Author of the text: Mark Casillas, one of our members from North America
Aboru Aboye.
Society for the study of IFA
Author of the text: Mark Casillas, one of our members from North America
Aboru Aboye.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
You are illuminated , and blessed, reading is a mental activity or mental exercises , prayer , fasting , rituals , sacrifice ,initiations and night vigil are spiritual activities, being in movement , through physical activities ,rigorous exercise, understanding the type of food you need to take by avoiding the three white poison , that is sugar , salt , and wheat , so also , avoiding tobacco intake, alcohol intake, chemical or narcotic in take, and increase the intake of water , fruits , legumes , vegetables and fibres are physical exercise and emotional control while pure, true, divine exercises are love , forgiveness , harmony , compassion faith , belief , friendship, companionship , honesty and determination to move on in face challenges are true Divine exercise and divine knowledge. Try to harmonize this into your life, you will see the glory of GOD manifesting in your life, and the power of Ajoguns(1) being brought under control and the vibration of Adabos(2) improve consequently in your life.
(1)Ajoguns are the divinities or power that create challenges in our life , they are punitive knight of heavenly doom , they can use any fomular to create challenges hence not all problems are evil manipulations of men , or witches and wizard , but most problems are AJOGUNS , heavenly and unseen powers that intend to manipulate our life conforming to our past , present behaviour , thinking , actions and body languages.
(2)Adabos are odus or vibrations that takes our prayer life , and our sacrifices and rituals to the state of acceptance or the abode of GOD.
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PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRAY EVERYTIME. IT IS THE SIMPLEST , LESS COSTLY , AND ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL ACTIVITIES IN THE UNIVERSE. IT GIVES YOU THE SENSE OF DISCIPLINE , AND PURE LOVE TO HAVE THE BEST IN THE UNIVERSE , IT IS THE FIRST AND PRIMARY STEP OF ANY SPIRITUAL AND DIVINE ACTIVITIES.
NEVER FORGET TO PRAY AND USE YOUR MIND TO PRAY SO AS TO ALWAY SPEAKS THE LANGUAGE OF OLODUMARE AND HIS NUMEROUS IRUNMOLE, YOU MUST ACCUSTOM SPEAKING THIS LANGUAGE.
REMEMBER THAT PRAYER COVERS THE PLACE YOU CAN NOT PHYSICALLY COVER , IT COVERS AND PROTECTS THOSE OF YOUR LOVE ONE YOU CANNOT SEE TOUCH OR FEEL PHYSICALLY , IT GIVES LIFE TO THE PHYSICAL BEING , AND IT RAISES THE HOPE OF THOSE YOU CAN NOT SEE , WITHOUT SPENDING MUCH , IT CHANGES THE SPIRITUAL AURA OF THOSE AROUND YOU , AND CONNECTS YOU TO THE INVISIBLE VIBRATION OF OLODU, WHO IS OLODUMARE , WORKING THROUGH HIS COUNTLESS OF IRUNMOLE , AND CHANGES AND TURNS THINGS AROUND FOR GOOD , IN ALL WAYS.
BE PREPARED TO ASSIMILATE THESE SIMPLE CONDUCTS , AND IT WILL MAKE YOU TO BECOME A BETTER OMOLUAWABI , THAT IS THE CHILDREN OF GOOD CHARACTER , WHICH IT MEANS THE CHILDREN OF DESTINY , OR BEING , AND THE REAL BEING IS GOD , OMNIPOTENT WHICH IS IN YORUBA CONCEPTION OF HIM IS OLODUMARE, THE OWNER OF VIBRATION THAT IS UNSEEN , BUT REAL , LIKE AIR.
THE PRAYER IS A REAL AND SOUND WORD POWER CALLED ORO, THAT IS WORD , USE IT. IT WILL ILLUMINATE YOU MORE AND MORE. ADAPT YOUR DAILY ACTIVITIES TO BE FILLED WITH PRAYER , LATER LEARN THE PRAYER OF EACH ODU , TO FORTIFY YOU AND YOUR STEPS , YOUR ACTIVITIES AND YOUR CHILDREN , AND NEVER WORRY WHEN YOU PRAY. PRAYER TAKES YOU TO THE REALM OF FAITH AND DISCIPLINE TO LEARN IFA , AND ODU , SO AS TO KNOW MORE ABOUT OLODUMARE , THAT IS THE FOUNDATION OF ALL THINGS , AND THROUGH HIM YOU ARE CHANCED TO GAIN ALL.
