» The Opon Ifa

Osi-Opon Odus

admin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 02:21:00 +0000

Disclosure: What follows is my own highly opinionated, intensely felt, not necessarily correct, and perhaps at times alienating view of Odu, and what they mean.

The Osi-Opon is found in the western quadrant of the Opon-Ifa. This represents the world, as it exist outside your immediate surroundings – friends, extended family, neighbors, associates, business colleagues, etc. The Osi-Opon is the “Not-I” in the aforementioned “I/Not-I” equation. Being the opposite of Otun-Opon, the Osi-Opon represents death, completion, and the place of transformations.

The water element and the setting of the sun represent this quadrant, heralding the closure of the physical and cosmic day. Emotions are also found within this section of the Opon. Kinetic energy returns to its source to be transformed into potential energy once again. It is through the gateway of Osi-Opon that this return takes place. Physicality gives way to death. The final transition is made. The area from the sternum to the pelvis region falls under the auspices of the Osi-Opon.

This quadrant deals with the invisible world and governs those things that are obscured from view. The Osi-Opon is represented by the sacred Odu Oyeku.I have said that each quadrant of the Opon-Ifa represents a way to spirit. The way of the Osi-Opon Odus is the way of love. Love is so powerful an energy that Emmet Fox, the Christian theologian, tells us that with enough love, there is absolutely nothing that cannot be accomplished, no barrier that cannot be broken down, no wall that cannot be scaled, no situation that cannot be reverse. If we look around us in our everyday lives, we see expressions of this all the time.

I don’t know how many of you have seen the film or read the book “My Left Foot“. They dramatize a clear example of the power of love in the perfectly true story of a man born with so crippling a disease that he had no control over any part of his body but his left foot. Eventually and with great difficulty he taught himself to speak, but as a child he seemed mentally defective as well. Here was someone who might have been tossed aside as a total loss, a human being the Spartans would have abandoned on a mountaintop to freeze or starve to death within hours of his birth. Yet this person became an accomplished writer and painter. He married and lived as normal a life as the restrictions of his physical body allowed. The limitations on his life were all physical; they weren’t spiritual, they weren’t emotional, and they weren’t mental. What freed him? The love of his mother. It was her refusal to give up on him, her refusal to believe that he was hopeless, her insistence that he be treated with respect, and her patience in the way she spoke to him, even before she believe that he could understand, that ultimately redeemed him.

However; the Osi-Opon Odus do not represent love alone. They represent emotions in general, negative as well as positive. I am not in favor of hatred. I am not in favor of jealousy. I do not advocate resentment. I am not saying that it is wonderful to be in despair. What I am saying is that all of these emotions exist. And because they exist, they must be acknowledge and permitted expression along with all the rest of human experience cataloged by the 256 Odus which make up the sacred text of Ifa.

Oyeku represents the senior feminine principal in the universe and serves to balance Ogbe’s overtly masculine energies. This Odu brings powerful Ancestral wisdom, support and protection. Blockages may be implied, although in some cases one may be “blocked” for their own good. Restrictions are actually safe guards. Oyeku allows one to shed that which is no longer needed. The energies of dynamic transformation and transition run through this Odu, which is also closely related to the cycles of life.

Great prosperity can be found through this sign, but it is a prosperity that comes about through respecting the natural order of things. Oyeku’s increase come over time. This Odu reminds you that all things will eventually return to their source and that nothing lasts forever. Oyeku represents the unknown, those components that reside just beyond one’s field of vision.

In a state of “Ibi“, Oyeku may denote a condition of total blockage by elements that one is unable to perceive. Dangerous secrets may be circulating and you are advised to be careful of their presence. Under the influence of Oyeku in a state of Ibi, you or your situation may have fallen pray to a “black out,” a total loss of vision and direction. Insanity and corruption are possible. Oyeku is an Odu that walks with Death and is the gatekeeper to this ultimate transformation. In its most extreme states Oyeku brings immediate cessation, a termination of expression and existence.

Owonrin brings with it the energy that enables one to break away, especially from the elements of one’s past that have hindered movement and success. Release leading to liberation and evolution is a fundamental element of this Odu. It is important to look at the path ahead, not at the road already traveled. The answers cannot be found in the past. It is time to develop a new vision of the future.

