Aboru Aboye.

If you fail to use and develop your own mind, eventually someone else may influence it and use that influence for his or her own advantage.

Therefore, one of the greatest treasures a human being possesses is a disciplined and protected mind.

Guard your mind carefully.

Your mind influences what you believe, whom you follow, the decisions you make, the habits you develop, and ultimately the direction in which you travel through the jungle of life.

THE JUNGLE OF LIFE

The jungle contains predators that survive by exploiting weaker creatures.

Human society also contains manipulation, deception, destructive influence, uncontrolled appetites, addiction, greed, laziness, immorality, and people who may attempt to take advantage of another person’s weakness.

Therefore, strengthen your mind.

Do not surrender your reasoning simply because someone possesses a title.

Do not abandon your judgment because someone claims spiritual authority.

Do not allow another person’s habits to become your habits merely because you respect that person.

A strong mind allows us to learn while still exercising discernment.

It enables us to respect spiritual authority without abandoning wisdom.

Your mind is the gateway to spiritual development and disciplined physical action.

DO NOT BECOME LIKE ATIALA ỌMỌ ATIORO

A weak mind can be compared with the bird called:

“Atiala ọmọ Atioro.”

Because of its weakness, it cannot fly effectively against the wind. It becomes subject to the direction and force of the wind.

Wherever the wind carries it, there it goes.

The lesson is not really about the bird.

It is about us.

When the mind lacks discipline, every influence becomes a wind.

Someone speaks—we follow.

Someone drinks—we drink.

Someone gambles—we gamble.

Someone becomes angry—we become angry.

Someone tells us something without evidence—we believe.

Someone creates fear—we become afraid.

Someone behaves immorally—we gradually normalize the behavior.

Such a person no longer determines his own direction.

The wind determines it for him.

But develop the strength of the eagle.

The powerful bird encounters the wind differently. Rather than merely being carried helplessly by it, it learns to use the currents to rise.

Likewise, a disciplined person can encounter adversity, criticism, temptation, and difficult circumstances without allowing them to determine the direction of his or her destiny.

CHOOSE ÌWÀ OVER TITLE

I have encountered Ifá initiates who believe that initiation and the ability to chant Èṣè Ifá are, by themselves, sufficient to make someone a successful practitioner.

This requires deeper examination.

A person may memorize hundreds of verses and still struggle to govern his own character.

A person may possess spiritual titles and still lack discipline.

A person may understand ritual procedures yet fail to demonstrate patience, honesty, restraint, responsibility, or wisdom.

Therefore:

Do not judge an Ifá priest only by what he can recite. Observe how he lives.

Does his life demonstrate Ìwà?

Does he exercise Sùúrù?

Does he continue learning?

Does he control destructive appetites?

Does he behave responsibly toward those who trust him?

Does his teaching increase your wisdom, or merely increase your dependence upon him?

These are important questions.

Ifá should develop the individual rather than extinguish independent thought.

ASSOCIATION HAS CONSEQUENCES

There is wisdom in the old principle that prolonged association influences character.

If you continually associate intimately with destructive habits, eventually those habits may cease to appear destructive.

What once disturbed you becomes familiar.

What becomes familiar becomes acceptable.

What becomes acceptable may eventually become your own behavior.

Therefore, choose your spiritual environment carefully.

This does not mean that every imperfect person must be rejected. No human being is without weaknesses.

But there is a difference between human imperfection and the continual celebration of indiscipline.

Choose character over spectacle.

Choose wisdom over empty claims of power.

Choose discipline over uncontrolled appetite.

Choose knowledge over ignorance.

Choose humility over spiritual arrogance.

Choose the teacher whose conduct encourages you to become wiser, calmer, stronger, more disciplined, and more responsible.

WHAT IS INITIATION WITHOUT LEARNING?

What is the value of initiation if you refuse to learn afterward?

Initiation should not mark the end of spiritual education.

It should deepen it.

Return to your Olúwo.

Ask questions.

Study.

Listen.

Observe.

Learn the meaning behind what you perform.

Understand the Odù.

Understand the prayers.

Understand the principles.

Understand the responsibilities accompanying initiation.

Learn not merely what is done, but also why it is done.

A serious initiate should continually develop spiritual knowledge alongside intellectual, emotional, moral, and mental maturity.

The relationship between an initiate and a worthy Olúwo should therefore contain teaching, not merely ritual.

MIND IS THE MASTER

Your mind must continually be trained.

Learn from wise Ifá priests.

Observe practitioners of good character.

Imitate what is worthy of imitation.

Question what you do not understand.

Seek knowledge rather than blindly following personalities.

And work continually to overcome the habits that weaken your ability to govern yourself.

Avoid drunkenness.

Avoid destructive dependence upon alcohol.

Avoid gluttony.

Avoid gambling.

Avoid laziness and indolence.

Avoid procrastination.

Do not feed unnecessary fear.

Do not surrender your mind to another person’s opinions.

And never mistake spiritual initiation for permission to stop developing yourself.

Ìwà, Sùúrù, Ọgbọ́n, Ìmọ̀ and disciplined thought must accompany spiritual development.

Character.

Patience.

Wisdom.

Knowledge.

Understanding.

Mental development.

These qualities influence not only the individual but what the individual transmits to children, students, family, community, and future generations.

BECOME THE EAGLE

Do not allow every wind to determine your direction.

Strengthen your mind until adversity teaches you rather than controls you.

Strengthen your character until temptation does not easily redirect you.

Increase your knowledge until deception becomes easier to recognize.

Develop your spiritual understanding until you can distinguish genuine wisdom from empty performance.

And remember:

Initiation can open a door, but you must still walk the path.

Your Olúwo can teach you.

Ifá can advise you.

Odù can reveal wisdom.

Ẹbọ can be prescribed.

Prayer can strengthen your conviction.

But you must still develop your character, discipline your habits, exercise your mind, and take responsibility for the direction of your life.

Protect your mind.

Develop your mind.

Feed your mind with wisdom.

Learn from those whose character deserves imitation.

And never surrender the divine faculty of reasoning that Olodumare has placed within you.

May Olodumare strengthen our minds.

May Ifá increase our wisdom.

May we encounter teachers of knowledge and good character.

May our initiations produce learning rather than complacency.

May our character bring honor to our spiritual path.

May we possess the wisdom to recognize good influence and the courage to separate ourselves from destructive influence.

We are blessed.

Aboru Aboye.

Àṣẹ.