With the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful and in the Presence of Our

Ancestors, Both Seen and Unseen

February 27, 2004

We the children of the 60’s those who walked in the civil rights marches, those who
rebelled against the establishment and those who reached across time and tapped into
the ancient mysteries of our highly evolved ancestors are now the Elders. We were for
change, we were for freedom and awareness. We were for the richness of our parents
yet, longed to stand in equal space with those in power. We who claimed our identity
are now finding ourselves the spiritual elders and having to face yet uncharted
territory, having to be spiritual Elders with no examples or support close by. We are
learning to walk on water only by faith. Like we did in the 60’s, we had courage where
other failed, today we must have courage to believe that God in its infinite wisdom is
raising us up and giving us clear vision to lead others into the new day. Far to many of
us are still waiting on this world to validate us, when each day God is showing its hand
to us. The fact that we are here in the now and conscious that there is a God is all the
validation we need.

All of us have had experiences that we cannot explain. No amount of rational

reflection will produce the correct phrases that will allow one to convey to another the
impact of such an experience. Yet, the experience itself is real, ever present and itched
into the memory of the one who experienced it. I like most Orisha Priest am walking a
path that is ever evolving and expanding. As one travels this path here are few or no
Elders Priest to help one understand the ever changing spiritual landscape. Thus,
when one has a mystical experience of grand proportion one can only hold on to the
inner knowing, and realize that the experience real and for a higher purpose in one’s
life. Thos of us who have under gone initiations at the hands of others understand that
forces were set in motion to facilitate the expansion of our consciousness over time.
This is a process which takes time, requires patience and submission to higher realities
and a higher way of living. Besides Orisha initiation, many, of us have been called to
be initiated inot the mysteries of Orunmila/Tehuti. This is an initiation which attunes
one to the frequency of Orunmila/Tehuti, the witness of fate, the one who stood with
God as all of creation came into existence. Orunmila, is the Prophet of Ifa, the all
knowing aspect of God, Olodumare. Those of us who are initiated into this energy are
know as “Babalawo,” “Father of the Secrets.” Besides meaning ‘hidden, undercover
and unavowed’, secret also means ‘Revealed Only To The Initiated ‘. Thus, this would
imply that Orunmila would reveal secrets to his initiates and his initiates only. Such
revelations from Orunmila come and expand the consciousness of the initiated to the
point that everything seems surreal. The secrets that are revealed to the initiate defy
anything within the realm of human comprehension. There is only ‘knowing and
experience’, nothing more than subjective knowing predicated on this experience of
being touched by the divine.

In our faith there is the concept of ‘Apetebii’ which means ‘Wife of Orunmila’. The
popular interpretation of this is that one should marry only a Babalawo, of which it
becomes a means to justify selfish interaction with female who are identified as
‘Apetebii.’ Once it is determined that a woman is Apetebii she becomes fair game to be
prayed upon by us Babalawos. I need not go into the horror storied for those of you
reading this article understand. I am writing to suggest that there is another realm to
which Apetebii belongs. “Apetebii, Wife of Orunmila’ means just that ! She is the wife
of Orunmila and carries his energy, his love and frequency to earth in this life. As such
she is protect by Orunmila and should be treated with honor. It is not about her
personality, her body, her earthly charm, it is about the fact that she is a vehicle for the
expression of Orunmila love for us. Through her Orunmila produces numerous
children, that we Babalawos have the responsibility to ‘father’. Yet, how many of us
really understand the concept of ‘Apetebii’ and honor of being entrusted by Orunmila
with one of his wives? This understanding can only come for an experience with
Orunmila teaching you such. While, the senior priest can teach one of this and relate
stories, it is not until you have the experience yourself that you will KNOW! I am sure
most Babalawos married to Apetebii can bear witness to what happens when you
disrespect her. It is as if one’s entire being become unsettled deep within and you know
this is more than just your ego reacting, or you trying to protect your fractured
manhood. You experience something much deeper . purer and very unsettling, then
Orunmila reveals to you that this is his wife and it is to him that you must turn to
understand the treatment of her. It matter not what she does, what matters is what you
do. You cannot turn to your limited understanding and worldly conditionings in
dealing with her. You must turn to Orunmila and leave the matter there for Orunmila
with deal with her. I am not suggesting some spooky reprimand will take place, what I
am suggesting is Orunmila will touch you and her in such a way that you will forever
understand that your marriage is far beyond your frail egos and tender feelings. That
you have been blessed by God and carried by God in the darkness martial time. The
tow of you are to be the parents of Orunmila children in this day and time, a
responsibility that requires constantly turning to the divine for guidance, in this case it
is turning to Orunmila.

It is to that aspect of God known as Orunmila that I turn surrender, seeking always to
be in accord with the divine plan in my life.

Babaji