earth (prosperity)
• He will feed us with the heritage of Father Jakob (anointing)
• We shall delight ourselves in the Lord (zeal and faithfulness)
• Our seed shall rebuild the places of desolation (repatriation)
• We shall raise up the foundations of many generations (continuation)

               

In other words, seeing that True Worship is rooted in the community and our relationships with one another as expressions and testaments to the presence of JAH among us, Rastafari are made whole; one body, one nation under JAH’s circle throne. It is clear to see that the purpose of the Nazirene is therefore quite similar to the requests of Isaiah, in that Yesus kristos asked over and over for ones to love JAH and one another whole heartedly whereby they’d become sinless in the Law and made whole by the Hola Irit of the Creator.

                The kingdom of JAH and Zion opens its gates and appears to us when we worship and live righteously and selflessly do the works of healing, or works which kill the presence of wickedness within us. True worship is the only path to Resurrection and Salvation on a personal level, and knowing the I-Self or Inner Goddess/God.

               

Serving JAH

               

                The ultimate service unto JAH, apart from the free will offering of Ises, is to be at one with, or in harmony with JAH’s terrestrial and cosmic worlds and energies; and ultimately to be at one with the way in which the human body was created to perform. Today man and womankind are very “into” their world of vices which are not of a spiritual nature. These things are obsessions that bring little good to the mind or society and environment. They are there for pleasure, vanity and riches instead.

                 Because little time is spent on reflection and seeking the True Wise Mind of JAH, little time is spent in service of God, or the I-Self.

                 The Ible altogether tells the True Hebrew to serve the Lord God Jahova JAH Rastafari, and by serving JAH we are guided, protected, forgiven, provided for, loved, rescued and blessed. Serving JAH requires every one of I and I to: love, be loyal, honour, emulate, raspect, trust and praise JAH the Living God.

The other Books of the Ible apart from Isaiah that speak on rendering such service to Jahovah, or the qualifications of true worship, are as follows:

You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. (Deuteronomy 13:4)

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,  and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good?

(Deuteronomy 10:12-13)

And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the Lord your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil. And I will send grass in your fields for your livestock, that you may eat and be filled.’

(Deuteronomy 11:13-15)

Then Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing.  For the Lord will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people. (1 Samuel 12:2-22)

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. (Matthew 6:24)

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing

(Psalm 100: 1-2)

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honour giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. 

(Romans 12: 1-2, 10-11, 13)

Selah!

Blessed Sabbath reading!

Ila Addis