Ifa-Americanized, Europeanized, Individualized

When I write posts like this I always try to be careful not to step out of place being that I am so young in this culture. I have been thinking about something since we came back from our visit with our Iya , Yeye, Baba 'Fakoyode, and the rest of the Ile.

We took our vessels down to be fed. During a part of the ceremony I watched as Yeye did something that I wouldn've thought was bullshit or a parlor trick had I not seen it myself. I won't mention it here as I don't know if it's appropriate. I was thinking that that kind of Ase can ONLY come from the continent. Not that she can't teach us the same things here as we are ready to learn them, but that the knowledge has to come from the source and must remain unchanged in order to maintain the same amount of Ase. Although she lives in the states, she returns home to Nigeria to continue training from master teachers there.

On FB, there is a group that is basically a mixture of all kinds of African spirituality and even mixes of particular traditions. The more I study the more I realize that we, as children of the diaspora, try to take these traditions and make them our own. The funny thing is that it sounded like a good thing not so long ago. Now, I see more and more that we MUST keep the traditions as they are intended to be kept.

There are reasons that Ifa has morphed into other paths such as Santeria. This was to keep the tradition alive in the face of the HORRIBLE slavery (Maafa) that our ancestors endured. Well, now that it doesn't have to be kept secret anymore, many choose to no longer acknowledge that the source of their Santeria belief is Ifa that originated in Nigeria. Here is an article about it. It would seem that Africa continues to be the mother of ungrateful bastard children that refuse to honor Her as their source.

As most of you know, I don't not glorify integration. There are somethings that are better executed within particular groups, and I do NOT believe that we have to share all of our belief and concepts with each other. We simply should respect them and keep it moving. Think of it like the human body. There are parts of the body that are not to be seen by everyone. They are considered sacred. Why then, do we feel obligated share the secrets of our traditions with people that have constantly/consistently sought to destroy us in the name of integration and belonging? An example of Americanization and Europeanization can be seen here. When I was first trying to find my way, I found that there are a lot of "others" writing about African tradition and cultures and their materials are being mainstreamed while those who are actually able to accurately teach/write are not pushed into the limelight in the same way. I guess everyone many people want to make money and bend Ifa to their own will. This brings me to my next point of individualize practices.

Now, I have learned from my elders that there are certain things that you may be told to do differently from someone else. For example when my husband and I do our morning prayers, it looks different. We teach our children our differences, which are VERY slight and we teach them why we have chosen to do it the way we have. Clearly, this is not the individualism that I am speaking of. I am talking about people who are angry, jaded, or just plain arrogant and have decided that they don't have to learn from anyone, teach anyone, or participate in a community. NOBODY in the world knows all of the mysteries of Ifa so that means that we ALWAYS have more to learn and the way this culture works is that we have teachers. This culture is NOT based on writings as it is an originally an oral tradition. Oral traditions by their very nature mean that you MUST interact with others...a community. We live in NC, but our ile is in Ga. We have been down twice and although we would love to go more often we stay in constant communication, we study a lot with materials suggested by elders, and we double check that information to see if it is the same as what is done in our lineage. The connection that we feel with our Ifa family is unbreakable. We are truly blessed beyond measure. We are truly ride-or-die for each other. As for the teaching, my husband and I are not in an official position to teach, but of course we teach our children whatever we learn. I even teach the concepts I learn in Ifa to others by putting it in plan language. Because Ifa is not a conversion "faith" I've found that no matter who I am talking too and what they believe, unbeknownst to them they find Ifa to be strong and true. ;)

I realize that this post was really long, but I had some thangs on my chest. Please feel free to respond to what has been said if you agree and especially if you don't agree. lol

Dr. John Henrik Clarke on organized religion vs spirituality Parts 1-4

True Freedom...

My family and I will soon be traveling south to go visit our Ile family. We are all SO excited. Usually when I am really happy about something the second person I share it with is my Mama. She is second because my husband is usually first. Why haven't I told her, because I don't feel like hearing what might come along with it.

You see, I still haven't told my Mama about my "conversion". At first it was because my husband asked me to wait until they asked rather than throwing it up in their faces. That was probably wise because I was a little to froggy at the time and it wouldn't have ended well. You know how when you scared you tend to be on the defense. I still feel like she knows and isn't saying anything. I am petrified of losing my relationship with her because lawd knows I love that woman. I do, however, feel pure anger at the fact that I feel so restricted and bound. I understand why she feels the way she does, but there is no way for me to get her to understand how I feel. It wouldn't be for her lack of trying. It is because of the structure of the Christian beliefs of eternal hell and such. So in short, I am 34 years old and may well be 4 years old.

I talked it over with my godmother who is wise beyond her years AND mine thankfully. I was going to just blurt it out and get it over with because I am literally exhausted with this. I have chosen a path that doesn't condemn that paths of others, but somehow I am not able to escape being condemned. Since I feel like I'm still a kid, I will probably use the system that Mama developed when I was young. When we found that something was too hard to talk about or we were too mad to talk about it, we would write notes to each other. I'm thinking that this is a note writing situation and yes I'm a punk when it comes to my Mama. Either way I will be SO happy when this is all over. It'll probably get really interesting since everybody in my family is some form of Christian.

Fuh dose uh you dat know duh power uh prayer, please pray my skrenf in duh lawd.

Brother Polight At Street Consciousness.

Dr Barashango On Hating whites?

We Defend White Folks So They Don't Have To!

Troy Davis = Naomi Winfrey

Solove Concord,NC police brutality

Yeyelawo Olomitutu

Reposted from FB note:

I woke up with Yeye on my mind. Due to the fact I have been taught to respect elders at all cost I struggled with how to write this and remain respectful. So here goes.

I am being taught both by Yeyelawo Olomitutu and Iya Ifalola Sangoyemi. They have been such a blessing to me and have saved me from many things that I couldn't see with my own eyes, things I could see but was to "young" to comprehend, and even things I refused to see out of stubbornness. They are EXTREMELY strong women, but don't confuse strength with anger or hate. They are very much like the vulture that will prick her own thigh to feed her children the blood.

A lot of the imbalance and disharmony I see going on around me does hurt because I came into this culture with very high expectations that it was going to be all love. As I grow in life I see that is not the case anywhere. I will say, however, that for ME these two women have been salvation. I have only seen humility in them. When they have been wrong on any level, they let us learn from their mistakes. They didn't hide them. Humility responds to humility. Further, I would humbly suggest that humility should be something for all of us to strive for will on this path. It is a integral part of this path.

As for money, like anyone else I don't always have it. Now most times I will just save it up until I have what I need, because I HATE being indebted to ANYONE. There are times, however, when you NEED things done for your own well being and they must be done RIGHT THEN. In this case if  I didn't have the money for something that NEEDED to be done, I was allowed to repay Yeye and I we worked hard to do it in a timely fashion. She never once complained, never once talked about us, she just waited and treated us well. Spirit takes precedence over money. Now is money necessary? Yes, but believe that it won't come before your life or well being at any point. 

The reason that I am writing this is because I woke up with Yeye on my mind. I read somewhere once that when you have good elders that it doesn't fall to them to defend who they are and how they are. It falls to the ones that they have shown their character to. Well Yeye like any other person has her ways, BUT she will fight like hell for the integrity of Ifa to be kept, she will kill for those she loves, and she will sacrifice of herself. These things I have seen. Am I saying she's perfect? Nope, because then I would be lying. She strives from good character daily, especially in a world that I know for myself is hard on strong women. I will say this, however, you don't have to like her. There are a lot of people that don't and the won't like her. You don't even have to respect her, but know that she walks upright in her spiritual life and you would do well to do the same. If not, no matter. It's your funeral.

For all that are reading this, may you have all that you put into the world with both your mouth and actions, in secret and in public returned to you 10 times over. Ase, Ase, Ase o

Yeyelawo Olomitutu

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A lesson in Iwa (character)

Okay so this will be the short version as a long story. We went out of town to pick my our daughter and niece up from my other niece's house. We had a really rough morning because of problems with the rental company, price line, lack of cars, etc. From that point everything was down hill. We had some really good moments sprinkled in, but it was still pretty rough.

