1. Odu describes the spiritual way in which as individuals we integrate right brain and left brain as the foundation of spiritual development.
2. Odu describes the spiritual way in which we relate to others on a personal one on one basis.
3. Odu describes the spiritual way in which we relate to our entire community.
4. Odu describes the spiritual way in which we to the Earth.
5. Odu describes the fundamental principles of physics and astro-physics meaning it describes the which is the universe is created and presents the fundamental laws of Nature needed to unlock abundance from Nature.
Each of these levels of interpretation include both a description of the context of the interpretation, a description of what is broken and guidance on how to fix what is broken. I want to apply these different levels of interpretation to a specific Odu, Irete Ogbe. This Odu is described in Ifa scripture as; How Orunmila found a wife. In my opinion it is a classic example of the way Ifa scripture is a multi-layered metaphor describing the Nature of reality.
Again in my opinion this is one of the most misunderstood and most frequently distorted Odu in the entire corpus of Ifa scripture. Many Awo will disagree with my interpretation of this Odu. Disagreement can be a good thing, and it is the basis of theological dialogue. Unfortunately I believe the most common interpretations of this Odu are rooted in a form of sexism that represents resistance to the issue of gender equity as taught by the Prophet Orunmila.
Let's start by an examination of the basic text as translated by the Late Pierre Vergier aka Awo Fatunbi (ibae):
You walk over the bush, I walk over the bush, we both walk over the bush together were the Babalawo who cast Ifa for Odu on the day Odu made the journey from Heaven to Earth.
Whenever she will arrive on Earth, the Babalawo said Odu this is your beginning. Olodumare gave her a bird. She took the bird on her journey to Earth.
Aragamago is the name Olodumare gave to the bird. Aragamago is the name of the bird belonging to Odu. Olodumare told Odu that anything she wished to accomplish would be done if you send the bird to do it. Olodumare said, anyplace you want to send this bird, it will go there.
Olodumare said if you want it to do bad things it will do bad things, if you want it to do good things it would do good things. Aragamago was the bird brought to Earth by Odu.
Odu said no other person will be able to look upon it, she said it must not be looked upon. If any enemy of Odu looks upon it, she will shatter his eyes; the power of the bird will make him blind.
Odu used this power to gain access to the house of Orunmila.
Orunmila consulted his Babalawo who consulted Ifa. Orunmila was told, "If we teach a person to be intelligent, that person will be intelligent, if we teach a person to be stupid, that person will be stupid. Ifa told Orunmila to take Odu as his wife. The Babalawo said a power is in the hands of Odu. They said because of this power Orunmila must make an offering to the Earth. They said the offering must be made in for the welfare of all people. The said the offering must be made so Odu will not kill people, and so Odu will not eat people because the power of Odu is greater than the power of Orunmila. They said Orunmila must quickly make ebo. The Babalawo gave him the ingredients for the ebo.
Orunmila made the offering. On the day Odu arrived at Orunmila's home she found the offering outside the door. Odu asked who has made this offering to the Earth? Esu said it was Orunmila who made the offering because he wants to marry you. Odu took the offering and fed the bird Aragamaga.
Odu entered the house of Orunmila and called to him. Odu said Orunmila I have arrived. Odu said I have many powers. Odu said she did not want to fight with Orunmila. Odu said if someone asked for her to help them fight Orunmila she would not help. Odu said she did not want Orunmila to suffer in anyway. Odu said she would fight anyone who wanted to make Orunmila suffer.
Orunmila said, not bad.
Together Orunmila and Odu went into the world. Odu said I will teach you my taboo. Odu said you must not let your other wives see my face. Odu said she would fight whoever looked at her face. Orunmila said he would honor her taboo.
Odu told Orunmila she would transform his burdens into good fortune. Odu said she would heal all things. Odu said she would change anything that went wrong and make it right.
Odu told Orunmila if he honored her taboo she would makes things good in the world.
Odu told Orunmila that no one could disturb them. If oso wanted to destroy them he would be destroyed.
Odu told Orunmila if Aje wanted to destroy them, she would be destroyed.
Odu told Orunmila that he should never make fun of her. Odu said if he did not make fun of her all of her work would be good and she would never fight with Orunmila.
Odu told Orunmila if he knew what he wanted to send her to get it and it would be his.
Odu said if Orunmila sent a message for someone to suffer, that person would suffer.
Odu said if someone wanted to harm Orunmila even if only slight, she would go to war against that person.
Orunmila said I know you are important. Orunmila said you are stronger than all other women in the world.
Orunmila said he would never be displeased with Odu. Orunmila said none of his children would ever make fun of her because Odu is the power of the Babalawo. Orunmila said if a Babalawo possesses Ifa he would also possess Odu.
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