DESTINY'S SOUL

DESTINY'S SOUL

Whether we talk about Albert Einstein, Dr. Balogun (university professor), my Compadre or movie character Nicolas Sparks, we find they have a specific common factor that they agree upon.  What is it that they are in agreement with?  Destiny exists!

“Everything is determined, the beginning as well as the end, by forces over which we have no control.  It is determined for the insect, as well as for the stars, human beings, vegetables, or cosmic dust, we all dance to a mysterious tune, intoned in the distance by an invisible piper.” Albert Einstein

“Destiny or predestination is the belief that every person has his biography written before coming to the world which consequently implies that anything one does is not something done out of free will but something done in fulfillment of preordained history.” Dr. Balogun indicates that at the “moment of birth one makes an unconscious choice of destiny.”   “With birth our memories of that choice are “erased” thus making it possible for a person to embark on a project which his Ori did not choose, that is, for which he is not predestined.  Failure is the result of such efforts.” This a study thesis on Ori (soul/personal spirit) that was published in the Nordic Journal of African Studies, by Dr. Oladele Balogun, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria.   

“Ori (soul/head) chooses a destiny within a split second prior to birth.   This choice is quickly forgotten, thus creating the need to seek out our destiny, in order to live an existence of good blessings.”   My cherished Compadre, Ifa Priest Ojuani Pokon.

“There are winds of destiny that blow when we least expect them.  Sometimes they gust with the fury of a hurricane; sometimes they barely fan one’s cheek. But the winds cannot be denied, bringing as they often do a future that is impossible to ignore.” Nicolas Sparks, from the movie, Message in a Bottle

The thing is that we may not know what our destiny is nor may we recognize destiny when we are in its midst.  This is what makes it so difficult to determine what we should be doing to align with and follow our personal path.   One thing is certain, if we are not in alignment and we do not pay attention to the road signs we will soon begin to experience loss, tragedy and suffer a variety of other disappointments.  This by the way, is how we know we are off track, at which point we begin to re-align with our destiny.  Alignment is sacred and vital to one’s peace of mind and happiness.  You are entitled to live a peaceful life and be happy and believe it or not you will align and find your destiny!!!

DINNER, GHOSTS AND THE HEAD

Sunday Dinner

Tigger’s mother (Mima) was a great cook.  I have very fond memories of arroz con pollo and platanitos maduro .   This is still my favorite comfort food.   I soon realized if I wanted to eat at Tiggers on Sunday, I most definitely needed to manage my learning skills as it pertained to speaking Spanish.   Immediately after Tigger's family moved in to the home across the street, I came to the realization that “Americana” was my new nickname.  Or at least the name I was given at Tigger’s house.   “Quieres comer?”  Now we are talking.   I was about to feast on the most delectable meal around.   Now speaking Spanish was paramount to my happy tummy and vital for the many things that were yet to come. 

Ghosts

Ghost stories were rampant at Tigger’s.  We would tell the usual scary stories.    Tigger always had a new story about an old lady that lived with them at their home.  Was the old lady part of the family? Had she moved in with them?  Where did she sleep?  I had yet to see her but Tigger swore she lived there.  I guessed I would meet her soon.  And so I did!

Beads and the Stone

Tigger’s home was decorated differently, smelled enticingly delicious and even the music was something I had never experienced.   She had “strange stuff” at her house.   Nothing I had ever seen before.  However, I found all of these differences mysteriously familiar.   Mima wore multi-colored beads that looked different than hippie beads.  These were not made of wood nor did they have a peace sign hanging from them.  I was oddly attracted to their unique beauty. 

Inside of an octagonal end table lived a stone head that you could see only when the table doors were open.   The head had what looked like eyes, a nose and a mouth made from……….shells?  It had a feather sticking out of the top of the head.  Was it a bird?  I had a parakeet at home but our bird looked nothing like this little guy.  Besides, the head drank coffee and smoked cigars.  

Odd? Yes!  Scary? No.  Strangely, I felt a bond that attracted me to these cultural differences.  Without realizing it, I was on the road to my destiny.