Blog – Page 14 – AYE AKAMARA

The Power Of Self Confidence

Author of the text: Mark Casillas, one of our members from North America

Aboru Aboye.

Profound is the power of your self confidence. Nobody can crush your determination. When even big obstacles of the size of mountains cannot obstruct your path, what is the significance of ordinary obstacles? You are more powerful than even the sun! The biggest power in the world is the power of the soul, which arouses the dormant powers of man and brings out the extra-sensory capacity by developing it, and it gives the capacity for increasing material prosperity. All the activities for the life by obtaining the means for facilities and for their proper planning are carried out with the soul’s powers (spiritual powers). The capacity for work for personal benefit and for the benefit of others is obtained by our intellect. But with the strength of the spirit, such profoundness is possible, by which not only personal, but the entire world’s upliftment becomes possible. A person who lacks spiritual strength cannot experience happiness even though he has all the material means. But if a person becomes rich with spiritual strength, that person achieves divine (heavenly) bliss (happiness) in this life itself and by constantly establishing oneness with Olodumare (God) constantly moves towards the real objective of life. Normally with external vision we believe this body to be, the be-all and end-all, but our life is created within the body by the the life-force (breath of life) of Elemi (the supreme life giver) from which arises the mind, the intelligence and the subtle layers of the soul. The soul is part and parcel of Enitolodu (the supreme cause, source and center of all things). The soul, being qualitatively one with Edumare (the supreme creator), is always trying, striving and longing to move closer, towards the Supreme. The sublime power (ase) which Olodumare the Creator of the cosmos (universe) has for Himself, the same power is within us (because Olodumare in the form of Ori is within us). Self-confidence is nothing but having faith (trust and confidence) in this fact. Once a person is filled with glorious self-confidence and makes a decision or determination, then no power on earth can sway him.

Obatala was able to accept and discharge the extraordinary divine mission to create, sustain and expand the creation, form mankind and set an example of humility, godliness, kingship, service, inner strength, dignity and integrity on the profound strength of self-confidence. Ogun the guardian of truth, defender of justice and vanquisher of deliberate law breakers and evil-doers was able to fight injustice and overcome the enemies of the people and of progress through the power of self-confidence. Though greatly misunderstood, Ogun was persevering and relentless in the accomplishment of his divine mission and task and paid no attention to the comments and opinions of many people who could not understand and see things from the superior and comprehensive perspective of Ogun. This Ogun achieved through the marvellous power of self confidence. Through the power of self-confidence Orunmila was able, upon receiving the ase of divine wisdom, to officiate as a humble and exemplary sage, seer, prophet, revelator and counselor to divine personalities and human beings. Through the power of self-confidence Orisa Ogboni established law, order and balance in ancient times when chaos, disorder and lawlessness was prevailing upon the earth. Never forget that self confidence means knowing that the same power of the Creator lies within us. All the achievements of man in the present times are the result of his firm will and tremendous will-power. Man has climbed to the top of precarious and awe inspiring mountains,man flies through the air in machines, is making discoveries at the bottom of the seas and in all fields of knowledge both material and spiritual,–all this is a miracle only of the profound power of self-confidence, enthusiasm, patience and perseverence. When mankind knows itself truly then it truly knows Olodumare, who is the God of supreme confidence. Olodumare is the primordial and eternal energy of Faith, Confidence, Trust and Power. When we know Olodamare then we know ourselves and the glory of our station, dignity and privilege as children of the Source Supreme. When mankind forgets or ignores its spiritual source and foundation then does suffering and dissatisfaction ensue. Instead of attempting to find the ultimate truth of life, mankind often seeks comfort in transitory, meaningless recreations and unsatisfying vanities which diminishes the divine power of self-confidence. The real path for recognizing the tremendous power of our soul and by its energy increase happiness and prosperity of the self, as well as the world, is by total faith in Olodumare’s supremacy and authority. Once when this faith becomes firm within us can we always get the personal abiding experience that Eledaa (God our Creator) is truly and literally dwelling within our soul. His presence empowers us and automatically goes on inspiring us towards good actions, good words and good thoughts. Our power of creativity and intelligence becomes increasingly increased and enhanced by our living awareness of the divine presence which fills us with a self-confidence which cannot be defeated or overturned. Olodumare’s authority is nothing but the strength of the soul or will power. With faith, trust and confidence our spiritual life becomes succesful, meaningful and satisfying.

Aboru Aboye.

Examine Yourself

Try to examine your life through these four qualities of success and victory. Remember, every successful step needs your personal participation and effort.
Desire – the beginning of great personal achievement. You must really desire and want your goal by combining all energy needed to achieve the goal. Physical energy, spiritual, mental, divine and emotional energy are needed to be successful and victorious.
Decision – Always set or make a clear decision. Unclear decisions are enemies of progress. Make your decision unequivocal that you are going to practice these behavior and develop these habits no matter how long it takes.
Discipline – This is the greatest and the most important single quality of man who want to achieve greater successes and goals beyond the realm of mediocrity. With highly developed sense of personal discipline the world bow before you and the universe becomes your co worker in the vine yard and arena of greatness and blissful life and every things and all things are brought under the feet of a principle and discipline man and you become a good disciple of the creator of all things in the universe. Without discipline little or nothing can be achieved. Hence ensure high sense of discipline and mental control always. Nothing comes to your life without consciously or unconsciously manifesting in the mental state or planting the seed in the mental and spiritual arena. The disciplined man plants the seed of success first in his or her own mind and the universe respond to his or her desire and plantation. Learn to plant well and support it with effort and be discipline to see the fruit grows as both rain and sun equates the problem and success in the jungle of life to attain goals and generation blessings. Hence be disciplined to move forward in the face of challenges.
Determination – it is one of the greatest qualities that enables you to overcome all setbacks, disappointments, temporary failure and every setback life throws on your path. Never expect easy way to success and victory. Determination, dedication and persistence are the measure of belief and faith in God and yourself.
Live by faith, work like angel, think godly and act wisely.

It is well.

Quality not quantity. Devotion and love and not rote ritual and mechanical rites.

Author of the text: Mark Casillas, one of our members from North America

Aboru Aboye.

Iba Olodumare.

Today I would like us to consider the value and importance of quality, genuine devotion and heart felt dedication in our service to the orisa.

