Osa Meji: be good to women!

 

In the process of Ifa divination Osa, in particular Osa Meji, brings the "Winds of Change": it is the element of random chaos in the system that regulates our environment. Shocking changes in our natural environment may seem unfair and dishonest, but they are simply the not-understood movements of the Earth towards deeper or higher form of order. Earth evolves and transforms: earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and eruptions are the earth transforming. Some kinds of unrest however, are the result of human ecologic abuse: Earth then goes through phaes of unrest where Nature seems to wipe the slate in order to give it all a new start. Compare it with the way our body uses fever to fight infection.
The folklore in this Odu speaks of the Aje: elemental Spirits that are described in Ifa as seven species of mythical birds that live in the Iroko tree. Both men and women call upon the Aje for abundance. The Aje are also the guardians of female powers, and they can be very nasty and disruptive towards those who abuse women. Some other names used for the Aje are The Mothers, The Witches, The Elders of the Night, Iyami.

Osa Meji indicates a lack of courage, and the tendecy to run away. Children of Osa Meji travel a lot. They can be good managers of other peoples' business: because they scare easily, they will not take gresat risks.
The client for whom Osa Meji falls, will be confronted with sudden changes in work or relations. Spiritual help is needed against bad dreams, and the Elders of the Night that make sleep difficult. Sacrifice to the Elders of the Night. Ifa says that the client has enemies who actually want to hurt him, sacrifice to Shango for more power/energy and for victory over enemies. Children of Osa Meji tend to have concentration problems, and want to break out or get away. Stick to what you are doing! an important instruction in this Odu is to have patience in relationships.
Warning: when Osa Meji falls, there is a real risk of mental illness, burn-out, stress syndrom and that kind of thing. A visit to the doctor is always a good idea.
When Osa Meji comes with Ire, some of the key words are: forces of reaction, well-directed forces, eroticism, regeneration.
When Osa Meji comes with Ibi, some of the key words are: danger, lack of defense, compulsion, betrayal, dullness.

(The texts of Osa Meji are only read by the diviner after he has put some palm oil on his tongue to cool the Odu)


"Osa is rich, makes a lot of noise,
the sound of the bell reaches earth"
were the ones who cast for Odu on the day
that she descended to Earth, and also
for Ogun and Obatala, among whom
Odu was the only woman.
"What will happen when we arrive on Earth?"
Olodumare answered:
"Whatever you want to obtain in life,
I will give you the power to do so,
in order for the world to become a good place."
Ogun marched in front, Obatala followed,
and Odu lingered behind.
Going back she asked:
"Oh Creator, down there Ogun will have
the power of war. He has a machete,
he has a gun, he has everything he needs
to fight with.
Obatala too has all the qualifications
to reach whatever goal he chooses.
What then remains for me, the only woman
among them? What shall I do?"
Olodumare spoke: "The power of motherhood
that keeps the Earth intact, belongs to you.
The power of the Birds belongs to you.
I will give you a large calabash,
filled with these things.
Odu, come back. Do you know
how to use them?"
Odu replied:
"If humans don't listen to me,
don't even ask my advice,
then I will fight.
If people ask me for money or children,
I will be lenient towards them, provided
they are not impolite;
for if that happens I will take it all back."
"That's allright with me,"
the Creator said, "but use
your power with coolness and not
with violence, or I will take
it away from you."
Since that time, because of Odu,
women have the power to always say what they want,
for in the absence of women
men can do nothing.
Odu came to Earth.
All groves sacred to Egungun she entered freely,
also the groves of Oro.
All places where Spirits were worshiped
the woman showed herself.
Ha!, the old one was exaggerating, and Odu
fell into disgrace.
Ifa was consulted on her behalf.
"Hey, you!" Ifa said,
"You will have to calm down!"
"Why would I do so?"
"Because of the power you have been given,"
explained the Awo's, "in order for people
not to find out what it's all about."
"They won't," replied Odu, "for nobody saw
how the Creator gave me that power!"
"Sacrifice anyway!" the Awo's advised.
"No!" replied Odu.
"Nobody will take
my power away from me.
They don't know about it."
Then she put on masquerader's cloth
and went out in the open.
There was nothing she did not do in those days.
Obatala went to Ifa, said:
"Hey! The Creator gave me authority on Earth,
but this energetical woman takes everything over.
There is no place where she does not go."
Ifa comforted Obatala:
"No one can wrench the world from your hands.
The world will not spoil. Sacrifice snails,
a whip, and eight pieces of money."
When Obatala sacrificed Orunmila said:
"Don't worry: worship will return to you."
In the meantime it was so that when Odu said:
"Don't look!", and people still looked,
they went blind.
"Let us live together," she said to Obatala,
"That way you can see everything I do."
Obatala sacrificed snails to his Ori,
and then drank the fluid from the shells.
"Do you want some, Odu?"
She drank and her stomach calmed down.
"Oh, I have discovered delicious food,
snail fluid is sweet, snail fluid is sweet."
And so Obatala gave her
all the snails she wished.
"But all the things you have,
all the things you do?"
"I will share it all with you," Odu replied.
And then, when she went to worship Egungun,
saying she was scared,
Obatala went with her.
In the sacred grove she put on the costume,
but couldn't produce a sound like Egungun.
Later Obatala added a face cover to the costume,
took the whip, and spoke with the voice of Egungun.
He went outside.
"Hey! Ha!" people said, "This truly is
an appearance from another world."
He even scared Odu. Hey! Who put on
that costume so quickly? Who spoke
with that unrecognizable voice?"
So the man conquered the woman
through cleverness.
Obatala went through the whole town
as Egungun.
Seeing he was not at home,
recognizing her costume,
Odu stayed where she was and sent her Bird,
to go sit on the masked one's shoulder.
From that moment on, all what Egungun could do
was because of the power of Birds.
When Obatala as Egungun had done everything,
he came home, put the whip down
and greeted Odu.
"You can have Egungun," she said,
"Nevermore will a woman dare wear the costume,
but the power you used will be our property,
and when you go out I will dance for you.
From now on only men will go out as Egungun.
But nobody, children nor old men,
will dare to mock women.
The power of women is greater.
Women give life through giving birth,
and whatever men may want to do,
women must help them or they will mess up."
So they sang together, and Obatala said
that every week everybody must praise women,
for the world to be peaceful.
Bend your knee, bend your knee for women,
for women brought you into this world;
women are the wisdom of Earth,
women have brought us into this world;
have respect for women.