Ceiba Pentandra (Kapok Tree) Araba

Ceiba Pentandra (Kapok Tree) Araba

Okana Meji did  some important work before departing to earth.

His name was Kon Kon Okonron loun Okoron Nihin

He performed divination for Araba (Kapok, Ceiba pentandra) and Iroko(African Teak tree)

Before these two migrated to earth from heaven, these two were cats and dogs never agreeing on any one subject.

.  

Base of a Kapok Tree. 

at that time Iroko was so powerful and feared that no one would dare consider cutting this tree for any purpose.

Kapok at Edison Estates Naples Florida

This wormed Iroko a false sense of pride. Okana Meji performed the divination,Odu unfolded it's wisdom and both Iroko and Araba were instructed to offer

Esu ( Destiny) an offering at Esu shrine the offering of 1 Goat, 2 Roosters, 1 hatchet,1 machete. Kola nuts, 1 Rat

Araba made the offerings but Iroko Refused, allowing his ego to feed his superficial false pride, believing “Who would dare attempt to harm the great Iroko”

On one standpoint Iroko was powerful and strong, on the other Iroko was the meeting point of the Ancestors of the night.

Esu accepted Araba's offering. So Began the destruction of Iroko.  Esu devised a plan to defame the importance and strength of Iroko.  Esu transformed himself as a carpenter lumber jack, at the same time rotted the wood doors and floors, tools of the villagers. Then gathered the lumberers from the village, headed into the forest. While walking into the forest, Esu convinced the villagers that the other trees were of low quality for the use of doors or flooring, for this same reason there current situations had lead them to search for new lumber.

When they reached the forest opening, Iroko stood before them. A Massive vertical tree that reached toward the sky, it seem as Iroko had no limit.  The lumberers began to refuse to pass, Esu insists “Oh that's the best wood for your doors of your homes and flooring.  He grab his machete and began to cut Iroko, the villages began to lose fear and joined in. Sawing away at the base of the trunk. 

At a distance Araba heard and felt a great row a thunderous boom. When he heard and felt the destruction, he knew it could only be one thing in the forest that could produce such a noise, 

Iroko has fallen. 

Araba Praised Okana Meji and the wisdom of Odu. Araba understood that it was Iroko's False Pride and negativity that cause Iroko to loose his status, becoming a victim of Esu's ability to make Orisa,man or nature see things Esu's way.

It is advised when Okana-Meji opens on the divining mat or the Divining tray, that the consultant has a powerful tall enemy, that wishes him harm.  He/she should offer Esu Ebbo not to only triumph but maintain his dignity in the community or his place or work.

Olokun Orisa of the sea & Adimu

Mysterious olokun-ohun to olokun
fresh herbs for orisa and egun worship. 

Oba Olokun baba eye

King Olokun father of fish

This Ebo/Orisa is said to be a very mysterious being.  His realm is the depths of the sea.

One can call him the great Poseidon of Greek mythology.  The Yoruba legends given to us by Odu, speak of Olokun as a being of great political position and  benefactor to orisa and humankind. Many of the worship practices of Olokun did not arrive to the new world of the americas until slavery was abolished by royal decree on October 7, 1886. After this event Africans and afro-cubans were able to travel to and from the islands in freedom. 

 This allowed a very important women name Obatero “Ma Monserrate” to travel and return with the ikoko-secrets of Olokun including the sacred Olokun drums used to invoke this Osha. The Babalawos began to arrive shorty after to the new world bringing with them the extended versions or practices of Olokun.

Olokun is known to be undefined as male or female. If you ask the Iwos they will say its female or male or they may say it’s unkown.  Some legends in Ifa make Olokun female. Odu teaches us in the Odu Iroso-gunda (4-3) that Olokun was left undefined by Obatala. This caused a great war, a war of titans. as the pataki goes. 

 Obatala in adding the definitions to the world  in hast, Olokun, Osumare and Irinle asked Obatala to give them their definition, Obatala replied “ I have great work to accomplish, I will not go back in time to address your needs, I have to go forward to be able to Finish.” Once again Olokun states So you are leaving me like this? Obatala response to Olokun question “TOO BAN ESU!  

Olokun in furious emotions, caused him to declare war on Obatala.  Olokun struggling with the war against Obatala’s great army asked his friend Shango for assistance. Shango in response to the request sent Olokun what is called dragons,  sending with these creatures the gift of fire breath.  Olokun then summoned his legions of armies on land and sea with a greater power, using the dragons of fire.  defeating Obatala armies.

The war lasted months, with Olokun on the winning side, Obatala and Olokun armies reaching their ends. The two Titans have their face off battle, Obatala tells Olokun “you only beat me and my armies with your creatures from the other world, Olokun responded, I had too! look how you have left me.

This is the reasoning of the confusion if Olokun is male or female. Yet this concept of male or female is a human thought. My personal opinion is a Deity is a Divinity not ruled by gender but by the deities ability to show kindness,strength, wisdom, compassion,Love. A spiritual being is Asexual if we have to frame a deity in a "descriptive word" then Asexual. Thinking this process in the mindset of Males are stronger and females serve the male etc. Is something we have added to all the Gods, God the "Supreme" we make him male gender, but to be supreme it can only be a energy. for only females birth children in our planetary species. If this is how we choose to think then the supreme is Female for all life came from, it birth all creation.
Once again this would favor more the female power. Just keep in mind that the ancestors would arrive in a new form, no choice in whom their parents would be or if the body would be a male body or female. This avatar state is why when Yemaya or Oshun or any of the other orisa, would emerge and be asked what is your name they would respond with a different name, later to be a title of that spiritual essence.

In the house of Orumila, Olokun is the benefactor of the newly initiate of Ifa.  It is Olokun that bestoles the new Ifa child with his ability not Orunmila, Orunmila gives him the directions and guides him in obtaining his triumph.  On the third day of initiation the newborn offers sacrifice, gifts to Olokun to gain his favor for without Olokun’s approval this newborn initiate will be a lost cause, having to return sooner than later back to the heavens.  Having done the offerings he then returns to the Ile to view the final process of initiation.  

Olokun pleasures coming onto land and visiting the cemeteries, walking within the fog and mist, rolling on the dust of bones. The Cemetery is where he exchanges conversations with Oya (B.F.F), and her sister Iyawo (The cyclone). Here too he meets his friend Osain. I write about this because these subjects are almost tabu in our community.  Many do not know of the nine additional powers that are received with Olokun or that his pillar is in shape of a pyramid, This pillar is representation of his island home, that was rich with every kind of bird, mammal and beast one can imagine. He and his Wife “Ayaroma Elusu” ruled in pure harmony with is sons and daughters.

Olokuns Family:

Elusu

aye Shaloga

Ikoko

olosa osara

olona

bromu

Brosia

yembo

Helpers of Olokun:

the (Carpenter bird)and the (White wing Coot bird)

These two constructed the mask of Somu saga (Mask-represents LIfe)

This is why when we receive olokun there is a awon made and all sorts of offerings are given to him in remembrance and acknowledgement of his endowments. This is taken to the rivers or oceans. Olokun is the owner of all fluidic waters. All waters return to the  source of the sea.

Offering to Olokun or Yemaya: Adimu

when a situation is out of control Offering Olokun one of his favorite grants the person Olokuns blessing.

When I first started in the religion, my god mother Nancy Castro "Oshun ede" showed me this simple offering. Nancy told me "when you want to have a situation reveal itself or a person doing you harm you buy a piece of Pork fat back, or Bacon, you slow fry it, once its been rendered get two plates, place the grease in one and the Pork crisps (chicharon) on the other and offer them to Olokun, light a candle, offer him water and say aloud, after the Fatback is cooked you see the grease that remains.

Sure enough I tried it. It worked! I shortly separated from the person. Leaving me free.  Works well for a love separation needed or to reveal the face of a false friend. 

Another offering Adimu:

1.Plantains with Fried Pork.

Adimu: Offerings of Blue Lapis 

Maferefun Olokun.

Fresh water

We are changing the way the followers of the Yoruba Americana' practice spiritual traditions, we encourage expression with a modern outlook, applying the principles of sociology,psychology and science to enhance this beautiful belief system. I won't apply the word ''religion'' to this new form of thinking, many readers as yourself see religion as a trap, or a way to control others and here at Santo Products blog we value the abilities of freedom as even God of the old testaments expressed, We are FREE, Born FREE to choose!
Our desire is to continue this freedom although there maybe those that wish to confine themselves with rules of do's and don'ts.  I will only honor freedom with traditional customs. If it smells like repression I will shout it out as the old Ball and Chain Theory. Join us for a adventure of spiritual yoruba freedoms with no holds bars, just magic at a higher conscience.
We are offering you "Fresh-water", omi ti ko ni iyo ninu re or said omi-mimu.

The customary way in the cuban tradition of orisha worship covens, use the expression " omi tutu" which is fresh water, but what was forgotten is that the yoruba language is three dimensional unlike english or spanish. Many state that the language was lost, or bits remain, so 99 percent of followers still use this slang or we can change.
 We can continue with this error or we now can correct the mistakes of our forefathers. One of Oprah Winfrey's sayings that's a favorite of mine is "when you know better, you do better".
Now that I have access to yoruba translations, and the valuable resource the internet offers us, there is no reason to continue in this ignorance. This fresh knowledge, the correct grammar is what I offer as fresh water. Drink if you are thirsty, drink now clean clear information that is fluide to your soul and body. To honor higher understanding I drink from the goblet of knowledge for it's my freedom from enslavement.
(To Seek, Sought, wa-kiri,)Truth, otito, ododo.

