Dear brothers and sisters, sometime my mind indulges in reflecting about the fascinating world of Ifa and Divination, so these are my humble concepts about a very interesting point that relate Hermeneutics of Ifa with Trance and “Mesocosm” in Ela possession. Interpretation of the infinitely complex Ifa symbolism and analogic communication constitutes a form of hermeneutics that per se give an answer to many concealed meanings of the vast pantheon of Nature forces (Orisa) and human beings Ori. Esoterism is the comprehension of the real meaning of life manifestation through the deepening of superficial layers of knowledge to the depth of concealed symbolic meanings. Antonine Faivre states “the term esoterism conjures up the idea of secret -indeed arcane- or hidden knowledge. We can access understanding of a symbol.... by a personal effort of a progressive elucidation through several successive levels, ie by a form of hermeneutics”. This type of knowledge is to be attained after transcending technical approach and formal study, it is at once spiritual and logic according to the principle of interdependence, analogy or correspondences between phenomena. Yet many links and correspondences are not overt, but partially or totally hidden inside the Unconscious mind. In Jungh Psychology, it is the method of active imagination and dream work that can reach the depths of the Unconscious at the level of psyche or soul. In Ifa we may think about a macro-cosmic as opposed to a micro-cosmic reality, where all that exists in the microcosm represents and describes the macrocosm. For example, the microcosm of Opon Ifa symbolically transports the relationship between Aiye and Orun or describes fluently the macrocosm of human thinking process. However there is also an intermediate level that can be defined as “mesocosm” that is the intermediate layer which is able to interconnect between macro and micro representations of All That Is with the function to present to the holistic human mind the comprehension of these relationships. This immense layer is namely the Unconscious of human beings, who is there to receive knowledge and comprehension. This mesocosm is an essential part even of the process of esoteric approach to communication to Ifa and with Ifa, representing the fertile land where the Spirit of Ela may germinate at least transiently. The colour of this mesocosm is essentially black and as the word Ela has a definite meaning to us, from the elision of E and Ala (I am the light), the light of Primal Consciousness may invade the black hole of human Unconscious mind, rendering the possibility to enlighten the hidden meanings of symbols and metaphors as they are presented by and from Ifa. The importance of Esu as translator and Messenger is revealed also from Greek tradition where a “hermeneus” was an interpreter and the word probably originated from the name of Hermes, the Messenger of the Gods and epitome of eloquence. So, Ifa requests some specific approach to Unconscious language comprehension, that is the language of Ifa. Possession of Awo with Ela is enlightenment of Awo Unconscious by the light of primal Consciousness. So it is neither a possession trance nor an expression-regression trance, nor a simple hypnotic trance, it is a mesocosmic trance, a further dissociation where a third personality develops simultaneously. We have the Awo Consciousness personality, the Awo Unconscious personality that modifies to a third ones that is the Mesocosmic personality. The definition of mesocosmic personality may well be the development of a further spiritual and psychological status where the light of Ela is able to reshape the human (so limited) unconscious knowledge to a new form of awareness and enlightenment that translates into the possibility to give power to the Mouth in expressing concepts and interpretation that come from the archetypal and collective Unconscious as an expression of Ela inytervention. Furthermore, The light of Ela gives the opportunity to the Babalawo to go in contact with ancient wisdom and connections that may further transform and shape this so called mesocosmic personality, donating to that humble human being the transient possibility to express his/her Emi, the divine spark that resides inside each one of us. The Ifa priest is so an indispensable intermediary in the presentation of the Oracles response as derived from the literary forms that embody the repertoire of responses, organized in terms of templates related to different forms of meta-symbolic experiences. Ifa priests are direct expression of Hermes/Esu in their sacred function of Messengers, where the message comes from a primal knowledge and wisdom that interface with the depth of Priests mesocosm and are transferred to the Ori of the Babalawo. How a Babalawo can prepare his Mesocosm to receive the light of Ela is another (future) story...........
Posted on: Sun, 16 Mar 2014 14:35:04 +0000
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