Why do we choose to become devoted to or dedicated to certain orisa? Why do we receive their sacred icons, emblems and ase? Why do we aspire for priesthood? Why do we invest our time, resources and hearts in pursuit of the mysteries of the orisa? These are important, penetrating and revealing questions that each one must endeavor to honestly answer for themselves. What are you seeking for and looking for in your association with the orisa? Are your hopes legimitate? Is your faith sound and genuine, or do you have an aberrant and counterfeit faith? Are your expectations well founded or are you pursuing unrealistic and unrealizable expectations from either people or the orisa?

Some people come to orisa to pursue genuine spirituality and to partake of divine grace, wisdom and power to improve their own lives, realize their humanity and to genuinely assist others along these same lines without a calculating spirit, bartering disposition or selfish motives.

Some come to orisa for less than honorable purposes, they come seeking an occasion to promote their vanity, pride and delusions of grandeur etc etc. They want to lord it over others and become petty gods on this sacred earth. They shamefully come to attempt to turn the holy path of the orisa into a commercial enterprise. Such ones come to something good and noble but for the wrong reasons or aims.

Others come out of curiosity, they come in a spirit of honest search, inquiry and investigation. Irrespective of how and why they come, the orisa in good faith receive them with love, hope and a vision of noble prospects.

You see, the orisa are not suspicious by nature or petty. They see the hidden good in all and the treasure of divine potential in all. The orisa will always endeavor to elevate and transform the hearts and minds of the devotee’s, irrespective of their initial reason or reasons for coming to the orisa. How wonderful, great, noble and farsighted are the orisa. This being said, let us continue on to consider the importance of quality versus quantity in our walk of friendship with the orisa. Let us consider the vital importance of cultivating and having genuine awe, love and reverence for the orisa. It is awe, love and reverence that bonds the affections of the orisa to us and us to the orisa. Awe, love, gratitude and reverence are the sum, substance and vital power of rites, ceremonies and rituals. If there is no genuine affinity with the orisa permeated by authentic awe, love and reverence, our rites, ceremonies and rituals will be no more than powerless theatrical performances that will fail to receive the response, power and grace of the orisa.

Today in the orisa community a spirit of superficiality, decadence, irreverence and loss of moral-spiritual values has crept in, ruining the faith, corrupting the spiritual lives, devotion and priesthood of countless devotee’s. Many devotee’s have been led away into wrongful paths by unwise and immature leaders, priests and elders who do not have the best interest of their students at heart or that of the orisa. To them the path of orisa is a commercial enterprise or an avenue to inflate their pride and vanity and to attempt to cover over or hide from others the fact that they are spiritually-morally ignorant and bankrupt. Such ones have nothing of true and enduring value to give to others. Many noble and genuine student-devotee’s of the orisa are seeking not only for the divine and beautiful truths of their faith, but also seeking to find the genuine representatives and embodiments of the principles of Ifa, of Orisa, of Isese. To such ones I say: Do not allow yourselves to become discouraged and do not lose hope. Determine to be such a stalwart, bonafide and staunch devotee of the divine orisa and their ideals. Many people think that if they just fill their homes with many kinds of orisa shrines, icons and so forth, all will be well, blessings, peace, health and power will be forthcoming. Is this true? No it is not. Many are in a mad rush to get this initiation, that initiation, this empowerment, that empowerment, this orisa, that orisa, on and on and on. They do this thinking that by increasing quantity of all of these realities, their lives will be fulfilled, filled with peace and power. Are they really happy? Are they fulfilled? Do they wield in any discernible measure divine power? No. Can an extinguished fire give light and heat? No it cannot. Have they gained the qualifications to exercise and be recipients of the grace of the orisa by all of these dizzying activities?! No, they have not and will not, until they determine to follow the path of quality and affinity with the moral-spiritual requirements of Ifa, of the Orisa. Until genuine interest in true devotion, awe, love and reverence arises in their hearts, they will always be driven by pride, vanity, pettiness, jealousy, delusions of grandeur and illusions of having a non-existent power and authority. They will always find themselves dissatisfied with themselves and empty of any genuine divine content. They are spiritually hungry, thirsty and starving. Like the leech, they only know how to receive and take but have no true willingness to impart and give. From such people steer away.

Do not allow even the shadow of such people to touch you. It is far better to be dedicated wholehearted to just one orisa who inspires confidence, awe, devotion and reverence than to have many kinds of orisa shrines and icons and so forth, but no genuine understanding of what ones true aims are and how to achieve them. It is better to become proficient and artful in the ways of ones chosen orisa, than to have many accumulations of ritual and ceremonial items and not truly know what one is doing and why. I want to encourage and inspire all orisa devotee’s to live a life of genuine quality. If you are a devotee of Obatala then enthusiastically learn all that there is to learn about Orisanla, incorporate his teachings, character and example in your life. The same is true of any other orisa with whom you have a deep and genuine loving affinity with. Let us not miss the mark by living superficial and distracted lives. Let us develop deep, meaningful and satisfying friendships and relationships with our orisa. Let us seek out genuine and honest people within our community to associate with and learn from, while endeavoring to be in our own lives, character and bearing, men and woman of sterling character, who delight to embody and display truthfulness and dignity in all we do. Life is a precious from Olodumare to you. Do not squander your life, gifts, talents and divine affinities in things petty, superficial and ignoble. Learn from others. Learn from the good actions of others. Learn from the bad actions of others. Make the best of your devotion. May the best of your initiation. Walk your path with courage, dignity, truthfulness and honesty. Be a light in this world. Be a living hope and comfort in this age of restlessness, anxiety, superficiality and deceit.

May the light and truth of Ifa burn brightly in your hearts, illuminating your minds and enriching your lives. May Ela Asiwaju enliven and invigorate you through these lofty thoughts and considerations. Ase.

May divine earth mother Onile Ogboduora, upon whom we walk, live and thrive, be witness to the truths you have this day considered and by her blessings may you be empowered to tread the path of truth, love, courage patience and good character with consistency and reliability. May she bear witness to your conscience, your determination and resolve. Ase.

Ogbo ato asure iworiwofun.

