style="font-size:15px;"> If a person’s Akunleyan and Akunlegba are very bad, it can be detected on the third through 7th day after his or her birth through that we call Ikosedaya. This is a special ritual divination ceremony performed on a newborn infant by a Babalawo in order to determine his or her Ori and what must be done to appease or enhance it. In the case of a bad destiny, there are only two possibilities for altering it: ritual/sacrifice and the presence of good character. Through good character individuals may be led to successful, knowledgable people who will be prepared to guide and help them. Ritual and sacrifice can provide the same results. using these two avenues may not make individuals with difficul destinies rich or successful, but it will certainly make their lives more comfortable.
In the sacred Odu Owonrin-Meji, Ifa says,
Agbon mi jia-jia ma jaa [name of an Ifa babalawo] cast a divination oracle for Bayewo when she was told to perform rituals. After the rituals, she was asked to use the chameleon to rub her entire body. She complied. Shortly after, she gave birth to a baby boy. A child born after rubbing the body with cameleon is named Oga-n-rara.
Oga-n-rara was coming from Heaven to Earth. He chose no single favorable destiny. When he was on Earth, life became unbearable difficult. Consequently, he approached ten different Babalawo for divination. Oga-n-rara performed the rituals he was adviced to perform and was able to have his needs met from Oludumare.
If our situation is honestly bad, and it is not a matter of our character or behavior, then our Ori Apere must be appeased. Prescribed sacrifices or rituals must be performed to bring ourselves back into healthy alignment. These rituals are best performed at night, and once they have been performed one is advised to stay in the house until morning. If this is impossible, then the ritual or sacrifice must be performed precisely at dawn before any other acts of the day are embarked upon.
Before performing the ritual it is essential to be freshly bathed and dressed in clean clothing. White would be the preferable color, but if dressing all in white is not possible, use the lightest color available. Black is not acceptable. In the ritual to Ori Apere, you must wear a cap or covering for your head.
Having prepared yourself for the offering you chant three times:
Ela ro Ela ro Ela ro Ori mo pe o Ori mo pe o Ori mo pe o!
Orunmila, please descend Orunmila, please descend Orunmila, please descend Ori, I call on you Ori, I call on you Ori, I call on you!
Then you present your problem, ask for a solution, and give your offering as payment and thanks.
There are several Ifa verses that offer general prayers to your Ori Apere. Among them are these:
Iwonran Olukun Abara le kokooko bi ori ota Difa fun Ore Apere Omo atakara sola Nje ibi ori gbe ni owo Akara Ori je won o ka mi mo won Akara Nibi ori gbe nni ire gbogbo Akara Ori je won o ka mi mo won Akara.
Iwonran Olukun [Ifa babalawo] cast divination oracle for Ori-Apere It is certain that Apere is the quintessence of well-being. Wherever Ori is wealthy, let mine be included. Wherever Ori has many children, let mine be included. Wherever Ori has all good things of life, let mine be included.
Ori wo ibi ire ki o gbe mi de Ese wo ibi ire ki o sin mi re Ibi ope agunka ngbe mii re Emi ko mo ibe Difa fun Sasore Eyi to ji ni Kutukutu owuro Nje ti o ba tun ku ibi to dara ju eyi lo Ori mi ma sai gbe mi de ibe.
Ori, place me in good condition. My feet, carry me to where condition is favorable. Where Ifa is taking me to, I never know. Cast divination oracle for Sasore In the prime of his life If there is any condition better than the one I am in. at present May my Ori not fail to place me there.
Ori mi gbe mi Ori mi la mi Gbemi atete niran Gbemi atete gbeni ku foosa Ori nii gbe ni Ajawo, kii se oosa.
Support me, my Ori. Make me prosperous, my Ori. Ori is humankind’s supporter before deities.
If things are going badly in your life, before pointing an accusing finger at witches, sorcerers, or your enemies, you would do well to examine your character. if you are in the habit of bullying people or not being considerate of their feelings, do not look for any real happiness in your life no matter how materially successful you may be. If, on the other hand, you help others and bring happiness to them, your life will be full not only of riches but of joy and happiness as well. But remember, it is far easier to alter your destiny than it is your character.
How It All Works
How it all works
If the practicing Priest has any intellectual curiosity at all, they will spend a great deal of time in attempting to understand exactly how Ifa works. This is quite different from the Priest who has accepted the Western Religious view that all power, and truth comes from the Word. And, that the Word, is not to be questioned.
The intellectually curious Priest wants to understand exactly how, and why, the ebbos, divination and cleansings work. How, in the most pragmatic way, does the sacrificing of a rooster, the offering of honey, the chanting of a prayer reverse the seemingly irreversible negative trends in an individuals life? How can it cure cancer, allow for conception, improve business and restore mental balance in such unorthodox fashions.
The non curious practioners simply accepts that it does. They believe that the Word and the offerings carry with them the inherent ase’ or Divine energy, to accomplish the task.
And, you might reasonable ask: ” what difference does it make when both accomplish their goals?”
The difference is potentially enormous and critical.
For example, when you believe in, and accept, the Word as unassailable and unchanging, you limit yourself , and the client, in a host of ways. Simply because you were taught that red Palm Oil is the suitable offering to Esu, you are dependent geographically on obtaining it. You are also dependent intellectually on a given solution. You are also reaching an illogical conclusion which will negatively impact all your work.
Was an Eskimo cut out of the loop by Oludumare (God) because, geographically, red palm oil was impossible to obtain?
Certainly, logically, it is not the Red Palm Oil that performs the change. Certainly, logically, olive oil, whale oil, peanut oil etc. would all work as well. The same applies to the language used in your invocations or prayers. To assume it must be Yoruba, Spanish etc. is equally illogical. Certainly God understands all languages. With this being the case, the question still remained: “How does it work.”
Recently, I was e-mailed an article regarding a man who could change weather patterns. The author, a well known Awo, compared the situation to an event he had witnessed. An event in Africa where a ceremony was taking place. Suddenly a major wind began to blow, knocking down implements etc. The head Priest, hearing this, poked his head from the building he was in and shouted, angrily, at the top of his lungs for the wind to stop blowing. It did.
Later the Awo asked the head priest how he could do this. ” Because I believe I can,” replied the priest.
Most, particularly, those that adhere to the divinity of the Word, would accept this. Frankly, while sounding good, this was not adequate, or logical,
