Contemplation on the Odu Ofun Meji (orangun meji)

Time is a commodity
that becomes
more rare
with each passing
moment
God is a fickle merchant
with an endless supply
only distributing
small portions
to any given
traveler
Wanton and
indiscriminate
we don’t know
how much
we’ll get
our allotment revealed
only after it’s
run out
Every moment is a
gift
not to be squandered
Once it's gone
It’s gone
forever

-- written to arvo part Spiegel im spiegel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZe3mXlnfNc

Contemplation on the Odu Iwori Meji

What is Ifa?
Ifa is not joy
nor is it suffering
but both simultaneously
Ifa is never easy
Initiation into Ifa may be a
joyous celebration
but the true practitioner
leaves this state quickly
only to realize that
Ifa is a tremendous burden
Ifa is like the yoke thrown
upon an ox who
plows forward hoping to make
dry earth yield a crop
that will nourish the
soul of the world

Contemplation on the odu Okanran Ofun (okana fun)

I am
numb
words
can not
hide
the grief
or console
the pain
It permeates
every breath
taken by this
wounded nation
We are held
in the arms of a
Golem
molded with the ashes of
burned promises
and
crushed dreams
created by invisible masters
who's hidden agenda
is known by
few
but felt by
many
I hope this Golem
will not destroy us
but it is fed by
hate
fear
rage
and
anger
the true four horseman
of the apocalypse
I can hear their approach
in the deafening cheers
for the Golem
in our midst
Love will continue to be
a stranger here
until we destroy
the golem
in each of
us

Contemplation on the Odu Oyekun Meji

If I could bend 

time

I would bend it

backwards

to capture that first 

moment

like fireflies in a 

bottle

that I could carry with
me 

so bright that 

whenever

i found myself in the 

shadows

I could pull them 

out

and break through the

darkness

illuminating my path

forward

When those days

come

and you know they

will

remember to close your

eyes

and when all seems

dark

pull out your

bottle

and let the fireflies of your

life

shine

--- Created while listening to "Awake my soul" - Mumford and sons https://soundcloud.com/courtneynicolebruner/mumford-sons-awake-my-soul  2SB

Contemplation on the Odu Irete Ogbe (ategbe)

You asked me
how is it
that I found myself
sitting
atop the mountain
and there is only one
answer
I can give
It is not I
that sits on the
mountain
but the mountain
that has formed around
me
Tectonic shifts raised me
as storms
eroded and sculpted
the ground
leaving me with
sweeping vistas
of life
I do not sit on the
mountain
I am the mountain

contemplation on the odu osa meji

Sometimes the fog of life
impairs one's ability to
see the sun shining...

Contemplation on the Odu Odi Ogbe (idi gbe)

Sometimes the trick
is just to
breathe
and let it all
wash over you

Contemplation on the Odu Ogbe Osa (ogbe sa)

If you are reading
these words
Pardon me
while I reach inside
your soul
don’t be offended
I mean no harm
but remember
you
chose
me
Thanks for letting me
in
I won’t be long
but while I'm
here
allow me to
plant a seed
Don’t worry if it
takes time to sprout
your tears will
nourish it
until one day
many years from
now
you’ll find yourself
at the feet of
a great
Cyprus

Contemplation on the odu Osa Iwori

People love
to use the word
Truth
when trying to convince you
that two plus two
equals five
especially when it is
to their benefit
And those same people
will be the first
to call you subversive
when you point out
the errors in their logic
or erroneous “facts"
Generally
the more vociferous
the defense
the more certain
you’ve found a crack
in that supposedly
solid foundation
Truth speaks for itself
even when
the interpreters don’t
speak the same
language

Contemplation on the Odu Odi Osa

Why do you hang
So dearly on to the day
You can not own it
It is not yours
Even if you carry
Its memory in your
Pocket
Why do you cling
So desperately to your wealth
You do not own it
It is not yours
Even if you hoard
It jealously with your
Things
Why do you cling
So tightly to this world
You do not own it
It is not yours
Even if you act
As if it belongs only to
You
We are all just
custodians
Passing through
These things you
Collect
They do not belong
To you
They will not
follow you
When you shed your
skin
So stop making them
The focus of your
Existence
None of this
is yours
it belongs to
everyone

Contemplation on the Odu Iwori Owonrin

Royalty is s meaningless

and outdated concept

created and upheld

by a minority

to suppress the majority

so why is it

that we worship

people with

titles and status

gained through happenstance

or worse

purchased like a 

trinket at a fair

Aren't we all 

Stewards

of this planet

we call home

Bow your head

to no one

and everyone

Reverence 

is not forced by

protocol

or custom

but earned

through 

good deeds

and

great stewardship

of all our

brothers and sisters

Contemplation on the Odu Ofun Osa

Wealth and materialism
tend to run
hand in hand with
fear and anxiety
playmates with whom we
find ourselves in a
never ending game of
hide and go seek
A package deal
you never find one
without the other
their friendship
often leaving us
barely able to move
It really is best to
break free from the
possession
obsession
that threatens to leave you
paralyzed
and instead spend your days
dancing with your
true friend
love

