Category: ODU IFA teachings

The distinction between Irunmole and Orisa. The mystery of Odu. Part II

Previously we briefly considered the distinction between Irunmole and Orisa. Today we will consider it a little further and we will also learn about the sacred mystery of Odu.
Irunmole are divine personalities that entered the world of men and took up a human identity, that is, they  lived like ordinary human beings in the physical world. Orisa are a different class of divine beings who became deified or divinized through the power transformation after their departure from the physical state. Irunmole were divine beings of great wisdom and power as the moment of their creation whereas Orisa were beings who became divinized as the result of the lives that they lived. The Orisa became divine by a process of spiritual growth and evolution.
Irunmole have their origin in the divine realm and were chosen in heaven before coming to the world. They descended from the divine upper worlds and dwelled among men, teaching the word of God, science, agriculture, hunting, farming and other essential skills needed by humanity. The Irunmole also instituted the spiritual sciences and introduced them to humanity. The identity of irunmole are shrouded in divine mystery whereas the identity of the Orisa are readily known and recorded since they were born upon the earth.
To clarify things let me reiterate that Irunmole are divine personalities who were born from Olodumare and have the upper divine realms as their original place of residence whereas Orisa were born on earth and achieved their divine status through the laws of spiritual progress, training and effort. Now will proceed to consider the wondrous source of all powers, intelligences, life and harmony: Odu.
The POWER  that created all these  entities are from the one source called Odu. Odu is like the womb or matrix of creation.  Odu is the primordial and eternal ‘mother’. Odu is power and the source of all powers, energies, intelligences and life. This one energy produced and created all things in the world including Irunmole and Orisa. The word Odu  is the centre piece and overall energy that pervades, directs and controls all things in the universe. Odu is  the greatest and the most powerful vibration in the cosmos. All things emanate from Odu and are nourished and maintained by Odu. Odu oversees the progress, development and evolution of the physical-spiritual-divine creations.

The word Odu comes from the sacred name of the supreme being Olodumare. When you break down the word Olodumare into three syllabic word sequences you get  OLO, ODU, MARE.
OLO means  owner and proprietor.

ODU means energy, power, force and vibration.

MARE or MARERE means knowing and doing was is good or absolute goodness. The power that only and always does what is good, right and beneficial.

You will realize that the word Odu is in the middle of the sacred name of the supreme being. Olodumare means the owner of the energy or power or  force that knows what is good, does good and thinks good. The name of Olodumare and its meaning reveals to us and reminds us the things God wants us to do.

Odu is the energy that created all goodness and such energy must take the form of Olodumare. Out of this unique energy comes all creatures including Irunmole and Orisa.
Something you might find interesting about the Irunmole and Orisa is that they have form or divine bodies with features which we can discern, with which they live among us when they choose to descend. Odu on the other hand is a formless entity that  does not take up any form of image but is a  concrete energy that creates all thing. Odu created you, me and all things.
This energy is the power behind all living and non-living things. Odu is the power that directs all forces at all level of existence.

Olodumare categorizes this energy  and break it down into two hundred fifty six sub-energies which is where all living and non-living things derive their lives and their existence. All things exist and flourish within these energy patterns.  Nothing can operate outside these energies but all things fall within the regulating power and oversight of these 256 divine intelligences.

Remember that the greatest forces are invisible forces. This means that   no one can have absolute control over the all  power in creation. But we can make use of the forces of creation for the benefit of one’s life and the lives of ones progeny. Ifa teaches us through much learning, effort, patience and practice how to access these divine energies and how to integrate them in our lives upon making contact with Odu. This is why a person of lazy disposition cannot practice Ifa because of constant and learning and practice that Ifa demands of its students.  What  is learned from Ifa is utilized to remold, reshape and correct the errors of in ones life path i.e. destiny.
Some even see Odu (patterns of potential) as a destiny in entirety.  Such perspective is correct.  God passed these energy onto Orunmila Ifa bara Agbonniregun and from Orunmila to all men in the world.
Some traditions also believe that Odu  came to the world and married Ifa Orunmila.

We can see and appreciate then that Odu is the entity that produces all things. Through marriage to Orunmila the feminine nature of Odu was revealed.  Odu assumes a motherly role in relation to all seen and unseen entities. The most important point to remember is that Odu is the energy that produced all things while Orisa orIrunmole  are entities created by Odu.
Through the instrumentality of the Orisa and Irunmole the knowledge of Odu was passed on to all humanity. Those who learn or initiate into Odu are called Awo or Omo Ifa.  And those who have not initiated are called ogberi because the Odu or spiritual DNA in them has not yet been activated. Hence renew your power or reactivate the indwelling power within you through initiation into Ifa and you will get your Odu. Then you can pray with your Odu always.
The practice and science of praying everyday with your Odu gives you the power to overcome all life’s challenges. Please pray everyday for yourself and others. When you pray for others you join them to the divine energies. When you pray for others the divine light and power of Odu enters their hearts, minds and life in a very subtle but powerful way. Pray with your Ikins or Opele. Please, always try to learn something daily about Odu so as to become a true disciple of God.
Also remember that we can learn together how to pray with Odu and open opele which is called ‘Sise Opele’ with our members who might live near us. I will always try to teach Odu once a week. If you want to learn more and go deeper into Odu you can contact me or one of our knowledgeable members.

