Kojoda 2008 Yoruba Calendar and Festivals.

To Whom It May Concern.

Please download and forward the attached:
2008 Kojoda ati Ajodun Irunmole (2008 Yoruba Calendar and Festivals)

the missiing links == àáeèéẹèéìíoòóọòóùúsṣ ==

Olódùmarè, jè ka morí de ilé, àṣẹ.


Introduction
The philosophy of Yòrúbo is that all humans have Ayanmo (manifest destiny) to become one in spirit with Olódùmarè (Olòrún, the divine creator and source of all energy). Each person in Ayé (the physical realm) uses thought or action energies to impact the community of all other living things including the Earth, and so to move towards destiny. As such, one's destiny is in one's hands. To attain transcedence and destiny in Òrún-Réré (spiritual realm of those who do good and beneficial things), one's Orí-Inu (spiritual consciousness in the physical realm) must be elevated to unify with one's Iponri (Orí Òrún). Those who stop improving are destined for Òrún-Apadi (spiritual realm of the forsaken). Life and death are cycles of habitation in physical body and spiritual realms while one's spirit evolves toward transcendence. This evolution is most advanced in Irùnmolẹ (oní irun, of the unique hair that distincts humans from beasts; imo, enlightened of destiny, ilẹ on the land)
For most people, iwapẹlẹ (balanced culture), meditation and sincere veneration sufficiently strengthen one's Orí-Inu. One is able to gbadúra (pray) for support of the Egungun (one's elevated ancestors) or the Orí-Òrún for application of the Odu (knowledge of all ages) to one's benefit. Those with strong motivation to manipulate destiny may consult the Odu through Ifá (divination sciences) and ẹbò (offering). In invoking the Odu so directly, care is required to ensure alignment of thought and action. The Odu brings into motion either Oríṣà (benevolent or angelic forces) or Ajẹ (malevolent or demonic forces). All communication with the Òrún is energised by invoking Àṣẹ (the essence of Olódùmarè that gives life to all). Àṣẹ is delivered by Ẹlégbara (Eṣu, the divine messenger) who, without distortion or partiality for good or for bad, negotiates communication to the Òrún and navigates Òrún forces to the Ayé.


AJODUN / FESTIVALS


Sere / January


Erele / February

Olokún (Oríṣà of Okún, the deep seas or oceans, patron of sailors, and guardian of souls lost at sea)
Erele 21-25

[U]Erena / March[/U]
Annual rites of passage for men
Erena 12 – 28:

Oduduwa (odudu, the dark pigment; ni ewa, is the beauty) / Iyaagbe (iya, mother; agbe, who receives) = Oríṣà of Earth and matron of the Ayé. The ebony dark skin pigmentation endows the greatest gifts of spirituality, beauty and intellect. Oduduwa as the essence of procreative love, accords sexual potency to the bearer.
Erena 15 – 19:

Oshosi = Oríṣà of Adventure and the hunt
Erena 21 – 24:


April / Igbe

Ogun = Oríṣà of the metal and war crafts, and engineering. The custodian of truth and executioner of justice, as such patron of the legal and counselling professions who must swear to uphold truth while biting on a piece of metal.
Igbe

Oshun (Oríṣà of Fertility and custodian of the female essence. who guides pregnancies to term.
onset of wet season (Spring)
starts last Saturday of April, for 5 days


Ebibi / May

Egungun (Commemoration of the Ancestors, including community founders and illustrious dead.
starts last Saturday of May, for 7 days


Okudu / June
Yoruba New Year
Shopona (Oríṣà of Disease, shopona, small pox is a virual disease) and Osanyin (Oríṣà of Medicine and patron of the healing professions: osan, afternoon; yin, healing)
annual rites of passage for women
Yemoja = matriarch of the Òrún-Rere). Oduduwa gave birth to a boy Aganju (Land) and Yemoja (Water) from marriage to Ọbàtala. Yemoja in turn birthed many other Oríṣà. The old Ile-Ife kingdom arose on her burial site.


Agemo / July

Ọrúnmilà / Ifá = Oríṣà of Divination and founder of the Ifá sciences, whose divination is with 16 palm nuts.
Agemo: first or second weekend in July

Oko (Agriculture) Harvesting of the new Yam crop. Mass gathering of the yoruba

Ẹlégba-Bara (Ẹlégba, one who has power to seize) / Eṣu (shu, to release eject from; ara, the body) = Oríṣà of male essence and Power, who is the great Communicator and messenger of the will of Olódùmarè. No woman should bara (ba ra, to rub with, have intercourse with) a man who has not done Ikola (circumcision: ike, cutting; ola, that saves) in sacrifice to Ẹlégba.
First weekend of July for 3 weeks

Ṣàngo (shan, to strike:/ Jakuta:ja, fight; pelu okuta, with stones. The Oríṣà of Energy – Ara (Thunder) and Manamana, make fire (Lightening) whose divination is with 16 cowries and whose messenger and water-bearer is Oshumare (the Rainbow).
July third week


Ogun / August

Ọbàtálá = (Obà,to possess; ti ala, of visions or Oríṣà-nla, the principal Oríṣà). Patriarch of Òrún-Rere, the heaven of goodly spirits and beneficial ancestors. As Olódùmarè is too powerful and busy to be pre-occupied by the affairs of any one living being. Ọbàtálá functions as the principal emissary of Olódùmarè on Aye, and is the custodian of Yoruba culture. The aso ala (white cloth) worn by Ọbàtálá initiates is to signify need to be pure in intent and action: A recurring punishment for social misfits was to try to keep white cloth clean in Africa's tropical and dusty climate. The misappropriation of aso-ala connection to Ọbàtálá was/is a major weapon against the Yoruba in their psychological resistance of foreign invasion, as Christian and Islamic converts were/are indoctrinated that anything considered 'white' is pure: a notion that has also become a key tenet of racialist supremacy
August last weekend


Owere / September


Owaro / October

Oya (Oríṣà of the odo Oya (river Niger) whose messenger is Afefe (the Wind), and guardian of gateway between the physical realm (Aye) and the spiritual realm (Òrún).
Oṣun (Oríṣà of the odo Oṣun and patron of the (sovereign) Ijebu nation
October third weekend
Onset of the dry season (Autumn)

Shigidi (Oríṣà of Òrún-Apadi, the realm of the unsettled spirits and the ghosts of the dead that have left Aye and are forsaken of Òrún-Rere. Custodian of nightmares and patron of assassins.
Solemn candlelight to guide the unsettled away from your residence, else they settle in your dolls or other toys.
October 30 World Slavery Day?


Belu / November


Ope / December
Obajulaiye (Oríṣà of Ṣòwò (Commerce) and owo (wealth).
Ope 15
Onset of the second dry season (winter solstice)