An instructive video on the most controversial entities in the Yoruba tradition:  the Iyami.  The Iyami are one of the Karmic enforcers of the universe.  They, along with Eshu, are the entities which are the hub and spoke on the saying, “What goes around, comes around.”  all references in the Odu Ifa speak of the harm they bring to individuals, usually as the result of breaking universal law. 

Orunmila, the Orisha responsible for bringing the tradition of Ifa into the world showed kindness to the Iyami.  As a result, the Iyami have a pact with him that they will never harm his children.  The children, or priest of Orunmila, wear a sacred bracelette and necklace as symbols of that pact.  The Awo’s (particular level of priesthood in Ifa) have the ability to entreat the Iyami to stop acts of harm.

In this video the Seven Iyami, aslo known as the Mothers, ask Obatala for permission to enter the world.  Obatala tells the Iyami that he must ask of the sixteen Odu, or sixteen Keepers of Universal princple, for one to lead them into the world.  The first nine, fearing the strength of the Mothers, refuse the task.  Osa Meji, the tenth Odu agrees to lead the Iyami into the world.  Consequently, we say that the Iyami manifest in Osa Meji. When Osa Meji or one of his children manifest in a reading we know immediately that the individual is having trouble, usually as the result of something that individual has done.  

Oya, the Spirit of Wind, or thought  will  also  also manifest in Osa Meji to bring clarity to the situation. No stone is left unturned.  When Osa appears it is for the individual to search the intentions behind their behaviors and make amends as appropriate.

1. Twitted by IfaBabalawo Says:
   March 10th, 2010 at 6:27 am

   [...] This post was Twitted by IfaBabalawo [...]

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