by James Weeks | May 23, 2013 | Blog
The fight is on…
Chief Aseda
A nasty battle in the Spirit World, but my elders in Nigeria say we’ll win.
That’s what my friend, Ade Kunle, revealed to me on a gorgeous Sunday in Oakland. “We have to fight the ajes (witches),” he told me in Yoruba. This was not the kind of conversation I was hoping to have on a lovely Sunday afternoon.
I just wanted a little exercise…
So there I was, getting ready to walk around Lake Merritt, soaking in the sun, the salsa music, the fresh air and BOOM – next thing I know, I run into Ade Kunle and he starts talking about witches.
On a Sunday afternoon — my Sunday afternoon.
But I suppose it was a conversation that needed to happen. At least, that’s what the elders say.
But why?
Well, according to Ade Kunle, who was speaking on behalf of the elders, who, in turn, were speaking on behalf of Ifa, the ajes needed to be appeased with a major sacrifice or they would retaliate against my family.
And things could get ugly, Ade Kunle added. Very ugly. In fact, “eniyan le ku (someone could die).
But why were the witches so pissed off that “eniyan le ku?”
Well, because I’m an Ifa priest and I’ve busy “undoing” the work of the ajes. See, some ajes are up to no good. They wreak havoc in folk’s lives. So whenever I help a client spiritually, though the power of Ifa, I’m basically undoing the work of ajes.
I mean, think about it. Put yourself in the shoes of the ajes for one minute. If you’ve been busy creating problems for folks, and some Ifa priest comes along and messes up your work, wouldn’t you be pissed off?
Be honest, now. Not even a little bit?
To be fair, not all ajes are up to no good, so don’t get it twisted. In fact, some ajes are friends of humanity. My friend, Ade Kunle, says there many kinds of ajes. But in the interest of simplicity, (at least for now), let’s just say that “Aje funfun” are your friends and “aje alakita” are your foes.
Even though I’m sure it’s a waaaaaaaay more complicated than that…
In this on-line article, the well-known Iyanifa, Chief Fama, says there’s a “huge difference between the aje of Yoruba mythology and the witch of Western mythology. The analogy here can best be compared to Esu of the Yorùbá myth and Satan/Devil of the Christian mythology. Just as Esu wields a powerful influence in Yorùbá religion, Aje wields enormous power,” Fama says.
I suppose it’s great to know that ajes can be a force of good in our world. And who knows, maybe one day I’ll have the pleasure of meeting and working with them.
But in the meantime, the elders said we need to deal with the ajes that were threatening to kick down the front door and take innocent lives as they please.
And so the elders did an ebo in Nigeria that went on every day for three weeks. I’m told that a team of more than 10 priests worked on it. (It was hella costly too, ouch!) But I am grateful. I am free to continue Ifa’s mission while undoing the work of ajes without fear of retaliation.
When I told my Tulani, my 25-year-old daughter, about the spiritual battle with the ajes, she said: “Damn those ajes. Who the hell do they think they are?”
That’s a great question. Who do those ajes think they are?
What about you? Have you been dealing with any ajes lately? At work? At home? During your sleep?
Hopefully, you’ll never have to deal with the same brand of ajes that I had to fight off, but maybe your aje goes by a different name. Maybe your aje is fear that keeps you from being your true self and moving forward in life. Or maybe it’s the lack of discipline and focus. Or maybe your aje is your inability to forgive yourself or others for past mistakes.
Take your pick, then pick your battle. I’ll be in your corner praying for your success.
Blessings
James Weeks
Producer, Across The King’s River
by James Weeks | May 3, 2013 | Blog
So you’ve set up an altar (or shrine) for your ancestors, and you make regular offerings to them. Yet, you find yourself wondering if you’re truly connecting with Spirit or merely going through the motions.
Here are some tips that I’ve found helpful for building a stronger connection with your Egungun (ancestors). 
MAKE IT A PRIORITY: Your relationship with your ancestors is just that – a relationship. And like any relationship, you need to be fully committed in order to make it work. You also need to make sure that you are available if you want them to communicate with you. This means spending time in silence, prayer, meditation or any activity that uplifts your spirit or slows down the rhythm of your life so that meaningful spiritual communication can take place.
BE GENEROUS: Yes, the ancestors can guide and help you in ways beyond your imagination. But never approach them with a list of demands. Your loved ones in Spirit work with you but not for you – it’s a partnership. Be prepared to give, not merely receive. Remember, your ancestors are not “dead”; they are alive in another dimension and are still learning and growing. The Egungun are fully aware of your thoughts and feelings, so be sure to send them positive energy and love to support them on their spiritual journey too.