Alafia, Olayinka Babatunde Ogunshina Adewuyi

The distinction between Irunmole and Orisa. Part I

Good morning my great people. Your learning must be a constant and perpetual activity.
When a soul stops learning then it perishes or goes into perdition. Always seek the path of wisdom  through learning. What I want to share with you this morning is information about the distinction between Irunmole, Orisha and Odu.
First of all Irunmoles are different from Orisas. Many people confuse the two and use the words Irunmole and Orisa as if they are the same or as if they are two different words referring to same entity: that is they interchange the two words as if they mean the same thing.
To be best of the my abilities and knowledge of things and of the wisdom I acquired from my father these two words are not identical and do not refer to the same entities
Irunmole are entities created directly from Olodumare who represent  eternity. They cannot taste the bitterness of death nor suffer any consequence of their acts or actions because they always operate on the level of the divine laws of life. Both their names and natures are divine or holy from the moment of their creation. They transcend physical, mental, spiritual and cosmic levels of existence. They are purely divine. They ways of thinking, perceiving and acting transcends that of mankind and other beings who have become divine through a process of growth and evolution. Because the Irunmole operate from such an elevated perspective and all embracing divine understanding people at times see them as evil because they believe that the Irunmole act contrary to divine laws in creation. They do not. They live in complete harmony with the divine laws and express themselves accordingly. It is absolutely untrue that they act
contrary to divine norms because at all level sof existence there are laws that no single entity can change  what has been created from the beginning of life. Besides Supreme Olodumare will not work contrary to his divine strature, glory and plan. Indeed Olodumaee advises his own creation to act and abide by the divine laws so that  they will not suffer undesirable and negative consequences. In addition to upright conduct we can overcome negative effects through self-correction and the utilizing of  extensive prayer, sacred rituals, supplication, initiations, illumination, fasting  and other divine activities which are performed and carried out, thereby drawing upon ourselves divine compassion and mercy by which things can be made to change.
One important thing though: We MUST be obedient followers of Olodumare to reap the benefits of the divine plan. That is the main reason we must learn and have knowkedge of these Irunmole and Orisa and abide with their ways of life adhering to their divine life for generational mercy and blessings.
Prime among these primordial divine beings are Obatala oseremagbo,  or Obatala obatasa oba tanko tanko ni ile iranje. He represents and is the embodiment of purity, honesty, clarity, transparency, straightforwardness, sterling character, faithfulness, divine love and fidelity.
Orunmila bara agbonniregun. Heepa baba imole! Orunmila represents and is the embodiment of wisdom, knowledge, understanding, perseverence, patience and compassion. Orunmila is the one uniquely able to reveal the mystery of the divine and spiritual plane of existence.
Ela omo osin lagotun or Ela opitan. Ela represents maitaculous power, wonders, unassailable safety, security, forgiveness and compassion. Ela represents and is the embodiments of transformative power, irresistible charisma and extraordinary attaintments of superhuman feats that bring benefit, upliftment, inspiration and empowerment to the creation in general and to the devotee of Ela in particular.
Esu lalu ogiri oko or Esu Elegbaara. Esu is the divine messenger of Olodumare and me the deliverer of divine messages of the divinities to their devotee’s. Esu is the receiver and guardian of divine power (ase). Esu is the divine minister of justice and is empowered to enforce the divine laws ofcreation. He gives according to your deed. He protects and defends the rights of the law abiding.
Ogun lakaiye osin imole or Ogun onire  okunrin ogun. Ogun represents and is the embodiment of raw power,  endurance, courage, strength ruggedness and total victory. Ogun is the defender and guardian of truth. He is also a royal divinity. In the absence of Obatala in the assembly of the divinities it is Ogun who sits in authority in the counsel of the gods. Ogun represents persistence and strong determination. Ogun is also the spirit of engineering, creativity, hunting, farming and warriorship.
Ogun is skilled in many skills and sciences. He is also an expert master of Ifa. The life and wisdom of Ogun is very deep and multifaceted. Ogun prefers death before dishonor. Ogun values rectitude more than life. He is a great and wonderful divinity. He is loyal and faithful and compensates handsomely his devotee’s for their dedication and service to him.
Sango olugbode ara bambi.  Note: There are two differents Sangos. The first Sango came with the first set of divinities or irunmole to the world and the second Sango was born as a man and later became a king in the city called Oyo Ile. When he died he becam an Orisa because of his power, attitude and habits. His followers worshiped him and later his worship spread over the entire human race.
Like the Yoruba phrase states: Ojo a ba ku la ndere; that is at death man turns into deity. Sango represents fearlessness, thunder, wind, the power which is able to intimidate all wrong doers. He is the unstoppable force of God He represents fire, light and the unlimited capacities of man to attain all objectives and life plans.
Oro this is ancestral divinity  that came and followed other divinities to the world of physical plain and transformed at the point of death.  Oro represents the spiritual understanding of physical and likewise the wisdom of the spiritual is attained and understood at the physical level of existence
Try to understand one great point, these irunmoles or primordial entities have no beginning of days nor end of days. As they came to the world so they went back to the divine plane through mystical transformation. Because of their unique nature everything about them was shrouded in pure mystery and secrecy. Only the initiated devotee’s of these Irunmole can know them at depth.
Orisa were once human beings but through their extraordinary works  and activities in the physical plane or aye akamara  they turned into great messengers of God and they were later revered and adored by the people. This actually led to deification, immortality and worship by people  throughout the world till today. Most of these orisas include:
Osun inu ibu or yeye osun yengeye.  She represents inner power, beauty,  energy, dominion and  attractions. Osun is also known as the manly woman because of her courageousnes, bravery, fearlessness and fierceness in protecting the right and privileges of all, especially those of women and children. Osun is also an expert interpreter of the cowrie shell oracle. Osun was a wife of Orunmila and is an expert in Ifa.
Sango olukoso akasa yeriyeri oko oya.  Ina loju ina lenu . The king of Oyo. He represents human transformation into larger than life entity.
Ewa. One of the greatest and favorite wives of Sango the King of Oyo Alaafin. She represents beauty, courage and the ability to win in all competitive steps.
Aasa is another reputable wife of the great King of Oyo. She represents simplicity, attention and dynamic  power.
Osossi is the first hunter and reputable wise, and faithful follower and friend of Ogun Onire. He represents wisdom, cunning, understanding and hunting power of man in creation. He knows the trials of life and how to walk among them. He is a master tracker and hunter. He represents honor, integrity, diligence, hardworking and extraordinary intelligence.
There are many others. In the next installment or part I will write some more of Irunmole. I will also discuss the mysteries of Odu. 
ALAFIA, Olayinka Babatunde Ogunshina Adewuyi

Atamu Ifa

Atamu Ifa is the divination or spiritual exercise for the entire group, entire city or entire country. It is provided during the yearly celebration or during the five or sixteen days divination by assembly of babalawo.

During atamu ifa personal consultation are avoided because of the long incantation and the chanting of ifa verses or ese ifa by babalawo. It is a long expression of ifa to induce and invoke the spirit of the land or the divinity of the land to work  in favor of the people, dwelling in the land or group of people working toward the same objectives. It entails rethoric and divine pinnacle of Enitolodun to speak through babalawo concernimg the matter relating to the country and the land. Such ese ifa or ifa verses are usually long and extended to captivate the mystical force of the nature in relation to the land.

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

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

ORI – TO CALM ORI AND TO CONNECT IT WITH ONES HIGHER SELF

Using the vibration of Ose otura

1——-1

11—–11

1——-1

1——–11

Get a new ifa tray , mark the above odu very early in the morning  on iyereosun , mix the iyereosun with water and small black soap , and use  the water and the soap to wash the head at least three times  repeatedly  in three days . This procedure must be performed very early in the morning before drinking water or eating any food .