My husband is omo Obatala so one of their traits is that their thoughts and contemplations can overtake them. They can get so absorbed in their thoughts that nothing else matter except whatever is on their minds. Idk, if they are all this way, but my husband is a problem solver. He is obsessive about it and this was part of the issue yesterday. Because so many things went wrong that he couldn't fix, he started to remind you of a robot that had overloaded their circuits. Toward the end of the trip, even ordering food for the children became a bit much. I said all this to say that when you are aware of the energy carried by a person you can deal with them appropriately, which for me meant shutting up...for the most part.

Long story short (too late) we had to clean the vessels today. Little did we realize that the opposing energy of yesterday had carried over into today. Well, as we began to clean the vessels little snatches of irritation started to show with everybody here and there. I should have stopped everything right there, but I didn't. It ended with tears, fussing, yelling, etc. Whew!!! When it really went bad I was trying to help our Son (omo Ogun) to clean and cast to Ogun. I thought he was cool until I looked at his face. *insert screeching tire sound here* I stopped right there. I didn't want anything going any further.

I talked to my husband first and told him that because Iya always tells us her mistakes so we can learn from them, we had to do the same with the children. We decided to talk to the children about the lesson that we had learned from the gbogbo wahala. What were I lessons without tellin' all our bidness?

1. Don't go to Orisa when you haven't made things right with your family.
2. Don't go to Orisa with an expected out come when you cast.
3. When you get something that you don't like when casting, don't get mad. Think of it like a parent giving correction to a child and the child getting pissed and thinking that everything is going to be cool. NOT!
4. Don't ask questions that you don't want answered. You are not accountable for what your Ori doesn't know. 
5. Family is your first shrine.
6. You are in responsible for your OWN character, you can't blame other people for as some say "taking you out of your character".

I hope you learn something from our lesson. It was rough---real rough, but it was worth it for what came out of it. 

Iba ase Esu oooooo!!!

Elders...R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Okay so today I'm going to get my nerve up and talk about eldership. I will look at it from the African American/Diaspora aspect and the traditional aspect. Remember this is only my opinion based on what I have learned so far.

As a youth growing up I was taught many conflicting views on what it meant to be an elder and how to treat elders. On one hand as a small child you had to respect everyone that was considered an adult or that was at least old enough to babysit you. As you came into your teenage years you began to be told that you should respect those that respected you. Now, unless you were a total fool you knew that this, for the most part was not applicable to your close elders (mother, aunts, etc). When I started to have conflict with my father, I had to learn about this mutual respect ideology head on. I have OFTEN felt like my father was disrespecting me as a person in general. He said some very hurtful ugly things to me and then expected respect. He was nice to people outside the family, but then would be mean to us. Now, this is not the whole of who he is, but it's not untrue either. Anyhoo, I took the road of not respecting him to a degree. I did what I was told, but was NEVER happy about it and NEVER did anything extra for him. Now, with my mother, she was always respectful of us and so it was NO problem to give her the same. To this day if my Mama asks me for $5 I will try to give her $10. If she corrects me I humbly accept the wisdom and move on. My behavior is not all that uncommon here in the diaspora. The truth is that many of our elders are simply that, elders, but lack a lot in regard to having standards of behavior. This observation accounts for the foolishness that we see from the generations that they rear. My relationship with my father was directly reflected in my relationships with men.

Yeye (Yeye Lawo Olomitutu) is from Nigeria and has told me that they regard elders based on age.The character or initiation of the Elder can be somewhat irrelevant. Of course I'm sure that on the whole they strive for good and gentle character, but as she has taught me, if they are found lacking you (the junior) are not free to act on that. Meaning that if they curse you completely out you are expected to take it, learn from it, and move forward. Iya (Iyanifa Ifalola Sangoyemi) has always woven lessons on respect for elders into conversations. Often they were very hard pills to swallow, but I took my medicine like a big girl...most of the time. These lessons on an almost blind respect for elders has in many ways saved my relationship with my father. I still draw some boundaries to be honest because I feel the need to protect my family from some of that foolishness, but I do so respectfully. I allow myself some space for learning. I also keep in mind that Ifa has standards that don't care one bit about "how I was raised". Because of this, I have had to take a few classes in humility

There is one more difference here in the diaspora that probably wouldn't happen as much in Nigeria. Here many of us are reconnected to Ifa (ATRs) as adults. This can make figuring out elders an interesting game. Here is an example. I am actually older (by about a year) than my Iya, but she is initiated Sango AND Ifa. Now, 9 times out of 10 that wouldn't have happened if we were raised in the tradition. So natally I am actually her elder, but she is twice initiated mine. As a matter of fact my husband is about 7 years her elder natally, but she's our Iya (mother). Humility, gratefulness, and her old soul make it both easy and a joy to kneel at her feet when we see her. She has literally saved me and brought me to Ifa. The other cool thing is that she, imho, was really old when she transitioned from her last life so she is a really old soul this life. Ifa, looks out for the small things. ;). There is a little boy that might possibly be initiated before me, and guess what? If this happens I will salute him as required by Ifa and expect him to do as he is asked in other regards. This is simply the way things must be navigated with a culture that is trying to play catch up with reconnecting with our roots.

My prayer is that you will read this as one of my on going lessons, not as a reason for division or disagreement with what you may believe. We, as Afrikan Americans, have a very unique experience to put it nicely. We have to make some adjustments at times in regards to our ATRs/DTRs, but in the end we should all find some common lessons. These lessons should be humility, love, gratefulness, truth, honesty, and community.

Again, these are just the humble lessons and opinions of an Ifa baby...

Sunni Patterson performs Mama This House is a River at the ROOTS Fest 2011

Malcolm X day speech -Samori Speaks

Community Homeschooling

So, I've been volunteering with the summer camp that my niece is heading up. Although it has had it's challenges for everyone involved I have fallen in love with the children. I LOVE teaching. Now, you would think that this would have come naturally since we homeschool already. Lemme tell you, sometimes it can take a minute for you to find you way. I went so long with having someone else teach my children it was hard at first. I'm also not the most organized person in the world so I tend to lean toward unschooling to a degree with a lot of reading. Anyway, since I have come into this new love I starting thinking...what if I do this all the time with other people's children? What if I start with a Saturday school? What if I am eventually able to start homeschooling in a community way?

You may be saying, "Um, this blog is about your journey to Ifa. What does this have to do with Ifa?" Well, I'm glad you asked. You see, the Afrikan way is a communal way. Let's say that my godmother likes to hustle and run a lucrative business and I like to stay home and nurture. Wouldn't it make sense for her to work and for me to homeschool with a lil side business rather than both of us working full time and our children going to public school? Kinda like co-wives, but we both have our OWN husbands. lol There are a lot of families in our community that have children that simply don't do well in the school system. We need to pull together to save them. This is the Afrikan way. We save each other. We save each other's children.

When I began to entertain the thought of a communal homeschool. I felt this rush. It was like my Egun were blessing it. Like they were saying that they were glad that I finally figured it out. I haven't cast for it yet. I don't know if I should since I feel so strongly and so relaxed about it. I don't know if I would give up hair, although the timing is perfect. I sat at my shrine and talked to them about it. For the first time I felt a deep connection. I knew that they were there and it didn't take a whole lot of singing and chanting. I just talked and poured out my heart. Of course I will ask Iya about it and see what she thinks as far as casting for it and such, but she is really heavy on listening to your Ori. I always tell her that I don't quite trust mine yet because I'm just now reconnecting to it.