BE OPEN: Despite what some people might have you believe, the ancestors have no limitations
when they want to communicate with you. They can use anyone or anything to deliver a message: they can communicate through dreams, feelings, inspiration, nature, literature and music. And they are not stuck in the past. They are fully aware of modern technology and can manipulate lights, television sets and even cell phones to get your attention. Be open and alert. They know you well and will use the best method to get through to you.
BE TRUSTING: Don’t expect a lightening bolt from the sky. Messages from Spirit are often subtle, soft. So subtle that you might miss them. Pay attention to your feelings because ancestors often communicate through feelings – not words. Pause for a moment. How do you feel right now? Where is it that feeling coming from? Is it coming from you or from Spirit? What inspired you to read this article? Was it your idea or did your ancestors inspire you to read this? Spirit is all around you and guide you more than you realize. Trust what you feel inspired to do.
TAKE ACTION: Don’t waste Spirit’s time. One of my mentors said this to me one day. It takes a lot of energy for your ancestors to communicate with you. And you’re wasting their time if you never listen or do anything to move your life forward. Are you living in fear or faith? Are you taking steps to empower yourself? Are you empowering others? Are you leaving a legacy that others might aspire to follow? Take at least one step each day to move your life forward. Your ancestors are alive and well. Make them proud by living your life to the fullest.
Blessings
James Weeks
Producer, Across The King’s River
by James Weeks | Apr 29, 2013 | Blog
The reading with Tahira West rocked! This gifted young medium brought through powerful messages from my Dad and from my grandmother in Spirit.
And the messages were not only on point but on time. Through Tahira, Grandma gave me not only encouragement but ideas for the funding of my film: potential partners, potential strategies, potential sources. Grandma also told me to give a “shout out” to other members of my family.
Dad, on the other hand, was bossy as ever. Dad said he wants me to talk to him aloud, not silently like I usually do. And he assured me that he’s working hard to open doors for my film and stands firmly behind me whenever I need a burst of inspiration.
Yes, the reading with Tahira was empowering, even though I feel my connection with my ancestors is rock solid since I make it a point to communicate with them every day.
After the reading I wanted to learn more about this rising medium and life-coach who is building a solid business around her passion for healing and transforming lives.
CEO of Pure Peace Life Coaching, Tahira West was born on the Caribbean island of Trinidad and moved to the U.S. when she was 12. “I have always done what I wanted to do when I wanted to do it. I always chose to follow my heart. There is nothing that brings me more joy than to let people know that love can be found inside of them,” she says.
Tahira, 30, readily admits she’s had her share of life’s ups and down. In fact, she founded Pure Peace Life Coaching in 2010 after she heard her last employer say: “I have to let you go.” That’s when Tahira understood the message the universe was trying to send her. It was time to start working for herself, building her own “empire one brick at a time and by healing the planet one broken heart at a time.”
“Our mission is to serve you. The you who you’ve always dreamed of but never thought could be real. We illuminate your positivity by reminding you that you are perfect the way you are. We reinforce that all the answers you need come from within you,” says the mission statement on her website.
Most of Tahira’s clients are executive women who long to be “heard, acknowledged, treated fairly and respected and for all that they do,” she explains.
She was born with the gift for coaching, she says, as well as the gift for mediumship. But she only started offering her mediumship services recently. “I see my messages like a movie and I hear them too at times,” says Tahira.
Her advice to those who want to develop their mediumship? “Be calm. Be introspective. Be still. Don’t force it. It will come. Trust Spirit.”
Blessings, James
HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH TAHIRA? You can find her at any of the links below:
WWW.Purepeacelifecoaching.com
https://www.facebook.com/PurePeaceLifeCoaching
https://www.facebook.com/tahira.west.1
by James Weeks | Apr 10, 2013 | Blog
The client couldn't believe it. The shift in her sister's behavior was so profound, my client had a good laugh and called to tell me about it.
For months, the relationship between Tamara, my client, and her sister had been tense, ugly. “Evil” – that's how Tamara described her sister to me. They both live together with their Mom, and when Tamara consulted me for Ifa divination, the reading indicated that sacrifice was necessary.
And so I dutifully offered one rooster to Esu, the orisa of the crossroads and opportunity, and one rooster to Ifa, since that's what the reading called for.
