I am now realizing that how I write on the blog and all my experiences that I have recounted here for you all to learn from and perhaps for all the words of “wisdom” (gained through experience) that I share with you all on my blog, many people would envision an old woman. I have written extensively about my life and about getting pregnant while I was still in high school, and to be honest with you, I do not regret being so honest and opening up to all of whom I do not know. It is never wise to judge a person, I always say this, because you do not know what lies ahead of you in your life, and I was shocked yesterday when having a conversation with a blogger, she said that there are many people who read or peep on the blog who may not like me, (we were discussing the unfortunate event which occurred on the blog a few nights ago when someone came on and disrespected me), “not like me?” I recoiled in my mind, although I said nothing. The thought was something that never crossed my mind. In my mind, I see people who are free with me, loving towards me as I am to them, I never imagined for a second that people would read the blog and not like me. Then again, I have told you all over and over again that I can at times be naive, it is a small glitch in my astrological sign, I am an Aries and this is said of them, and for me , I know it is true. I do not think negatively at all, nor do I look out for negative things, expecting them to come. I know that enemies are around, but I am confident in my role as a being, (not necessarily human) and my attitude and behavior toward people, animals and also nature, so I know that no enemies can succeed over me.
The Laws of the universe I try not to break, this is way different from the laws of the bible, as I am not Christian, but there are a few there that deserves to be honored. I am a defender by nature, when I initiated Osun some years ago, I was given a brass spear, we in Africa call it Alagada. It is a beautiful brass spear, and it belongs to the path of Osun who is a warrior. I recentlyspoke to an Osun woman and she was surprised that I have such a spear, for there aren’t too many Osun women who carry such, and by having it, it tells someone who is knowledgeable who exactly I am.I believe she has a new found respect from me since that day I revealed this to her. As a child of Osun, I feel happy, light, great in my spirit, mind body and soul.
I am ever youthful, in my looks and actions, contrary to what many of you here may believe (I do not see how you arrive at the thought, lol) I am not old, at least in the physical.I am still of child bearing age. I make this reference due to the disrespectful young lady who alluded to me being Lucy, the oldest fossil ever to be found. Yet I am an elder, I am! When I initiated Egbe Sometime ago, along with my children, both my children, who are very good young ladies ( I tell the truth, I am not one to have secrets or hide, if they were bad children I would not mention them at all, because then I would probable class dem to the whole ah oonuh, ah just so mi stay, and I am sure you all realise it by now, I do not know how to pretend) were warned to always respect their elders.
The youngest one whispered to me that she felt funny being told that because she is never disrespectful ( and this is the truth), while the older one (who is very funny, as in ha ha) whispered to me and said, “Oh my God mommy, why?, old people are so annoying at times” we laughed together because she works with them in a hospital where she sees patients and says that some are hard to deal with, while some are so sweet. I however understood the wisdom of Ifa and why he warned them, and it was when we were alone that I got the opportunity to explain to them the wisdom of Ifa and why he warned them.
Old people, it matters not man or woman good or bad have developed as they travelled along lifes path and through their experiences certain knowledge and wisdom. They may not know it, but they are the embodiment of many things that they witnessed or experienced during their time on earth. The reason why they have gotten to the age that they are now and being regarded as old or an elder is because they have passed many life tests and challenges and have come through life’s obstacle course, which adds another year to their time on the earth’s realm. However when Ifa speaks like this to an initiate, or any persons he chooses to warn, he warns them to always respect an elder because of the Iyamis, witch people, elders of the night, night people, Iyami Osoronga.
