Itefa(ifa initiation)

Ifa initiation know as itefa simply mean the the three  days ceremony of rituals and spiritual fortifications in which the initiate received the sacred Ikin ifa (the sacred palm nut of orunmila). Normally initiation to ifa is usually preceded by isefa (isefa is the preliminary consecration of Hand of Of Ifa that someone can firstly receive if he or she has not capable of making full initiation ITEFA.. This isefa preliminary stage is what makes genuine initiation to be difficult to be conducted in some countries in diaspora where the preist can not go straight to the palm trees bearing Ikin nut to collect the Ikin in name of the proposed person to be initiated) it is after isefa that the proper itefa ceremony can then be started. The initial to ifa is of various types and cartigories. Any body in this word can be initiated to ifa provided the person is of sound mind. There is no age or gender discrimination in IFA initiation but with the caveat that women can only be initiated into Elegan cartigories of initiation in which during her initiation she will be prevented from having eye to eye contact with Odu (Odu has reveal by different odu ifa Odu is a mythical wife of orunmila) odu in modern day is represented in form of sacred calabash use during initiation of Awo olodu which is different from Elegan initiation but women can not aspire beyond Elegan stage, because aspiring further and see eye to eye with odu can turn them masculine in terms of characters and destiny e.g such as refusing to marry, become infertile and lose some of their feminine trait wich is beneficial to them. So Elegan ifa initiation is cartigories of initiation that is meant for women. It must be stated here it not everyone that is initiated is a competent diviner. We have Awo olodu, babalawo, iyanifa, iyalase, agbamate. Now I will explain each in turn :the Awo olodu are babalawo (in most cases elderly preists) who is verse in practicing of Ifa spirituality they are usually the Supreme body that preside over ifa ceremony and meetings. The babalawo are initiated practicing diviner who is verse in IFA esoteric knowledge. They iyanifa are initiated into Elegan cartigories of Ifa initiation they also practice ifa spirituality if they undergo required training of identify and interpreting odu ifa. The Iyalase are also ifa worshipers they are devotee whose assistance is needed in Temple during ifa weekly services(oseifa) but those who are iyalase have no knowledge of Ifa divination, they need the service of a competent babalawo or iyanifa to guide them. The last but not the least is Agbamate, this is the cartigories of initiate that are initiated they received Ikin ifa (ifa sacred nut) during initiation but they don't learn or acquire full knowledge of Ifa practicing. They can in most cases have knowledge to Propitiate their ifa or maintain their Ikin ifa, these cartigories of initiate called agbamate are people who usually get initiated into ifa not for practicing as a Babalawo or iyanifa but either for protection against enemies, or to be prosperous in business, personal guidance in life pursuit and host of others human needs. These cart of initiate some of them do leave their Ikin with Oluwo who initiate them for proper maintenance and guidance and can have it with their self and seek proper guidance from competent babalawo or their Oluwo from time to time.