On another note about communal mindsets...This is not an example of homeschooling, but my Iya said something the other day that made a HUGE impact on me. She was talking about Yeye (Yeye Lawo Olomitutu). She said that she(Yeye) was planning on buying a van for the Ile. That way if anybody needed a ride, whoever was off that day would basically play chauffeur to make sure that everybody could get around. How many preachers do you know that buy a vehicle to be used by any and everybody in their congregation? Then Iya told Yeye, that if she bought the van she would probably end up giving it to one of the people in the Ile that needs a car. HOW BEAUTIFUL IS THAT? Now to be honest, I am having to take notes because I am still having to deprogram from a lot of individualistic thought, but I have beautiful examples of what it is to be giving and communal in word and deed. These are two BEAUTIFUL women! It doesn't mean that you are never compensated for your goods or services, but it means that you aren't petty as hell about every little thing.

It takes a village to raise a child, but the village is jacked up. Don't sit back and complain about the village, but rather do what YOU can where YOU are to change it!

Most Important Shrine...

I read something in one of the books by Ayo Salami a while back that really convinced me the the completeness of Ifa. Ifa covers very completely the obligations of the husband and wife and the family as a whole. The funny thing is that it is really similar to Christianity in it's implication.

Often times people will go to church or tend their shrines like clock work. They will get up, get dressed, put on their good cologne or light incense, take communion or pour libation, etc without complaint the first. Now if you observe that same person in their dealings with their own family, you may be surprised. You may find that they have their priorities a little out of sorts.

Ifa is a family culture. EVERYTHING about Ifa involves or impacts familial relationships. It covers traditional duties for the husband and wife as far as work and children are concerned, and it even covers sexual obligations.  Ifa speaks of how we should care for and treat our children, elders, and even ancestors. The truth is that our families are our first and most important shrines. We have to care for those that we look at everyday. We have to make sure that they are cared for in every way. If you choose not to do this, you are wasting your time at church or in front of the shrines.

Another reason that you must tend to your family is because you cause division which can allow spiritual attach from various Ajogun (negative forces). It is easier to avoid such issues on the front end, rather than let them take over and have to offer sacrifice on the back end.

No matter how spiritual you are, you are wasting your time and making more work for yourself if you neglect you family.

***My Iya reads this blog and added that it is actually taboo for a wife/husband to neglect their "grown folk" duties. I would assume that it is also taboo for you to neglect any relationship that you entered into willingly such as parenthood or even taking care of ones parents when needed. Gotta love Ifa, it is so simple and common sense in it's complexity.

Iyalosa OlaOmi Amoloku

My First Vid

The God Who Wasn't There [Full Film]

working with ancestors 2

The Police

I was driving down the road the other day and realized in a very strong way that the police DO NOT make me feel safe at all. I knew this in a conscious-raise-your fist-power-to-the-people-the-police-are-the-biggest-gang-in-Amerikkka kind of way, but I don't think it was REAL to me.

I was driving with the windows down, breeze blowing through the car which was loaded down with children. I was enjoying the day and totally care free until I saw the white and blue car pull in behind me. Suddenly, I'm thinking of every reason he could create to stop me. I thought of how no matter what I said in a court of law, it wouldn't mean anything if he spoke to the contrary. I thought of the fact that he could shoot me dead in front of everybody on E. WT Harris Blvd and my death probably wouldn't even make the news. My heart raced. I fought the feelings of fear that caused me to sweat. I realized then, that they are the klan in blue polyester. I realized that they no longer needed to hide their faces because they whiled do much power. I realized that even the ones that look like me are just the modern day version of the snitches that told about the revolts before they could happen. The difference is that back then we would have killed them

If this institution causes this much fear in me, why would I tell my children to trust them? Why would I call them to my house for a dispute? Why would I trust them to inform me of the law when they arrest people for laws they create on the spot? Secretly, I cheer for the misinform warriors who gun them down for being in their hood at the wrong time of night. I daydream of training and teaching them to revolt with a purpose. We have been taught to mourn their deaths while ignoring the deaths they cause.

It's 2011 and that blue uniform provokes the same fear that those white sheets and white did for my ancestors...that is until they learned how to fight back...

Please take a look at this link

My Beautiful Trip to the Grocery Store...

I was getting my few items from the grocery store shelves, when I noticed a sista crying. She kept her head turned away from people. Although everything in me wanted to hug her, listen to her, and comfort her I knew this this time was not that time.

As I stood in the line, I heard the familiar sniffing and decided that the least I could do was leave my change like I usually do. Maybe, that would me both of us feel a little better. As the manager came over to handle a problem from a previous customer, we began to talk like we always do. I wasn't paying attention and neither was the tearful sista behind me and the cashier rang up some of her food with my order. The thunder cracked, the lightening flashed, and I "Kawo-ed" as the cashier tried to remove her items from my order. His nerves were already shot from the issue he had with the customer before me. I gently touched his arm and asked, "Are you having a problem removing her items from my order?" He answered nervous and frustrated, "Yes, but I can get it off." I patted him and said, "Just leave it on there. It's fine. Don't even worry about it." He looked confused as I walked away.

I laughed when I noticed all the coiffed and weaved sistas waiting for their men to bring the cars around. I listened to them yelling because the brothas couldn't get the car as close as they wanted. I listened as the rain pounded the cars sounding like steel drum melodies. I strolled pass them all thinking, "I'm shole glad I got good hair."  That's what I say when it rains, and I am loving the fact that I no longer fear it because my hair is fly whether wet or dry. I stepped into the rain, and my shoes became a slippery hindrance. Because the rain had washed the ground clean I stopped between all the hollerin' brothas and sistas fighting for parking spaces to avoid the rain. I bent down and removed my shoes, retucked my lapa, and strolled to my car. I strolled. I didn't rush, not...one...bit. I let it wash me clean. I let it bless me. I let it revive me. I watched a brotha in socks and flip flops hip hop through puddles, all the while I was thinking,"You can't win. Just take off your shoes and sanctify this ground." As I got in the truck. I reflected on the beautiful simplicity that I'd just experienced. I prayed for rain to water my revive my garden. Who knew I it would revive my soul? Ase

Dreaming again...

So, I used to dream these really vivid dreams when I was young. Sometimes they were  scary, sometimes warnings, sometimes really pleasant, and sometimes they were just neutral like my regular life. Some of the church folk I grew up around little by little taught me not to trust myself (ori) or my dreams (don't know who helps out with dreams). They would say it with glances of disbelief, "awww, that doesn't mean anything", or "That's the devil talking to you, don't answer!". Whatever the case I learned to ignore the various ways Spirit tried to speak. I learned to sleep with the television on, the radio on, or even sleep in something uncomfortable if the dreams had been scary.

Fast forward

I'd gone to Miami to stay for 2 weeks with a Babalawo, which you've probably seen me mention in other posts. When I was there, I was back to my old dreaming vision having self. It was so exciting. It was like a paralyzed person being able to get up and run again! Then eventually I went back to church. At first it was okay because the new pastor believed in all that stuff. She didn't try to control it or suppress it. It was cool. Then what always happens around me happened again. She changed. She wanted to control me. She didn't want to really teach me anymore, she just wanted me to sit, be quiet, and not say anything to anybody about anything. Even if I felt, deeply, like I was supposed to. No reason given. Anyhoo, so I started using my tactics to suppress the dreams and visions the best way I could. At first it wasn't working, but eventually it did. By the time I saw her for what she was and saw the construct of the institutionalized church for what it was, it was too late. I'd put an entire side of myself to sleep. I was a walking spiritual zombie.

Fast forward

Ifa has pulled me in. I'm settling in. I had a bump in the road, but I'm still here. It's a beautiful path and I'm happy. The one problem? I'm not really dreaming and not having ANY visions. Talked to Iya about it, and she's encouraging and teaching me. Slowly the dreams start to come back. I'd forgotten that when I was *ignorantly practicing Ifa before that the dreams had become really physical. Like I was simply living my life in two different realms. If I got hurt in one realm I had bruise or sore in this realm. Well, I have been reminded of this recently. I haven't gotten hurt in a dream yet, but I have gotten shocked in a dream only to wake up still feeling the affects, and I have gotten up with skin sensitivity issues from strong energies being literally thrown at me. So all that to say that I do feel as though dreams are real. Real in the sense that because deep sleep is so close to death, we are able to leave our bodies and go to other realms. I'm so past caring about you thinking I'm crazy so don't bother posting any comments like that. I travel in my dreams and even tend to frequent certain places with the same people. The dreams are not reoccurring. They are continuing.