Remember that before going on to perform this act , ensure to offer obi , orogbo , atare for Esu lalu , or Elegbara so as to serve as connecting lick between the said Ori and the cosmic vibration of Ose otura . Since Osetura is the odu responsible for Esu at all levels of life , hence , obeisance to Esu Elegbara , Esu odara , Esu lalu , Esu beleke ,  esu .

The incantation used is thus

Doro ponmi o doro

Doro ponmo o doro

Iye omo o jomo o Sun

Omo a ti Sun

Omo a ti loyun

Omo a ti bimo

A dia folori to fori ara re sile

Ti nbo idi ado

Ti o Tetê mo pe ori eni lawure eni

Ori eni isese eni

Ori eni lalabaro eni

Ori eni lapemoni ire

Ori eni lapejuba akoko eni

Ori eni ni seni boti wu

Ori temi Yi , ori ero

Ifa o ba Tetê jê ki ori temi mumi dele ola , dele oro , dele eye , dele isinmi bayi

Ase

Translation  of the above verse

Doro ponmi o doro

Doro ponmi o doro

The consciousness of the baby does not allow the baby to sleep in peace

The baby is all about having sexual intercourse

The child is all about becoming pregnant with the fruits of the womb

The baby is all about being born among the living

Thus divine ifa oracle for the winner and the leader who abandoned his own ori

And was offering sacrifice to the miniature gourd

He does not know that one’s Ori is one supporter

He does not know that one’s ori is the first tradition or point of  divine contact

He does not know that one’s ori  is the first benefactor

He does not know that one’s  ori is the  one  that attract blessing to one’s generation

He does not know that one’s  ori is the   to give obeisance on waking up

He does not know that one’s  ori is the to attract the command of higher force and align with that force to bring about  greater achievement and victory

If one does not propitiate ori , he can misgovern and misdirect one’s life  in a way disconnected with higher forces and power.

My Ori must be calm to attract abundance blessings and victory

May ORi bring me to the point of victory , success , health , wealth , riches, prosperity , and surplus  Oh IFA

Ase

Then , you can instruct the person to go and bath with soap ,  mixed with iyereosun , which must be repeated three times, in three days , without having sexual contact ,  eating or drinking till the procedure is performed in the morning , it must be first thing in the morning , later , the person in question can eat which must be fruits , vegetables or natural  for three days of aligning with higher power , calmness will surely manifest in the life of the person .

Note , an ifa priest who will undertake this great steps , must stay clear of sex , food , anger , and other unnatural steps or unnatural activities.  The third days , the babalawo will pray and offer this mantra again before the person goes home using the verse from okanran meji  marked  on iyereosun. During the chanting , three  cowries ,  can be used  to rub the iyereosun and touch the head of the person in question

Agbele gbigbo loruko ti a a pe Eegun

Ejiogbe ló te Eegun nifa

O ni gbogbo araye o moo pe sin Eegun

Gbogbo araye  ni ni pe sin egun

Oba ominrinniposa loruko ti a npe Orunmila

Oyeku meji ló te Orunmila nifa

O  ni gbogbo aye ni o moo pe sin Orunmila

Gbogbo araye ni n pee Jô sin Orunmila

Atoba atijoye

Gbogbo won ni n fori bale fun ifa

Won ni fori bale fun ikin

Baba bori jagajigi loruko a ape osanyin

Iwori meji ló te osainyin nifa

O ni gbogbo aye ni o pe e sin osainyin

Gbogbo aye  ni n pee joo sin osanyin

Afunkeke  fala jaye loruko ti a ape Orisa obatala oseremanigbo lotun isalaye

Odi meji ló te obatala  nifa

O ni gbogbo  aye ni o mo sin oosa Nla alaso funfun , oko Yemowo

A jaye gbindin gbindin mo saan ku loruko a ape osun

Irosun meji ló te osun nifa

O ni gbogbo aye ni o moo pe sin osun

Gbogbo aye ni  o npee Jô sin osun

Ajejeje um jaigbo loruko  ti AA pe iwo Ileele

Owonrin  meji ló te ileele nifa

O ni gbogbo araye  ni o moo pe sin ileele

Gbogbo araye  ni a pe sin ileele

Gbogbo araye  ni a pe sin ileele

Saluje mo jomo awo loruko  ti a pe eyin iyaami osoromaniga apani ma wa gun olokiki orun

Obara meji la fi te iyaami osoronga ni fa

Ti a fi osa meji , osa awon to laye pe ori wa wasi isalu aye jingbinrin

O ni ki gbogbo araye ni o moo pe sin eyin iyaami osoromaniga

Gbogbo araye ni a pe Jô sin eyin iyaami mi aje

Sekiri alagbaja

Tefi alaalaagbaja loruko ti a ape Esu  Odara nife oyee, nife odaye , nife odua

Okanran meji ló te iwo esu  odara nifa

O ni gbogbo aye , ni o o pe sin iwo seu odara lotun isalaye

Gbogbo aye ni a pe e joo sin iwo seu odara

Ifa o to gege komo araye o moo pejo waa sin mi ooo

Ori kan sososo lorukoo ni

Orunmila o to gege

Komo araye o waa fi rere owoo won fun mi

Ori kan sososo lorukoo ni

Ewe ojusaju  lo ni won o moo gbe rere se isaajuu mi

Ori meji  ni o gbodo si

Ori temi nikan sosos ni ko wa deni apesin

Ori temi , ko maa um suru labe isoro ni ilê aye

Ori kan sososo loruko ni

Ifa o to gege ki gbogbo araye o moo wa yo mo mi nigbayi ooo

Atewe atagba nii yoo mo iyo

Ori kan sososo nii yo mi iyo

Ori kan sososo loruko ni

Ifa   o to  gegege  koo waa sere temi fun mi

Ogbe mejeejo

Eyin leepe sikiti  ti e e la babalawo lode isalaye

Eyin Lee pe sikiti ti e e la ogberi lode isalaye

O to gegege kee wa la mi ooo

Ela ii gbori igi di mola

Egiri alo , ki wa la mi lode isalaye

Egiri alo

Translation of the above verse

Agbele  gbigbo is the name we call Egungun- The ancestral Power

Ejiogbe was the one that initiated Eegun into IFA oracle

He directed all men to idolize , adore  and give obeisance to egungun

All men worship and revere egungun

Lord Ominrinnipasa is the heavenly name we call Orunmila

Oyeku meji is that energy used to initiate Orunmila bara mi Agbonniregun  into ifa oracle

He predicted  all would idolize and revere  Orunmila

All  human beings venerate orunmila

Lords and the slave rush to worship orunmila

They all worship ikin under the leadership of Enitolodu

Father with  formedless head   is the appellation and description of osaiyin

Iwori meji was the vibration used to initiate Osaiyin into IFA cult

Ifa said , all men would venerate osainyin

The entire world bow before the lord Osainyin to tap from his mystical power

Whiteness and purity (afunkeke fala jaye)  is the name we call Orisa Obatala the ancient of days

Odi meji was the vibration that initiated Obatala into ifa oracle

Ifa  directed all men  to adore and worship the lord of white and purity in the physical state of existence and in the heaven above

All men heeding to ifa advise and start to worship the lord of Whiteness and the patient –Obatala the ancient of days .