A few weeks later, when Tamara called to tell me that things at home had magically turned around for the better, I smiled. I not only felt proud, I felt honored. It also inspired me to go deeper in my studies as an Ifa diviner and priest.
Sacrifice is as old as the hills! It remains an integral part of African healing traditions. It worked in ancient times and it still works today. It's also controversial because the Western world misunderstands it – or pretends not to understand it.
The truth is that every society and culture on earth practices sacrifice in one way or another. Life feeds on life. Some form of life must die so that you can live. Every meal (whether you're a vegetarian or not) is a form of sacrifice. Period!
Sacrifice is an ancient way of redirecting energy to bring about desired change: progress, improved relationships, improved health, better business results, etc. To the ancient African mind, only a fool will ignore the call for sacrifice.
In the book: “The Healing Power of Sacrifice,” Chief Priest Yemi Elebuibon, says: sacrifice is important because (a). It is a means of expressing gratitude to spiritual beings. (b). It is a means of fulfilling a vow. (c). It is used for establishing communication and communion between humankind and spiritual beings. (d). It is used for averting the danger of the divinities and spirits. (e). It is a means of warding off the attack and evil machinations of the enemy. (f). It is a means of purifying a person or a community when a certain taboo has been broken. (g). It prevents or expels epidemics. (h). It strengthens the worshippers against malign influences).”
And in the book, “Of Water and The Spirit,” Malidoma Some says: “The purpose of ritual is to create harmony between the human world and the world of the gods, ancestors , and nature.”
Malidoma also explains how disaster struck home when his father, who had been lured away from his spiritual roots by Christianity, refused to perform an ancient ritual for his twin daughters. “One morning Elizabeth caught a mysterious illness that no one could diagnose. She died at noon. During her funeral Marguerite died while running wild with grief. The funeral intensified. People knew what was going on. Twins don't die on the same day. Pascal, the eldest son, expired two weeks after the funeral of Elizabeth and Marguerite. Nobody knew what killed him. He had been playing with friends and suddenly cried out that he was dying. Julia, the unfortunate mother, died of sorrow during the funeral of her son.”
I've always loved this passage in “Of Water and The Spirit” and used to read it over and over again. It boggled my mind how a series of tragedies could be set in motion by failure to perform a ritual. Luckily, Malidoma's father eventually performed the ritual, but by then so much damage had already been done.
How or why ritual or sacrifice works seems counter-logical to most Westerners. But when the call for sacrifice or ritual shows up in divination readings, I will always advise my clients to comply with it. Just like my ancestors did before me.
Life sometimes has a nasty way of punishing those who refuse to listen!
Now over to you: what are your thoughts on sacrifice (ebo) ritual? What has been your experience? Feel free to comment!
Blessings
James
by James Weeks | Mar 25, 2013 | Blog
Light as a feather! This is how softly your ancestors might speak to you. And this is why you must listen intently – not just with your ears, but with every fiber in your being. They spoke to you yesterday, they spoke to you today, they will speak to you tomorrow and they are speaking to you right now. But you'll never hear them unless you are willing to sit in silence, to hear the powerful messages that are landing as gently as feathers.
I share this because of a recent experience that I had. I was doing a reading for a client and began receiving messages from her father who is in Spirit. When I asked the Spirit to tell me more about his life, I felt this sensation of him putting keys into my hands. But the keys felt cold. Then, I felt he was connected to a security guard and/or a prison when he was alive.
These feelings were subtle – light as a feather. But when I shared them with the client everything made sense to her; she became very emotional. Turns out, her father had been in prison for many years in the Middle East before he died. But this was the very first time he attempted to contact her in a spiritual reading. The family had been thinking about writing a book about this sad episode.
I was in awe as she confirmed the messages I received from her Dad. Speaking through me, her Dad said the book project was a great idea. It would bring about healing in the family, he explained.
This experience was one of my most profound moments as a diviner and as a medium.
You see, spirit communication is based on trust. But if you don't trust yourself and the messages you receive, you'll never be successful. You also have to understand how you receive messages. How Spirit works with you might be different from how Spirit works with me. You are a unique being, a sacred being and it's important to remember this. Don't let anyone convince you otherwise.
Messages might not always make sense to you. That's because some messages are meant to be delivered and understood by someone else. Messages from Spirit are being sent to you 24/7. Pay attention to subtle feelings and images that you receive…
Powerful messages often arrive softly as feathers.
Blessings
James Weeks
