[1] When the divine and powerful mother Edan (Onile Ogboduora) made her appearance upon this earth she did so with a specific and sacred purpose. Her manifestation upon this earth signaled a new opportunity to humanity for renewal, progress and empowered living. Her appearance signaled a fresh and new beginning for all of humanity and not just the privileged Yoruba people. Her aim and purpose was, and is, universal in scope. Edan came to bring healing, order, harmony, binding divine precepts and balance to the communities of the earth in general and to each human being in particular.

[2] You must remember and keep in mind that Edan is not a human being. Edan (Onile Ogboduora) is not Yoruba, Chinese, American, Eastern or Western. Edan is a divine personality of extraordinary abilities and supra-human powers. Edan is not from this world. She comes from a glorious and inconceivable realm of holiness, beauty and power. The intelligence, understanding, power and charismatic attractiveness of divine mother Edan are extraordinary, penetrating and outstanding. Edan can see to the depth and reality of things. She cannot be deceived, manipulated or bribed, neither does she make mistakes in the administration of her dispensation. She is beyond the grasp of human influence. She does not ever fall sway to the pettiness and fickleness that is common among humanity. Her divine sight is never obstructed and her activity cannot be hindered. Her virtue, character, personality and charisma are without equal. Even Òrúnmìlà acknowledged her greatness, efficiency, ability and uniqueness. It was after all Òrúnmìlà himself who called on Edan, his divine friend and associate for support, solutions and relief!

[3] When Edan descended from the realm of Irunmole to this earth, she appeared with fullness of divine authority, power and command. All internal and external ajogun and elenini fled before her. With the power of her majestic, divinely attractive and beautiful personality, supramundane intelligence and asé filled charisma, she was able to free and deliver the hearts and minds of the people of the negative thoughts, attitudes and unwholesome energies that were oppressing and dominating their minds.

[4] Edan was able to disarm people of their worries, fears, doubts, confusion and insecurities. To those hard-hearted and capricious ones who delighted in wrongdoing, deception, oppression and corruption she struck fear into their hearts, so that perhaps they might change their ways under her administration of forgiveness, order, empowerment and renewal. Such was and is the power and influence of divine mother Edan. Together with, and inseparable from the impartation of her ase to responsive members of humanity, she gave binding holy divine precepts and injunctions for her student-disciples to practice and implement on all levels of society and personal life.

[5] These obedient, trustworthy, loyal and reliable followers of Edan are Ogboni (the wise ones), because there is wisdom, understanding, peace, health and long-life in the obeying Edan and practicing her precepts. Outside of this one would constitute oneself an Ogberi (ignorant and foolish one), because to apparently know and not practice the truth, what is that if not the greatest ignorance, misfortune and foolishness?

[6] The divine principles of Edan became and are the vehicles of her divine presence, charisma, power, support and healing-rectifying influence. To have lived at the time of the appearance of Edan upon this sacred earth was a most extraordinary, gratifying and wonderful experience. That is if one was disposed to the divinely sanctioned and harmonious way of life she was revealing to humanity and is still revealing to humanity.

[7] The willfully stubborn, recalcitrant and belligerent ones did not and will not last long under the administration of Edan.

[8] Edan being naturally kind, just and understanding, like the precious and lovable holy mother that she is, she afforded everyone forgiveness, a new beginning without reference to past wrongs, an opportunity to change, and the blessing to avail themselves of her personal support, assurance, inspiration and power.

[9] Edan is aware of our frailties and weaknesses as human beings. No one need be fearful because of their natural weaknesses or flaws. But deliberate and intentional wrongdoing, deception, lying, dishonest practices and malicious aggression, Edan would not and will not tolerate. Edan did not appear to make us rich and famous. Edan appeared to make us partakers of true life, health, peace, security and prosperity,  through our practice of her clear teachings and our reception and enjoyment of her asé.

[10] Edan appeared to enable us to discover our divine, noble and beautiful nature. She came to restore dignity, clarity, transparency and moral health and moral cleanliness to our lives. Edan inculcated and revealed the divine truth to her intelligent and humble followers that when we are individually and collectively right within, then this inner order, health, harmony and uprightness will be revealed and expressed in the world without. The instructions of Edan were not and are not suggestions, but divinely bestowed commands and laws. They are binding and obligatory to all humanity and especially to those who devote themselves to Edan.

