1). Ifa teaches us in this Itadogun, that we need to be very grateful in life. The more grateful we
are, the more we will receive Olodumare’s blessings. We need to show our gratitude for all
favors shown to us. For the wisdom handed down to us by elders. In this Ifa says:
Gratitude upon gratitude
Beget gratitude upon gratitude
Favor upon favor beget favor upon favor
Whoever fails to show gratitude for favor done to him/her yesterday
That person will not receive the favor of today
This was the Ifa cast for the 401 Irunmole
When they were going to marry Ope, gratitude
The child of Orisa Gbowuji, Obatala
He was advised to offer ebo
He complied
I express my gratitude and received my gift
I showed gratitude for the favor done to me yesterday
And I receive the gift of today
Otura Rete, I am very grateful
***As a Temple, we need to be grateful that we have a platform ( even if it is only virtual, due to
our distance from one another) to learn, to ask questions. Gratitude to the Elders who have
sacrificed to make the wisdom of Ifa/Orisa available to us.
2. Ifa teaches us that we are true children of Olodumare, delegates of Ifa.
Ifa teaches us that we are true children of Olodumare, delegates of Ifa. For this reason we
shall never be subjected to humiliation or premature death. We must keep sharing the wisdom
of Ifa to all. By doing this we shall surely be blessed by Ifa and all the divinities. On this Ifa says:
Otura Rete, baba ogbon s’Awo
If an Awo refuses to give Ifa’s message
The Awo will die
If the client refuses to offer the prescribed ebo
The client will go to Heaven
Ifa’s message for Agbon, Abiwe Kinndo
Who was the delegate of Ajalorun
He whom Olodumare will be blessing on assignments
He was advised to offer ebo
He complied
The messenger of Olodumare will never lie
And will never refuse the assignment given to him/her
***This verse reveals that we must keep sharing Ifa’s message. So, with this being said, we will
be beginning classes very soon, in March. We will also be starƟng Awo meeƟng’s, in person and
virtual
3. Ifa goes further to state that the Temple and its members will be truly blessed.
Ifa goes further to state that the Temple and its members will be truly blessed. However, the
success of the Temple will be measured by children ( devotees ) it gives birth to. In other words,
the people who we usher into the path of Ifa. On this Ifa furthers states:
Alosoo-difa the Awo of the road side
When we wake up
Wash the calabash of the visitor cleanly
When we wake up
Wash the serving plate of the visitor very well
In great heaps does one meet the giŌ of Ɵtles
Ifa’s message for Omo Olurobo
When going to be installed as omo Olurodo
He was advised to offer ebo
He complied
Children ( devotees ) are the prosperity of Ifa
Children ( devotees ) are the prosperitys of Orisa
Otura-Rete, Ifa I am very grateful
Children are the prosperity of all Awo.
4. Ifa is teaching us that as we should be ushering in people to get closer to Ifa
Ifa is teaching us that as we should be ushering in people to get closer to Ifa, we will be
mending what they have gone through before. Ifa states that the Temple will be one to fix the
wrongs done to them before, and now. Ifa has this to say:
Let the spoilers continue to spoil things in front
We shall continue to mend them from behind
This was the Ifa cast for Abere ( the needle )
The same was declared to Obe ( the knife )
When they were both fighting for supremacy
They were advised to offer ebo
Here comes Abere, the elder brother of Obe
If a youth is well versed in Ifa
He will be dreaded, but respected by the elders
All hail Abere, the elder brother of Obe
***the story goes that Obe one day stated to Abere, that he was to small, to frail, and to
inexperienced to be moving with him, to beart of his group. When Abere and Obe use to always
be found together. Obe, the knife tried his hands at whatever he could do, however everything
he touched with his hands, he shred to pieces. That is when they called upon Abere, the needle
to come and mend all that Obe had done wrong. So, the needle mends what the knife cuts. So,
Abere’s potential became well known, as the Temple’s will also.
5. As we shall be messengers of Olodumare helping to usher people closer to Ifa.
As we shall be messengers of Olodumare helping to usher people closer to Ifa. We will need
to be better versed in the teachings of Ifa. If says this:
Bi oro ba ba Ologbon, omugo ni nda
Cast Ifa for Atankoko Ogberi
Who was not learned in Ifa, but ate through Ifa
Bi or oba ba Ologbo, omugo ni nda
Cast Ifa for Atankoko Ogberi
Who was not learned in Ifa, but ate through Ifa
Atankoko Ogberi, Ifa warns you in your dreams
***the story goes, Atankoko Ogberi’s father was a well versed Babalawo. However, Atankoko
Ogberi was never interested in studying Ifa. When his father died, Atankoko Ogberi did not know
what to do. So, he picked up his fathers divination bag, and started to tend to his fathers clients.
However, he could not recite verses or prescribed the appropriate ebo. One night, while sleeping
Atankoko Ogberi had a really bad nightmare, were a man came to him and said ,” what he was
doing was wrong.” This nightmare scared Atankoko Ogberi so much that he decided to cast Ifa.
Ifa stated that he needed to learn Ifa before trying to eat from Ifa, unless what he ate would be
poison. Atankoko Ogberi, offered the ebo, and started to train. He served his Ifa truthfully. He
rejoiced and praised his Babalawos, as they praised Ifa
Ifa is saying to those members of the Temple that have their own Ifa, that they are serving
their Ifa partially. Do not take it as a chore, but as a blessing.
