Ogbo Ato!
В африканской практике Ифа eewo или табу нарушать нельзя. Согласно традиционной африканской практике Ифа индивидуальные табу даны в процессе инициации и предсказания. Например: не носить определенную одежду, не есть некоторые продукты или не пить алкоголь и т.д. и т.п. Эти табу даются во блага человеку, чтобы он смог полноценно жить или достичь желаемого результата. Если человек будет нарушать табу, это только сократит его жизнь и создаст ненужные препятствия на пути в Ile Aye. Это традиционный африканский взгляд на eewo- табу. Хорошо написал об этом уважаемый Олуво Фашина Фаладе
http://ayodele_falade.tripod.com/id19.html
Taboos or Ewo are a very important aspect of the Ifa Tradition. They are given to all individuals and humans as a whole to help us complete our destinies/develop our character. In this section we will discuss what Ewo are and how they impact us individually and as a whole.
What are Taboos/Ewo?
Ewo/Taboos are behaviors and interactions with animals, the plants, the water, the earth, foods, clothing, colors, people, etc... that violate natural law and communal duties and responsibilities. These violations in turn can cause imbalanced thoughts and feelings to develop not only within the individual but the community as well.
What is natural law? Natural law states that everything in existence is designed a certain way for a specific reason and purpose. Thus, everything in existence has a specific function and role within the community, nature, the universe, the Olodumare. These roles and functions must be fullfilled in order for balance to be maintained. Only when these roles are ignored or forgotten does imbalance occur.
Everything that Ifa teaches is based on balance and living according to nature's laws which can only be accomplished through maintaining a mindset structured around the concept of Communalism. Individualism which is the prevailing mindset in most western cultures, but can also be found in other non-western cultures is seen as a destructive way of thinking and viewing the world we live in. Therefore, individualism is also viewed as taboo in Ifa because of it's self-centered nature and the self-centered thoughts, feelings, and behaviors it develops within people. Unfortunately, because of the influence Individualism has had in the world, much of us who decide to practice Ifa have difficulties understanding why certain behaviors are taboo in Ifa. It is going to be a long hard process, but a communal mindset is what is needed to practice and understand Ifa's teachings, not an individualistic one.
All taboos help us work in balance with each other and with our environment so that all of Olodumare's creations can live in harmony and continue to grow. In being in Aiye or the Market place, the Ajogun, Omo Araye, and the Witches were given the duty to test human beings character. This means that while we are here in physical form, we will constantly be tested every minute, every day, every week, for the rest of our lives in this existence. The purpose or role of the spirits mentioned above is to try to confuse us and sway us away from achieving our destinies which are made up of our individual duties and community duties, which are really one and the same, and must all be completed. There really is only one destiny for all of us but all must complete their individual destinies for the group destiny to be completed.
How do the above mentioned spirits test us? Well, based on the choices we made in past lives and choices we are currently making in the present life, certain challenges and consequences will be placed before us to help us learn a lesson we didn't learn before in our past lives or are currently not learning. The Ajogun, Omo Araye, the Witches test us by placing us in situations where we may become depressed, sad, angry, frustrated, confused, insecure about ourselves, jealous, envious, and most importantly afraid. Fear is the biggest challenge the above mentioned spirits use to test our character. Our job is to be conscious of these spirits and the challenges they bring to us so that those challenges do not shape us or influence us into becoming what we are not. That they do not influence us into breaking natural law, breaking taboos, and straying from our communal duties and responsibilities, which pulls us away from achieving our destinies. (Our One Destiny)
When Ewo are not followed the consequenes include: Death, Poverty, Sickness, Conflict, and Loss. This is why following ones' taboos is so important.
When Ewo are followed the rewards are: Long life, Prosperity, Good Spouse, Good Children, and Victory over all Adversary (Completion of destiny).
Below are a list of Taboos that are for all humanity.
Taboo/Ewo for all Peoples
Ewo/Taboos that are for everyone include: Being dishonest, not being righteous, being arrogant, being impatient, being selfish, being greedy, gossiping, slandering, not respecting others, judging, destroying nature/disrespecting all of Olodumare's creations, etc...
Being Moral is very important within the Ifa Tradition and when one acts without morals one is in violation of taboo. One cannot complete ones' destiny if taboos are constantly being broken. Our lives would be so much easier if we would just follow our moral taboos and natural law. By following these taboos, we can find peace of mind, happiness, joy, true wealth, love, balance, strength, confidence, and most importantly achievement of destiny and Iwa Pele. Remember... Moral taboos are for everyone and if these are broken it's the same consequence as if you broke an individual taboo for let's say... not drinking liquor.
Individual Taboos/Ewo
Ewo/Taboos that are for individuals work the same as the taboos that are for everyone but are more specific to the individual receiving them. Some examples of specific taboos for people could be: not digging holes, not wearing certain colored clothing, not eating certain foods or drinks, not climbing latters, etc... These are given in cases where these actions may cause extreme health/physical or spiritual problems that may lead to early death. Ifa knows everything past, present, and future and warns those who receive their destiny what to be careful with during their time here in Ile Aye so that they can complete their destinies with as little difficulty as possible.
Note: Individual taboos if not followed not only affect you but also affect everything else in existence. Everything in existence is dependent on the other to survive and maintain balance, if just one small piece is not keeping up to it's duties and behaving accordingly, for whatever reason, that piece will suffer as well as the rest of the group (all life).
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Если овца игнорирует мудрую рекомендацию она станет пищей для богов. (Стих из Оканран Овонрин)
Oluwo Fafemi Fatalabi Adesanya Awoyade
IJO ESIN EBILE BABALAWO EGBE IFA OGUNTI, ODE REMO
Fatalabi@gmail.com
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