October: Returning to Iwa Pele
October marks a meaningful turning point in the year. As we enter the final quarter, the year's movement invites us to slow down and reflect. The intentions we carried into the beginning of the year have now been shaped by experience. Some things have grown, some have changed, some have been released, and others still require our attention. October gives us an opportunity to look beyond what we have accomplished and consider the character we have developed along the way.
This is where the principle of Iwa Pelé becomes especially meaningful.
Iwa Pele is commonly understood as gentle or good character, but its meaning extends beyond simply being kind or pleasant. Iwa speaks to character and the essence of how we conduct ourselves, while Pele reflects qualities of gentleness, calmness, patience, and balance. Together, Iwa Pele represents the ongoing cultivation of a character that is grounded, disciplined, peaceful, and conscious
Character is developed through how we move through life. It is shaped in ordinary moments as much as in extraordinary ones, and revealed in how we speak, respond to difficulty, treat others, handle responsibility, and respond when we recognize that we have fallen short.
October provides an opportunity to become more intentional about this work.
Throughout the year, life brings experiences that challenge our patience and expose areas within ourselves that still need growth. Relationships, disappointments, unexpected circumstances, and personal struggles can become mirrors, revealing our habits, reactions, attachments, and the places where our character is still being refined.
Iwa Pele does not mean living without anger, disappointment, grief, or frustration. It means learning to experience these emotions without allowing them to take control of our character. Gentleness is not weakness, and peacefulness does not mean avoiding difficult situations. There is strength in remaining centered when circumstances are not peaceful.
This kind of character requires practice.
The spiritual path gives us opportunities to develop knowledge, but knowledge must eventually become conduct. We can study Ifa, learn the teachings of the Orisas, participate in sacred practices, receive guidance, and deepen our understanding of tradition. Yet the wisdom we receive becomes most meaningful when it begins to shape the person we are becoming.
Iwa Pele. brings spirituality into everyday life. It can be seen in the patience we practice, the humility we demonstrate when corrected, the honesty we maintain when no one is watching, and the restraint we exercise when we have every reason to react. It is also evident in our ability to acknowledge mistakes, make amends, establish healthy boundaries, and continue growing without letting pride prevent us from learning.
As October unfolds, we can examine what this year has revealed about our character. Some experiences may have strengthened us, while others may have shown us where greater patience, discipline, humility, or self-awareness are needed. This reflection is not about judging ourselves. It is about recognizing where we have grown and where we are being called to grow further.
There may be things we need to leave behind before entering another year—old reactions, unresolved resentment, unhealthy patterns, unnecessary conflict, or ways of thinking that no longer serve our development. At the same time, there are qualities worth carrying forward: patience, integrity, compassion, discipline, humility, courage, and a deeper commitment to good character.
Our spirituality is not limited to sacred spaces. It is present in the way we conduct our relationships, families, businesses, communities, and daily lives. The knowledge we receive through spiritual practice becomes meaningful when it influences how we live beyond the ceremony, beyond the altar, and beyond the moment of instruction.
October, therefore, becomes a season of refinement.
At Ile Chief Anisulaja, we understand the spiritual path as a journey of learning, practice, character, and responsibility. Iwa Pele reminds us that the wisdom we receive is not meant to remain outside of us. It is meant to become part of how we live.
October Reflection: Journaling with Iwa Pele
Set aside quiet time this October to reflect on the character you have carried through the year. Write honestly and without judgment. Let your reflection become an opportunity for awareness, correction, and intention.
Journaling Prompt:
As I enter the final quarter of this year, what have my experiences revealed about my character, and where am I being called to cultivate greater Iwa Pele?
Then reflect on these four areas:
What has this year taught me about my character?
What quality do I need to strengthen?
What am I ready to release?
What quality Iwa Pele do I want to carry into the next season?
Return to these reflections throughout October and notice what continues to surface. Sometimes the lessons we need most are not new; they are the ones we are finally ready to understand more deeply.
May this October bring greater awareness, honest reflection, and intentional growth. May we develop the patience to pause, the humility to learn, the discipline to correct ourselves, and the wisdom to carry forward what strengthens our character.
Iwa Pele is not simply something we speak about. It is something we practice, refine, and embody.
As October unfolds, may our character reflect the wisdom we have received.
Ase.
