What are orisa/orisha?

The Yoruba understand that there are divine forces known as orishas that are in some ways related to the consciousness of Olorun. An Orisha is a "selected" consciousness part of the greater consciousness of Olorun. The Lukumí can relate to the orisha on a human level, and on this level, each person has one specific orisha that corresponds to the fundamental essence of their being, which we call an ori or head. The Lukumí seek to integrate the orisha's ashe into a devotee's ori in order to align their ori with their fullest potential (Ipori) and to place them in balance with the world around them.