You must understand how your choices impact your future and determine the blessings or challenges you experience. It is imperative that one’s destiny be discovered and pursued without interruption or disturbance. Owonrin may also indicate a state of negativity changing to positivity, the transformation of bad into good.

When Owonrin come in a state of “Ibi“, it indicates that the individual or situation at hand is bogged down with the weight of the past. Refusal to let go of that which “has been” gives rise to a state of bad fortune and imbalance. Owonrin when in Ibi, can signal bad judgment and the risk of jeopardizing one’s good fortune due to this imparted thinking. The individual that sews the seeds of negativity will feast on the bitter harvest of their crops.

Osa is an Odu whose energy is highly active and brings with it sweeping change and the benefits such modifications impart. This Odu marks increased communication, dialog, interaction and exchange. These newly initiated avenues of correspondence might either bring blessings or disruption, depending on the orientation of the Odu.

Osa is the ultimate antithesis of static energies. It is entirely impossible, and undesirable , to maintain a fixed position when this Odu appears. Osa asks one to sacrifice their current condition of stability in order to establish a new foundation. Osa is the reminder that one shouldn’t get too comfortable where they are. Changes are just around the corner! Osa’s contrary nature marks tumultuous currents of energy that find the individual living in the eye of the tornado. One’s affairs are unsettled, constantly in balance.

When Osa comes in “Ibi” it signals a swift reversal of fortune – that which was once good quickly becomes bad. The exchanges that were potentially beneficial now only serve to distract and confuse. Humility is learned through a swift blow from the hand of the stochastic forces of life. Lastly, Osa portends damages that are incrementally increased by someone running from their problems, rather than facing the source of conflict.

Irete communicates a time when prosperity and riches may be discovered and conveyed to the individual. Whether the abundance is monetary or spiritual, and increase is on the way. One may have to pass through the trials of life in order to realize this prosperous condition, but through divination the requisite elements may be gathered.

Irete also encourages you to find within yourself the source of sustenance and energy during difficult times. This Odu embodies the libertarian spirit and elevates one above the forces that attempt to ride roughshod over you. The forces of oppression, both within and around you, can be conquered under this Odu. Humility becomes the key to success in various situations and you may have to yield in order to gain.

When Irete’s orientation comes in “Ibi“, there are forces that seek to undermine you or the situation at hand. Insidious elements seek to gain entry or perhaps have already taken up residence. Like Odi, pressure is a key element in the equation and this stress causes resistance and may eventually leads to a total breakdown.

The forces that encroach on the individual do so through the open doorway created by this pressure. Their visit may bring injustice and difficult energies that wear you down. Fatigue sets in and disables further activity. The remedy is a period of rest necessary to allow you to gather the internal resources required to break free from the oppression.

Get the Complete Obi Divination Ebook.
Learn how to Tap Into The Collective Consciousness Of Your Ancestors, Solve Your Problems, and Get Inspired Council No One On Earth Can Give You
Learn How To Communicate with your Ancestors and they will help you through their Wisdom, and Love.

Tags: osi-opon, oyeku-meji, owonrin-meji, osa-meji, irete-meji

Osi-Opon Odus is a post from:

Ori-Opon Odus

admin — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 09:36:54 +0000

Disclosure: What follows is my own highly opinionated, intensely felt, not necessarily correct, and perhaps at times alienating view of Odu, and what they mean.

The northern quadrant, the Ori-Opon, represents the Heavens – the home of the Ancestors and Orisa. This is the spirit world and is represented by the air element. It is from the Ori Opon that the blessings of the gods stream forth. This quadrant marks the spiritual genesis of any physical or spiritual manifestation. This is the realm of potential energy waiting to spring into action. It is the world of infinite possibility. In terms of the human anatomy the Ori-Opon represents the head and the faculties of the mind. The sacred Odu Iwori represents the Ori-Opon.

