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IFA VERSES & STORIES YORUBA VOCABULARY ARTISTIC & CREATIVE ACTIVITES PRACTICAL APPLICATION FOLLOW UP EXERCISES
OGUN DIVIDES ONE
FISH INTO TWO
ODU STUDY
GUIDESchool o f Orisa Studies
02OgundaMej i
The Odu Study Guide is designed to help you follow up on
your interest in learning the sacred texts of Ifa. You don't
have to be a babalawo to enjoy Orunmila's wisdom. All you
need is to get familiar with some of the stories and their
symbolism.
ALWAYS refer to the Odu Study Guide and complete the
activities before you listen to the story. It is filled with
activities and best practices for planning your study.
The activities are not done until you complete the FOLLOW
UP exercises. This is where you will make the connections
with others and the study becomes meaningful.
SIX LEVELS OF TRAINING
School o f Orisa Studies
Salt of the Earth: Reflection & vocabulary building
Copper: Visual & creative expression
Brass: Psychological, social & cultural implementation
Silver: Prayers & spiritual exercises
Gold: Affiliated orisa, rituals & offerings
Amethyst: Medicines, charms and preparations
For each main lesson, there is a particular set of educational
exercises. These exercises correspond to the various
CLASSES within the School of Orisa Studies:
Get trained before you get initiated... Obafemi Origunwa, MA
HOW TO USE THIS GUIDEorisa l i fes ty le .com
School o f Orisa Studies
JOURNALS
Having a special Odu
Studies Journal is a
perfect place for you
to accumulate
drawings, ideas and
questions. I suggest
you start an exclusive
Odu Studies journal
and fill it with your
learnings.
FOLLOW
UP
Once you have
completed the
exercises and
activities, share your
experiences with the
community. See the
back page for
sharing instructions.
O R I S A L I F E S T Y L E . C O M
https://www.facebook.com/groups/orisalifestylehttp://orisalifestyle.com/
HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE
Pre Activities
Odu Main Lesson
Class-Specific Exercises
Salt of the Earth
Copper
Brass
Silver
Gold
Amethyst
1.
2.
3.
4. Follow up Activities
.
There are six classes within the School of Orisa Studies, each with its own
focus. When you enroll in the Amethyst Class, you have access to ALL
educational resources within the School of Orisa Studies. As you move from
Amethyst to Salt of the Earth, you have less access.
All participants will be able to complete at least FOUR learning objectives
associated with the Odu Study Guide:
02
BEFORE YOU STARTRead the Story Summary and Main Themes for an overview of the
most important ideas . You may discover others as well .
s t o ry s u m m a ryHe Who Has a Pond But Had No
Net was on the verge of death when he
went to consult I fa . He was told to
offer a fresh catfish to his Ori . At the
same time , He Who Has a Net But Has
No Pond also went to cast I fa . He too
was told to sacrif ice a fresh catfish to
his Ori . Both fathers sent their sons to
get the sacrif icial catfish . As fate
would have it , the boys joined forces .
Unfortunately , they were only able to
catch one f ish . A conflict ensued over
who should take it . Eventually , Ogun
arrived to cut the f ish into two .
MA I N T H E M E S
Combine your efforts for success
Sometimes competition is inevitable
Even if you're good, you must sacrifice
Collaboration/Partnership
Competition
Sacrifice
Charting a new path
Leaders provide order
Destiny unfolds in ways we cannotalways predict, but must accept
Exploration
Leadership
Acceptance
Complete this activity
before listening to the
Main Lesson.
This activity is designed
to build curiosity and
familiarize you with the
symbols and characters
in the story. It will also
enable you to use what
you already know in order
to learn more about the
wisdom of this particular
verse of Ifa.
I N T R O D U C T I O N
DEFINITION: What is collaboration? What
comes to mind when you think of
collaboration? What has been your
experience in collaborative efforts? Do you
work best with men or women? Do you get
the most done with age mates or people
from different age groups?
List everything in your Odu Studies Journal.
C O L L A B O R A T I O NEXPERIENCE: Recall a specific
time when you were part of a
team. Maybe it was a school
assignment or a professional
project. Where were you? Who was
your partner? How did your
perspective change as a result of
this experience?
