The words Loyal and Betray are quite often misunderstood. These words, loyalty and betrayal are something to think deeply about. Loyalty is seen and felt not just said. Loyalty is like the word love, it must be felt and shown and not just spoken. In other words, it must be acted and not just spoken only. Betrayal on the other hand, seems to be more seen and felt and experienced these days because of the characteristics of some people. 

Take for example, I will use the word loyalty to show reference to the relationship of a pet dog and its owner. The owner of the dog nurtures, cares for, pets, feeds, shows love, shows compassion, takes the pet dog to the veterinarian for the regular checks and if the pet dog becomes ill, attends to ensure health is restored and etc. The dog, would show his gratitude by being loyal to its owner. 

The point is, as humans, we speak the word LOYAL without acting the word LOYAL. The word loyal shows if someone has gratitude for life and all that comes in it or not, in turn, this is where betrayal comes in. It means that you can betray the source of your life by such actions. My point is, you and another person can have a disagreement, we are humans, we are not perfect, but it does not mean you should automatically betray that person because of disagreement. Were you loyal genuinely even in agreement? 

I always prefer to use myself as an example and prime example to exemplify my word. I, His Eminence Owolabi Awodotun Aworeni, The Araba Agbaye Oluisese Makoranwale II, The Arole Orunmila, am very loyal and will always be loyal ISESE, I can never betray Isese. My loyalty to Olodumare, Orunmila, my Ori, all Orisa, Egbe, all Ancestors because without a doubt,  they are LOYAL to me, they have never betrayed me. Loyalty is not just spoken but is seen and felt.

Loyalty, like the word love is not to be taken for granted and played with. Betrayal,like the word hate should be avoided as much as possible. As I recently told someone, we must not only preach the Word of Ifá, but we must Act the Word of Ifá. 

His Spiritual Eminence,

Owolabi Awodotun Aworeni

The Araba Agbaye Olu-isese 

Makoranwale II

Arole Orunmilla.

Orishada recent trip to the diaspora, I was honored to reconnect with Oloye Fasina Falade, the Olubikin of Ile Ife, who currently resides in California, USA. This man is the root of the Aworeni family in the diaspora, and has done much to support Oke Tase, and to spread Ifa throughout the world.

He was initiated into Ifa in May of 1986 by the late Araba of Ile Ife, Fasuyi Omopariola. He later received Odu and his chieftaincy title from the current Araba Oluisese Agbaye, Adisa Mokanranwale Aworeni Awoyemi. Oloye Fasina created the first website on the internet (Ijo Orunmila) promoting traditional African spiritual culture. He also started one of the first Ifa Temples in the diaspora, Ara Ifa Ijo Orunmila of Los Angeles, which operated under the odu Osa Tura.

He was one of the first Awo in the diaspora to wear the green and brown ide and ileke Ifa. He has made many trips to Ile Ife, and has done much to support the Ifa temple and annual Odun Ifa at Oke Tase. We must never forget our progenitors, and those who have paved the way for worshipers in the diaspora to reconnect with the source. Other esteemed elders include Sangobukola Odunfa (Kay Fields), Baba Ogunlade John Turpin, and Oloye Yagbe Onilu the Agbakin of Ile Ife. The legacy of Oloye Fasina Falade continues through those he has taught and initiated, including Oloye Fayomi Falade Aworeni, Iya Abiye Awo Agbaye.

We thank Olodumare for the many blessings bestowed upon Oloye Fasina, and pray for continued blessings. May the Aworeni family continue to show gratitude and appreciation for our elders. May we continue to develop our character and speak the truth.

Happy Annual World Ifa Festival {Odun Ifa Agbaye Oke Agbonmiregun 2018} in advance.

Orunmila A gbe wa Ase oo.

Oloye Afidigba Owolabi Aworeni.

This festival is the celebration of Osa and Olokun.  The odu Ifa that talks about this festival is Osa Meji.

Refurefu laa dana ehin,tiomitiomi laa gbago difa fun Osara to maa gbegunyo nitori omo. Nje olomo lo laye o,Osara mon komode o.Osara dun juyo olori omi ni yeye.

It was divined for Olokun and Osa. Osa and Olokun are the wives of Oduduwa. During this time only Olokun had money Osa was very poor.   Olokun is the first wife of Oduduwa and did not have any children. Because of her childlessness she advised Oduduwa to marry another wife. This second wife is Osa.

Both Osa and Olokun were told to make the sacrifice. Only Osa made the sacrifice. Osa was the only one to have children and Olokun remained  childless.