Mark of ODU IFA

One thing human beings do not realize is that we are all marked for progress, success, happiness and progress, and the UNIVERSAL VIBRATION also marks some individuas for destruction, losses, fear, worry, sickness, and failure called in IFA as AJOGUN ORUN (Ajogun orun are the forces responsible for losses, problem with justice, sorrow, diseases, illness , sickness and death ). Marks are the secret signs of OLODUMARE to identify who will be blessed and who are to be cursed. Marks are emblems of divine sign to separate the the chosen from the unchosen, the signs that differentiate the wise (awo) from the fool (ogberi). Likewise IFA marks, are the secret knowledge of ORUNMILA to identify problem, arising from earthly disorder and the heavenly punitive knights of doom.

IFA marks are mystical codes and divinie signs to gain freedom from evil vibration and to attract the attention of GOD and his numerous divinities and unknown deities in the cosmos, so that our happy lot can be preserved and our misfortune can be eradicated or eliminated with these marks if properly used and applied to deter problems. Hence, every IFA devotees and men of wisdom must learn the various sign or marks of each odu and use it to gain victory over Ajogun orun (punitive Knight of heavenly doom) and all earthly attack .

Use the sign or the mark at the first day of the week or the first day of the years, or the first hour of the day give you a great spiritual power and divine strength to attract the bundle of unseen divine power to whatever you do or think or perform that day, or that week or that year . IFA sayss, the marks attract and install positive vibration to your life and improve your relationship with GOD and his numerous messengers and your guiding divinity.

The marks are sign of harmony, peace and serenic atmosphere to bring into harmony or contact the seen and the unseen, the material and the ideal, the physical and the spiritual, the tangible and intanglibl , the higher force and the lower energy, there by creating a conducive and harmonious environment for the victory of the weak and the happiness of the superior.

The marks ensure that the tangible and the material or the seen are guarded and guided in the cosmos, tutored, protected and directed by the divinities responsible for the life victory and life success. The marks are also a medium to enable the wise one to pass through the jungle and fire of life without being hurt by the unseen forces of punitive knights of heavenly doom ( AJOGUN OR ALAJOGUN) – which is the power from the ether or the negative power from unknown that consumes and affects every life in the world.

The mark deter power of:

– Elenini (those that hate you for no just reason),

– Omo Araiye ( the witches and wizards of the world that are bend to destroy your fortune, if you are not intelligent enough to deter their forces through sound spiritual enlightenment),

– Aseni (the imperfect energies and the enemies within the family, or enemies that pretend to be friends that constantly disturb the peace of your life and the harmony of the member of the family and also the happiness and the success of the members of your group,

– Olori-kuku (the stubborn ones, if not curbed want to see that you are consumed by the negative forces of charms, rituals and sacrifices,

– Inunibini (the evil thoughts and constant evil thinking, doubt, anger that normally crop up in our hearts or the mind of evil thoughts affecting our progress, our success and attract other abundant evil thoughts from ether or world around to crash us or crash other whom we hold in our thoughts’)

– arogosajuologo (those that see your blessing before manifesting and have the power to influence your fortune and happiness and these power also force you to fight or betray your helper or your mentors).

IFA says: “Evil thoughts affect our progress and our destiny, our happiness, our success and establish a strong negative power in our environment. If not curbed it can be a destructive mechanism to tear away the family and caused a lot unreparable damages, not only to our lives but to our future generations.”

There is also ancestral curse (epe tabi eegun idile) which must be rectified through iwure (prayer), etutu (rituals), ebo (sacrifices), isese (traditional spiritual steps), itefa (initiation), isera (fasting), ohun (power of spiritual words), ogede owuro (early morning spiritual incantation), ikora-eni- ni-ijanu (discipline and self control) and iwa (sound moral or good character). Through daily use of the mark sign of odu odu proper things will change for the best.

We should always try to mark the sign to enable us get over evil thoughts, evil establishment, evil desire of others and evil manifestation from the ether.

The mark destroys the power outside home or fight on our behalf in the unseen world. The mark separates or demarcates our path and our ways from those who are mark for destruction. The odu mark is a mark of victory, a sign of success and also attraction to goodness from ether. The mark are touch of Divinity (OLODUMARE) and symbol of higher spiritual forces. IFA says it is a mark of life, victory and success.

This week , we shall mark Oyeku iwori to push us to the line of happiness, victory, success joy, strength, power, health, peace and harmony, the mark will also deter the power of envy, and jealous from others AGAINST us and from us to others or the mark deter destructive power within, that are responsible for our abitrary habits and character that are not conform to divine glory. The mark is as follows:

11—–11
1——11
1——11
11——11

When waking up in the morning or after midnight, mark the odu on IFA tray or white plate with one obi , orogbo , atare and cowries to trigger extra-ordinary forces of OLODUMARE and set on motion the power of all divinities, to take control of your life and the lives of those you love. The mark must be performed in fasting or before you eat very early in the morning . Never eat whenever you want to perform this kind of rituals, ensure that you are in a complete harmony devoid of food, water and sex.

Remember that IFA verse or prayer (most IFA verses are prayer to deter evil manifestation and to aid you to success) can be chanted in your local language.

may God bless you

On Faith

May God bless you always. May the power of Almighty be your strength and your life. The purpose of this text is on faith.

