OBI DIVINATION (OBI DIDA) BY BABALAWO OBANIFA

OBI DIVINATION (OBI DIDA) BY BABALAWO OBANIFA

''IMPORTANT NOTICE OBI DIDA (OBI DIVINATION) IS NOT AN EFFECTIVE FORM OF DIVINATION SYSTEM BECAUSE OF MANY ATTENDANT DEFECT AND WEAKNESSES,SUCH AS LIMITATION OF DIVINATION READING, OBI DIVINATION ONLY ALLOW EGBERUN O LE OKAN IDAFA LOJUMON(10001 DIVINATION READING PER DAY PER PERSON EITHER THE DIVINER HIMSELF/HERSELF OR THE CLIENTS INVOLVE), AND ONE QUESTION CAN NOT BE DIVINE UPON TWO TIMES, IF YOU DO, YOU WILL GET MISLEADING AND FAKE DIVINATION RESULT. OBI DIVINATION CAN NOT SEE YOUR MIND   OR SUBJECT MATTER OF THE READING, UNLESS THE CLIENTS OR THE PERSON WHO WANT TO MAKE INQUIRES STATE IT AS A QUESTION BEFORE THE OBI IS CAST. THAT MEANS YOU NEED TO EXPLAIN THE SUBJECT MATTER OF INQUIRES TO OBI BEFORE YOU CAN GET DIRECTION FROM OBI DIVINATION READING. OBI PATTERN /SYMBOL IS RESTRICTED TO JUST 9,AND IT IS THE ONLY SEVEN OF THEM THAT IS SPEAKING WITH REAL MESSAGES AND SOLUTIONS. THAT IS WHY IFA DIVINATION READING SYSTEM REMAIN THE UNRESTRICTED AND MOST VALUABLE AND EFFECTIVE VALID DIVINATION READING SYSTEM , SO OBI DIVINATION WILL JUST BE USEFUL FOR POLAR QUESTION DIVINATION  DURING IWURE PRAYER, EBO SACRIFICE AND OTHER PROPITIATION BEFORE THE ORISA AS WELL AS OTHER MISCELLANEOUS INQUIRES  ''   

BABALAWO OBANIFA 

Babalawo Obanifa will in this work critically examine and document Obi Dida (Obi divination )  in Yoruba Spirituality. This work will be useful for many practicing Babalawo who don't have adequate knowledge of Obi Dida (Obi divination) beyond beni /beko (yes or no) method of divination. The work will also be useful to Ifa and Orisa devotee around the world as well as academic researcher in the field of Ifa and Orisa spirituality. Babalawo Obanifa will explain with the aid of pictures and explanations, the comprehensive use of Obi divination in Yoruba spirituality. The work will explain what is obi divination system? Signs and symbols and interpretations of each sign or symbol represent in Obi Dida (Obi divination). Spiritual and physical, economic uses or importance Of Obi etc.

WHAT IS OBI DIDA (OBI DIVINATION)?

Obi Dida (Obi divination system) simply refer to the method of divination that involves the use of Obi Abata (kola Acuminata ) for divination. It involves the act of using the awe obi (lobes of kolanut)  for the purpose of consulting deities and other supernatural forces to get messages from them. When I talk of Obi (kola nut) in this sense, I mean obi Abata (kola Acumulata) and not any other type of kola like: Obi Gbanja tabi obi goro (kola nitida ) which is usually have two lobes, it is mainly for eating and industrial use ,nothing really spiritual about it). But Obi Abata (Kola Acuminata) usually starts from two to six lobes or even more. It has spiritual use. In Yoruba spirituality we class obi abata range from  Akiriboto (kola nut with just a single lobe, it cannot be break into two, this cannot be used for obi divination, although it have other spiritual use)in Yoruba Spirituality it is believed that a pregnant woman should not eat this kind of Obi, so that her baby private part can  function well . Obi  alawe meji (kolanut with two lobe, it also has no spiritual uses) ,obi oloju meta (kolanut with three lobes) this cannot be used for obi divination, but it have other spiritual uses, it is also consider favorite for Orisa  Ogun, the Ogun devotees do use it for covenant, it is favorite for Esu in some occasion), Iya obi tabi obi oloju merin (Mother of all kola, this is a kolanut with four lobes) this is  the obi that is acceptable for obi divination, and it has other spiritual uses) ranging from Ori bibo (head rogation) Orisa bibo (prayer to Orisa),  obi oloju marun tabi Olufunwa (this is a kola -nut with five lobes)  it is not really use for obi divination and if occasion demand it use for spiritual purpose during Iwure (prayer) and ebo (sacrifice) etc, one lobes out it must be removed and throw away, this one lobe remove is called Ofua, then the remaining four will then be use) this kola nut is believed to be favorite of Orisa Osun ,Obi oloju mefa tabi iwarefa (this is a kola nut with six lobes) it is acceptable for use in prayers but it is common to use it when such prayer involved a whole town, Kings, important chiefs or personalities. Obi lobes can goes beyond these six lobes but it is not acceptable in spirituality of any significance. Although such aberration have some spiritual uses too which I will not prefer to explain here. As we can see Iya obi tabi obi oloju merin (kola nut with four lobes) is the most acceptable obi for Obi divination iya obi tabi obi olojumerin (kola nut with four lobes) are spiritually classify to Ako ati Abo (that is Male and Female) and it consists of  four constituents or segment, the first two of it are Ako obi meji(Two male segment or constituents) and the remaining two are Abo obi meji (Female constituents).

