Òrun & Ayé: The Realm of Spirit and Ground

Our universe is a unique and divinely ordered system which functions by way of balance and dynamic change. It is governed by unseen forces constantly influencing all aspects of our lives. Although, to a large extent we remain unconscious of these forces. When we choose to become conscious of their dynamic influence we can reshape our personal experience of reality. 

Traditional West African spiritual cosmology recognizes various realms of existence that are intertwined and influence each other. Ọ̀run is the Yorúbà word for the spirit realm and Ayé is the Yorúbà word for the material realm. Ifá teaches us that the realm of spirit influences the physical world and vice versa. The traditional understanding is that there is an integral relationship between what happens in Ọ̀run and what takes place in Ayé. Our Ancestors have long understand that to create dynamic change in one realm is to affect change in the other; this is why the petitioning of spirits through offerings and prayers are so effective at reshaping the tapestry of our experiences. Developing a relationship with our Ancestors and our inner Divine nature is extremely important to living an aligned and abundant life.

Ifá gives us more insight into how these realms are interrelated and can be influenced to affect change in both worlds. In the Odù Èjì Ẹlẹ́mẹ̀rẹ̀ (Ìrẹtẹ̀ Méjì), Ifá says,

Pa igunnugun bọ ifá awo alara, Pakala bosu awo øke ijero, Patioro bògún alaya bi obe oyinbo, Agbonmi ni wo ilé eja, Apajuba ni wolé aparo,  Olugbogbo ni won fi wole ogulutu, À dífá fún laigbo ogege, Eyi to kole sayé,  To tun kole si isale ọ̀run, Won ni ko kara nile ẹbọ ni ṣiṣe, Nje agbo giriṣa wa wole ọ̀run danu ki taye to jora.

Kill vulture to appease Ifá is the Babaláwo of Alara, Kill Akala to appease Osu is the Babaláwo of Ijero city, Kill Atioro to appease Ògún is the Babaláwo of Obe Oyinbo, The one taking the water out of a pond is the the one who destroys the house of the fish, The hunter destroys the house of Aparo, Olugbogbo is what they normally use to destroy the house of Ogulutu, These were the Babaláwo that cast Ifá for Laigbo Ogege,  The one that built his own house in the spirit realm and also wanted to build house in the physical realm…

This Ẹsẹ̀ speaks about Laigbo Ogege who was building a house in Ayé and was having difficulty completing it. Laigbo Ogege went to the Babaláwo and was advised that the reason why he was unable to complete his house in the material world was because he already built a home in the spiritual realm. Hence the reason that the house in  the material realm could not be brought to a reasonable and profitable conclusion. He was advised to make offering with Agbo (Ram) to destroy the house in the spiritual realm so that that one that he wanted to complete in the material world would be successful. 

Ifá sheds light on what is happening in both realms simultaneously and will remedy the appropriate solution. This narrative can be interpreted in a number of ways. It speaks about someone who was not having the success they desired in the physical world. Unbeknownst to them their plans were being compromised due to the direct influence of the spiritual realm. When we come into the realization that the spiritual realm impacts our day to day experiences, we can begin to manipulate and negotiate our way through life from a greater vantage point and heightened sense of awareness. 

Aboru Aboye.

~ Ifawuyi Opeifa