Is there a Kemetic counterpart to Irunmole

[Nebkheperura]

Brotha Baba Ifasehun.

As an initated Babalawo, can you give me an in depth description of what are Irunmole, and if they have a counterpart in the Kemetic cosmological system.

I am trying to learn as much as I can about Ifa and the Medu Neter. Your knowledge and guidance of Traditional African Religion is highly valued in my opinion.

[IfasehunReincarnated]

Point of clarity, I am not a Babalawo. - I am a Baba L'Orisa. I am initiated to Olokun. I am formal devotee of Ifa, having received Awo'Fakan several years prior to going on to get initiated. I participate in many activities of Ifa society, but my priesthood is Olokun. (I guess its the name that throws people off?? lol)

There are priests of varying tradition on the site at present from many traditions including Kemetic, Akan, Yoruba, Dahomian, Congolese, etc. And I suspect even more that haven't private messaged me yet. I wouldn't pretend to have a vast knowledge, just a steady commitment of 16yrs. (2 of which have been as a priest.) Nothing more, nothing less. This is important when we notice there are with elders with 30 yrs of priesthood and maybe another 10 yrs as devotees that would say they know next to nothing, but are obviously great and wise.

With that said, Irunmole are the primordial energies from which Olodumare created the first existence. They are said to be the first residents of Creation and aided Olodumare in extending that Creation to include us, our universe (and all universes) and the known and unknown inhabitants of said Creation. Most of the Orisa that we worship are also Irunmole as well, being very ancient. Babalawo Fasina Falade recounts that Orisa were Orunmole that decided to incarnate on Earth and leave a legacy for us to follow and then subsequently returned to that state upon death. As a result of having leaved on Earth and then those "newer Orisa" that lived on Earth and were Deified are now called Deified Ancestors. Because we all strive to "become Orisa", although you see both people that are opposed to that idea and others that agree, must misunderstand that concept. (I won't try to go too indepth as I have some time constraints.)

Your question of Kemetic coorelations is interesting. (Although I do far far less comparative studying now than I did 10 years ago.) I am a little embarassed to say I can't say definitively either way. I need to look through my notes and see if any teacher has mentioned such a thing to me before.

[rebelAfrika]

Keep us updated I.R. ...This is INTERESTING!!!

[Kweku_Omowale]

Originally Posted by rebelAfrika*AAPRP

Keep us updated I.R. ...This is INTERESTING!!!

i concur with ya brother rebelafrika this ol afrikan man is always learning hehe,and even when we reach 100 years of age still learning

[Venusian]

I am not (obviously) the person whose assistance you requested but perhaps I can share something that will help with your studies.

In regards to "Kemet", you may be seeking what is often called the Ogdoad or 8 Primorodials (popular versions of their name are Nu, Nut, Hehu, Hehut, Keku, Kekut, Kerh and Kerhet), which were before the more widely acknowledged Ntru most of us are familiar with (i.e. those presented in RUNA's Tree of Life System).

I have also come across sources that suggest there were 12 Ntrs before the 8 Primorodials/Ogdoad and that before them there was another (one singular diety or essence).

HTH

Best wishes on your studies!

[Nebkheperura]

Originally Posted by IfasehunReincarnated

Point of clarity, I am not a Babalawo. - I am a Baba L'Orisa. I am initiated to Olokun. I am formal devotee of Ifa, having received Awo'Fakan several years prior to going on to get initiated. I participate in many activities of Ifa society, but my priesthood is Olokun. (I guess its the name that throws people off?? lol)

There are priests of varying tradition on the site at present from many traditions including Kemetic, Akan, Yoruba, Dahomian, Congolese, etc. And I suspect even more that haven't private messaged me yet. I wouldn't pretend to have a vast knowledge, just a steady commitment of 16yrs. (2 of which have been as a priest.) Nothing more, nothing less. This is important when we notice there are with elders with 30 yrs of priesthood and maybe another 10 yrs as devotees that would say they know next to nothing, but are obviously great and wise.

With that said, Irunmole are the primordial energies from which Olodumare created the first existence. They are said to be the first residents of Creation and aided Olodumare in extending that Creation to include us, our universe (and all universes) and the known and unknown inhabitants of said Creation. Most of the Orisa that we worship are also Irunmole as well, being very ancient. Babalawo Fasina Falade recounts that Orisa were Orunmole that decided to incarnate on Earth and leave a legacy for us to follow and then subsequently returned to that state upon death. As a result of having leaved on Earth and then those "newer Orisa" that lived on Earth and were Deified are now called Deified Ancestors. Because we all strive to "become Orisa", although you see both people that are opposed to that idea and others that agree, must misunderstand that concept. (I won't try to go too indepth as I have some time constraints.)

Your question of Kemetic coorelations is interesting. (Although I do far far less comparative studying now than I did 10 years ago.) I am a little embarassed to say I can't say definitively either way. I need to look through my notes and see if any teacher has mentioned such a thing to me before.

Baba Ifasehun, thanks alot for clearing up a few things.

I've read a few passages of how Babalawo Fasina Falade described 4 orders of Priests beginning with 1.Baba Olowus 2.Babalawos 3. Iyanifa and 4 Baba L'Orisas. Do these priesthoods denote levels of enlightenment and initiation?

Also, Baba Fasina Falade talked about Non-priest being initiated into Ifa to receive there Odu/Destiny, Kosetaye/Esetaye. And how all devotees of Ifa must learn the ways of communicating with the Irunmole, Orisa and Egun. How we must pray every morning before we start our day to Oludumare, the Irunmole, the Orisa and the Egun. How we must act with good and balanced character at all times.

What I'm getting at is, I'm going to go for a reading in a week or so at Ile Imole Ifa in East Orange N.J., by the way thanks for posting the info on this Ile Brotha. What I want to know is, at what point do I get initiated into my odu/destiny? would it be after going through years of learning and displaying Iwa Pele, or would the priest make this determination upon my initial session of divination?

You gave an list of things I should ask a priest upon going for divination. Perhaps you have already answered my question.