Ajaye gbindin-gbindin  mo saan ku is the name we call Osun

Irosun meji is the vibration used to initiate yeye Osun Segeye

Ifa directed all men to worship and venerate yeye Osun olomi tutu

All venerate yey Osun ajalaye

Ajejeje mu jaigbo  is the name we call Ileele

Owonrinmeji is the vibration used to initiate ileele—mother earth

He predicted that all people would venerate ileele—mother earth

All over the world ,

Mother earth  spread  all over the world

Saluje  mo jomo awo  is the name we call you , the lady of Nightly rite – the mystical bird of the night

Obara meji is employed and used to initiate oh yee the lady of Nightly rite-iyaami osoronga

Using the vibration of osa meji to bring them into the world of men and institute their power to effect all changes in life

All men give their obeisance to Iyaami Osoromaniga

Teni Alaalaagbaja is the name we call Esu Odara  in the city of the mystery , the holy city of Ife

Okanran meji was the one that initiated esu odara into ifa oracle

Ifa directed all men to adore and idolize  Esu odara

All men idolize and worship Esu odara

Ifa is the right time  the men of the world gather together to adore me

It is only one head  that  he-goat (male goat)

Orunmila bara Agbonniregun  , it is the right time , people venerate me and worship my Ori

For men of the world  to give me the good things  in their keep

It is only one head  that the he-goat  has

Orunmila , it is time

For the men of the world  to give me and accord me the necessary respect and love in life

It is only one head that the he-goat  has

Orunmila  it is the right time

For the men of the world to assemble and bless me

It is only one head that the he-goat has

Orunmila let the men of the world bless and adore me

The leave of ojusaju  has commanded that all men should shower me with mercy , love and prosperity

The two heads don’t  exists on one body , only on special mysterious occasions

It is my head alone that should become idolized and revered

It is only one head  that the goat has

Ifa , it is time  for all the children  of men  to revere and adore me

Both young  and the old  adore the salt

It is only one head  that the goat has

Ifa it is time for you  to do my own , all you eight odu

You are the ones  that form  a bunch to enrich a babalawo on Earth

You are the ones who team up to enrich a babalawo on Earth.

It is the time for you to enrich me

Ela would never be on the top of the holy tree and not bless the world

Of yee the greatest master and savior , be quick to enrich me and calm my head to attract enormous divine blessings

Ase

DEDICATING OURSELVES TO OLODUMARE

Aboru Aboye.

A wise person knowing that all things are ordered, arranged and managed by all wise Olodumare never sorrows. In the Divine Mind -Enitolodu- all things are perfected and accomplished from the very beginning. There is not one wrong thing in Olodumare’s administration of wisdom, love and joy. We should abide in peace and humbly knowledge that Olodumare alone is the true knower. A wise person understands from the heart that whatever happens by the decree of Olodumare is for the supreme good. All the ordinances that proceed from ile ase, (the divine sanctuary of command, authority and power) where Olodumare resides, is for the ultimate happiness, satisfaction and good of one and all. We can be free of care and  worry only when we offer up our ego to kind and compassionate Olodumare and dispose ourselves to be his humble subjects, servitors and friends.

Compliance with divine directives is the highest merit, blessing and joy. Worship and devotion means loving-trusting obedience to the directives of Olodumare. When we willingly and joyfully comply with Olodumare it can be concluded that we have sound understanding and intelligence. No service offered or rendered to Olodumare is in vain. Even without our asking or desiring it, He rewards us graciously and abundantly out of His love, appreciation and gratitude towards us. Even though Olodumare is the Supreme King and Owner of all, there is no trace of ego or pride in Him. He feels indebted to His servants, children and friends for the most minimal service of kindness, love and respect rendered to Him. Olodumare is always mindful of us and not Himself. Olodumare is always originating, planning and arranging the best means and methods to bring us to fullness of joy, relief, and happiness.

Ego is the root of all evil. The attitude of ‘I’, ‘me’ and ‘mine’ is the illness and cancer that fills us with continual sorrow, suffering, conflict and affliction. But when we from the heart, adopt the attitude that my mind, my body, my resources, my health, my life, my intelligence, my ability, my family, my children, my friends, my spouse, my time and my home all belong to Olodumare and are cherished by Him, then peace and serenity arises in us. When we comprehend that Olodumare defends and protects the rights of others just as he defends and protects our rights, we then live a balanced life possessed of reverence and respect for the authority and power of Olodumare. Olodumare is not the lover of injustice. He is the Lord and lover of Rectitude who will dispense corrective discipline on those who are abusive, recalcitrant, and malicious and who delight to exceed the bounds of propriety.

When we treat others, our belongings and the belongings of others as realities that are in fact owned by Olodumare and belong to Him, we then treat people and things with greater respect, love, care and appreciation. When the understanding and attitude that we exist solely to serve and please kind and loving Olodumare, who is the owner and creator of our lives the do we become free from ego and its oppression upon our minds. When this attitude is firmly established in the mind then life becomes something of great beauty, wonderful and adventurous. Then only can a person understand that life is not meaningless or purposeless, but he understands that he is a servant, disciple and child of Olodumare. We are eternal friends, children and servants of Olodumare.

No one loves, cherishes, nurtures and takes care more of what is his own than Olodumare. We can trust Olodumare. Everything he respectfully orders us or lovingly asks us to do always has manifold blessings, prosperity and merit attached to it. When we come to more accurately know the personality and character of Olodumare ones discovers that one never has to ask of Olodumare to save us because one understands that Olodumare has always been and always will be looking out for our continual happiness and benefit. With this understanding and appreciation of Olodumare, we are able to serve Him joyfully and lovingly without selfish desires and without a tainted devotion. Serving Olodumare without a calculating spirit, selfish motives or a bartering disposition is what devotion means. It means me serve Him because we love Him, we approve of His ideals and aims and share (have) affinity with Olodumare’s purposes in such a deep and wholehearted way, that when we do the directives of Olodumare we feel as if we were accomplishing and doing our own will or heart felt desires, due to our heart and mind being at one with Olodumare i.e. we truly feel and perceive Olodumare’s will, plan and desire for us as our own.