Anyway, last night was the second night of dreaming that someone was trying to get to me in a negative way. I woke up wide awake and although my husband was going to let me sleep in I got up. It was 5:42am trust me, I don't willing get up that hour for anybody. I kept laying there trying to figure the dream out so I didn't call nagging Iya again. I realized that I have to pay attention to the CONNECTIONS that people have with one another. If I can't trust one person, then I have to pay attention to the people connected to them also as birds of a feather tend to flock together.

My dreams save me from a lot when I can understand them and when I pay attention. Like the one yesterday and this morning taught me about trust. I am naturally a very trusting person and pretty quick to forgive. This, for me, means that I get hurt a lot and caught off guard. I'm ALWAYS shocked when somebody does something mean to me. My first thought it ALWAYS, "...but what did I do to them to make them treat me like that?". Then time passes and I have to fight like hell to keep from forgiving and FORGETTING. For whatever reason, however, my dreams stick with me. I think it's because I feel like it is SPIRIT warning me and so I have to respect it more. I have to learn, however, that Spirit also works through my Ori when I'm awake, so I shouldn't have to get my nerves torn to shreds in a dream to get it.

That's all for now. Thanks for reading. Didn't intend on making this post this long...
*meaning I wasn't really learning anything. I was only doing what I was told, but wasn't being taught the meanings and such.

Hand of Ifa Weekend

Let me first say that I am changed forever. The weekend of May 20th my husband and I received our Hand of Ifa. I short, you receive some information about yourself that helps you to develop further in the tradition and you also receive the tools to continue to stay in contact with the necessary energies. I don't really feel comfortable saying much more than that because I already feel as though too much information in just kinda hanging around in cyber space.

I would, however, like to speak on the beauty of the experience.

Community/Family
We all learned something about what real community and family looks like. We arrived and got lost in the neighborhood and Iya and Yeye (both mean mother but that's what we stick with for differentiation) came to rescue us. When I saw Iya's face I was SO EXCITED!!! I immediately knew I was home. When we got to the house they had bought food from a Senegalese restaurant and didn't ask for a dime. Wait, forgot to tell you. We had only been greeting via verbal instructions. It was a little different, but it felt good to see and do all the bowing. They are so worthy of it. It was wonderful for the children to learn it also. Back to the food. It was delicious. All my vegetarian ways were on hold for the weekend because I thought myself a little haughty to expect someone who is kind enough to feed us to rearrange their eating habits. Plus to be honest, MY IYA CAN COOK!!! OMG!!! If we had stayed any longer I would have been a cow. One thing that my husband loved was that EVERYBODY is EVERY child's Iya and Baba. I didn't have to worry about where they were and what they were doing. They were also very excited to meet Iya's two girls. Let's be honest I was SUPER excited to meet them. They are such wonderful STRONG little women. Olamide even gained a teacher while we were there. They have so much in common and he is a magnificent Awo. Baba Ifakayode's duality shows in a very beautiful way and is a very balanced omo Esu. Honestly he is like the male version of my Iya so I gotta love 'im. Long story short I have a whole new family and I love them all. My heart has been wanting to return since we pulled out of her driveway. We all cried off and on as we left Atlanta.

Culture/Spirituality
We learned A LOT!!! The thing that I really enjoyed is that if you just have a conversation with the people I met you are going to learn SOMETHING. If you are around them and don't learn, it's because you choose ignorance. Once 3 conversations were going on at once and I just walked room to room trying my best to get it all. Yeye is originally from The Continent so I love that. She has a better grip on the actual cultural aspect and I really appreciate that. Plus she is just the bomb when it comes to Ifa. She can explain things in ways that make the most complex idea simply and easy to learn. She is Omo Sango/Osun but also has been initiate to Obatala. The bomb right? Purdy much. Iya is a southern girl by birth, but her heart has the strength of the Congo and the beauty of Ifa. I just love her for every reason and no reason at all. She saved me from a really bad situation so I owe her my life. I am forever in her debt and at her beck-and-call. I loved learning all of the things she taught us. I really love casting obi and tending the shrines. She is a really straight forward in your face kind of teacher. She ain't gone pull no punches. Her strengths are her humility and love for honesty. That's why we get along so well. I know she is safe, because she values the same things I do. She is truly omo Sango/Oya.

That short weekend made me able to go back home and pick up on my reading and have it come alive. Ifa is real to me. I can feel it now. I give thanks. Ase.

Interview by Awo Kolade with Chief Ayo Salami

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Ochun 2000

Orisa Ori with Araba Ifayemi Elebuibon 04/14 by Osaremi | Blog Talk Radio

Everything you could ever want to know about Ifa culture can be found on Omo Oduduwa Radio on blogtalk radio. Here is a like about Ori. What is Ori? Listen to find out. ;)

Orisa Ori with Araba Ifayemi Elebuibon 04/14 by Osaremi | Blog Talk Radio

Sango went to church yesterday...

When I go to church I often feel as if I am going against Orisa or just being plan old fake. Yesterday was different for me.

Yesterday, I was suddenly able to recognize the similarities between Sango and Christ. When they sang songs I recognized the story of Sango. Whey they talked about what Christ stood for, I hear the praise names and stories of Sango. Yesterday, as I sat on "the minister's row" taking pictures of children while wearing a red and white dashiki, it struggled to resist shouting "KAWOOOOOOOOO" at the top of my lungs. I met Sango on the front row yesterday. I suddenly felt sorry for the Christ figure. I suddenly realized how the European mindset has feminized what was probably once a very strong man.

I wandered why all day Saturday, I felt excited about my outfit for Sunday. I wondered why I couldn't stop thinking about draping myself in red and white (in Christian terms, the blood that was shed and the purity that comes from it). I wrapped my head in white, probably Obatala prepping me for a cool head in the midst of foolishness. I know now, that Sango wanted me draped in his energy to receive his energy. He wanted to bless me. He wanted to strengthen me. He wanted to dance with me, and I am humbled.

KAWOOOOOOOOOOO Kabiyesi!!!!!!!!!

Elders VS youth or elders AND youth

Nigerian Proverb:
Owo omode o to pepe, be t'agbalagbe o wo kengbe
Literal: A child's hands are too short to reach a high shelf, but the elder's hands too are too big to enter into a narrow gourd.


Real: Every member of society has his/her own roles to play to enable the society to operate in an orderly manner beneficial to all.

I'd heard this proverb before, but I wanted to talk about it today. Yesterday, we went to church and celebrated what I have dubbed "Bunny Sunday". I don't call it this in disrespect to the practice of the belief of the resurrection of Christ, but in acknowledgement of the lie it has become. Ase. I went to the church I grew up in basically to spend time with my family at dinner afterward. While at church I noticed something in a very different way.

The proverb above came into play because I saw how ignoring such an idea can cause dysfunction and imbalance. I am somewhere in a limbo between child and elder. At 33, I am really beginning to understand how much I DON'T know. When I think of elders, they are people full of wisdom, but wise enough to know that their wisdom is limited. They are willing to readily share what wisdom they have with others to ensure the transmission of knowledge. Old and elder, at least in my mind, are two completely different things. When I looked around I saw a lot of old people, but very few elders. Very few who have been formed by learning from their experiences. I have always said that I don't want my gray hair to come upon my head without the wisdom to go with it. I don't want to be a gray haired fool. Yesterday, made me realize that time is short and I need to strive even harder to reach my goal.