The classification is important because each gender classification or sex is loaded with different messages and interpretation as you shall see later in my explanations. The two classifications is mainly done to strike balance between the gender of male and female, as well as spiritual force of light and darkness. The light forces of the kola nut segment, work hand in hand with the male segments or constituents. While the dark for the dark force of it work hand in hand with the female constituents or segment. But it is instructive to note that when you are using obi divination in front of any female Orisa ; like Osun, Yemoja, etc. the issue of male and female interpretation will slightly be different with a modification that Abo  obi (female) obi will be interpretation to mean light force instead of dark. It will tend to attract more positive meanings than negative, while Ako obi (will be tend to attract more negative meaning or dark force. I must stress here that this exception is only applicable in front of female Orisa. And our fathers before us have opined that non observance of this exception before any Orisa have no effect at all or significance. In all other situations, the strict interpretation of Obi as Ako ati Abo (male and female) must be given her original strict interpretation. Now that I have explained the type of Obi that is acceptable for obi divination I will goes straight to how obi divination can be carry out or perform. But it is instructive to note that the use of Agbon (coconut slices) , eyo owo merin (four cowries) by some people cannot be regarded as obi divination system as proclaimed by them. I advise with due respect that they should use correct item which is obi.

HOW TO PERFORM OR CARRY OUT OBI DIDA (OBI DIVINATION)

Obi Dida (Obi divination) is usually used for variety of enquiries. It may be  use  by some people as a complete divination reading, remember I have warn against doing that at the beginning of this work, see the important notes at the beginning of this work for reasons. Obi divination is also necessary to get some procedures to follow or direction on what to do either at the beginning of ebo /etutu (sacrifice and ritual) or in the middle or end of it. Obi divination can be used during Iwure(prayer)  or propitiating of Orisa to know whether the prayer is accepted, but it is instructive to note that Orisa Sango will prefer Orogbo (biter kola) for this purpose, while most of other Orisa will go with obi .It can be used for other miscellaneous enquiries such as determining the faithfulness of one friend or spouse or business associates the interpretation of the obi divination will be deduce from patern or symbol of Obi that appear.

The Stages Of Obi Dida (Obi Divination)

You will need to get Iya obi tabi oloju merin (kola nut with four lobes) , it must be a fresh and clean one. You  will get a clean bowl of water. You will first put the obi inside the water. Then you will dip your hand inside the water, use part of the water and sprinkle it on the ground or white cloth or plate you want to use to conduct the divination three times. But if is for divination during ebo /etutu (sacrifice) you will sprinkle the water on the ebo or etutu involved three times. If it is in front of Orisa you will sprinkle the water on the Orisa shrine or image of the Orisa in question three times.

The next step is Ipabi or ipa obi (that is the breaking of kola nut) you will hold the kola and say some Ifa incantation to pay homage to OLODUMARE, Ile (Mother earth) and the Irumonle. Then you will use your hand to break the kola nut carefully, into different segments or lobes. During the breaking of the kola nut you must be very careful not to allow injuries or any physical damage to the body of the obi. The lobes of the obi must be whole and intact. Don't use any metal object like knife, pin, blade etc. to break obi (kola nut). This is because if you use metal or iron object to break the obi it can affect the effectiveness and correctness of the message of the obi during the divination, especially if it has anything to do with Ogun (god of iron).

