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Empathy and Ìwà Pẹ̀lẹ́: A Yorùbá Reflection on Compassion and Connection
In Yorùbá wisdom, empathy is more than emotion—it is spiritual intelligence rooted in Ìwà Pẹ̀lẹ́ (gentle character). Guided by Orí inú (inner consciousness) and expressed through Àṣẹ, empathy restores Ìbáṣepọ̀, the sacred harmony that unites all beings. To feel for another is to recognize the divine in them, keeping the world in rhythm with compassion and right relationship.

Alaje Fadesiye
Apr 12, 20244 min read
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