As I suggested in the article about Ese-Opon Odus, we each have certain Odus with which we are particularly attuned. Anyone who denies that this is the case is not being honest. If we were all in such perfect balance that we related equally well to every quadrant grouping of Odus in the Opon, we would have no reason to be on Earth. We are here because we have work to do, and the work, as suggested by Ifa as well as most other esoteric systems, is to get ourselves into balance. Of the quadrant grouping of Odus which I am particularly attuned, the Ori-Opon Odu comes second, which may seem downright perverse. The Ori-Opon Odu are very difficult Odus. This is a not a quadrant of the Opon where people have a good time. However; we learn some of our most valuable lessons through our pain; comfort carries a tendency towards inertia. Most of us committed to personal growth are in sympathy with these Odus even if we don’t like it very much.The Ori-Opon Odu, which deals with the intellect and determination, is the Opon quadrant of the truth seeker. These are the Oju Odu of awareness and understanding. T.S. Elliot writes, “We had the experience, but we missed the meaning.” Here in the Ori-Opon quadrant, we are going, by gum or by golly, to get the meaning.

These Odus represent the willingness to experience whatever it is we need to experience to get to the truth. And the truth, rumor has it, can hurt. However; the truth will set you free, but as Werner Erhardt adds, “First it will piss you off.” Some of us will pursue the truth irrespective of pain, regardless of cost, submitting to confusion and despair, on only a promise of clearer understanding. Conversely, if we are drowning in pain and are thrown a rope, we will not catch hold of it if we know the rope to be a lie.

Because the truth can hurt, in the Odus of the Ori-Opon we are also dealing with courage. It takes enormous valor to go through the pain that is depicted in these Odus. As each quadrant of Odus in the Opon-Ifa has its way to spirit, the way of the Ori-Opon Odus is not only the way of intellect, the search for objective truth and clarity. It is also the way of courage.

The Odus of the Ori-Opon is additionally important for people who are interested in Ifa, because no matter how bright we are, no matter how intuitive we are, how perceptive and deeply feeling, if we haven’t got the commitment to look at our own life intrepidly, we will never learn anything from the Odus. It’s amazing to me how many people come for a reading after driving long distances just to find me. They put in a lot of energy and happily pay my fee, but really don’t want to “know.” They think they want to know, but they really don’t. What they truly want is to be supported in a belief system that is not serving them well.

The Odus of the Ori-Opon then, are beloved to lovers of truth, to those of us who are ruthless with ourselves in the pursuit of truth. It is just because the truth can hurt that the best graphical representation for these Odu is a double-edge sword. It can as easily lacerate the wielder as the object of attack.

The Sacred Ifa Odu Iwori Meji

Iwori Meji calls for introspection, the necessity to go within in order to maintain balance. For those of us who live in a culture whose primary orientation rests in the external, Iwori illustrates the benefits of quiet contemplation. The seed is being fertilized in preparation for its birth. Iwori signals the ability to view things in their true light. This Odu marks a purposeful endeavor. It reminds one that understanding will be gleaned from struggle. Even in a state of “Ire”, the productive expression of an Odu’s energy that brings blessings, conflict may be indicated but the presence of this conflict brings important lessons to those with the eyes to perceive them. Framed by two closed segments, Iwori brings protection through the act of enclosing.

Alternately, the womb-like protection of this Odu can quickly become a tomb when Iwori come in “Ibi”. The walls that once protected you now suffocates you. Introspection deteriorates into a condition wherein too much energy has been focused on thinking. One must step out of this cycle and move forward in order to regain balance. The clear perception of Ire is no longer and this lack of awareness may lead you into a trap – either literally or figuratively speaking.

The Sacred Ifa Odu Obara Meji

Obara is an Odu that walks with prosperity. A refreshing energy that promises abundance, Obara marks a period when previously chaotic energies dissipate. In order to stay in good fortune, one’s input and output must remain balanced. Obara draws one’s attention to the needs of the world around us, both micro and macro-cosmically. The needs of the “whole” require attention at this time. It is a generous sign and speaks of giving in order to find good fortune.

