Ose Ifa (Ifa and Orisa)

Preparation

Before beginning any kind of devotion, the Ifa and Orisa devotee must be clean. As E. Boloji Idowu informs us, ritual defilement may be incurred in several ways, depending on what are "taboos" to the particuar divinity who is being worshipped. It is believed that sexual intercourse immediately before worship or when its "stain" has not been removed by thorough washing, is a thing forbidden by all divinities. It is also taboo for a worshipper to carry bad medicine on his/her person. The greatest obstacle to efficacious worship is impurity of the heart. Therefore, moral and ritual cleanliness are pre-requisites of any devotional endeavour.

Before performing Ijuba, select the required number of obi abata (sacred kola-nuts), wash them and place them in a bowl of water.

Next perform Ijuba while pouring liberation using any alcoholic beverage.

Ijuba

Iba Olodumare, Olojo oni (Reverence to God the controller of this day)Iba Ila oorun (Reverence to the East)Iba Iwo oorun (Reverence to the West)Iba Ariwa (Reverence to the North)Iba Guusu (Reverence to the South)Iba Ile (Reverence to the Earth)Iba Esu Odara (Reverence to Esu, who works magical wonders)Iba Eegun Idile mi (Reverence to family masquarades )Iba Baba (Reverence to my father)Iba Yeye (Reverence to my mother)Iba Oluwo (Reverence to my godfather)Iba to to to mojuba (Complete entire reverence, I pay my respect)

The four devotional phases of Ose Ifa are devotion to Esu, Eegun, Ori and Ifa. Each phase consists of four steps.

1. Invoking the relevant spiritual force

2. Deteremining whether that spiritual force brings Ire (good fortune)or Ibi (bad fortune)

3. Determining the king of Ire or Ibi.

4. Determining the appropriate offering for manifesting Ire or for averting Ibi.

Table 1: Determining Ire or Iba

ALAAFIAAll segments open

Ire: the word Alaafia means well being

IWAOnly 3 segments openIre or Ibi: depends on one's IWA (behavior)

OBI YANOnly 2 segments openIre: Obi Yan means the obi is favourable

OKANOnly 1 segment openibi: Okan means the heart

OPO TAKUAll segments closedIre: Isegun (Victory smash the obi segments)

Notes

If Opotaku appears, smash the obi segments and continue on to the Eegun phase. if Iwa appears, ask again, "Is something good coming?" If Iwa appears the second time then the response is ire.

If Ire appears, cast the obi to determine which kind of Ire is coming. The are: Aiku (long life), Aje (financial success), Aya (wifes), Oko (husbands), Omo (children), and Isegun (victory over enemies). Follow the order from Aiku to isegun until recieving a "Yes responce by asking, "Do you see (name the ire)" (See Table 2)

After determining the kind of Ire ask Esu, "Is this obi a sufficient offering to bring about (name of Ire)? If a "Yes" response, leave one or two obi segmetns before the emblem of Esu and plase the rest in the bowl of water. If a "No" response, ask what must be added to make the offering acceptable.

Whenever Alaafia appears, move your hands as if throwing water on your face.

If ibi appears, cast the obi to determine what kind of ibi is coming. They are Iku (death), Arun (sickness), Ofo (loss), Ija (fight, quarrel), and Orun (problem, trouble). Follow the order of severity until recieve a "Yes". Then ask Esu, " Do you see (name the ibi)?" (See Table 2) After determining the kind of Ibi ask Esu. "Is this obi a sufficient offering to avert (name the ibi)?" If a "No" response, ask what must be added to make the offering acceptable.

Table 2: Interpretating subsequent casts of Obi

ALAAFIAAll segments openYes

IWA

Only 3 segments openCast again. "Yes" if Iwa appears again

OBI YANOnly 2 segments openYes

OKANOnly 1 segment openNo

OPO TAKUAll segments closedNo

Araba Ifayemi Elebuibon