Ẹbọ Rírú àti Ètùtù Ṣíṣe—sacrifice and ritual—are sacred spiritual undertakings through which we nourish, honour, and maintain our relationship with our ancestors, Egbe, Ori, Òrìṣà, Irunmole, and Ebora at Gbale.

Gbale is the unseen abode of departed souls, ancestral spirits, and other great spiritual beings. Although Gbale is beyond ordinary physical perception, Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Ifá teaches that our relationship with those who have departed does not necessarily end with physical death.

The Story of Atiala

[Note: if this section is specifically about the tortoise, the correct title is “The Story of Ìjàpá,” as used below.]

The Story of Ìjàpá and the Sacrifice He Refused

The tortoise, known as Ìjàpá or Ajapa, found life extremely difficult. Hardship had nearly broken his spirit. As the traditional expression states, he “added two to three” and sought the house of the Ifá priests for guidance.

After divination, the priest advised Ìjàpá to perform Ẹbọ and Ètùtù for the soul of his father at Gbale. Among the materials prescribed for the sacrifice was an agbo, or ram.

Ìjàpá questioned the instruction. He replied:

“When my father was alive, he could not afford even a chicken with which to feed himself. Now that he has departed for the land of the ancestors, how can he be asking for a large ram as sacrifice?”

Ìjàpá believed that his ancestors should provide for him, rather than expect anything from him. After all, he was already struggling to survive in the jungle of life.

Because of this reasoning, Ìjàpá refused to perform the prescribed sacrifice.

The Consequences of Spiritual Neglect

After Ìjàpá rejected the sacrifice, his difficulties continued to grow. His condition became worse each day until he, too, eventually passed into the land of the ancestors.

His children repeated the same errors. They showed little concern for the spiritual realm, yet they wanted their misfortune to be transformed into great fortune. They desired change but refused to take the meaningful physical and spiritual steps required to change their circumstances.

According to the teaching, the situation continued to deteriorate from one generation to another.

The story of Ìjàpá teaches that blessings cannot always be received through desire alone. Prayer, good character, disciplined action, sacrifice, and spiritual responsibility must accompany our expectations.

Do Not Disconnect Yourself From Your Ancestors

Many people have disconnected themselves from their ancestral foundations. They find it difficult to honour, nourish, and care for their parents, elders, Ori, Òrìṣà, and ancestral lineage.

We should care for our parents and elders while they are alive. When they pass into the ancestral realm, we should not forget them or act as though they never existed.

Physical death should not erase gratitude, memory, reverence, or spiritual connection.

Ifá teaches that the unseen precedes the seen. The spiritual world is understood as a foundation upon which the physical realm rests. Therefore, prayer, remembrance, offerings, good character, and prescribed sacrifice become ways of maintaining harmony between both levels of existence.

The Meaning of Feeding the Ancestors

Feeding the ancestors is not simply the presentation of physical materials. It also includes:

• Remembering them with respect
• Speaking their names with gratitude
• Offering sincere prayers
• Preserving the good values they established
• Correcting harmful patterns within the lineage
• Supporting living parents and elders
• Acting with good character
• Fulfilling responsibilities toward the family
• Performing prescribed offerings and sacrifices when divination requires them

Our work and resources also carry spiritual meaning. We work with our hands, receive the rewards of our labour, and dedicate a portion of those resources to spiritual obligations.

The money used to purchase ritual materials represents time, labour, intention, gratitude, and commitment. In this way, spiritual responsibility is connected to practical effort.

The Unseen Precedes the Seen

Certain difficulties that resist ordinary solutions may require deeper spiritual reflection. According to Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Ifá, what cannot be resolved entirely at the physical level may sometimes be addressed at a higher spiritual level so that harmony can manifest within the visible world.

This does not mean that practical, medical, legal, financial, or psychological assistance should be rejected. Spiritual wisdom and responsible physical action should support one another.

Human beings cannot control every event or predict everything that may happen within the next minute or second. For this reason, Ifá teaches us to strengthen our connection with our ancestors, Ori, Egbe, Òrìṣà, and the divine source.

Our ancestors are our foundation and spiritual extension. Within this tradition, they may offer guidance, support, correction, and protection at different levels of existence.

A Relationship of Sacred Reciprocity

Life operates through relationships of reciprocity. What we give to our families, communities, spiritual lineage, and the universe can return to us through lessons, opportunities, support, and blessings.

Spiritual responsibility should not be approached merely as a transaction. We should not honour our ancestors only because we expect wealth or immediate rewards. We honour them because gratitude, continuity, memory, and responsibility are essential parts of a well-ordered life.

Nevertheless, sincere spiritual undertakings may open the way for:

• Guidance and protection
• Peace and emotional stability
• Discipline and patience
• Victory over difficulties
• Fulfilment of destiny
• Good character
• Family harmony
• Generational progress
• Prosperity and great fortune

According to Ìṣẹ̀ṣe teaching, the ancestors may continue to support their descendants and perform wonders from Gbale.

Remember Ifá, Ori, Egbe and the Òrìṣà

We should not forget Ifá.

We should not neglect our Ori.

We should remember our Egbe, Òrìṣà, Irunmole, Ebora, and ancestral lineage.

Above all, we should remain connected to the Infinite Power called Olodumare and to His numerous divinities. Through prayer, gratitude, positive conduct, discipline, and properly prescribed spiritual observances, we align ourselves with guidance, protection, peace, victory, wisdom, and generational blessings.

Sacrifices, rituals, offerings, and propitiations should be determined through appropriate divination and undertaken under the guidance of a knowledgeable and trustworthy Babalawo, Iyanifa, Oluwo, or qualified Ìṣẹ̀ṣe practitioner.

Good Character Is Religion

The foundation of every spiritual undertaking is good character.

Ìwà l’ẹ̀sìn.

Good character is religion.

Without good character, sacrifice becomes an empty action. Without responsibility, ritual loses its deeper purpose. Without gratitude, we forget the visible and invisible forces that have supported our journey.

Honour those who came before you. Care for your elders while they are alive. Remember your ancestors after their transition. Strengthen your Ori, fulfil your responsibilities, and allow wisdom to guide your spiritual path.

A dára fún wa o.

It shall be well with us.

Ase.