The Letter of Year 2005
The Organizing Commision to Take Out the Letter



PREDICTIONS OF IFA FOR THE 2004 YEAR
FOR CUBA AND THE WORLD

To the Priests of Ifa, to our Brothers the Oriates, Babaloshas, Iyaloshas, and Iworos. To the Religious Public in General.


On December 31, 2004 864 Ifa priests, representing the vast majority of branches and families from Cuba, gathered. At the house temple situated on Ave 10 de Octubre #1509 and Josefina y Gertrudis, Vibora, Municipio 10 de Octubre, City of La Habana, Cuba.

This ceremony was presided over by the Ifa priest Guillermo Diago "Ogbe Weñe" and the letter was taken out by the youngest priest.

These orientations are the result of a thorough analysis undertaken by a group of priests with broad knowledge and recognized prestige, both nationally and internationally.

Ruling Sign: Ofún Tempolá (Ofún Otura) - Ofun calls the Corojo.
Witness: Babá Ejiogbe.
Prophecy: Ire aiku lowo Shango (Good health/long life at the hands of the giver of waters).
Ruling Divinity: Shango "this divinity is considered the bringer of water during droughts"; He is the Orisha of lightning, of justice and war, protector of soldiers. He is received to protect us from a constant war against us. He punishes liars, corrupt persons and those who commit immoral and irreverant acts. He is offered sacrifices in times of war and of great thunder storms. His origin is Oyo, sacred city of Nigeria.
Some of his Oriki are: Obba Kó Só (The King was not hung), Olufina (He who perforates with fire). His principal ewe is Okikan (jobo - Jobo spendias). The sacrifices he receives are: older sheep, turkeys, roosters and guinea fowl. His taboos are white beans (sese), kidney beans and femal animals.
His food offerings are: Plantains or bananas (Oguedé), cooked corn meal (Amalá), quimbombó soup, (Ilá), Mamey ( Esogui Ara) y watermelon (Bara).

Accompanying Divinity: O, Divinity of storms and soft winds. Identified with the spirit of the ancestors. She is the Godess of the Niger River (Odó Oyá) which received its name from this divinity. She is believed to be the first, and favorite, wife of the Orisha Shango. Tradition tells us the river was originally formed from the copious tears that she wept on the day her husband died.

Flag of the Year: Completely Red.

Ebbó: Chicken for Eleguá, palm oil, cocoa butter, lard [that is, three kinds of oil]; the spine of a fish with head and tail attached, worn clothes, salt, and the other ingredients (the ebbo goes to the manigua - the bush).

This document is distributed free and this Commission is not responsible for outside people who sell it in the spirit of profit.

Illnesses to Beware of:
Special Suggestion to Scientists and Researchers:

Study the active medical principals of the Jobo and Ponasi plants.

Events of Social Concern:

Recommendations:

  1. Betterment of hydraulic systems in general and in urban sectors in particular.
  2. Betterment of the agricultural sector.
  3. Increase dams and reservoirs to guarantee water for consumption
  4. Be careful with dogs
  5. Take baths with herbs from the sign.
  6. Sacrifice 3 pigeons to Oshosi
  7. Do cleansings with grains and other ingredients
  8. Comply with aquired religious promises
  9. Strengthen your marriage.
  10. A sign of espionage. A sign of sentencing.
  11. Make sacrifices to achieve your purposes
  12. Take care when giving shelter to strangers
  13. Only faith and prayer save

Proverbs of the Sign:
  1. Green head, hollow head
  2. While you have a head, you shouldn't carry your hat in your hands
  3. The empty sack does not stand up
  4. It is useless to show gold earrings to someone without ears
  5. The tongue speaks faster than the head thinks

Metaphorical Message:
Collective Sacrifice for the Benefit of the Community

3 sheep,  large hoes, 3 machetes

The Commission Organized to Take out the Sign of the Year Wishes you a Happy and Prosperous 2005 Year

www.orishanet.org


Many thanks to Eguin Kolade of www.folkcuba.com for providing the Spanish original to the U.S. Ocha community. You can find the Spanish version at: http://www.folkcuba.com/aa_la_letra_del_ano_2005.htm

The translation from Spanish to English was done by Frank Baba Eyiogbe of OrishaNet (www.orishanet.org). This translation may be copied freely as long as the translation is not sold for profit and the origins are properly cited.