In the Yoruba Creation Myth, Obatala makes the journey from Orun (invisible realm) to aye (earth). Obatala drops sand on a planet covered with water and drops a hen on the sand to spread the solid ground surrounding the city of Ile Ife. Geologists identify Nigeria as one of the three oldest landmasses on the earth. It is a general rule of geology that the flatter the terrain the older the land, the higher the mountains the younger the land development. The rain forest surrounding Ile Ife is flat to the horizon in every direction.

This may seem like a simple and highly unlikely story. An exploration of the meaning of the symbolic language used in the Yoruba Creation myth illuminates a number of mysteries (awo) related to the creation process giving the story remarkable depth. Astrophysics (the study of the creation of the universe) has calculated the amount of matter needed to be present in the universe to have effectively generated the galaxies created by the “Big Bang” (the explosion giving birth to the visible universe). For decades astrophysicists were perplexed by the observation that 90% of the physical matter expected to be present in the universe cannot be located. In the scientific world this was considered a big problem.

Astrophysics was provided a solution to the quandary by the science of quantum physics (the study of sub-atomic structure). Studies of the patterns created by colliding sub-atomic particles clearly showed the building blocks of physical matter appear and disappear under a variety of circumstances. Current scientific theory explains this phenomena by postulating the existence of a ten dimensional universe in and around the four dimensional (three physical dimensions + time) universe visible by human perception. According to quantum physics matter flows between these ten dimensions making the overwhelming mass created by the Big Bang invisible in the arena occupied by human life and visible by human perception. Ifa says Orun (the invisible realm) has seven dimensions. The number is different the concept is the same.

To understand the concept of a multi-dimensional universe requires some understanding of the structure of matter. In the Western world matter was considered a solid grouping of atoms based on ideas developed by early Greek philosophers. Isaac Newton formalized this idea into a scientific theory. In 1867 William Thompson rejected the Newtonian description of atoms as infinitesimally small hard bodies with physical mass. Thompson postulated the theory of the “vortex atom” which he described as a “whirlpool” of “aether”, meaning patterns of energy having no solid mass. Thompson’s vision is based on the premise that everything in the universe is a manifestation of the essential components of light. This became the foundation for Einstein’s theory of the conservation of matter, the idea that nothing in the universe is created or destroyed, simply transformed. In Ifa the idea of the conservation of matter is expressed in the single (I) and double (II) lines used to mark the verses of Odu (sacred scripture) used in Ifa divination. In Ifa the single lines symbolize light and the double lines symbolize dark. This is not a polarity between “good” and “evil”, it is a polarity between expansive ase called “light” or “radiation” and contractive ase called “matter”. The tendency in the Diaspora to associate darkness with “evil” is the result of a non – African, Christian theological influence. In Christian cosmology the earth is tainted by the fall and original sin. In Ifa cosmology the earth is the Mother of human evolution and the source of nourishment and compassion.

In 1873 James Clark Maxwell used the Thompson model of the atom to unite the available data on light and magnetism into an electromagnetic theory of light vibrations based on the premise that three-dimensional physical phenomena including human consciousness is dependant on higher dimensions of reality. He created a mathematical model of the universe based on the theory that light and gravity were untied as a single form of energy in the invisible fifth dimension (outside of time and space). He referred to this invisible energy source as “aether”. In Ifa this invisible energy source is called ase.
Maxwell called the invisible fifth dimension hyper-dimensional space. In Ifa the invisible fifth dimension is called Orun. In a book titled “The Aether” published in 1876, Maxwell summarizes the implications of his theory.

Whether this vast homogeneous expanse of isotropic matter [the aether] is fitted not only to be a medium of physical Interaction between distant bodies, and to fulfill other physical functions of which, perhaps we have as yet no conception, but also as the authors of The Unseen Universe seem to suggest, to constitute the material organism of beings exercising functions of life and mind as high or higher than ours are at resent, is a question far transcending the limits of physical speculation . . .

In somewhat convoluted language Maxwell is suggesting that the condition of the visible physical universe is dependant on the influence of conscious beings existing in invisible dimensions of the universe. Ifa calls these beings Orisa. He is also saying the invisible dimension is the source of all forms of consciousness. In Ifa cosmology (theory of the structure of the universe) the source or Spirit of consciousness is called Obatala. The idea of spiritual beings influencing the shape and development of the physical world is not popular in the Western scientific community. Once you introduce the idea of Spirit into the scientific equation you undermine the vision of being able to dominate and control
Nature and this in turn demolishes the concept of privilege based on the belief in the intrinsic value of survival of the fittest. Maxwell’s theory was a threat to the entire Euro-centric worldview.

