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THE DIVINE KNOWLEDGE OF OBÀTÁLÁ AND THE TRUE GLORY OF A HUMAN BEING

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The divine knowledge of Obàtálá and the true glory of a human being: The necessity of [true] manhood [manliness]. Obàtálá the master of genuine manliness and perfection.
Aboru Aboye. Ogbo ato asure iworiwofun. Àse.
There are many benefits, gifts and endowments that we receive from Olódùmarè Agotun by the blessing [virtue] of just being born. Elevation of mind and noble character is not something though that we are born with. A mind of divine quality and a lofty character must be and can only be acquired through diligent [persevering] effort and the practice of patience. Why do we revere, honor, love and worship Orisaala? What is it about Orisanla that inspires confidence in us, that ennobles us, and fills us with great fondness and dignity? What it is that makes Obàtálá Obatasa Takun-takun so venerable, endearing and attractive?
Is it not the divine quality of his mind? Is it not because of his lofty and unequalled character, demeanor, conduct and behavior? Is it not be because of his attributes of fearlessness, holiness and selflessness? Who is like Obàtálá?! He is peerless in conduct and wisdom!
We too can transform and elevate our lives to a divine and lofty level, here-and-now, if we dedicate ourselves to acquiring divine character and holy thoughts.
When we consider Oba-Orisa Obàtálá there is one word that comes to mind: Dignity!
Dignity comes through the assimilation and practice of divine knowledge and unselfish lofty deeds carried out without arrogance, conceit and pretense.
Who is humble, courageous and guileless like Obàtálá? We too must cultivate and nurture humility, courage and guilelessness. Obàtálá is always appreciative and thankful for any sincere, loving and unselfish service or favor rendered to him, or performed in his name.  Obàtálá easily feels indebted to those who worship him by worshipping him with his own divine qualities. Obàtálá represents true manliness. Obàtálá demonstrates and reflects the highest and most pure dignity of a man like being a hard-worker [industrious], being friendly, displaying genuine brotherly love, doing everything with joy and enthusiasm, treating others with respect, fighting against injustice, being a follower [practitioner] of the code of morality [iwa-pele], being a keeper of ones word [vows, resolve and promises], being truthful [honest], and being a faithful [loyal] person.
How unmanly and shameful it for a man to always be whining, complaining and making excuses. How unmanly and shameful it is for a man to be lazy, to lack of motivation and to lack purpose. How unmanly and shameful it is for a man to behave like an immature child who always needs to be coddled and told what to do. How unmanly and shameful is it for a man to be passive and dependent upon others. How unmanly and shameful is it for a man to live an uninspiring, unremarkable  and unfruitful life [a life lacking in achievements and a life that has accomplished nothing worthwhile].
How much does our world and our Ifá-orisa community need real men, manly men, courageous men, valiant men, men possessed of character, virtue, patience, courage and endurance?! Our Ifá-orisa community and our world needs men who know how to shoulder responsibility and who know how to accomplish divinely assigned tasks. We need reliable, resilient and dependable men to help promote the advancement of world civilization and divine culture.
Such a divine man was and is Obàtálá, and such men must we not only desire and aspire to be, we must actually be such. Olódùmarè is not going to ‘magically’ make us such men. We have to want to be such, and we have to pursue, inculcate and master the divine discipline and science of Obàtálá. If we out of ignorance, immaturity and laziness refuse to accept the challenge of becoming divine human beings [true-men], then our minds will always be restless and our lives will never be truly fulfilled and accomplished. We will never know self-respect nor will others truly respect us.