PRAYER WILL AWAKEN YOUR LION WITHIN , AND POWER WITHIN WILL REACTIVE YOUR NEW CHARACTER AND TRIGGER YOU TO SOAR LIKE EAGLE, AND YOU WILL SEE EVERY OPPORTUNITY COMING TOWARD YOU AS YOU ARE GOING TOWARD EACHOPPORTUNITY.
LEARN AND TEACH YOUR BODY , SOUL AND SPIRIT , BEFORE YOU BECOME A BETTER TEACHER TO OTHER , AND YOU WILL GAIN , AND GAIN BOTH THE PHYSICAL STATE OF EXISTENCE AND THE LAND OF OUR ANCESTORS.
TAKE THE WORDS AND PONDER OVER THEM , THAT IS , TO BE BETTER AND BETTER EVERYDAY , AND ACCUMULATE MORE SPIRITUAL WISDOM THAT HAS PROFOUND DIVINE KNOWLEDGE , PHYSICAL ADVANTAGE , AND EMOTIONAL POSITIVE STATE , WITH SOUND MENTAL POWER .THIS IS THE PART OF DISCIPLINE , TO READ , WRITE , REMEMBER , INCULCATE IN YOUR DAILY ATTITUDE, ACT AS IF YOU HAVE GUARDED BY IT , AND DO IT ON DAILY BASIS.
THIS IS IFA , ATTRACTION TO WISDOM , KNOWLEDGE , UNDERSTANDING , POSITIVE ATTITUDE , THAT IS IWA, WHICH MUST BE OUR FIRST WIFE , TO BE ABLE TO LIVE WELL IN THE PHYSICAL STATE OF EXISTENCE , AND HAVE A BETTER DESTINY IN THE LAND OF ANCESTOR. WHEN YOU DO YOUR PART, THE DIVINITIES WILL NOT DO LESS, AND THE POWER OF AJOGUN WILL BE PUT INTO CHECK.
REMEMBER THAT LIFE IS A BICYCLE THAT NEEDS CONSTANT PEDDLING TO BE ON MOVEMENT. IF STOP, IT WILL FALL, THEN , OUR LIFE IS LIKE THAT. IF YOU STOP YOUR SPIRITUAL WISDOM , AND PHYSICAL DISCIPLINE , THEN , YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF ODU IS OF NO VALUE, IT IS LIKE A DOCTOR THAT LEARNS , STUDIES BUT DO NOT PRACTISE WHAT HE HAS LEARNT. PLEASE , BE A GOOD LEARNER , A GOOD ASSIMILATOR AND LATTER A GOOD TEACHER.
WHEN YOU ARE IN DISCIPLINE, DIVINATION BECOMES A WAYJUST AS A MERE GUARD AND GUIDELINE OF LINE TO ALWAYS BE IN CONSTANT PATH OF DIVINITIES. ASSIMILATE THIS AND USE IT IN YOUR DAILY LIFE.
DISCIPLINE MAKES YOU A GOOD DISCIPLE OF OLODUMARE , AND ENABLES YOU TO HAVE A GOOD MARRIAGE WITH IFA , ACCORDING TO A SON OF IFA , IYAWO DE ELESE IRE , IYAWO DE ELESE IRE , AWA MO ONA , ATUN TE E WO.
