The Third Truth of Ifa: There is No Predestination
May 2019
Homage To The One Who Sends and to those who are sent! Homage to Orisa and Egun!
Ifokanbale Omo Orisa! Peace of Mind from Olodumare Children of Orisa!
Ire ati Ayo!
Good Tidings and Joyfulness!
I honor your gods, I drink from your wells, I bring an undefended heart to our meeting place. I have no cherished outcomes, I will not negotiate by withholding, and I am not subject to disappointment. I am here! And They are all here with me! Ase! Ase! Ase!
Lord of my Ancestors, I have no knowledge except that which is given to me through inspiration, that which is sent to me by way of an angel, and that which I am blessed to acquire by way of some discipline. I thank you for guiding my words, my thoughts, and my actions so that all that I say and do may serve to point the seekers in the right direction. Ase! Ase! Ase!
There is probably no analogy the can do justice in describing the essence, mind, and intention of the Ase, the Sentient Energetic Entity. But let’s play with this idea. Imagine you are given several spools of thread to be used in weaving a quilt. The overriding law is that all of the threads must be used. The threads are of various colors, lengths, and textures. Some of the threads are strong and durable, while some are weak and fragile. Some the threads are very flexible and resilient, and others tend to be stiff and brittle. There is no designated pattern or blueprint for the quilt. In addition to the Law of Usefulness (every thread must be used), there is also the Law of Functionality (the quality of being suited to serve a purpose; the purpose that something is designed or expected to fulfill). Under these conditions (laws) we can say that the threads have ‘predestination’. They are collectively predestined to become a quilt! That’s as far as ‘predestination’ goes. The fact that we are even here to contemplate and discuss these ideas and questions is the same as the fact that the threads exist and have the opportunity to become a quilt. Neither situation is self-determined.
Predestination in theology and primarily in the so-called monotheistic religions is the doctrine that all events have been willed by God, usually with reference to the eventual fate of the individual soul. Explanations of predestination often seek to address the "paradox of free will", whereby God's omniscience seems incompatible with human free will. In this usage, predestination can be regarded as a form of religious determinism, and usually pre-determinism.
Rather than participating in an argument about the obvious, the Ifa Tradition of Orisa and Ancestor Worship states that, ‘Of course, the fact that the L’oja exists in our consciousness and that we exist within the L’oja has to be ‘determined’ by something (the Ase, the SEE) and that something must have a ‘destination’ (Purpose) in mind.'
Let’s return to our imaginary quilt for a minute. Remember, all threads must be used regardless of their qualities, and each thread must have Functionality, it must serve a purpose. Now let’s include the weaver in our analogy. Since there is no blueprint or predetermined pattern for the quilt, the weaver is free to exercise his or her own will in the process of weaving the quilt, hence, infinite possibilities. Now, let’s take this one step further since imagination has infinite capacity. Let’s imagine that instead of a single external weaver, each thread is given or develops the sentience to decide for itself exactly how, when, and where it will enter into a relationship with any of the other threads. Now the possibilities and dynamics of the weaving process go far beyond any concept of Predestination. The analogy given here is a metaphor depicting just a part of the Spiritual Mathematics of the L’oja.
Let me request your patience as we review some of the points I presented in my November 2018 Post.
The ASE (the energetic essence of the darkness from which all things come) becomes self-aware, a SEE (Sentient Energetic Entity) and Infinite Consciousness is manifested (Omniscience, Olodumare).
From Olodumare’s determination to experience the fullness the Realm of Infinite Possibility (the ASE), Infinite Creative Potential (Omnipotence, Olofi-dumare) comes forth from the Womb (the ASE).
In establishing the laws to manage this Infinite Creative Potential Olodumare, (Olu-Ori, the Owner of Ori and Lord of Consciousness) mandates dynamic expansion as one of the laws.
The Law of Dynamic Expansion is designed to regulate the existence of everything, including consciousness. Consciousness must expand into the fullness of the Realm of Infinite Possibility.
Infinite Consciousness is therefore expressed through a multiplicity of forms and a Divine Share of Infinite Consciousness (Kadara) is apportioned to every created thing, animate and inanimate, visible and invisible, some receiving more, some less, but all receiving a portion (Omnipresence).
Some people might call the Kadara, the Divine Share of Infinite Consciousness allotted to each human being, the soul. This soul is also a Sentient Energetic Entity, just like its Source because it is an extension, an expression of its Source. Therefore, in Ifa we would refer to this ‘soul’ as Ori, the Spiritual Ori (The Awareness).
This ‘soul’ or Spiritual Ori does not come into the world, the L’oja. It is an eternal divine essence. Instead, Spiritual Ori chooses an avatar to experience the material world. An avatar is a manifestation of a deity or released soul in bodily form on earth, an incarnate divine teacher, an incarnation, embodiment, or manifestation of a person or idea. The Ori that is chosen in the Land of Ajala is the physical Ori or Avatar of the Spiritual Ori.
The physical Ori begins the process of maturation in accordance with the Law of Dynamic Expansion the moment it attaches to the physical body, even in the womb.
Inspiration, insight, guidance, wisdom, and Ase (Spiritual Power) flow from the Infinite Consciousness, to the Spiritual Ori, to the physical Ori.
The energetic vibrations of our experiences in the L’oja, our intentions, our hopes and desires, our declarations and our prayers all travel (or vibrate) from our physical Ori, to our Spiritual Ori, to Infinite Consciousness fueling the process of Dynamic Expansion.
There is no predestination and our ‘fate’ is the consequences of our ‘choices’. In the Spiritual Mathematics of the L’oja, Ifa says, we live the consequences of our choices. Throughout the Sacred Oracles of Ifa, the ‘Ese Ifa’ (sacred verses and stories) it is stated again and again that it is each individuals birthright to choose to go this way or that way, to do this or that, to follow the guidance of the Babalawo and perform the ‘ebo’ (sacrifice) or to not follow. The Spiritual Mathematics put in place to govern the possibilities of the L’oja stem from the fundamental purpose of the L’oja. That is, so that Olodumare can experience the Realm of Infinite Possibility (The Ase) through the manifestations of the L’oja. If human choices were restricted by ‘predestination’ there is no way that the fundamental purpose of creation could be achieved.
The Quilt of Creation will be woven, and at each stage of its manifestation you and I are making the choices that locate each thread in the space-time continuum in relation to any and every other thread. These threads are not just other human beings but include Mother Earth herself, all of her forces and elements, all of her children in all of the kingdoms, and onward into the multiverse of creation. This is an expression of the Supreme Law of Isopo, Connectivity! Everything is connected to everything else. Through our experiences, we, the threads of this imaginary quilt will eventually choose to come together into something magnificent and wonderful for Olodumare to experience. The beauty of that process is that each of us gets to choose the contribution we will make, the bridge, link, and knot that will be our individual legacy, the manifestation of our Free-Will and the alignment between our physical Ori and our Spiritual Ori.
I hope you will reflect on this message and share your comments and questions with me for our future Posts on this and other topics.
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Modupe!
Aajiirebi! May the Unblemished Cloth of Orunmila Continue to cloth us with the Wisdom Of the Here and the Hereafter!
Ase! Ase! Ase!
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Ki Olodumare, Orisa, ati Egun fifun e ni Itona, Imoye, ati Opo Ire!
My Olodumare, Orisa, and Ancestors bestow on you Guidance, Wisdom, and Abundant Blessings!