Oya Yansa The Market Place

Oya-Yansa

The sociology of O Ya

In honor of the children of this Orisha, OYA the Market place.

To begin on this journey of words to describe Oya, one must first understand the meaning and definition of the words that describe this force this energy of life and death. It’s greatest ability the power of Change/Transformation. For to name something is to box it, to place a label, to put confines on a concept. Humans use this process of labeling to better associate things for reference in the future. The definition or label of Oya translates to the Market Place. In Yoruba legends, Oya is the secretary of Olofin, the “Law giver” or someone that makes a judgement.  One must ask the secretary of the law giver? The Market place? What can this mean? What does it’s label refer too, what does this box contains?

We must always take time to think out of the box. We must enrich the mind and soul. We must take time off our busy lives and immerse ourselves in the mystical, the understanding of the beyond.

The "MarketPlace”, to understand this wonderful location, I would like for you to read this and then close your eyes and see these events in your minds eye.  (journey begins )You figure that something must change in your environment, food,water,supplies etc and you must travel to a location that can facilitate these needs. A place where you can exchange your goods or your labors for someone elses labors/efforts.  You set forth to your destination now a few things may arise before your arrival.

(Esu) He that splits matter/things/life force/ into two. Esu is always here and there, there and nowhere.

Esu

You arrive, all about all around you,there are many different forms of life forms,energies, store shops, vendors, all with one purpose, to exchange one thing (Efforts) for another. Exchange can simple mean Transform one energy to another. I ask how can a person transform matter to another, as humans we are not as gifted, but we sure can Barter for what we like or want.

We move about this inclusion of energy, filled with so many things, some we like some we don’t, others we never even noticed, but we have a Task to complete. A Mission. We find our needs and now look for the best possible price to pay for the items/needs. We balance between that would cost the least or the one that always gives the best results. This all has a Price, a Value” a value of Labor, of Energy, of Worth. Such a simple thing, yet so complicated looking at it in this way.

Stop and look the next time you visit a mall or market and close your eyes, and feel the currents of energy that flows; energies of the vehicles, people coming and going  just in whirlwinds here there. There is lots of movement, lots of following energy :That is Oya, Oya is an exchanger, a transformer of events, a Barder, a task to complete, a Mission,  a price to pay, a value, a labor, a worth, a force like no other that comes and goes, a force that is everywhere and anywhere.

OYA  the the wind of exchange:                 ( Awon Afefe ti pashi pa aro)

The wind that births life           (Awon Afefe bibi aye)

surrounds me,protects me, all that is mine (Yika mi, aabo mi,gbogbo ti O ni mi)

You may think that Oya may not be in your presence but look again, we human beings are never the same each day, we too are on a constantly change, our bodies are always changing we shed our skin we may not see this but its happening, Our thought patterns are constantly also changing based on our environment. We lose weight, we gain weight children grow taller the ill lose a limb. the elderly pass, the younger get health or illness.

The statement “nothing is forever” is a short phrase to an ever changing current event. “Nothing is Eternal”for to be eternal is to truly be dead.  You can not be spiritual and be eternal.  Spiritually is every changing.Things in nature that seem to last or pass the test of time” become even more composed in their shapes (inert) moving less and less just as stones. Stones, mountains and diamond.There is nothing more dead than a diamond say the hindu or the guru’s of the east. because it keeps its shape or form the longest.  

The being we claim to be the Creator of all things the source, which is everything is as the universe always morphing, changing, expanding, it has no end no beginning. That is Spiritual.

Now that we have a idea of this manifestation energy inboxed in the form of Oya we now can talk of her in the Yoruba concept. Many claim that Oya is death or her house is the cemetery etc, but we now know a bit better of who Oya is!  We can come to understand how in a translation from Yoruba, we can say she is death or holder of the cemetery;because in this place, begins the earthly transforming of our physical bodies to a new form, back to its spiritual state “Energy”.

The teaching of Ifa legends speak of a orisa of great beauty, of ferociousness, A women of stern feelings, a women able and capable to pick a blade,sword to engage the battle of life and death for her internal belief, a wind of change. This orisa is also embodied in the the Odu Osa Meji. The arrival of Witchery to the earth, what is witchery? (A request to speed change)(A request or plea for something to happen or occur in exchange for a price’ a effort A (sacrifice) now this word is tricky too, to sacrifice is to give of oneself, to effort at all cost for endurance, to give of one’s everything, for what? CHANGE!

I can rewrite all the legends of orissa that are already written in the logs of Ifa, and so many books that express opinions of this event or that event involving Oya but I prefer to express my understanding as what is’ What Oya role in the place we call life is.

Youtube Link of a Oya dance

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www.santoproducts.com

Yoruba Words translated:

Provide= Pe se

Change Yipada

transform= pada

Bring=muwa

bring me mu mi

Blessings=ibukun

stability= Ibu-shinshin