Only when we are established in such a relationship with Olodumare can we know true freedom or deliverance from worry, fear, uncertainty and anxiety. Only in such union, born out of understanding and devotion, can we know freedom of heart and we then proceed to abide in joy and happiness, because our minds are nolonger oppressed and dominated by blind passions, selfishness and defilements which afflict us with continual sorrow, suffering and unsatisfactorines. Have we realized with our hearts and not in a superficial intellectual way that Olodumare is the supreme Oluwo? Olodumare is the sole owner, possessor, maintainer and rightful disposer of everything and everyone without exception? Everything and everyone belongs to Him. Nothing we can plan on our own can be better, more satisfying and fulfilling that that which Olodumare plans for us. He is the source, origin and unfathomable repository of all powers, virtues and desirable qualities. Has it been deeply impressed upon our heart and mind that this vast entire creation of millions upon millions of stars, galaxies, diverse worlds and diverse myriads of living beings, powers, intelligences, spirit personalities, divinities and other awesome creations that our minds cannot ponder or comprehend are all contained, nourished and nurtured in the ‘womb’ or ‘belly’ of Olodumare?! Has is set in, that Olodumare fills this entire and vast creation with His personal presence or ase and that Olodumare simultaneously transcends His wonderful creation.

Olodumare our True Friend, Father, Mother and Heart Companion is immanent and transcendent?! Everything is existing within Him.  These thoughts and considerations should inflame a fervent love for and appreciation of the magnanimity, glory and excellences of Olodumare. Let us honor, revere and worship our divine Friend-Father-Mother by practicing His qualities and exemplifying His noble character. Let us make the assimilating of the personality of Olodumare our chief aim in life. The character-personality of Olodumare is the truth.

Aboru Aboye.

THE WAY GO IFAYELELE (Divine love-intelligence consciousness)

Aboru Aboye. Ogbo ato asure iworiwofun.

Have compassion and friendliness towards all beings whereby Olodumare is satisfied. What is unattainable when Olodumare the Source Supreme is satisfied? Inner peace, contentment, happiness and well being are desired and sought for by all. Peaces of mind and inner contentment are products of living in harmony with iwa and otito. Looking for peace and happiness in the accumulation of material objects or effervescent worldly circumstances is as illusory, pointless and futile as attempting to try to capture a mirage. True peace, joy and contentment are that which can be had independently of changing circumstances only when we are progressively established in Ifayelele (divine consciousness of love, intelligence, courage and complete inner satisfaction).

When the heart and mind are permanently merged and united with the ase of Olodumare, this is Ifayelele (the blissful transcendental state or condition). In Ifayelele we are rooted and established in the primordial realm of causes and are freed from trying to make sense of the bewildering world of multitudinous effects over which we have no complete control. We are at peace with the world and ourselves when we are established in Ifayele. This is why Orunmila Oba Atayese praised Ifa and said, “Ifa you and I are very united. We are certainly one.”  The meaning, depth, power and significance of these words would take an entire volume to explicate so as to do justice to its sublimity, beauty, power and vision, but in a nutshell the continual aim and goal of Orunmila for himself and his followers is Ifayele. The transcendental state and condition of Ifa consciousness; or qualitative conscious union with the Ifa spirit of limitless light and life is Ifayelele.

Ifayelele experience moulds our character, and strengthens and sublimates our personality.  Ifayele does not submerge our personality but enhances it. Ifayelele makes our mind or intelligence progressively one in quality and power with Ifa. Ifayelele does not make everyone identical or the same, but causes the original and unique blueprint for our persons, according the divine purpose set by Olodumare, to reach fruition. The experience and condition of Ifayelele is one of inner sweetness, peace, unshakeable serenity, purity, love, contentment, awe or rapture, super abounding ecstatic supreme confidence, assurance and joy.

When people first approach Ifa they usually do so when a life problem emerges, leading them to find solutions, suggestions and/or remedies through consulting the divine Ifa oracle. Solutions, suggestions and remedies are sought by many through Ifa for the above reasons. Some approach Ifa looking for health, others come seeking doors of opportunity for gainful employment, some come seeking a life partner (love), others solutions to family problems or other pressing personal problems. The reasons people come to Ifa are countless. The reasons are mostly for solutions related to personal or mundane problems. Comparatively speaking few people actually approaches Ifa with the purpose of fulfilling their spiritual longings and need for spiritual actualization or realization through Ifa knowledge, wisdom and understanding. Most come to resolve immediate personal concerns or problems.

But as the person experiences the ase, power and efficacy of Ifa, they begin to sense that there is a greater depth, dimension or purpose to Ifa than just the remedying of immediate problems associated with health, love, money, success in business ventures etc. They slowly come to realize, understand and appreciate that Ifa has a higher and over-arching purpose than just the remedying of personal problems or concerns. Ifa is genuinely interested in responding to and remedying our immediate personal concerns, but Ifa is not limited to just this, even though this is an importance and attractive feature or function of Ifa. It is only over time that a conscious awareness dawns on the person, that Ifa is seeking to do and achieve in a persons life, much  more and beyond than what they consulted Ifa for. Ifa seeks to accomplish something beyond the remedying of immediate problems or concerns that we often posit before Ifa.

In oriki Ifa it is clearly stated that if we knew Orunmila (Ifa) more closely, accurately or intimately, we would know  (experience) immortality, eternal life, complete inner satisfaction, serenity and perfect spiritual fulfilment. This immortality, eternal life, joy, complete inner satisfaction, abiding serenity and perfect spiritual fulfilment refers to attaining the highest divine state, condition or quality of life that is enjoyed by Olodumare and the perfected Orisa. This state is known as Ifayelele. Oriki Ifa says, ‘Ki a mo o ki a la, Oba Alade Olodu Merindinlogun’,  (‘To know him (Ifa-Orunmila) is to find salvation, King of the Sixteen Principles of Creation.’) To experientially know Ifa is to be personally established in Ifayelele. When one is established in Ifayelele one has power to convert poison into medicine and worry into happiness.