Now let me quickly explain type of itefa (ifa initiation that is available) there are three types of Ifa initiation available to my humble knowledge. They are Onirele ifa initiation, Awo Elegan initiation,and Awo Olodu ifa initiation, but Awo Elegan initiation is the most common itefa (ifa initiation) common in modern day because this is the only ifa initiation cartigories that accommodate the initiation of women. Now I will explain each in turn :
Three Types of Ifa Initiation (itefa available) by babalawo ifagbohun ifatolu
Onirele Ifa Initiation :this type of initiation is age long ifa initiations for a group of warriors who are preparing to go to battle. This ifa initiation involves fortifications of this warriors with charms and brink them into covenant not to betray their nation or town in the battle food. Men is the group of people usually initiated into this cartigory of Ifa initiation although some time young women who are Virgin and ready to go to war along with their male counterparts can be initiated as well and fortified. But this cartigories of initiation is not common this day. The type of initiation that would have resemble this age long traditional initiation is odua people Congress wish equipped youth with some metaphysical power and covenant to protects society from crime but it not done in the way of old because it only done inform of association.
Elegan ifa Initiation :Elegan initiation is the initiation in which odu is not present during initiation ceremony (Odu are usually sacred calabash or effigy usually use to represent odu the mythical spiritual wife of orunmila). The Elegan initiation is they type of initiation that accommodate initiation of women. Although is some places despite spate of some level of flexibility as regards women initiation some babalawo still think it is not proper to initiate women. Next time may be tomorrow I will explain bases of women initiation and how it evolve. The basis of Elegan initiation itself can be found in odu ifa Oturasa
Ka fogbon Jane ni muni pe laye
Inu funfu o ran oran
Difa fun Osofumilayo ti yi bi merin fi won senu ikofa
A bu fun Alapansiki  ti o ni ohun o te awodi nifa
Translation
It is behaving wisely that makes one leave in longevity
Great annoyance don't settle dispute
Cast ifa divination for Osofumilayo who will give birth to four children and devote them to be an ifa apprentice
What accutually happen in this odu ifa is that there is a woman called Osofumilayo she gave birth to four children after many years of infertility. She now devote the four children to learn IFA from one preist called Alapansiki, the names of the four children are Agbe, Aluko, Odidere, and Awodi. Alapansiki train the four of them in Act of Ifa divination reading any mystical power. Awodi did not wait for initiation when he left Alapansiki and as a result he didn't have details knowledge of initiation. He journey towards Eti okun  where they are their needs of babalawo. When he got to ife he started the act of divination, sacrifice, he initiatiated many people using the method that pleases him. When Alapansiki heard of this he sent some of his brother to him to come home to perform his own initiation. The names of his brother that were sent to Awodi that day are Agbe and Aluko. when Agbe and Aluko get to Awodi instead of them to persuade him to come home for initiation, they started to accosted him of present himself as a Babalawo when he is not yet initiated. Awodi who has become influential and rich because he has initiated many people on order the warrior of the city to killed his two brothers Agbe and Aluko for stain his name. When the news reach Alapansiki and Odidere who is the only surviving brother left, he consult ifa before visiting Awodi. Ifa instructed him to use persuasion and peace to implore Awodi to come for initiation and not use force or any blasphemy. He did as ifa instructed and he succeeded in bringing Awodi for initiation, truly Awodi get initiated but Awodi never change his mode of initiating people whish he previously used. That was the beginning of Elegan initiation
AWO olodu initiation :it the third cartigories the details of it is sacred and can't be revealed unnecessarily for the uninitiated.
Purpose or Advantage of Ifa initiation (itefa)

The purpose of Ifa initiation can be one or more of the following :
*ifa initiation allow one to discover one real identity e. g you will know your taboo, what is compatible with your destiny, what colors or food is not good for your star, the kind of women or man suitable for marriage etc
*having your personal ifa provide spiritual guidance and  protection
*initiation to allow the initiate to learn and practice ifa as a diviner if he want to.
*ifa may demand during divination that some people be initiated to get through difficulties in life.
*it brings direct connection to orunmila and OLODUMARE

*it serves as a compass to steer through the ocean called life....Ase Ase Ase.

Ifa itself is a temple of knowledge and wisdom. It is a light that illuminates darkness, solution to problems, Right path Navigator and ability to foresee what the ancient, present and future holds in determining issues surrounding them.

What is Itefa?

Isefa simply mean Ifa initiation. The initiation into Ifa is a way of founding solution to life problem, how you must live your life, what you will be doing, what you must not do that affects/affecting your life shall be mentioned during initiation, it a remedy to life problems. This IFA initiation is not one man work, it comprises a group of vibrant babalawos. They said “when one is initiated into IFA such a person has completed all cults” Eni to te Ifa ti pari ebora. It is very important for every human being to be initiated into Ifa because it foresee what we were destined to do on earth and a way out of the problems confronting you. The taboos will be given to you at the third day of the initiation called Ikota. Ifa says;

Ategbo

Ateye

Adifafun orunmila baba nlo re te Amosun omo re nifa

Nje ategbo

Ateye Bi adire bate omo re yo ye

Ategbo

Ateye bi Ifa bate omo re yo ye.

WHAT IS ISEFA?

Isefa is simply mean receiving a hand or hands of ifa to be worshiping before ifa initiation.

Isefa is important when one is unable to pay for Itefa.

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Important of Itefa and Isefa

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