A Lesson in Osa Rete

Laugh and the world with laugh with you, cry and you will cry alone, was the oracle which was casted for BabaSixto IfaOdara on the day in which he asked Ifa "Is all Ok with me today". Granted the question was asked, due to an inner sadness which Baba was feeling and could not explain to himself at the moment; why, was it there?

We grow in a very complex society or world. Each and everyone are no exception to having gone through trials, tribulations, moments of pain and suffering. The moments of joy, happiness, triumphs, and rewards, are shun or become at times non-existent, due to the traumatic effects of challenges which life puts us through. There are those of us which have had great or awesome childhoods. Then, again those of us which wish to forget. Non the less, we need to grab on too and cherish the moments of laughter, happiness, triumphs, and rewards more so, than those moments of pain. We have to empower happiness to triumph over misery. We have to not allow our cries in solitude to drive us into alcoholism, substance abuse, or isolation. We can not allow the traumatic effects to bring us down, where we loose dignity, honor, and joy.

The Oracle of Osa Rete teaches us to understand that we are troubled by estrangement. We miss the closeness which we ones had as a family. All grow up and go our separate ways. You miss your parents or grandparents love and protection that was felt when they were alive. Also, we can miss the love which we experienced or once had with an individual; which is still and/or no longer in our lives. The estrangement of not having your kids at home because they have become adults and have moved on with their lives. As they are supposed too and we accept still but yet we miss. There are many reasons for having or eventually getting this feeling of estrangement. Specially, now that we have come of age. This is because we have been around long enough to have seen many people come and go out of our lives. In essence, more time to cry alone.

Ultimately, we are alone in our most profound of sentiments. They are ours, and no one has experienced them in the way in which we have. This is why, we need to search within ourselves for the inner strength to pull us out of these inner most sentiments of sadness. Some of us can apply spiritual healing therapies, others need psycho-therapy, and yet others physical. Which ever form works for you, we need to exert ourselves. We must not allow our consciousness to drift into loom and doom. We need to believe that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Then, we can control estrangement and allow it in our lives. When we really need to miss those which are no longer at our side.

In this Oracle of Ifa, God sent the deluge in order to cleans Earth of its faults. Here is meant that we have to constantly be cleansing ourselves of guilt, remorse, humiliation, embarrassments, or any other ill feelings. We need to repent for our sins committed. We have to be honest with ourselves, admit our wrong doings and confess to God. We have to look at ourselves in the mirror, and admit the truth to ourselves. Only then can we overcome ill sentiments or be left alone with them.

Odu/Oracles of Ifa have many lessons to them.. this is only one of many interpretations in which any one babalawo can formulate as a result of his experience interpreting Ifa.