As for the youth, while they are responsible for their behavior, I have to admit that I believe that ball of wisdom transmission was dropped somewhere along the way. How do we expect to have reverent, intelligent, conscious youth and we are not willing to cut past all of the foolishness learned from this society? Our children want to be saved, but like anything else that has been allowed to get out of hand, finding the starting point for such an endeavor can SEEM to be quite the daunting task. At the end of the day, we just have to start somewhere. Begin by speaking to them. Spend time with them. Feed them if they are hungry. Go eat lunch with them. Hell, do something. Anything.

Basically, we all need to get on our jobs wherever we are in our journeys. We have to realize and acknowledge the value of the youth and the elder. Both are needed and they balance one another. We have forgotten our ways and we must remember them if we have any intentions of surviving. We cannot hold hands and sing Kum ba ya with other nations and people until we get ourselves repaired and built back up. We shouldn't even strive for such things.

Self preservation is the first law of survival. (a lesson I was taught and am still struggling to learn.)

Zeitgeist (Religion) The Greatest Story Ever Told

I'm here to make you think. I'm not here to ruin your life.

My client list consist of all types of people and I love it. Some are thinkers, while some are regurgitaters. Some are leaders, while some are followers. That being said, I have one that is a die hard Christian, but has no world view whatsoever. She doesn't realize that there were MANY other cultures and religions prior to what we call Christianity.

While we were talking on day, she went in for the kill with me with what she thought was a MAJOR point. She said with much confidence and conviction, "Well Jesus said something that NOBODY else in history every said." I literally moved to the edge of my seat. I really believed that she was about to change my entire life with whatever this mysterious thing was. What did he say? "He said that he is the son of God." *whomp whomp whomp* Man I was so disappointed. I am ever the learner and always am listening for something that I didn't know before. I told her, "Um, no. Not so much. There are like at least 25 historical/religious figures that claim, not only that, but they also claim many of the other things that set him apart from mere mortals." She was stunned. "WHAT? Are you serious?" When I told her that I was indeed serious and that this information could be easily found, she looked deflated and defeated.

I felt really bad. I didn't tell her the truth to ruin her life. I just didn't want her to continue to believe a lie. Although she went on to her next point, I could see that her mind was still trying to process what I'd just said. I felt bad, because I remember that feeling. The feeling of wanting to undo what I just heard and the eventual feeling of holding on to my belief just because I was scared of hell. I personally don't care what people believe if it makes them better, but I do believe that we should know the truth. Afterall, John 8:32.

Pay it Forward and Piss Somebody Off. Huh?

Last week I went to the grocery store. When I paid, I left my change (a couple of dollars) for the person behind me. It's not unusual. I do it pretty often. Today, I went back to the store and the cashier started to weave a tale that I simply couldn't believe. 

Cashier: Do you remember last week when you came to the store and told me to put your change on that man's bill? Me: Yea.
Cashier: Do you know that man got all pissed off and offended behind that? He went off!!! Talkin' 'bout, "I got money! I don't need her money!" I told him that you didn't think he needed the money, that you just do that, but he was still mad. Shoot I wish I'd been behind you in line. I just put it in the till.
Me: Shoot, I don't have any money myself. I was trying to be nice. Why did you do that? You shoulda kept it. If that happens again, you keep it.
Cashier: Hmph. Don't make no sense. Can't even be nice to people these days. It don't make no sense.


I really found it strange that in this economy someone would reject someone being nice, or at least trying to. I'm not that best at receiving and I must admit that giving is my strength. Hell, it's damn near my super power. It makes me happy. I am having to learn to receive, but I have NEVER been offended. I may never know that brothas personal story, but I pray that his heart is healed and his apparent pride is broken so that he doesn't miss small blessings.

Lesson for the day: You can't give OR receive with a closed hand or a prideful heart.  

Heeeeeelllllllll Naaaaaaawwwwww!!!!!!

Hell naw. That's what I wanted to saw to this lady that wants me to do her hair. I wanted to say it because she doesn't comprehend "no". Here's the background:

She knows somebody who knows my aunt. The somebody told her about my aunts hair and she wants me to do hers. For various reasons, I'm not taking anyone right now, but am still willing to consult and teach as needed. I told her this very clearly. She kept giving me her sob story and I kept saying no. There a million natural hairstylist and I'm not arrogant enough to think that she couldn't go anywhere else, which is what I suggested to her. Anyhoo, I scheduled a consultation for tomorrow. She wanted to know if I could do it last Friday or Saturday. RED FLAG She thought she was going to be slick and get her hair done. NOT. I have been through this before when I was less aware and I would cave and be sorry later. She called today while I was out and talked to my husband like she really knew me so he gave her the cell number. She called to "confirm" our appointment. Nah, that just what she said. I knew what she was up to and she got around to it. Retelling the story that I've heard a million times from her. At this point it's a pissing contest. Can she come early. Can she stay late. Can she schedule for another time. NO.NO.NO. I already know that tomorrow will be her first and last time seeing my face. I am also fairly certain that she is going to meet the straight forward no BSing version of myself because she is aggravating me.

THE LESSON:  These kinds of people come into my life because of the residual energy that I have lingering that says that I can easily manipulated and made to change my mind. See, I used to always allow people to talk me into things that I didn't want to do. I used allow people into my cipher that shouldn't be there, and I knew they should have never entered in the first place. Those days are gone. That chic is dead. My no means no and my yes is yes. I have also learned that part of the reason I must be so careful about the company I keep is because of my Ori. It seems to be a lil sensitive to carrying other people's crap. I tend to carry other people's weight on my head. Now, I look back and can understand why I wrapped my head faithfully during certain periods in my life. It was self preservation. I was protecting my head. Gotta get more white cloth because my head is calling for it...

Soulflower Amn @ Happily Natural Day

My heart is so full...

I went to a wedding today and my heart is so full. I am so happy for this sista because she has found someone to spend the rest of her life with. I have seen her go through some major hurts and a lot of pain at times, but now her healer has come and I am so happy. It rained and rained and then the sun began to shine. Although she is Christian, I explained to her that Iya Osun was simply blessing her day with her sweet water raining down. I knew it to be true because I prayed for them at my shrine this morning. I wish that everyone in the world could feel the depth of love that is shared between a committed couple. To be able to look in someone else's eyes and see the depths of your very own soul reflected there.

Ore Yeye Mi OOOOOOOO!!!!!

Grateful? Not this time.

Background story. I had a client that was scheduled for 8am. She called and said that she was going to be late. She was late due to circumstances that could have been avoided. SN, being late is a MAJOR pet peeve. She said she would be there at 8:30am. Okay fine. She arrived at 8:41am with coffee in hand--coffee from the gas station. I was a little pissed, but I figured that I'd make up the time if I hurried. Well, as hard as I tried it didn't happen. My next person came and had to wait about 20 minutes, and I was not happy. I apologized and called my third client to let her know I was running late. When the first client was done, she stood up and announced that she needed to go to the ATM because she didn't want to stop that morning because she was already late. Remember the coffee she had? She stopped for coffee, but not for my money? She asked if I had paypal. I said yes and that it was fine if she used that method instead. This is where my trusting people kicked me square in the ass AGAIN. I was thinking that she would pay via paypal when she got home. I've done that plenty of times with clients and it has never been a problem. I finished her hair at 11am and sent her money request via paypal. I texted about 3 or 4 pm to see if she had gotten the email because it wasn't in my account. I called about 7pm and it went straight to voicemail. Really? I went to bed. No money. Woke up. No money At this point it's not even about the money anymore, it's the principle of the thing. She called me 1pm (next day), but I was with someone and didn't answer the phone. I checked the account and it was there. She didn't leave a voicemail and didn't even tip me. Now to the reason for the title of the post...

So of course I'd talked to my Mom about what happened. She gave me the business-woman-you-can-do-this-don't-put-up-with-that pep talk. When she came over today, I gave her the update about the fact that I'd just received my money about 30minute prior to her arrival. This is where my Father jumped in.

F:  You should be grateful.
M: For what?
F: That you got your money. (matter of fact tone)
M: I should be grateful that I got my money? Are you serious?
F: I mean, she could've not even paid you. 
M: Wait. So you want me to be grateful that I did a service and got paid for it? You want me to be grateful that I utilized a skill and expected to be compensated due to the fact that payment was a part of the deal?
F: Yep.
M: I ain't budging on this one. You can't forget it. I refuse to be grateful. She should be grateful that I even fooled with her behind if somebody gone be grateful for anything. (arrogant, I know, but I was mad by then)
F: Well, you should be grateful that you got you money at all. 
M: No (I started talking to my mother)

I realized after that foolish conversation where some of my imbalance comes from. He has the "turn the other cheek" mentality. There are times in life when that is the best thing to do. This is NOT one of them. How do I feed my children if I just let people decide whether they pay? Seriously? I don't even know how he could possibly validate this when he is self employed. I've seen him get pissed about money a lot over the years, so is it just that I don't deserve to be treated with respect?

Trust

Hi, my name is Morenike and I trust people. I, however, am dying a slow painful death due to people not keeping their word. I am so disappointed right now. Not in people, but in myself. It is beginning to feel as if trust is a personality flaw more than anything else. Trust is beginning to feel like a defect. This does not feel good. I feel conflicted. I feel as if I am having to change who I am at the core to protect myself. I have always hated to experience being around suspicious jaded people. I don't want to be one of them. It took years to get my vengeful side under control and now, due to various events, I am struggling with it again. I have even begun to validate the behaviors that I am considering. I'm just tired of this. I need to find the balance so that I can adjust my behavior and views accordingly. Sorry this wasn't written with a nice flow, but this just me...in my feelins.

I'd like to share a blog I follow...

This link is from a blog called River of Honey. The writer is a prietess of Osun and I believe celebrates the Santeria culture which is an offshoot of the original Yoruba culture. They were one of the keepers of the culture when we were stolen from Mama Africa. Anyway, here is the link. I really enjoy reading her blog and I hope you will too.

http://riverofhoney.wordpress.com/2011/04/13/living-spirituality-does-atr-measure-up/#comment-211

Roller Coaster Emotions...

I just need to write this. I don't feel balanced today. I want to laugh. I want to cry, as I allow Yemoja's waters to leave a salty streaks on my cheeks. I want to lay close to my husband as he prays over my Ori in offering to Obatala and have him reach deep into my center and help me release with the fire of Sango. I want to scream all of my pissed off-ness at the top of my lungs as an offering to Oya and then whisper encouragement to my children from the  honey coated lips of Osun. I want to crawl back in bed, turn my fan on, pull the covers up around my face, and pretend to be asleep while I listen to the birds chant Ifa.

Alas my apparent imbalance is so balanced, just so unfamiliar. Modupe gbogbo Orisa.

"Chile, marriage is work!!!" Really?

I went to a bridal shower today. A friend of mine had a lil stash in the care as a coping mechanism for those of us that aren't deep. We went out to the car, cups in hand, came in the house dipped crackers in, called it communion and had a ball. The first thing we did was go around the circle, introduce ourselves, and give our words of love/wisdom/encouragement. Everybody sad something funny, sexual, or encouraging...except one person.

I realize that it is human nature to project our issues and experiences on to other people. Especially if we are not spiritually grounded this will more than likely be the case. Anyhoo, when it was this particular person's turn, the first thing she said with total exhaustion was, "Marriage is work. It's a loooooooot of work." I just looked at her. I waited for some of these other people to say something. I wanted these happily married women to speak up on the blessings of marriage. *crickets* So I told her that yes, it is work, the same as any relationship worth having. The difference is that it doesn't FEEL like work to me. I looked at the exhausted woman who seemed to be challenging me and told her that I chose well. If you chose well you won't feel like a tortured scorned soul. It's like when people are at baby showers and they tell the mother-to-be every pregnancy  horror story ever know to woman-kind.

If you marriage is jacked up, the first and most productive thing to do is to take a really deep thoughtful look at yourself and your choices. I chose badly the first time. I mean I totally screwed up. There was no reason whatsoever for us to be together. This is not looking at the marriage retrospectively. I knew I was wrong when I married him. I know, you are wondering why I married him to start with. The same reason you have chosen mates that you thought you could fix, heal, love through their pain, etc. When I met my husband, even when I knew he was a good choice, I was still very conscious of my choice. I still paid close attention. Now when I think of my marriage, "work" is not the first thing that comes to mind. Do we work at it? Yes. Do we argue? Yes. Would I marry over and over? I have for all my previous life times and I will continue to do so for as many life times as possible. Why? Because I chose well.

My Jewelry

I wanted to share a slide show of my jewelry. The majority of what I create is one of a kind and intended to be as unique as you are. If you like what you see and would like to purchase some piece visit me at http://www.etsy.com/shop/abenaevolving?ref=si_shop

The Ten Commandments of the Native American Indians

Interesting concept...being told what to do rather than what not to do...

1 Corinthians 13

I realize that this is full of sarcasm, which I personally view as an art form, but please try to listen even if you are sarcasm-sensitive. I would love to know your thoughts. When I was considered myself a Christian, I thought of lots of contradictions, but not in this way. Please let your responses be intelligent and well thought out, not based in anger. Thanks and enjoy. BTW, this was and still is one of my favorite scriptures.

How to Become a Fruitarian

I found this interesting. I would love to know what you think after watching the video.

Fier d'etre Africain,fier d'etre Noir by intchejeans

BLACK & PROUD NO APOLOGY! LIkemba22

THOSE WHO PRAY ALLAH OR JESUS ARE ANTI TRUE AFRIKAN LIBERATION! by Likemba22

Question...

I was talking with my husband and had a thought. Well, it morphed into a question.

If my husband had a history of beating. Supposed he started beating me shortly after we'd started dating. Would you consider me a fool or at the very least weak minded for staying with him? What about if he cheated from the beginning of our relationship? Y'all would be talking straight trash to my face and behind my back about how dumb I am for staying with him right?

Why then do we continue to trust our enemy? Why are we so blind to the fact that from our first encounter they have beat and cheated us? I realize that periodically somebody will have some "testimony" of how God delivered their husband/wife from some lude lascivious behavior. Does that mean that we should all stay in bad situations and wait for the same turn around? Hell no. Even then if you take that person back, shouldn't you make them work their ass of to prove that things have changed?

All I'm saying is that I'm not going to put myself, my family, etc purposely in a situation to trust a proven enemy. I believe that I can forgive you, interact with you, but still not trust you as far as I can throw you all while keeping my character in tact. I won't come to your house if you don't like me, nor will I welcome you into mine. I won't cook for you or eat your food if we are angry whether overtly or covertly.

I am unapologetically Afrikan and as such I will not expose myself willingly to anything that has been given to me by my enemy.

Police Brutality

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Part 5 of 5

How to begin our healing...one...step...at...a...time.

This story begins in the grocery store. I went major food shopping this morning about 8am. Of course that means that I was in the crowd with those that are grabbing snacks for work and only one register was open. As I filled the belt with all my goodies and sale items I noticed a sista walk up with one item. "Go ahead Sis." "You sure?" I nodded. "Oh, thank you so much." "You're welcome." (insert I-love-you-and-feel-your-heart smile here) I kept loading and noticed a sista in scrubs with a couple of items. So, the first conversation repeated itself. Why did I do that? Didn't I have things to do? Sure. I'm a homeschooin-jewelry making-natural hair carin'-wife-mama. I always have something to do. What's the difference then? I feel that it's my duty to make my people feel loved in whatever ways I can.

You see too often we treat each other with subtle hate and scorn. A lil eye roll here, a lil head to toe glare there. All of these things have a cummulative effect. I've often been accused of believing that I could "save the world". I know now that I can't save the world. I mean, I am a lot of woman, but not that much woman...yet. I do know, however, that I am suppose to heal all the hearts I can while I'm here even if it means that I get hurt, disappointed, or used periodically. Yes, I love my people that much.