We must learn to drive away selfishness, immaturity and pettiness from our lives and must learn how to practice genuine love, generosity and rectitude. We must put to the side the desire to be seen, acknowledged and applauded by others for our kindly acts of service and generosity. We must love to do what is right and just, simply out of love for justice and rectitude, and not for the purpose of being seen, acknowledged and applauded by others.
Obàtálá is the King, Leader and Head of all irunmole-orisa. He is truly deserving and worthy of being Oba-Orisa. Even though Obàtálá is such a great and extraordinary personality he is not ever swayed or filled with pride, conceit and pretense. He never feels like he is better or superior to others. He never gives the impression through his comportment that he is better or more deserving than others. Is this not the reason we love him so and are willing to do anything for him?! He treats all with dignity and respect. He relates to all with affection, sympathy and fondness. He inspires confidence and he reveals [displays] the content [essence] of true manliness. He is inflexible in the performance of his duties and he impartially upholds righteousness, law and order in his domain.
We too must adopt the outlook and manners of Obàtálá. He is Oba Iwa. We too must become masters and kings of good character, noble character and holy discipline. Obatala is no coward. He is the quintessential man. Valorous, courageous, brave and fearless. It is time to revive and restore the cult of divine manliness because without it all dignity, order, purpose, dignity, progress and uprightness will be lost. We must fight, defeat and overcome the inner and outer elenini and ajogun of avarice, arrogance, conceit, greed, anger, hate, deception and lust. We must resist all who promote injustice, disorder and malice with courage and determination. We must be gentle but firm. We must be kind, but not gullible and servile.
One who leads an honest life and is ever ready to assist and help those in need without showing off and singing his own praises, such a one leads a dignified life, a divine life, an Obàtálá life. The true knower and worshipper of Obàtálá is the one who delights and takes pride in one thing only: In cultivating, perfecting and exhibiting the godly qualities, and the auspicious symptoms of divine holiness, uprightness, integrity, courage, and devotion to what is right, proper and clean.
Is it by accident that Obàtálá sleeps in white, awakens in white and conducts all his affairs in white without ever becoming stained? No. It is no accident! Obàtálá is that way because that is the way that he chose to live and that he determined that he would live, irrespective of what others do or do not do. Obàtálá does not change his holy habits and endearing conduct, character and personality because others have changed their former good habits for bad habits. Obàtálá does not ever abandon his principles and ways, even if others abandon their previous good principles and ways. No wonder he is the great king, the true manly man, Olódùmarè’s much loved son, because he brings honor, delight, wholesome pride and good repute to his Oluwo and Baba, Olódùmarè.
To be a human and to be a man being means to be divine in thoughts, words and actions. To be human and to be a man means to be generous, kind, just, dependable, reliable, persevering, optimistic, industrious, honest, sincere, trust worthy and impartial. Anything less than this and we cease to be human even if physically we appear to be so. There are many cruel animals with human faces in the world! There are many human beings in name only. There are many men in name only but not in actuality. Let us be true and complete human beings and true men by following the science, example and ways of Obàtálá which reveal to us in a crystal clear fashion in what consists the true glory of a human being and the true glory of a man.
Eeepa Orisa! Orisa Eeepa!
“Orisa Eepaaaa, alaba lase, Obàtálá, obataasa oba tapa tapa ti n ba won gbe ode iranje, o ti iranje lo si iranje oko, iku Ike oro oko afin, oro ti n ba won te opa oje…..Eepaaaa Orisa!!!”
Aboru Aboye. Ogbo ato asure iworiwofun. Àse.
~ Awo Òrúnmìlà Mark Casillas /!!!\ A.O.M.C. /!!!\
perfectlyIMperfect

