"A kì í bí ọmọ ká má mọ ìrìn ẹsẹ̀ rẹ̀. " One can't have a son and not know his ways. That is, when you raise a child you become familiar with his nature. You know his moods, preferences and habits. And on a much deeper level, if you've done the esentaiye ceremony, you have a blueprint of via child's life path. It is the information presented during that ceremony that enables the parents to not only get to know their child through careful observation, but also to anticipate their child's journey based upon the context of his or her destiny.
One of the most powerful outcomes of the esentaiye is the child's proper name. That is, òrìsà families who perform the esentaiye give their children names that reinforce the children's destinies. These names are actually invocations that call the child's essence into action. The name pronounced as a result of esentaiye defines the child's relationship to the spiritual entities most responsible for supporting his or her total success. And while the ceremony is exclusive to newborns, a similar process can be created for adults who wish to bear names that reflect their destinies. In my personal journey, the naming ceremony was actually my first rite of passage. Through it I was initiated into the culture, the social psychology and world view of the Yoruba people. Only later did I receive icons of any sort. Learn more about Òrìsà Lifestyle and naming conventions. Email me at [email protected]. Enter Yoruba Names in the subject line.
"Ọ̀rọ̀ òkèèrè, bí kò bá lé kan, yóò dín kan." Words heard from afar, if they are not overstated, they would be understated. There is a difference between being humble -or polite - and muffling your voice. Common sense isn't common. When it comes to sharing your unique vision, you have got to make it plain. I cannot tell you how many people I work with who communicate in cryptic, muffled language and get mad because nobody understands them. You cannot even understand yourself. So how do you expect anybody else to figure you out? You have to get comfortable stating the obvious, over and again. Don't assume people know who you are, what you're about and why it matters. Instead, assume that they don't enjoy any of the insights that you do. Even further, assume that they are drawn to you precisely because you possess some kind of rare and special knowledge. Share it! Share it openly and boldly with the people you're destined to serve. Learn more in the 16 Essential Traits of Personal Priesthood.
Thanks for signing up!
Ifa let my sacrifice be accepted
Ela let my rituals go up to the heaven above Irosun seso Irosun seso Cast Ifa for Orunmila And initiates Osun, the wife of Bara Agbonniregun into Ifa On the day they were coming from the heaven above as a team to establish the foundation of the earth plane They were advised about the earth plane where they were going They should offer sacrifice of victory , harmony , peaceful coexistence and victory because of the witches They would be angry with them because of the beautiful things they would to do to better the lives of humanity They would heal the sick The lame or the cripple would walk Those who were afflicted with ajogun Will see the light of Olodumare and absolute victory The negative work of the great magician would have no evil effect on the lives of men The sacrifice prescribed by Ifa to Orunmila and his wife would deter evil dreams Those who intend to spoil their business or work and cooperation would be nailed to ground by the sacrifice Orunmila quickly offered the sacrifice The witches returned quickly to the middle way between heaven and the earth That is how Orunmila and Osun achieved victory and overcame all misfortune Then Orunmila spoke of his priest thusly; All the paths I tread will give way to success This was Ifa's message to Orunmila and Osun When they were coming from the spiritual plane to the world They intended to extend goodness to the lord of Ife and all men throughout the world Now, witches of the universe, I give you obeisance Oh! Yes, the witches of the world Let my sacrifice be auspicious, and my ritual be accepted Let my sacrifice go to the place of acceptance without hindrance Oh ye the witches I give obeisance to you, and salute you Oh ye the witches Let my hand work and the work of my wife be successful and fulfilled Oh ye witches of the universe Oh ye witches - Holy Odu IrosunOse Let the Babalawo's hand work and the work of Apetebii be successful and fulfilled. Àse! Here, Ifa teaches that, in the process of carrying out the will of Olodumare here on earth, the roles and functions of babalawo and apetebii complement one another. That is, their combined efforts create favorable outcomes for the people they serve. Let us join together in support of the combined success of Babalawo and Apetebii. Àse! Aboru boye bosise.