Faith and purpose constitute the motive power and foundation of life. There is nothing that strong faith and an determined purpose may not accomplish. By daily exercise of silent faith, the energy and the power of man are gathered together and by perpetual strengthening of silent purpose, the power are directed towards the object of accomplishment. Before you can hope to enter into any measure of victory, blessing and success and usefulness, you must learn how to focus your thought forces by indulging and cultivating quietness and calmness. No matter what kind of job or service you are rendering for others including those who are in the business, you may suddenly confronted with some extremely difficult situation or probably disaster. You grow fearful, anxious and worry and you are at your possible end. To persist in such an evil state of mind and emotion would be a great disaster, for when anxiety steps in, correct judgment may be difficult to attain. If you will take advantage of a quiet hour or two in the early morning or at night and go away to some solitary place or in your room in the house where you know you will be free from noise or disturbance and having seated yourself in an easy habit, you forcibly direct your mind right away from the object of anxiety by dwelling upon something in your life that is pleasing, you will find that a calm, spiritual strength will gradually steal into your mind and your anxiety will pass away. Learn to use prayer and spiritual devotion to bring back your mind and re-establish it on the plane of peace and harmony. Never allow your mind to wander in the tumultuous ocean of worry and anxiety, that is deadly for successful steps and positive atmosphere. There is a divine solution to all mind that search for the existence of infinite power Of God through prayer and faith. Hence faith; prayer and calming spirit or soul attract the right course to pursue and the proper end to all problems. Make prayer and faith your daily spiritual food and drinks.
Doubtless is the foundation of hopelessness and failure. The doubting soul has failed from the beginning of any investment or purpose. To worry or anxious is to doubt the great cosmic power that colored the universe, bring about the seeds, leaves, vegetables and fruits you put on your table on daily basis. The power that put all things rights and the energy that create your body that house the soul which is the mark of the great cosmic power in your being and life. To fear, anxious and doubt is to defeat the energy of life. Be guided absolutely by the habit and vision of calmness, faith and work. Faith does not stand still. It is the working power of the Omnipotent God to illuminate your being and steps. The hour of calmness, prayer and faith while working or remain quite is the hour of illumination and correct judgment. By such a course of mental discipline, the scattered thought forces are united and directed, like the rays of the searchlight , upon the problem at issue with the result that it gives way before them.
There is no difficulty, however great that will not yield before a calm and powerful faith and strong believe in the Almighty.
Hence try to defeat the enemies within and the adversaries without will flee from you. The arena of faith is the arena of victory and hard work with the core belief that you are not alone but all forces in the cosmic and ethereal level are bound to support your mission. God will not and cannot discriminate you on the basis of your religion, color or sex but you can be beaten on the basis of your fear, doubt and anxiety. These habit of mind to doubt, fear, idle and indiscipline are destructive camp of the weak and they suffer the consequences throughout their life time and so also their generation. The arena of faith is the work place of the pure discipline and hard working being. Let faith and prayer be your virtue and principles in life. You and your generation will be blessed forever.

Truth is The Source of Action

Aboru, aboye.

Truth is the source of action. Love, patience, kindness, self discipline, great ambition and self control are instruments of truth. What perfect tools they are and how wise and skillful are they who use them.
A man who learns that he cannot command things but that he can command himself; that he cannot coerce the will of others but that he can mold and master his own will and things serve him who serves Truth; people seek guidance of him who is master of himself. A man who cannot command himself under external stress is unfit to guide others or to control affairs of others. A man must learn to govern himself before attempting to guide others. Men who habitually give way under pressure to suspicion, resentment and anger, are unfit for greater responsibilities and higher duties and usually fail, even in the ordinary duties of life such as the management of their own family or business. Lack of self control is foolishness and folly or silly cannot take precedence of wisdom.
He who is learning how to control his turbulent and his evil thought and evil action is becoming wiser every day and the day will come when, like a wise master builder, he will rest in peace and his generation in the beautiful dwelling which he has built. Wisdom precedes self control. The life of self control is no deprivation or monotony or self suffering but renunciation of false and weak life of gluttony, immorality, destructive thought pattern, procrastination, unnecessary self pleasure, drunkeness, lack of daily physical activities, lack of daily spiritual and divine activities, self indulgence, hypocrisy and idle talk. A self controlled man is calm, enlightened and resolve in to prayer under all misfortune because he knows that things will turn around for good and the darkness of the night will surely see the light of the day. He believes in the overall infinite power that bring all things into being.
While the drunkard, the glutton and immoral lives for pleasure only. In pursuit of elusive enjoyment, man lose the abiding joys of life.
He who control his senses has most of physical life, joy and strength so he who controls his thoughts has most of spiritual life and divine power flow to him like undried river flowing to the ocean of life. Knowledge and wisdom are revealed to the wise man who controls self. The road to ignorance and selfishness are blocked and closed, while the gate of knowledge and enlightenment are open to the soul that controls self.
Start your day with prayer and end it with thanks and gratitude. It shall be well with you as long as there is an appreance of the sun.
At the road path of self control, there is the joy of victory, the consciousness of expanding and increasing power; the attainment of infinite and imperishable riches of divine knowledge and abiding happiness of service to humankind those who travel only a portion of the way will develop a strengt , achieve a success and experience a joy which the idle and the thoughtless cannot know and those who tread on this great path will become spiritual conqueror. He will triumph over evil and be patient under temptation and enjoy everlasting victory with his generation.

Alafia

Give Value to Life

Author of the text: Mark Casillas, one of our members from North America

Aboru aboye

The only life worth living is the one that is permeated by dignity. It is enough to be a human being. We are placed upon this sacred earth to realize our humanity. We are here to discover that humanity is divine, sacred and fundamentally good but this divine quality of sacredness and fundamental goodness does not emerge and reach fullness in a passive way, but through graceful and skillful effort. Make the best of your time upon this wonderful earth. Love God, be kind to each other and do not fragment God. Know that God is omnipresent, therefore see God in all.

Keep this thought in mind and remember that one day you will have to depart from this world. All your relatives, your language, your regional identity and the beliefs you professed will not leave with you when you depart from this earth. The only thing that will accompany you is your actual goodness, your moral-spiritual attainments, the spiritual power and grace you cultivated and built up within yourself and the quality of your conscience. We come into this world with closed fists and leave with open hands. We bring nothing with us when we come into this world and everything we possess will be left behind when we leave this world. In the end, it is not important where you were born, what our language, professed religion or creed was. Rather what is important is, how good human beings we become, how much service and benefit we rendered to humanity and whether our lives are approved and blessed with a good conscience. What is important is that we improved, developed and matured as genuine human (humane) beings. Religion is ultimately an expression of who and what kind of person you truly are. What is important is not how much knowledge you possess but what you do with that knowledge; whether you practice and apply it for the wellbeing and benefit of others and yourself. What is important is whether there is love, sincerity, humility and purity in your thoughts, words and actions. What will be important is whether you were and are a genuine and authentic person. Be guileless, straightforward and wholesome. Live with joy, enthusiasm and compassion. These are the things that matter. Simple living, high thinking and practical demonstration of unfeigned kindness from moment to moment and day to day will fill our lives with satisfaction, gratitude and fulfillment. When our time upon this earth is complete,— with honor, joy and peace of mind we will ascend to the divine abode without shame and with great satisfaction and expectancy of greater things to come.

