Contemplation on the essence of D'afa - Osa Irosun

One of the great secrets of Ifa is
D'afa is only a
Momentary snapshot of one outcome
In an endless string of
Possibilities
Ifa only shines light
On the path to take
It can't take that path for you
That is up to your
Ori

Contemplations on the Odu Osa Ogunda

A tribe's culture
is set by its leaders
who should lead by example.
All things in moderation.
If they indulge in too much secrecy
too much discord
too many directions
and no single true north
the tribe will follow suit
and the seemingly placid river
will have an undercurrent that can
pull the tribe under
before it realizes what happened

Contemplations on the responsibility of 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.  -- me 

Contemplations on the Odu Okanran Ogbe

No one wants to stand up and say "something smells" when standing in a field of litter for fear it might get cleaned up and people might realize that they also smell for having stood there too long. -- Me Contemplation on the Odu Okanran Ogbe

Contemplations on the Odu Ogbe Irete ( Ogbe ate )

Life is a story, unfolding before our eyes unable to pause even for the briefest of moments. We move in and out of a string of scenes, constantly shifting focus as we simultaneously play both lead and support to an ever changing cast of characters. Re-write, re-invent, re-initiate yourself, by yourself. -- Me 

Contemplation on Osa Meji

In order to move forward, we must look to the past and build upon
the knowledge of our ancestors. Passed from parent to child,
teacher to student, book to mind, nature to soul, the ancient wisdom
can guide us forward. There are no boxes without access, only
minds that fumble in the dark for a key they already possess.
We unlock our own potential only after we've freed our minds.
-- Me Contemplation on the Odu Osa Meji

Contemplations on the Odu Iwori Ogunda ( Iwori Aweda ) part III

Tired of being shunned for speaking the truth, one retreats to the desolate mountain of their inner mind. In silence and quietude, the truth of life settles like snow on the branches of a tree. Only to be appreciated by the few willing to make the long journey to the inner wilderness of human existence. -- Me, Contemplation on the Odu Iwori ogunda (Iwori aweda)

Contemplations on the Odu Obara Meji

The pumpkin is a metaphor we focus on too closely when considering the Ese Ifa of Obara Meji.  The true message is, if we let our vanity take over, focusing on flash over substance, we miss the seemingly mundane thing (pumpkin), which can provide food for us and our family, and wealth in the form a regenerating product to be sold over and over at the market. The Orisa threw away the pumpkin because it wasn't flashy, and in doing so,  flash and instant gratification clouded their judgement. This caused them to miss an opportunity, which in the long term would have put them out ahead. Obara Meji is not about not eating pumpkin, that is done simply to remind us that we shouldn't let flash overshadow substance allowing us to make smart decisions. -- Me 

Contemplations on the Odu Osa Ogunda

One can disappear to a remote and desolate place, and be alone, but not without the community of plants, insects and animals needed to survive. And so it is,no matter how one isolates themselves, one still needs community. Care for those around you, because tomorrow the person in need might be you. -- Me  

Contemplations on the Odu Ogbe Ogunda (Ogbe Yonu)

Sometimes when engaging in battle, one must perform a full frontal assault, but when waging a war, one must always chip away at the foundation of one's enemy. Eventually, without sufficient support, even the greatest fortress will fall. -- Me 

Contemplation on the Odu Ogunda Meji

When walking across the narrow ridge of life, which drops on either side, one finds that only a balanced load and sure footing will stop you from tumbling down and losing your way. -- Contemplation on the Odu Ogunda Meji (Ogun splits it in half)

Contemplations on Irete Ogbe (Irete untelu)

The revelation of the existence of God comes from contemplation of an ant walking across the floor. It's not the act in and of itself, but the millions of years of evolution, and confluence of events that happened in order for that simple event to occur.

Further contemplations on Odu Iwori Ogunda (iwori aweda)

When playing cat and mouse, it is best to not be either the cat or the mouse, but instead the person behind them sprinkling cat nip...

