Ìdí Méjì

ÈSÙ SENDS AWAY ÌBÀNÚJE

Kuluso kòó so lori olo, Iren kòó so ní poroporo odò,  Dáfún Ọ̀rúnmìlà,  Alade lòó gbé Ìbànújẹ níí iyawo,  Njẹ kini yóò bàa ni leè Ìbànújẹ lo,  Èsù níí yóò bàa ni ke Ìbànújẹ lo.

Kuluso, a type of insect that burrows into sandy soil is not capable of boring into the face of a grinding stone, Iren (Cricket) does not dig into a swampy or water logged soil, Are the names of the Awo who cast Ifá for Ọ̀rúnmìlà when Alade (Ọ̀rúnmìlà) went and took Ìbànújẹ (sorrow and depression) as their partner and things started going from bad to worse, Ọ̀rúnmìlà was told that only Èsù can help in arresting the situation and sending away Ìbànújẹ from Ọ̀rúnmìlà.

This Ese Ifá from Ìdí Méjì tells us how Òrúnmìlà was experiencing outer challenges and internal disharmony. Òrúnmìlà had gone to consult with Kuluso kòó so lori ọlọ and Iren kòó so ní poroporo odò to seek out a solution. The essence of these Diviners names indicate that these insects have a natural and innate relationship to a specific environment; they will not be able to survive in those environments that do not suit them. This speaks to orderliness and inherent compatibility between ones inner nature and ones outer environment. The esoteric names of these Diviners are communicating that what one is experiencing in their life is not your natural abode and may very well be the source of your sorrow and depression.

It was these two Diviners that cast Ifá for Òrúnmìlà when Òrúnmìlà was in a partner ship with Ìbànúje. Ìbànúje is unhappiness, pain, discomfort, stress, depression, sorrow and internal discord. Nobody want to have Ìbànúje, because Ìbànúje means when you are not happy from within. So Òrúnmìlà was looking for ways to part ways with Ìbànúje. The Babaláwo told Òrúnmìlà that the only Spirit that could assist them in severing their relationship with Ìbànúje was Èsù; the only energy that can drive Ìbànúje far away from them was Èsù. 

It is through offering to Èsù that Òrúnmìlà was able to send away Ìbànúje from their life. Once this was done whatever was causing Orúnmìlà unhappiness went away from him. Orúnmìlà started singing, "who is it that can send away Ìbànúje in our life? It is Èsù. Èsù is the only one that can send away Ìbànúje.

Àṣẹfá

At a surface level we can discern that the person who receives this Odù during a Dáfá is having a lot of issues and challenges internally and externally. They may been in a relationship that is causing them more issues and challenges than is giving them blessings and fortunes. Ifá speaks of a person who can better align themselves to an environment that is more beneficial and better suited to their innate nature. Ifá speaks of the inherent need for compatibility. A deeper look into this Esè Ifá, speaks of the necessity for this person to understand that the internal psychologic states of a direct relationship to their inner experiences and outer circumstances. Ifá is saying to this person that if you are depressed it's you, if you are happy it's you - it all starts with your mind and your internal disposition.  Whatever a given situation is; it is your choice to accept that situation with a smile or a frown. The advice that Ifá is indicating is that this person is in a situation that is likened to Òrúnmìlà whom desired to rid self of their partnership of Ìbànújẹ. Ifá is telling this person that they must and should remove them self from a mind state of unhappiness and suffering. The key to your happiness and success; the root of your joy or failure is your Èsù - it is you. Your inner Èsù is what determines whether your going to be happy or not.  Ifá is asking this person to work on their mind and their perception of circumstances and take the appropriate responses to rid themselves of unhappiness and depression. You can't control what others do or say to you, but you can control your responses.

This narrative is speaking about someone who is not in divine compatibility with themselves and that by working with their inner Èsù (their Heart-Mind) they will be able to harness the resources from the Universe to transform suffering and pain. Going beyond ritual, people often look at the physical representation of Èsù to send away Ìbànúje; it has to start from the persons own mind and their internal dialogue. Ifá is saying that this person has a choice to either live in a state of Ìbànúje or transform self by using their inner Èsù to send it away.

Aboru Aboye.

Ifawuyi Opeifa