St. Francis is the Catholic Saint that represents Orunla or Orumila. The reason for that is that St. Francis was a very humble Saint and Orunla is a very humble, but great Orisha. Orunla usually lives in his simple batea of wood on the floor. He does not live in a very expensive sopera like some people put their Orishas. It is in Orunla's humbleness that lies His greatness. Working through the Oracle of Ifa, Orunla transmits the will of Olofi to those of us here on earth. In using the Oracle of Ifa, Orunla speaks, but the other Orishas, as well as the Egun, can speak through the divination procedures of the Ekuele or the Ikines. All major decisions in the religion should have the approval of Orunla before being carried out. It is most important that a person's guardian angel be determined by Orunla. Orunla has no interest in the outcome and his word is final in this matter. This should be done in a "plante" of Ifa where people are receiving Awofaca and Cofa, or Orunla can be brought down and will speak directly to the person consulting the Oracle regarding his or her guardian angel. It is absolutely necessary that more than one babalawo be present at this time, to be sure that no mistakes are made in the divination process.
THE ANCESTORS
The Ancestors are just as important for the priests of Ifa as for other branches of the Lucumi tradition, and indeed for all the traditions that have an African base. People who do not have a good understanding of Ifa and Orumila say that the babalawo or priest of Ifa cannot have anything to do with the Dead. Nothing could be farther from the truth. All ceremonies of Ifa commence with a feeding of the dead. Also Babalawos and Oluos have the great secret of ORUN which is generally not known to those not initiated into Ifa. It is not permitted to elaborate on ORUN, but it can be stated that it is exclusively concerned with Egun. Above you see an actual ancestor altar in Nigeria. Not all of us have the space nor the means to provide such a magnificent offering to Egun, but everyone can at least create a space where their ancestors can be reverenced and offerings can be made.
