COMMENTARY ON THE IFA ORISA COMMUNITY
Ela Moyin Aboru, moyin Aboye, moyin Abosise,
Osa Meji
The Holy Ifa Oracle Speaks in Osa Meji
To ju wa r ori mi
Maintain your character my friend
Ela a ma i lee nile ni
Honor can leave from the house of a person
Wa a si ma ila ra eniyan
Beauty can leave from the body of a person
Ugbon iwa ni ba ni de saare
However a person character will go with a person to the grave
Eefin niwa riru ni l ru
Character is like smoke eventually it will rise (to the surface)
Eniyan gb Okeere niji
A person lives off in the distance in honor
Ugbon sun mo ni, la fi n mo e ni
But with closeness, we learn of a person's actions
Ina ko ni ni foniwa sile
Character will not leave its owner alone
Iwa aemae l'o n saemae lorukae
It is a child's character that gives a child its name
Emae dara o ku iwa
Even if the child seems fine there is still a need for character
Ara dara a ku a ai
Even if the body looks fine there is still a need for shoes
Ifa, B'eni yon lara ti ko nesi a
Ifa, a person seems fine but doesnot have character
O podomi ohun ribiriti
He/She is missing something very valuable indeed.
Iwa rere l'e o eniyan
Good character is a person's bodyguard
Suura ni Baba Iwa Baba aure
Patience is the progenitor of character,
Character is the progenitor of blessings
Obarisa (Obatala)said that people should always respect women greatly
For if they always respect women greatly, the world will be in right order
Pay homage; give respect to women
Indeed, it is woman who brought us into being
Before we became recognized as human beings
The wisdom of the world belongs to women
Give respect to women then
Indeed, it was a woman who brought us into being
Before we became recognized as human beings
(I am Dedicating this to my mother's Ori, my Fathers Ori my children who I hold in High Respect and honor for they have given me my respect and love)
On a Sunday in 2005, I wrote this editorial commentary on the new perspectives of respect as it is stated in the Odu Ifa corpus from the now defunct email group of Iyanifa World Wide Congress. The opinions and perspectives shared by those in the Ifa communities, were not always in the holding of high esteem of women in Ifa or Orisa even by some instances by women themselves.
We had not learned the valued lessons of respect of ourselves nor our value to the world. Particularly some of us in the Diaspora and certainly some on the continent of our motherland. Our value system and filters were defined by our economic status rather than our moral fiber and standing in Ifa.
Our value was more in what we had in our pockets than by what we have developed in our character. It was this which was the impetus for this article. To challenge each and everyone in our tradition to seek internal wisdom and applied this to our lives.
At the time, I saw a developing characterist of behaviors that have gone on unchecked in our devotee's to include myself. It was important because 'Respect' is the a corner stone of our tradition. If the Sky doesnot respect the Earth then it does not respect Its Creator.
It is not just a few philosophical words that elucidate emotional responces at a time when we may need this reminder in our troubled lives but the lesson of respect must come from within changing our very DNA if we are going to garner the protection, love, guidance of our Deities.
It must be real in our lives this thing called respect if we are ever to walk it. This is something we cannot fake or pretend we know. Or with us who carry the Ase of Ifa and Orisa will be doomed to repeat these lessons over and over again.
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"Just When We Think We Know the Meaning of Respect Ifa Shows Us A New Perspective"
Giving Honor and respect to the Greatest Isese Olorun, Eleda, Olodumare, Ori Isese, Edumare, Irunmale Ojukotun, Igbomale Ojukosin, Egungun Ile,Iyami. I prayer and give praise to my Yeye's Ori and that of my Baba's Ori and those whose path had been carved out for me and my family. I give praise and honor for the testimony of success and victory over adversaries and detractors.
I give praise to the teachers who gave me valuable lessons and associations through their actions teach even greater lessons of life. I give praise for those of my family whose love surrounds me at all time I give praise to my life companion whose wisdom of words, acts of protection and unwavering support help to give me the courage that I was born to act from. Modupe pupo Orunmila Agbonirregun.
During the course of my short life time I have been blessed to have been introduce to wonderful teachers in this religious tradition of Ifa. However, my first lessons came from before the womb of my mother. Yes, I have always had memories of times before coming to this world and my blessed mother encouraged my development as a spiritual person by supporting me with her respect and love.
Trixie Beatrice Malone Campbell use to tell my two brothers and myself ( We are the product of an African inspired Family structure. I am the older daughter of my father's 3rd wife with two brothers and have 3 other sisters from my two older mothers) (Yes, they were my mothers and treated me as their child with grace and dignity and most importantly respect.) that what she care the most about was not our love for her but our respect.
And we would respect her this was not a request but a command. A command that through my obediance was given to her with no rancor because as my first god she deserved respect. It was she who taught me to serve Olodumare though she did not call this Force by the Yoruba name, but she taught by her example of service to God in her way.
Ohenren Meji says to our success by respecting our Elders
The hollow part of a well-trekked road is it that breaks the back of a snake This was the Awo who cast Ifa for Esin (horse)
He also cast Ifa for Agbo (Ram) When both of them were going to Ooni (the Kings of Ife) house on a spiritual expedition Both Esin and Agbo, the Awo of the Ooni the King of Ile Ife They were the Awo who cast Ifa for the Ooni When he refused to pay his homage to his paternal ancestors anymore And he was undertaking several ventures Without succeeding in any He was advised to offer sacrifice He complied I pay my homage to my father I pay homage to my mother My homage to my Oluwo(who initiated me) My homage to Ojubona (who assisted my Oluwo during my initiation) My homage to my Akoda (next in authority to Oluwo) My homage to my Aseda (next in authority to Akoda) Except if I undertake any venture without reverence May my undertaking be accepted
The latin word 'respectus', to look back, on does not give a clear enough understanding of what Ifa means but does give indication that it is referring to the act of honor, high esteem, and to hold one in high regard and consideration.