Contemplation on the Odu Osa Obara

Sometimes the biggest

Smile

Masks the largest 

Fangs

Requiring special care and caution 

When handling

In order to avoid venom laced

Words

Spoken in the ears of 

Others

Contemplation on the odu Ogunda Ika

Try and live

an amazing life

because someday

you will miss today

if not this specific

day

the idea that you had

today

so often we

forget

the number of days

we are given

are too few

at best

Try then

to create

beautiful postcards

of the places

you’ve been

and the people

you’ve met

If you’re lucky

you can take them

with you

on your next 

Journey 

Contemplation on the Odu Irete Ogbe

You can hide from

Many things

But unfortunately 

Hiding from yourself 

Isn't much of an option

As soon as you

Close your eyes 

Your mind

becomes a mirror

Reflecting your

Inner self

At times 

shapeless 

At times 

accurate

Every wrinkle

Every shadow

A portrait of 

naked emotions

Layered with history

Waiting for you

To give form

To the formless 

To exorcise your

Demons

And transform your 

Life 

Hopefully

For the better

Only you

Can sculpt

A better

You

Contemplation on the odu Odi Irosun (odi iroso)

There is no perfect

mate

We will never find

them

Even when we think

We have

Trust me

We haven't 

All we can do 

Is hope to find our

Best

almost perfect 

mate

And hope that

They don't leave us

To search for their

perfect

mate

Seeking perfection is

No different than

Counting to infinity 

Not going to happen

Ever

Stop trying

And enjoy 

Imperfect

love

contemplation on the Odu Oshe Irete ( Oshe Bile )

I wake 

Rubbing the sleep

From my eyes 

Breathing deeply

I stand to feel the ground

Beneath my feet

A mouthful of pure water

Passes my lips and

Swirls through my mouth

Washing away yesterday's complaints

to start the day fresh

My arms reach up

Tracing a circle

Around my head

As I greet the sky

That sometimes rewards me

With rays of sunshine 

Pulling clarity down

My hands close in silent 

Prayer

Touching fingertips

To forehead 

Covering my eyes

To open my other senses

As I kneel

And prostrate

Head to earth

So I might ground

My thoughts

I give thanks to those

That came before

Me

And

At last I 

stand tall

Like bamboo

Strong 

Yet 

Supple

Having released

All that kept me chained

I face the day renewed 

A clean slate 

Ready for

What may

Come

Contemplation on the Odu Ogbe Obara

I saw your sock
the one you keep
looking for
You last spotted it
somewhere in your hamper
I happened upon it
as I took my weekly stroll
It's funny the
things I stumble upon
when walking on the moon
I spotted it
in a field of
socks
that stretched
as far as the eye
could see
faded tulips
gently swaying
no two alike
Sometimes old
sometimes new
sometimes cherished
sometimes
just
there
but all
lost
Perhaps you should
take a
walk on the moon
and find
the dreams you've lost
like so many socks
and let yourself
become whole
again

Contemplation on the Odu Osa Ogunda ( osa agunleja )

Wait until you find out
there is no God
I know
i’m crazy
but
guess what
God is just a
word
incapable of describing
the wondrous
inexplicable
infinite
world
we live in
That’s ok
I know you
won’t
can’t
let go
Someday
you’ll be free
from the chains of
man's religions
only to realize
It’s all just a love story
between you
and
the universe
Give in
and become one
with your maker

Contemplation on the Odu Ogunda Meji

Time is just an illusion

created by the mind

to track the decay

of the house that

holds its secrets

and the activities

of the world

around it

In reality 

there is only

now

all else

can only be

experienced

in relation to

this

moment

That’s why

all things 

past

present

future

exist

simultaneously

If a ray of light

travels 1 million light years

to allow us to view

it’s present state

By the time it reaches us

it is no longer the present

but the distant past

while its origin

is already experiencing

the future

all while we 

observe it in the

present

This 

remains true

even when 1 million light years

is 1 millionth of one second

time

at all scales is

relative

Contemplation on Oyekun Obara

Hey.

<I’ll get it>

Excuse me.

<Not yet>

Sorry.

<Still figuring it out>

Watch it!

<I’m not always the fastest learner>

Ouch!

<You'd think i’d have seen that one coming>

Shit!

<Getting there…>

Whew….

<finally>

Amazing

how long it can take

to learn even the simplest of lessons

I suppose

that’s why they say

to err is human

to forgive

divine

PS

Don’t forget to

forgive 

yourself

Contemplation on the Odu Obara Oshe (obara che)

Standing at the bottom

of the waterfall

mouth open wide

I attempt to swallow

eyes closed

but mind open

as knowledge hits

the back of my throat

splashing across my face

streaking down my neck

drenching my body

I shiver relentlessly until

the sun appears

having dropped its foggy robe

offering me a much needed 

warm embrace

strengthening me to 

once again

swallow more

knowledge

-- Created while listening to https://soundcloud.com/databoy78/nils-frahm-do-databoy78-remix-1