During this festival the king calls all his children to wear Agbon and celebrate.  Only Osa had the children and Olokun did not have the children to dance in the festival.

They sing:

olomo loni laye

osara mo ko omode

o oye ye ko oyeko.

Because Olokun didn’t have children she was sad and went to the sea.  THis is why she left Ile-Ife and went to Eko and changed to the ocean.  In the end Orunmila made an extraordinarily large sacrifice for her to have children and at last she had children.

The Agbon festival is celebrated every year and this year was enjoyed and attend by the Araba Agbaye, his children, all the Awos, the Emese, Osara people and their children.

Orishada would like to thank all who  attended this year’s Agbon festival and we look forward to next year’s festivities.

Ododun lari orogbo

Ododun lari arusa

Ododun lari omo obi lori ate

 Ododun la o ma ri lode isalaye

Ododun lawo toro lowo olodumare

Won ko ni fi enikeni sa wa ti o

Gbogbo Eyin Ololufe Orishada Ibanuje koni je ti yin o Ase

Adupe gidigidi lowo gbogbo ololufe wa Ase ye samo odun asamodun semi Ase o.

Oloye Olori Iwarefa/Ihanrefa Owolabi Aworeni.

Songs or music is an energy that holds no boundary. It affects the soul that listens to it positively or negatively. It is also a form or way of communication between two people for example, God and man. We use songs and music to communicate peace, healing, prayer, warning, fighting, and war. Our energy field vibrates on either higher or lower level depending on the type of song we sing or music we play.

There is no gathering without songs and music. It plays an important role in every event. Happy or sad ones. Examples of happy events Wedding, naming ceremony, birthday party,coronation ceremony, Festivals, temple, sport , fighting ,warning including war. Examples of sad events are Funeral, war memorial etc.

We have many types of songs such as love songs, spiritual,lullaby, sorrowful, war , fighting , warning etc.There is life force in songs and music. Babies love music. They cry you sing they stop crying. When they are finding it difficult to sleep and you sing, they sleep peacefully.Songs changes the vibration or energy of any environment.When a beautiful song is sang or music played, unity is formed.Everyone instantly forgets their differences. When you also listen to a spiteful or war songs, you spark into anger and everyone remembers their differences .love songs makes anyone that listen to it feel the energy of love. This is why we say that songs or music holds no boundary. Male or female, young or old. It does not discriminate.

Olodumare answers prayers through our song offerings, its a method of communication between man and God. It is a powerful method to call down the presence of the Orisas for their blessings, ritual,feed and guidance. An instant connection with the realms of the spirit happens through song offerings. Your heart sparkles with joy, hope and gladness. There’s a high level of contentment and assurance that all is well. We can never underestimate the spirit force of songs and music.

During the festival we are using song to called all the deities down so that they can be able to answer our offers. Each orisa has their own song and all the icon of spiritual has their own songs too and the different orisa priests has their own songs. When we make a sacrifice or feed the Orisa we are using songs to called all the gods down. We can use songs to make a peace between two people.

In the Odu Ifa Ogbe Sa, Ifa gives the story of how the Apetebi became the wife of Orunmila. Ifa relates that Orunmila went to war in the town of Ilu obirin after all the efforts of the other Orisha were unsuccessful. Orunmila consulted Ifa, made the proper sacrifice and subsequent  was able to defeat the uprising in Ilu obirin. The town of Iluobirin was inhabited by only women. Orunmila used song to capture them in Ilu obirin town when the women were tied together with rope and taken back to the town where Orunmila resided.

Orisas love to be worshiped through songs. A person that connects to the forces through songs will never stop singing even when the song is finished or music stops playing. In your ears exude, inner lyrics of the spirit realms. Your inner ears is so receptive and open to hear soft played orchestral music that ordinary ears cannot hear from the musical realms of the spirits. There’s a change in your energy field because you are a constant worshiper of Olodumare, Orunmila and the orisas through songs. You are a special vessel that they can communicate to, through an invocation of songs. ASE  !!!

Oloye Oloriwarefa Awo Ooni Owolabi Aworeni.

The Orunmila Barami Agbonmiregun, the World Ifa Festival was held Saturday June 4-5, 2016 at Oketase the  Ile Ifa Agbaye (World Ifa Temple), Ile-Ife. This festival celebrates the New Year for all the traditional Yoruba practitioners.

This year’s World Ifa festival was attended by thousands of people from all over the world. The rituals began in the early morning and will continue into the following day.

