I am always making the point that Ifa/Orisa is a totally logical philosophy. I point out to those who are confused by the different rules they hear from different priests, that: "if it isn't logical, it isn't true!" Well, it isn't logical that female energy be excluded from any priests path. Certainly, there are taboo to be observed by both genders, but the overwhelming logic is that the combination of male and female energy, in any Orisa path, will potentiate more power and energy working together, than the sum of the two energies working apart! Rather than suggesting, or implying, that male and female energy is the same because both energies should have the right to walk each Orisa path, it is the reality of their differences, that makes the necessity of their working together totally logical. Each energy has its own power, its own subtlety. When combined, the total spectrum of human energy is at work. It is simply an extension of the reality of conception. It takes the unique Ase' of both man and woman to create life. It would be myopic to believe that this was the only area Oludumare intended the energies to combine. This is not to imply that all areas require, or even call, for both energies. Indeed, by virtue of their differences, there are many tasks better performed by one than the other. Yet, in many areas, the combination offers greater power, greater energy, greater insight. To exclude that possibility by arbitrary and illogical rules would be to refute the lessons of Nature and the reality of Oludumare's creation.

Re-Uniting The Energy At Ola Olu

On December 27th, we initiated my wife Vassa as a Babalawo. For those who, despite the explanation above, still find the concept of Women as Babalawo unacceptable, I refer you to The Classroom section of our Web Site where several articles deal with the reality and the objections of Women & Ifa. For those who instinctively understood that the spiritual dichotomy of the two energies was arbitrary and controlling, I offer the following:

Vassa was the first woman I have initiated as a Babalawo. She will undoubtedly, not be the last. The initiation came as a result of two important factors. First, and most important, for almost a year, the divination's I performed for her indicated that was what Orunmila wanted. Indeed, during recent readings, the message became clearer and clearer, with Orunmila strongly suggesting the initiation take place "sooner" rather than "later." Hanging over the entire issue was the reality that, very early in our exposure to the Orisa, Vassa had been misread regarding which Orisa crowned her head. She had been told she was a child of Obatala. Further complicating this, she had been initiated a priestess of Obatala! Later, after I was initiated as a Babalawo, I clearly saw that her inherent strength was almost diametrically opposite that of Obatala. Yet, I was hesitant to re-read the issue. After all, she was crowned. At the time, I, like many of my brothers, didn't even think about women becoming Babalawos, so that option never occurred to me back then. Then, as the years wore on, as my knowledge, wisdom and exposure to truly spiritual individuals in every aspect of the philosophy grew, I understood both the issue of women having the right to be initiated, and I understood that something had to be done to re-balance Vassa's energy. So, her guardian was re-read. Properly this time. It was quite clear that she was a child of Ogun! Still, she could not be crowned Ogun. Obatala, incorrectly or not, resided in her head. It was shortly thereafter that Orunmila began to call for her initiation as an Ifa priest. And, I must confess, I was somewhat reticent about it. I didn't know how our house would respond, energy wise, to both husband and wife being Ifa Priests! Throughout my career, as a Babalawo, the one thing I never do is second guess Orunmila. If He said she should be initiated, that was the way it would be, regardless of my misgivings, latent chauvinism or hesitancy. And, as everything, throughout my career, the results of following His direction provided joy and fulfillment!

Vassa's initiation went beautifully, and smoothly. Her Odu, IreteOgbe, came in good fortune. More profoundly, this is the Odu that created the energy of Odu becoming lost. "Only by re-uniting the two," she said," can the earth regain her balance."