Obara, when in a state of “Ibi”, speaks of someone that has lost sight of the larger picture, and is blind to the entirety of the experience. The absence of awareness may lead to a lack of grounding that results in a state of indiscriminate wandering. There are no goals in this situation. The person is unable to make a decision. The will of the ego and the will of the spirit are in a state of discord. Nothing will be accomplished without restoring a state of alignment. Be careful of giving too much to an unworthy recipient. Putting the self over the “whole” has created problems. In extreme state of “Ibi”, one may even become delusional.

The Sacred Ifa Odu Ika Meji

Ika is an Odu that offers the individual a new start and represents optimum conditions that are fertile for new opportunity. This Odu is teeming with the energies of literal and figurative conception. One is advised to sustain those sources that offer personal and familial defense. Ika guarantees continuity of the person and the community. This Odu advises one to use the power of spirit over the power of the body. Actions or occurrences that strive to disturb balance can be abated through Ika. You should stay alert and be on guard, as there are forces at play that may soon reveal their underhanded nature.

When Ika is received in a state of “Ibi” it may herald sudden surprises previously unseen by you. Danger may be just around the corner and may even be disguised as something beneficial to you. Infections are also possible. This marks a state of affliction that may contaminate you or your situation in many levels, not simply the physical organism alone. Experiencing this Odu’s contrary nature will likely put you in a state of constant apprehension leading to gross imbalance. You may either commit or be the victim of betrayal, hypocrisy and other dishonorable acts. Ika communicates the possible risks involved in any endeavor.

The Sacred Odu Ifa Ose Meji

Ose is an Odu that shares some commonalities with Osa. It is another sign of change, perhaps less sudden than Osa, but no less dramatic. Ose governs the process of decay, a productive dissolution that nurtures the fertilization of new life. Ose is analogous to the Phoenix, the fiery bird that burns itself to death only to rise from its own ashes in a renewed state of strength and vitality. Ose deals with the concrete changing of forms; physicality shifts and takes on new dimensions of being. These changes bring blessings when this Odu come n “Ire”. An new precedent must be established in order to find good fortune. Once this has been accomplished Ose, like the energy of Osun herself, brings the sweetest things life has to offer, but these things must be appreciated lest they be taken away.

In “Ibi”, Ose marks disruptive changes that leave one feeling anxious and vulnerable. One is in a precarious position wherein the decay fails to produce superior forms and a restless condition is aggravated by this Odu’s unstable nature. One may be resisting the process of necessary decay in order to be fully reborn. This struggle will only cause problems and create obstacles on one’s path to goodness. Ose may also indicate unrealistic demands that are creating problems for you.

Tags: Opon Ifa, Ori-Opon, Iwori, Obara, Ika, Ose

Ori-Opon Odus is a post from:

Opon Ifa – The Great Divining Tray Used in Ifa Divination

admin — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 08:00:16 +0000

Exploring the Opon Ifa

The Opon Ifa is the great divining tray used in Ifa divination and is also used in the preparation of sacred medicines. Opons vary in size and decoration, but are generally carved from wood and are decorated with the sacred symbols of the Ifa cosmology. A characteristic symbol of the Opon is the Head of Esu that decorates the top quadrant of the tray. Some trays have one, two or even four Esu faces carved around their rim. The border of the tray is usually carved with anthropomorphic figures, each with a special purpose and meaning. The Babalawo makes use of the Opon Ifa when performing divination with the I kin.More important than the physical design of the tray, is what the tray metaphysically represents. The Opon signifies the Universe as we know it, both micro and macro cosmically. It is divided into four quadrants and each quadrant represents certain aspects of life itself. By understanding the nature of the Opon and its components, you can further discover which area of life are being impacted by the Odu revealed.

The meaning of each of the quadrants are detailed in the this blogs’ under the category The Opon Ifa.

Opon Ifa – The Great Divining Tray Used in Ifa Divination is a post from:

Otun-Opon Odus

admin — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 04:04:21 +0000

Disclosure: What follows is my own highly opinionated, intensely felt, not necessarily correct, and perhaps at times alienating view of Odu, and what they mean.

In the eastern quadrant one finds the Otun-Opon. This is the region that governs the world of the Self – the diviner, their home, immediate family and intimate surroundings.