The next thing is casting your obi, it is instructive to note that you must explain or states the subject matter of the divination to the obi before you cast it. If your obi divination reading is to be perform on ground, you must first sprinkle water on the ground. You can cast obi divination on a clean ground, a clean white plate, or pieces of white clothes. It is instructive to note that any material on which the obi will be cast must be clean and flat so as to allow free roll of the lobes of Obi to give required symbol for purposes of interpretation.

INTERPRETATION OF WHAT OBI SYMBOL OR PARTERN IS SAYING.

Traditionally we have nine symbol or pattern of Obi Dida (Obi divination)  as I said earlier if you are following me by heart, that it is only the seven out of this symbol or patterns are the major one that are really given message and solutions. They are: ILERA /ALAFIA (SOUND HEALTH) it is instructive to note that alafia is popularly use, it is not the Yoruba words for sounds health, Yoruba words for sounds health is ILERA, OPOTAKU (VICTORY OVER YOUR ENEMIES), ETA IWA (YOUR CHARACTER OR BEHAVIOUS), EJIKO/RERE (PEACE AND BLESSINGS AND HAPINESS), AKO N BARE, ABO N BARE, OKANRAN OSE, AKO OKANRAN, ABO OKANRAN.now I will proceed to give explanation of each in turn. Accompanying it  with their symbol.

ILERA /ALAAFIA(SOUND HEALTH).

When all the four lobes of Obi cast during Obi Dida (Obi divination) turn their faces up, such pattern is called ILERA Or ALAAFIA, But always have it in mind that ILERA is the appropriate Yoruba word while ALAAFIA IS A BORROW WORDS. The two words simply mean SOUND HEALTH.

When this symbol or pattern appear during Obi Dida (Obi divination), this type of pattern is telling the person making enquiries to exercise patience and peace of mind. There is plenty of joy, happiness and sound health and fortune on the subject matter of the enquiries. In fact if the subject matter is about health issues or sickness. The obi divination is telling the person that he or she will experience and gain sounds health. If is about journey or traveling, it means your journey will be successful. The reading is saying that the enquirer will gain luck, opportunities and fortune. Anything he or she lay his/her and upon will be successful. Sounds health, happiness is his or her portion. His or her life will be transformed from bad to good. He should try and appease Orisa Ibeji. He should pray to get blessings from overseas.

OPOTAKU/OYEKU /OTASE /IDIWO  (VICTORY OVER YOUR ENEMIES).

This is a pattern of Obi divination where all the four lobes of Obi cast during obi divination turn their faces down completely. What this kind of pattern is saying during obi divination is that the person making the enquiries has overcome all his or her enemies. And everything he or she embarks on will be successful. He or she should make humility his or her watchword. This pattern of Obi divination is warning the person making enquiries about the imminent danger for fight, conflicts or quarrel. So in most cases this pattern will be recast for clarification and wayforward further. The good side of this pattern of Obi divination range from overcoming enemies, prevention of untimely death and harms. The bad side of it range from, sick, death, attack from enemies, impediment and obstacles. Recasting in usually necessary to get clear message of what is involve. The pattern send message for a pregnant women to appease Orisa Obatala so as to get good baby devoid of defects. The person making enquire with obi should respect elder and people in authority so he or she don't run into problems. The person making enquires will use his mouth to pick one of the lobes while he or she use pestle or mill stone to smash the three and throw it to Esu shrine.

ETA IWA

This is when three out of the four lobes of Obi (kola nut) use during the obi  dida (Obi divination) turn their Faces up, while the remaining one turn its face down. This is what is known as ETA IWA. This type of Obi divination pattern is majorly concern with the character or behavior of the person making enquiries. The divination enjoins this person to be well behaved, he or she should have patience, so that she doesn't loss good character or behavior. If he or she is well behave, success and fortune will be for him in his or her undertakings.

But it is instructive to note that if two out of the three lobes that open or turn their faces up are  Abo obi (female) the interpretation giving may be different. That means such person should be very careful in dealing with certain two women. He or she should treat them equally without any preferential treatment to any one of them. Because anything contrary is detrimental to his or her well-being.

But if it two Ako obi (two male obi) that turn their face up among the three that turn the face up. Then the reading is telling you that you should avoid conflict with a man over a woman or relationship or business, because doing this can put your life at risk. Ori bibo (head rogation) is essential in obi ETA IWA.

