04 Mar Handle Life’s Intersections with Joy!

Alaafia Fam! Have you ever regretted getting something you asked for? This week’s Orisa Prayer and Meditation message tells a story of Obatala and how he was frustrated with the people of earth who Olodumare had tasked him with creating. Instead of living in joy, harmony, and happiness as Obatala had intended when he made them, the people bickered, stole from each other, an even killed one another.

Obatala grew so upset with them that he decided to call on iku (death) to come and take them so that he could make new people and try again. He soon realized he made a terrible mistake as iku began to take people faster than he could replace them. He ran to Orunmila for divination and was told to hide the people under the iwereyeye (peony) plant in order to save them. He quickly planted iwereyeye all over and instructed the people to hide under it and, this way, they were saved from iku. Iwereyeye is still used until today as a protective plant throughout the diaspora.

The most important message we receive from this story is to be careful what we ask and pray for. When we act out of anger, frustration, and impatience, we may inadvertently set off a chain of events that quickly escape our control and take the situation from bad to worse. Remember that suuru ni baba iwa (patience is the father of character) and that it is character we seek first as onisese (traditional religion practitioners).

Another lesson to take is that we will all act out of character at some moment in our lives, no matter how pure, kind, and well-meaning we may be. A part of being a person of character is recognizing when we’ve made a mistake, as Obatala did, and taking action to correct it.

Our message from the Chalks of Kikongo oracle deck, Crossing Paths, reminds us that all things–both our triumphs and our mistakes–are temporary. Allowing things to run their course and being able to let go and move forward through the intersections of life are some of our greatest superpowers. Use them wisely and well.

Crystal ally citrine helps us to remain joyful and take things lightly, even when they feel too heavy for us to handle. It’s important to be able to laugh at ourselves and maintain a positive attitude, even as we recognize the reality of the challenges we face. Don’t forget, tibi tire la da ile aiye (it is loss and gain that make the world); taking the losses in stride in order to maximize the gain is key!

May these messages and lessons resonate with you whenever you connect with them! Ase!

~Iya Funlayo

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