It's ironic; the things you love most also cause the most fear. Consequently, when your decisions are based upon fear, you sabotage what you love. This was one of the pivotal teachings shared at the OrisaLifestyle Retreat. The participants were invited to share their fears openly and work as a group to address them in healthy ways, that would not sabotage their dreams. Here are three strategies for protecting yourself from yourself:
Thanks for signing up!
"Tí ọ̀rọ̀ ò bá tó ọ̀rọ̀ a kò gbọdọ̀ fi ìtàn balẹ̀." If a matter is not serious enough, one shouldn't go into excessive details about it. Conversely, if a matter is indeed serious, it's only correct to go into detail about about it. So, the OrisaLifestyle Retreat enables participants to get specific about what it means to live the medicine.
Personal Priesthood requires wealth. And while money is certainly a part of wealth, it is really a much more comprehensive equation. The most important element in the wealth equation is knowing your unique contribution. That is, you have to know your identity in order to generate and sustain wealth over time. Without a clear definition of who you are, where you're coming from and what you're here to do, it will become increasingly difficult to make decisions that support wealth development. In the 16 Essential Traits of Personal Priesthood, you will get a very clear picture of who you are, learn to define your wealth and make decisions that support wealth generation in your life.
Thanks for signing up!
"Ẹni bá ńjẹ làbẹ́ Jẹ́gẹ́dẹ́ ló ńpèé nígi Àràbà " It's one who profits from a man who hails him as the silk cotton tree; The silk cotton is mighty. An essential trait of personal priesthood is to add value. That means you enhance other people's lives in some shape or form. It could be your knowledge, your approach to problem-solving or your supportive nature. In either case, one way you'll know you're being effective is that the people you serve will start to profit financially.
In my own experience with individuals and organizations alike, personal priesthood activates financial growth. And so, the people I serve tend to acquire homes, grow their businesses and become money magnets. This is the case, not because I focus on getting money, but - by the grace of Olodumare - I help them to hone their natural gifts and talents in ways that are consistent with their ancestry and contemporary reality. With the guidance and support of Orunmila and the ancestors, the people I serve become more assertive towards expressing their divine missions. At the same time, they become more open and receptive to their unique contributions. The combination enables them to attract exactly the kinds of opportunities that will support financial growth and prosperity. As you perfect your personal priesthood, you will add value to the lives of those you serve in your own, unique way. It is important, however, to note that some people will recognize your contribution and others will not. In my experience as a facilitator, it is important that my people feel a sense of ownership. So, they tend to take credit for the work they have done, as well as the ways in which it benefits them. I am content with that. Ultimately, it is empowering for people to own their progress. But in order for YOU to master the art of personal priesthood, what is most important is that:
Thanks for signing up!
Oloyayun was a wealthy woman. Unfortunately, in spite of her wealth, she had no children. And that is what prompted her to seek the assistance of Orunmila, who was at the palace of Elesinoyan. At the time, Orunmila was telling the king that material wealth and titles would eventually fade into non-existence but one's name would endure forever. Consequently, one should always practice goodness so that his name would carry a good reputation. When Orunmila left the Elesinoyan, he continued to share these same teachings on the way to meet Oloyayun, the wealthy woman.