Ifa sees that the initiate may at times be impatient or perhaps may pass an elder by without greeting them or see an elder who needs help and ignore them, or be rude to that person in whatever way or more, and perhaps out of a thousand elders who the initiate or the person have passed, one is an Iyami (witch) who becomes offended by the actions of this person and so problem can come just like that, in the blink of an eye you life ca be turned upside down,and unbeknownst to you, is the granny whom you pushed or cursed the day before was an elder, an elder, meaning a witch. In Africa elders are held in high regard, no one passes an elders without greeting them. This use to be so in Jamaica where I was born, I am not sure if this is still like that there. In America, there seems to be no regard toward an elder, either one of age, or one of knowledge. Respecting your elders is important for ones spiritual growth and development. If you are on a spiritual path, and many people are not, this is something I am just now realizing, then the ego as I have pointed out before in other posts, has to be killed, and humility replaces your first name. Now let me just mention that whatever I write here is how I feel, what I know and how I live my life. I have no need to be pretentious.
What you see is what you get accept me as I am or not at all. My grandmother was very miserable, she would cry whenever my mother would take us to visit her in the country when we lived in Jamaica, but the next day as we settled in, she became mean at times and would “miserable up herself” , as how we speak in Jamaican. As old as my mother was, this was her mother and she would cry if my grandmother shouted at her, or stay quiet when the woman spoke harshly. I only see this now in Africa, this form of respect is dying out. Disrespecting an elder is disrespecting their heads and all who walks with them. It matters not if they are bad, and some are, they were not born old after all, and some have done some thing’s in their lifetime, but that is not our business for us to judge them especially if we do not know their lives. When we see them, we must greet them. If they need our assistance we must help them. If you see them standing in the bus or train give up YOUR SEAT.
In Africa when an elder meets you along the way they will pray for you, we say Àṣẹ or amen depending your religion, we want their prayers,because they have over time, developed Àṣẹ in their mouths and so their prayers are answered quickly. After my grandmother made her transition she visited me many times, warning me of wicked enemies and giving me instructions on how to help myself, had I not been a good child, would her spirit feel free to come and assist me or my mother?.
Below is an article I included in a post I made with the same title as this post; In the Asian society, the elderly are respected and looked up to. Unfortunately, in our society this is not always true. Older people in our society are sometimes viewed as a nuisance and not valued for the wonderful people they are. The medical community can be very harsh on the elderly by using the justification that they have already lived their lives. They tend to ignore conditions that would never be ignored on a younger person. My mother would not have lived to eighty-nine without my intervention. There seems to be a misnomer in society that older people are useless and have nothing to contribute Seniors are sometimes told that they are useless or just simply ignored. They are people with feelings that are a bit older and would like to enjoy the same respect and joy that a younger person enjoys. You see the elderly working at the Wal-Mart doors. They also work with the county to use their skills and knowledge to help the people who are starting out in business. They are the volunteers at hospitals (pink ladies). They man many of the soup kitchens and are an asset to our community. They are the Grand Mothers and Grand Fathers of our children. These people are our Mothers and Fathers, and they deserve our love and respect. They are the people who know how to get things done. We owe a lot of our successes in life to our seniors.
They are the ones that have gone before us to show us the way, (From senior service.co) This is from said post written some years ago, the words are from me Obara Meji; I have seen this new generation of people across the world, disrespect their elders often, although I must say I have never seen it in Africa, It is Our Elders that we learn from, the ones who pass down oral tradition, they must be revered! Growing up in Jamaica, when our neighbor Miss Will would make trouble, when she and my mother would argue, being very protective of my mother, I would try to join with my mom to curse Miss Will. As soon as my mother heard me she would slap me and tell me to shut up, this was between big people. Afterwards she would lecture me, telling me that Miss Will was a grown woman and I should never disrespect her, If I see her carrying bags I should offer to help her or if she falls and I am around I should not walk away, rather I should help her, the only caution she gave me was if she offered me food, drinks, or candy I should refuse, but do so politely. In the traditional practice of IFA/ORISHA, it is not only important that we honor our elders by theirs physical age, but also by theirs spiritual age too, the wealth of spiritual knowledge that they possess and how long have they been initiates.
