I am asked about how I came to Ifa and Initiation

Current mood: thankful

Dearest Sister of mine, you are not getting to deep. I honor you much, and consider you
my friend. As far as Ifa initiations into various Orisa or Egbes I cannot tell of these
things, I could tell you of my initiation, but that would not be proper. However I can help
somewhat in your tudy of Ifa, and if and when (retorichal statement) you are to be
initiated into an Egbe or Orisa then would be the time for those questions etc. Again Ifa is
an Oral tradition, and what is in books cannot teach good Ifa, because it is passed down
by Babalawos, and Iyanifas Awos etc.

As to when or how did I come to know Ifa as my path etc. As I may have previously
mentioned I was a christian minister for 28yrs, and if you want to say the real McCoy
then that is what I was the real McCoy, I preached Jesus etc as the only way and believed
it with all my heart. However on Sept 11th something within me changed. As I watched
the so called patriotism prevailing in the united states, I could not participate. As I knew
as a Black man all things were not equal (another story) I began to examine who I was as
a Black man in America, and in examining that I also began to examine again what I
believed. As I was searching I cam across an interesting article concerning water and
prayer, was shown water that had been in a good enviorment, the water had been prayed
over and good things said to it. Also was shown water (crystals) in which was negativety
etc. the difference was astounding, In all my Christain yrs this seemed a good lesson to
me. The power of words the power of prayer, While I did not doubt the power of prayer
this was something shown me on a pratical level. As I continued to read the postings of
the brother who posted that Article, I started reading postings about honoring the
Ancestors, Ancestor veneration Ancestor prayer, which in mainstream christianity is a no
no. There is a verse in the hebrew bible which states the living should not consult the
dead etc. But I was reading something that had to do with my roots about honoring and
listening to my Ancestors
When I read this this somewhat sealed the deal

Sanction to communicate with the ancestors of our family lineage is a birthright; it cannot
and should not be granted to us by someone outside of our biological family. No one
needs to give you permission to speak with your own ancestors.

So I began to start learning about prying and honoring my Ancestors. The brother who
was posting these articles was an Ifa Priest a Babalawo, I began to learn more and things
progressed. As I am Pan African in thought (may not be ideal) to some but is my thought,
I began to yearn things of my roots things for lack of a better word African, now I say
things Yoruba, because as is said many if not most of the slaves came from west Africa
Yorubaland, hence now I claim to be Yoruba. Also one thing that sealed uch for me is
that I am panAfricanistic, so in my logical conclusions was why do I adopt the religion of
foriegners as opposed to that of my Ancestors, the religion of the invaders is not better
than the religion of my Ancestors, hence I am Yoruba and pratice Ifa. Also as a christian,
there were many times that as far as my prayer was concerned I had thoughs of this
nature, Does God even care, does He/She even hear me. do I matter, and in all reality
there were many times in my suffering, I could not feel anything of anytype of comfort,
another story(s) for another time, Of Ifa I am sure, when I pray I know I am heard, when I
commune ith my Ancestors is no doubt whatsoever
that I am heard and answered. They show themselves real to me The Orisa as well as my
Ancestors. They commune with me constantly they always talk to me. always. Hence my
trust in Ifa

There is also that which I will try and find, that those who follow Ifa, are descendants of
those who came with the Orisa to establish the earth.

Why for one I am an Ifa Devotee Ifayomi)

Owo eni la fi ntun oro eni se ( A person uses his hands to repair [create] himself. Awa lo
owo tiwa gba l owo (a) ti (o) wo ( We use our hands to recieve and keep honor and
wealth ). Those hands must fashion okun lokun (strong rope) that will be needed to tie up
the bundle of valuable things we have worked to attain for ourselves and our children. All
living things must do work in order to reap benefits and survive. We cannot think
ourselves exempt from these rules, but governed by them. Observation of the natural
order tells us that all things are regulated by seasons. There is a time to be young- a time
to be old; a time to follow-a time to lead; a time to spend-a time to save; a time to be
active-a time to rest. To be out of step with the season courts disaster. To ensure our
survival, the spirits of sacrifice and patience must be invoked to invest all doctrines that
we create. Rituals are created to properly train us. They mimic and illustrate the
movements of sacrifice amd patience as well as demonstrate the rewards bestowed by
them. We must accept and respect the great age and seniority of those spirits, and the
ones that animate the rivers, mountains, winds, and rains, or we will find ourselves
joustling with Implacable giants whose stamina and power will humble us in the end.