[11] Edan came to spiritualize our lives. The way of life that she instituted and the special teachings that she revealed are called Ogboni (the way of the truly wise and illuminated). Ogboni is a way of life. Ogboni is a way of sweetness, humility, dignity and light. Ogboni is the way of uprightness, truthfulness, rectitude and justice which leads to the full integration of ones personality and union with the Divine Spirit of harmony, truth, order, health and balance. Ogbonism revitalizes our life through our covenant with Edan, the reception of her asé, and the practice of her divine principles.

[12] To be Ogboni means to be the best of the best. It means to be a model of impeccability, trustworthiness and reliability. To be Ogboni means to be personally persuaded to pursue and do what is right, correct and proper, independently of times, places and/or circumstances. To be Ogboni means to be courageous, honorable and established in integrity. To be Ogboni means to have self-initiative, to be responsible, and to do what is right for the sake of love of truth, and not to be seen, praised and applauded by others. Formal initiation alone does not make you a follower of Edan. Formal initiation alone does not make you a true Ogboni. What is important is not that other people call you Ogboni, but that Edan acknowledges and accepts you as one of her true, loyal and obedient children. What is important is that you are Ogboni 24 hours-a-day in your thoughts, attitudes, actions and relationships.

[13] Ogboni is a comprehensive, simple, beautiful, ennobling, empowering, enlightening and all-encompassing manner of life. One is Ogboni all the time or not at all! When divine mother Edan can vouch for you as a bonafide Ogboni, that is truly a humbling honor, joy and worthy accomplishment. Initiation rites were developed later by Edan and her followers, but initially the true initiation was a spiritual change of heart, mind and living as a result of encountering Edan, her personality, her character, her enrapturing and inspiring charisma, authority and power, which was expressed and manifested through everything Edan did.

[14] Everything Edan did was full of gracefulness, dignity and power. It was not through rites and rituals that Edan changed the world but through her divine grace, power, manners, intelligence and conduct. Edan by her divinely empowered manners, character, personality and conduct, commanded the respect, reverence, trust and obedience of all sincere and good hearted ones. The true badge of honor and title of an authentic Ogboni is the verified character, virtue, displayed kindness and impartiality which he practices. Mere outer conformity and superficial adherence to protocol for the sake of appeasing people does not make you Ogboni, no matter your title or how old you are. Ogboni is the path for responsible, energetic, reliable and trustworthy people of acknowledged good reputation. Ogboni is for people of self-initiative, integrity, courage, compassion and spiritual maturity. Ogboni is for people who are willing to shoulder divine  duties, tasks and responsibilities. Ogboni is true religion and true spirituality for genuine seekers and adepts. Ogboni is the heart and essence of all genuine divine spirituality and mysticism. Edan does not entrust and bestow her authority, graces and powers to just anyone. There is no place for nonsense, immaturity and foolishness in the path of Edan.

[15] Edan gave her love, life, complete focus and dedication to humanity. To be Ogboni you have to give your all to the divine mission of Edan and you must seek with your strength, abilities, activities and means to extend the call and knowledge of Edan to all the peoples of the world. This is what is means to be Ogboni.

[16] Ogboni is not a human institution. Ogboni is not a business. Ogboni is not a club. Ogboni is not a recreational activity. Ogboni is a divine and sacred vocation. Divine mother Edan was and is, a spiritual and divine revolutionary, messenger, diplomat, reformer, and ambassador of good-will and hope. We too must be this. We must seek the spread of [divine] authentic traditional ogbonism. The divine tradition. Not the so-called Ogboni clubs and formal institutions, but the truth and reality of what Edan promoted and instituted for all mankind.

Ogbo Ato! Ogbo Edan! Ogbo Akokoniko!

Onile a gbe wa ooo!

May the blessings, comfort, encouragement and protection of Edan-muwagun be with all the sincere readers [students] of this teaching. Asé.

Your friend and well-wisher Awo Òrúnmìlà Mark Casillas.