The Otun-Opon is the “I” of the “I/Not-I” equation. This is the region of life whose symbol is the element of fire. The seed that was sown in the Ese-Opon springs forth in the Otun-Opon. It is further represented by the rising sun and signals the beginning, marking the dawn or a new realm of the Otun-Opon that the kinetic energy moves within the individual’s private world.

Anatomically this region relates to the portion of the body from the neck to the sternum, located at the base of the rib cage. This region also deals with the visible realm and those forces that are in plain view. The sacred Odu Ogbe represents the Otun-Opon.

To this group I will assign the Jungian function of consciousness called intuition since intuition is really quite miraculous. It is a way of knowing that has nothing to do with reason and very little to do with perception. It is knowing without having learned. Something has come to mind that is totally new. It is not the result of study or of inductive or deductive processes. If we had scoured our brains, all our ideas, and our entire conceptual framework, we would never have come up with what has suddenly come to us in a flash. What we experience is a miraculous entry into consciousness of something that seems to come from somewhere else. All at once we just know!

It seems appropriate to me that the element of Odus grouped in Otun-Opon should be fire, with its quickness, suddenness, and dissimilarity to its source. You begin with a match and a matchbook, and all of a sudden – in a flash – you have a flame, which looks nothing at all like either the match or the matchbook. There’s no way to figure out how you can get fire from these two inert little pieces of cardboard. That’s the way intuition flashes into consciousness.

The Fiery Odus also represent life energy of all forms, what Freud called libido. It is the animal energy that drives life, the vital force that we feel surging up withing us. And although those two – intuition and libido – may strike us as totally different from one another, they really are related as suggested by the word sublimation. Sublimation clearly means “to make sublime.” So if we take that basic life energy and express it, not in its most positive way, not in terms of frank physical sexuality, we can eliminate it to a point of artistic expression. By moving the energy to that creative place, we make it sublime.

Ogbe is a sign of new life, opportunity and new beginnings. It assures you victory, evolution, success and strong support. It is a sign that marks a state of alignment – all elements in the equations are in harmony at this time. Awakening unfolds as life begins. The energy opens wide and unveils a myriad of options to explore.

Ogbe is the senior of all the 256 Odus. This Odu is the sign of intelligence, both cosmic and personal. Ogbe supports a holistic comprehension that involves the whole being and not merely the mind Order and illumination are common themes in this Odu.

The energy of Ogbe lends remarkable strength and vivacity to all that it touches. This can be both a blessing and a curse, as the energy Ogbe invigorates without consideration of the orientation of the circumstances.

When Ogbe comes in “Ibi,” a state wherein the more unproductive aspects of the Odu’s energy are present, this sign can signal a scattering of energies, a state wherein there are too many options that distract the individual. The mind has overruled all else resulting in imbalance. Order has shifted to a state of disarray. One’s focus is diminished and this is causing great problems.

Blindness or radical obsession may even occur, rendering you unable to see anything but that which rest directly under your nose. Egos burn out of control and issues of supremacy surface.

When Ogbe comes in a state of Ibi it may likely mark reckless behavior resulting from blindness. The over abundance of energy created hypersensitivity leading to distractions and loss.

Irosun calls for homage to be paid to one’s Ancestors. By honoring those that have gone before us, one maintains a sense of balance and perspective with and within the universe.

Irosun calls for cautious behavior. You may find that you are at a key point in your process, a place wherein each step is critical. Moving vigilantly will insure not only safe passage, but also blessings.

Careful reflection on one’s path is necessary in order to move ahead. One must struggle to maintain clarity and understanding. This Odu advises that even during times of adversity you must remain true to form.

When suffering betrayal from one’s environment or the world, one should not betray oneself. In order the avoid the pitfalls of selfishness and shortsighted behavior, extend the parameters of the self. Logic and common sense should be one’s traveling companion on the journey.

Ogunda is an Odu that clears the obstacles that impede progress; a physical and metaphysical clearing that makes a path where none preciously existed. Ogunda, with its obvious ties to the Orisa Ogun, represents the never ending search for Truth and offers an opportunity to objectively view reality.

This Odu represents Truth as it actually exists, free from the distortions imposed on it by the individual. Brutal honesty is an element of this Odu’s energy. Ogunda is the impulse to evolve, the internal push to forge ahead that guarantees the evolution of the individual and the community.

