We do not create a PR around the truth because the cost of PR will affect its price. At least someone has to pay for the cameras.
This is why Ifá does not have a body that says it wants to "fight" the cause of Ifá itself, because Ifá is set on its cause already, eternal, unchanging, you either align willingly or you will be aligned irrespective of your will - FOR THE COUNSEL OF OLÓDÙMARÈ SHALL STAND. AS IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING, SO IT IS NOW AND SO SHALL IT BE, WORLD WITHOUT END - How do you then take up responsibility to fight for this supreme existential all encompassing being by waging a war in its name on fellow creatures for the purpose of establishing your political footing. (This is an entirely different discussion - I know you already know where this is coming from and where it is going).
Ifá is not a tool for manipulation but a tool to align you with itself - the word of Olódùmarè - the ultimate truth.
If you therefore see Ifá as a tool to manipulate, at least, you yourself know within yourself that that is not what Ọ̀rúnmìlà teaches. And that can be excused. You can not be judged for it by any of us, not even Ọ̀rúnmìlà, it is very much between you and your Orí. The only person you actually owe an apology for going against the eternal order is your Orí. Orí is your all in all.
A good Babaláwo will help you to connect with your Orí so that you will be getting directions from your Orí through your own prayers.
Heal allows you experience what is called Awo - and he will not brainwash you into his version of what he wants.
Awo does not mean "Mystery", it means the state of ONENESS with the UNIVERSE.
This is the essence of Ifá practice, that is the utmost Holiness - One with the Universe. In Ifá, you are not disconnected from the world (universe), you are a contributing part of it. And your energy must be in order with the eternal order at all times for good vibes for you and around you (the universe).
I assume that this ONENESS with the Universe will be the closest experience (for me) to what the Christians and the Muslims call Heaven in their Holy Books. - A State of Absolute Peace.
It is a practice designed to connect you with the real you, not psyche you into the possibility of a better you when you do not initially know the real you.
It is not based on creed recitations. forced convictions and dogmas, it is a being.
Awo (Ifá) is about becoming the real you. When you become the real you, then you can be improving on the right things and avoiding the wrong things to become a better you - thus your own uniqueness blends with the entire order of the universe as set by Ifá Olódùmarè. Irrespective of what is going on around you, you just stay focused.
Thankfully, the Babaláwo is not gifted with the skill of manipulation, if he does, his clothes will be tattered, he knows. So, those who go and meet Adahunṣes to help them alter the cause of their lives are simply doing that at the detriment of themselves.
The Adahunṣe's own is to give you what you ask for, how you ask it. If you ask for what the repercussion might be, he might tell you. If you do not ask, he will keep quiet. If he proceeds to do it for you then he too will have to know that it is not affecting his own Orí, if not, he himself will come and reap out of the repercussions. There are umales that strike their Aworos down with sickness that will eventually kill them when they use their hand to do bad thing.
Such Adahunṣe, if he is lucky to see a Babaláwo or Ọlọ́ṣun, then they will be able to let him know that it is his umale that is dealing with him and might be able to guide him into the steps to take to survive.
If you go to a Babaláwo, it should be because you want to know the truth about yourself or a particular situation as it affects your wellness and the wellness of your family and community.
If you want to travel abroad, ask if that step would be right for you or you should hold on?
Not, "Baba, I want you to give me something that I will use to apply for visa and they will grant me".
Or if you love a woman, ask your Iponri if such woman will bring goodness into your life and both of you will have a long life and be successful together with kids and all good things of life. Not "Baba, give me something to make this girl fall in love with me".
Even if what you are doing is fraudulent because of the situation of the country/world, ask if such step is okay for your Iponri to not fight against you but to assist you. Don't say "Baba, give me what I can use to be talking to clients to give me money". Sadly, this is what most people think Ifá is, thanks to Nollywood and other misleading woods!
The Babaláwo is meant to help you correct faulty steps and foundations that are in your life maybe from your action or by reason of your elénìní (chosen ọ̀tá) that is accompanying your particular ayanmo or family background enemy or from a wrong association in your immediate environment.
Ọ̀rúnmìlà came to make life easy for the inhabitants of the earth by teaching them how to know the mind of Olódùmarè (who deals with each Orí individually) concerning their own situation in order to avoid what needs to be avoided and have the grace and patience to endure what needs to be endured as it has been forewarned.
That way you know what you exert energy upon and what you allow to play out.
This is a simple summary of Yoruba spirituality, I do not know how this can get to the skull of everyone but we can not force it there. Not like some people do/did their own.
My own solace in all of this is that I believe that humans are intelligent enough to know when they are being used or manipulated. And they also know themselves when they are the ones playing the fool for what they enjoy having. If not, well, maybe such people need to be subjected to manipulation in order for them to be able to evolve into full humans.
Even the air knows when it is being manipulated and it responds appropriately!
There is an autocorrect mechanism that is follow-come with the universe, it is the reason why I believe that statement "we will be alright las Las". The Counsel of Orí will stand.
My friend Iyanifa Efe Mena Aletor puts it this way, if you don't align with your Orí, what you get is Ibi and if you align with your Orí, what you get is Ire. So the ball is pretty much in your court.
By Ayobami Ogedengbe
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