What about my white brothers and sisters? I've been asked this a time or two. To be honest, I just ain't even there yet. I don't see the point in extending myself in the same way. The investment is not the same and the return certainly has NEVER proven to be the same to this southern girl. Even on a world scale at any chosen point in history the track record just doesn't look too good. Remember what happened the last time we tried to teach and heal the Eurpean with love? Remember what happened the last time the Native American tried to teach and heal the European with love? Remember what happened the last time the Asian tried to teach and heal the European with love? Um...yea, didn't go so well and for most of us and it still isn't going to well. I'll leave that meanding in the "you show me and I'll believe it" category.

Anyhoo, just thought I'd share. Some other things I suggest are. Leaving your change for the Sista behind you with all them kids. Off the buy a child a piece of tasty fruit with the mother/father's permission. When you are at these festivals this spring/summer and have extra tickets left over, find a single mother to give them to. Find a cypher to give your gently used hand-me-downs to and make sure they understand the pay-it-forward concept.

Intro to Afrikan Spirituality-www.blackpowermedia.com

Africans/Blacks and Spirituality

Chief on Race, Ifa, Christianity, and Origins

America, the melting pot...

I was talking to someone the other day and they referred to America as a melting pot. I've heard people say it before, but this time it was like nails on a chalk board. I let the comment pass because I couldn't quite put my finger on what the problem was. Why did this comment rub me the wrong way?

American tries to force us into being a melting pot when we should be more like a salad. You see, in a melting pot everything loses it's individual identity. You can't tell one thing from the other. Some would probably argue that that's the way it should be while holding hands and singing Kumba ya. Well, I disagree. If we were in a country where everyone was appreciated culturally and not forced to fit into the white washed ideal we have here in America I would consider that argument. In America, being a part of a melting pot has meant, for most people of color/culture, that we must let go of who we are and become Europeanized. While we are becoming Europeanized we stand by and watch Europeans use those things that we were told to let go of. For example. I went to visit two cemeteries where I live. One has always been where white folks were buried and the other was where black folks were buried. In our cemetery, you see crosses, Jesus, angels, scriptures, etc. In the white folks cemeteries you see tombs and obelisks. Wait, but y'all taught us that obelisks were pagan. I ain't gone get into all that. The point being I'm not cool with the melting pot idea, because the Europeanized powers that be are the ones stirring the pot. I'm cool with the salad idea because I think there is beauty in mixing when retaining ones own identity and living in harmony with the others.

Just my 2 cents...

Uncle Tom & Aunt Thomasina are dead...

So, yesterday all hell literally broke loose. It wasn't the devil either. It was people. I cried rivers of salt water and blood that intermingled on my pillow. It felt like the end of my world. I couldn't see or feel the light that my Mama told me was there. I couldn't figure out what good could possibly come of this.

Well, after a sleepless night and synchronized tossing and turn between my husband and I good has come of it. I realized that I still had some Uncle Tom and Aunt Thomasina in me. I let someone in that I shouldn't have because of implied authority and white privilege. That won't happen ever again. NEVER!!! Now that I look at it, I give thanks because I am learning what it is to be in warrior mode. I've never felt this way that I recall. My husband and I have been plotting and planning to do what we have to do. We are rebuilding our circle and making it tighter and smaller. I am building, planning, and executing. I am loving this part of myself. I feel so balanced right now. I love Omilade, I love Iya, and I love me.

F.T.P Street Codes

I found this on http://steadymobbbin.blogspot.com/. I've read it before, but it just became relevent today. Maybe it will be relevent to you too. If not now, maybe later. Also, please go check out the blog because there is a lot to be gleaned there.

F.T.P. STREET CODES

1. NO SNITCHING The Police, Capitalism, the State, etc. are an enemy to the people and to work with them is criminal, Ancestral Treason! Loose lips sink ships, snitching is unforgivable.

2. NO RAPE To Rape is a violation of a person’s physical, mental and spirit. It is Barbaric and anti-African. Rapist should be dealt with.

3. BANG FOR UHURU (FREEDOM) Warriors can only be initiated by an enemy. If you are going to bang; bang on the system, not on other Africans.

4. NO EXPLOITATION Don't exploit your people. You live in the hood, they live in the hood and chances are they don't have anything more than you do. We have enough community leaches and pork chop preachers robbing the people.

5. WARRIOR CODE Security first! Protect Women, Children & Elders. Train; work out, get your fighting skills up to par. Police your own community. We don't need pigs overseeing us.

6. NO FALSE FLAGGIN' Red, white, and blue ain't never did shit for you. Don't be a star-spangled slave. Get on the right team; rally round the flag on some Red, Black and Green.

7. DISCIPLINE Get your mind right, focus and organize your life. Be committed.

8. BUILD SURVIVAL PROGRAMS The People come first. You are your Brother/Sisters keeper. Capitalism teaches individualism, which is anti-African. We have to create programs that are for the best interest of the people (especially Food, Clothing and Shelter).

9. P.E. (POLITICAL EDUCATION) EACH 1, TEACH 1! It is important for African People to have knowledge of self. We have to be able to articulate why we are in the conditions we are in, who put us in these conditions and how can we get out of these conditions.

10. YOUR WORD IS BOND (DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR) Warriors are only as good as their words. Make your word your bond!



Troubling times foretold...

Most of the major religions have foretold of these turbulent times we are experiencing. The difference is that most don't understand that this is something that has happened before and will probably happen again. There is no need to having a pissing contest about who is right and who's scriptures said it first. Some religions focus on words spoken or written hundreds or thousands of years ago. Some cultures that use divination that prophesied this year that there was going to be major trouble.

The two that I know for sure were Ifa and Native American priest. I'm sure that seers all over the world have spoken of this. If you look at world history, God always makes sure that everybody has access to the things that need to be shared via seers, prophets, and priest. At the end of the day, does it matter who said it first, last, or most accurately? No. The fact is that we're here, it's true, and we need to prepare. There is no need of taking on a slavery mentality and wait to die. Do what you can while you can. What can you do? What will you do? Have you even thought seriously about this? I have and am.

I need to connect...

Okay so, I'm sure I've whined about this before. I am an extrovert in the purest sense of the word. I thrive on being around people. That's how I connect to new things, through the energy of other people. I have learned A LOT about this path. Well, I guess it would be more appropriate to say that I've learn a lot MORE than what I knew before with my first go round. While I didn't get a lot of the lessons the first time around, I got to feed from the energies because I was assisting a Babalawo. I didn't know a lot on paper, but what I have now come to know as my Ori, was on point. I am so ready to go see Iya, participate in whatever we gone be doing, hear the drums, dance, sing, and eat!!! Well, idk about being excited about the eating because I don't eat meat and am going vegan as we speak.

I love going to the river and pouring honey. I love pouring palm oil to the wind. I love talking to and feeding Egun. This path, however, is a communal one. Everything in balance. We need the spirit realm, but the spirit realm also needs us. Various energies feed off one another, just like we feed off each others energies. I don't know how people call themselves just walking this journey alone without godparents, godbrothers/sisters, and community. I know some people like me don't have anyone close, but my spirit wants to be close to my Godmother to learn and grow.

Gas up the truck. I need to connect.

I'd like to re-introduce myself...

Just came over here to express my excitement. My husband and I now have our Ifa names!!! Yay!!! Mine is Ifasayo and his is Olamide!!! So excited! Haven't received our Hand of Ifa yet, but that will be happening very soon! I am very excited and am finally able to embrace this path without sweating every time something new is presented to me. I still have random sweating out breaks due to nerves, but I'm getting much better. Step by step by step...

Pride and love

Last week a client called me and asked me if she could treat me to a pedicure. I refused as my mind was flooded with feelings of guilt. I mean, she's not rich. She has her own financial issues and responsibilities. I mean, my feet look like "who done it and why". I told her to let me think about it and try to get over myself. I just couldn't do it. Pride.

