“Ka ekere ụwa, agwụ nọ!” (As the world was created, Agwu was there) − Igbo Axiomatic Dictum of the Agwụ Cult

 

 

Now, on Agwụ! Not very long ago, the rite of Ịrụ Agwụ in Igbo society and in Ọdịnala generally, was still very well known and understood as a rite for the ritualistic brewing and refinement of intelligence. Parents generally performed the Agwụ rite for their children at quite a young age, so as to ensure smooth psychological transition into full productive adulthood and civil progressive efficiency. The ancients, quite succinctly held that raw intelligence (Ọnatalụ-Chi/Agwụ-Onye-Ụwa) like every other component of creation, underwent a series of process called Ọnụnụ na Nshikọ, to reach an optimized favorable state of function called Elele Ọma Agwụ/Irite Ọma Agwụ. In the specific case of intelligence, this unique process was called Ọnụnụ na Nshikọ Akọnache (Brewing and Refinement of Intelligence) or as it came to be called. Ịlụ Agwụ/Ịru Agwụ lit. the marriage of the two poles of intelligence. In the human faculty of the genome with its nearly inexhuastible sequence of DNA and RNA coding which Ndị Igbo has properly called Akpụkpa Oke na Nne, along with yet another faculty of the cognitive system called the pineal gland or pituitaries (Akpa Uche in Igbo bio-cosmology), these two faculties were held by ancients to be under the bio-psychic influence of Ụmụ Agbara Agwụ – an elder race of comic entities or spirits, far more advanced than humans in both capacity and longevity. The ancient observation and principle was simply put thus: by the primordial causation factor of natural affinity, specific genetic types of creatures of certain genetic qualities. This natural affinity is then enshrined in communal memory and made symbolically manifest in those special Emume (rite and ceremonies) which highlight Ogbụgba-Ndụ-Ndi-Mbụ-na-Aja-Ana lit. the cultural foundation principle of totemism or the ritual-enabled life-force bonding procedures of the first ancestors. Emume Agwụ and Ịru Agwụ set of rituals, properly so, constitutes once of such early totemic situations of Ndị Igbo.