The odu Ifa for this year is Obara Irete   – Ire Pupu

This year Ifa says we must remember our wives and that we shouldn’t fight.  If the wife leaves the huse then she will take all the blessings with her.  We must use Oyin and sugar the appease her.  We must be very careful f the words that we use in this year.

Also we need to be careful of what we say around friends,  They maybe planning something that can lead to our downfall.

It is taboo to have sex with another person’s wife.

This year will bring blessings for the Ifa practitioner.  This will be a powerful year.

We must make offering to Osun in this year.  Osun will be giving the blessings.  We must take good care of the females in our lives, in this year.

We must give gifts to the cripple and less fortunate this year.  If you fight there will be embarrassment.

Kings and those with a high title must feed their head with ram.

Orishada would like to greet for this Ifa New Year, the Oba Adedeyeye Enitan Babatunde  Ogunquit Ojaja ll Olori Alade gbogbo Oonirisa  Arole Oduduwa , Awoyemi Adisa Monkanrawale Araba Agbaye Oluisese , Awolodunmirindinlogun and All the Araba ,Olu-awo, Babalawo, Iyanifa,Babalorisa, Iyalorisa, Ojugbona, Gbogbo Omo Awo and All Egbe Aworeni Family .

May the blessings of Ifa guide and protect you.  Ase o

Opele is one of the elements used to cast an Ifa reading. Orunmila detected Opele by using Ikin Ifa (oke
iponri) to cast the reading, and he is also the one who guides Orunmila on his way. Orunmila woke up in the morning and cast the reading the Odu that came out was Ejiogbe.

Konbi onitaji , Ilebe ko se dipa 

Eru A difa fun Orunmila To fe

Lo fi Owo ra Irerere leru Irere

La jeku irere laaje aja Atokun

Tosa laaje Ori erinla akiikere

To won ni Ife Ooni Oja koja 

Kito oja agbale, Okun to 

Kun kii To kun yemideregbe

Yemideregbe ni oruko taa pe 

Olokun Orunmila ni kanraa 

Nibu Orunmila ni kanraa loro 

Gbogborogbo ni lowo yo ju ori 

Gbogborogbo ni moriwo ope yo 

Ju ogomon lo Igbo kiidi ki 

Iroko ma yori temi yo temi

Yo ni akikodiye ke.
Ifa said that when he gets to the market to buy some items, that he should first put money on something he does not want to buy. When Orunmila got to the market he looked around for the items he wanted to buy, then he remembered the reading he made. He encountered one slave (Irere) who had a limp leg and was handicap.

Orunmila put moneyon the slave. Orunmila originally used Opele as a housekeeper and to clear the bush. Until one day clients who came to visitOrunmila noticed Opele working outside, before they reached Orunmila , Opele started speaking their problems.

Orunmila discovered Opele had knowledge, Opele was once a human being. Orunmila loved himand treated him as he did his own children. Opele stayed in the house and divined for Orunmila’s visitors, but Opele started speaking ill of Orunmila.
Orunmila’s clients and the people started saying that Orunmila didn’t have power, that Opele had more powerthan Orunmila. One day when Orunmila was traveling, Opele was called to the Olofin’s palace to divine. WhileOpele was at the palace he committed a major offense.

When Orunmila returned to the town, Olofin invitedOrunmila to the palace, and he explained all that Opele had done. Orunmila was very angry, and he begged Olofin forgiveness for Opele’s offense. Orunmila did another reading for Olofin, and did a sacrifice for him.
When Orunmila returned back home he called Opele. Opele started to insult Orunmila, so he took the iroke and knocked Opele on the head. Opele broke into eight pieces . Orunmila didn’t want to throw Opele away, so hejoined the pieces together and used him to consult. He has five elements. They are Bone (egun), Cowries (owo eyo), Stone (okuta), Broken plate (awo ti o fo), Snail button (be bere igbin). The five elements of Opele stand for two options:   Ire (good) and Ibi (bad)

Ibo idi Opele

You have to feed Opele, but there is a specific way to feed it. You can feed it during and when you feed Ifa, but you can’t put it on top of Ifa because it is a slave (eru ki ba olu a mi gun opo). You can feed it anytime you want. There are many different types of Opele:Egbere, Agbigba, Akargba ect… Although Opele tells the truth, Ikin is more accurate. Therefore Ikin is used for more important consultations, like initiations.

Awon Opele

Ki ade pe lori , Ki Bata akun pe lese, Ki irukere akun pe lowo, Ki esin oba je oko pe, Baba yee Oonirisa.