Because Orunmila is himself established in the Ifa spirit of limitless life and life (Ifayelele), he is also known as the one who can convert our worries into happiness. ‘Ayo teere gb’ara san’le ma fi ara pa, a s’oro d’ayo’ (The young one who falls without injury, he who transforms worry into happiness.) The invitation and challenge of Ifa is that we do not become merely content with knowing the high status and ability of Orunmila that enables him to do the wonderful he does, but that we ourselves should grow in our development and attainment of Ifa consciousness, so that in union with Orunmila we might be agents of blessing, healing, comfort and joy to others. That we too might have in ourselves the power to avert, diminish and destroy the power and influence of death (decline, loss, illness, disease, anxiety, fear, worry and decay of all kinds). This is the secret Ifa will share with us and bestow upon us if we become sincere and humble resolute dedicated students and practitioners of the confidential mysteries of Ifa. We should without doubt rely on Orunmila, but one should know that the aim of Orunmila is not to make us dependant upon himself but to make us more and more like him.

Upon whom or what did Orunmila depend? Did he depend on an Orisa? Think about it carefully. He received what help and support he was able to receive from the Orisa but he himself was dependent on Ifa (the spirit of limitless light and life) or in other words he was always seeking to grow in Ifa and looked to Ifa to establish him in greater, deeper and purer levels of Ifayele. It can be said that Orunmila was immersed and filled with the Ifa spirit of limitless light and life. Orunmila relied on the joint union of Ifa and his own sacred Ori. This too should be our main practice and abiding support. As our ori is guided, developed and nourished by the Ifa spirit of limitless light and life, so we progressively lead by stages and degrees into Ifayelele. At times we experience growth spurts where we experience Ifayelele powerfully and find ourselves in a wonderful and unexplainable state of heightened awareness, divine trance, holy rapture, strength, sweetness, mystic vision, divine inspiration and power.

But because our Ifayalele is not yet perfected or matured, we come down from that lofty divine state. But even those momentary flashes or experiences of Ifayelele greatly changes and transforms us regardless of the duration of the enlightening, ecstatic and rapturous experience. Little by little we become established in Ifayelele and the duration of our state of Ifayelele is prolonged more and more until Ifayelele is our permanent state or condition from which we no longer come down from or retrogress to a mundane mentality. At the climax of growth, development and perfection our own divinized human mind and/or intelligence we will become complete united or spiritually fused with our divine ori. This is supreme Ifayele. This is what happened to the holy sage and seer of Igeti, Orunmila.  At the height and climax of this attainment due to many  years of learning, perseverence, study, training, struggling, pondering and applying the inner heart mysteries of Ifa,  Orunmila with great ecstasy, extraordinary wonder, heroic victory and joyous rapture entered the highest, final and most complete state of Ifa consciousness, the fusion of his developing and perfect Ori with his own spirit/mind (Ifayelele).

This is the goal Orunmila Oba Atayese has for us. This is the goals we should personally set for ourselves and aspire for. Orunmila is the master of Ifayalele and is able to lead us there. Orunmila is called, ‘Iriju Olodumare. Alatunse aiye.  Ikuforiji. Oba  Olofa asun l’Ola.’ (The prime minister of the Creator. The one whose function is to set the world right. The being whom even death honors! The ruler who draws blessings and prosperity after him and who sleeps in the midst of honor.) Aboru Aboye ooo Orunmila! How do you suppose my dear friends, fellow initiates and genuine seekers of truth that Orunmila will be rectifying and setting things right in the world? Think for a moment. Meditate the mystery of Ifa. Ponder it in your own heart and discern the answer, the reality.

The world is you! The world is me! The world of your heart and mind. The world of my heart and mind. Orunmila will elevate, enhance, develop and perfect your individual mental, emotional and spiritual mental state by progressively taking you through the gradual stages of attainment of Ifayelele. This is the true meaning of the Ifa revelation that Orunmila will mend our world. Not the world out there, external to yourself but the inner world of your feelings, desires, imagination, emotions and will. When Ifa revelation says Ifa will mend our world it means the mending of the individual heart and mind i.e. your world, your life, your inner world and inner life which is expressed through your conduct, behavior, demeanor and words. When you and I are mended, healed and rectified as individuals then the entire world is naturally and consequentially rectified.

So my dear friends, initiates and fellow companion-practitioners are you up for the journey of Ifayelele? Is your interest piqued? Does the desire for the attainment of Ifayelele burn in your heart with unwavering intensity? Do you want to taste, savor, glean and learn more of this sacred and confidential Ifa mystery? To achieve Ifayelele Orunmila studied, persevered and applied himself diligently and resolutely. When the journey got intense and the ajogun attempted to oppose Orunmila in his high goal of Ifayelele he did not give up or give in. He would call on Ela Iwori Asiwaju to support, encourage and strengthen him!  Dear fellow companions and practitioners of Ifa, learn more and savor more of this divine mystery you will by the blessing of Ifa. But for now this message and teaching is adequate and sufficient.

Ogbo ato asure iworiwofun. Aboru Aboye.

OROGBO

The importance of orogbo during initiation process , sacrifice , propitiation of head , prayer and other essential spiritual steps , before and after ifa activities cannot be quantified , but it is important to know that Orogbo during divination is equally important , if just to be at the pocket of highly revered babalawo . The presence of orogbo depicts longevity for babalawo and those around him , just like the presence of obi means, evil has no portion in the surroundings of a highly respected and honored babalawo .

Just like any other Yoruba words , the word ‘’orogbo ‘’ is coined and derived from two words – ‘’oro’’  and ‘’gbo’’ .  Oro means very small , round , minute, tiny  while , ‘’Gbo ‘’ means longevity , eternal , timeless, undying , everlasting , perpetual . when the two words are blended together , it becomes a unified and spiritually blessed word called Orogbo , which consequently means , a round fruits that attract longevity , everlasting blessing , enduring health and perpetual blessing of longevity . During , initiations or any sacrificial steps , or ritual  or propitiation , orogbo is used to pray for longevity , sound health , peace , harmony , and happiness. Indeed , a man with the blessing of long life and sound health , so also his loved ones enjoy the same degree of health and longevity  is indeed a blessed man in the jungle of life that is filled with mishap, untimely death and sorrow. The name of the fruits –orogbo – is coined to denote iwure , it is a spiritual seed  that establish the power of divinities with abundant  trait of long life  and sound health . However during  initiations , or sacrifice or ajiki , which is early morning prayer , ifa devotees or seeker of truth through the tradition of ifa , are required to pray and eat  part of this fruits , to serve as alignment  with the force and natural energies  embedded in the nature. IFA is a religion or philosophy based on the use of natural materials in the nature .