Victory over one’s enemies (both internal and external) is forecasted and Ogunda signifies the struggle that ends in success.

In a state of “Ibi,” this Odu warns of deception, possibly from those closest to you. There is a risk of trusting someone or something rooted in dishonesty and this misplaced trust could lead one into trouble.

Ogunda admonishes one to avoid compulsive behavior or needless acts of aggression. Senseless acts of physical, mental, emotional or spiritual violence can become deadly. Stubbornness, lack of patience and an unwillingness to compromise are the hallmarks of Ogunda’s energy when it is out of balance. Unhealthy cravings for power and the presence of conflict, anger and struggle are also signs of Ogunda when in a state of Ibi.

Otura represents the qualities of a peaceful spirit, a calm emotional state and a cool head. Tranquility and equanimity grace the individual resting in a state of Ire with this Odu. Such peace is found through a strong inner knowing that validates the correctness of life and the course one is taking. There is an incredible purity inherent in Otura.

This Odu is the salve that eases anxiety, pressure and tension. Otura marks the metaphysical energies of speech and communication; words as building blocks of creative power capable of creation or destruction depending on the intent of the speaker.

Otura, when id a state of “Ibi,”reveals a condition wherein the serenity and composure of the individual or situation is being disturbed. The inner knowing that offered affirmation has been transformed into a state of disruption that guides one strongly off path as Otura rears its contrary head. Speech becomes a weapon of dissection and division.

You are either speaking or hearing words that lead to separation or dissension. Lies are being spread and webs of untruth are being weaved. Be careful not to get caught in these webs. Measured communication is necessary in order to retain or restore good fortune.

Tags: Otun-Opon, Ogbe Meji, Irosun Meji, Ogunda Meji, Otura Meji

Otun-Opon Odus is a post from:

Ese-Opon Odus

admin — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 05:15:54 +0000

Disclosure: What follows is my own highly opinionated, intensely felt, not necessarily correct, and perhaps at times alienating view of Odu, and what they mean.

The group of Odus located in the Opon-Ifa cardinal point called Ese-Opon is found in the southern quadrant of the Opon and deal with the element earth and things incarnate and material: health, money, career, sensuality, work, home, cars, maintenance, clothes – anything observable by other people as opposed to anything that is going on within ourselves.

The Ese-Opon is the place of day-to-day events as they manifest in the life of the individual. Further, this quadrant represents the flow of energy in one’s life. This is the realm where potential energy transforms into kinetic energy, marking spirit’s descent into matter. The feet represent the Ese-Opon in terms of the human anatomy, and further denote the physical body and the biological process of fertilization and gestation. It is within this quadrant that the seed is sown into the fertile soil of the Earth. It is also the realm of rebirth and reincarnation and is represented by the sacred Odu Odi.

Ideally, we would not have a favorite Odu. If we could, we would relate to every Odu with equal energy because they are all equally important. All of the Odus have value. However, anybody who tells you that they relate to every Odu with equal energy probably lies about other things too. We are on this earth to work through our imbalances. If we already had it “together”, what would we be doing here? We are here because humans alone, of all Olodumare’s creations, can improve, and we are here to improve. One of the ways in which we make improvements is by learning the most appropriate, the best responses to whatever the universe offers us. And the way in which we achieve that point of development is by getting ourselves in balance.

The challenge of the Odus Odi Meji, Okanran Meji, Oturupon Meji, and Ofun Meji with the elemental dignity of Earth is always remembering that, whatever the body, there is a soul. Whether it is a bird or a flower or a rock, there’s divine energy within. The challenge is not to get caught up in the externals of things.

The Ese-Opon Odus are the Odus through which we can appreciate what we have been give. It is easy to get used to blessings and to take them for granted, and it is easy to fixate on things that are wrong. It’s so easy to pick, pick, pick at the things that aren’t right and accept without acknowledgment the most important things. Anyone reading this article has the promise of waking up in the morning, opening their eyes and seeing – that’s a blessing. How often do we rejoice at the miracle of our daily lives?

