Well, it looks like our little ile has encountered one of those situations wherein prescribed ebbo must be made for the Iyami Aje, since we are mostly witches. According to the Obi, ideally we should do it ourselves, but I’m not sure our members are really ready for it. We will need to humanely dispatch:
- 1 male goat
- 3 roosters
- and 6 large rats
In addition to this, we need to give some palm oil, corn meal, gin, and other things. Our Eshus like a lot of sweets.
I am thinking that one of the reasons the Ancestors would prefer if we did it ourselves rather than outsourcing to the temples in Africa may be more than connectivity related. We are probably one of the most creative groups in the diaspora as far as getting things done and adapting to our unique situation. We always find a way.
For the male goat, we can sponsor a Bedouin feast. The three roosters can be gotten from a local farm, and one of us can deal with them in the queen’s back yard. The rats can be acquired through and dispatched by an exterminator. There are giant, impressive, almost handsome ones in Mercaz Hacarmel.
Here, it is fairly easy to find animals who will have only “one bad day”. The problem is that this day shouldn’t be worse than it needs to be. We really need a shochet in the ile. I mean we needed one years ago, but now it is critical because it is a bad year for certain energy, and though it will pass, especially since we are active, observant, and giving regular offerings and community ebbo, the recommended official ebbo will ensure it passes quickly. It also helps to sustain our connection with the Motherland.
After doing some calling around, whether we do the ebbo ourselves properly or have it done on our behalf by a temple in Africa, it will cost about the same. So the price of doing it correctly isn’t the issue. It is a matter of skill and readiness. I hope the Orishas bring us a solution soon. One of the advices from the last Ifa festival was to be quick about doing ebbo when the need is known. So just in case, I have contacted a couple of priests in Nigeria.
I have a good feeling though. Maybe we will do both. We’ll see how the budget and timing goes.
