SELF-ACCEPTANCE// Ifá showed me that the journey to find myself began with my inward search for good character.
Odu OgbeAlara contains a story of Orunmila, the master diviner, and his wife–Iwa. Orunmila is out in the community doing good work as a Babaláwo [Ifá priest]; he is very successful. At home, two of Orunmila's wives vehemently complain about the third wife, Iwa. Iwa doesn't cook, clean, or take care of the children. Even worse, she has an embarrassing habit of defecating in the middle of their living space. Orunmila considers his wives complaints and decides to give Iwa a household task; he requests she prepare dinner. The next day, Orunmila comes home to a lovely meal prepared by Iwa. Satisfied, Orunmila goes to his shrine to get his Ifá implements to get to work–but he can't find them! Iwa informs him that she couldn't find firewood to prepare dinner, so she used the wood he had in his shrine room. Orunmila was enraged that she burned his sacred implements. He casts out Iwa in a fit of rage.
Now, the other wives are satisfied that Iwa is finally gone. But, without Iwa, all of Orunmila's consultations become ineffective. Nothing is working out right, and eventually, all his clients leave! Orunmila cast Ifa, and Ifá says he must search for Iwa and bring her back. Orunmila sets out on a journey across the seven kingdoms of heaven to find Iwa.
Iwa is character.
"What we seek is character
Good character
If one is rich without good character
The wealth belongs to someone else
That which we are after is character
Good character"
-OgbeAlara
《 Shadow Nature Deck 》
With Love, Yemẹsẹ̀ Ajaré