Archive | January, 2015

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Isedaye Omo Tuntun/The Birth of a New Baby

Posted on 03 January 2015 by Babalawo Aworeni

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Isedaye Omo Tuntun/The Birth of a New Baby. The spirit of a child comes from Heaven. It is important to ask Ifa at every stage of a person’s life, for instance before one gets married or during the birth of a new baby. The reading for the baby occurs when a baby is born and is very important so that the parents will know the type of child they have. Some children come from heaven with a spirit that doesn’t like noise, or may have a delicate constitution, if this is the case, Ifa advises us on how to be a better parent to these types of children. The first reading of the baby is for the child’s destiny, it is a private matter, usually performed between just the parents and the priest. This is because certain taboos or perceived weakness of the child is not for everyone to hear. Sometimes it will be at the parent’s discretion as to whether or not to tell the child. When the child is older it may be prudent to tell them more about their destiny.

When Ifa tells us the child’s destiny, he may say that the child should be initiated or maybe they shouldn’t eat certain foods, or possibly there is a sickness and a sacrifice should be made. This is for the child’s future and what they are destined to become. Ifa will also tell about the name of the child. Ifa’s name for the child will help the child fulfill their destiny. During the naming ceremony it should be performed in the morning and is when the name is given. The other names of the baby other than the family name should reflect the nature of the pregnancy and the actual birth of the baby.

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With regards to the placenta, how it comes out with the baby has a specific meaning also if a child is breach this has a specific name. The tradition surrounding pregnancy, birth, the vital 7 days after the birth and throughout childhood is sacred and there are many rituals surrounding these stages. The rituals involve the first bath of the child, the behavior of the caregiver at birth, what is done with the materials after the first bath, what is done with the placenta, etc.

The Oro Idile, comes from the family compound, where for the first 7-8 days after the birth the mother can only eat certain foods or must exclude certain foods/spices. This too, determines the life of the child. Many times if a parent hasn’t performed the Oro Idile for the child, the child may have a problem later in life or fall sick. The parents may think at that time that someone is attacking them through their child, but that is not the case, the problem originated within the first 7-8 days after the baby was born. Oro Idile is family/compound specific.

Ifa tells us how to be good parents. When the child becomes an adult the parents will disclose the destiny according to what Ifa said to them as a baby and they will take this information into adulthood. The child will know how to conduct themselves in the world, the clothes they should wear, colors they should avoid, taboo foods, etc.

In the Yoruba tradition the people that have children have the world. It is a vital part of the Ifa religion. Every Orisa has many children. According to the source of Ifa in Ile-Ife, a man and woman are to marry and have children. Homosexual relationships are taboo. If a woman is barren this is a different matter.

In this Odu Ifa, Ogbe Osa  Ifa talks about when the people of Ilu Obirin town practiced homosexuality and Olodumare sent Orumila. Orunmila went to war in the town of Ilu Obirin to destroy the town. The town was inhabited by only women and they were brought back to Ile-Ife and taught how to properly conduct their life.

 

Oloye Oloriwarefa Owolabi  and Iyanifa Awojoke Aworeni – Greets all of the Orishada Community

Happy New Year in the Gregorian Calendar, Ifa will bless and keep us in this new year.

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