The ancients held that two cosmic pillars of intelligence were channeled by all cosmic beings as Akọ Nne na Akọ Nna (Intuition and Intellect; the disharmonized perception mode of which is called Ose Ọbala). It was discovered that, naturally at birth, human beings came with four basic generic type of features, two of which were more of ‘default’ and feminine in character, while the other two features which were ‘emulated’ – had a masculine character to them. These dual poles of intelligence within human beings were micro-cosmologically localized as genome (Akpụkpa) and instincts (Akọ). The default features, it was learnt, primarily defined one’s nature or speciation, while the emulated features presented an initial maneuverable take-off pad for one’s unique response and optimal interaction levels with the environment. Often these two poles clashed at points of traumatic events in the life of a human being, thereby causing fundamental distortions in the psychological field of such persons. This distorted perception resulting from the two clashing poles of the psyche is called Agbara Agwụ. But whenever the two poles were properly fused into one ritually (Ọlụlụ Agwụ lit harmonious fusion/marriage of the dual psychological force poles of intelligence), then undistorted clairvoyant perception and advanced instinctive flow of interaction with cosmic nature becomes possible for a human being. For as the harmonized instincts henceforth generated flow in synchronicity with the Ụmụ Agwụ-ritually operated, healed, or ‘attuned’ genetics of the initiate, only then dose higher interaction with nature open up for an individual. As earlier pointed out, Agwụ spirits and their various incarnations and avatars throughout the cosmos, were recognized by the ancients as a specific race of wise beings or elder cosmic entities, who, archetypally are the custodians of this cosmic instituted power called intelligence, whose unified cosmic station is called Aka Ose (Uche). These were the Agwụ race of beings, pantheonised as a cosmic extension of the Igbo communal kinship model of Nne + Nna + Nwa, where we now have Nne Agwụ + Oke Agwụ + Nwa Agwụ. Within this non-human order of spirit called Ọra Agwụ, the Nne Agwụ spirit caliber of this race are primordially designated as the governess of the Agwụ cosmic institution and his power. To be sure, the Ụmụ Agbala Agwụ constitutes an entirely sub-pantheon of tutelary beings in the greater pantheon of Igbo deities (i.e. ancestral cosmic elder entities or ancestral cosmic guardians). As Ndị Mbụ, they belong in the highest Igbo pantheon of ancestral entities and through their earlier primeval direct interactions with the later Igbo superhuman ancestors (Ndị Egede), they tutored humanity adeptly and assisted in ushering the very first templates of what we now call Omenala i.e. a grand cult of civilization = culture. This rank of entities are divinely obligated to observe the manifest cosmos through the capacity of specific celestial bodies known as stars (Kpakpando = Kpakpankpa Ndụ) and report back to Chi-Ukwu the Supreme spirit via the Aka Ose Uche cosmic station. At the same time, the Nne Agwụ simultaneously communicates with those members of the Agwụ race of beings and all affiliated with them, through specially dedicated set of instincts called Kpakpankpa Agwụ. The Oke Agwụ entities, on the other hand – are primordially designated with the status of stational tutelaries, facilitating and overseeing the quantum telematic bridging of dimensions, procurement of new information and serving as protective guarding entities of certain hidden knowledge not meant for certain time era of the universal seasons. We are to bear in mind that the ancient Igbo people also hold that the universe itself possesses a soul, which soul they aptly title and ritually channell as Olisa-Chi-Ukwu lit. the consumer of seven or the infinity defying one. The Igbo also say that Amụma si na Olisa abịa lit. all inspirations, past, present and future, have their source in Olisa the one great universal soul of Chi-Ukwu. The Nwa Agwụ or Ụmụ Inyom na Okoro Agwụ spirit are, in this light, the true messengers and the ones whose duty it is to incarnate in specifically designated terrestrial types at the beginning of each universal season for the divine purpose of prompting the characteristic inspirations that will trend or drive the terrestrial creatures of the universe into the cosmic character programmed for each cosmic season. All together, this trinity of entities in a family or sub-pantheon of spirit speciation called Ọra Agwụ are responsible for guarding and transmitting the actual undying spiritual light (Anwụ) of revelations, true knowing, original vision and wisdom.

In very ancient times, the Agwụ divine trinity stood for the sacred triad principle of knowledge, devoted and wisdom. These were called the three psychic forces whose soul-borne internal crystallization is known to birth the true spiritual light of illumination or enlightenment. These triad of entities were portrayed as seen in powerful trance-delivered visions by powerful Dibịa lineage of our planet’s first Ụga Chi world age, through which means we received some of the earliest imageries of what these subtle beings who operated the great cosmic intelligence networks – looked like. While some of the imageries were directly ‘filtered’ from the ultraviolet light frequency curtains of the ritually modified subtle space or astral portal, used for communing with these entities. One may also observe the stunning ancient global uniformity of style in depicting Ụmụ Agbara Agwụ beings. The classic Igbo quantum telematics configurations that go into the setting up, consecration and personalized synchronization of Okwu Agwụ shrine portals and its varied types – will have to be addressed at another time. So also the bio-psychic installation or initiation (lit. Ịru Agwụ Dibịa) of the true Dibịa, whose ultimate spiritual descent is traced to the Nwa Agwụ cosmic spirit rank of the greater Ụmụ Agbara Agwụ trinity, giving birth to the very ancients observation that Dibịa wụ Agbara. This is also the origin of the Eze Agwụ official ritual titular of Ndi Dibịa in ancient Igbo land, which expressed the fact that the properly initiated Dibịa was installed into the spiritual position and responsibility of an archetypal human avatar, leader and human custodian of the Agwụ Cult. Again, generally, the existence of Ụmụ Agbara beings can be better described as been in the cosmic status of immortality and superhuman prowess. With the cosmos itself infinitely needing its cumulative sentience emanated or converted into the existential state called creation, so will Agwụ beings always be needed and present to attend to and guard the processes of intelligence. To put this into a more terrestrial context, just as bees (Ańụ/Anwụ) were designed to attend to and guard the processes of fertility here within the terrestrial life network or eco-system of our planet, so do Agwụ beings dutifully attend to the processes of intelligence throughout the grand cosmic intelligence network.

