16 TRUTHS OF IFA By Fagbemijo Amosun Fakayode
Otun Amufawuni of Ibadan Land Oyeku Ofun Temple 1. This is a benevolent Universe On this Odu Ifa Oyekulogbe says: A tree knot fears no rain Cast Ifa for OLODUMARE AGOTUN The ruler who created the well-balanced Earth that cannot be broken up When planning to establish a market on the water… 2. You need have no fear On this, Odu Ifa Ogbeofun says this: Oluwowo ji He was the Awo who cast Ifa for iku, death And revealed same for eeru, fear He also cast Ifa for Orúnmìlà When in the midst of enemies When he was in constant fear of ajogun, evil forces He was advised to offer sacrifice He complied If I see death, sickness, loss, litigation, etc. I will crush them Join us where we offer sacrifice to overcome enemies Both death and fear have no power over us… 3. There is a single Creative Force ( OLODUMARE ) On this, Odu Ifa Okanran Owonrin says: The one whose influence spreads around the world The one whose presence flows through every land The one who spreads the mat perpetually Ifa’s message to OLODUMARE AGOTUN… 4. There is no Devil Sacred Odu Ifa Ogbeate teaches us: If the lifetime of the wicked is enjoyable His death and afterlife will be unpleasant Success cannot be achieved with wickedness For it to be smooth and peaceful
Cast Ifa for Otito, Truth The offspring of he who walks with gentility… 5. It is your birthright to be joyful, successful, and loved On this, sacred Odu Ifa Ejiogbe says: He who robes the child to befit the child He who robes a child with the utmost of care He who wakes early in the morning and holds the robes of prosperity He who looks after the Earth, this is the name of IFA It is whoever you look with your eye of compassion that is blessed with prosperity Ifa let me be blessed with prosperity 6. Heaven is “home” and Earth “the marketplace.” We are in constant passage between the two Sacred Odu Ifa Otura Owonrin says: The wise ones know those secretly shooting arrows at others The villagers know the city dwellers The living and the dead, they know each other The living and the dead They will see each other when the time comes The ants will never disperse for them not to meet and assemble again Ifa’s messages to the people of the world When they were mourning the dead Where people come from, they shall return The one who sent us has called us back home… 7. You are part of the Universe in a literal, not figurative way On this sacred Odu Ifa Osagunleja teaches us: May the dew burst out quickly May the dew burst out rapidly May the dew burst out continuously And be so vast throughout the expanse These were the declarations of Ifa for Origun When going to coordinate the creation the vast expanse of the Universe… 8. Character determines outcome Odu Ifa Irosunogunda says: Dog is beautiful with its teeth Ram is beautiful with its mane
Dog does not have a mane Let one go home to fetch a ram For sacrifice to one’s Egungun Ifa’s declaration to Ori Inu, Character Also to Ori Ode, Destiny Ori Inu, my character, please have mercy Do not destroy Ori Ode, my destiny It is character that is important… 9. Supremacy is evil On this Odu Ifa Obaraofun says: The farm house with thatched roof A big snake prostrates and crawls about on its chest Ifa’s declaration to the three Babalawo Also to the six advisors When they were fighting for superiority in Ife land They were advised to offer ebo Only the Babalawos complied Now, who is superior? IFA is superior… 10. You must never initiate harm to another human being Odu Ifa Iwori Owonrin says this: Whoever we extend our favor to But who fails to appreciate it Do not inflict any wickedness on such a person If you do him any harm The wickedness will pain him It is only the favor that he will not remember… 11. You must never harm the Universe of which you are a part Sacred Odu Ifa Iworiogbe says this: If a fowl drinks water It sings praise to Olorun (GOD / Ruler of Creation) Ifa’s declaration to the Dove When in want of children… 12. There can be no discrimination On this sacred Odu Ifa Oseoturupon says this: For years the elephant had been roving
The elephant was never hit with the javelin For months the buffalo was wandering The buffalo had not slipped into a ditch A person who does not appreciate the value of a fellow human being Who does not recognize the importance of another human being A person who is not well learned Is the one who will say a woman does not amount to anything in life… 13. Diversity is the hallmark of the Oludumare’s ( God’s) creation On this Odu Ifa Ejiodi says this: Odidi kirimukirimu Awo of Ori Cast Ifa for Ori When Ori was living in isolation He was asked to offer sacrifice He complied Eyes came, eyes came to stay with Ori Kerekere, my Ori will no longer be in isolation Ear came, ear came to stay with Ori Kerekere, my Ori will no longer be in isolate Nose came, nose came to stay with Ori Kerekere, my Ori will not longer be in isolation Mouth came, mouth came to stay with Ori Kerekere, my Ori will not longer be in isloation 14. You select your Destiny and Guardian Orisa Odu Ifa Ogbe Obara says this: We knelt down and chose our destinies On getting to Earth, we are in too much of a hurry Destiny cannot be re-chosen unless we reincarnate Declaration of Ifa to Edo Who one who will paddle humans from heaven… 15. Divination provides the road map to your Destiny Sacred Odu Ifa Oturupon Owonrin says on this topic: Ifa says whenever we wake up We should be teaching each other wisdom We should not wake at the crack of dawn And lay a foundation of foolishness Whatever we deliberate upon
That cannot be resolved There is the need to consult IKIN IFA… 16. Balance, growth and wisdom are your goals On this, sacred Odu Ifa Idingbe says: The Awo who is small and inexperienced is the Awo of today The Awo who is mature and capable is the Awo of tomorrow The banana is the one that sits by the book and lives majestically The Awo of He-Who-Knows-Today-And-Tomorrow These are the declarations of Ifa to Oni-loju-pon-mi-mo, My-suffering-endstoday Child of Agbonniregun When coming from Heaven to Earth He was advised to offer sacrificed He complied Now, my suffering ends today By tomorrow it will turn to convenience My suffering truly ends today By tomorrow it will turn to convenience…
(OUR TEMPLE’S “16 TRUTHS of IFA” are a modified version of
the original version, by Baba Philip Neimark @ Ifa Foundation of North America)