The natural force of this blessed  fruit  aligned with the vibration  of the body transmute and trigger or induced abundant spiritual force in the whole body thereby attaining secretly the sound health the body require to attain normal health. Every spiritual consciousness is quiet and invisible , just like the function of orogbo use it as prayer and eating small part trigger secretly the power of Olodumare in our live and enjoyment of the support of His numerous divinities . The prayer using orogbo and eating a fraction part  with iwure –that is prayer , means blessing , prosperity , abundant life , success , longevity and sound health .

While obi is perceived to be a female fruit energy , or female fruits , that give brth to male and female alike , Orogbo is a male fruit energy  that fail to have lobes or part like Obi. Orogbo can be cut into pieces either by teeth or knife , it has no parts, but a hard fruit that shows natural toughness and ruggedness. While obi is easily breakable with just hand and it is used also to denote the feminine part of the universal force or energy . Orogbo represents   the dominant energy of Olodumare  with unique characteristics of solidity , strength , firmness and oneness of energy in the universe  .  Orogbo symbolizes  unilateral force of Olodumare  which means life in abundance , wisdom in abundance , strength in abundance , victory in abundance , longevity and sound health in abundance . It also means , blessing  prosperity and strength to all race , color , and religion without discrimination . Orogbo also denotes that life in any way cannot be explained or invented  except through divine  and spiritual understanding and wisdom . every understanding or  wisdom is  unique , orogbo represents the uniqueness  of spiritual wisdom and divine understanding of how unseen forces of Olodumare works in the life of earthily men .  Orogbo becomes a divine and spiritual fruits  that are connected  with life through a divine order of things , manifesting in the  natural fruits and  blended in the lives  of men through the firmness  of Olodumare and his numerous divinities  .

Orogbo when cut into two has no line that cut through its surface like obi , the reason is not far fetched , it means , life and its benefits and spiritual supports would be enjoyed for time unlimited and our generation will enjoy the unbroken chain of spiritual and divine benefits.  Like obi , that posses the female attribute of openness and easy breaking habit , Orogbo represents the power of OLODUMARE and his mysterious character with enigmatic attributes  of unified power , unilateral force and undiluted vibration . Divine attributes cannot be explained through human understanding , just like Olodumare uniqueness is absolute above human understanding , the presence of orogbo to attract healing , longevity and sound health is  beyond  human comprehension and explanation .  Orogbo represents solidity , undivided , and shrewd manner by which OLODUMARE in his infinite nature contact men in their weak state . Strength and eternity belong to divine , and weakness and finite character belong to men in nature . Hence Olodumare cannot change , transformed and divisified to any things that maintain its original state , likewise Orogbo a true representative of Olodumare , cannot be transformed or divisified or changed to anythings rather than divinities obligation to maintain its uniqueness.

Orogbo represents through foundation , it represents  through divine forces  and spiritual vibration of the  omni-potent , mere having this fruits at home represent eternal force of Olodumare to enrich our lives with longevity , sound health and victory against all evils and evil  manipulation of AJOGUN ORUN , that is the punitive knight of heaven , that is the reason  for a song praise  and the below popular sayings

Mo ti je orogbo , ki ohun mi le gbo kekeke ni isalu aye

Orogbo lo wa mu ni gbo saye

Sebi odundun lari orogbo

Odundun lari obi Lori ate

Odundun bayi ni ki a ma wa titi

Mo ti jorogbo lode isalaye

E jeki gbo gbo gbo

E jeki dagba , dagba

E jeki ferigi jobi

Ki fopa tile gereje-gereje

Ki to ló si iwala orisa

Ase

Translation of above verse

I have tasted and eaten orogbo in the physical state of existence

Let my voice and my life attract longevity and sound health in the universe

The force behind Orogbo gives us  the power to enjoy longevity in the universe

Yearly , we set our eyes on orogbo

Yearly , we set our eyes on obi at the market place

I have eaten orogbo in the physical existence

Let me live long , live old and live well in the world

Let me live a life dignifies of an ifa devotees

Before joining my ancestors

Ase

The above song praise is supported with the below verse of ifa . It indeed reinforces the existence and the power of orogbo  as an embodiment  of longevity  and sound health  which the ancient  ifa priest  and priestess and their various devotees had been used to prolong lives in the physical plain of existence . according to the holy verse  of  irosun owonrin

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Okun sun are nare

Osa su legbe legbe

Onibu nrebu

Alas an ni rasan

Asan naa paapaa

Awo ori ota

Awon agbaagba imole lo wo gbeyin

Won rip e ko suwon

Won subu yege

Won fi rungbo diya

Won firun dinu peepee pee

Won mu ogun orogbo

Won mu ogun obi

Won fi difa fun isese

Eyi tii se olori oro ni ife

Won tun um otalenigba din lerin

A difa fun isese

Eyi ti se olori oro ni isalu orun

A difa fun sango arabambi

Orisa ti bologbo leru

Ajisaye gbege loko iya olorogbo

Sango  ooo , orisa to loju orogbo

Ma ba mi já , da eko iya mi nu

Jeki PE laye , bi orogbo se npe

Jeki ferigi jobi

Ki wa fi opa tile gejegeje

Ifa o gbo o

Orunmila  o gbo

Ela osin o gbo

Edumare  tire lemi o ma se

Ase

Translation  of the above verse

The ocean is expansive  and extensive with infinite characteristics

The sea is mysterious and nebulous

The deep ocean is unclear , inexplorable and fill with mystery

The deep sea share the same character

Inexplicable belongs to the realm of divinities

Thus divine ifa oracle  for the mysterious head stone of ages

The elder  look aback

They discovered the mystery  embedded in life were inexplicable

They  bowed their head in prayer and respect

Shave their beads as an obeisance  to the divinity

Open their mouth in awe , calling the mysterious name of the Almighty

Using first twenty sets of orogbo

Gathering twenty sets of obi

Using them to cast  ifa oracle  for custodian of tradition

The mysterious head chief of ifa oracle  at the anciety city of Ife

The elder also gather another set of two hundred  fifty six orogbo

To cast ifa oracle for custodian of tradition

The chief priest of tradition at the spiritual place of existence

Thus divine ifa oracle  for sango arabambi

The divinity that intimidate death and her conhort

The lord strong in battle , blessed with long life

The formidable husband  of orogbo seller

Oh yee sango

The divinity that have the unique  eyes of orogbo

Never attack me and never destroy the wares of my mother

Let me live long , like orogbo , in the physical state of existence

Let me use my molar teeth to eat kolanuts

Let me reach old age with sound health  and walk with stick

Ifa , let your blessing radiate my life

Ela let your success be my lot

Oh God , bless my path , I shall serve you and adore you forever

Ase

The above verse shows the importance of orogbo , not just a special fruits of life , but an embodiment  of longevity , prosperity , sound health and success are given by OLODUMARE and his numerous divinity  from the beginning of creation .