Classically, Emume Agwụ rites were originally designed as easily memorisable spiritual procedures for psychically accessing one’s ancestral genius pool, establishing a personalized genius management system for such unique genetic contents and rectifying connections with the appropriate rank of Ụmụ Agbara Agwụ beings linked with one’s unique ancestral genetic signatures or genetic genius loci within the greater cosmic intelligence network order. When this ritual alignment or synchronization of intelligence is not carried out and properly installed bio-psychically into an individual’s consciousness, the ancients propounded that unending fleets of psychological distortions will rid the intelligence process of such individuals. The Ịrụ Agwụ rite therefore – was a four-ritual staged process which commenced with the quantum telematics simulation of the dual pillars of intelligence, preceding ritual interface. This is accomplished using Okpesị Agwụ Oke na Nne properly carved from Ogirishi wood (new bouldia). The two poles (Akpụkpa na Akọ) symbolically erected (psychically mirrored) and consecrated i.e telematically configured and activated – were expected to be become fused and fine tuned in operation within the initiated. The fusion was expected to produce a synthesis of the dual force in the initiate’s consciousness (Aka Nta/Aka Ijite), which expressed itself in the form of a new, original awareness perceptive harmony (Akọ si na Akpụkpa Nne + Akọ si na Akpụkpa Nna) and the truly ease-characterized primordial flow with nature called Amara Chi i.e grace of the nature state, which makes one to seem to be operating with an economy of force. In effect, by virtue of cosmic providence, as the Akọ Nne unit of intelligence controls the RNA thus Agwụ influence the DNA through this mode to produce ever-unique responses to nature’s ever-changing states of energy and events – in the initiate. The universal symbols or sign (Arịma) carved into the Okpesi Ụmụ Agwụ are classic Igbo spirit signatures or sigils (Ọwa Mmụọ/Ọwa Agbala/Mkpa Mmụọ), primordially sourced from Nkwọ-Agbara-Ọkpụ the chief spirit gate keeper of our universe’s astral dimensional gates – for purpose of spirit invocation. These universally potent sigils that are made on the Okpesị ritual devices or totems, identifies them as inter-dimensional communication device and like the electric current circuit grids carved into the electronic circuitry boards of today’s contemporary tech. devices – to basically enable a transmission of kinetic energy to “arouse” the “dormant” potential energy of the device into interface activity – the Okpesị Ụmụ Agbala and its varied set of plug-ins or components once activated, granted one the privilege of having a compact, customized multi-channel-capacity and multitasking quantum intelligence “wisdom” into cosmos.

These carved sigils are in-laid with the shredded powder of Nzu and Edo, which are primordially indentified natural smart essences (solar and lunar plasmic substance) capable of vibrating at very high, subtle energy sensitivity levels for at least four days and four nights, upon exposure into the atmosphere. In effect, these ancients Igbo people whose harmonious perception of the cosmos is unmatched till this day – discovered that the energy behavior or interaction of these two smart materials with the environment were exceptional and very benefits for humans, for these two substance charged the atmosphere of ritual spaces to a certain desirable frequency or energy pitch which was highly attractive to those caliber of pure spirits as are found in the Igbo divinity pantheons, the Ụmụ Agbara Agwụ included. This was done to elicit the beneficial attention of the Ụmụ Agbara Agwụ in this subtle realm, as these mythical substances have been primordially honored by these beings as a worthy form of spiritual permit or invitation into higher cosmic realms. Thus said, the second ritual stage of the Ịrụ Agwụ rite was the entity-specific “incantational channeling” and wormhole-ushering” (Ịlọ Agbala/Ịlọ Mmụọ/Ịkpọtu Agbala) of the Ọha Agwụ non-human spirit beings cosmologically affiliated with one’s ancestral genetic genius type – to be seated (Ịnye Ọnọdụ) into this 3rd dimensional zone of the cosmos in the state of Agbara Lọrọ Ụwa i.e a pure spirit being whom has ritually possessed a totemic space, creature or consecrated device, as its sacred vehicle of materialized incarnation. The Ịlọ Agbala Agwụ Ụwa ritual goal is achieved with the offering – among other things – of Okeọkpa, Nneukwu, Abụke Na Uriom Ọkụkọ Igbo, (native Igbo cock, hen, cockerel and chick) at varied stages of the Ịlọ Agbala Agwụ Ụwa incarnation ritual stage.