When I travel to Ogun State, Nigeria and I go on my God Fathers compound, I immediately drop to my knees, and grasp his right leg, and greet him while he prays for me. Parents we must instill this in our children, they do not say, Miss this or Mr. that any more. No Good morning, evening or night when ever they call or come around!! why? Where are the Please and the thank you. Gone are the days when youngsters did not curse in front of the elders. Shame!! What has the world come to, then is it any wonder that nature is turning against human beings. There is a quote by James Baldwin that says; “Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they never fail to imitate them” I am a spiritualist/traditionalist. This is my way, my path, I came from heaven to earth to be who I am. I give respect to all.
The person who write here everyday, me Obara Meji, is the same person in real life. I give respect and I believe that I carry myself in a way to receive same. Spiritual people, ones with knowledge of what is beyond this world, true ones, are to be respected, they are your elders no matter their age. Respect them and see how you grow. Do not take what you have for granted or one day you will regret it. To this day I miss Mr. Mitchel, Mr. Pierre and my Padrino, they were not only my elders chronologically but they were my elders spiritually, and I respected them and loved them greatly. When I was in labor with my last child, Padrino was alive then, but we were not in contact, I saw him come to me dressed as he always does in full white, using eggs to clear me, so that I could have a safe delivery as I was under spiritual attack. After Mr. Pierre died, he came to me in a dream and gave me some candles of specific colors and wet me from head to toe with water, (it was his way of telling me that I was a child of Osun, at the time I had no idea, and he blessed me also while doing so). Mr. Mitchell came to me and smiled happily with me, just to show me how pleased he was with me. I have made myself accessible to people because I want to be there for whoever needs me, but I am now realizing that I am being taken for granted by many and have recently been disrespected by some. I do not deserve it, this I know for sure. The time will come when many will regret their actions, but I will be alright.
Tí orí kan bá sunwọ̀n á ran’gba. / If one head (a person) is blessed, hundreds others will be positively affected….Yoruba Proverb! [Success is contagious] Everything comes when it must, and everything happens for a reason, do not hurry your life, what is destined for you, cannot escape you, just keep the faith, be patient and be prayerful, filled with compassion, kindness and respect for all, let these qualities be among your name, God will fill in the rest…..Obara Meji! All religions are valid as long as it teaches peace and love….Obara Meji There are no disappointments in life, only lessons learned!….Obara Meji
Good morning ES family. The one thing I always try and do is respect my elders. There are some that have me biting my tongue til it bleed, as to how miserable they are. But for the most part I look to elders for wisdom and love as I only have one grandmother left who I’ve never been really close to. Now she is trying to make peace and show love to myself and my sisters but it is hard to get use to it because we were basically treated as outsiders when we were young. One of my sisters… Read more »
Respect, Kwame, Iba to you where ever you are in the real of time and space
https://atlantablackstar.com/2015/07/02/kwame-ture-gives-one-clearest-explanation-haiti-center-african-liberation-west/
OONUH KNOW MI LOVE SHARE AND MI LITTLE BABY DAUGHTER SENT ME THIS AND i AM SHARING….BOOMMMMMM!!!! DE YUTA AH GWAN GOOD!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiKVBGWa2EQ&feature=youtu.be
Obara, you notice the “new breed” of elders? or persons falling into that category…
Yes cami, mi so dem missis
Happy 4th everyone. Obara I called you, but your phone was off. Love and light everyone.
Toy! O need to tell me if you and I share spirit group. lol hope all is well with you and family.
Hi Obara and ESP family. The elders may sometimes be annoying to us as they get older, but they teach us so much about life and for that they should always be respected. Respect starts in the home.
Yes Caroline I made an error there.
Happy Fourth of July to all!
Maw in nunu and Ty and everyone
Good morning folks! Have a blessed day
Good morning Nunu and Esp crew!!!
Happy 4th of July to everyone.
Ty, and everyone, good day. Obara you done know me love you from jump street. now to this love thy elders, you big daughter have a. slid point, lol!.
I’ve always maintained that the elders that deserve me full respect is those of blood ties, living and gone. other than that I’be been respectful towards seniors, with the exception of a few that walked in my path (made my spirit cross) and with those exceptions it’s like I saw them in their younger years and it was not good.