The other aspect of these Odus that make them so precious is that they bring us the opportunity to be of service. We can take these bodies of ours, these brains of ours, these hands of ours with opposable thumbs, these mouths of ours that have the gift of speech, and our imaginations and dreams and creativity, and we can do something with them that benefits other people. So the second part of the way to spirit for the Odus grouped in the cardinal point of the Opon-Ifa named Ese-Opon is service.

However, we must now turn our attention to the obstacles, and challenges of these Odus.

The obstacles to spiritual growth inherent in this group of Odus is that we can grow greedy and selfish; we can get caught up in superficiality and form. How many relationships failed because what is loved is the body rather than the soul? F. Scott Fitzgerald depicts the misery and tragedy that must follow when we love only the material form of another.

It is staggering to recognize how many people well out of their teens continue to choose the mate who will impress others. The aging man who wants to young beauty on his arm, the one who turns every head and makes him “the envy of every man in the place.” The young beauty who chooses the aging gentleman, not for his wisdom or kindness, but for his new Mercedes and the expensive gifts he showers upon her. The small child, an embarrassment to her mother because she stutters or limps, who is left alone with her loneliness. Is the best job opportunity always the one that pays the most? Is the best companion the one who can afford to travel with us in the style to which we are accustomed?

We will see how both ways; service, and obstacle to spirit manifest in the Odus grouped in the cardinal point of the Opon-Ifa named Ese-Opon.

Odi is an Odu that completes the first four principle Odus, the fourth component that, when joined with its predecessors, forms a whole. As such, this is a sign of completion, an energy that concludes a cycle and ushers the seed into manifestation. This Odu binds the pattern of potential energy and becomes its avenue of manifestation. Odi is an Odu that defines one’s space or speaks of the need to do so. Internal pressure or difficulty may be indicated and depending on the orientation of the Odu, these challenges may lead to productive or unproductive ends.

In “Ibi” Odi is a restraining energy that can have the individual “treading water” rather than moving ahead. Energy is wrapped up in trying to prevent a situation from deteriorating, rather than actively improving its condition. Odi represents obstacles that impede progress and may be a signpost marking a road that has reached a point of critical impasse. The cycle is unable to reach its natural end and hags in a state of suspension. The womb will not release the child. The ground will not release the seed. Something is preventing emergence. Restriction binds all active energies.

Okanran gives the individual a chance to move beyond the burdens in their life and environment. Tension and stress are transformed and a weight is lifted from one’s shoulders. The sense of heaviness eases after a long trying period. This Odu encourages one to have the fortitude to carry on despite potentially overwhelming odds. In order to succeed, one must continue. Nothing is gained by giving up. Stand strong in one’s identity and stand up to those that would attempt to intimidate. Passion should be mitigated with coolness. This Odu delivers a potent dose of justice. and destroys lies. Okanran suggest humility and respect as a path of good fortune.

When Okanran is in a state of “Ibi“, you may be refusing to see the truth that is being presented, thus lying to yourself. This denial leads to a convolution of energies that brings imbalance, stress and possibly even danger. The stress gains momentum and creates erratic bursts of anger. Eventually the metaphysical heat generated by this state of internal friction causes the organism to collapse.

Oturupon’s energy grants you the ability to endure all of life’s hardships and struggles. Unlike other Odus that may signal a clearing or easing of such struggles. Oturupon empowers you to remain steadfast during difficult times. It is an energy that brings stability and security and protects the ground that has been gained. This Odu demands that a person face their challenges directly and is the antidote to Osa’s tendency to flee. Oturupon carries the reminder that courage is the only avenue for success in the present situation. The ways of the Ancestors must not only be learned and respected, but also practiced and integrated into one’s everyday customs. It is through the aforementioned integration that one finds not only fulfillment, but grounding as well. Proactive movement is encouraged over knee jerk responses stimulated from a reactive condition.

When this Odu comes in “Ibi“, it indicates that you are not capable of holding your space and may be affected by a lack of strength and courage. A tailspin begins wherein fear begets more fear until you are consumed by this infection. That which you seek to keep suppressed is corrupting your structural integrity or the situation at hand. Reactivity forces you away from your center and jeopardizes stability. Oturupon warns of the risks involved in becoming complacent as steadfastness becomes a dangerous lack of concern.

