Fortitude (Igbekele):kiss:
A verse of an Odu Ifa says in part:
...Difa fun Ifakọlade*
Cast-Ifa for Ifakọlade
Ti nse ẹlẹmọṣọ Awo
Who is the-person-for Awo [a divinely chosen Babalawo]
O ko ẹsin ọpẹ silẹ
He refuse to worship palmtree** no-more [who deserted his divine duty to
Odumare, via Orunmila]
O ni oun ko sin Ifa mọn (ati bee bee)
He said he will not worship Ifa again [And vowed he would never worship
Ifa again in his life], etc.
Life and its intricacies are often spectacular. Most times, living is
hilariously packed and unblemishedly fulfilling that one wishes to
hold such moment hostage for eternity. Sometimes, fierce turbulence
and quakes in one's life make living dreadful and hopeless. Again,
the Master Planner's trick comes into view when one is confronted
with these conflicting conditions. This trick, set forth by Odumare,
is at the very beginning of our evolutions, right through to our
first earthily breaths. The conflicting scenario starts with (a) the
moment we are forcefully propelled from our ever known cocooned
comfort zone, (b) followed by being forced to gasp for air because
our ever known air supply had been suddenly shot off (cut off), and
(c) while crying and trying to recover from the successive trauma, we
find ourselves surrounded with smiling faces. This pattern of
comfort, pain, and relief, with which we were individually introduced
to the world of the living at birth, seem to dominate most of our
experience in life. When our efforts are rewarded with success, we
jubilate; when the same efforts remain daunting, we are saddened,
questioned our judgments self, and some of us become irrationally
unwise at that moment of a living anguish.
This was the case with Ifakolade in the above referenced Odu Ifa.
According to Orunmila, Ifakolade was going through his own divine,
sequential pattern of life, just like he had to go through it at
birth. Being an Awo, a Babalawo in this regard, Ifa was also solidly
behind Ifakolade—guarding and guiding him through the rough terrain.
Somehow, Ifakolade decided to renounce his divinely chosen calling in
reaction to his supposed futile efforts. Reasons prevailed, and like
his first circular experience at birth, Ifakolade smiled broadly,
once again. In real life situations, Orunmila wants us to see our own
weaknesses through the experience of the Awo in this Ifa verse.
Orunmila also wants us to remember that just like children, who stand
up from falling and keep running and playing, we should always gather
our strength and keeping forging on, whenever we are confronted with
life challenges. May Odumare illuminate our paths, today and always,
ase.
A ji ire ni oni o (we wake up with ire today—"Good Morning").
Responses or electronic correspondence should be sent to Chief FAMA
at Ifaseeyen@yahoogrou ps.com (http://us.mc01g.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Ifaseeyen%40yahoogroups.com) or at Ileorunmila@ aol.com (http://us.mc01g.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Ileorunmila%40aol.com).
Aboru aboye.
Chief FAMA
Ileorunmila. Com
*A name that means, "Ifa-brings- wealth."
** The term "Ope" is used in Ifa to symbolize Ikin Ifa, and Ikin
Ifa represents Orunmila.:hello: