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Death the Great Equalizer
A Song for Iyagba
She walks with love in her hands,
Hair locked in motion
Winds kiss her forehead with loving kindness
She walks with love in her hands,
No one never knowing just who she really was
Osun danced in her stride,
Hips moving to the silent motion of the earth
Mother who on bended knees danced to the sound of Bata drums
She walked with love for us all in her hands
Speaking with the experience of the Ancient ones
No one knew her real name
Elegant strides of pain
Jazz notes ringing of off key lyrics of Miles
Melancholy melodies that caused our bodies to sway with old memories
Her gift to us
She walked with love for us in her hands
My sister now stands in a secret garden
A place of serenity and gold
Humming birds now light and kiss her fingers
Invisible love surrounds her space
Rivers ripple with sweet waters succulent to taste
Grass under her body
Sweet green grass knowing that her destiny has been
fulfilled
The love that holds her to the heavens
Is released to the stars
She walks with love in her hands…
Jackie Medina Iya Iyagba passed away a month ago but we and no one else knew as she waited for someone to find her. Her death rings clear notes of concern about the state of the Ifa and Orisa community. Though it is an isolated case; how many of our people in the community of Ifa and Orisa looked out for each other, check up, or even call to find out if we are ok physically, spiritually or even psychologically.
When I left Los Angeles the Leimert Park community where the Ara Ifa Ijo Orunmila Temple was located, brought a thriving but sometimes disjointed community. Yet, one of the unique aspects of this community was there was a concern and care about its members. Iya Iyagba was a member. However, it is of great concern that after only 7 short years, this woman who was a fixture in the Leimert Part area, passed
away in her home and no one knew that she was dead. It is a concern for all of us worldwide to consider our state of humanity and compassion for another soul, when anyone one of us can leave this world, for death ultimately comes for us all and no one would know that we died or even cared. We must think about more than our own personal problems and issues and look to our left and right and see the connections that we have to each other-Ori Isese, this connects us to Olodumare. Part of our gaining spiritual insight through Ifa , is also to apply this insight and awareness to how we interact in the world and bring about a better world, society not only for ourselves but the world through healing balm of Ifa given to us by Orunmila our prophet. When the bulk of our ebo’s and prayers are said in how to protect ourselves from each other because of hatred,
Death the Great Equalizer
Prejudices, inflated egos and in some cases just downright mental health issues. In the temples and Iles across the country and certainly throughout the world how many people communicate with other temple members? Or even those people who are not in the central core members but are on the fringe and have not found their niche in your community. Do you know who they are? Do you call just to say hello and how are you doing? Do you feel well? Or are we so suspicious of each other that we miss those wonderful opportunities to gain the friendship and care of another human being. Here in the 21st century, while the world is becoming more sensitive and at least politically correct, our communities in Ifa consider our roles as healers and how we accomplish this task. Our spiritual agreements are showing the uglier side by the results of situations such as this unnoticed death of Iya Iyagba. Her death says we as a community have not got the lessons set forth by Olodumare to its children
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“Sometimes, it is difficult to see beyond the canopy illusions created by those who intentions are self serving and at best dangerously corrupt.”
Papa Gede
COMMUNICATION IN IFA
While it is theologically stated that Orisa Esu is a great communicator because of its ability to transcend time and communicate with human beings, Orisa, and all sentient and non sentient beings; it is Ifa that has initiated all Orisa through the will of Olodumare and Örúnmìlà‘s ability to commune through his spiritual, metaphysical and mental examples. However, in this lesson we are looking at Orisa Ogun’s unique license to cut through difficult conversation with simplicity and in peace in order to accomplish direct and clear conversation that leads to prosperity and serenity.
In the great Holy Odu Ifa of Ogunda Meji which classically shows the profoundness of Orisa Ogun to cut through mediocrity and foolishness, in order to resolve conflict and thus received tremendous reward and satisfaction:
The powerful person craves the crown. This was the teachings of Ifa for Ogun. He was advised to sacrifice. The ‘symbols’ of the sacrifice: a sword, a rooster and a roasted yam.
Ifa said that it was the sword which Ogun would use in the pursuit of prosperity. And that he should carry it with him everywhere. Ogun was advised to eat the roasted yam and he ate it. When he became thirsty, he went to the river to drink some water. When he finished drinking the water he saw two people quarrelling over a fish they had caught. Ogun told them that they should be patient. And that they should divide the fish and go home. They refused. The first person said he came from the West. The second person said she came from the East. After hearing what they both had to say
Concerning the matter, Ogun took the sword which he had in his hands and cut the fish into two equal parts for them. The first person thanked him and said that he wanted him to open a way for him so that he might reach his city. He said that Ogun would become a prosperous person. He said that Ogun would acquire an abundance of good things. He said that he would suffer no hardship before reaching his city.
