It is America’s worst kept secret. Many men, women, and children are exposed to cycles of abuse. In many cases, abuse is about control. A man may physically abuse his wife in effort to make her stay in a relationship. Abuse can also be about power. A woman may insult and or humiliate her child or spouse because it makes her feel secure. It can also be about victimization, where a person who is abused believes that they deserve to be treated badly. Abuse in many situations is cyclical and if not treated can last for generations. Many people in abusive relationships or situations are in denial, and fail to understand the damage that they are doing to themselves and their children. The best way to stop the cycles of abuse is to reach out to Obatala, the orisha of purity, wisdom, and peace.

Obatala is the father of white cloth. His cloth not only represents purity and lightness, it symbolizes the fabrics that weave our existence together. Obatala is the orisha of creation. He is the light or spark that is needed to manifest or to bring an idea from the subtle world into physical reality. However, Obatala also presides over DNA. After all, he did descend from the heavens on a heavy chain. This chain represents the double sided helix of DNA and the genetic codes that are past down from one generation to the next.

However, DNA also has links, very much like a chain. These links can represent cycles such as the seasons, cycles of energy, and even cycles of abuse. Although our DNA is set in stone, it can be turned on and off like a light switch, through a process called epigenetics. We can consider epigenetics to be the instructions manual for our DNA. The environment influences us, and things like anger may cause us to send the wrong signals to our epigenetic cells. The epigenetic cells then instruct DNA to stop or go, very much like a traffic light. They send the signals to the rest of the body to increase its intensity, allowing an individual to get charge up to the point that they become rageful and even violent.

It is important to understand that once the epigenetics code is changed, it is embedded in the DNA genetic code for life. The information is passed down from one generation to the next. It is common knowledge to think that abuse is a learned behavior. However, there are many scientists who would say that abuse is not only learned, it is inherited. It goes back to the whole nature verses nurture theory. The cycles of abuse, if not stopped become embedded into the genetic makeup of the human soul. Obatala understands the cycles of creation. He can read the instructions manual that governs both our behavior and genetic makeup. He can make people become aware, cleanse them and help to stop the painful cycles of abuse. He can help people recreate their lives so they understand that they can have loving and healthy relationships without the abuse.