THAT IS , A GOOD WIFE WILL BRING GOOD FORTUNE, WE HAVE INITIATED YOU NOW , WE WANT TO KNOW YOU BETTER , THAT IS YOUR INITIATION IS OF NO USE. WHEN YOUR HABIT OR IWA , OR CONDUCT , WILL NOT ALLOW IFA TO HAVE A GOOD MARRIAGE WITH YOU. ALWAYS , THE WIFE KNOWS, THE SECRET OF HER HUSBAND. WHEN YOU ARE GOOD , YOU SHALL KNOW THE SECRET OF YOUR ORI , THAT IS , YOUR DESTINY , BE GOOD SO THAT GOOD THINGS WILL COME OUT OF YOU. A GOOD TREE PRODUCE GOOD FRUITS , MEANWHILE A DRUCKARD AND SMOKER WILL PRODUCE DRUNKING AND SMOKING FAMILY. HENCE YOUR CHANGES, AND OUR CHARACTER , HAS A PROFOUND MEANING TO OUR LIFE DESTINY AND OUR CHILDREN AND GRAND CHILDREN IN THE NEAREST FUTURE. LET US HAVE A GOOD HABIT AND DISCIPLINE , SO THAT OUR CHILDREN WILL BENEFIT FROM IT.
ALAFIA.
THIS IS A SECRET LANGUAGE OF POWER AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE INDEED BEEN INITIATED IN IFA. IT IS A WORD OF GREETING COMMON IN IFA RELIGION AND IFA COMMUNITY OF MEN OF WISDOM.
THE WORD “ABORU” MEANS WHEN AN IFA PRIEST HAD PERFORMED HIS SPIRITUAL RITES, PRAYER AND SACRIFICES RIGHT, THEN DISCIPLES OR OTHER FELLOW IFA PRIES WILL GREET HIM, DID SACRIFICES OR RITES GOES WELL!
IF IT IS WELL, THEN GREETIG WILL FOLLOW AS THUS ”ABORU” WHICH CAN BE LITERARILY TRANSLATED INTO SACRIFICE GOES WELL , RITUAL GOES WELL , ALL SPIRITUAL STEP GOES WELL , THE DAY IS WELL , THE TRADITION IS WELL , THE WEEK IS WELL , THE MONTH IS WELL , YEAR IS WELL , AND THE LIFE OR STEPS GO WELL , IS IT WELL WITH YOU.
WHILE “ABOYE” MEANS, YOU SHALL DO THE RITES AND THE SACRIFICE RIGHT AND WELL , VICTORY , SUCCESS AND HARMONY AFTER THE SACRIFICES SHALL BE YOUR LOT , THE DAY, THE WEEK , THE MONTH AND THE YEAR SHALL GO WELL WITH AS LONG AS THERE IS APPEARANCE OF THE SUN .
THEN THE TWO WORDS ” ABORU ABOYE” BECOME A LANGUAGE OF ALL THE FOLLOWERS AND THE DISCIPLES OF IFA ALL OVER THE WORLD. WHENEVER WE WANT OR INTEND TO GREET AN IFA PRIEST OR FELLOW IFA INITIATES.
THEN WE SHALL SAYS ABORU ABOYE WHILE THE RESPONDER OR THE PRIEST OR IFA INITIATES WILL SAY, “ABOYE ABOSISE”, WHICH MEANS, THE SACRIFICE WILL GO TO THE PLACE OF ACCEPTANCE WHICH IS ETHER , AND BRING IN RETURN THE BLESSING OF SUCCESS , VICTORY , HAPPINESS, STRENGHT AND LOVE.
IT ALSO ALL IS WELL, THE RITES ARE WELL AND ACCEPTED , THE SACRIFICE IS FULL OF LIFE , POWER , AND SUCCESS. OR TODAY IS FULL OF LIFE , POWER , STRENGHT AND ENERGY , HENCE ALL GOES ON WELL IN THE SPIRIT OF OLODUMARE (GOD) WORKING THROUGH THE ENERGY OF IFA IN OUR LIVES.
IT IS LANGUAGE OF SPIRITUAL POWER THAT COMMANDS THE ATTENTION OF ALL IRUNMOLE OR DIVINITIES TO BLESS OUR STEPS, OUR LIVES AND OUR BELOVED ONES WITHOUT DOUBT. IT IS ONE OF THE MOST PROFOUND UTTERANCES FOUND IN THE MIND OF MEN TO SHOW THE POWER OF OLODUMARE AND HIS NUMEROUS DIVINITIES IN OUR WORLD OR LIFE.
IT IS A LANGUAGE OF PRAYER, AND ALAFIA MEANS PEACE, BLESSING OF HIGHEST PROPORTION AND MAGNITUDE.