EJIKO RERE /EJIRE

This is when two lobes out of the four lobes use during obi divination open or turn their faces up while the remaining two turn their faces down. The interpretation is usually means beni (yes) during yes or no questions. But the interpretation of Ejiko rere goes beyond yes or no. Ejiko usually mean luck, success of marriage, friendship, traveling, good news from abroad, giving birth to twins. The person making enquire should let his or her mind be at peace because everything he or she is concerned or worry about will be resort in his or her favor.

He or she will gain favor and love, affection from young and old, male and female.

But whenever EJIKORE appear during obi divination the person making enquire will be tell by the diviner to use his or head to touch ground for OLODUMARE( God) in appreciation for blessings coming to him.

The person making enquiries can also be told to appease mother earth (Ile)

AKO N BARE

This is when in EJIKORE the two lobes of Obi that turn their faces up are  Ako (male), while the remaining two at left faces down.  This can be ascertain by right hand. The message in this pattern of Obi divination is that the obi divination comes out good but with exception. Obi divination is telling the person making the enquiries that he or she is going to have two antagonist who are male in his or her undertakings. He or she should show appreciation to OLODUMARE and his or her Ori for support. Sacrifice should be offered so that all his or her male antagonist can turn to favor him or her.The person making enquire should give alms to two blind man or beggars.

He or she is going to come across male that will help him or her in the course of journey of what he or she intends to undertake. He or she can have close relationship with male friends; it will bring him or her blessings.

ABO N BARE

Obi divination is said to be ABO N BARE when the two lobes that open their face up during obi divination are ABO (Female)  this is usually recognize by left hand. It is the opposite of Ako n bare. This pattern of Obi divination is telling  the person making enquiries to  pray for the favor of women. He or she should take care of his/her  or mother, wife etc. that are female. He or she has some women very close to him that are very spiritually inclined and powerful. He should  go for Ibori (head rogation). Some women are planning evil against him or her.

OKANRAN /OKANSE

This is when one out of the four Lobes of Obi During obi divination turn it face up, while the remaining three turn their faces down completely. This pattern of Obi divination is telling the person who make the enquiries to be patient. The diviner will tell the person to use his or her hand to touch the ground and touch his or her chest. The obi divination say he or she should not fight or struggle will anybody over anything. The obi say the person will be happy but he or she should not overstep his or her boundaries, so that he or she don't fall into disgrace it also foresee that loss item or opportunity will be recovered.

Okanran /OKANSE is two types. It exists in takotabo (male and female). The male is Ako okanran, the female is abo okanran.

AKO OKANRAN

This is when one of the four Lobes in obi divination turn it faces up. The one that turn face up must be on the left side as depict  by Babalawo Obanifa in the image above. The pattern is telling the person making enquiries that he or she will get favor from male on the subject matter of enquiries. He should give gift to men as sacrifice. He or she should appease his or ancestors or parent. If they are alive he should buy them gifts. He should go for Ori bibo (head rogation). Eyele, pegion and ekuru, iyo etc .are items of  gifts and sacrifice.

But if  is Abo OKANRAN (female okanran) that appear, that is , the one lobe at the top left side out of the four lobes that use during obi divination that turn it face up. It will be regarded as Abo okanran. This usually means that person will hit the assistance of women on the subject matter of enquiries. He or she should give alms or gift to women as well. And follow all the instructions in Okanran/okanse. The image of Abo okanran is the same thing as the image of OKANRAN /OKANSE. it same pattern you scroll back to cross check.

REASON WHY OBI CAN REFUSE TO TALK DURING OBI DIVINATION

sometime throwing obi can be difficult. Because it can be throw many times without giving favorite results. And what usually cause this are when obi is break with metallic object like knife blade etc., If the diviner or person throwing the obi have a lot of sin or offence in his hand.. When this happens some people usually adopt the method called Iwe obi (that reactivation of Obi) by calling the name of Obi spiritually to pamper it so it can give desire message. But I don't think this method is right for any experience Babalawo. In my humble opinion what should be do is to allow another person presence , regardless of age or experience to do the obi Dida (Obi divination) for that purpose. If it is same results, you will try different individual present until obi take it right course.

Copyright :Babalawo Pele Obasa Obanifa, phone and whatsapp contact :+2348166343145, location Ile Ife osun state Nigeria.

IMPORTANT NOTICE : As regards the article above, all rights reserved, no part of this article may be reproduced or duplicated in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying and recording or by any information storage or retrieval system without prior written permission from the copyright holder and the author Babalawo Obanifa, doing so is considered unlawful and will attract legal consequences.