Contemplation on the Odu Oworin Irosun on new years eve 2013

I can’t tell you much
the enormity of the universe
often puts me in my place
but I can tell you this
the only thing that is certain
is that nothing is certain
that doesn’t mean it’s not probable
only that it’s not guaranteed
life is a gift that comes with no return receipt
and a manual that more often than not is missing pages
we assemble ourselves as best we can
adding memories like scavenged parts
trying to build the life we want
with only half the parts required
even those who appear to have more than needed
end up unfulfilled
missing those few critical pieces
to make them whole
live
love
laugh
adapt
you may not have the perfect machine
but you’d be surprised what you can make
if you take the pieces you’ve got
and reassemble them into something useful
you may even end up with
something better than you could have ever expected
-- Marcos Sanchez --

Contemplation on the Odu Oyeku Ogbe

Beware the system and its subtle ways

for one day you might wake up and realize

you have become dependent on it

enslaved by its rules

fattened on the milk of its breast

defending it like an addict

having forgotten that once 

you dreamed of life outside the box

wake from your slumber

and make your dream reality

Contemplation on the Odu Ogbe Oyeku

It’s not just the notes played

but also the moments of silence

that make greatness.

Learning to play

regardless of capability

does not make one an artist

the art is in knowing

when to play

when to hesitate

and when to stop

-- Marcos Sanchez --

Inspired by Jose James "bird of space" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xTrNLXAAK8

Contemplation on the Odu Odi Ogbe ( Odi'gbe, Edigbere )

Standing alone

amidst a crowded mass

waiting for greatness

to take hold of obscurity

and send it on its way

I feel your presence

like a ghost from the past

peering over my shoulder

only just out of sight

seducing me with your promise

but never quite delivering

I will take my place

by your side

as destiny and luck

shine upon me

my words will be heard

and they will move the world

because not even darkness

can fully envelope my light

nor can silence

muffle my screams

I will find you

as you will find me

my name is love

Contemplation on the Odu Oshe Otura (written on the dawn of my 44th year on earth)

If god is perfect
and humankind is not
then all things on this earth
must be recognized as imperfect
that includes the written word
being a means by which we as humans communicate
and as such, all things that use words to convey meaning
are also wrought with imperfection
So why is it that we ascribe certain books as the "word of God"
when we know full well that if God spoke, it would be perfection
and books are simply words
imperfect
written by imperfect beings
unable to achieve perfection
let alone describe perfection
perfectly
not to mention the fact that our particular state
also means we would interpret imperfect words
imperfectly
Bible, Koran, Vedas, Torah, Ifa, I Ching
are words
read by people
written by people
so why is it that we think each is perfectly correct?
When did God
limitless, unconstrained, unfathomable, immeasurable
decide to only talk to us through one book?
When did we
limited, constrained, imperfect, minute
decide we could understand infinity?
Words are three dimensional
changing significance depending on one's vantage point
isn't that the true meaning of the tower of Babel?
Have we not always lived in the tower of babel?
All speaking the same language
but unable to agree on a single meaning
Is not the single language we were meant to use
the unspoken
unwritten
language of love
babel's lesson is not that we all should speak the same language
but that we should transcend words completely
and live
in harmony
through our actions
even words have no force
when they do not move one to action
do something

-- Marcos Sanchez -- Contemplation on the Odu Oshe Otura (written on the dawn of my 44th year on earth)

Contemplation on the Odu Ogbe Oworin

Wisdom and Wealth do not always walk hand in hand
They are neither mutually exclusive, nor mutually guaranteed
as life offers no assurance of the degree of either you will obtain
most often, one is the product of luck, the other the result of thoughtful contemplation
A rich man is not often wise
A wise man is not often rich
but we all should strive to achieve harmony between these two states
the balanced person sees that society sits on a scale
weighing finite amounts of wealth distributed to a limited population
the unbalanced person sees only wealth to be had
and no responsibility to anyone other than themselves and those they deem fit
the balanced person sees tyranny, injustice and oppression when the ranks of the poor grow large
raising the wealthy few to soaring heights of grandeur and decadence
the unbalanced person only tries to rig the scales to their favor
feeding the world the illusion that they might some day join the wealthy
full well knowing, few will benefit and most will not
If the wealthy are few, and the poor are numerous
society will eventually disintegrate
which in the end serves no one
and so we must spread the seeds of wisdom and wealth
so that we may reap what we sow
a society that values and cares for everyone
-- Marcos Sanchez --
soundtrack to listen to from "codes in the clouds" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3cGC6N-oQs

Contemplation on the Odu Iwori Aweda ( Iwori Ogunda )

I leaf through my emotions
like pages in a dusty tome
edges frayed from years of use
Dust jacket creased and torn
each year brings a new chapter
to the novel of my life
At times I pick up where I left off
seeing new adventures unfold
other times I re-read known passages
to find new meaning
only time and distance can provide
or simply to remind myself of what I know
Such a book
yellowed and worn
a traveler across time and space
by my side always
thrown into my pack
taken trekking to far off lands
then placed carefully at my bed side
to be read in those times alone
sometimes shared freely
sometimes revealed in stolen glances
each year it seems you get heavier
and I more frail and weary
but I will continue to carry you
until that day when weight does not matter
and I begin to write the tome
of my existence
in a language unknown to this world
across the midnight sky
perhaps if you listen closely
you will hear my story
within your heart
-- Marcos Sanchez -- Inspired by "the gravel road" by James Newton Howard (listen to it while reading) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ro4FHd51t4