The Year 2025 in the Gregorian Calendar is Destined for Huge Upheavels
Gracefully Ride the Winds by Honoring Your Ancestors!
Dearest Ayinnuola:
I loved you before you were born! During your nine month journey to Earth, you often skipped through my dreams with your hair in thick, long plaits. Your brown skin was smoother and more beautiful than chocolate bars oozing sweet caramel filling!
I cried often during the nine months your body developed inside of me. You see, I like things to be done in "decency and order." But, your conception seemed far from that. Looking back, 36 years later, I now realize you are the very fulfillment of my every dream and desire.
DESTINY AIN'T ORDERLY
What appeared to be disorder at first turns out to be absolutely divine. Time reveals how all the pieces of the puzzle interconnect. Time reveals Truth.
In the ninth month of September 1988, I was to be married to a kind, gentle and handsome man. We met on Labor Day in 1984. I was sitting on a bus stop near Howard University in Washington, D.C. I was brand new to town and wasn't sure if I was on the correct side of Georgia Avenue to get downtown. I was headed to a Caribbean festival.
"Oh! I'm going there, too!" the short, bright-skinned brother with large pearly white teeth smiled. Oh, and the long, soft dreadlocks hangly neatly -- but not groomed -- from his knitted red, green and yellow cap ... Aaahh ...
That was beginning of a love affair based on our love of studying history books by John Henrik Clarke, Chancellor Williams, Asa Hilliard, John G. Jackson, Cheikh Anta Diop, Wade Nobles and Ivan Van Sertima; attending lectures by Dr. Frances Cress Welsing and Dr. Yosef Ben-Jochannan; and reading romantic poetry to each other.
KWANZAA
A few months after meeting, I saw a flyer on Howard's campus about Kwanzaa. We both agreed that we had to check it out. After all, the word sounded African!
The Umoja celebration of unity on the first day of Kwanzaa was held at Ujamaa Shule independent African-centered school. As fate should have it, that was the first school you attended, at age four.
The Kwanzaa celebration began with a shekhem from the Ausar Auset Society pouring libation.
Enen a Neter
Itaem
Kheper Anghk!
I literally felt my soul rise out of my body as the shekhem chanted the ancient Kemetic words of power. I had to learn more!
The following day, my boyfriend and I went to the first of hundreds of classes on Kemetic spirituality. Adding this spiritual component to our relationship strengthened our bond.
This was my first serious romantic relationship, and it was sweet in every possible way. I felt complete. Despite warnings from friends, I took it for granted that my partner was faithful to me.
Imagine my utter shock when, a mere few months before we were to be wed, one of my nearest and closest friends revealed that she had been having an affair with my fiance -- for years!
I cried, then lashed out with the wrath of Oya, the Yoruba Orisa of Thunder and Wind!
Oya is known for her deep passion that creates fiery thunder storms, tumultous hurricanes, and life-altering tornadoes.
OGUN
With the pain of betrayal and no-longer-suppressed desire, I had wild, unbridled lovemaking with a young, dark skinned, stunningly handsome Nigerian brother! A devotee of the Yoruba Orisa Ogun, Owner of Iron, Creativity, War and Technology. A quiet man of few words, his hands and lips did all the talking!
I had been celibate for 360 full days as part of my training to become a spiritual leader in the Ausar Auset Society. Shekhem ur Shekhum Ra Un Nefer Amen, king of the international community, required all priesthood trainees to demonstrate spiritual discipline by refraining from sexual relations for a year.
Celibacy was easy for me. It felt natural. Give me a rule that makes sense to me, and I'm all in!
Alas, no eewo, or taboo goes unpunished.
The evening after releasing my unbridled passion, I was expelled from the Ausar Auset Society priesthood training class for violating my vow of celibacy.
I was literally hours away from graduation. But, Oya abruptly whisked me away from that path. I was ready for the next stage in my womanist journey.
THE DREAM
With you ripening in my womb, your Baba and I wed in a beautiful community ceremony.
It makes sense now. Pataki tells us that Oya's first of three husbands was Ogun. I had to go through that marriage to have you and your sister, Moremi Ajasaro!
The night before you were born, my grandmother, Mother Hilda Ward, visited me in my dream. I saw her tall, slender frame walking through our Cockburn Town, San Salvador settlement in The Bahamas. I could literally smell the soil and the green foliage.
Mama stopped at the foot of a series of hills, and whispered: "Name the baby after me. Name her Ayinnuola."
The next morning, I described the dream to your Baba, explaining that I was perplexed by Mama saying the Yoruba name, "Ayinnuola." After all, Mama's only language was English. Plus, The Bahamas is primarily flat land and ocean; I didn't recognize the massive hills.
Your Baba broke out in tears: "That was MY grandmother! Ayinnuola! She was standing at the Hills of Idanre in my hometown!"
So, you were born in February 1989 with your paternal great grandmother's name, Ayinnuola: A Woman Who Revels in the Midst of Wealth!
When I heard your very first cry, I immediately adored you with all the love in soul. With every drop of blood in my body. With every sinew in my muscles. With all the atoms in the universe! I still do.
This is your wealth: You are loved. Immensely! And, with love, you can accomplish all of your dreams and desires!
