Contemplations on Ifa ritual, Ofun Meji and Oriki to Yemonja

Aboru Aboye Aboshishe,

Sorry for the long pause, moving between continents can be time consuming... Enjoy...

Contemplation on Ifa ritual:

Ritual is devoid of meaning if one does not understand from whence it came and it's underlying theological principles. It is to say, an open act of worship is meaningless if the act is made only with intent, but no understanding of what the act means. If intent were the sole basis for giving meaning to an act, then we can say as we please caring only that we mean it in the name of worship. Ritual without understanding is like a wind blowing a leaf this way and that, it certainly moves, but where it lands is anyone's guess.

Ritual married to understanding is like a man in the desert who with compass and map in hand, can reach a desert oasis. Ifa is my compass and Odu my map, that I may find shade and water in the desert of humanity.

Ofun Meji

‘We-start-where-we-end’
Was the Awo who divined for ‘the small child who knows nothing’
When performing Esentaiye at the dawn of his life
He was told that if he sought wisdom
And did not lie, or be treacherous
Ifa would support him
He was told that in life, there are many roads,
But only the road of righteousness would lead to an end
Supported by Olodumare
And that in the end
He would return to the place he began
Next to the innumerable Irunmole in Orun

When nearing the end of his life
The Awo ‘We-start-where-we-end’
divined for ‘the small child who knows nothing’
who had become the wise elder who knew much
Ifa said he supported his Ori
And his Ori had supported him
In choosing the righteous path
And so he would return to the place he began
Next to the innumerable Irunmole in Orun
It is such that we repeat the cycle of life
Until we reach Apere (the perfect state)
Ofun Meji
Who was first
And became last
Showing that everything that begins, will end
Trading places with the end, that became a beginning
Eepa Odu


Oriki Yemoja


Ashe o Iya mi Yemoja!
Mother whose children are the fish
Who inhabit the primordial waters
Mother whose salt runs in our veins
Able to give life when ours has drained
Mother who lives in our tears
Revealing yourself in both our darkest and happiest moments
Ashe o Iya mi Yemoja!
Your curves wind like the rivers that sculpt their travels in stone
Even mountains can not stop you on your journey
There is no obstacle you can not circumvent,
Nothing that can block your way
Even the hardest and strongest
Will give way, or be overtaken
Ashe o Iya mi Yemoja!
Without you
We can not live
Without you
We can not thrive
Without you
We can not survive
Ashe o Iya mi Yemoja!
May you provide us with health
Ashe
May you provide us with wealth
Ashe
May you provide us with someone to share our lives
Ashe
May you provide us with children
Ashe
May you provide us with longevity
Ashe
May you provide us with wisdom
Ashe
May you provide us with peace
Ashe o!

Aboru Aboye Aboshishe
Marcos Ifalola Sanchez