6. Ifa is teaching us that we should be gathering as a Temple.
Ifa is teaching us that we should be gathering as a Temple. We need to also be offering
plenty of alcohol to our Ifa. If we are able to this, Ifa will compensate us. Ifa has this to say:
Alcohol is stilled with the soul purpose of inviting people to consume
Guine-corn beer is the brewed for consumers enjoyment
Ifa’s message for Orunmila
Who will consume a cup full of alcohol to receive all the Ire of life
The same message was given to Orunmila
Who would consume a cup full of alcohol to be blessed with the Ire of a spouse
He was advised to offer ebo
He complied
Alcohol met the Awp at home
Yalumo wa yamo
Ifa also says this:
Otura is he who can drink
Irete is he who can buy
These were Ifa’s declarations for Aranisan
Who shall drink liquor can become wealthy
He was advised to offer ebo
He complied
Now, it was the liquor that I bought that made me successful
Aranisan is he who drinks and becomes wealthy
The Awo drinks the liquor of success
7. Ifa teaches us that in this life death has no respect for anyone.
Ifa teaches us that in this life death has no respect for anyone. No matter what social status
a person might have, they will experience the bitter taste of death. For this reason, we need to
offer ebo, and put our hopes and prayers on Ifa. Ifa has this to say:
Death does not recognize royalty
Affliction has no respect for great herbalist
Death killed Olaope
And killed Ogiri-Obarisa
He also killed Ebure omo Agbebi la
He also killed Jenfa omo Onigbooro Aso
The strong wind is shaking the farm leaves this way
And the gentle breeze is shaking the farm leaves that way
The breeze that blew from afar is it that shakes the plantain leaves sideways
There is no one that death cannot kill
These were Ifa’s declarations to Orunmila
When going to the junction of the three cross roads to initiate Iku to Ifa
Let death, affliction, contention and loss give way to Awo
We are the children of Agun, excuse
***Ifa is saying here that those who put their hopes, faith in Orunmila, death will recognize
them and not take them before their Ɵme. For this reason, those who are thinking of
IniƟaƟon, should not hesitate. Also, we should prepare a soap for us to bath with to keep
death at a distance.
8. Ifa also advises us that we should be feeding our Ori on a regular.
Ifa also advises us that we should be feeding our Ori on a regular. By doing this, our Ori will
guide us to be among successful people in our community. As a Temple, we need to be
productive members of our community. We need to be leading by example. Ifa has to this say:
Iwonran Olokun ko ko ara ile
Iku Ijebu ko ko oorun
Ifa’s message for Ori Apere
He who sells Akara, beancake to prosper
When coming from Heaven to Earth
He was advised to offer ebo
He complied
Where people were blessed with Ire of wealth
Akara
My Ori, please let me be counted among them
Akara
Where people were blessed with the Ire of good spouse
Akara
My Ori, please let me be counted among them
Akara
Where people were blessed all Ire of life
Akara
Mt Ori, please let me be counted among them
Akara
9. Ifa further states that if we truly put our hope and faith on Ifa,
Ifa further states that if we truly put our hope and faith on Ifa, that our lives will truly
change. Ifa says we shall all go through Itenifa ritual. If we can do this, we will be under in the
sanctuary of Ifa. Once, we have gone thru Itenifa, Ifa initiation, we then need to take our Ifa
studies serious. Ifa says this:
Otootootoo
Oroorooroo
Separately does one consume peanuts
And separately does one consume tamarinds
Separately does one drop mushroom into ones mouth
What belongs to Ori is for Ori
And what belongs to Oori is for Oori
What belongs to both Ori and Oori is what we present to Obamakin
As gift in Iranje land
So tat he would bless us with the rewards meant for Ori and Oori
This was the Ifa cast for Otura
When going to initiate Irete into Ifa
He was advised to offer ebo
He complied
All of us shall become Ifa devotees
When Otura initiated Irete into Ifa
All of us shall become Ifa devotees
10. We are also reminded in this Itadogun, that we shall never be in a hurry.
We are also reminded in this Itadogun, that we shall never be in a hurry. That the desire we
seek from our prayers, ebo, and akunlebo will manifest in due time. Ifa’s time is different then
our time. Ifa has this to say:
A heavy downpour erases the footprints of the thief
Ifa divination was performed for Orunmila
When Akapo instituted legal action against him
In the court of Olodumare
A heavy downpour erases the footprints of the thief
Ifa divination was performed for Orunmila
Who had to go and defend himself
Against the accusation levied by Akapo
In the court of Olodumare
***the story goes that, Akapo was a true devotee of Ifa, and follower of Orunmila. Akapo,
would follow all the message of Ifa diligently. Whenever he was advised to offer ebo, he
complied right away. However, despite his commitment, he would make headway, progress in
life. Whenever he wanted a new job, he would go to Orunmile to cast Ifa. If Ifa advised to
offer a rooster, he would offer that rooster right away. But, he would not secure that new job.
Same would happen with other aspect of live. One day Akapo Ɵred and took his complaint to
Olodumare. Olodumare called upon Orunmila to give explanaƟon over the maƩer. Once they
called upon Akapo’s Enikeji Orun, spiritual double, he explained that all the ebo materials
were received in Heaven, even the water that Orunmila gave as libaƟon. Enikeji explained
that it was not the appropriate Ɵme for Akapo to receive the blessing from the ebo, but that
he would in due Ɵme. Akapo fell to his knees, and asked for forgiveness. SomeƟmes we do
not see the immediate result of ebo, however Ifa sees further, and know when it will be the
perfect moment to receive those blessings.
- Taboos:
- Must not kill or eat snake-to avoid premature death
- Must not eat peanut, tamarind and mushrooms-to avoid unconsummated fortune
- Must pay good with bad
- Must never be to avaricious
- Must not be argumentative
- 02/21/2024