Foundationally in Ọdịnala, ritual signifies series of sacred actions in sacred time or a sacred moment in time. Therefore, the sacred ritual moment of blood offering in what it says: a key ritual act in series of ritual actions comprising a comprehensive Ọdịnala rite. In the simple act possessing a knowledge which made it possible that, synchronizing specific types of animal blood from ritual sacrifices with other smart mystic substances in specific modes moods, intentions based on eco-specific characters and well observed reactions in cosmic nature – the resulting meta-substance conducted or conjured-up a strong etheric force field into place which could power a temporary or constant tortus vertex for enabling interdimesional streaming of information, hyper-translocation of beings and objects between realms, among other things – this daring application of observed reality to the needs of spirituality and well-being at such an early time in the story of humanity as observed in the compressed mystic kernels of primordial knowledge (Abịa) preserved and transmitted via the core of many Igbo ritual procedures, simply gives away the glaring fact that the ancients where obviously experiencing and expounding a very subtle, unfiled system  of spiritual epistemology, a glaring synthesis of scientific technique and ritual arts, now variously known as mysticism, magic, the primordial technique, the sacred arts and sciences, the ancients way, the way of the elders etc. the Okwu Agwụ where these rite were executed were really varied calibers of miniaturized quantum activity enabling stations, where the ancients employed these subtle natural agents and resources scientifically (viz. Abịa ọgwụ ka dibịa jiri bụrụ eze agwụ. Ọ afa ka e bolụ ifenine ọgwụ na eri sị ya gbabalụ ụwa. Ire ka ana achọ na ọgwụ. Ọgwụ di ire, o tuo dibịa gwọlụ ya ugo) and in very artful ritual sequences (viz. Nka ka eji agbado mmụọ. Nka ka eji agọ mmụọ. Nka ka eji eme mmọnwụ) to accomplish higher cosmological purpose, task or needs. In direct procession, the third ritual stage in the Ịrụ Agwụ comprehensive rite is called the Orịkọ Ụmụ Agwụ which sees the Agwụ initiate, Dibịa or non-Dibịa as the case may be—proceed with a ritually shared communion of seven elements presented before the naturally very flighty Ụmụ Agbara Agwụ now etherically domesticated in the Okpesị Ụmụ Agwụ. Effectively, these ritual communion elements end up in the hands of the initiate transmuted by the now very subtle etherically-vibrant energy presence of the Agwụ beings in the enshrined space. The consummated elements were ritually designed to infuse the psychic field of the initiate with vibrations of well-beings preceding the major dream-state delivered nocturnal pscyhogeetic optimization operation of the Ụmụ Abanị Agwụ nocturnal speciation type of Agwụ beings. Also, this commune marks the end of the third ritual sequence as well as the first half of the comprehensive rite.

The fourth stage in the sequence is the ritual Anya, which is carried out on the next Eke or Nkwọ day, at the Igbo cosmological diurnal time beacon called Amani Aka Egbe Anyanwụ i.e. Midday or high-noon hourly moment (Amani) when the sun is set to shoot off its bitting arrows of heat into space. In this rite, the initiate having had their Akpa Agwụ operated by the Ụmụ Abanị Agwụ spirit beings the previous night, now has Akpa Uche (pineal gland and pituituary bodies) operated upon by the Dibịa by orally administrating a mild psychedelic portion brewed from dried Ogirishi Leafs, Ọjị Igbo (Igbo Kolanut)  and Nkwụ Kwere Izu (4-days fermented palmwine). This is followed by the administering of a second, third and fourth set of portion jointly called Ọgwụ Nshikọ Akọ na Uche. These are properly mixed with blood of a pure white native cock (Egbenu/Okeọkpa Igbo) and administered eyes and nose using fresh Ogirishi leave to funnel the liquid. Some are then cut as incisions into the palm, wrists, ankle and shoulder blades, if the initiate were on the path of initiation towards officiating as a Dibịa. Lastly, some of the portions are administered into ears of the initiated employing a white feather from the offered fowl, soaked in Ogirishi-infused water or alcoholic schnapps. This is called the ritual act of Ịtụwa Ntị and opens up the initiate to vistas of previously inaudible sounds surrounding them, as well as distant ones from other realms. Upon completing these psychotherapeutic administration, the Dibịa merely exist the stage as the fifth stage (Isemalụse Agwụ) where Agwụ becomes manifest to the initiate dawns upon them, as the now perceptually sound and heightened new consciousness of the initiate launched them into full-spectrum, cosmic intelligence interface, knowing and seeing beyond space and time, seeing through the subtle frequency curtain or dimensional veils of the cosmos, which prevents Ofeke and other kinds of being from seeing or interacting with the beings of such subtle realms.