Make sure that you cultivate, nourish and build up iwa within yourself. Iwa will defend and speak for you when you depart to the higher worlds. Iwa will open the doors to the sublime realms and give you the power, eligibility and right to enter. Iwa is the supreme ase. Through iwa all graces, powers, knowledge and blessings are secured. Be diligent. Apply and cultivate patience and perseverance. Feel and see the divine presence in everything and everyone. Do not leave for tomorrow what should and can be accomplished today. Do not put your spiritual dreams and aspirations on hold. Pursue them assiduously and realize them. This is the way of dignity, satisfaction, peace and fulfillment.

Alafia

STAY ENCOURAGED AND NEVER LOSE HOPE

Aboru Aboye.

Do not think or worry about who is on your side or who is not on your side while going about your service to Olodumare and Ifa. Just think about how and in what wonderful way the ase of Olodumare Enitolaaye will manifest in your life. Give space, time and occasion for the divine guiding power to manifest. When you do all things with care, love, respect, truthfulness and honesty Olodumare takes personal and direct charge of all your affairs and causes all your doings to bring forth abundant and satisfying fruit. Do not worry yourself as to how, when and where the divine ase will manifest itself in your life. Do not see any secondary causes in your life just acknowledge and see Olodumare alone, the supreme controller, master and guide of all things. Do not consider people, places and things as the directors or determiners of your life…above all and behind all, see the gracious and loving hand of Olodumare at work in you and in your life to bring to accomplishment, peace and prosperity.

Just be at peace and know with unshakeable and unwavering assurance that the divine ase will unfailingly manifest. Deepen your trust in Olodumare and let your actions be the expression of the flow of the gracefulness, pure energy and invigorating power of Eledumare. Do your best in all things, be inwardly still, tranquil and at peace. Exert yourself diligently as if all depended upon you but know in your heart that all manifests due to ase, grace and presence of Olodumare.

Do not consider your actions and endeavors as something separate from the actions and endeavors of Olodumare. Affirm and recognize your essential and qualitative oneness with the Source Supreme. Olodumare’s actioning is your actioning. Your actions are Olodumare’s actions. May you be comforted, strengthened and empowered by these truths. You need not know how, when or where the relief and aid will come from. Why trouble yourself with what is not necessary when you can be at peace through the power of faith, trust and confidence in the Divine leading you. Having entrusting your situation, dilemma, problem or concern to Olodumare know that the answer and solution is in route and will reach you at the best and most propitious time.

You are perfection in the making. All precious, shining, resplendent and finely faceted diamonds start off as a dark pieces of charcoal but through the divinely established process of programmed tensions, pressures and stressors it emerges a transformed and beautiful peerless, translucent and luminous gem. Delight in your trials, glory in your challenges and thrive in your moments of adversity because that means that at any moment the mystic, pure and holy gem within you is soon to emerge and be revealed, your true divine identity is to be manifested. Do not exasperate yourself. Practice patience, gentleness and kindness towards yourself. You will attain and obtain benefit and advancement beyond your personal hope and expectation of this there is no doubt.

Alafia.

AWO – Who is AWO?

Aboru Aboye.

The way of Ifa is a path of divine straightforwardness and simplicity. The way of Ifa or Ifa consciousness ‘Ifayelele’ is a path of freedom from bewildering complexity, confusion and sophistication. Ifa simplifies, harmonizes and unifies. Ifa delivers from disharmony, inner disparity, mental-emotional turmoil and fragmentation of integral personality. Simplicity, straightforwardness, guilelessness and pure intelligence is the way of Ifa and the way of its aspirants and devotee’s. In Ifayelele (Ifa consciousness) there is no place for feelings of fear, hatred, disgust or discrimination. To be an awo means to be a partaker of Ifa consciousness.

Awo is a settled upon state of heart and mind, marked by peace, serenity, joy and optimism. Awo is an inner state of being, consciousness and outlook that completely fills ones life and governs all of ones interactions and relationships. An awo delights to abide in cleanliness. An awo thrives in demonstrating love, compassion and divine wisdom to all. A person who is inwardly established in this inner quality of divine sentiment is an awo. There is no such thing as a fake or false awo. If one is an awo one is genuine, authentic and true. If one is not genuine, authentic, honest and truthful, one cannot lay claim to the sublime status or name of awo. One is either awo or not. An awo has a strong sense of social responsibility and identifies himself with the sufferings of humanity and is dedicated to bringing relief to the suffering ones. An awo struggles individually and collectively against social injustices. An awo Orunmila or follower of the Ifa spirit of limitless light and life stays very far away from doubt. An awo Ifa stays very far away from those things that the wise do not approve. Awo Ifa do not dwell in ogberi consciousness (state of mind of those whose understanding and intelligence is stained by ignorance, blind passions, conceit, foolish stubbornness and selfishness). Awo Ifa dwell in the divine sentiment and are rooted in and nourished by the divine power.

The vocabulary of an awo Ifa or one growing in his awareness and experience of Ifayelele has no place for defiling, provocative, slanderous words that spread enmity and strife. Such words or thoughts do not arise in an accomplished awo. Whenever you come across such divine, holy and peculiar awo, know them to be blessed by Olorun Alaaye (The one supreme God who is eternally living and full of beginingless life, light, immeasurable wisdom and boundless power). Such awo are living holy shrines. Wherever they go and whatever they touch becomes auspicious, purified, uplifted and blessed. Such awo are fields of merit. Whatever ones bestows upon them in love, affection, respect and appreciation returns back to the giver many, many, many times over. With unshakeable faith and reverence they are moved by human sufferings. They live for the happiness, peace and wellbeing of others and not for themselves.

