IFA: The Answer to All of Life’s Troubles By Apena Fagbemijo Amosun Fakayode IFA is an ancient sacred science that has been passed down generationally for thousands of years. IFA is also known as FA or AFA in different parts of West Afrika, as it is practiced by various ethnic groups in the area. IFA is a science of divination – a means of communication and interaction with the unseen, spiritual world. Through the practice of IFA we can see what cannot be seen – in the past, present, and future – and thus diagnose problems that are beyond our scope. Therefore when we place our trust in the word of IFA, we are always ensured hope, no matter how dire the situation may seem to us. Much like when one goes to see a modern medical doctor, going to the Babalawo or Iyanifa (IFA priest or priestess) starts off with something much like diagnosis. Instead of the doctor physically checking you out with instruments such as stethoscope, thermometer, etc. the Babalawo will consult the IFA oracle on your behalf to ask IFA what the energies in your situation are. Even if you do not reveal any symptoms or details to the Babalawo, they will consult IFA and IFA will reveal all. The Babalawo must interpret the divination and they will most usually do so with the use of Ese IFA, verses of divine poetry that has been passed down for thousands of years. The Babalawo will unravel details of your own situation from the poems and then they will help you make sense of it all and how it applies to your own personal current situation. Often the patient or client will have an internal reaction to the messages of IFA and they themselves will come out and tell the Babalawo further interpretations and insights into their own situation or problem. The Babalawo and the patient will discuss the interpretation and there is much healing psychologically. Certain things that were before overlooked or subconsciously “swept under the mental rug” are now brought to light, by IFA and by the person’s own Ori (divine head/consciousness), and the whole issue is given a new shade of light. These new perspectives, and this outside divine word of IFA, help the patient to reexamine their situation and to look at it from an externalized view. Much like modern counseling or therapy, this helps the patient to deal with their situation and their problems. On this IFA says: Ogbe touches the matter for it not to break Ogbe touches the matter for it not to bend A beautiful bride is desirable when passing by When she moves into the home She becomes trouble Cast IFA for Orunmila When he was in debt in six different places And IFA requested a goat from him He then made his cry a cry of shouting And made his song a dirge of lamentation Now those who write one off do not know tomorrow If one is not yet dead One’s chances for achievement have not yet ceased Those who write one off do not know tomorrow Travelers to Ipo and Ofa Join us in the midst of abundant Ire Next, again much like a modern doctor, the Babalawo will interpret the Odu IFA to prescribe medicines and sacrifices necessary to ensure blessings and to keep away all negative forces. If the patient is sick with a disease, IFA will have revealed the sickness even if the patient exhibited no symptoms, and then IFA will at the same time offer solutions to overcome the illness. The prescribed remedy may be in the form of medicine to be ingested, topical medicine, medicine to be used in the form of a soap or other substance, and many times the prescribed remedy will include sacrificial offerings on behalf of the patient to the ORISHA, the Primordial Forces. By giving prescribed offerings and placating the ORISHA, the Divine Spiritual Energies, we are able to overcome all obstacles in life. The issue is knowing what to offer and to which (out of hundreds and hundreds) ORISHA to give the offering to. IFA oracle will reveal this information and more, and thus help the patient to overcome their issues in life. All of us came to Earth with certain individual EEWO, or taboos. These are things that before we came from Heaven (Spiritual World) to Earth (Living World) we decided and swore oath not to eat, drink, keep, etc. These EEWO are very close to the negative forces in the world (loss, contention, sickness, death, etc) and when one breaks covenant and eats, drinks, comes into contact with, etc. their EEWO’s, they are inviting those negative forces into their lives. The way to discover what those taboo items are is through divination with the IFA oracle. During divination and other rituals such as ceremonial initiation rites, IFA will reveal the person’s EEWO. It is through full itefa (IFA initiation) that one can learn their destiny including their EEWO (do’s and don’ts in life). Then once the person is aware of their EEWO’s, they can avoid them and follow them. By complying with the directives of IFA such as following taboos, and by offering the necessary prescribed sacrificial offerings, we can ensure ourselves that the blessings which we have selected to receive in life will come to us, and at the same time we are assured that any misfortunes which lay in our path can be avoided, that any obstacles can be overcome. On this IFA says: IFA is the master of today IFA is the master of tomorrow IFA is the master of the day after tomorrow as well Orunmila is the master of all the four days Established here on earth by the divinities Cast IFA for Orunmila On the day that all the malevolent supernatural powers Were repeatedly haunting his household Death disease loss paralysis affliction Were all glancing at Orunmila They were saying that One day they would be successful at killing him Orunmila then consulted his Ori Ogunda Meji was divined He was advised to offer sacrifice He offered the sacrifice After he had completed the sacrifice His Ori provided protective shielding for him Death could no longer kill him Nor could diseases affect him He was dancing he was rejoicing He was singing the praises of his IFA priests His IFA priests were singing the praises of IFA He opened his mouth Joyous IFA songs came out He stretched his legs and found himself dancing he said it is exactly how his priests predicted: IFA is the master of today IFA is the master of tomorrow IFA is the master of the day after tomorrow as well Orunmila is the master of all the four days Established here on earth by the divinities Cast IFA for Orunmila On the day that all the malevolentsupernatural powers Were repeatedly haunting his household The day death comes looking for me IFA spread out and provide protectionfor me Just as ewe nla spreads out to shield oori Just as a big river spreads out to shield the sands of its bed The day all the malevolent supernatural forces come looking for me IFA spread out and provide protection for me Just as ewe nla spreads out to shield oori Just as a big river spreads out to shield the sands of its bed It is etiponola that spreads out and shields the soil IFA spread out and provide protection for me Just as ewe nla spreads out to shield oori Just as a big river spreads out to shield the sands Of its bed MAY ORUNMILA PROTECT AND PROVIDE FOR US. ASE ASE ASE!
Posted on: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 10:26:41 +0000
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