u/Enough_Set591
▲ 5 r/Isese
Someone else commented that when they were at an arts centre in Ibadan, this man was teaching them about drums and he was explaining how a particular drum is considered feminine and therefore cannot lead a performance but only back it.
I've also heard that for egungun festivals, women are not allowed to enter the grove. Is that true? If so, why?
u/Enough_Set591 — 9 days ago
▲ 1 r/Isese
When my college class was learning about yoruba spirituality, someone asked where the Orishas resided and I realized that I didn't really know the answer. I've seen semingly conflicting responses from different places. My guess is heaven only because heaven is our true home, right? Can the Orishas come to Earth? i've seen one source say no but didn't they originally come to Earth as irunmoles?
u/Enough_Set591 — 14 days ago
▲ 8 r/Isese
Ifa wasn't mentioned in most of his message (he only briefly mentioned it at the end, but nonetheless, I still believe it applies). Concerning the issue of suffering, he basically explained that God didn't immediately make a perfect world, God is working towards a perfect world. It is a process rather than immediate results. Ifa already explains that life grows through trial and error, but my father made me realize that this also applies to animals.
I used to have this issue with Ifa, same with other religions: What makes humans so special? Why are we the only ones with destiny and reincarnation? But my dad's explanation helped me realize the following: humans aren’t necessarily special. We aren’t the only ones with destiny, a final goal. Animals are also given purpose and development, with a final form being worked towards. However, unlike humans, the development of animals is limited to evolution. Animals must adapt to survive, must develop certain physical traits and behavior in response to their environment because it is necessary for their survival and progression in life. Just like humans! Our souls chose to learn certain lessons but animals weren’t given that choice. Nonetheless, animals must learn and grow as well. Growth is the ultimate purpose of reality. Same thing in a different form. In fact, I now remember that other organisms also experience their own form of reincarnation/rebirth, just in a different way. The leaves of plants die and fall to the ground, but new leaves are re-grown in the spring. That is rebirth. The animal food chain can be seen as a form of reincarnation because as predators feed on prey, 10% of that prey’s energy (which can be viewed as a soul because it is non-physical and immortal through its inability to be destroyed) is moved to a new body, the body of the predator feeding on it. Moreover, everything in life contains ase, including animals. So when animals or plants reproduce, that is ase manifesting in a new body. That is also rebirth in a way because an essence is being manifested in a new form.
However, this is just my perspective. What do you guys think?
u/Enough_Set591 — 15 days ago
▲ 6 r/Isese
If people who commit suicide are not given an honorable burial because they didn't fulfill their destiny, what type of burial are they then given? Do the family and friends then give them a non-traditional but still respectful funeral? Are there specific rites for those who commit suicide?
Let's say someone achieved their destiny of being president/military general but an enemy is attacking them, rather than being taken alive and possibly tortured to death or imprisoned for life, the person decides to kill themselves to avoid such suffering. Would they still be given an honorable burial because their destiny was technically complete?
u/Enough_Set591 — 17 days ago
▲ 5 r/Isese
I understand why certain Ifa knowledge is reserved for initiates. The trauma of colonialism has made practitioners protective of their spiritual practice. Those feelings are valid. However, such little information about Ifa is available online and especially with so many fake awos, I worry that the tradition may die with its practitioners. African spirituality has been demonized and has negative stereotypes, but the only way to cure ignorance is through education. But how can people educate themselves if the knowledge isn't made public? Not many people know a Babalawo in real life and there's the possibility of that Babalawo being a scammer as well. Unless one is committed to learning Ifa, it is easy to be disouraged and forsake the practice altogether. This is even worsened by Ifa being an expensive practice for both initiation and and ebo. Many Africans/black people live in poverty and cannot afford such costs. Consequently, it's more convenient to simply choose a free religion with an abundance of resources and practitioners who one can ask questions, such as the Abrahamic ones. i wonder: Is there a way to balance Ifa's preservation with its protection?
u/Enough_Set591 — 20 days ago
▲ 16 r/Isese
As a woman, I was very nervous about Ifa's stance on abortion considering its emphasis on life and destiny. But as always, it gave a satisfying answer
To be clear, I understand that Ifa discourages abortion and although there are spiritual consequences, I appreciate that solutions and support are offered instead of punishment.
u/Enough_Set591 — 20 days ago