Now, 36 years later, you have entered your powerful 9 stage in 2025. This will be a time of great change in the universe, on this planet and in your life. After all, Oya is all about change! In fact, she is the very Essence of Change. Sudden Change! Tumultous Transformations!
IYALODE
Iyalode, one of Oya's appellations, identifies her as the leader of all women and all business dealings.
While she was managing the affairs in the marketplace one afternoon, Kabiesiyi Sango spotted the beautiful Iyalode. He was mesmerized by her beauty. Even though the Alaafin of Oyo already had his hands full with two primary wives, Obba and Osun, he was determined to also make Oya his wife.
She explained that she was married to Ogun and lives in the woods. Yet, Kabiesiyi persisted with his charms. Eventually, Iyalode gave into the oba's desires. After all, her husband was always working and didn't spend enough time with her.
In his anger, Ogun cursed Oya that she would never bare children as long as she was with Kabiesiyi.
THE SECRET
"Alaafin?" Oya whispered while enjoying Sango's warm embrace.
"Iyalode?" Sango responded.
"I have a secret," Oya continued while passionately kissing Sango's lips. "Will you promise to keep the secret between us?"
"Of course!" Sango hurried answered as he undressed his myserious new queen.
"At night, I turn into my true form," Oya revealed.
"What is your true form, Iyalode?" Sango inquired while urgently exploring Oya's soft skin and crevices.
"You will see ..." Oya mysteriously responded.
In the middle of the night when Kabiesiyi woke up to empty his bladder, he saw the beautiful Iyalode transform into an antelope. He tried to capture the antelope, but she was too fast. He saw Oya swiftly and gracefully leaping through the window and into the woods.
The only part of her body that was recognizable were Oya's large, inexplicable eyes. The Alaafin would recognize those piercing eyes in any form!
Kabiesiyi took a bath and immediately consulted Ifa. He learned that Oya is a Force of Nature who changes into an antelope at night and becomes a mortal woman during the day.
Sango kept Oya's secret for a long, long time.
Oya and Sango never birthed children together, although Oya had several miscarriages and stillbirths. Fortunately, Oya was able to raise Sango's Awon Ibeji, Divine Twins. One of his wives abandoned the sacred babies, and Iyalode was happy to raise them as her own children. The first-born baby was the junior soul, and named Taiwo. The second-born -- but elder soul -- became Kehinde.
Life was good. Iyalode had her successful business enterprises, managed the women's egbe, or society, and was content with her husband and the twins.
After a while, Kabiesiyi's wives became jealous of how protective Sango was of Iyalode. After all, wasn't she the same as other women? Why was there so much secrecy and intrigue surrounding her every night?
Sango eventually gave into his other wives' demand for answers, and revealed Oya's secret.
Iyalode became so angry at Sango's betrayal that she grabbed Taiwo and Kehinde and stormed into the woods!
Sango ran behind his favorite wife, and begged her to return. Iyalode never retured to Kabiesiyi's aafin; however, she gave him her two antelope horns to tap together whenever he needed her.
LOYALTY
Later, the Oyo Mesi voted to exile Sango as punishment for his two general's excessive warmongering.
When Iyalode learned of Kabiesiyi's fate, she tracked him down and accompanied the Alaafin in the lonely desert. Oya was Sango's only wife to join him in exile. They were happy to be back together.
One day, Oya went to fetch water to cook. When she returned to the encampment area, Sango's servants were crying, and told her that the Alaafin had died. In fact, they said he committed the abomination of committing suicide and hung himself on a tree.
Oya immediately rejected that narrative, and started chanting:
Oba Koso!
Oba Koso!
The King did not die!
The King would never kill himself!
As Kabiesiyi ascended into Orun, Oya screamed a hurdling sound. The wind twirled around her. The rain came pouring down. And, thunder and lightening filled the sky in a divine dance. Oya's tears were so plentiful that they created the great, fertile Niger River that flows throughout west Africa.
IYANSA
Years later, Oya married Orisa Oko, the Owner of Farming and Agriculture. Together, they had nine chldren, and Oya became known as Iyansa, the Mother of Nine. Her children includes Elegba, the Opener of the Way; Egungun, Guardian of the Ancestors; and more Ibeji!
Iyansa's sacred animal is the water buffalo.
MY ADVICE
Here are a few tips to gracefully navigate this 9 year:
When you eat, put a portion of the food on a chipped dish for the ancestors. Designate a day to cook a special meal in their memory. Let it cool before serving the ancestors. Serve their favorite oti, or liquor; sweets; coffee, tea, soda or whatever they like.
Keep omi tutu, or clean water in a clear glass for them.
Keep a light burning for your Ancestors. I'm super cautious with candles, so I either burn a small tea candle for the ancestors, or keep an electric light on for them.
Gather photographs, articles and oral stories about your ancestors. Learn something inspiring about each ancestor. Tell the stories to your children over and over again. Be sure to write down the stories and archive them digitally.
Avoid any elective surgeries, airline travel, or anything that could negatively affect your lungs this year. Oya gives us our first and very last breath.
When rain, storms, hurricanes or threaten, put out a clay bowl of epo, or palm oil, to appease Oya. She also enjoys akara, or blackeyed peas patties.
I pray this little bit of knowledge about Oya will help guide you through the Winds of Change in 2025, and beyond!
Love,
Iya
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