“I make this reference due to the disrespectful young lady who alluded to me being Lucy, the oldest fossil ever to be found.” Obara Meji LMAO!!! You are too funny!!! When Drake kissed Madonna he said he tasted fossils. Now SHE is old, smh. I have never heard of this spear but knew about the warrior path of Oshun so thank you for shedding more light on it. Some people don’t like you? That doesn’t surprise me. This backwards world and the things that live inside them are hostile to your kind, sad but true. The greatest are always… Read more »
Night Obara ive been calling u n emailed u.
Ty it does…makes me wonder if i will live so long. If mi a luk good n be as vibrant. If i will be blessedto be in my sane mind at that age…too have many storms but to still see the calms n endure without devastation
I have a granny thats nearing 100. She miserable is a shame! i try keep my head with her even tho she try me nerves often. I always remember she full a knowledge n must be here for a reason. God needs her on earth a while longer.
Hey Kb, so wonderful you have your grandmother around, mine is no longer here …
Night my sista TY hope all is well Yes she is a gem. ツ
Kb, sometimes seeing your grandma, does it make you think of how u will be at her age?
Hi Dee Jaylin, Kb how are you
Im homeeeeee!!! feel like i been away too long hi Obara everybody good night let me read n catch up
Good evening All.
Obara, don’t let those who have not found their purpose in life get under your skin with their foolishness.
You are loved and appreciated by many, so frig anybody who have a problem with that!
Continue to shine your light, like the morning star and don’t let any incident, circumstance, man, woman or child dim it, even for second.
Haha. Hi Ty, and everyone. Hope today has been a good day. 🙂
Hello ty and all. Thanks Ty
Hi Ty 🙂
Where are my manners? Mi just a chat and a galaang….
Pleasant evening to all the Esp crew….
Hi and hello to Nelle, Cher, Obara, Ebony, and Carpediem…
My grandmother used to tell me manners will carry you far in the world and I believe her…our society has lost this wonderful principle and I pray that Africa continues to carry it on…
Obara it takes a strong and incredible woman to have a child as a teenager and raise that child well….you did a great job with your children and should be proud….
Ignore people who know no better… When they become a mother and see how hard it is, they will understand the err of their ways…
Greetings everyone. I think there is a kind of beauty in the elderly that very intriguing; what soul! what wisdom! What a lifetime of experience they can share.
Obara, the knowledge you share on this blog; not to mention all your candid and ‘keeping it real’ posts about your experiences, is truly an inspiration to me and so many of your bloggers. Thank you. We can all learn from your positive and bubbly personality 🙂
Bubbly, lol I like that, thank you @Ebony
lol; yes, bubbly…effervescent…colorful Obara Meji…full of flavor and LOVE 🙂
Hi Carpe
Greetings Obara! I am thankful for your wise teachings. I agree with with Nellie, you are appreciated, valued and loved by many. The people who have issues are those who are envious of your knowledge, wisdom, spirit and talent.
Thank you Cher
Obara you have been blessed with so much wisdom and knowledge and you are so willing in sharing it to help others along the way, to me that is no ordinary thing you were chosen. I honestly appreciate everyone of your articles and life lessons you have shared on this forum that I was able to read so far. I have met a lot of people in my lifetime and none quite like you with such experiences and humor that I personally can relate to (it nuh normal ) I can always relate to something you write about through my… Read more »
Hey Cher
Greetings Obara and fellow bloggers. Thanks for always sharing and teaching such valuable lessons Obara.
Hi Nelle
If you are taken for granted, it is by a minuscule minority. You are appreciated and valued by many! Don’t fret or change.
Is there a dedicated area where one can go on this site to browse/exchange testimonials? I’ve seen a couple in comments but haven’t yet found a specific link if it exists.
My grandma came to me recently in a dream, during one of my very dark periods. Ever grateful for that visit; wish I could have even one more conversation with her.
Hey Nelle, so wonderful to hear of your grandmothers visit…those are always precious moments that remained etched in our psyche and memories…