WHAT IS IFA?
It was the beginning of time and the Source of all decided to create existence. It gave the directives of life, to be truthful, to be righteous and to accomplish
destiny.
Ódůmarč sat back and
thought about how to create more things in Its universe. For this purpose, Ódůmarč
realized it needed an intermediary force, since It was too charged with energy to come in direct contact with any living thing
and have it survive. Therefore,
It created Ogbon (wisdom) and held it in Its palm where it could live. After
a while, Ódůmarč released Ogbon to fly away and look for a suitable place to lodge. When Ogbon could not find a suitable abode,
it flew back humming like a bee to Ódůmarč who took Ogbon and swallowed it.
Similarly, Imo (knowledge)
and Oye (understanding), which were also created, returned for lack of suitable abodes and were swallowed for the same reason.
Ódůmarč then "slept", but not in the human sense of the word:
Seemingly asleep but
awake,
Seemingly dormant but
alive
Eleiye (the witches)
swished
Their wings against
my face
I asked what my offence
was,
Ódůmarč never slumbers.
After several thousand
years during which Ódůmarč was disturbed by the incessant humming of Ogbon, Imo and Oye, It decided to get rid of them in
order to have some peace.
So Ódůmarč ordered them
to descend (ro) making the sound hoo. Thus the three heavenly bodies now known
as Hoo-ro or Oro were evacuated and started on their decent to earth. Since they
were heavenly charged life forces from heaven, their descent was accompanied by lighting and thunder. All solid matter melted
and became jelly like. For a while, Oro was suspended in mid air like an egg and did not melt, but then it dropped to earth(Ile)
and split (la).
In Oro's new state it
is identified with Ela (Another name for Orunmila), the Irunmole which functions in the Ifa divination complex and
is regarded by the Yoruba as the embodiment of wisdom, knowledge and understanding in all their forms.
It (Odumare) gave all the protective closeness to Itself. Many spirits chose to separate themselves by means of their own impatience, arrogance and selfishness. They wanted to be placed on equal positions with the life giver.
It (Odumare) decided to part ways, yet leave the guide(Ela/Orunmila) to assist those
to find their true path in life.
It (Odumare) declared that all would be the children of Oduduwa (Another Irunmole). It created the domains of trial and tribulation, the testing grounds, where one is
able to fulfill their destiny by enduring and conquering the adversities within life.
They asked, Who are the children of Oduduwa?
Irosun-Iwori
Let us do things with pleasure, those who wish to go may go, those who wish to retreat
may do so; certainly human beings have been chosen to take good things to the earth. Omniscience, the diviner of Orunmila
divined and forewarned that curious people where coming to ask him certain questions.
Orunmila was advised to sacrifice. He heard and did the work. Afterwards, all sorts of people like robbers and evil doers gathered together and asked Orunmila to let
them take refuge in heaven as they were tired of going and coming back to earth. They
requested from Orunmila, who told them that they would not be granted any rest until they fulfilled their destiny and obtained
the good position, which Olodumare called for everything. They asked, Orunmila
what was that position?
Orunmila said, To divest themselves of evil thoughts, before they could understand
them. They all pleaded ignorance. Orunmila said,
The following are the directions, the full knowledge of everything, joy every time; to live without any fear of enemy
or confusion, without fear of disease or death; loss, witch, wizard, danger of fire or any form of accident; without fear
of poverty. One must learn not to steal and create discomfort to the owner or bring disgrace to one door and to Olodumare. To refrain from evil deeds or we must go back to the darkness of the world that we
shall certainly repay for all that we do. Until we do this, people will continue to travel between heaven and earth. Note well; the children of Oduduwa are the trees, animals, insects, humans and all
things in existence.
Ifa is the guide to achieving ones' destiny.
The understanding of being in harmony and balance with the Creator.
In the world there is no geographical limitation to the truths in Nature. And all indigenous people of the world were aware of those truths.
They understood that to maintain existence, everything must be in harmony and respected. For not to do so, would only bring imbalances, chaos, confusion and eventually destruction/ death. Ifa has the guides or tenants of experiences to assist one to maintain this balance
of Nature, but one must make that choice.
The Creator left these guides to support all things in existence. It left the incarnation of Orunmila to reveal these directives to those in life. Who is Orunmila?
Orunmila was the witness to all choice of destiny.
It recorded each spirits decision in their endeavor to have a successful destiny.
Orunmila was the spiritual incarnation of Ela that was with the Creator at creation.
Irosun Osa
Ekuro orita meta
Cast divination for Orunmila
On the day he was going to choose Ori in the ancient city of Ido
and then choose his character at the Ejibgomekun market,
he was told to perform sacrifice.
When Orunmila got to the city of Ido
He chose his Ori.
But on the day one chooses ones' Ori
One must not go to the market and choose ones' character.
If one chooses ones' Ori this year, it is the next
year that one should proceed to the market of Ejibgomekun to choose ones' character.
Orunmila obeyed and chose his character the next year.
But man would not listen to this advice when chosing their Ori and character.
Orunmila told them,"Be patient
and on the day you chose your Ori,
Do not go to the market
because if one decides or tries to choose the two together (Ori
and Character), one will end up losing the two.
During the next season,
You can come back to the market
and choose your character."
Everything that's good in life like having wealth,
wives, children, a house, good health, long life are what we refer to as "character".
Life pleased Orunmila
And life will please humans.
Orunmila was dancing and rejoicing
He was praising his Babalawo
His Babalawo was praising Ifa
He said it was as his Babalawo had said.
Ekuro orita meta
Cast divination for Orunmila
On the day he was going to choose an Ori in heaven
And choose his character in the world.
It is Ela that has good character.
Those that chose only Ori do not have good character.
It is only Ela that has good character.
Who is Ela?
The names Orunmila and
Ela are sometimes used interchangeably, even though Ela is a separate deity in its own right within the Ifa divination system.
Ela became the first recognized authoritative source of communication and explanation on the nature of Ódůmarč and all his
creations. Hence Ifa confirms:
Who was the first to
speak?
Ela was the first to
speak.
Who was the first to
communicate?
Ela was the first to
communicate.
Who is Ela?
It was the Hoo which
descended
That we call Ela.
The deity which functions
in the Ifa divination complex and is regarded as the embodiment of wisdom, knowledge
and understanding in all their forms.
It is with this decent
that Esu manifested Its subordinates into the four corners of the universe, Esu the one that makes all things revealed, the
tester of character. Alabalase, Olopa Orun. It brought forth the Ajoguns to challenge the complacency of those of the
world. They constantly test those that come into this world. Esu the mind worker,
influences people with the consequences and importance of choices that must be made.
To be continued.....