Maxwell passed away at an early age and one of his peers; Oliver Heaviside re-wrote all of his equations eliminating the references to a fifth dimensional reality. Current academic references to Maxwell’s work are based on Heaviside’s re-write and the original mathematical formula’s have largely been ignored and are extremely difficult to locate. Richard Hoagland in an article on his website (http://www.enterprisemission .com/hyper1.html) summarizes the implications of Maxwell’s original theory.

This discovery contains major implications, not only for past geophysics and terrestrial evolution ... but for future geological and climatological events -- "Earth changes," as some have termed them. These may be driven, not by rising solar interactions or by-products of terrestrial civilization (accumulating "greenhouse gases" from burning fossil fuels), but by this same "hyper-dimensional physics." If so, then learning a lot more about the mechanisms of this physics -- and quickly! -- is a critical step toward intervening and eventually controlling our future well being, if not our destiny, on (and off!) this planet ...

In another words an understanding of hyper-dimensional physics would eliminate the world’s dependency on petroleum and could be used as a limitless source of free electrical energy (as proposed by Nicolas Tesla based on Maxwell’s equations). Hoagland’s article went on to describe what happened to Maxwell’s theoretical work when a man Oliver Heaviside presented it to academia.

Heavside actually felt that Maxwell’s use of quaternions and their description of the “potentials” of space was “. . . mystical and should be murdered from the theory . . .” which – by drastically editing Maxwell’s original work after the latter’s untimely death (from cancer) excising the scalar component of the quaternions and eliminating the hyperspatial characteristic of the directional (vector components – Oliver Heaviside effectively accomplished single handed.

This means, of course, that the four surviving “classic” Maxwell’s Equations – which appear in every electrical and physics text the world over, as the underpinnings of all – 20th Century electrical and electromagnetic engineering, from radiation to radar, from television to computer science, if not inclusive of every “hard” science from physics to chemistry to astrophysics that deals with electromagnetic radioactive processes – never appeared in any original Maxwell paper or treatise

In simple terms Hoagland is suggesting the self-described objectivity of Western science is both self-serving and untrue. The censorship of ideas is contrary to the inherent inquisitive nature of the human spirit. Censorship is always based on a political agenda.
The journey of Obatala is a symbolic reference to the process described by Maxwell and suggests our ancient African ancestors embraced a profound understanding of the inner workings of Nature. An understanding of the concepts developed by Maxwell would lead to the ability to manipulate gravity. Some of the blocks used to build structures in Africa weigh a thousand tons. That is the equivalent mass of two 747 airplanes. The pulling stones with ropes using human labor model does not work because no rope invented in the history of life on earth can pull a thousands tones without snapping. The evidence suggesting ancient Africans were able to manipulate gravity is extensive to the point where it is useless to argue with those who cannot see the obvious. If Western academia is willing to suppress earth-centered ideas expressed by one of their own, how hard is to image the notion of suppressing similar ideas expressed by Ancient Africans who have typically been regarded as “primitive,” “pagan” and “illiterate”.

In the 1960’s science developed highly sophisticated telescopes and discovered that planets in our solar system reflected light in the infrared spectrum from internal energy sources. Anomalous internal infrared radiation coming from Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune cannot be explained as reflections of solar energy and cannot be explained as heat generated by internal nuclear fusion. The data shows these planets clearly radiate more energy into space than they absorb from the sun. For Western science this is another big problem. In the language of Ifa all the planets in our solar system are producing ase from an invisible link with Orun.

Hyper-dimensional physics as currently explained by Richard Hoagland describes inter-dimensional openings that exist at specific places in the structure of every solar and planetary sphere. In Hoagland’s model two invisible three sided pyramids support every circular mass in the visible universe. One pyramid has its apex at the north pole, and the foundation is at 19.47 Latitude, below the equator, the other pyramid has its apex at the south pole with its base is at 19.47 Latitude, above the equator. Approximately half the mass of each pyramid overlap. A two dimensional drawing of this formation creates what is commonly referred to as the either the Seal of Salomon or the Star of David. An older version of this same symbol is found on some of the stone structures in Luxor Egypt. There are eight points where the edges of these two pyramids touch the surface of the sphere.

