In Odinani, every ritual we do carries energy or works to enable the exchange of energy, and this is also true when it comes to libation, the act of pouring liquid to spiritual forces. For many practitioners today, pouring hot drinks or alcohol has become a routine part of spiritual offerings. But when it comes to morning invocations, it’s time we pause, reflect, and ask: Is this truly aligned with the energy we want to welcome into our day?

The short answer is: No, you do not need hot drinks or alcohol in your morning invocations or prayers, and in many cases, it may actually be working against your spiritual intentions.

The Energy Behind Alcohol Libation

In Odinani, libation beyond being a symbolic gesture is also a transfer of energy. What you offer to your Chi, Ora Mmuo, or the forces of nature is the kind of energy that will be activated around you and within you. What you give it what you get back energetically.

Alcohol i.e gin, whiskey, or any other strong drink, carries an intense, fiery vibration and energetic imprint. It is associated with aggression, spiritual warfare, confrontation, strong energy and force.
When you pour it as an offering, you are calling in raw, sharp, and fierce energy, which can be useful for spiritual battles, protection, or vengeance.

So if you begin your day with alcohol in prayer, ask yourself: Am I inviting peace or preparing for warfare? Let your actions align with whatever is true to your intention.

Choose Energy That Matches Your Morning Intentions

Morning invocations are sacred openings. They set the tone for your mind, body, and spirit throughout the day. In most cases, we wake up seeking:

Peace
Ease
Clarity
Sweetness and success

In such a case, using hot drinks or strong alcohol may create an energetic contradiction. Instead of calling in softness, you may be unintentionally activating unnecessary heat or tension in your day.

A Better Alternative?

If you absolutely want to pour libation as part of your morning routine, use gentler, organic liquids like:

Water – the purest spiritual conductor, always a safe choice.
Palm wine or fermented palm drinks – these were traditionally used by our ancestors.
Fruit juice, honey water, or herbal infusions – all natural, sweet, and calming.

These offerings are energetically aligned with peace, abundance, and sweetness. What you give to your spirit guides, based on your intention which sets the tone, is what flows back to you.

Ancestral Wisdom and Historical Context

Let’s remember: most of the alcoholic drinks we use today did not exist the way they do now in the time of our ancestors. Bottled gin, rum, or brandy only became widely available in the last century or so due to colonial influence and commercial distillation.

Traditionally, libation was poured with:

Palm wine tapped fresh from the tree
Local herbal brews made with intention and knowledge

These drinks were alive, organic, and spiritually balanced.

Reflecting on this history helps us understand that the spirit behind the offering matters as much as other elements energetically.

Use With Awareness

This is not to say alcohol has no place in spiritual work. In fact, it can be very powerful when used intentionally:

During rituals of defense
To call down strong ancestral protection
In moments where spiritual fire is needed

But that’s the point: Use it with awareness, not as a habit. Know when you are asking your guides to bring harmony, and when you are calling them to go to battle.

Final Thoughts

The key to successful spiritual practice in Odinani is alignment. Morning prayers are your sacred conversation with the universe and your forces, to set the tone for your day and week.

If peace is your desire, let peace reflect in your offerings. If you seek clarity, sweetness, and spiritual flow, choose liquids that mirror that.

Trust your Chi. Listen to your spirit. And let every act, including your libation, be an intentional practice, one done with awareness. Yagazie!