"OLODUMARE"

In The Very Beginning...

 

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Olodumare is the creator, the Almighty, Dios, or any synchronized name you choose to call the Purest and highest of all "GOD". In the original Yoruba spiritual tradition, Olodumare patakis are passed down in no other forms but Oral. This is in keeping these patakis close to your spirit. Olodumare is also called "Alewilese" meaning the only God who says "I can do all things" and does.

• Alewilese yoruba for The only God who says "I can do all things" and does.

Olodumare has no equal and he is preserved to be the brightest light of all, a blinding light many may say. Olodumare is also known throughout the yoruba people as

• Olorun (the owner of Heaven)

• Alaaye (the living One)

• Oba aire (king of all kings, because he is the King no one can see)

 

Olodumare being the "God" of the unseen, traditionally and originally is respected by the actions of creating "NO" shrines, Altars or images in his name. Olodumare did however create Irunmole.

Irunmole are entities created directly by Olodumare. These entities represent eternity. Irunmole doesn't know what death is and will never understand it. Irunmoles also will never understand ebbo or know the meaning of karma or consequences. The reason?  Because they walk the path of Olodumare and his divine laws of life.

These are the paths of Olodumare

• Orunamila

• Obatala

• Orisa Nla

• Odudua

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     In the very beginning there was only the heavens and on earth there was nothing but water. There was a chain made of Iron that was the "IKUSE Aiye". In all this water there was a sacred palm tree sticking out. Olodumare knew that one day he would like to envision some type of living identity inhabiting this beautiful planet of water.

• Ikuse Aiye is the door that leads from the heavens to the world. "Stepping onto the World".

Olodumare then shared his vision to Obatala and gave him the responsibility of creating such an identity (orichas). Obatala made these identities out of clay. Orunmila and Orisa Nla assisted, but it was Obatala that took the time and put thought into the creation.  After Obatala created these identities they were stored away.

     The above pataki is the nice version of why Obatala began to create the Orichas.  The True version as we all know is as follows.  Obatala questioned Olodumare as he created the Irunmoles. Advising Olodumare that some of the Irunmoles he created were not pure and because of this error, these Irunmoles were showing disruptive behavior in heaven. As a response to this question, Olodmare, in a firm but soft voice said....If you can do a better job, then you create the perfect Irunmoles. We will give them a name so we can tell the difference between your creations and mine so we will call them Orichas. I have created 402 Irunmoles. You will create these Orichas until you have created the perfect Oricha. Once you have created this perfect so-called Oricha, we will appoint him as the head Irunmole. With that being said, the project to create a perfect Oricha was established. Since the beginning of time,  Obatala has been creating Orichas. Till now, his time in life is still to create Orichas and he will not have peace until he has created such an Oricha. In the Yoruban world of secrecy, Pataki’s say that once Obatala creates the perfect Oricha, life in this existing world will end!! Since Obatala would have completed his task, he will now be granted his eternal peace.

     One day, without the knowledge of the others, Olodumare went upon the clays and breathed into them. This breath gave them life or Ase.   From this moment on, any creation Obatala creates will now have the breath of life or Ase. Olodumare was unaware that Orunmila was in the vicinity and witnessed the breath of life. Olodumare now having a witness, blessed Orunmila with the gift of the knowledge of the Oricha destiny and this knowledge came with a tool. This tool can fix any shortcomings of any Oricha with the respect and petition of Orunmila.

Olodumare then ordered Orunmila to create a solid island so that these entities may step on and live. Orunmila was given a snails’ shell with a galaxy-like shape inside of it.  Orunmila then shook the shell and sprinkled small particles below to the single palm tree sticking out from the water. Immediately, the water seemed to bubble like a pot of boiling water and sand rose from underneath. The sand then wrapped itself around the sacred tree and the first Island was created. Orunmila then created a five toed bird and sent it onto the island. The bird was to inspect the island. It’s creation was to ensure that the identities that may exist on the island will not fall through the water. So the bird on the Island began to scratch and fling the sand far and wide. As the bird continued this scratching, the island grew larger with every fling. This bird is 

known today as the HEN. (answers your question which came first the hen or the egg) Orunmila, with the responsibility of creating this island was still unsure that anything the hen was creating will not be consumed by water, so he decided to test the surface. Orunmila then created a dragon-like identity. This creation was to examine the island that was created and test it to assure it was firm and sustainable. This identity stepped very carefully before placing all his weight on the land. The dragon-like creature stepped to the left, then to the right, then stepping tentatively, he ran across the island. Once the identity saw everything was good and solid he returned to the heavens to report the good news to Orunmila. Orunmila was so pleased to hear that the creation was able to run across the island. During this run he was so excited that the creature was able to turn into so many colors. This dragon-like creation was then given the name "CHAMELEON".