Ifayomi note. While I am yet a novice and unlearned, this is one reason in which I pratice
Ifa, not only because it is the ways of our Honorable Anscestors, but also Ifa teaches us to
be in line with the spirits the seasons etc of life. such wonderful knowledge
Mo Juba Oludamare
Mo Juba Orisa
Mo Juba Irunmole
Mo Juba Egungun egun Ile
Mo Juba Akoda
Mo Juba Aseda
Ase
_________________
The World is a Marketplace
Heaven is home

The purpose of this post for the most part is why I love who and what I am. Why I love
this thing that is called my religion i.e. Ifa. I guess to start let us see what is the definition
of religion.
From Wikipedia

"
A religion is an organized approach to human spirituality which usually encompasses a
set of narratives, symbols, beliefs and practices, often with a supernatural or transcendent
quality, that give meaning to the practitioner's experiences of life through reference to a
higher power, God or gods, or ultimate truth.[1] It may be expressed through prayer, ritual,
meditation, music and art, among other things. It may focus on specific supernatural,
metaphysical, and moral claims about reality (the cosmos and human nature) which may
yield a set of religious laws, ethics, and a particular lifestyle. Religion also encompasses
ancestral or cultural traditions, writings, history, and mythology, as well as personal faith
and religious experience.
The term "religion" refers to both the personal practices related to communal faith and to
group rituals and communication stemming from shared conviction. "Religion" is
sometimes used interchangeably with "faith" or "belief system,"[2] but it is more socially
defined than personal convictions, and it entails specific behaviors, respectively.
The development of religion has taken many forms in various cultures. It considers
psychological and social roots, along with origins and historical development.
In the frame of western religious thought,[3] religions present a common quality, the
"hallmark of patriarchal religious thought": the division of the world in two
comprehensive domains, one sacred, the other profane.[4] Religion is often described as a
communal system for the coherence of belief focusing on a system of thought, unseen
being, person, or object, that is considered to be supernatural, sacred, divine, or of the
highest truth. Moral codes, practices, values, institutions, tradition, rituals, and scriptures
are often traditionally associated with the core belief, and these may have some overlap
with concepts in secular philosophy. Religion is also often described as a "way of life" or
a life stance."

My key word here is Way of Life

Origin:
1150–1200; ME religioun (< OF religion) < L religiōn- (s. of religiō) conscientiousness,
piety, equiv. to relig(āre) to tie, fasten (re- RE- + ligāre to bind, tie; cf. LIGAMENT ) + -iōn-
-ION; cf. RELY.

Anyway there we have the definition. The thing(s) I love about who I am or what it is
that i do, or my religion, my way of life. Is that it has given me purpose for 1. In my
readings ie Dafa (Divination) I am told this is what i came to Aiye (earth) to do and be,
what is that you ask I came to be an Awo (Babalawo) a diviner a priest of Orunmila (Ifa).
I find that my religion teaches me to be honest, caring what some would call good. That
is not to say that other religions don't teach that, for they do. However this is my path, the
way of Ifa. I find that I think, eat, and breath Ifa. When I lay down at night and when I
rise in the morning. To me it is a wonderful thing. When I read verses of Odu Ifa, or
chant them when I read the wisdom and knowledge in them it stimulates as well as
inspires me. Even when reading something that might seem all so simple, when reading
them it gives me strength and knowledge for example

Iwori tejemo ohun ti i se nl bi o ba te'fa ki o tun iye inu re te

Awo ma fi eja igba gun ope. Awo ma fi aimowe wo omi
Awo ma ibinu yo Obe, awo ma fi ma san bante Awo

Ase

Iwori stare at what affects us if you are initiated into ifa, please renew your inner thought
Adept do not use a tattered rope to climb a palm tree
Adept do not pull out a knife in anger ...

Just seemingly simple words however with so much wisdom and impact.
"Stare at what affects us, pay close attention, be aware of what you are doing, don't use a
tattered rope to climb a palm tree. in other words use wisdom use what will get the job
done don't half ass do what it is you are to do, it will only fail. Anyway my time at this
point is limited I will be back and talk more.

Ire o
Baba Ifaleye