In the Yoruba spiritual realm, Orun, the journey to the physical world, Aye, begins in a unique workshop. It is here that every unborn spirit must go to select its own head, or Ori. The master of this workshop is Ajala Alapinni Mogun, the celestial potter.

Ajala molds each Ori-Inu, the inner head or spiritual essence, from clay. These are not just physical forms; they are vessels containing the potential for a person's entire life. His workshop is filled with countless heads, each unique. Some are well-fired and strong, others are cracked, and some are hastily made and weak.

A spirit might choose a head based on its appearance, not knowing its inner quality. It might pick a beautifully sculpted Ori that is actually poorly fired and prone to cracking under pressure. Another spirit might choose a plain-looking head that is exceptionally resilient. This selection process underscores a core belief: destiny is not merely assigned, it is chosen. The choice, however, is made without full knowledge of the consequences.

Choosing an Ori from Ajala’s workshop is only the first step. The next is to present this choice to Olodumare, the Supreme Being, for ratification. Olodumare does not interfere with the selection. Instead, the creator's role is to sanction the destiny that the spirit has chosen for itself.

Once the spirit kneels before Olodumare with its chosen Ori, it declares what it wishes to accomplish in its lifetime. Olodumare then seals this destiny with a breath of life, or emi. This act transforms the chosen potential into a fixed destiny known as Ayanmo (that which is chosen and affixed). It is at this moment that the potential life path becomes a reality waiting to unfold.

After this sacred process, the spirit is ready for its journey into the physical world, Aye. However, there's a final, crucial twist in this cosmic narrative. As the spirit crosses the threshold between Orun and Aye, it passes through the 'waters of forgetfulness.' This passage induces a spiritual amnesia.

This state of forgetfulness is central to the human condition in Yoruba thought. We arrive in the world with a destiny we ourselves have chosen, yet we are unaware of its contents. The purpose of life, then, is to remember and align ourselves with our Ayanmo. Through divination, ritual, and developing good character (iwa pele), an individual works to uncover the destiny that their own spirit selected before birth. It is a quest to become who we were always meant to be.