Ofun marks the end of the road that winds through the sixteen Oju Odu, starting with Ogbe and ending with this Odu. As the terminus, it is a symbol of proper completion and closure. Unlike Odi that marks completion leading to birth and new beginnings, Ofun signals the completion of the cycle itself. Ofun represents a state of wholeness wherein all parts have been returned to their original unified state. This unification is a result of wisdom that can only be gained through the process of life and maturity, a wisdom that results in a synthesis of energies into a balance state wherein flow is possible. The physical symbol of the Odu itself suggest the balance of light and darkness, contraction and expansion, input and output. It is through this state of equilibrium that Ofun bestows its generosity on the individual or their situation. You capacity to recognize the extremes of life as poles of the same spectrum directly reflects your ability to receive the blessings of this Odu. With the completion of any cycle comes the blessings that are gained from the journey. The seeds discovered in Ogbe, planted in Iwori and born in Odi have come to full fruition in Ofun. Great abundance is indicated, a prosperity that affects all levels of existence.

When Ofun comes in a state of “Ibi“, its is indicating that you are unable or unwilling to give, a failure to recognize the necessity of give and take in order to maintain balance. You have separated from your spiritual wisdom and must regain this connectivity in order to function. Material obsession has extinguished the flame of the spirit. No matter how many riches you possess, money without spirituality becomes a source of bondage, rather than liberation. You become a slave of that which you covet. Lastly, Ofun’s contrary nature can often indicate that a lack of maturity is the source of your problems.

Tags: ese-opon, odi-meji, okanran-meji, oturupon-meji, ofun-meji

Ese-Opon Odus is a post from:

An Exposition of The Sacred Texts of Ifa

admin — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 05:12:30 +0000

Disclosure: What follows is my own highly opinionated, intensely felt, not necessarily correct, and perhaps at times alienating view of Odu, and what they mean.

In order to give you a relative foundation from which you can draw your own parallels I will break down the Odus in a fashion which will allow me to assigned elemental dignities to each of them in groups of four.

To begin with I shall consider each Odu in relation to the Opon-Ifa. Furthermore, I will positioned each set of four Odus in a cardinal point within the Opon-Ifa. The cardinal points are named Otun-Opon (East), Osi-Opon (West), Ori-Opon (North), and Ese-Opon (South).

To the East I shall group Ogbe, Irosu, Ogunda, and Otura.
To the West I shal group Oyeku, Owonrin, Osa, and Irete.
To the North I shall group Iwori, Obara, Ika, and Ose.
To the South I shall group Odi, Okanran, Oturupon, and Ofun

I shall also assign elemental dignities to each group of Odus as follows:

To the Easter group of Odus I assign the element of Fire.
To the Western group of Odus I assign the element of Water.
To the Northern group of Odus I assign the element of Air.
To the Souther group of Odus I assign the element of Earth.

The Odu is a visual map of consciousness and a symbolic system that offers insight into professional contribution, personal motives, and spiritual development of each individual. As a map of consciousness, the Odus represent a facet of the total life experience incorporating the “practical-everyday world” with the spiritual growth and evolution of each person. Basically , the Odus reflect the opportunity that each individual has to visually see that life is a process of “walking the mystic path with practical feet.”

The Odus reveal different psychological, and spiritual states of “being.”

The Eastern group of Odus represent qualities of vision. insight, perception, energy, vitality and spontaneity.
The Western group of Odus represent the emotional psychological factors, which would include our responses, reactions and our feelings. This group of Odus indicate different qualities of love, and emotional states that range from happiness and satisfaction to disappointment, anger, fear, and inertia.
The Northern group of Odus mirror what is happening as far as mental beliefs, ideas and quality of thinking.
The Southern group of Odus represent the external reality or ability to manifest what we want in the outer world in the areas of health, finance, work, creativity, and relationships.

The first group of Odus I will focus on will be those grouped in the cardinal point of the Opon-Ifa named Ese-Opon

An Exposition of The Sacred Texts of Ifa is a post from: