African grey red tail feathers

The red feather of the african grey is not a novelty but a required item in the yoruba religion. This feather has the authority to invoke prestige in the yoruba community. Its possession, is reserved only for selected priest to wear. This feather is a symbol of their rank in the community. Its ultimate power and ability is to attract the ever seeing eye of Olofin. The presence of this simple; yet beautiful plumage, bestows blessing from Olofin himself.

These feathers come from the Psittacus erithacus species. Its common name is African Grey, Congo grey. The name for this bird in yoruba is “iko ode". The grey by far is the favorite of olofin, although Olofin has many familiars, all of nature serves the lawgiver yet the greys feathers garnish his crown.  

The reason for the feathers authority comes into play in the Odu (Ogbe-she). One of the legends of the Pataki of Ogbe-she state: "The gray was not always grey it was a white feather bird".  Olofin always had special favoritism for the grey because of his playfulness and his special humorous dance; not to mention, his great ability at mimicking the human voice. This special consideration created envy from the other birds of the forest. Many of the other forest creatures felt that they should have Olofin eye since they had extravagant bodacious plumage. Some even believed that there mear size or skills should have earned them admirable consideration, "Not this small, white and unimpressionable looking bird". The birds of the forest gathered and plotted to end this relationship.

One day, the grey and all the forest animals received an invitation that Olofin was having one of his feast. All of Olofin's invites where to attend. That night, the grey had a nightmare that chilled his bones. Confused by this dream; which felt so real, the grey decided to visit the divining oracle of Orumila.

The oracle was invoked and Ifa marked the odu of ogbe-she. The oracle expressed to the grey "you have many enemies plotting your demise". The oracle told him of a special invite. That he should attend but he was not to arrive on time. It said to offer the spirit of destiny an offering, to alter the evil that was already in motion. The last advice was "no matter what the circumstance, he should continue his journey or destination as much as he felt to quit or go back".  The oracle expressed if he offered destiny the gifts, he would be uplifted into a unimaginable status. The grey did the offering to destiny and went on his way to the feast.

“The plan of the enemies” plotted to capture him, pour ash and red palm oil on him as a prevention from the grey's arriving to the feast giving them the opportunity to sweet talk Olofin’s ear. As the grey left his offerings at the the shrine of destiny the villains did as planned. They tied, poured ashes, and smeared with red palm oil.

Olofin waited for his favorite to arrive with his humorous dance and mimicking, but the grey did not arrive. Concerned that the grey had refused the invite, Olofin's mood sadden.  The party dragged and the creatures of the forest attempted to appease the the lawgiver with shows of there beautiful displays of plumage and bird calls, but all this was of little amusement to Olofin.

After what seemed as endless hours of untying himself, the grey felt disappointed that after the oracles advice and his offering to destiny this would occur. He remembered the oracle telling him to continue no matter the situation, but he so desired to return home and change- after all his beautiful white feathers had been ruined and Olofin favored the color white. 
Destiny pushed him forward, the grey decided to arrive at the party as is. To the surprise of the villains, Olofins attention was drawn to the screams and gasps from all the invitees as the grey entered with the funniest of dances and danced he did. Olofins humor returned. The party was a festive event again. The animals of the forest not recognizing the grey, but because Olofins laughs uplifted the party all seem well with this new comer. Olofin spotted the grey and approached him The grey gave first the reverence to olofin. Olofin gives the grey his blessing and lifts him from the ground and asked why did you arrive to my invite so late, its not honorable to keep me waiting and in this appearance. The grey apologized and told Olofin that some bandits had delayed  him, pouring ash and oil over his feathers but he didn’t have time to change, because Odu, via Ifa had instructed him to never go back, to continue on his mission.  Olofin upset over the audacity of these vile creatures, ascends to his throne. The creatures of the forest all drop to the ground as the lawgiver is about to speak, Olofin decrees “ As of this moment on all ritual ceremony, offerings made should contain the red feather of the grey, as now he shall be known, The feather will be added so I may look upon it, giving it my blessing. If the offerings are without this, I will not look upon your ceremony, or offerings. TO ABAN ISHU.

