Initiation experience March 8th, 2003--Happy Birthday!
Beginnings:
After years of dipping a hesitant toe in the waters of Santeria and Vodoun,
I bumped into Ifa while web surfing--and life was never the same for me again!
There was a purity and focus in Ifa that I felt the other versions of the religion
lacked (if African religions are a tree, Ifa is the root system, and Santeria/Lucumi,
et. al. are the branches).
I was at a crossroads in my life, and I had an indelible feeling that if I didn't
become immersed in Ifa, I would be forced to regret it. This was in fact confirmed
in my Life Path reading, and so I was moved to make the biggest commitment of
my life thus far.
The night before initiation, I was filled with expectant fear--a fear of unknown
changes that I knew would take place in me, and the changes in my life that
would follow as a result. I wanted to run...
The Ita:
The events of the day were lined up--learning, shedding, initiation, Life Reading,
more learning. I was practically paralytic with
apprehension. I thought, "This must be the way men feel on their wedding
day!", and I hoped I wouldn't faint or otherwise embarrass myself in front
of everyone.
To be honest, the events of the day went by with such rapid-fire, shutter-click
speed that all that remains are fragments of memory and the feelings that attached
themselves to them.
The shedding was such a primal, visceral, liberating experience--NEVER in my
life had I been able to open up SO MUCH--and the terrible burden of a lifetime
of abuse, both psychological and physical, were torn away and left behind in
the cold, rainy murk of the swamp.
I would have liked to revel in my new-found lightness of being, but NO TIME!
On to my initiation into Osun!
The sweet musk of the beautiful little being chosen to lead me into this new
realm of existence (how much she LOOKED like a child of Osun! Golden haired,
number tag perched on one side of her head like a little flower)--I would have
liked to hold her forever! Such sweetness of disposition! Everything I am destined
to be embodied in this gorgeous
little being! I am humbled!
And finally, the Ifa initiation. The grand moment when all of my old and agonizingly
obsolete characteristics must slip away, and a new, proud representative of
this ancient system must stand in their place...I was literally dizzy from the
other facets of initiation, and when I was taken to the site, blindfolded and
straddling a chasm of two ways of being, I allowed myself to be led by the hand--with
total trust. Changes taking place so soon!
And as soon as it was begun, it was over; but I knew that this was only the
first step in a lifetime of positive change. And although I know that some of
these changes are going to be extremely painful (isn't ALL change?), I am strengthened
by the knowledge that it is all for my growth and the growth of those around
me; that nothing will happen without clear logical reason, and that Ifa is going
to help me to become the best person I can be, and that is all I've ever really
wanted out of life!!
With immense love and gratitude to Oluwo Phil, Iya Vassa, and all in
and of the Ifa Foundation--
Iyanifa Ifawemimo (Dawn Tiffin)
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