My Yeye told us as children that even the lowest person you see on the streets of Chicago deserved respect because you had no idea who this person was or could be in your life in the future. We were never allow to be contemptuous of anyone. Or if my parents(grandparents included) found out that we at any time disrepcted their elder or anyone there would be hell to pay from our parents.
All of those adults of those past generations, taking turns at who was going to get us first my grandmother or my mother. We knew that if we were not respectful there was a wrath coming from all our parents to rectify the problem. It would become the endless discussion of you know what that child did and how they proceeded to make the necessary corrections so that this did not happen again. They understood the consequences of disrespect in our community could be a life or death issue literally.
For the person you disrespected would be the person that may save your life whiles your parents eyes were in other directions. As Ifa worshippers, we have a high standard which we must hold in the name of respect. We must act and know that Esu is continuously monitoring our behavior report to Olodumare of all occurances of misconduct done by Its followers for we have a job to do here. Old lessons are hard to repeat and old habits are hard to break. We saluate to Irunmale and Orisa within the initiate not the person. We salute our mothers and fathers and seniors. We reserve hard opinions to areas of non existence for to speak these cause unflinching harm to one.
Otura Alaraba speaks Only a mad person will say a senior sibling amounts to nothing in his estimation Whoever we meet inside the barn is the father Whoever is one's senior is enough to be one's father These were the declaration of Ifa to the mighty Araba tree Who is the father of Eriwo Araba Is the father Eriwo Araba In this story the question comes about of yes, we salute, we fall prostrate on the floor and do homage to our elders. Is this not good enough? Are we not serving as we have been instructed by Ifa? The answer is:if is not with your heart, mind and soul No! you are not.
It is the difinitive parable of Ofun Ose which says: Ifa says there is someone whom people say will never be important. But the Lord of the Heaven will open the way to wealth and peace for her/him. Everyone will return repeatedly to pay honor to her/him. And they will bow down to her/him And even if s'he dows not acquire a title S/he will be honored more than those who have titles. As a parent of adult children I find I repeat in my heart the same song my mother sang long ago to me and my siblings. " I want your love but I demand your respect." If it is not in your heart then keep your love.
Integrity, honor, authenticity, genuineness and to genuflect in deference to one's elder. To be sincere, frank,honest, and forthright are also attributes that can be used but never used truth as a weapon of harm to ones elder or even to a junior. If it used to teach a mean lesson without regard to the laws of Ifa.
Even when we are in the positions of authority does this give us the right to abuse our power given by Olodumare in showing our juniors disrespect. Because someone may have abused their power against you when coming into the ranks of the priesthood. We need always to be careful of the ego; who may not have died at the birthing through te'fa or orisa initiation.
This is an ongoing process of personal internal examination. Muting the psychological filters that we have moving in our minds that bring us damage and unsober mayhem in our lives. This is a personal area which is in need of healing. "When we encounter this type of elder we are still required to show respect and honor, Olodumare will and does handle their harm to you.
As Awo, I have made mistakes and will continue to do so because of being subjected to being human. This is forgivable when done in innocence. Yes, I have encountered Elders who abused my love for Ifa and them, but I will always continue to dobale, kunle, never speak a harsh word and now just witness their behaviors. It is not my place it is Ifa's to give them a lesson. It is not my place to make comment or dig in their garbage cans for evidence of misconduct against the family Ifa. My job is to follow the advice of Ifa at all time and give my undivided attention to th only one worth watching which is Ifa.
Ogbe Yonu Orunmila wi Ewo Ifa declare that this is a scenario I declared that it is time to watch Egungun, the masquerade is dancing Akapo went to watch Ifa declares that the dancing egungunis raving mad And the watching Akapo is equally daft Ifa declares that this is a scenario I declare that it is time to watch Oosa is dancing and Akapo went to watch Ifa says that the dancing Orisa is raving mad And the watching Akapo is equally daft Orunmila, why are speaking in uncomprehensible parables Orunmila declares that it is for the sake of his Akapo Orunmila says that Only Ifa is worth watching like a scene
With all the rivalry, self absorbing behaviors, self hexing,hexing, professional jealousies which brings about insurmoutable harm to us as worshippers of Olodumare and Ifa the act disrespect in our communties are in need of a focus change. Our focus must become internal understanding of Ifa mandates and instructions. How we are to become better people by beginning with understanding RESPECT by the standards of Ifa not the worlds.
Ire Iyanifa Fayomi Falade Aworeni Obafemi Disclaimer:. All articles from Iyanifa Fayomi Falade Aworeni Obafemi are under the copyright of Ile Iwosan Orunmila Mimo Temple located in Phoenix, Arizona
Ile Iwosan Orunmila Mimo Orunmila's Healing Spaces Eni Kan Ki ni Kan Ki Oloja One person is not enough to greet a King Modupe fun gbogbo ti Olodumare se fun mi I thank Olodumare for all It has given to me.