     This little island where land began is known as the house of IIE-IFA, the spiritual birthplace of the yoruba people. This is still considered the most sacred place in Nigeria, Africa. The reason this is considered the starting point is because Olodumare commanded Orunmila to create the island as opposed to Oro who created solid land through her anger. Oro created the two volcanoes east and west of the IlE, (Always remember that what Olodumare creates is 100 pct. Pure).

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     Olodumare took lots of pride in creating the universe. Olodumare is known as the king of the beginning and end. The truth behind this is that when there was darkness, Olodumare made the stars so the universe was now no longer in the dark. So it was the beginning of something new but the end of darkness. He created other stars and masses of unlivable lands but they were beautiful.

Olodumare began thinking of a world he could call his resting place. He was attracted to a gaseous mass of hydrogen that contained oxygen and (H2o). He noted that this cloud of gases contained all the elements needed to create his new perfect world. This area of the universe where he was envisioning this creation would allow for the perfect weather and future growth of his Orisa (elements). This specific condition would create such a mass of gas that it will let his children (Orisa elements) live during the cold temperatures and continue to grow with ase.

Looking at the gasses and particles, he put his hands together and he formed them all into a ball and he lent his asé.

• asé ( breath of life)

With his Ase a new formation exploded and erupted into a ball of flames. This ball of flames and mass eventually cooled down and as it cooled, Olodumare saw an extraordinary creation before his eyes. This new world held only gases and fog which rose from the new world's crust. The little water that existed vaporized into a fog from the hot molten core within. Unknown to Olodumare, at this point he had given life to this molten core. This hot molten core was created by Olodumare. Olodumare saw how beautiful this Orisa was and named her Oro Iña. Oro Ina is an Oricha not commonly known or recognized, but Orisa Oro Ina is one of the most powerful Orisa in the universe. This Orisa is now today known as Mother earth. When Oro Iña is angered, her emotions can pour over onto the world and can be seen by the entire world. Her emotions of molten lava explode into the air. Her emotions can travel thousands of feet into the air and when she explodes she can destroy everything in her path.This is known today as the volcano. Oro Iña tries many times not to explode in emotions but when she does hold her tempered emotions back, she begins to shake frantically and she has seizure-like attacks. This is known today as Earthquakes. Besides her strong emotions, Oro Iña is also the most beautiful Orisa created by Olodumare. Even though she is uncommon and an unrecognized Orisa, Oro Iña can be petitioned for the essence of beauty and her love is like a mother. She can be petitioned for the blessing of a newborn (new spirit). She is known to be the mother of all creations born from the earth itself, like vegetation, Gold, diamonds, coal and other precious minerals made from her power. She also has created beautiful mountains and made space for other Oricha to take shelter. Most Olorichas (santeros) wear gold for it is a blessing for the God children to bless their God Father with blessings of Gold. This is worn to be closer to mother earth.

Silver is worn and gifted to Oloricha's who are continuing their path to higher priest hood.

     It is known that the creation of the earth began at the Republic of Nigeria and what is now known as the city of ILE IFE, this is where the world was created and began. But if this is where it all began, why is there no Volcano located there?  To be exact there are no volcanoes in Yoruba land. So how is this? Well, if you look to the south and southwest borders, there lay the two major volcanoes of the world. Also, there are no volcanoes because in the earlier pataki, it states "Immediately at this time the water seemed to bubble like a pot of boiling water and sand rose from underneath. This sand then wrapped itself around the sacred tree and the first Island was created." The first Island was created!! By Orunmila, but it was Oro Iña who created the land on earth. Oro Iña continued to create more land with her strong emotions of anger. She was angered because she believed she was an Oricha that did not have the form of an Irunmoles. She never questioned Olodumare but her anger definitely took a toll. She was completely unaware of her beauty.

 

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