Olodumare takes care of all their requisite needs. Olodumare takes full responsibility for such awo and upholds them with His grace, truth, power and love. Before such awo, even the Orisa bow in reverence, love, respect and amity. Such divine awo are well cultivated and do not like to see anyone spreading disharmony. Their way is one of friendliness and compassion. Their way is one of respect, dignity and seeing love within each other. The awo who pursue Ifayele (Ifa way of peace, fulfillment and harmony) do not have any special appearance. Their character and noble personality are their garments. They do not worry about themselves and are possessed of contentment. They accept life as it is without complaint and see the mysteries and love of Eledumare in everything and everyone. Their aim is only to increase the pool of goodness in the world and strengthen the rope of life. Such aspirants and devotee’s of Ifa aspire to and delight in remaining blameless in their undertakings and firm in their determination to live clean, honest and sympathetic lives. Such awo may get cheated by others but they never cheat others. They do not pay others in the same coin. They believe in and entrust themsleves to the power of truth, loving-kindness and the law of divine justice. Such awo are free from conceit, pride and vanity. They avoid these three things as if they were poisons or burning fires. They delight in showing respect to others and they delight in hiding their strengths, virtues, powers and wisdom from others. They seek the glory of Olodumare and His wisdom/power called Ifa.

Awo Ifa avoid intoxicants of mind and body. Such awo avoid immorality and promiscuity as if these were merciless ravenous wolves or lions. They avoid deceit and lies. Awo live lives of altruistic heroism, courage and inspiration. Such awo are not easily found or identified but they are known to Olodumare and His orisa. These awo are continuously engaged in providing for the well being of others. They do not discriminate whether others are worthy or not worthy. They are like the light that emanates from the sun and the rain that descends from the clouds. They pour out goodnes and blessings to all without partiality. They give to each one what he needs and not always what they want. Such awo grow to have presence, power and ability like Ela Asiwaju, who is able to bestow and effect positive changes, healings, wholesome corrections and divine realizations by his mere presence, look or touch. Even without speaking, even through silence such divine awo can speak peace, love, assurance, comfidence and meaning to those who draw near to them and to those to whom they draw near. The way of these awo is marked by simplicity, clarity, straightforwardness and purity. Everything they say and do emanates from their pure being. They abide in the life of the heart.

These awo are not in competition with anyone nor are they comparing themselves to anyone.They are not led by a superficial intellect but a heart full of true understanding and insight. In them, the heart and mind are a unified reality. The heart and mind of an awo remains unsullied from the contaminants of ogberi mentality. Awo are truly free from greed, anger, lust, worldliness and pride and the corrosive effects that they produce. Awo live in serenity, divine beauty, gracefulness and contentment. To such awo Olodumare gives the privilege and power of command, authority and leadership because such awo do not practice deception and do not bring others down into the depths of despair and fear. Such awo do not point people to themselves but to Olodumare, Ifa and the noble ways of Orisa. These are the divine qualities and characteristics of (genuine) aspirants and devotee’s of Ifa.

Do not go out into the world seeking for the ones who have these qualities and characteristics, but study yourself instead and see if these traits are in you and are you. Only when you are personality established in these qualities and characteristics or Ifayelele will you then be able to truly see, know and discern the awo who is truly awo in quality of spirit and manner of life. Like attracts like. Like attracts like. Like attracts like. To truly know and discern a [true] awo you have to be one. No one should be content with being an ‘awo’ in name only. What good will come of it? What benefit will be accrue?

Consider daily these qualities and characteristics and make them your own. Do not concern yourself with others, whether they are true or not, reliable or not. One thing only is there for you to accomplish. Make sure that you are true, authentic and accomplished, and all others things will take care of themselves. One cannot be a part-time awo. One cannot oscillate between awo (ogbon) and ogberi. One has to be true, authentic and real from the center of ones being to the outermost extremity, through and through, all of the time. Dear followers of Ifa, takes these words of wisdom and guidance and incorporate them into your lives. Do not just listen, ponder and consider them but be motivated to practice and be the truth and do the truth. If you are not persuaded to follow this course, your lives will always feel and be hollow, empty, lacking in substance and accomplishment.You will always feel that something is missing from your life and you will be erroneously be led to think that what you are needing are more ceremonies, more initiations, more contacts with different kinds of initiates etc etc. You will never be whole and will always be jumping from here to there looking for inner satisfaction, peace and rest. Do not fall into the self created trap of seeking misguided, erroenous or imaginary solutions to your real problems and longings.

What you are needing and looking for, no one can instantaneously give to you. Even to receive divine benefits ones has to qualify to be able to rightly receive or be receptive to the divine light, grace and power. Stop jumping here and there. Be humble. Gain stability, foundation and balance. Follow the pattern of divine guidance. Re-initiate yourself through a clarified intelligence, firm will and holy determination. Be persuaded to ground yourself in the perennial truths and spirit Ifa and make them your own through assiduous practice.

A true seer is defined as one whose understanding, intelligence and actions are indivisibly one. If one does not do the truth and good that one knows, that shows that one has not truly understood or penetrated into realm of divine understanding. In the divine realm, to know the truth of iwa means to marry iwa and embody iwa in all one thinks, says and does. In the life of an awo, comprehension and action cannot be two seperate things. They are inseparably one and form a single, indivisible complete reality. The whole of Ifa consists of doing. Of doing what? Of doing, of practicing, of demonstrating the guidance, principles and counsel of Ifa. Ifa is the one who counsels us and advises us with a meticulous care, concern and love that surpasses that of our relatives.

Become a master of the essential and do not waste your time on the non-essentials. Time is running out. The time to adjust oneself and do what is true and right is now. A blade of grass is soft and pliable yet it can cut the hand if not properly handled or improperly grasped. The way of Ifa is like this. Ifa is soft, pliable, flexible and firm but when one handles Ifa wrongly or improperly through negligence and deliberate forgetfulness one ends up cuttings oneself or injuring oneself. Let Ifa be to you a healing herb of life, delightfulness and joy and not a cutting blade. It all depends on you and how you handle the wisdom and guidance that Ifa repeatedly sends your way. The love, power and gracefulness of Ifa is hidden within the counsel and advice Ifa gives. Only when you take the kernel of Ifa wisdom and plant it in your heart and nurture (cultivate and practice) will you experience its efficacy and wonder. Ifa is more interested in you receiving and applying the words of guidance for daily living than in offerings and sacrifices. Only when you do and apply the former does Ifa delight in and accepts the latter. For those who really want to benefit and make genuine progress in their spiritual life these words are sufficient.

Ela ‘boru.
Ela ‘boye.
Ela ‘bosise.