Thus, the ancient Ịlụ Agwụ/Iru Agwụ rite was classically designed as a rite for the transmutational optimization of the human perceptual power system called intelligence, the spontaneous fruit of a wild, primordial, infinitely active two headed serpents called Oke na Nne Agwụ. When genuinely executed, this rite is intended to unlash upon one’s awareness a unified expansive vision of life and ever increasing higher vistas of knowledge. Through the ritual perfection of the perception powers in a human being i.e. Ọnụnụ na Nshikọ (Brewing and refinement of Intelligence), the initiate directly realizes Elele-Ọma-Agwụ state of perceptive blissfulness which comes from the calm, inner knowing of the harmonious mind; a fair rarity in our time. A rarity which is however said to be immortally enjoyed by Ụmụ Agbala in their essential nature. This authentic bare perception of reality as it is – is called the truth principle, and this force of authenticity called truth acquired through undistorted exploration of cosmic nature holds within it, the real the power of intelligence. The wizened Ogirishi trees and its ritual complementing tree known as Okwe Ụmụ Agwụ both stood as the primordial totemic Igbo trees of wisdom and knowledge respectively, since the dawn of Igbo culture; enshrining the essence of the two cosmic pillars of Intelligence, Akọ Nne na Akọ Nna (Intuition + Intellect). As primordially, the grand principles of intelligence as an independent cosmic power is proven to rest on two pillars, the ancients Igbo people sought to leave their footprint in the sands of times, by their effort to preserve the very answers they discovered on the mystery of intelligence by encoding them into the same rituals designed to respectively “brew” and “refine” the intelligence processes of a human being. By ritually classifying the Ogirishi trees as Ogirishi-Ụmụ-Agwụ and scientifically denoting it as Osisi-Akọnauche-Ndị-Mbụ, among other feats – the ancients were ritually engrooving and mnemonically patenting their discoveries for easy access to future descendants, making some of the very earliest classic Igbo ritual procedures bearers of intangible time capsules, designed to infuse our wary minds of today’s lesser world with ancient memories of hope, truth and other cherished qualities, preserved as an auspicious vision of what the earlier harmonious eras of human advancement and prosperity in times far gone looked like, as well as what it could potentially always be.

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Nze Chukwukadibịa E. Nwafọr (Omenigbo Nwa Anwụ Ushi Odirimatachi) is a native of Ụmụnze in Agụata Clan of Orumba South LGA, Anambra State. He is a writer, philanthropist, technologist, artist, Dibịa and advocate of indigenous African knowledge systems and spiritual heritage. A lifelong-learner and advanced practitioner of Igbo medicine and sacred teachings, he is also a fully-investitured culture bearer and spiritual lineage holder (Eze Aka Ji Ọfọ Ọdịnala) of Ụrụrọ-Ụmụnze descent. His dedicated efforts towards the total awakening of Igbo contemporary humanity have propelled him to introduce and teach the first comprehensive cyber course on Igbo Cosmology on the Udemy Universal Courses Digital Platform. His general publications on the cosmological knowledge and extensive wisdom heritage of Igbo culture are widely read. His first book, Leopards of the Magical Dawn: Science and the Cosmological Foundations of Igbo Culture was published in the United States in 2014 and is available in bookstores worldwide. He lives and works in Nigeria.