Ancestral Practice
Ancestral Prayer: Restoring All Ire
A prayer of restoration — for ire, for life force, for harmony, for prosperity, for love. Spoken to the ancestors of blood and spirit, the Egúngún who stand behind the veil and still walk with us.
On This Prayer
In Yoruba tradition, ire refers to all the good things of life — prosperity, health, love, victory, harmony, and alignment with one's destiny. This prayer is a direct address to the ancestral line: the named, the unnamed, and those who learned through fire. It asks for the full restoration of ire across every domain of life.
This prayer is offered in the spirit of Egúngún — the ascended ancestors who speak and respond, who guard the house, the road, and the womb of destiny. It is spoken with expectation, not supplication. The ancestors are addressed as partners, not distant gods.
The Prayer
Ancestors of my blood,
Ancestors of my spirit,
Ancestors whose names are known and unknown,
Ancestors who walked well and those who learned by fire—
I call you.
Egúngún who speak and respond,
Those who stand behind the veil and still walk with us,
Those who guard the house, the road, and the womb of destiny,
Come close.
Stand upright around me.
Cover me with protection.
Let no visible or invisible harm pass my gate.
Let slander dissolve, let malice lose its tongue,
Let crossed intentions return to dust.
Open the roads of prosperity before me.
Let my work be seen and my effort rewarded.
Let my hands never be empty.
Let my storehouses be full and never ashamed.
Teach me how to receive as well as how to earn.
Restore harmony in my social world.
Place me among people who wish me well.
Let alliances be clean.
Let community be mutual.
Let respect flow both ways.
Grant me success that does not rot the soul.
Let my victories be sustainable.
Return to me what was illicitly taken.
Return the good things and experiences that were lost, even if by my fault.
Repair broken beneficial relations with me, known and unknown.
My name be spoken with honor.
Rise and strengthen my family and my kin.
Bless my body with healthy life force and pleasure.
Let love and desire move freely to me without shame or blockage.
Let intimacy be joyful, safe, mutual, and nourishing.
Let sacred waters flow in fullness—
Restorative, satisfying, and life-affirming.
May pleasure renew my spirit and not scatter it.
Bring into my life good lovers,
Who are clean in heart and intention,
Who bring peace, attraction, laughter, and reciprocity.
Bring true friends,
Who stand firm in daylight and shadow,
Who speaks the truth without envy.
Strengthen family bonds,
Heal what is bent,
Cool what is too hot,
Stabilize what is fragile.
And if marriage aligns with my destiny,
Bring good spouses—
Partners of character, warmth, wisdom, and shared purpose,
With whom life is built, not drained.
If marriage is present, strengthen it and grow it into what is needed.
Ancestors, correct me when I drift.
Shield me when I am exposed.
Lift me when I am tired.
Remind me who I am when the world is loud.
As I honor you, honor me.
As I remember you, remember me.
As I walk well, walk with me.
My elders, my fathers, my mothers—stay with me.
Egúngún, ascended masters, receive me and accept this prayer.
Ashe.
How to Use This Prayer
This prayer is complete as written. It may be spoken aloud at your ancestral altar, at a sacred body of water, or at the beginning of any ancestral ceremony. It is structured in ascending domains: protection, prosperity, social harmony, success, love, family, and partnership — before returning to the ancestral relationship itself.
The prayer does not ask. It addresses. The ancestors are spoken to as elders — directly, respectfully, and with expectation of response. This is the correct posture in Egúngún tradition.
Those who are new to ancestral practice should establish a basic ancestral altar before working with prayers of this scope. Contact us to learn how.