This is the reason why the african grey feather is now one of the important ingredients in our offerings or when performing ceremonies in orissa, This feather should be applied to the ebbo of the iyawo so Olofin notices the rituals and ceremonies being done to the Iyawo. when offering to the spirit of destiny (ESU), there needs to be a feather in place, All ebbos are delivered to olofin, you may offer Obatala, Yemaya, Shango, any offering but it is taken first and  presented to olofin by the orisa to receive the blessing of the lawgiver, This information is not well known or understood, many think the asking orissa is the one eating the gift, Orisa ask their fathers blessings first. For all things must be approved by the one and only OLOFIN..

“No deed good or bad can occur if its not approved by the divine”

There is one other Pataki about red feather, that I will add next. The Crown of Obatala.

Confirmation from oshun

 March 29,2013

Oshun sends me a visual Confirmation of her ever presence in my life.

On Friday 29, of 2013 a very special event occur, as some of you may know this date is Holy friday

or passover friday, I had been worrying about a major problem in my life, I had been feeling my spiritual energy slipping, I was so depressed that I started smoking cigarettes, a habit I had stopped so long ago, I was just a emotional reck, I was losing hope, my faith was questionable. while sitting out on my porch contemplating the worst, fantasizing the worst outcome, I drew my heart and attention to call upon oshun, I say in a loud voice, Mother you told me in ITA that when the world didn't want me to want you! when I didn't want the world! to want you! that although my father or mother didn't want me, to want and believe in you! Mother I need a side that you are with me, that you are walking this journey with me, I need a sign, I need evidence that you are real! I was broken.

My brother called me in to have dinner and watch a movie, we did. I decided to rest, My brother heads out to walk my dog (Maximus), at his return he charges in the room and tells me Dan! there are two Large birds walking in front of your house by the car port and they have a weird crown, as if they are peacocks!, one is all white, I said thats impossible first peacocks are colorful and what would peacocks be doing walking my yard, he convinces me to see for myself, all this time, I had forgotten my request to oshun.

I walked out to the yard, to my amazement two beautiful peacocks,  one all in white, I told my brother help me catch them! All we really did was usher them into the gated backyard.  I told my brother this is a sign from oshun, I had asked her for a sign and she sends me her favorite birds, and just to assure me that this is more than a coincidence one of them the male is white.

oshun is my crowning Orisa and my father figure, guardian orisa is Obatala, King of the white cloth. Anything and everything that is pure & white belongs to Obatala. How clearer could the message be. Weeks passed as I waited for someone to calm them.no one ever did, all this time. still with some apprehension I didn't give them names. I didn't want to become attach to them then have someone come along and calm them. One morning I noticed the true beauty of these birds, I said If they showed up here after me asking for a sign and oshun sending me. not just any sign but her favorite birds, Birds that are representative of the queen of beauty. they are gifts, I will care for them as I have been entrusted to care for my mothers symbolic messengers.

I looked at the white peacock and asked myself what would I name you? I thought a moment, it came to me, these birds were a symbol of faith, to never lose faith in the divine.  I named them in yoruba language. The white, became "Temi Igbagbo" translation "I have Faith" I thought of the females name to be, and thought I have always wanted these animals, it came to me, "Emi ala mushe" translation  "My dreams fulfilled"
A few months later on september 6 the day of yemaya, the female disappears, I get into a frantic worry, I tell my brother if something happens to that bird oshun will have my hyde,  I must find her, I have all the neighbors on the lookout for the bird, she was no where to be found, I was a pure mess I once again looked to the heavens and said Oshun please! I didn't want the bird to be hurt nor did I want to be punished, I got the thought if the female left the male would leave me too then everything I had worked so hard for oshun would take it all back, I decided to obtain a peacock to keep faith with companionship, I brought home a male all beautiful, blue chested peacock. faith now had a friend till I could arrange to find a new female. I beg oshun all day asking for forgiveness, I told her I didn't do it on purpose, that yes  it was my fault not locking the gates but to please forgive me and that I had brought her a beautiful blue male. The day ended  the following day was Oshuns day, that morning I was awaken by the peacocks screaming, I jumped out of bed expecting the worst. To my surprise I now had three peacocks, My dreams fulfilled had returned. I celebrated with praise to oshun, praised the Orisa, but then thought Okay now what! The second male I named him "Lewa"
"Beauty"
Oshun and I are happy.


This is one of many experiences, I have had with Oshun, She has saved my life, and guarded me with a careful loving eye.  Any time doubt tries to creep in I head out to the yard and look for the citizens as I call them and say, I have faith! oshun makes sure that my dreams are fulfilled. Oshun is watching me, oshun provides me stability.

Oshun mi esegun.