Thursday, January 30, 2014

The Odu - Iwori - From Thought to Reality

The Universe emerges from the primordial soup of Ogbe. What underlies that process? The third energy, Iwori. This energy it is about introspection, and thoughtful decision making, when we use it in divination. It is essentially about thinking. It represents the idea that leads to reality.

This is Olodumare creating, not a New Age fantasy about thinking something into existence. 

Iwori is the energy of the idea. When set into motion it formed the structure underlying the physical Universe. The Universe ends up being created through God’s deep desire to explore. When Source asks, “What am I?”, evolution is driven forward.

This is Universal introspection. The Universe wants to reflect upon itself. In order to do that its creations must evolve to the point where they can discover it though their own inner journeys. They must be able to reach back to the beginning, to rest in peaceful contemplation. Those self-reflective creations are us. 

The big questions drive us inward. We may start with the same question God did. “What am I?” Perhaps we ask;  “Why am I here?”;  or “What is the meaning of life?”. All these questions push us inwards. We move away from our outer reality, and personality, to a deeper truth. Eventually we start to have glimpses of the stillness of eternity. That is our true nature. With focus, and hard work, we can stabilize within this dimension and achieve radical freedom. Iwori is the energy that points the way. It drives us relentlessly inward.

Once we have shifted our locus to the most evolved Self, the deep introspection continues with different results. The searching and questioning, freed from the shackles of the outer personality, begin to create. New ideas arise. Unique potentials start to surface. Once we are freed from ego, Iwori aligns us with the drive of the Evolutionary Impulse. 

Our movement outward is powered by Iwori’s partner Idi which we will explore in my next post.


For now, can you see how deep introspection can lead us back before the beginning of our Universe? I’d love to hear why, or why not.

Connect with Brian

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Oyeku - Into the Darkness

Creation implies duality. The heat and light of Ogbe, twin with the dark silent world of the ancestors. It is called Oyeku. Ogbe reflects the forward movement of the Evolutionary Impulse. Oyeku reflects the deep stillness of the Ground of Being. This aspect of infinity is the path to enlightenment.

Oyeku is dark, still, cool. It is absolutely silent. In Ifa we say that it is the place where our ancestors reside. It is just on this side infinity. Oyeku is place of rest, where our spirits exist as pure energy. No limitations exist there.  

There is still a connection to physical reality. The ancestors are interested in us. Just as Ogbe pulls us forward, Oyeku pulls us back. Our ancestors take us deeper.  They compel us to reach into the stillness, and discover it. Eventually we can unite with Olodumare, at rest.

I work with my Guardian Ancestor to delve into the stillness, and reach for enlightenment. This is the true nature of Oyeku. A path to the peace before the beginning.  Reaching for enlightenment is an important reason to build our relationship with the ancestral realm. The Guardian Ancestor is a particularly important part of this work.

In the ancient Yoruba stories there was a time when we could pass back, and forth, between the realms. We existed in a state closer to our ancestral energy. We need to forge a new type of relationship with the ancestors. One that will allow us to follow the connection back to unity with Spirit. This is the path of evolution in Ifa. 

By aligning with Oyeku, in this powerful way, our true Selves are freed. Our outer selves take their rightful place, in the back seat.  We can align our actions with Ogbe. We can reach into the future. Integrating ourselves with the dance of these two primal forces is our path to freedom. Oyeku and Ogbe form the practice, and goal, of Ifa mysticism.


Can you se how these potent forces are the path to our continued growth and evolution? I’d love to hear why, or why not.

Connect with Brian

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Ogbe - The First Energy - Then There was Light

Suddenly the perfect stillness is rocked by an explosion of light. Some call this moment the “big bang”. In Ifa, it is Ogbe the first energy. It is the blast of spiritual light that starts creation.

The creative process is never a calm affair. Creation is spontaneous. It is violent. It rocks the foundations of our consciousness, or even those of the Universe itself. The heat and light of the creative process bring a powerful intensity to Ogbe. It’s light is blinding. It’s Spirit changes everything. Ogbe is the energy of God creating. 

This powerful energy carries infinite potential. Everything in the physical Universe comes from it. Behind this energy, perhaps beneath it, is the Absolute. Ogbe is infinite movement. It is the energy and intelligence that created the Universe, and is creating the Universe. 

The process is guided. There is a preference for growth. The Universe is becoming more complex. Hydrogen was created in the initial explosion. It was left alone for almost 14 billion years. Eventually it became us. We are the leading edge of the process. Olodumare’s presence is everywhere. It is the process itself. 

Every new idea, every leap forward in consciousness, every new species, is a result of the first energy expressing itself.

Ogbe was responsible for simple life coming from matter. It then led to the development of complex life. It gave rise to intelligence, self-awareness, and culture. It has allowed conscious beings to reflect on the stillness it came from. It allows us to reach towards Olodumare. Ogbe is evolution rolling into an infinite future. Ifa, at its core, is evolutionary.

Ogbe calls us to the future. It asks us to align with the creative process itself. As we become more conscious, we become active participants in the process. We bring our uniqueness to the table. Our ability to connect with the deepest source gives us the responsibility to become active participants in the evolution of the Universe.

Can you see how you are a reflection of the creative impulse? Can you feel the pull to join in the process? I’d love to hear why, or why not.


Connect with Brian

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

The Odu

Happy New Year everyone! All the best for 2014.

The Odu are the energetic building blocks of the Universe. They are also the energies we work with in Ifa divination. In this series we’ll explore the 16 primary energies.

The Odu are represented with a series of single and double strokes, or open circles and lines. As long as 8,000 years ago, the Yoruba people of western Africa were working with a binary number system. The system is similar to what we use for digital media.

We can look at Universe is an infinite, organic, computer. Olodumare, or God,  is its  creator and power source.

The Odu combine with each other creating the 256 energies used to create the Universe. We believe that everything that is, was, or ever will be, is manifested by these energies. Even the Orisa were born out of the Odu. It is possible to develop relationships with them.

In this series I’ll describe the essence of the sixteen primary Odu. We’ll look at them as building blocks of reality. You’ll see how the essence of each leads to its use in divination.

Olodumare existed before creation, at rest for infinite aeons. When we describe creation we use temporal language. We understand it as an event that happened at some point before now. The truth is, that God exists beyond time and space.  Olodumare is everywhere, and nowhere. God is completely empty, and perfectly full. The creative force is beyond all opposites. It cannot be described. The closest we can come is to imagine perfect peace, quiet, and stillness. 

When you have a moment, get as still as you can. See if you can drop below your thoughts, emotions, and sensations. Find the perfect stillness that is Olodumare as you. Were you able to taste a bit of infinity doing this short exercise? I’d love to hear why, or why not.


In my next post we’ll look at the moment of creation. I’ll explore the first energy. 

Connect with Brian