The Sixth Truth of Ifa: We are reborn through our blood relatives! Part II
September 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!
Self-disclosure: I am not a geneticist! Ok! Now that we have that out of the way we can address this important question as to why Ifa devotees believe, and the Sixteen Truths of Ifa states that, ‘We are reborn through our blood relatives.’ Why through our blood relatives?
In order to answer that question and satisfy the right and left hemispheres of the brain, we have to talk about the science of Genetics, specifically about DNA & RNA. You see, there are logical, scientific, and spiritual reasons why our Ancestors established this Truth of Ifa. As stated in a previous Post, ‘this Fifth Truth points to the ‘process and ceremony’ each of us must go through in order to claim our birthright. The L’oja does not squander its abundance. It challenges the weak and lazy! The L’oja supports life and growth! In order to claim our birthright we must demonstrate that we also support life. That requires learning and striving to master the Spiritual Laws of the L’oja.’
This is the reason you must pursue knowledge while on your journey. Accumulated knowledge can travel back with you each time you return. Imagine that you could give birth to your great-great-grandfather as he returns into the world carrying the wisdom of all of his rebirths (much of it to be forgotten in the birthing process but there in his Ara Ojubo, the Body Temple, nonetheless). And imagine that one day in the future one of your descendants will give birth to you as you too make your return journey. This notion helps to understand why some children seem to be so wise for their age and we often use the expression that they are an ‘old soul’!
We are reborn through lineage because Na Wa (Expansion) requires the accumulation of knowledge. And part of that knowledge is locked up in the trillions of cells of our bodies as a blueprint and building blocks of Ara Ojubo! A little bit of general knowledge science here: DNA provides the code for the cell's activities, while RNA converts that code into proteins to carry out cellular functions. By analogy, DNA is like the system hardware prescribing what is possible, and RNA is the system software for running any particular program and set of functions.
DNA and RNA perform different functions in humans. DNA is responsible for storing and transferring genetic information while RNA directly codes for amino acids and acts as a messenger between DNA and ribosomes to make proteins. Proteins and their functions are the real animators of the body processes. The structure of DNA and RNA is different. DNA is a double helix, while RNA is a single helix. Both have sets of nucleotides that contain genetic information. DNA maintains the protein-encoding information, whereas RNA uses the information to enable the cell to synthesize the particular protein.
In other words, the informational blueprint of your and my Ancestors (Egun) is encoded into each successive generation of their blood relatives or lineage. This is how we ‘accumulate knowledge’ and maintain Isopo, Connectivity with our Egun. It's both physical and spiritual. DNA stores the genetic information, where as RNA uses the information to help the cells produce the proteins that facilitate our life processes from cell division, to metabolism, to brain function throughout the life of the Ara Ojubo that we borrow from Iya Ile (Mother Earth).
With the exception of certain viruses, DNA rather than RNA carries the hereditary genetic code in all biological life on Earth. DNA is both more resilient and more easily repaired than RNA. As a result, DNA serves as a more stable carrier of the genetic information that is essential to survival and reproduction.
Hence the more stable the genetic material, the less are chances of incorporation of mutations in the genome. So in terms of rebirth, should an Ancestor choose to return to the experience of the L’oja after say a century, the vessel into which they will be received, the Ara Ojubo that will become their vehicle for interacting with the vibratory frequency of the L’oja, will be coded with information that will be familiar to them and aligned with them. Ori and Ara Ojubo will be in resonance, like you driving a new vehicles with only a few changes from your previous one.
Our DNA is a living, bioelectrical, and bio-chemical library. A matrix of historical information, and the fact is that the organizing principle of that library is ‘lineage’. Hence, the Six Truth of Ifa states - We are reborn through our blood relatives! What a wonderful example ofthe intersection of modern science with ancient spiritual traditions and wisdom. Knowledge is the accumulation of facts! Wisdom emerges from the application of accumulated knowledge and the lessons of experience.
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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Karl Stone Art Collection
Another way that you can support the activities of the Ifa Community is by purchasing something from the Karl Stone Art Collection. These Art pieces make beautiful additions to your home decorations, and great gifts for special occasions. A portion of your purchase will be donated to the Isoro Traditional Council of Chiefs in Ile-Ife and a portion to Ile Awo Orisa. (View Art)
Modupe! Thank You!
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!