Orishada , Araba Agbaye Oluisese , Awolodunmirindinlogun and All the Araba ,Olu-awo, Babalawo, Iyanifa,Babalorisa, Iyalorisa, Ojugbona, Gbogbo Omo Awo and All Entire Aworeni Family Congratulate Kabiyesi Oba Adeyeye Babatunde Enitan Oguwusi Ojaja II Olori Alade gbogbo Oonirisa  Arole Oduduwa, May your reign bring goodness & prosperity to the land & the entire people of Ife and all Yoruba kingdom and be peaceful Ase ooo.

Oloye Oloriwarefa Awo Ooni Owolabi Awodotun Aworeni.

The Orunmila Barami Agbonmiregun, the World Ifa Festival was held Saturday June 6-7, 2015 at Oketase the  Ile Ifa Agbaye (World Ifa Temple), Ile-Ife. This festival celebrates the New Year for all the traditional Yoruba practitioners.

This year’s World Ifa festival was attended by thousands of people from all over the world. The rituals began in the early morning and will continue into the following day.

The odu Ifa for this year is Ofun Osa   – Ire Ariku

Ifa says we should make the sacrifice for our head.  There will be a lot of honor for the people.  We need to look to our children there will be one child that we especially need to take care of the head of the child.  Make sacrifice to not see the war.  Make a sacrifice for the victory from this year to the next year.  We need to feed Ogun, and make a sacrifice for the traveler. We need to make the sacrifice for  the person who will take good care of us.  We need to take care of our bodies in this year because of sickness.

Ofun sa so babalawo Abe lo se ifa fun Abe ni ojo to gbe ogun re ilu ifari

Ifa says that we should make a sacrifice for the Aje.  We need to make a sacrifice for the people that will want to leak your secrets.  If you are not careful your personal secrets will leak.  We need to be careful about arguments.  We need to warn the children about arguing with people.  Take good care of the Aje for all the above reasons.

Ifa says that practitioners should feed their ancestors for the blessings to come this year.  There is the warning about palm wine, people should be careful about drinking wine.  Ifa says that we should be careful of our taboos, in particular when it pertains to food.  One should not eat any taboo food in this year.  Ifa say we should use ekuru to feed our orisa for the blessings.

Ofun sarasara

A difa fun Orunmila

Alukin Orisa Nla

A difa fun awon eleye

This year, Ifa says that there will be a betrayer, a liar.  This person will be close to us.  Ifa says no matter which Orisa that we have in our house we should not neglect them.

Orishada would like to greet for this Ifa New Year, the Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse ll Olori Alade gbogbo Oonirisa  Arole Oduduwa , Awoyemi Adisa Monkanrawale Araba Agbaye Oluisese , Awolodunmirindinlogun and All the Araba ,Olu-awo, Babalawo, Iyanifa,Babalorisa, Iyalorisa, Ojugbona, Gbogbo Omo Awo and All Egbe Aworeni Family .

May the blessings of Ifa guide and protect you.  Ase o

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.

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.

The Orunmila Barami Agbonmiregun, the World Ifa Festival was held Saturday June 7-8, 2014 at Oketase the  Ile Ifa Agbaye (World Ifa Temple), Ile-Ife. This festival celebrates the New Year for all the traditional Yoruba practitioners.

This year’s World Ifa festival was attended by thousands of people from all over the world. The rituals began in the early morning and will continue into the following day.

The odu Ifa for this year is Edi Ogbe  (Edi Gbemi ) – Ayewo Arun (Negative with emphasis on disease)

1) Edi gbemi ,

   Edi somi

   Orisa gbemi lakete

  Gori Esin lo A difa fun

  Aresa Ajeje won ni kan fi gbale oye

Won ko rubo emi gigun.

Ifa is telling us in this year that we we will see a lot of blessing from this year into next year.  Ifa says that some are planning bad in the new year but they will not succeed.  The bad the was planned for someone will be a source of blessing.

Ifa says that we should look for the promotion, we must look for the peaceful road.  There is something that will call us, it should not be rejected, it will be a blessing.

2) Edi gbemi

    Edi somi  Orisa gbemi lakete

    Gori Esin lo A difa fun

Aludugbe to lo so oko Arugbo

Ebo won ki oru Orubo O seun

Ifa says that this year will be filled with success for Ifa practitioners.  We should always dress well in this new year and practice good hygiene.

Ifa talks about meeting an older woman that we should not betray.  We should not betray anybody in this year.  The blessing or gift that you didn’t expect will come in this year from a stranger or someone that you don’t know.

