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Monday, December 12, 2016

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

Thursday, December 8, 2016

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

Thursday, November 10, 2016

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

Friday, November 4, 2016

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

Thursday, October 27, 2016

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

Sunday, October 9, 2016

Thursday, September 29, 2016

Friday, September 9, 2016

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

Monday, August 29, 2016

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

Saturday, August 27, 2016

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


Saturday, July 16, 2016

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

Friday, July 1, 2016

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

Sunday, June 26, 2016

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

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

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 



Tuesday, June 14, 2016

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

Friday, May 27, 2016

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

Monday, May 23, 2016

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



Monday, May 9, 2016

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

Monday, April 4, 2016

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

Thursday, February 18, 2016

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

Friday, February 12, 2016

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

Friday, January 22, 2016

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