Our Rituals, Ceremonies &Practices
Sunday Service
Every Sunday, we gather for spiritual discourse and fellowship, which includes teachings from the Holy Odu Ifa, chanting, singing, dancing and food.
LISTEN to our Worship Services on the Holy Odu OturaOdi. Finding Your Voice & Turning Adversaries Into Allies
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Bi-Weekly Divination/Itadogun
Every 16 days, we gather in person to participate in the itadogun . Itadogun is the sixteen day worship cycle. Whenever possible, the divination is performed by a visiting priest. In either case, itadogun is compulsory for all templemembers. The Holy Odù OgundaBede teaches us this way:
The freshly sprouted Iroko leaves
With pointed ends
Ifa’s message for Orunmila
When going to have communication with his Ikin
In seventeen days time
Both seventeen and twenty eight days
The periodic Itadogun Awo must never be missed
- Holy Odù OgbundaBede
Divination drives purpose. Ifa will give you continuous direction and insight. Through BIWEEKLY Ifa Divinations, you will get answers to your most pressing questions, which will help to identify threats, reduce doubt, build confidence in yourself on this journey. Here are four amazing features of the ITADOGUN:
The freshly sprouted Iroko leaves
With pointed ends
Ifa’s message for Orunmila
When going to have communication with his Ikin
In seventeen days time
Both seventeen and twenty eight days
The periodic Itadogun Awo must never be missed
- Holy Odù OgbundaBede
Divination drives purpose. Ifa will give you continuous direction and insight. Through BIWEEKLY Ifa Divinations, you will get answers to your most pressing questions, which will help to identify threats, reduce doubt, build confidence in yourself on this journey. Here are four amazing features of the ITADOGUN:
- BIWEEKLY DIVINATION: Full breakdown of Odu Ifa, including verses, stories, interpretations and practical applications.
- COMPLETE SACRIFICES: Main sacrifices will be completed, including rituals, prayers and offerings.
- IDENTIFY OBSERVANCES: Full disclosure of all related things to avoid, as well as things to practice to maintain alignment with the divination.
- MEDICINES: Option to acquire any medicines, preparations or charms to amplify particular opportunities revealed through the divination.
RANFA: Recitation of Ifa
We chant verses of Ifa, as well as oriki (praise poetry) in Yoruba language. We understand the importance of intonation as a way to create sympathetic resonance between the devotee and the orisa. Recitation is essential to spiritual alignment and elevation.
WERI: Head Washing
Head washing is performed at least once a year. The ritual is done with freshly picked herbs that are consecrated with prayers. The purpose is to purify the spirit and align the devotee with his or her destiny. Head washing is not an initiation.
ESIN EGUNGUN: Ancestor Veneration
Like all practitioners of Orisa Lifestyle, we believe in the principles of rebirth, reincarnation and Ancestral Memory. With the assistance of temple leadership, each member sets up an ancestral shrine in order to seek instructions on how to clarify their Ancestral Promise.
IBORI: Destiny Shrine
Ibori is the shrine of destiny. It is an important rite of passage, performed by the Oluwo of the temple, that lasts three days. Ibori is characterized by offerings, prayer and purification with herbs. During the ibori ceremony the member receives spiritual instruction divination and training. Ibori is considered important for developing the soul, strengthening the spirit and achieving spiritual knowledge, wisdom and understanding.
ISEFA: Hand of Ifa
Taking the hand of Ifa is the rite of passage through which the devotee learns his or her spiritual path. It is performed by the Oluwo and lasts three days. Like the ibori ceremony, Isefa includes offerings, purification and divination. The isefa marks the devotee's future endeavors (e.g., initiation, specialization, symbols and sigils).
IRIN AJO LAIYE: Pilgrimages
We travel to other temples and spiritual communities in Nigeria, Trinidad and the USA to teach and learn best practices of Orisa Lifestyle.
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ANNUAL CELEBRATIONS
IFA ADAWO ODUN TUNTUN: Temple Annual Anniversary
The establishment of a temple is a great achievement so, each year, members of Ijo Adulawo come together to review the past year and give thanks to Olodumare, Ifa and Oya for keeping the community together. It is also an opportunity for us to reflect on our achievements, count our blessings and make a commitment to help bring about the Good Condition in the coming year. Over a three day ceremony, held during the third weekend of November, we wash the temple's sacred shrines, celebrate with music, and cast Ifa for our next year's spiritual charter. This is the season when we wash heads of all members as well.
ODUN EGUNGUN: Memorial Day
On this day, we venerate the dearly departed ancestors of our bloodlines.
ODUN ORI IYA: Mothers' Day
On this day, we venerate the spirits of our mothers.
ODUN ORI BABA: Fathers' Day
On this day, we venerate the spirits of our fathers.
The establishment of a temple is a great achievement so, each year, members of Ijo Adulawo come together to review the past year and give thanks to Olodumare, Ifa and Oya for keeping the community together. It is also an opportunity for us to reflect on our achievements, count our blessings and make a commitment to help bring about the Good Condition in the coming year. Over a three day ceremony, held during the third weekend of November, we wash the temple's sacred shrines, celebrate with music, and cast Ifa for our next year's spiritual charter. This is the season when we wash heads of all members as well.
ODUN EGUNGUN: Memorial Day
On this day, we venerate the dearly departed ancestors of our bloodlines.
ODUN ORI IYA: Mothers' Day
On this day, we venerate the spirits of our mothers.
ODUN ORI BABA: Fathers' Day
On this day, we venerate the spirits of our fathers.