Yesterday I was in the grocery store. Everybody and their Mama decided to go to the store at the exact moment I did. They store was short staffed and cashiers were having technical difficulties. As I stood in line I began to talk to an elder couple in front of me that I'd seen flirting with each other earlier. We exchanged ideas about how the store could be run more efficiently, dinner plans, and past jobs. When the checked out, they seemed to kind of wait around to tell me goodbye. I expressed how I'd really enjoyed talking to them. I leaned over to the woman and whispered playfully how I loved her earrings and needed them in my life. I smiled and walked away. She caught up to me removing her earrings and telling me I could have them. At first I refused, because receiving is not my strong point. She repeated the offer with a warm look that made me think of my own mother. I hugged her in gratitude like I'd known her forever.

I love giving and I realised that it is my own pride that keeps me from receiving and keeps others from feeling the joy I feel when I give freely. I don't know when this behavior started, but I know that it was exacerbated by the martyr-like attitude of the church. You learn to totally sacrifice yourself on the altar giving everything away in the name of God while never learning to preserve yourself. I am learning daily to love myself and receive love. I am learning not to push love away. Love doesn't make you feel guilty, pride does. The two are often and strangely confused...at least they were in my mind. This post doesn't really have a clear cut point. I just wanted to share this very pivotal leg of my journey to Ifa and to my highest self.

I'm omo who?

So, when I began this path I was CERTAIN that I was omo Oya. Why? Because I feel a strong connection to egun, cemeteries, and I am ride or die with my Sango husband. Well, we thought he was Sango...Anyhoo, we got our first readings done and it came up that I was omo Osun. Now, to be honest I was crushed. I almost cried. I literally felt rejected by Oya. I know that may sound stupid, but it is what it is. Akinlabi came up omo Sango. To be honest I could see some of that, but we were never quite certain that it was right. I expressed these concerns to Iya. I guess my Ori was wearing on her Ori, so she decided to find out if our initial reading was on point. Well...drum roll please.
Akinlabi is...
 and
Omo Obatala ati Ori. Makes perfect sense! I had no idea that you could have Ori as your guardian aside from the usual understanding of our dependence on Ori. Who knew? What's really interesting is that Obatala has a lot to do with Ori and Sango to the point Obatala can't really be separated from either one. Ase ooo!!!

I was found to be...

ati
 I am omo Osun ati Ifa...

I'll say this. It make perfect sense in regards to what I was told in my roots reading. I come from a family that worshipped Ifa and also created a lot of the tools/beading that the Ifa priest used.

For us this has very heavy implications. Akinlabi will become a priest of Obatala and will be Iyanifa and Osun priestess (well I guess the later still applies from the initial reading). Gotta be honest, I am very nervous. I figured that we would end up on a road like this because we both have always been prophesied to about "going into the ministry". I was dubbed a prophet, though I have blocked most of that ability and feel really stupid because now I need it and am having to work hard to get back what I had naturally. SN, please be grateful for whatever natural abilities you have. Never fear them, because they are to help you and complete you as an individual. All that being said, now I'm ready to get our full readings done. I am so scared an excited about my path. I guess, I just take it one day and one step at a time...

Old Slave Mart Museum and House Negro

The Old Slave Mart Museum can be found at 6 Chalmer Street, Charleston, SC. It is a small building with two floor and is PACKED with information. There are no pictures or cell phones allowed, but you know I had to snap one picture. I could've gotten more, but I didn't want to be all they way wrong. lol The cost was only $7 and was worth so much more. Oh, and btw they also had an elevator for my husband to use which was great! We walked around and read all that we could in an hour, because we had to part by one of those meters which limited our time. The visit was going great. There was a Caucasian man and woman that were exiting right when we came upstairs. He was remarking about how the exhibits made him feel really sad. When he went down stairs the lady at the desk went into straight Mammie mode. Here are some of the things said said in list form.

1. You shouldn't feel sad, you didn't own any slaves.
2. There are people being abused all over the world and you don't feel sad about that, so why feel sad about this?
3. You knew I was black when you walked in didn't you?
4. Your family might not have even owned slaved.
5. You shouldn't feel bad about things that happened so long ago.

By now my husband and I are fuming. We are ready to leave, but want to finish reading despite of her shameless House Negro-ness. After that she apparently was having a disagreement with her significant other. My husband and I decided that she didn't know that we could hear her upstairs. We also decided that she should read the information on the walls through the lens of critical thought in conjunction with a list of books, articles, and a couple of youtube vids for good measure. It's good that the man was able to feel sad. I'm glad he felt anything at all. She should have minded her business and allowed him to work through his feelings. This would have allowed him some much needed self examination which we ALL need to do on a regular basis. She needs to be taken from the house and put in the field...

Spirituality, Dichotomy, and Compartmentalization

I have always proudly stated that I am a very "black and white person." I've always worn it as a badge of pride and in many ways have used it as a measurement by which to gauge the morality of others. Everything was good/bad, black/white, god/devil, etc. I'm sure many of you are wondering what the problem is. Well, the problem is this, the Universe simply does not work that way. It's not comprised of dichotomous opposing forces. It is not compartmentalized for our ease of use. It is, in fact, comprised of many and varied complementary principals. The concept of all differences being opposing is the root of many of the issues that we see every day. Some of them are rather confusing and complex.

Spirituality-Many indigenous cultures do not have a clear cut belief of good vs. evil. Many times you will just hear stories of opposing forces, but they are mostly used to illustrate balances via personification of various elemental components found in everyday life. Things such as sunrise/sunset, sun/moon, fire/water, etc. Even in popular movies such as Avatar. The fire nation wasn't innately bad. The issue that the other nations had with them was that they caused imbalances and disconnection from the Spirit world. In Ifa, from what I have learned so far, there are also opposing forces. I have never heard them being called evil. Why? I assume that it is because everything has a purpose and that purpose is to maintain balance. Many times we call things evil if we don't understand them. We are connected to all things and all things are connected to us, so if anything is evil that evil will also be reflected in us as a whole.

Dichotomy- Here is the definition from good old Merriam Webster- a division into two especially mutually exclusive or contradictory groups or entities ; also : the process or practice of making such a division. Now, further down it also talked about "two seemingly opposing forces". I am reading the book Yurugu by Marimba Ani and she speaks about this topic a lot because it was birthed from the European thought in order to satiate their need to control. Dichotomies have a tendency to separate and not appreciate. Think about it in regards to the American school system. Segregation was cool except for the fact that the differences between the two were not appreciated or view as equal. One was considered good and the other evil. One was considered strong while the other was considered weak. They never did and probably never will reach the point of being seen as separate or different, but equal. We should, in all things, seek to see the complement rather than the dichotomy even when one of the parts is unbalanced. Nothing is truly mutually exclusive or contradictory, those mindsets come from oppressive mentalities rather than from Spirit.

Compartmentalization-When I was in the church, I remember hearing people constantly spouting, in order of importance, the  things in their lives. It usually sounded something like, "God first, my family and friends, my job, and then everything else." In indigenous beliefs/culture/concepts all of those things are one and the same. They cannot be separated and were never meant to be separated. You may have also heard someone say,"We are all made up of 3 parts. These parts are mind, body, and spirit." or something like that. In indigenous thought we view ourselves as whole beings and as part of, but not separated from, all things in the universe. We are not to view ourselves as pieces and parts to be improved on or ignored independently from the rest of the being. Everything and everybody is connected, and not in the hierarchical sense that many of us have been taught. We are NOT more important than water, animals, rocks, etc. We are all a very minute yet infinite part of a infinitely large universe. You can do nothing without causing changes somewhere else. Our existence is not comprised of a bunch of file cabinet drawers to be pulled out and tended to at our whim. We are whole beings in a whole culture, but have been tricked into believing that we are separate and broken by the belief in a culture not our own.