WE ARE PERFECTLY IMPERFECT

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The true meanings, esoteric truths and sublime teachings that we derive from the pastime of Obàtálá when Obàtálá unintentionally got drunk and began creating mis-shaped humans.

The reason we love and cherish Oba Òrìsà Obàtálá [Eèpàà Òrìsà, Òrìsà Eèpàà] is because he is a model of true and realistic perfection. The perfection of Obàtálá [Eèpàà Òrìsà, Òrìsà Eèpàà] is not a fantasy or fairy tale perfection where no-one ever makes any errors or mistakes. The perfection and excellence of Obàtálá is of a different order and quality. Obàtálá made some mistakes, errors and incorrect decisions in his life. This is a fact but he accepted his mistakes. Obàtálá took responsibility for them and he did not seek to excuse or justify his error. He displayed humility, true strength of character and dignity. He did not give up on himself. He did not subject himself to self-pity, complaining, blaming others and a life of indolence because he made a mistake. He learned from it, he got up and pressed forward. He took ownership of his erroneous decision and he corrected himself. He also formulated teachings and injunctions for his children and followers based on his many experiences so that we would learn from his experiences and not repeat what was not wise. Obàtálá also vowed to become the special guardian and protector of all people born with limitations and/or disabilities.

Obàtálá made some mistakes but he also made many good, wise and extraordinary decisions. Through it all Obàtálá was humble, guileless and pure. So he made a mistake. So what? If Obàtálá ibikeji Olódùmarè displayed humility, willingness to accept correction and purity of heart, then how much more so should we ordinary human beings do so. This is the meaning, value and lesson that we derive from the life and teachings of Obàtálá. These events in the lives of the irunmole-orisa must be understood and interpreted with true insight and an elevated understanding. Even the errors of the irunmole-orisa are not like our own. There is a lesson, purpose and meaning intended in all of their activities and pastimes.

Ifá teaches us that we should not dwell on the honest errors or mistakes of others. We should dwell on the positive, uplifting and sterling qualities of others. When we focus on the negative aspects of others we are pulling that person down, making them more negative, hurting them and we are staining our own heart. When we focus and zoom in on the positive qualities in others we strengthen them and we strengthen ourselves. When we focus and zoom in on the positive qualities of others we strengthen them and give life to them as well as strengthen ourselves with vital energy.

A person who only looks for the flaws and shortcomings in others is really demonstrating and reflecting only what he or she thinks and feels about himself or herself. A person who only sees the negative aspect in others while ignoring the sterling and good qualities that also are in others is only expressing how he or she sees themselves. No flaw or shortcoming is permanent. All flaws and shortcomings are temporary by nature.

Olódùmarè created us with strengths and weaknesses side-by-side so that we can exercise our wills to rise above our temporary flaws and sublimate them. Olódùmarè created us with strengths and weaknesses side-by-side so that we might learn patience, sympathetic-understanding and forgiveness. Olódùmarè created us with strengths and weaknesses side-by-side so that a space can appear within us where love, consideration and compassion can dwell.

I hope that this short consideration helps to shed some light on matters that are not as simple as they appear. I hope it helps to give one-and-all a new perspective or angle on things. My dear readers and friends let me ask you: Are your father, mother, relatives and friends perfect or flawless? Are you perfect or flawless? Do you love your parents, family and friends any less because they are not perfect or flawless? Should your parents, family and friends love you less because you are not perfect? Just because your parents are not perfect or flawless does that mean that you do not have to listen to them, respect them and consider them?

We understand and account a person to be perfect not when they no longer make mistakes but when they are mature in love, in kindness, in respect, in consideration and good-faith notwithstanding their human flaws and limitations. Our weaknesses and strengths exists so that we learn humility, gratitude and cooperation. Strength and weakness exist in us so that we can see that we have no reason to be full of ego, pride, arrogance and conceit. We cannot perfect ourselves all by ourselves. Where you are strong you help others. Where you are weak you receive the help of others. And in this way we develop, mature and grow into perfection in association and service towards one another. These are some of the divine lessons, spiritual mysteries and esoteric secrets that we learn from Obàtálá.

Eèpàà Òrìsà! Òrìsà Eèpàà!

Treat yourself and others with kindness, forgiveness, tenderness, sympathetic-understanding and compassion. Have faith in your potential and power [ability] to change and improve yourself. Have faith in the potential of others and in their power [ability] to change and improve themselves. Never give up on yourself and never lose hope for others. Never forget that you as well as others are perfectly imperfect.

~ Awo Òrúnmìlà Mark Casillas

Itadogun ReadingCalendar

ITADOGUN READING (27-MAY-2018)

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OTURAGASA

The odu Ifa casted for today’s Itadogun Ose Ifa is OTURA GASA with blessing of wealth, ifa ask us to make sacrifice so that the evil plan of our enemy will turn to be blessing for us. Ifa ask us to appease Obatala.

