One of the major tenets of Ifa is iwa-pele, which means gentle and balanced character. Although iwa-pele is a major tenet of Ifa, it is also one of the most unknown and least mentioned. Initiates and non-initiates are encouraged to develop their character so that they can improve their lives from the inside out. The Odu-Ifa is filled with moral lessons that call for the development of iwa-pele.
Irete Meji - Develop gentle and balanced character in order to win the rope
of life.
Ogbe-Osa - It is goodness that the divinities support.
This historical account taken from the odu Ofun-Osa shows an example of why an individual should strive to attain iwa-pele:
"There was a time, when all of the negating forces gathered together and they were coming down to wipe out mankind. They faced all of the African deities. The deities had failed. The forces were coming nearer to the Earth. The elders gathered together and said, "What must we do?! We know that the gate is open and the demons are coming forth! All of the deities have failed! What must we do?!" So they called on the perfect human being and they said, "Ototo Eniyan, you being an avatar of the first man, what must we do?" This individual said, "Give me the horn that sounds across the universe and I will sound for mankind." When he did the head of the negating forces, the most power demon came, summoned by the perfect one; He said, "What is it that you wish? We are on the way to slay humankind!" Ototo Eniyan said, "You must not slay humankind." "Why?!" "Because I have the answer," he said. The demon said, "Well, what is the answer?" He said, "I will teach humankind to better their character. They must better themselves. It is not who or what they worship in the final analysis, it is how they see one another and how they react amongst their nations and how they face themselves." The demon said, "If you can do these things, then
mankind will be saved."
So Ototo Eniyan went back to Earth and he said to all the people, "Cease wickedness. Cease your evil ways. Confess to the Almighty, live by the primordial wisdom and you will be saved."
Iwa-pele sits at the threshold of the development of the individual. It is only a beginning. Even though it is a beginning, it must be attained before all other levels of development. The emphasis on the mundane levels of material attainment causes major issues and problems within the individual and within the religion itself. This emphasis overshadows the religious endeavor and perpetuates the negative stereotypes given to African religions.
One must also take into account that the development of good character produces a shield around the individual who has attained it. Baba Olaoluwa Fasade states in his book, The Orisha Speaks, "Character is like an orisha. If we behave right, it supports us." To not attain it allows the negating forces to penetrate an individual's spiritual fabric and literally "feed" on the them.
In certain instances, seekers come to a diviner believing that they are under the influence of negating forces when in actuality it is the actions of the individual that has opened the gate for them to enter. Iwa-Pele is the element that not only closes off the spiritual fabric to the negating forces, it also opens the gate for the divinities to elevate and bless a devotee.
An excerpt from "Path to Priesthood-The Making of an African
Priest in an American World"
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