Hoagland identifies these eight points as inter-dimensional windows and the source of the otherwise unexplained energy coming from the planets in the solar system. The amount of energy generated by these openings is regulated by the relationship between various planets and moons in our solar system. The gravitational pull coupled with the spiral momentum of the planets affects the inter-dimensional openings. This means the ecology of the earth is affected by its relationship to the other planets. It is well known that ancient earth centered cultures all over the planets were extremely sophisticated in their observation of planetary movement in the night sky. What is less well known is the fundamental reason for this interest. Ase, or inter-dimensional radiations coming from the eight contact points of the internal grid cover the surface of the earth in a grid pattern called Dragon lines, Serpent lines, Ley lines and various other names. The place where these lines cross, especially where they cross over underground water systems, where identified by the ancients as power spots, scared places used for regeneration, healing, and spiritual elevation. An understanding of astronomy is the indicator of when and where these power spots become activated in the course of various planetary cycles. In Ifa these power spots are called igbodu meaning womb of the forest. The Yoruba word that describes the process of understanding the activation of igbodu is called gede. The word gede is an elision of ge meaning female power and de to stand up or arise. Gede is a reference to the out powering of primal energy from the womb of Creation. The selection of times for seasonal celebrations for specific Orisa in Nigeria is determined by when the igbodu associated with a particular Orisa is activated. Perhaps the most well know example is the annual appearance of the Spirit of Osun at the bend in the river near the Osun shrine in Oshogbo.

There is a Mosque in Iraq with a mechanical planetarium attached to a wall. The planets on the wall move to mirror the actual position of the planets in the night sky on any given day. Next to the planetarium and attached to it by a series of gears are eight square windows in to vertical rows of four. The windows expose either a single line (I) or a double line (II) in relationship to the movement of the planets. This mechanical model produces the eight marks used in Ifa divination. These marks are used throughout Africa and were preserved in Egypt by the Essenes and the Sufi. Both the Essenes and the Sufi use these patterns for systems of divination related to their own sacred scriptures. The Mosque in Iraq is a glimpse into the past and the cosmological principles at the foundation of the symbolism found in African based systems of divination.

The transference of ase is not limited to large spherical stars and planets, it also occurs on the sub-atomic level. A clear example of the movement between dimensions occurs when iridium is subjected to extremely high temperatures in a furnace. At predictable temperatures 56% of the mass weight of any given sample of iridium disappears. When the iridium cools it returns to its original physical weight. This can only be explained as an inter-dimensional transference of physical matter. Western science became aware of this phenomenon at the turn of the last century and quickly suppressed the data. In the past decade some scientist have cautiously taken another look at the phenomena.

The spiritual technology of Africa has preserved an understanding of the process of inter-dimensional transference of physical matter for many thousands of years. The original name for the region now known as Egypt was Khemit meaning the Black Land, a reference to the fertile soil deposited by the Nile River. This soil is rich in iridium. When Akhenaten was deposed as Pharaoh of Egypt he took his family and supporters to live at the base of Mt Sinai where he built a huge furnace to process iridium into white powder. The powder was used as medicine to elevate human consciousness and was used as a key element in the transformation of precious metals. Historically the process of making white powder from iridium is called Alchemy from the root words Al Khemit meaning Light from the Black land. In traditional Egyptian religion the white power made from iridium was ingested for thirty days followed by a ten day fast as part of an initiation process. At the end of the forty-day ordeal, the novice was described as having the ability to see God in a burning bush. The reference to a burning bush is a symbolic description of the bright light that emanates from an inter-dimensional opening. The ability to create these openings is an integral part of the initiation process in virtually every earth-centered culture on the continent of Africa. Discussing phenomena that occurs during initiation is not divulging secrets (awo) because the phenomenon has already been described by a number of authors. Discussing how to produce the phenomena is (awo) and remains a closely guarded secret.

Anyone with a Western education was taught to believe that Alchemy was “occult foolishness”. Egyptologists know that most of the gold found in Egypt was artificially produced and carries a different atomic signature than gold found in nature. The Russians have perfected the process of using alchemy techniques for making gold from base metals. The reason the price of gold remains stable is to keep the cost under the price of artificial production, another example of objective science subordinating itself to a political agenda.
The Egyptian Book of the Death translated by Budge contains the following passages:

It says, I am purified of all imperfections, what is it? I sin like the golden hawk of Horus, what is it? I pass by the immortals without dying, what is it? I come before my father in heaven, what is it?

