Of the Oriatés who were present, Roque “Jimagüa” Duarte, Tinibú, the oldest Oriaté, sat on the mat to read the itá. Abelardo Hernández, Oshún Funké, the oldest Olorisha there, sat to represent the community and manipulate the ibó for itá.
The following Oriatés were present:
Armando García, Shangó Dina
Juan Carlos Cabrisas, Eshú Bí
Miguel “Willie” Ramos, Ilarí Obá
Nelson Hernández, Okán Yomí
Popi Cioffi, Ikudasí
Roberto Abreú, Obá Ikoró
The following Oloshas were present:
Alajé Thomas, Fadesié
Alimayu Harris, Eshú Bí
Asabí Thomas, Agongolojú
Bárbara Iñigo, Ojú Oró
Cristina Hernández, Osikán
Darrick Griffin, Omí Saidé
David Hoft, Omí Lodé
Diana Domínguez, Aboyadé
Eduardo Freitas, Omosún
Francisco Crucet, Adé Lerí
Gladys González Quevedo, Odomikeyé
Ileana Zambrano, Ewín Letí
Jackie Ben, Oshún Funké
Joaquín Mederos, Shangó Larí
Jorge Castillo, Tinibú
Luis Delgado, Odurosinmí
María Álvarez, Lunwá
Marta Domínguez, Oyá Dina
Omaida García, Tinomí
Pablo Álvarez, Adé Funké
Raúl Piélago, Arabí
Rita Guerra, Okán Tomí
Roberto Berenger, Osha Inlé
Samuel Domínguez, Eshú Letí
Soledad Pino, Totalashé
Willy Zapata, Oshún Funké
Xiomara Guerra, Oshún Yemí
We also appreciate and recognize the presence of Awó Orúnmilá Daniel Abreú, Ogundá’rosún.
Itá
Elegbá:
Obí: Alafía
Odú: 7-9 (Odí Osá) Iré elese Osha Yalé
Shangó:
Obí: Alafía
Odú: 7-7 (Odí mejí) ikú otonowá with the world at large
Larishé adimú to Yemojá opólopo asogí (fruits)
Later, ebodá with us and brought us:
Iré arikú koto yalé
Larishe a black or dark colored rooster to Ogún
Ebó:
Fruits to Yemojá to pray for all those loved ones or relations that may possibly go to fight in the apparently upcoming war.
Cleansing with a black or dark colored rooster that must be given to Ogún—afterward, ask Ogún through obí how to proceed with the rooster, keeping in mind that proper care be taken is dispatching the cleansing so that it is not offensive to the non-Lukumí population of the city.
All whose maternal grandmother is deceased should offer her a white flower at minimum.
Use a red-parrot feather on the head or in the hat or headscarf.
Place a white flag on the roof of your home.
It is necessary to pay attention to the Egún of loved ones ar those who have parted with whom we were close.
Elegbá’s advice:
Eboadá ke umbo—the well done ebó reaches its intended place.
Stretch the sheet as far as possible, but no more.
Stretch your hands as far as you can, but no more.
What left yesterday, returns tomorrow.
Odí’sá speaks of physical fatigue resulting from the excessive pressures placed on the human body. Everyone has to do only so much and go as far as their limits allow them, whether these limits are physical or economic. Every human being has different aspirations. Excesses, working more than is feasibly necessary to meet these excesses, is counter-productive, especially in terms of ones health. Everyone should try to limit themselves to do just so much without forcing themselves beyond the acceptable limits, demanding from the body what it cannot necessarily give or tolerate. These excessive demands on the body can cause some to lose their lives, and once dead, it will be impossible to continue to provide for ones descendants whom will eventually suffer as a result.
Elegbá gives us his blessings and appreciation—iré elese Osha— for what we have done and what is to take place today—the wemilere—and promises us that her will beseech the heavens, asking God to have mercy on all humankind. Those who may have debts or pending ebó or ceremonies with Elegbá or any other orisha should bring these up to date this as soon as possible.
We must take very good care of Egún—deceased blood or orisha relations—and Araorún—spirits in general.
Shangó’s advice:
Offspring of blessings.
Do not abandon your customs.
Odí mejí says that Ikú is in heaven but that Ikú is on its way to earth. Arún is working so that Ikú can visit the earth. The odú speaks of war and warns that we must make and offer ebó for any of our relations or loved ones who may either go to the war or find themselves involved in some way in the processes related with the war. Everyone who may have a relative, loved one, or friend who may be going to the war should offer fruits to Yemojá to pray for the individual’s well-being.
Shangó gives us his blessings and absolves our community from Ikú, and especially all those who contributed for this ceremony. In fact, Shangó promises that he will reimburse our community and will compensate us for our devotion in a multitude of ways. According to Tinibú, the are two odú in which the orishas make specific promises to their devotees: Obará Osá and Odí mejí. Those who are most needy will be prized by Shangó.
All those whose maternal grandmother has passed should offer a minimum of one white flower to her spirit. All those who have been raised by a deceased grandmother should take care of that Egún.
The odú warns us that everyone whose mother is still living should take care of her and avoid giving her hardships and causing her undue suffering. Mothers will shed many tears because of their offspring or because of sufferings caused by these in one way or another. Amongst us, there are some who will probably lose their mothers this coming year.
All alagbá Olorishas—elders who participated in this ebó and itá—should visit their doctors.
We must take care of our hearts. The odu speaks of cardiovascular ailments, problem with the nervous system and the respiratory system. Beware of panic attacks, shocks, and frequent colds.
The odú speaks of three mischievous entities that are very active in Odí mejí—three entities that delight in causing harm and frightening people literally out of their wits. These roam the streets at night and are especially active at midnight. Olorishas should avoid being outdoors unnecessarily at this time, and especially during the time change between 11:55 PM and 12:05 AM. This is an odú of disillusionment occasioned by the lack of strong foundations and/or convictions.
Shangó thanks Roberto Berenger, Osha Lerí, for his cooperation in this event. There is no need to do any ebó for the ranch after the wemilere as Shangó will compensate him.
Advice from some of the Oriatés who were present:
Armando García, Shangó Dina
Maferefún Olofín. We must pray to Olofín often and implore that heaven have mercy on us all. We need to guard our nerves and beware of problems with the nervous system; frights and shocks. There will be many commentaries because of this ceremony but our conscience tells us clearly that everything has been done properly and well. Still, there will be conversation and gossip.
Roberto Abreú, Obá Ikoró
We must remember that because of problems with minors, whether children or godchildren, we can lose our life. We must avoid arguments with minors. Remember, also, that in this odú a person goes to bed a millionaire and wakes up a pauper.
Popi Cioffi, Ikudasí
We must keep in mind that the odú speaks of gossip and conversations; misunderstandings and criticism. What has been discussed in this itá should be kept in mind and respected at all times, and we must not add any more to the itá than what has been said here. We must cooperate so that this accomplishment of ours, something that has come out so beautifully, is not spoiled by our detractors with their destructive criticism.
Willie Ramos, Ilarí Obá
Regardless of whatever negative criticisms or plots that those that oppose us may attempt to elicit, our main interest should be the understanding of one thing and one thing only: Elegbá has given us “iré elese osha yalé” and Shangó has said that we are the “blessed offspring.” What more can we ask for? Everything else is secondary, and therefore we cannot give it any place or consideration in our sphere! Our conscience is clean since we have simply complied with our religiosity and the wishes of our orishas. The rest does not matter.