ESU – ONE OF THE GREATEST AND MOST REVERED DIVINITIES – Irunmole

This divinity is generally known as a universal or divine policeman because of the spiritual duties of enforcing divine laws and order . ESU in reality deter chaos , confusion and pandemonium in the life of all devotees of OLODUMARE at all level in life. Without the activities of this great divinity , the entire universe would have experienced or fall into great confusion never seen before in creation . Had it not been for the fear of the unknown and the law of retributive effect, man would not have given any importance or meaning to life or to superior forces or try to know or seek the existence of higher power in creation, the fact that man will go on the way of his ancestor after short life span , force him to submit to the superior forces of OLODUMARE AND HIS NUMEROUS DIVINITIES. ESU makes us realize that evil awaits the evil doers at all level , and goodness awaits the wise here and hereafter . Man wants to live freely without caution , and he wants to do whatever suits him and man is delighted in his own immoral existence and his indolence. Man wants to assume complete authority with ease but the presence of Ajogun Orun, that is, the punitive knights of heavenly doom create fear into the life and mind of man to reject arrogance and seek wisdom . Man does not want to worship or revere any higher force or forces, and consequently man does not want to recognize any power higher or explanation beyond his physical existence not to talk of unseen energies embedded in the universe. The presence and the knowledge of Esu force man to yield to higher and unseen force of OLODUMARE and His numerous divinities.

WHO IS ESU ?

He is the arbiter between man in the quest to deter evil manifestation in his destiny and attract positive lot to his life and that of his generation . There is no way we can speak or write about ESU without trying to iron out who is AJOGUN, or ALAJOGUN or AJOGUN ORUN . AJOGUN ORUN , literally means or translates to ‘’PUNITIVE KNIGHTS OF HEAVENLY DOOM NAMELY , IKU (DEATH) , ARUN (DISEASES) , OFO ( SORROW) , OFO( LOSS) ,ESE(DESTRUCTION ) , EJO (LAWSUITS) . These energies or vibrations are not man –made or physical reality , they are spiritual forces embedded in the universe to serve as deterrent to any man who fail to comply to universal laws and orders.. Remember, weed grows on uncultivated land , the fool sees weeds as nuisance in the universal order of things , but it is natural to have weeds to protect the uncultivated land from losing her richness or fertility while a wise farmer with seed , must sweat through his own effort to replace the weed with the seed . Like the weed of sickness , death , lawsuit , destruction , loss , sorrow and other negative vibrations are well established in the universal order of things to appreciate life and to ensure that man labor for his spiritual freedom, liberty and opportunity in life . Nothing should come freely to man , all things must be labored for , to appreciate its value and its usefulness. Esu becomes the go between two opposing ends of objective of all creatures and discontentment Life entails the period of happiness and the time of unhappiness, the time to live and the time to pass on to the world beyond or other side of the universe , the time of riches and the period of lack , the time to rain and the period of drought , the time of accomplishment and the period of disappointment .

It is a well acceptable fact that good fruits of life would not come to our life without effort unless induced or enticed by effort or power within and without ( the power within is the spiritual and the power without is the divine –the expansive power of OLODUMARE AND HIS NUMEROUS DIVINITIES). Bad occurrence or evil manifestation would not stop coming into our lives like weed covering up an un-cultivated and fertile land. It is therefore, absolutely compulsory or necessary to approach or seek power beyond our control or spiritual wisdom to gain control over this misfortune or negative manifestations. Life itself is the work of spirit , and spirit is life , no one solves what is in the spirit with ordinary human wisdom , the need to delve into spiritual world to effect positive changes in our life and destiny call for the presence of Esu and reverence to his immense power in the universe. In all human effort to grow and to change the unchangeable, Esu is needed . Esu is said to be the divinity that connects man to higher forces so that the presence of ALAJOGUN can be neutralized without delay and other negative powers can be kept away from our own path and that of our generation . Energy of ESU according to Enitolodu, is the primordial energetic vibration from the divine realm that go beyond spiritual, mental , emotional and physical .

ESU is at the middle of both divergent world forces , Esu Controls and regulates the two extremes, the world of happiness, joy and fulfillment , and also the arena of destruction , hopelessness and sorrow . At times, man tries to explain the activities in the world through their unlimited knowledge of the unknown , he fails to realize that , spiritual goes beyond prediction and scientific analysis of man in creation or human reason . The wise knows that beyond the field of human knowledge commences the true picture of reality , the divine reality of life and limitless vibrations pervading the universe,hence to explore this reality , man must connect , initiate or appease to ESU , the adjudicator and arbitrator of these numerous level of creations or many worlds of existence .

Esu demands from those who have to give to those that do not have or those who demanded for it , within the limit of sacrifices, and initiations , the spiritual forces spread to cover and guide those who are obedient to the sacrifice and punish those who neglect possible offerings of sacrifice and initiations. Both world of visible and invisible are to be regularized , and since man cannot walk himself to the spiritual realm unaided , he needs the support of ESU to appease to the world of spirit so as to bring and shape his misfortune into fortune and maintain his happy lot from generation to generation . ESU ,at times, test man through difficulties and wake him up from the slumber or deep sleep of ignorance . Without challenges and death, no man seeks God , the simple act of having ESU to carry out the function of waking man from deep slumber , gives Him (ESU) , the most reverence and admiration every spiritual man must do on daily basis. Sacrifice or initiation is in-complete without offering first ( sacrifice or ritual) to ESU , that is the reason an intelligent devote says ‘’ esu duro niwaju , esu duro seyin awo , ‘’ that is , You –ESU , be at the front and be at the back of the devote’’. The meaning of the above statement is for Esu to prevent evil of the front and the evil at the back , and if fortune and riches are coming both at the front and at the back , with the wisdom and the support of ESU, it will get to us without delay and disturbance from any quarter .

Esu tests all human and make them pass through the fire of life to know that there is a superior power above us, that is in control , and the power must be recognized by all creature in their sublime or moving form .