The Hebrew word Mana means what is it? Mana is the white powder produced from iridium. The historian Laurence Gardner makes a convincing case that Ahkenaton was the model for the mythical figure of Moses. Maybe, maybe not, the fact remains alchemy is one of many technological gifts from Africa that historians attempt to denigrate for political reasons having nothing to do with available information. The important point related to the Yoruba Creation Myth is that inter-dimensional openings can be created through the use of ritual. They also occur spontaneously at certain places at specific times of the year. In Yoruba these power spots are called Igbodu from the elision igbo odu meaning womb of the forest. The timing of annual festivals marks the window when these power centers are activated. Some Igbodu make use of meteorites (benben stones) as sacred symbols of spiritual power (ase), iridium is a major component of most meteorites.

Some readers will find the material in this article difficult to believe and possible unfamiliar to their understanding of Ifa. There is an unfortunate tendency in the rapidly growing Ifa community in the United States to believe the notion that initiation makes a person wise. Initiation is merely permission to study, the integration of information and experience is the foundation of wisdom. There is also a tendency in this country to dismiss the value of elders and to dismiss the need for formal training. There are even Ifa communities who negate the value of Yoruba culture and the need to integrate formal prayers and traditional songs into the Ifa ritual process. This painful manifestation of ignorance seems to be predicated on a lack of understanding of the purpose and function of traditional African spiritual training. It also reflects a total lack of understanding of the tools needed to access Orun.
Malidoma Some in his book Of Water and the Spirit (page 225-226) states clearly the reasons for embracing the wisdom of the ancestors.

What we see in everyday life in not nature lying to us, but nature encoding reality in ways we can come to terms with under ordinary circumstances. Nature looks the way it looks because of the way we are. We could not live our whole lives on the ecstatic level of the sacred. Our senses would soon become exhausted and the daily business of living would never get done. There does, however, come a time when one must learn to move between the two ways of “seeing” reality in order to become a whole person.
Traditional education consists of three parts; enlargement of one’s ability to see, destabilization of the body’s habit of being bound to one plane of being, and the ability to voyage transdimensionally and return. Enlarging one’s vision and abilities has nothing supernatural about it, rather it is “natural” to be a part of nature and to participate in a wider understanding of reality.

Overcoming the fixity of the body is the hardest part of initiation. As with the seeing exercise, there is a lot of unconscious resistance taking place. There is also a great deal of fear to be overcome. One must travel to the other side of fear, crossing the great plains of terror and panic to arrive at the quiet one feels in the absence of fear. Only then does true transformation really begin to happen. It feels strange to not be afraid when one thinks one should be; but this is the condition for the voyage to other worlds. This metamorphosis cannot happen as long as the body is weighed down by heaviness. One must go through a process of relearning, enforcement of these lessons, and the consolidation of new knowledge. This kind of education is nothing less than a return to one’s true self, that is, to the divine within us.

American culture makes a serious and vicious attack on notions of pride, self-esteem and the idea that each and every one of us is a good and blessed person by virtue of our undeniable connection with the Source of Creation. Too often initiation is seen as a way to buy a quick fix to complex and deeply painful social and personal wounds. When a person goes through the initiation process and fails to look these wounds in the eye, there is a subsequent feeling of disappointment, a feeling of being cheated by the process and a need to justify the sacrifice and expense involved in going through initiation. Instead of understanding initiation as permission to begin the process of learning, there is a false assumption that initiation will eliminate all personal problems in the future. The consequence of this false premise is the creation of elders who tend to deify their problems and who use bully tactics to convince others they are “all knowing” and “all powerful”.
Malidoma presents an alternative view (ibid, page 277)

In that moment of awareness, (during initiation) I had an epiphany that the light we en-counter on the road of death is our being in the act of coming home to itself. I understood that light is our natural state, but that we human beings must help each other as we move toward the shores of light. We must be born and die many times to reach the light, and ten thousand years can pass in a flash. Being in the light is knowing we must get others into it. The soul that has already attained perfect enlightenment returns to life in compassion to help others along their journey.

The light is where we belong. Everyone who is not in the light is looking forward to being there. So we leave the light to go and experience the need for light, and thus come back to it anew.

In Ifa the Spirit who brings light to the world is called Obatala. The place where Obatala enters the world is called igbodu. When we enter igbodu we have an opportunity to travel back to that place from which we came. In order to place both feet on the road back to Source we need a key to open the door blocking our access to Orun. The key is called egbe meaning the heart of our ancestors. The heart of our ancestors is a symbolic reference to a concept that is known in English as courage.