OYA'S MARKETPLACE - Oya N'Soro

OYA'S MARKETPLACE PAGE 20
a great many other individuals against
a plethora of complex difficulties, and
only given the proper amount of time
and support will he be able to accomplish
his -- and thus our -- goals.
Let us, then, acknowledge his good will
and give him the benefit of the doubt(s).
Let us pray that OBATALA gives him
the presence of mind to identify the
problems that beseige us all in a manner
that is effective to their solution; let us
ask SANGO to bolster his courage in
his own convictions, so that he might
dispense justice on our behalf. Let us
ask OGUN to clear his path through
the political minefield that is bi-partisan
politics; let us ask OCHOSI to
guide him to integrity. Let us give
thanks to OYA for blowing the wind of
change in our direction...let us pray
that YEMOJA nourishes his spirit daily
for yet another battle. We must ask
OLOKUN to clear his vision of the
mysteries of our own desires and needs,
so that he can administer fairly to us all.
Finally, let us sacrifice to OSUN, so
that She will see that the bounty She
might bestow upon Bill Clinton might
be bestowed upon the entire United
States and the world at large.
In short, let us orient our heads to do
what we must to help this new President
to help us. In so doing, unlike the
man in the desert, we will not pass up
the small meal for the expectation of a
larger feast that might be impossible to
render at this time. Thus, we will find
ourselves better able to keep our hopes
alive at a time when we sorely need
something to hold onto.
O DABO.
ASE.
SANGO -
cont. from page 1
OLOKUN
cont. from page 8
The statues in OLOKUN’s Benin
temples, which ought to shed some
light on the question, customarily depict
this deity as male. However,
OLOKUN is never shown alone, but
always attended by many courtiers. An
unmistakably female EHI, or souldouble
(what we call the IPORI) accompanies
OLOKUN in one shrine. In
another, the masculine-appearing EHI
wears a type of crown associated with
the Queen-Mother in this world, and
with ORA, OLOKUN’s favorite wife,
in the other.
Many find this sexual ambiguity uncomfortable.
In this hemisphere, they
usually identify OLOKUN as masculine,
paired with a feminine YEMOJA
for the sake of balance. There is the
impression that notions of what defines
masculinity and femininity are useless
at the level this deity operates. There
are elders who say it doesn’t matter but
suggest speaking of OLOKUN as male.
Others report valid and enriching
visualizations of OLOKUN as female,
a mermaid in a palace on the ocean
floor.
“No one knows what is at the bottom
of the sea.” Scientists speak of glowing,
volcanic cracks from a newly formed
Earth. They report phosphorescent,
foot-long worms and other exotic
creatures clustered around these sources
of heat and light. In what we perceive
as darkness, though, there may be other,
stranger forms of life.
In honoring OLOKUN we honor the
known and the unknown; that which
has been brought to us from heaven and
that which we have not yet received.
Hopefully in sharing these words we
may prepare ourselves to receive more.
ASE.
OYA -
cont. from page 5
Actually, the journey was about to
begin again. But I would have help
now, to know what the signs all meant.
I am new at this. But have been blessed
all along.
My car’s front license says, “OYA,” and
I smile when people mouth it as I
breeze by. And I say, “Go on, Priscilla,
with your bad self. . .”
I am beginning to understand.
Alafia.
RIDDLE
"The power of the word is very strong,"
the teacher was telling his student. "In
fact, there are certain words, when
spoken, that can kill an animal without
ever having to touch it." The student
was fascinated and begged to be told
the mysterious words. The teacher
looked to the student and replied, "Ah
yes, but how can I tell you?"
If you think you know, drop us a line.
Let us know if you would mind our
printing your answer. - OYA'S MAR-
KETPLACE.