Prayer: What Do You Say When You Have No Words? · ASE Spirituality & Ifa Skool

Prayer: What Do You Say When You Have No Words?

This one is for

— and honestly, for every single person in this community who has ever stood in front of their altar and gone completely blank. You are seen. You are not alone. And I have something I want to share with you that I think is going to change the way you think about prayer forever.

My grandmother used to say something that has stayed with me all of my life.

She said that the Holy Spirit can interpret all languages — even the ones that sound like nothing more than a moan or a groan.

I have never forgotten that. Because what she was really saying is that spirit doesn't need you to be eloquent. Spirit needs you to be real.

Do They Know What You Mean?

Marie asked the question that I think a lot of us are secretly afraid to ask out loud — do they actually know what I mean when I fumble through my words?

Yes. They do.

Your ancestors, your Orisha, your Ori — they are not sitting on the other side waiting for you to get the phrasing just right before they decide to listen. They are not grading your grammar. They are reading your heart. And your heart has never once fumbled.

The sincerity behind your words is the prayer. The words themselves are just the vehicle.

Three Words Said With Everything You Have

I want you to think about this. If you stood at your altar and all you could get out was "I need help" — but you said those three words with every ounce of sincerity in your body, with tears in your eyes and your whole heart behind it — that prayer would be more powerful than a Baptist preacher on Sunday morning delivering a perfectly crafted sermon.

I mean that.

It's not performative. It's not about how it sounds. It's about relationship. It's about connection. And connection doesn't require perfection — it requires presence.

Show Up and Say What You Can

Sometimes you won't have words. Sometimes you'll stand there and go completely blank — and that silence itself is a form of prayer. Just showing up matters. Just lighting the candle and standing there matters. Just saying "I'm here" matters.

Over time, as your relationship with spirit deepens and you become more comfortable, your heart will begin to allow your mouth to speak more freely. That's how every real relationship works. You don't walk up to someone you just met and pour your whole soul out immediately. You get comfortable. You find your words. You grow into the intimacy.

Give yourself that same grace with spirit.

What About Ifá Prayers and Yoruba?

I know some of you are wondering about the traditional prayers — the Yoruba songs, the Lucumí invocations, the specific prayers to each Orisha. And yes, those are real and they are beautiful and they carry tremendous power.

But here's what I want you to understand — those are something you learn over time. They are not a prerequisite for being heard. You don't have to speak Yoruba for Oshun to know you love her. You don't have to recite a perfect Mojuba for your ancestors to feel your devotion.

That said — I hear you, and I want to give you those tools. I am planning to begin adding Yoruba prayers and songs to our community here before the end of the summer. Please pray for me that I accomplish this goal, because it is something I genuinely want to do for this community. 🙏🏾

In the meantime, just keep showing up. Speak from wherever you are. Even if it's three words. Even if it's silence. Even if all you can do is light a candle and sit with it.

That is enough. You are enough.

Every path looks different. Every relationship with spirit is unique. What matters is not how your prayer sounds — it's that you showed up to offer it.

🌪️

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Prayer: What Do You Say When You Have No Words?