Ifa said and I quote:

Egbe Roro
Awo Ojugbe difa fun ojugbe
Nijo to n lo re da oko eba ona
won ni o kara nle ebo ni kose
adifa fun alabarun ajapa nijo to n lo re pa abuke osin,
Nje mo pa abuke osin mo fi rera,
emi pa abuke osin, orisa jinmi,
mo pa abuke osin mo fi rera




ENGLISH VERSION

Egbe roro
The Priest of Ojugbe cast divination for Ojugbe
When he was going to do farming on roadside,
He was ask to make sacrifice,
As well as the tortoise that was going to kill the hunchback man, the servant ofobatala,
Thus, I kill the hunchback man (Orisa Slave),
Obatala bless me




COMMENTARY

Ojugbe is a roadside farmer that love to send gifts to Obatala through the his slav e, “the man with hunchback“, so obatala got carried away one day and decide to bless this generous man called Ojugbe that have been sending him gift for long. He therefore insert blessings at the hunch of his slave and ask his slave to take it to Ojugbe, On this occasion Ojugbe become rich and wealthy and tortoise that happen to be neighbour to Ojugbe knew how ojugbe became rich when he scratch the hunchback of obatala slave, tortoise also trace obatala slave one day and tied him up and took his hoes and cutlass to open the hunchback eventually when he was doing this, the slave died, tortoise now decided to implicate his friend/neighbour Ojugbe by going to call him to come with his gun to the farm, that there is antelope eating his crop, not knowing that it was Obatala slave that tortoise has killed that is been covered with skin of antelope, Ojugbe eventually shot the Object and tortoise raised alarm that Ojugbe has killed the hunchback slave of obatala, this became a court case, but obatala knew it was a setup because he knew how much Ojugbe live him and trusted him that he can’t do such, obatala decide to put up an examination, he turned Ojugbe to a King, and put him on horse and make him more richer, the ovation was loud as people were singing and praising Ojugbe with the song that says “I killed orisa slave, I become dignity, after killing orisa slave, Orisa blessed me, I killed Orisa slave and became famous”.




This song shocked tortoise and he started wondering that Ojugbe was been blessed from the offence he never committed and he therefore decided to speak the truth and eventually the tortoise was arrested and paid for his evil act.

May ifa olodumare escape us all from evil deed. (Ase)

obatala-ancestral-pride-temple

Supplication to Obatala

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Obatala I humbly approach you in iwure. With great reverence and love I present to you my gratitude, offerings and requests. I bow before you, in humility and with great respect. Orisaala accept my offerings, requests and devotion which I present to you with gratitude, for the blessings and noble teachings that you have entrusted to me. Exalted Obatala, teach me to live with a pure, undivided and sincere heart. May I always abide in a state of calmness, serenity, good conscience and clarity. Oba-orisha Ooosala, grant me perseverance and that my heart be genuine, childlike, courageous and true. Empower me with your asé so that I may courageously walk upon the path of sincerity and truth without straying and without fearing anything or anyone. Obatala, grant to me that I may be strong and diligent in my deeds. Bestow good health to me and my family; give us strength in spirit, mind and body. Benefit and prosper me that I may benefit and serve all mankind. With awe, reverence and love I ask you that you give me strength and power to rise above mediocrity, deception and error. May I prove to be a true follower of yours in all I think, say and do. Obatala you are  the master of the path of truth, life and light. My Friend, Father and Oluwo Obatala I beseech you to guide and illuminate my way. Whoever follows you is always successful, prosperous and satisfied beyond expectation. I am grateful Obatala for your friendship, nearness and blessings. I am grateful for the blessings of my ancestors who have taught me to honor, follow and revere you. Obatala, with your blessings and approval, I will practice my faith with brightness, purity and sincerity. Because I am led, inspired and encouraged by you Obatala I am dedicated to serving and benefitting one and all. By your guidance, nearness and blessing I will successfully fulfill my divine mission by seeking to promote and establish truth, rectitude, compassion and peace in my home, in my community and in my nation. I ask of you Obatala for peace, prosperity and harmony for all the peoples of the world. Guide me Obatala by always conveying to me your sacred teachings and your life giving asé. Obatala lead me on the ancient path of divine courage, insight, truthfulness, wisdom and holy power. Make of me a true, empowered, noble and honorable seer, guide and wise one. Enable me Obatala to bring calm, clarity, courage, hope and enthusiasm to all who cross my path, that in seeing me they may behold and experience you. Obatala, the holy mystery and secret foundation of your ways resides in my heart.