Oloyayun received Orunmila well. When Ifa was consulted on her behalf, Orunmila advised Oloyayun that she was in search of a child. Orunmila went on to tell Oloyayun that she would indeed have a daughter and that the girl should be betrothed to a babalawo. That is, by fulfilling her role as apetebii, Oloyayun's daughter would be blessed with long life. Oloyayun performed the sacrifice as prescribed and then Orunmila returned to Ile Ife. Later on, Oloyun became pregnant and gave birth to a beautiful daughter, as predicted. Orunmila was asked to come and perform the esentaiye. The child looked at Orunmila without blinking and so he called her Aworoseju, which means "Immeasurable beauty". When Aworoseju was old enough to be married, she rejected Orunmila - the man with dark skin and white teeth! Still, her mother insisted that Aworoseju must marry Orunmila, in keeping with the blessing she received at birth. And so it was that Oloyayun planned a secret wedding ceremon for her daughter and Orunmila. But on the day of the wedding, when Aworoseju discovered the plot, she actually fainted and died on the spot! Aworoseju was a spirit child, who had one leg in the heavenly realm. When she returned to heaven to be with her spiritual cohort, it was actually Orunmila who she met first! Orunmila asked her to return to her mother, friends and family on earth. "Do not make your mother unhappy. Accept Ifa as your guide so that you might enjoy a long life." Aworoseju awakened and told her mother that she agreed to marry Orunmila. Oloyayun organized a second wedding. Aworoseju became the proud bride of Orunmila - the dark skinned man with white teeth. Two lovers that have been joined together by Olodumare, no one can separate them. The tree planted by Olodumare cannot be uprooted by the people of the world. Let not the people of the world disturb the sanctity of your family and home. Always put Ifa between you and your marital problems. Remember that, where there is life there is hope. But even if your marriage or relationship has ended, let Ifa guide you along the path of goodness so that you might satisfy your destiny. The 16 Essential Traits of Personal Priesthood will expose you to HUNDREDS of activities designed to help you live the medicine that will heal your life and the lives of the people you're destined to serve.
Thanks for signing up!
Once, there was a young babalawo who was an apprentice to a local elder. The elder directed the young priest to go retrieve fire from the neighbor's house, as was the custom. By chance, he went to the Olowo's palace. On his way through one of the courtyards, he noticed the babalawos were performing divination for the king. The young apprentice noticed the odu marked on the tray and asked permission to offer a hint as to what was the nature of the king's problem. The other babalawos, however, silenced him on the grounds that he was too young to speak in the presence of elders. But the Olowo vetoed their decision. He wanted to hear what the young apprentice had to say, recalling the proverb that says "Intelligence is not exclusive to elders."
The youngster took the opportunity to not only speak, but to drop a veritable bombshell! He advised the Olowo to immediately sacrifice a gun in its case, a machete and a hunter's bag in order to prevent himself from getting lost. He added the advisory that the king should not leave his house for the rest of the day. Of course, the elder babalawos were aghast! They chastised the young apprentice and dismissed him completely. And with that, he gather the fire and left as instructed. Meanwhile, as the elder awos continued to discuss the messages, the Olowo excused himself in order to use the restroom. Coincidentally, he happened to see a monkey in the yard nearby and was compelled to hunt the animal on the spot. He quickly went inside to get his gun and returned to the yard in pursuit of the monkey. In his determination, the Olowo ended up straying deep into the forest, where he eventually got lost. He was wandering in the forest for three whole days! On the third day, Esu appeared to him in the form of the young apprentice. He asked the king what reward he would give for leading him out safely. The king agreed to betroth his daughter, the princess, to the young apprentice if he could lead him out of the forest safely. Esu then lead the Olowo to safely. The entire kingdom was overjoyed when the king returned on the third day. He immediately sent for the young apprentice and asked him to perform the sacrifice that he had originally prescribed. Afterwards, the Olowo betrothed his daughter to the young apprentice and also decreed that monkey shall forever be a taboo of that kingdom. Ifa says that the elder who refuses to practice universal honor and respect will soon learn that nobody has a monopoly on intelligence and wisdom. Aboru aboye abosise.
