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(Sauda Burch)
 Priest of Oshun
Iya Ayodele was initiated into the mysteries of Oshun in 1999 and has been a member of Ile Orunmila Oshun since 1992. As a priest she focuses on sacred song and dance and on building and sustaining relationship with our Ancestors. As Lead Singer (Akpon) for the community she is responsible for collecting, teaching and leading songs during our praisesingings, public events and other festivals.
Additionally, Ayodele designs and facilitates sacred commitment ceremonies, with a focus on lesbian and gay couples. As the Elegungun (head of the ancestor society) Ayodele is responsible for the Ancestor Festival held during the fall of each year as well as ensuring that the Ile’s collective relationship to the ancestors is vital and strong.
Ayodele believes that the teachings of Ifa can bring peace and prosperity to individuals and communities and, as a practitioner has experienced the power of the tradition to bring about deep and lasting change.
Ayodele is a writer and uses her gift to document Orisha worship. She is currently working on two projects: Lo Joko! (We Sit!)– Conflict Mediation in the Spiritual Community of Ile Orunmila Oshun and, Our Values Manifest, a book exploring the sacred values of Ifa for Western practitioners.
Ayodele coordinated comprehensive service delivery to sexual abuse survivors for the Rape Crisis Center of West Contra Costa in San Pablo, CA, and was a founding member of Lavender Leaf, (Lesbian Emergency Action Fund,) a project which distributed money to poor and working class lesbians. This fund raised and distributed, through grassroots efforts, over $70,000 in five years.
Ayodele provides independent consulting services to organizations and individuals. Her primary interest is change management in nonprofit, community and spiritual organizations and educational communities. She brings the practice of Asuwa (collective consciousness) to her work to help individuals and communities work together for maximum impact and sustainable change while maintaining wholeness and spirit.
Contact Iya Ayodele |
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Offerings
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 Ancestor Reverence
Sacred Songs
Commitment Ceremonies
Writing and Editing
Organizational Development and Consulting
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