I will not ever succumb to suffering, dejection or affliction. Obatala, Lord of purity, calm, pleasantness and clear sightedness,  bless me that I never become impure and that nothing stains my heart, mind and the spiritual garments of my spirit. May no impurity, falsity, error and evil ever enter my heart. May I be continuously cleansed and purified from all defilement, immorality and impurity so that my heart remains alive in purity. Obatala you are the lord and master of the spirits and energies of purity, goodness, prosperity, fortune, blessing, support, protection, joy and cleanliness. May I always be protected, upheld and surrounded by these divine spirits of blessing, prosperity, insight and pure goodness. Everything that we are and that we can become emanates from the root of our being. Oh Obatala, may my being be always rooted in you! Bless me that I may be always pure and that I may live in harmony with my original fundamental goodness, dignity, radiance and brightness.




Grant me power to overcome life’s difficulties and power to live in harmony with nature. Give me divine intelligence so that I can see and avoid the deception, trickery and bad intentions of others. Give me divine power and gracefulness so that I can strip and disarm others of their fears, doubts, impurities and afflictions. Sweep away the impurities, doubts and confusions from my being and purify my spirit; grant me protection; grant me happiness; bring health to my soul and grant me wisdom to be a blessing to others. May I never be mediocre in anything I do or undertake. May I not be an imitator of others. May I walk in the strength and power of my own original spirit, personality and character.
READ ALSO: IFÁ MEANS FAMILY, IFÁ MEANS LOVING COMMUNITY, IFÁ MEANS YOU ARE NEVER ALONE!
May I excel in all things and may I be an outstanding person. Correct my path and remove obstacles from my life. Grant me fearlessness by giving me your full support and protection. Obatala safeguard me from malevolent, impure and unwholesome spirits and energies. Safeguard me from deceptive, hypocritical, devious and double-dealing people. If I have committed any error or if I have strayed from the true path, the ancient and divine path of divine wisdom, love and holy power I ask you to correct my way that I may hear your voice with clarity and that I may see and understand things with a clear, true and unburdened mind. Obatala sweep away strife, anger, misunderstandings and negativity from our hearts, our homes and our communities. Obatala, purifying spirit of light, truth and love…Obatala divine fire of truth, impartiality and rectitude, bestow clarity on our times, our destiny and our world. May you be pleased to bring all these things to pass. Asé.
Ifa - ikin

THE HEART OF IFÁ

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May the blessings of Ifá-Olodumare be with you. Express gratitude and love to Olodumare for all you have. Count your blessings and remember the One who confers upon you life, health, clothing, family, medicine and all of your wonderful senses. The awo who devotes himself to Olodumare will in turn be served, prospered and protected by all Irunmole. Honor, love, respect and devotion is the way to receive all the mysteries, powers and blessings from Olodumare. Be strong and follow Ifá-Olodumare and you will triumph and gain great attainments.