Contemplations on Iwori Ogunda

The world is a room from which we can not escape, but if we open the windows, the light of divine grace might shine in so that we may see more clearly our surroundings, and realize that one day, the door to another world might open our minds to eternity... 

YTR Ifa does NOT believe in "reinitiations", thoughts on Oba accord of miami ...

Aboru aboye aboshishe,

First I will state, the people involved in the initiations that cause all this ruckus do NOT represent all of the YTR/Indigenous Orisa worshippers, and I can't understand why everyone thinks they do. I can only assume this event was used to further other people's political agendas, or in an act of retribution for hurt feelings.  Second, it may seem ironic, but I totally agree with the lucumi that it was uneccessary for anyone to "redo" anything.

Last and most important, I will cite the Odu Ogbe Ate in it's entirety in English and Yoruba to show why Ifa (at least) says "re-initiation" is wrong:

Ogbe Ate:

Ogbe, come and be initiated in order to be comfortable
To take a hand of Ifa and then be fully initiated is the pride one has in Ifa
These were the declarations of Ifa for Orunmila
When he planned to initiate his child
Orunmila was advised to offer sacrifice
He complied
When I received a hand of Ifa
My father then performed Itelodu for me
Lack of wisdom
Lack of deep thought
These are what compel people to be initiated repeatedly on three occasions
After being initiated
The issue of Esu Odara needs to be taken seriously
Why must Esu Odara be given extra considerations?
After being initiated
We must not use a worn out twisted rope to climb a palm tree
We must not jump in the river without knowing how to swim
We must not take undue risk which may cost life
We must not snatch the wife of Awo
We must not snatch the wife of medicine man
We must not have ilicit carnal knowledge of a ritualists wife
We must not plan evil against our friends with his wife
We must not lie to our Oluwo
Any matter that had been exhaustively addresses, we must not raise it again
Orunmila was the person who initiated Akoda
He also initiated Aseda
He equally initiated Araba
Only Orunmila Agboniregun
Was the person we do not know who initiated
Now, after I have been initiated
I will complement it with self initiation
All those things that are my taboos
I will surely avoid them
I have been initiated
I will re-initiate myself, by myself...

Yoruba
Ogbe waa te k'ara o ro wa
Mo gba mo te ni iregun Ifa
Dia fun Orunmila
Baba yoo te omo re n'ifa
on ni ko sakaake, ebo ni sise
O gbe'bo, O rubo
Nigbati mo gba
Baba a mi si te mi
Ailogbon ninu
Amiero nikun

Nii mu'nii wo igbdu leemeta
Bi a ba te Ifa tan
Eese ti oro Esu Odara fi ku, Ifa?
Bi a ba te Ifa tan

A kii fi ajaku igba a gu ope
A kii be ludo lai mo we
A kii ri iku nile ka tori boo
A kii fe obinrin Awo
A kii  gba aya isegun

A o gbodo mu obinrin abore wole kelekele loo fe
A o gbodo ba obinrin imule eni seke
Oluwo eni kii bi ni loro ka se
Koiko ti erin gberi mo

Orunmila lo te Akoda
O te Aseda
O te Araba
Orunmila Agbonniregun Olojo ibon
Oun nikan soso la o mo eni to tee

Nje bi a ba te mi tan
Maa tun'ra mi te
Eewo ti a ba ka fun mi
Maa gbo
Tite la te mi
Maa tun'ra mi teo
####

You notice a few things, one is this line


When I received a hand of Ifa
which affirms a version of Awofakan in YTR/Indigenous Yoruba practice

and second
Any matter that had been exhaustively addresses, we must not raise it again
Which is the Yoruba version of don't ask what you already know as the lucumi say. BUT, with the very important caveat that it must have first been "exhaustively addressed"

The rest is somewhat self explanatory... We too, do not believe in "re-initiation", For the record, so what is all this nonsense really about??

marcos ifalola