Whether the ori of Ika is tight
Or it is loose It is one's Ori that gives one good fortunes This was Ifa's teaching to Dendere The crescent moon mother in heaven Would I see good things at all? Would good things stay with me? She asked She was asked to perform sacrifice The crescent moon performed sacrifice All the stars stayed with the moon All good things stayed with her She brought back many children Ifa says he wishes this person well He said whether the ori of Ika is tight Or it is loose It is one's ori that gives one the good fortunes This was Ifa's teaching to Dendere The crescent moon mother in heaven She was asked to take care of the ground and perform sacrifice Dendere heard about the sacrifice And performed it Dendere is back The crescent moon mother Come and see the children she brought back from her journey Dendere is back The crescent moon mother - Holy Odu IkaOfun It is one's Ori that gives one good fortunes. Consequently, your health, prosperity, happiness and love are all products of decisions made in the spiritual realm, where all memories are born and projected into the future. Your path is already set, in other words. What is to be must be. But like Dorothy, wandering through the Land of Oz, you too must make the actual journey of self discovery before you can truly appreciate the beauty and wisdom of your destiny. Personal Priesthood is the process by which you learn from your experience. You reflect upon the people and places, the ups and downs and gradually, you glimpse an outline of your life's story. You search your feelings and slowly learn to filter out the irrelevant ideas and senseless internal chatter long enough to clarify what you REALLY believe. You stop blaming other people and take inventory of your decisions, your shortcomings, and your inconsistencies, which helps you to accept your mission with HUMILITY. These gems become the shining stars that guide your Personal Priesthood. Learn more in the 16 Essential Traits of Personal Priesthood. Live the medicine.
Thanks for signing up!
We divine Ifa in our hand
We press Ifa on the ground Elesa a gbo gi Cast divination for Ogbe Coming from heaven to earth They said Ogbe would enter the world Ogbe was asked to perform an offering Ogbe inquired of the items to offer Ogbe should secure a rat to blaze paths in the bush A fish to chart a way through the ocean A rooster to clear passage on land They said Ogbe would reach the world Ogbe performed the offering As Ogbe ventured He met the bush first Ogbe was perplexed Esu whispered in Ogbe's ear: Remember, you have a rat to blaze a path through the bush Ogbe put down the rat The rat blazed a path through the bush Esu told Ogbe to follow When he exited the bush Ogbe met water Ogbe was perplexed Esu whispered in Ogbe's ear: Remember, you have a fish that charts a way through the ocean Ogbe dropped the fish in the water The fish began to swim Esu told Ogbe to follow When he swam out of the water Ogbe met a town But did not know which direction to face Esu whispered in Ogbe's ear: Remember the rooster that clears a passage on land Esu told Ogbe to follow the rooster Ogbe arrived at the center of the city He/She was happy and started to dance and rejoice We divine Ifa in our hand We press Ifa on the ground Elesa a gbo gi Is the one who cast divination for Ogbe On the day he was coming from heaven to earth The rat uses its Ori to blaze paths in the bush The fish uses its Ori to chart ways through the ocean The rooster uses its Ori to clear passages on land Therefore, Ogbe should become popular Ogbe's star should not fall like tree leaves Ogbe should light a path through difficulty - Holy Odu EjiOgbe The true nature of destiny is completeness. It is what it is. Usually, it's so simple and obvious that people overlook their destinies. I have consulted for so many people who asked for a blessing, but when they got it all they did was complain about the dirty work involved with maintaining that blessing. Of course, they weren't happy! In the verse above, Ogbe encountered the bush, the ocean and finally the land, which represent different phases of the journey of life. Each phase has its own problems. Each time Ogbe met a new problem, Èsù had to remind Ogbe that, because of his sacrifice, he had everything he needed to address the problems endemic to his journey. What's important to note is that your destiny is complete. The solutions to your problems have already been provided. It's important, however, that you learn to recognize your resources. Surround yourself with wise people who will help you identify the path of destiny and not mere convenience. Respectable and wise Babalawo will use Ifá to guide you towards greater resources for spiritual development and personal fulfillment as you continue the journey. Throughout, you must have unwavering faith in your destiny, and combine it with quality counsel. Remember that you can live the medicine that will heal your life. Learn more in the 16 Essential Traits of Personal Priesthood.
Thanks for signing up!
|
Live the MedicineObafemi Origunwa, MAThought leader, Ifa priest and author of four definitive books, Obafemi Origunwa inspires metamorphosis through living the medicine that will heal your life and heal the lives of the people you're destined to serve. Raise Awareness
Internalize Principles
Embody Truth
|