Ori: The Vast Babalawo

Back in 2004 a site visitor wrote, “alafia, i was going through your web site, I am real happy for you, for knowing the faith, my husband and i just came back from trinidad and tobago, we went to do initiation for some convent into osun, obatala, nana buruku, yemoja, obaluaye, orisa oko, kori, egungun, sango, oya, opa, etc. it was a very wonderfull experince. my husband is a babalawo from ode-remo in ogun state. and very vast in ifa, he holds some title too but that does not determine how well you are in the religion, most vast babalawo are not interested in titles but what they can teach you and what they think of you, how they want you to progress and be the individual you want to be say bless the orisa will be with you and see you through ase. need to know more about the the religion do not limite your self to ile-ife or oyo,.,”

Those of us who have experienced the Awo ati Ase ti Ifa (Mysteries and Spiritual Power of Ifa) do feel happiness when another person finds there way to this powerful and misunderstood Way of Being in the world. There are so many religions reaching out for the attention of the people and so many Hollywood promoted falsehoods about the nature and characteristics of the indigenous spiritual systems that African Spirituality is often the last path sought for those who are seeking solutions to the problems of living. There are an estimated 2 billion Christians, 1.2 billion Muslims, 800 million Hindus, and 700 million followers of other religions. When someone finds their way through all of that social pressure and arrives at the Ilekun ti Ifa (Door to Ifa), we say that it is On Path for them and we feel joy in our faith that Ifa carries the solution to that person's problems and challenges of living.

Reflecting back to the Initiation Ceremonies in Ile-Ife, I can imagine the beauty, intensity, and Ase of the initiations mentioned in the visitor’s email. The bold emphasis is mine and highlights the portion of the email that I appreciated the most. These few words capture the Energy Signature of my late mentor Chief Adeyela Adelekan. Those few words also embody the essence of what I believe most believers and seekers are looking for when they search out someone to assist them on their spiritual journey and to instruct them in the ways of our Ancestors on thinking about the world, being in the world, and living in the world. Given your geographic location, you might be miles, cities, or States away from a Babalawo with the above characteristics. Sometimes, and perhaps in most circumstances, a sincere and knowledgeable priest or priestess can play a significant role in your process. Chief Adelekan taught me that to be vast in faith and in heart is more important than to be vast in knowledge. To be vast in both is the best. Either way, Orisa will respond to your sincere efforts to reach them. I consider my own knowledge limited in comparison to many, if not most priest and priestesses, and far less developed than that of our Babalawos and Iyalorishas in Ile-Ife and the surrounding cities and communities of Nigeria. Yet I can say that since the moment I passed through the Ilekun ti Ifa (Door to Ifa), Orisa have responded to my efforts to help myself and to assist those who have come to me seeking to pass through that door.

The Ilekun ti Ifa (Door to Ifa) is unique for each of us. It is that moment when you encounter Ifa and become aware that it resonates with something deep inside of you, and from that moment on you are open to the Awo Orisa, Mysteries of Orisa.  The Ilekun ti Ifa, for you, may be through your experience with a book, a movie, a web site, a person, a Babalawo or Iyalorisha, or an encounter directly with the Ase of Orisa or Egungun. In the absence of a Babalawo, priest, or priestess you may find yourself faithfully maintaining your personal connection with Orisa and Egun in your private room at your sacred altars. It is important to keep feeding your spiritual relationship to Orisa and Egun. It is important for you to potentiate you own Ase by spending time with Orisa and Egun whether you are part of a community or practicing your faith alone or with family.

Your own Ori is your Most Vast Babalawo when there is no one else to call on. Even a great Babalawo cannot bring about that which your Ori will not permit. Occasionally you may want to reach out on the web and check in with other individuals who share your devotion to the Ifa Tradition of Orisa and Ancestor Worship. This Blog is a place where you are welcome to share your brief stories, ask questions, and add your comments.

Your anonymity will always be protected when and if your emails are referenced in one of our Post. 
Your reactions to this Post and your member comments are welcome below! 

Ki Olodumare, Orisa, ati Egun fifun e ni
Itona, Imoye, ati Opo Ire!
My Olodumare, Orisa, and Ancestors bestow on you
Guidance, Wisdom, and Abundant Blessings!

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Kabo!!!
My introduction to IFA came in 1996 when I met my first teacher Babalawo Chief Adetunji Olokodana in Phoenix, Arizona. Given that there was no significant Ifa community in Phoenix, I consider it a blessing that our meeting took place. It was On my Path! From 1996 to 2001, Chief Olokodana, (Baba Tunji to myself and others) taught me into an understanding of the Tradition of Orisa and Ancestor Worship. I learned something of the Yoruba language as we performed readings and ebos (sacrifices) for seekers, and divined the Orisa who governed the heads of those who wanted to know. Baba Tunji read my Orisa as Orisa Ogun. Orisa Ogun remains a prominent and powerful force in my consciousness and my life but in 2001 I was destined to learn more about the Ifa way of being in the world and about myself.

With this experience as a foundation it was On Path for me to meet Chief Adeyela Adelekan via long distance telephone from Phoenix to London in early 2000. Chief Adelekan was to become my mentor and I his protégé during and after my Journey to The Root which I’ve described on our website. While in Ile-Ife in 2001, I was initiated into the House of Obatala and affectionately referred to by Chief Adelekan as his priest. Ile Awo Orisa, The House of the Mysteries of Orisa was established immediately upon my return from Ile-Ife. In the 14 years that I have been a practitioner of the Ifa Tradition and in the 9 years since I traveled to Ile-Ife, Nigeria IFA has had a profound positive influence and affect on my life, on the lives of my spiritual godchildren, and others who have come seeking.

What has really prompted this Blog site are the emails that I have received over the years from individuals who have visited the website, read about my Journey to The Root, and been inspired and motivated to write and say thank you. The acknowledgment is much appreciated! The Blog is also a response to those who have written seeking someone who can assist them in their own journey. I don't think that I am that one. I am but a humble Priest of Obatala and consider myself limited in knowledge, a seeker like many of you. However, I do believe that by sharing in an open dialogue we might find answers in each other. After all, each of us is connected to the All! Often the emails express being overwhelmed by the amount of information and the diverse views about Orisa and Ancestor Worship one encounters on the web. Another complaint is that many Priests, Priestesses, and Babalawos seem to be all about large sums of money to access their spiritual advice. If this Blog can serve as a free venue of sincere, honest, and informed dialogue about the Ifa Tradition of Orisa and Ancestor Worship, if it can assist even one individual in remembering how and why they chose to come into this world, if it can provide you with a place to share your experiences with Orisa and Egungun, if it can help in making our ancient African traditions and worldview a part of the current dialogue about world affairs, then all effort in maintaining the Blog will be worthwhile. We welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions.

May Orisa and Egun look favorably on what we say!