3) Edi gbemi  

    Edi somi , 

   Orisa gbemi lakete

  Gori Esin lo A difa fun

  Olofin otaja taju AyeE loruko aya re je

Ifa says we should be careful of females, do not investigate the practice of women so that our eyes will not go blind.  A husband should not follow or lie to his wife, he should also not stay away from home for too long.  The woman that is looking for a child in this year will find it.

Ifa says that when people have problems in this year they should go to Ifa and explain.  We need to put our faith in Ifa this year.

Ifa says we should not betray each other, husband should not betray his wife, omo awo should not betray oluwo, child should not betray the parent, etc.

Our Ifa shrines must be neat in this year.  We must make a sacrifice for the victory.  When success comes our way in this year we must make the sacrifice because those around us will be jealous.  We must make the sacrifice that our enemies cannot steal our blessings.  Do not follow the stranger.  We need to feed Osun in this Odu, she will assist the female when she needs to escape danger.

4) Edi gbegberetigbe

   A difun Sango awili awala

  Omo arigba ota segun

 Won ko rubo ki owo le je ti e

Orubo o seun

Ifa says that we should make the sacrifice so that people will get the honor.  We should feed Sango under this Odu.  200 stones should be added to this sacrifice.  This is so respect will be given and we will have what we wish .

There is a lot of disease that will come out in this year.  we must make the sacrifice so that we will not have disease.

General

We need to be careful about underestimating any person.  We also should use plantain to feed Ifa.  Ifa says that if you have 2 wives or work with multiple people don’t gossip about the word one person says to you.  Don’t repeat what they say and use the information to get a reaction, this will end badly.

Ifa says that if you are in one position, you should not leave that position to seek something better.  You should stay where you are.

Ifa says that we should not say bad things about our work.  We should not say negative or strong words to children.  Let the words that come from your mouth be positive and good.  Always keep your house neat.  Blessing will enter a neat and clean house.

Ifa says that we should feed Ogun, Obatala, Ifa and Sango.

For more information feel free to comment on this page or write to orishada@gmail.com

Asodun modun ni awo asodun modun
Asoro moro ni awo asoro moro
Ododun lari orogbo
Ododun lari arusa
Ododun lari omo obi lori a te
Ododun lawo toro ire gbogbo
A koni fi odun eyi sa a se mon
Ase ni ti Edumare.

Orishada would like to greet for this Ifa New Year, the Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse ll Olori Alade gbogbo Oonirisa  Arole Oduduwa , Awoyemi Adisa Monkanrawale Araba Agbaye Oluisese , Awolodunmirindinlogun and All the Araba ,Olu-awo, Babalawo, Iyanifa,Babalorisa, Iyalorisa, Ojugbona, Gbogbo Omo Awo and All Egbe Aworeni Family .

May the blessings of Ifa guide and protect you.  Ase o

This festival is the celebration of Osa and Olokun.  The odu Ifa that talks about this festival is Osa Meji.  It was divined for Olokun and Osa. Osa and Olokun are the wives of Oduduwa. During this time only Olokun had money Osa was very poor.   Olokun is the first wife of Oduduwa and did not have any children. Because of her childlessness she advised Oduduwa to marry another wife. This second wife is Osa.

Both Osa and Olokun were told to make the sacrifice. Only Osa made the sacrifice. Osa was the only one to have children and Olokun remained  childless.

During this festival the king calls all his children to wear Agbon and celebrate.  Only Osa had the children and Olokun did not have the children to dance in the festival.

They sing:

olomo loni laye

osara mo ko omode

o oye ye ko oyeko.

Because Olokun didn’t have children she was sad and went to the sea.  THis is why she left Ile-Ife and went to Eko and changed to the ocean.  In the end Orunmila made an extraordinarily large sacrifice for her to have children and at last she had children.

The Agbon festival is celebrated every year and this year was enjoyed and attend by the Araba Agbaye, his children, all the Awos, the Emese, Osara people and their children.

Orishada would like to thank all who  attended this year’s Agbon festival and we look forward to next year’s festivities.

Ododun lari orogbo

Ododun lari arusa

Ododun lari omo obi lori ate

 Ododun la o ma ri lode isalaye

Ododun lawo toro lowo olodumare

Won ko ni fi enikeni sa wa ti o

Gbogbo Eyin Ololufe Orishada Ibanuje koni je ti yin o Ase

Adupe gidigidi lowo gbogbo ololufe wa Ase ye samo odun asamodun semi Ase o.

Oloye Olori Iwarefa/Ihanrefa Owolabi Aworeni.