COMMUNICATION IN IFA
The second person also thanked Ogun. And she asked that Ogun
not neglect to open the way for her to her city in the same way.
Ogun told them that he understood. Therefore, since that day Ogun divided the fish into two for the tow people who were quarrelling; He has been called Ogunda Meji, Ogun who divides into two equal parts has made a metaphysical and binding contract in the world not only of prosperity but of spiritually bringing about communication that had been hindered and unproductive to that
Which now is a productive relationship between the two warring parties.
It is through the directives of Ifa, which Orisa Ogun was able to be productive in solving the dilemma that these parties faced. Orisa Ogun in his mighty wisdom
By complying with Ifa, created effective communication and healed a relationship that could have ended in death rather than the lives that are now saved. Within this ese Ifa are also other sacred elements of that lend itself to communication that we as worshippers of Ifa should see and attest. Don Miguel Ruiz the author of the book, The Four Agreements a Toltec Warrior Way of Wisdom” speaks of a spiritual domestication that all human beings enter in contract before and after they enter the world. A type of conditioning that is called agreements which infect our whole way of communication and thus our belief system. What and who we are is a taught process from our genetic lineage, mothers, fathers, and our outside systems such as our societies. Judgments that impede our every move in life and it effect keep us from true communication and freedom that we deserve as a gift from our Creator Olodumare. Touching upon truth and speaking the absolute truth in communication become difficult for we fall to the easy posture of “victim” and create the internal stories that make our side seem the only side of the equation. We become continuously trapped in the cycle of deceit and are doomed to the repetitive illusion of freedom unless we choose to change how we think by changing our agreements in the world. We blame, find guilt with others rather than find the essence of truth within ourselves: we except the responsibility of our own creation of lies and deception of our life by living our lives in truth and courage. Recognizing that the stories and communication begin with our walk in the world of Truth. When people speak to us in derogative statements of,” you are stupid, you are ugly, you are fat, you are sorry, you are evil, and “we" believe these statements even when they are wrong. They are reinforced by gossip and other negative environs that we use to keep us in the space of slavery to the world. What Ogun is telling us in this Odu Ifa that freedom that we seek to become better human beings is close at hand if we would step back from our useless forms of negative communication and embrace the blueprint that Ifa has for us.
Ile Iwosan Örúnmìlà Mimo Temple
Our Temple
Mission Statement & History
2004 Iyanifa Fayomi Falade Aworeni The mission of the Ile Iwosan Orunmila Mimo/Orunmila Healing Spaces is to bring “good Ifa” to those who love Ifa. Our objective is to worship Olodumare and the Irunmole incorporating those principles given by the mandates of Olodumare through the auspice of Ifa. We promote the education, health, and culture of the Yoruba of Nigeria and their religious pursuit given to them 12,000 years ago by their Prophet Orunmila.
We are affiliated with a number of Ifa temples throughout the Diaspora and in Nigeria. The Lead Iyanifa Fayomi Falade Aworeni.
The Temple Ile Iwosan Orunmila Mimo is members of the International Council of Ifa Religions and an adopted member of the family of the Araba of Ile Ife, Awoyemi Aworeni Adisa Mokanranwale by virtue of Dafa, and “A Child of Oke Itase". We are a Not-For-Profit 501©3 organization and we welcome donations for our programs.
We are a bridge that connects Nigerian Yoruba Ifa with that of the Yoruba Diaspora, investigating ways to improve our relationships, protect and care for our own at home/families. We, in this house of worship pledge to honor our elders and support the growth and development of Ifa corpus here and in Yoruba land.
Iya Fayomi's lineage is the Ara Ifa Ijo Orunmila in Los Angeles, Ca. under the leadership of the Olubikin of Ile Ife, Oloye Fasina Falade who was initiated by the past Araba Agbaye of Ile Ife Ifasuyi Omiporiola. Iya Fayomi also has ties with Ile Jalumi in Chicago.
Our past roles in Ara Ifa Ijo Orunmila were the Secretary of Orunmila Youngsters USA, Los Angeles Chapter, Secretary for Yoruba Olodumare Ile, Los Angeles
We have a rich history and lineage with many historical relationships of pioneers of Ifa in this country. We are a revolutionary temple in that we are making strives to create a better face of Ifa in the world as well as create, through Ifa, a place where the healing of Human life begins.
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IFA STUDY CLASS 11:30 – 1:00 PM
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