Otura-Oshe

"Oyere of the upper palm leaf" cast for Otu, on the day
that he was going to war near the town of Ajase.
They told him to sacrifice in order to win the battle:
two he-goats and 4400 cowries. Otu listened
and made the sacrifice, and he won the battle.
Ebo: two he-goats and some money.

"Oshe has done them harm"
cast for the people of Oyo, on the day
that harm would come their way.
They were instructed to sacrifice
a basket of esuru, soap, a ram,
a pigeon, a hen and 20,000 cowries.
They listened, and all of them sacrificed.
No unpleasant things did happen anymore:
the soap had washed all their problems away.
Ebo: one ram, 1 pigeon, 1 chicken, and some money.

"Oshe has done them seriously wrong"
was the one who cast Ifa for the people, on the day
that Ikumija was besieging the town of Oyo.
They should sacrifice nine he-goats and 180,000 cowries.
They refused to make the sacrifice.

"Much wrong was done to them"
cast for Ikumija on the day
that he was going to fight in Oyo.
Ebo: 9 he-goats.
The ebo was not made.

"Shame bows the head of the child
more than a heavy load" cast for the hunter Ode,
who was living together with his wife.
All the game Ode caught, he put
at the foot of a tree, where subsequently
Olofi came to drink the blood of the animal.
Only then Ode took the prey home, for
his wife to cook for a meal.
The woman, who of course had noticed
that none of Ode's prey contained any blood,
asked for an explanation - but Ode replied
that it was none of her business, angrily.
The woman kept silent, but was adamant
to figure out what was going on with the blood,
and that very same night she made
three holes in Ode's rucksack, which
she then filled with ashes.
The next day Ode went out with his rucksack
and gear, while his wife secretly followed
the trail of ashes, pouring out of the rucksack.
And so it was that she saw him kill a dear,
and put it at the foot of the sacrifice tree.
Immediately Olofi appeared to drink the blood,
but suddenly his face darkened. "Why aren't you alone,
like always?", he asked Ode. "But Father,
I am alone," the surprised Ode replied.
"Then who is that woman hiding in the bushes?"
Olofi demanded in a threatening tone.
Ode went pale and peered in the bushes,
but there he saw nothing. "I don't know
what woman you mean, my Father.
I see nobody". Then Olofi said angrily:
"I mean your own wife, stupid! This morning
she followed you to find out why all animals
are always bloodless. You there, in the bushes,
come out!" Shaking with fear, Ode's wife appeared
and threw herself down at Olofi's feet.
"Have mercy, Father!", she begged, "I did not know
that the blood was for you!" Olofi replied:
"A nosey woman is a disgrace for her husband.
The other way around is also true, by the way,
but that's not relevant right now. Too much curiosity
shows a lack of respect. Woman: because you are
so curious about blood, you will see
it pouring out of yourself, every month,
during the years you are young. Then it will stop,
but as long as you are young you will bleed".
That is why young women every month
make their blood sacrifice to the Creator.
After having recited this text, the Awo might add the following recitation for the personal information of the client:
Ifa says here is a person with a volatile temper
who often rants and raves, resulting in many problems.
This one should avoid hurting others,
for prison is waiting. And in somebody's house
there is a child that cries at night, and also
a person with religious visions. And Ifa says
that the client should watch out for a dangerous disease,
possibly sort of paralysis of the legs: if anything
like that happens, we will immediately see a doctor.
Ifa also says that this person should use their common sense,
and honor their Ori. And while we're at it: an offering
for the Ibeji is in order, and a rooster to Eshu, so that
unexpected happenings cease to be unpleasant
but become nice instead, opening
doors to hitherto missed opportunities.
Ifa continues that there's somebody in dire need
of money, even to the extend that their home
is in danger, also a person who often has
heavy headaches and a feeling of burning. Oh yes:
if we own some special stone, ask Ifa if something
must be done with it. This is not the end yet: if we have
pawned or lent something to another, we should get it back,
our good fortune depends on it. Do we remember
our dreams? We tell them to no one, and from our house
we will remove all objects of plaster. Our relative in the country
should be warned against a false accusation, which
might create problems for them.
Yes, that is quite a lot, Ifa says, but still the diviner hasn't done his full job. He must ask probing questions in order not to get a diagnosis only, but also the remedy for what ails this client.