Esu is the one who undertakes all the necessary plans to deter evil or impact of evil after ifa has been consulted and sacrifice prescribed to prevent all negative manifestations of ALAJOGUN( PUNITIVE KNIGHTS OF HEAVENLY DOOM) , AJE(WITCHES) , AROGOSAJU OLOGUN( THOSE WHO SEE THE FORTUNE BEFORE IT GETS TO THE OWNER) , OLORI KUKU( STUBBORN AND DIFFICULT INDIVIDUAL) , AWORAWO ( THE FORTUNE CHANGER), ELENINI( THE EVIL ONES) , ASENIBANIDARO( THE WICKED THAT PRETEND TO BE GOOD TO US) , OSO ILE( THE WIZARD) , ELOBOLOGUN( EVIL SPIRITUAL HEALERS AND DECIEVERS) , EKE (FALSITY), OLORO IKA OR OLORO BUBURU( THOSE WHO SPEAKS EVILS AT ALL TIMES ) OLOKAN BUBURU TABI ELERO BUBURU ( THE EVIL THINKERS) .

When ifa reveals the secret of these evil forces and warning to carry out necessary sacrifices to reduce or deter their power , and the devotee agrees to perform necessary sacrifices , ESU then moves into action and take the sacrifice performed by good ifa priest to the place of acceptance , distribute such sacrifice among various divinities and other elemental forces in the cosmos so that the purpose of the sacrifice can be achieved . In fact Esu becomes the pacifier that appeal to all contrary forces in the universe to stop the manifestation of destruction when all necessary sacrifices and spiritual steps have been performed .The duties of Esu go beyond evil deterrent , ESU also takes sacrifices to other divinities in heaven so as to enable them carry out the work endowed or instructed or given to them by God . Remember that most of these divinities are unseen and invisible , and the power to induce them to aid and support our life are given to ESU through the sacrifices we offered to them . ESU builds a strong energy for those who carry out spiritual steps as directed by ifa to prevent negative attack from getting to us in the physical state of existence and damage our relations with our spiritual colleague and divine partner in heaven-EGBE .

IFA through the knowledge of odu states that ESU came with the greatest primordial divinities during trans-spiritual and divine migration from heaven to the earth .He supported the greatest exodus in creation , helping all divinities to achieve their purposes, most especially IFA ORUNMILA BARA AGBONNIREGUN . The major work of Ifa is divination and correction of error associated with life , and also the prescription of sacrifices , rituals, prayer , initiations and other spiritual steps to right the wrong and to rectify all misfortunes associated with human destiny and his generation . Who then become a facilitator!!! , the answer is ESU , he takes sacrifice to heaven and brings back the good messages from OLODUMARE AND HIS NUMEROUS DIVINITIES to the doers of sacrifice on Earth . Through this great work ESU KNOWS THE SECRET OF UNSEEN WORLD OF SPIRIT AND THE DESIRE AND ASPIRATION OF MEN , these two opposing demands are brought into harmony and have solution through ESU.

Heaven needs the attention of man in creation to fulfill their destiny and to fulfill the purpose by which GOD created him , while man needs the attention of GOD and His numerous divinities to SUPPORT himself in the jungle of life , the balance between the two is facilitated through ESU .

In one of the numerous verses of ifa , ESU was seen as the servant and at the same time , the leader of all divinities. He is seen as servant because he feeds them daily with the sacrifice performed by man , and also takes the message of divinities back to man . While as a leader , because , he is at the throne of OLODUMARE on daily basis , knowing the important decisions made by GOD ON DAILY BASIS and also relates and brings the decision of OLODUMARE to both divinities and human alike , that is the main reason he is called AJIROBA , — THAT IS THE ONE WHO SEES ON DAILY BASIS , THE OMNIPOTENT KING OF THE UNIVERSE , OLODUMARE .

In one of the greatest myth , ESU intended to dominate and take all divinities as slaves , he planted one of his properties inside their different bags and loads and declared it missing when they were coming during trans- spiritual migration from ALEDE ORUN( heaven) . ESU announced to the divinities that he was looking for missing properties , and in whose bag the missing property is found would become his slave . ORUNMILA , the great (HBA- HEEPA BARA AGBONNIREGUN) , quickly recognized the attitude of ESU, consulted ifa , and it was revealed that , he ( Orunmila) should quickly returned the property(esu put in his bag) back to ESU’S LUGGAGE, before dawn . ORUNMILA took the steps as directed by ifa and saved himself and other divinities from being enslaved by ESU ODARA . Till present , ESU BECOMES THE SERVANT INSTEAD OF LEADER OF DIVINITIES , hence ORUNMILA directed ESU to always sleep outside so as to guide other divinities taking rest or sleeping inside the house ,

According to odu ifa under ejiogbe:

Ifa lo dalarun barun waye

Emi naa wi mo lo dalarun barun waye

Orunmila loun ri tikole orun bowa si ikole aye

Oun tepa osun

Esu odara lo reru awo tele oun

A difa fun alarun

Nijo ESU odara loun o gba gbogbo ere ise oga oun

Won ni ko karale ebo ni ko ya wa muse

ESU odara gbo gbigbo ebo ko rubo

Kaki ki o ko ere awon oga , nise won ba ti ESU odara si gbalede

Won ti si enu ona , won ti si orita meta ona ara

ESU duro ni waju , ki o kehin awo

Nitori tire loso ro

Translation

Ifa says , it is as if the people came to the world with diseases

I confirm the insinuation that people came to the world with diseases

Orunmila averred and confirmed , saying , he was coming from heaven to the physical state of existence

Orunmila said , he was coming and walking with osu staff

ESU odara was the one that carried the oracular bag on his head following ORUNMILA AND OTHER DIVINITIES

Thus cast IFA ORACLE for the sick ones

On the day , ESU ODARA said , he would take all the gains of his master .

Esu was advised to be patience and offer sacrifice

Esu did not offer sacrifice

Instead of taking all the gains of his master

Esu was pushed out of the house

Esu was pushed to the three cross road

Esu was asked to stay both at the front and at the back

Because only the wise and the spiritual can know the way of ESU

Till today , the shrine of esu is always at the front or back door of the house or at the

entrance of the house or office, to guide and protect the occupier of the house or the office from the attack of ALAJOGUN OR OTHER EVIL MANIFESTATIONS.

Odu iwori meji states that ESU becomes the first student of ORUNMILA during trans- migration and the name given by ORUNMILA to ESU is ESU OBASIIN. ( ESU, THE KING THAT SERVES) … TO BE CONTINUED IN THE NEXT LESSON )

KNOWING YOUR DIVINITIES