Today's Ifa/Orisa Affirmation:Eye-ile (eyele) Yoruba; Pigeon (English); Paloma (Spanish)

[Yeye Olomitutu]

A Yourba proverb says, "Adun ni ngbeyin ewuro." When translated literally, the sentence says, "Sweetness ends the bitter taste of ewuro." Ewuro is a very popular Yoruba vegetable. For its herbal property, ewuro is (a) the first aid for a simple stomach upset, (b) a protective shield against negative forces when planted around the house or in the yard, and (c) it is the remedy against breast-feeding (when a mother wants to wean her baby off breast milk). Ewuro in the above proverb refers to its two different tastes: acrid, sour taste and sweet, bitter taste. The clue to ewuro's double taste is in its mildly tedious preparation. We will now go over the preparations from its simplest form. We will start with its remedy on breast feeding, #c above. One of Ewuro's leaves is enough for usage. It is rinsed, first. The single leave is crushed lightly with one hand, right handed or left handed—it does not matter—and the moist ewuro is rubbed on both nipples. The bitter taste discourages a baby from reaching for the breast when hungry; the baby will start reaching for solid food until completely weaned off breast milk*. As remedy against stomach upset, #b above, a handful of ewuro's leaves is plucked off the shrub or the tree (depending on the maturity of the ewuro). The leaves are washed to get rid of other useful creatures that would not be part of the intended preparation—soil, friendly worm/s, and cricket/s. A clean bowl and a glassful, or two-glassfuls, of water stand/s bye. Pour the water into the bowl. Add the washed ewuro to the bowl. Crush and squeeze the ewuro for about two minutes. It will foam. When finished, use your hand as a filter (traditional method) or use a conventional filter to remove the crushed ewuro. Add a pinch of salt. The remedy against non-serious stomach upset is ready. Beware! The taste is bitter, and it is really bitter. A glassful is enough. Most times, the one-time, glassful dosage brings relief*. #A** is the delicacy aspect of ewuro, and it is the version from which the proverb in reference evolved. The preparation is really tedious. It starts with plucking lots of ewuro leaves, and shredding them with a knife. Then, washing the leaves first, putting the leaves in a big bowl of water, adding a spoonful of salt to the combination, crushing the leaves, and squeezing the leaves in the bowl of water with both hands. Next will be the intermittent draining of the water (traditional or conventional method) from the squeezed ewuro and refilling with clean, fresh water; squeezing continuously, and dealing with its foamy combination in the process. Depending on expertise, the process can last between thirty minutes and one hour. Huge reduction of the foaming process, or its skimpy state, is an indication that the ewuro has been ridden of its acrid, bitter taste. At this stage, the taste would have gone from acrid bitterness to a sweet-bitter taste. Also, the hands would have acquired a coloration of green. In particular, the fingernails will be stained green and the stain will last a couple of days or longer. Ewuro is ready for Yoruba's nationally acclaimed obe ewuro (ewuro stew), of which any of the two particularly popular kinds of melon seeds (sunflower seeds might pass for one of them) is a principal additional. It is from this process of ewuro that the proverb "Adun ni ngbeyin ewuro" (there is sweetness after the tedious process of ewuro) evolved. A good equivalent to this Yoruba proverb will be an English saying, "There is light at the end of the tunnel." From this bitter-sweet cultural analogy also comes its spiritual significance with eye ile (house bird—a pet)—known in English as pigeon and in Spanish as paloma, respectively, for the benefit of all of in the group. According to Ifa, eyele used to live in the woods. Then came a man who was distraught with his life. The man was intent on suicide. Since killing oneself was never an option in Yoruba traditional, cultural, and spiritual lifestyle, the man devised a discrete means to his mission: he went to the woods with the weapon of choice at the time—a rope. Meanwhile, he had had a consultation with a Babalawo. Ebo was recommended and he did ebo. Even with the ebo to the Orisas done on his behalf by the Babalawo, his economic condition seemed the same. It will take about two pages to expatiate on the man's apparent condition after the ebo was done; so, we will leave that to the trained Babalawo, who already knows the reasons, and continue on with our focus. The particular eyes (birds) in the woods, the ones in reference here, foiled his attempt. The "Kiki Ifa" (Chants/messages in English and Patakis in Spanish) continue and end with the man's decision to thank Odumare (via Ifa "Orunmila") in his own unique. The uniqueness of his gratitude included recognition of the roles the eyes played in his life at that moment of intense cloudiness in his life. His decision included the name for his divine pet: eye-ile (eye ti o ye ile, eyele***—bird that deserves to live in the house [with him]), he kept a lot of them. For those of us who might be going through the anguish of the effect of our economic situation, which is global in nature, remember the proverb above—Adun ni ngbeyin ewuro—light at the end of the tunnel. In addition, remember the drastic decision of our man in the above story. DO NOT go there. Whatever situation one might be, it is not that bad to warrant such thoughts. Good morning! And wishing us IRE gbogbo (all ire, los todos ?Buenos?). Please, claim this good wishes and keep the good wishes because Ifa says, Yiye ni nye eyele, dide ni nde adaba l'orun (Eyeles meets with recognition, dove meets comfort—both being birds with uniquely divine lores). Chief FAMA Ileorunmila. com *I hereby discourage anyone from trying the remedes. In the alternative, for whoever wants to try them to consult with his/her medical doctor. **Guidance from a Yoruba cook will be needed. *** Eyele is a contraction of eye-ile. Ire O ! Apetebi Yeye Olomitutu