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...

Freed up a little...

Okay, so I'll admit that I'm not the most patient creature ever created, but I have to best intentions. When I am excited about something I want to learn everything about it. This has been especially true with any religious experiences I've had. I am hitting a major wall with the differences between my experiences in Christianity and Ifa. You see when I was in the church I pretty much was made a minister first and learned all about the religion and stuff later. With Ifa, not matter how I push, pull, and throw fits I can't move forward until I complete and fully understand the next step. This generally has nothing to do with being blocked by various elders. Oh no. Not at all. That would be too easy for me to maneuver and manipulate to get my way. I swear I'm being blocked by shear spiritual force. I am being made to be still and master each step before moving on. Ori, is able to make total sense of this, but the rest of me looks like the girl bouncing back and forth wanting to jump in the double dutch ropes. I was listening to Baba Ifategunse and he was dancing all over my toes. At the same time I was saying ouch I was being relieved of the pressure to achieve. I have been told repeatedly to slow down, but sometimes you just have to hear it the "right way." The way that makes sense in YOUR ears. He was telling me (well it seemed that he was speaking to me) that I should take about 3 years to just concentrate on my Egun. Get that relationship tight first at it is the foundation to everything else. Now, let me say that everyone that has played a role in my "Ifa Education" has told me the same thing, so this is in no way a reflection on those that have taught me thus far. I have just been rushing and pushing and not mastering. Now, I want to master my communication with Egun because I need them and they need me. Our relationship is reciprocal and they have been waiting a long time to be heard and have a lot to say...

I NEED GODPARENTS DAMMIT!!!

This is going to be really short and to the point. I need godparents. I am fully aware of this. I am surronded by people that have godparents that I could probably claim, but I don't feel pulled in that direction. I know that I need for he/she/them to be close to me. Being honest I know that I will not drive, but so far for all of the stuff that will be required of me to be a good supportive godchild and godsibling. I like being involved as much as possible and thus learning as much as possible. I have been gleaning information literally wherever I can get it. The problem is that is might be Lukumi, Santeria, or Ifa and sometimes I can't tell the difference. THEN within those practices each ile has their own personal way of doing things. No matter what I glean, I still feel idle, because I might have to unlearn some, most, or all of it. I don't even have ilekes and I know I need them in a major way. I need a bunch of stuff. It's like I have the need, but I don't have the source. What's that about? It's like I want to put it in the want ads and hold interviews or something! lol That's a no go. I know I'm not the most patience person in the world, but damn. Really? It's taking a while. Okay. I'm done venting. Odabo ati a sunji o

Updates: Egun, Roots, Teachers, Paths...

Egun Discipline
I'll start this one by just saying this. When your egun tell you to do something, just do it. You are not stronger than they are. You are not more persistent or stubborn than they are. The do NOT just live at the altar and will follow you around like Patrick Swayze did Whoopi Goldberg in the movie "Ghost". They have free range to go where they want and to be as persistent as they want.

Out of pure fear, arrogance, and ignorance did I basically challenge my egun. I was told very clearly to communicate a message to someone. In my opinion the message was going to be very hurtful to this person and so for months I refused to say what I had been told to say. Let's suffice it to say that in the end I said what I was told after much fear, crying, and a really punky email. Guess what. The person wasn't shocked or surprised. I had basically made myself sick and ran myself crazy because I put the imagined feelings of someone else before the request, to put it nicely, of my egun. Note to self: Egun are smarter than us and more persistent because they don't need sleep...

Roots Reading
So I got my DNA done a while back and planned to get oko mi's done too because we were really feeling the need to reconnect with our roots on The Continent. Well, Iya Ifalola told him about getting a roots reading. What is that you ask? Well, I won't tell you what it is because I don't know if it's the same experience for everyone. I will, however, tell you what it was for me. I found out that I returned through my father's lineage which came from Benin. I was also told that we come from artisans and worshiped Ifa and were enslaved because we refused to give up our traditional culture for Islam. Some things were read for my diet and such, but most exciting was that I received my name. Morenike (moh-reh-nee-keh) Egunjobi (Eh-goon-jo-bee). I found it to be very fitting. I'm very happy that I had it done and felt that it was very accurate. Baba Ifategunse from the Village of Oyotunji did it for us and he was VERY patient and a really good teacher. Love HIM!!!

Teachers
I do have 2 people that I would have to consider to be teachers right now which is fine by me. I keep feeling a tug to consult, for whatever reason, a third who is a priestess of Osun. I'm struggling against my fear and stubbornness to just stop over thinking it and contact her. The super stupid part is that her number is already in my phone. Sometimes I just look at myself like, "really?". UGH!

This Path
I have learned so much about myself as an individual and as part of a huge collective. I love myself more. My character is WAY better than it was. I am so much more balanced. I still have a lot to learn, but that is the beauty of this culture. There is always more to learn. You are not judged for what you don't know. You are only judged if you are unwilling to learn. My teachers in aiye ati orun are wonderful and I know that I am loved because they correct me.

I hope this helps you on your path. Ase.