IFA also states in various verses that Orunmila went back to search  for the fruits of orogbo , in an attempt to ensure eternal life in the physical state of existence . But Esu disturbed Orunmila saying , people will feel like God , if they do not ripe , grow and wither away like other fruits, seeds, plants . Death according to esu is one of the way , men look up to God for salvation and delivery from fear of death.  Indeed , life of every man should follow  the natural law of birth , growth , old age and crossing to the land of ancestors . The explanation of Esu was established on the premise of one facts, that growth entails replacement .

Those who fail to grow either in stature , knowledge  and understanding and wisdom remain like immovable object in the universe, such as mountain and hills . Esu says , those who faithfully follow Olodumare and His numerous divinity with sound discipline during their life time  will be guided and blessed with long life and good health. They will be called the disciples of Olodumare , Eni Orisa , the follower of wisdom – onimo ifa . While those who fail to recognize their own existence  and lack discipline  attract the early penalty of death , suffering , losses, and generation curse. The beginning of life  starts from ENITOLODUN and the end is with Him , hence start your day and end your day with OLODUMARE  , that is God , start your life and end your life with God . Esu says , just like earthly life is filled with happiness and joy , remember that destruction and woos are present and surplus .

Ignorance brings self destruction , knowledge of universal order of things through the tradition of ifa brings longevity , sound health and victory . Just like the weeds and the plant are available for the foolish and the wise , likewise the way to self destruction and victory are available to Ogbeeri – the fool , and The wise –awo .  The physical level and the spiritual level need a constant maintenance , that is , there must be flow of energy , lives and soul between the two level of existence . When this things , we see it as birth and death at these two levels.  Orunmila agreed but advised  that to minimize suffering , people must  live to old age , to be able  to take care of their loved ones , to be able to serve others, serve Irunmole and serve the Omni-Potent OLODUMARE , hence How then can we achieve this , through , initiations, propitiation , sacrifices, rituals , prayer , discipline , effort , spiritual and physical educations , and sustenance of tradition of IFA , all these combined are well articulated  and analysed through the use of Orogbo , the fruits of life and longevity .

According to IFA verse  under ogbe ofun

Ifa jebo naa o fin

Ela jebo naa o rode orun gbure gbure

Isu dape jale

O npo apa

Akere dapa tele

O pojo

Omo kekeke ni soro fun  agbalagba

Ki won o le baa rohun muje

Owo ni siwaju ijo

Opolopo oro ibanuje ni siwaju  ija

Orogbo asiwaju ebo

Orogbo a siwaju ebo emi gigun

Mo ti wa jorogbo , ko hun mi legbo

Egbe mi lorun , e wa gborogbo jê

Ki egbe aye , ki o le pe  lori ilê  isalaye

Mo ti forogbo Fe gbe , ki le pe laye

Ifa , mo ti se etutu , forisa , ki le fowo pawun

Ela oba bami tamori se

Ela o pitan

Bi oko ba da , alegbede ni ntun se

Ela o pitan ,o ba ba mi tamori se ,

Ela opita

Bi Ada ba da , alegbede ni ntun se

Ela o pitan , o ba ba mi tamori se

Ela o pitan

Translation of the above verse

Ifa let my sacrifice be accepted

Ela let my ritual goes up to the heaven above

The yam grows into tuber during planting

The toad  toil and stand on  the ground

And call for heavy rain to moist the ground

The little children after propitiation and sound spiritual and physical education grow

And offer ritual and gratitude to the elders

Such that the elders would not suffer with old age

The young supports  the leder and fend for them at old age

Stretching forward of the hand precede dancing

Evil utterance  and nagging precede dispute and chaos

The fruits of orogbo precedes all sacrifice

Eating of orogbo precedes longevity

I have eaten orogbo , let me have a strong voice , sound health and long life

The heavenly mates have accepted my sacrifice of orogbo

Let the earthily companion be blessed with longevity and sound health

I have given sacrifice to my heavenly or spiritual mates

Let me live long in the plain of existence

I have given orogbo to divinity

Let all divinities support my cause

Ela the greatest historian and the sage

Repair and remould my destiny

Whenever the hoe breaks , we give it to blacksmith for repairing

Oh ye , Ela , the illuminated ones, attract  greatness , success and blessing to me

Whenever the cutlass breaks

We give it to the blacksmith to repair

Oh , ye Ela , the historian of humanity , bless me with abundant success , progress and wealth

Ela opitan repair and remould my destiny

Let my destiny fulfill his mission at all level  of existence

Ase

Orogbo according to above explanation is an object that represents the uniqueness and unified energy and vibration  of Olodumare in our lives . If all necessary spiritual , physical , mental , moral and emotional obligation are followed , happy lot  , success ,  longevity and sound health will be out lot , that is the meaning of Orogbo .

TEACHINGS FROM ODU OBARA IWORI

Please inform your followers to exert themselves to make their minds fine (full of clarity and discernment) and pure.

Inform your followers to struggle to achieve a mind that is smooth (serene) and clean.

These were the declarations of Ifa for Orunmila when his followers no longer had the power to retain and recall knowledge (memory).

Orunmila was advised to offer sacrifice and he complied:

(Prayer and request of Orunmila):

Ifa, please awaken me and lift me up at the moment when you arise (to act). You and I are very united. Certainly we are one.

Ifa, please awaken me and lift me up at the moment when you arise (to act). This is the sacred leaf of Ogbo, which enables me to understand Ifa just like my holy elders.

Ifa, please awaken me and lift me up at the moment you arise (to act). You and I are very united. Certainly we are one.

Ifa, please awaken and lift me up at the moment you arise (to act). This is the sacred leaf of Ope, which enables my ability to recite melodiously the versus of Ifa just like the holy elders of ancient times.

Ifa, please awaken me and lift me up at the moment you arise (to act). You and I are very united. Certainly we are one.

Ifa, please awaken me and lift me up at the moment you arise (to act). There are sixteen path (enclosed) within the seeds of Oniyenye all of which are used to draw and consume water.

Ifa, please awaken me and lift me up at the moment you arise (to act). You and I are united. Certainly we are one.

Ifa, please awaken me and lift me up at the moment you arise (to act). You and I are united. Certainly we are one. At the moment a great fish leaps upon the river this one will not be the least capable to see the river bed.

Ifa, please awaken me and lift me up as the moment you arise (to act). You and I are united. Certainly we are one. Ifa, please awaken me and lift me up at the moment you arise (to act).

 

Aboru Aboye.