Olodumare is always giving us so many wonderful things. Olodumare gives freely out of His kindness. He never sends you a bill for the light and heat you receive from the sun. Olodumare never sends you a bill for the water that falls from the sky or the air you breath. Olodumare has given you life, intelligence, feelings and senses. He has not sent you a bill for any of these things. He has not charged you for any of it. He has given abundantly without expectation simply out of His kind and loving nature. He has provided you with mother, father, friends and family to make your life sweet, meaningful and satisfying. He has given you His guidance to direct your path and to show you how to live with dignity, honor and satisfaction. He has blessed you with a health constitution and a good mind. Even when you are not mindful of Olodumare and are not thinking of Him, Olodumare is always mindful of you and He always has you in His thoughts. Olodumare has cared for you and has loved you through the care, concern, guidance and protection of your father, mother, elders, teachers and community. Olodumare has assigned special divine guardians, the Irunmole-Orisa to look over you, to assist you, to encourage you and guide your steps. All of these things are the voice and expressions of Olodumare’s fondness, respect, care and consideration towards you. Not only has Olodumare already given but, He still ceaselessly giving to you and supplying your day to day needs. Olodumare lives to bring delight, goodness and satisfaction to your life. He delights in the success of your efforts and disciplined actions. All of these things and much more is Olodumare engaged in doing for you. At some point we have to reflect and think, “What am I doing for Olodumare?”, “I am always taking and talking but what do I offer to Olodumare in gratitude and appreciation that He will truly receive and accept?”, “Do I live for Olodumare or do I live for myself?”, “Do I cultivate a genuine friendship and devotion towards Olodumare or do I remember Him only in my time of need, struggles or problems?”, “When I do attempt to do something for Olodumare do I do it from a heart of thankfulness or love or do I do it because I feel indebted and I just want to “pay” Him back so I don’t feel in debt to Him anymore?” “What am I doing with the health, resources, intelligence, life and time that Olodumare has allotted to me which demonstrates my deep gratitude, continual commitment and unswerving devotion to Olodumare?”, “When will I begin to inquire about Olodumare and to follow wholeheartedly His divine path like Obatala, Òrúnmìlà and Ela?”

Life is a gift from Olodumare. If you have the basic needs to sustain and uphold your life and if beyond this you have more then consider yourself rich and blessed with abundance. This is the definition of richness and abundance according to Ifá and not the ogberi who is never satisfied and content with what he has, neither is he appreciative of what he has been given beyond the essentials. So you must think: “What can I do for my Eleda?”, “What will I do for my Oluwo Olodumare to honor Him and bring Him continual pleasure and delight?” “What can I do to bring something fresh and original from the divine treasury of Olodumare that will add to goodness, blessing, safety, beauty and happiness of the world?”



We ask and ask Ifá-Olodumare for so many things. But are we truly appreciate for what we already have, for what He has already given us? Are we cognizant of the fact that we are constantly receiving benefit upon benefit from Olodumare? Do we value and treasure the gifts and blessings we have, or do we simply take Olodumare and His benefits for granted? We ask and ask from Ifá-Olodumare, but are we asking for the purpose of bringing blessing, benefit, relief and succor to others or are we asking selfishly only for ourselves? Reflect upon these things in your heart. Make it your aim to know Olodumare and to revere, honor and obey His principles wholeheartedly. Make it your aim to assimilate the divine nature and character of Olodumare more and more into your life, through personal and daily iwure, Ifá reflection, unselfish works and association with noble, sincere and godly people. Fellowship and worship in a reputable Ijo brings delight and joy to Olodumare and immeasurable benefits to our lives, family and community. Think about these things and be moved by the light and power of Ifá-Olodumare to do what is pleasing and acceptable to Ifá-Olodumare on your own initiative. Seek to please Ifá-Olodumare and not people and you will be a true winner and champion in life.




Ela ‘boru. Ela ‘boye. Ela ‘bosise.

Olodumare - Ancestral

THE DIVINE KNOWLEDGE OF OBATALA AND THE TRUE GLORY OF A MAN

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There are many blessings, gifts and endowments that we receive from Olodumare Agotun by the blessing of just being born. Elevation of mind and noble character is not something though that we are born with. A mind of divine quality and a lofty character must be and can only be acquired through diligent hard work and the practice of patience. Why do we revere, honor and worship Orisaala? What is it about Orisanla that inspires confidence in us, that ennobles us and fills us with great fondness and dignity? What it is that makes Obatala Obatasa Oba Takun-takun so venerable, endearing and attractive?
Is it not the divine quality of his mind? Is it not his lofty and unequalled character, demeanor, conduct and behavior? Who is like Obatala? He is peerless in conduct and wisdom!
We too can transform and elevate our lives to a divine and lofty level, here-and-now, if we dedicate ourselves to acquiring divine character and holy thoughts.


