2020 was a year of balance for me. I did experience some personal losses, in the beginning of the year my daughter gave birth to a stillborn son. At the end of the year my husband lost his last living grandparent to COVID-19. The old and the young returned to Orun in our family. The emotional toll of constantly being informed of the illness and death due to the pandemic was especially difficult for me. I am an emotional person and as the numbers were announced, all I could think about were the people who were left behind to deal with such an unprecedented means of coping with such losses. How can one possibly bear the burden of losing two, three, four or more family members this way? My daily prayers included them.
As the fever pitched unrest due to the racial injustice in this country was displayed, I found myself intoxicated with yearning for the dismantling of the foundation of racism that this country was built upon, weeping for lives lived in and lost in it’s corruption. I lost my taste for politics years ago, so I found no resolve in political resolutions for spiritual problems. My prayer for my people, those of us who are descendants of the African people stolen and enslaved to build this corrupt place, is to decolonize ourselves and return to our true essence and power so that we can heal, strengthen and elevate.
Through all of these situations that gave me reason to pause, my faith was strengthened. I was blessed profoundly in 2020. As I relied upon the wisdom and guidance of Ifa to help me navigate my emotions, thoughts and actions, I was able to experience many moments of happiness and joy. I have appreciation for the wealth of having a strong family. I am grateful that we decided to ride out this past year together. I am blessed to have a life partner who loves me the way I need to be loved, and walks beside me with care and consideration. I feel blessed to mother and raise children that love each other, respect each other, and uplift each other. I am blessed to have the grace to appreciate what seems to be the smallest things, like having a yard for my beautiful grandchildren to play in so that they could enjoy fresh air, or being able to gather safely with my family, and supporting each other through our difficult times. I enjoyed the blessing of watching my mother grow older, profoundly quiet and reflective as her wisdom expands. I was blessed to be obedient to my body on the days it needed to rest, by making better choices to cultivate good health. I was blessed to successfully finish projects that were mere ideas in my mind for years, including publishing my second memoir.
There was so much to bow my head before Orisa in gratitude for. There was so much to dance with my Ancestors for. There was so much to appreciate my elders for. There was so much to rejoice with my friends and loved ones for.
I am beginning 2021 with the light of Ifa surrounding me, blessing me, lifting me, guiding me. I sit in gratitude for all that was sacrificed and all that was received. Ase!
Iba Olodumare, The Source and Creator of all life of spirit and nature in the Universe. Iba Ori, Egun, Egbe, Irunmole, and all Orisa. Eepa Ifa! Ore yeye Osun! Ogun ye!
Ifayinka 