Following the Reaper Gleaners of Eji Koko Iwori

Translation:
He who a person follows out
Is he whom he ought to return home with?
For he whom a dog follows to a place
Is he whom the dog returns home with?
These were the declarations of Ifa to Eleji Iwori (Iwori Meji)
The one who shall take intense look at his Akapo (disciple)
He was advised to offer ebo
And he complied
Ifa, please take an intense but favorable look at me
Eji Iwori, I am truly your child
If you take an intense look at one
Such person is guaranteed with financial success
Eji Iwori, I am truly your child
If you take an intense look at one
Such person is guaranteed the blessing of a good spouse
Eji Iwori, I am truly your child
If you take an intense look at one
Such a person is guaranteed the blessing of good children
Eji Iwori, I am truly your child
If you take an intense look at one
Such a person is guaranteed victory over adversaries
Eji Iwori, I am truly your child
If you take an intense look at one
Such a person is blessed will all Ire
Eji Iwori, I am truly your child
Eji Iwori.

There is however, the need for us to remind ourselves that the children of Ifa/Orunmila are those people who think, say and do only those things that please Olodumare at all times. Consequently, there is the need for us to imbibe the idea of thinking / speaking and doing only those things that will make Olodumare happy at all times. These are subsequently, the only true criteria to qualify us as children of Iwori Meji.

The above ese Ifa and directives for Eji Iwori-Iwori Meji do quite a bit of justice to
the idea in the beginning of the verse:
He who a person follows out
Is he whom he ought to return home with?
For he whom a dog follows to a place
Is he whom the dog returns home with?

In the last two years I have work genuinely on the subject matter of leadership in the worship Ifa and Orisa though not only pointing to Ifa’s priesthood but its entire populace. There are no rules that impact one and not the others in the group. What we have here is what I heard in an example by another pastoral (psychology emphasized spirituality)counselor who demonstrated that often we are following after leadership that is faulty.

Of course, we are all human beings subject to flaws and failings yet, we must as the ese Ifa of Iwori Meji shows that the true criteria of being a child found worthy by Ifa is on those who follows the mandates of Olodumare through Ifa.

However, what was told by this counselor is sometimes our training in our leadership forums comes through many efforts and sometimes we must look carefully at those people in those position of leadership to see if their process of thinking is safe and worth following.

The analogy and visual was to look at fields of wheat. Seeing the high green and golden brown forms floating on the winds
Full in their majesty with the green forming regal altars to Olodumare. Place your attention to the people who are harvesting the wheat. Those gleaners swaying with scythes raised high above the heads with movements in sync with the timing of the gods.

If you are following in the fronts of these harvest warriors, you will get cut down; therefore the best position is from behind to watch their movement closely so that you learn from them.

It is the same with leadership in any category and capacity. We are following behind the laws created by Olodumare, delivered to the people by Orúnmìlà, shared through the initiatory processes with Orisa and given to the masses. Orúnmìlà and Ebora watch us; groom us through the challenges of life; by allowing those who are in close proximity, to follow the mentorship now given to the world through their children-priest of this prevailing religious and spiritual force called Ifa.

However, as we are marching to the drums of the harvest warriors; we must be careful to also know ‘our purpose and intentions’ thus, measure it up to theirs. If, in the movement of the scythe and the warrior leader they are side-tracked from their destiny and have lost their true understanding of intention, as their progeny you, too, can become side-track.

Which is why it is important to understand destiny is individualized and communal all at the same time. Ifa has given us all roles and the intuitive nature to either follow Olodumare’s leadership or not. It gave us the keen intuitive nature to discern if the movement of leadership is stagnant or if it is progressive and in tune with what destiny has proclaimed for us.

What is my purpose in following my elders? The purpose is to learn from great experience from those who are the best of Olodumare’s choice. If they are stagnant and I am following them; then I am stagnant. But my responsibility as a child of Iwori Meji is to recognize the problem in a respect manner of a good child or to assist them from the rear when called for.

Can I pray and call the heavens to help us all absolutely! The mainstay of our leadership as Iyanifa’s is to learn from those pioneers, learn from the lessons Ifa provides and understand the core and central aspects of the lesson.

Good teachers have always known that they need to provide children with more than academic instructions (Sinclaire, 1994). Yet, what happens when the gleaner has in their training, been block? What is it they can provide in an ineffective growth period for them?

They provide their examples of what is blocking them and how they survive and get around those blocks, if they are able to lean on the faith in Ifa. They, your gleaner leadership also show you in their amazing struggles, what resilience looks like. In their stagnation is the core approach to either impervious impeccable behavior or someone you cannot follow. Teaching with love has the potential to transform the religion of Ifa to heights that you have never seen before, let us watch what the gleaners do!
Ire O!
Iya Abiye Awo Agbaye, Oloye Fayomi Falade Aworeni
Ile Iwosan Orúnmìlà Mimo Temple
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4311 North 80th Lane
Phoenix Arizona 85033