When we consider Oba-Orisa Obatala there is one word that comes to mind: Dignity!
Dignity comes through the assimilation and practice of divine knowledge and unselfish lofty deeds carried out without arrogance, fanfare, ostentation conceit and pretense.
Who is humble, courageous and guileless like Obatala? We too must cultivate and nurture humility, courage and guilelessness. Obatala is always appreciative and thankful for any sincere service or favor rendered to him or performed in his name.  Obatala easily feels indebted to those who worship him by worshipping him with his own divine qualities. Obatala represents true manliness. How much does our world need real men, manly men, courageous men, valiant men, fearless men, men possessed of character, virtue, patience, courage and endurance?! Our world needs men who know how to shoulder responsibility and who know how to accomplish divinely assigned tasks. We need reliable, resilient and dependable men to help promote the advancement of world civilization and divine culture. Such a divine man was Obatala and we must not only desire and aspire to be like Obatala, we must actually be such. Olodumare is not going to ‘magically’ make us such men. We have to want to be such and we have to pursue, inculcate and master the divine discipline and science of Obatala. If we out ignorance, immaturity and laziness refuse to accept the challenge of becoming divine human beings then our minds will always be restless and our lives will never be truly fulfilled, satisfied and accomplished. We must learn to drive away selfishness and pettiness from our lives, and we must learn how to practice genuine love, generosity and rectitude. We must put to the side the desire to be seen, acknowledged and applauded by others for our kindly acts of service and generosity. We must love to do what is right and just simply out of love for justice and rectitude, and not to be seen, acknowledged and applauded by others. Obatala is the King, Leader and Head of all Irunmole. He is truly deserving and worthy of being Oba-Orisa yet he is not ever swayed by or filled with pride, conceit, ostentation and pretense. He never feels like or thinks he is better or superior to others. Though he is the king of all Irunmole he does not think and behave as if he is a know it all. He humbly and appreciatively receives counsel, advice and guidance from Òrúnmìlà who is his personal minister and counselor. He never gives the impression through his comportment that he is better and more deserving than others. Is this not the reason we love him so much and are willing to do anything for him?! He treats all with dignity, friendliness and respect. He relates to all with affection, sympathy and fondness. He is inflexible in the performance of his duties and he impartially upholds righteousness, law and order in his domain. We too must adopt the outlook and manners of Obatala. He is Oba Iwa. We too must become masters and king of good character, noble character and holy discipline. Obatala is no coward. He is the quintessential man. Valorous, courageous, brave and fearless. It is time to revive the cult of divine manliness because without it, all dignity, order and uprightness will be lost. We must fight, defeat and overcome the inner and outer elenini and ajogun of avarice, greed, anger, hate, deception and lust. We must resist all who promote injustice, disorder and malice with courage, sagacity, patience and determination. We must be gentle but firm. We must be kind and approachable but not gullible, weak and servile. One who leads an honest life and is ever ready to assist and help those in need without showing off and singing his own praises such a one leads a dignified life, a divine life, an Obatala life.
READ ALSO: IFÁ: THE PATH OF INTEGRITY AND WISDOM



The true knower and worshipper of Obatala is the one who delights and glories in one thing only: In cultivating, perfecting and exhibiting the godly qualities and auspicious symptoms of divine holiness, uprightness, integrity, courage and devotion to what is right, proper and clean.  It is not by accident that Obatala sleeps in white, awakens in white and conducts all his affairs in white, without ever becoming stained. No. It is no accident. Obatala is that way because that is the way that he choses to live and determined that he would live irrespective of what others do or do not do. Obatala does not change his holy habits and endearing conduct, character and personality because others have changed their good habits for bad habits. Obatala does not ever abandon his principles and ways even if others abandon their previous good principles and ways. No wonder he is the great king, the true manly man, Olodumare’s much loved son because he brings honor, delight, wholesome pride and good repute to his Oluwo and Baba, Olodumare. To be a human being means to be divine in thoughts, words and actions. To be human means to be generous, kind, just and impartial. Anything less than this and we cease to be human, even if physically we appear to be so. There are many cruel animals with human faces in the world! There are many humans in name only. Let us be true and complete humans beings by following the science and ways of Obatala, which reveal to us in a crystal clear fashion in what consists the glory of a man.



Eeepa Orisa! Orisa Eeepa!
Ela ‘boru. Ela ‘boye. Ela ‘bosise.