TIP: Use who, what, when, where,
why and how to help summarize
the experience.
S C H O O L O F O R I S A S T U D I E S
OR I S A L I F E S T Y L E . COM
S C H O O L O F O R I S A S T U D I E S
OR I S A L I F E S T Y L E . COM
L I S T E N T O
T H E S T O R Y
https://www.patreon.com/posts/32596529
EXERCISESSchool of Orisa Studies
Odu Study Guide
orisali festyle .com
School of Orisa Studies Odu Study Guide
EXERCISE 1
What are you thinking? What are your strongest feelings,
impressions and questions right now?
What would you have done if you were one of the sons or Ogun?
Why do you think the sons fought?
Why do you think Ogun divided the fish?
QUESTION:
Record your responses in your Odu Studies Journal
Ori - head, seat of destiny
eja ero - catfish
Baba Anibu ma logbun un -
Father who has a pond bu has no
net
VOCABULARY
Baba Alagbun un ma nibu -
Father who has a net but has no
pond
Funfun - white
School of Orisa Studies Odu Study Guide
EXERCISE 2
Recall the way the story unfolded. If it were a movie or a play, how
many major parts or scenes were there? Now, recall the most
memorable portion of the story. What happened? Who were the
characters?
Draw a detailed picture of the most memorable scene.
QUESTION:
Make entries in your Odu Studies Journal
1.
2.
Use pencil first
Take your time
Focus on visualizing the scene, not on realism
TIPS
School of Orisa Studies Odu Study Guide
EXERCISE 3
Divide the story into four parts as follows:
Setting: Where does the story start?
Development: What happened to create uncertainty?
Culmination: What happened to shift the dynamics?
Solution: How did the story resolve?
QUESTION:
Record responses in your Odu Studies Journal
1.
a.
b.
c.
d.
2. List the major symbols in each part of the story (e.g., Father, Catfish, Son)
3. What does each symbol represent to you, personally?
4. Review the ways in which the various symbols interact in each part.
If, for example, the fish represents COOLNESS and ori represents
DESTINY, explore the relationships between COOLNESS and DESTINY.
Do not use outside resources when assigning meaning to the symbols
Try mapping the story on paper to show relationships in each part
TIPS
School of Orisa Studies Odu Study Guide
EXERCISE 4QUESTION:
Transcribe this verse in your Odu Studies Journal
The big iya tree with its whitish bark
Cast Ifa for He Who Has a Pond But Had No Net
When he was in midst of trouble and sickness
He was advised to sacrifice
The big iya tree with its whitish bark
Cast Ifa for He Who Has a Net But Had No Pond
He was told to sacrifice
It was when Ogun cut the fish into two
That we experienced comfort
- Holy Odu OgundaMeji
Recite it 8 times a day for 16 days
Pray for the capacity to work collaboratively and create win/win outcomes
Memorize this verse
School of Orisa Studies Odu Study Guide
EXERCISE 5
Do this ritual first thing in the morning
Mash one, ripe banana onto a plate
Mark Ogundameji onto the banana
Pray: Obatala, it was you who brought sweetness
into the world/I give thanks for all the sweetness
that abounds in my life today/Please, let sweetness
increase in my life/Ase!
Eat the banana
RITUAL:
Write this ritual in your Odu Studies Journal
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Eat the banana with your right hand
TIP
Banana
OgundaMeji
Plate
MATERIALS
1.
2.
3.
School of Orisa Studies Odu Study Guide
EXERCISE 6
Tear or cut the fabric into a strip about 1/4 inch
wide and 12 inches long
Place the link onto the plate
Chew alligator pepper
Holding the plate, recite this prayer:
A single chain link never breaks/Thus, the
hands of death cannot touch me
Breathe onto link 3 times
Tie the fabric around the link
Keep the link on your person
CHARM FOR LONGEVITY:
Write this ritual in your Odu Studies Journal
1.
2.
3.
4.
a.
5.
6.
7.
Periodically, recharge the charm by chewing seven alligator peppers and repeat
the prayer
TIP
Seven alligator
pepper seeds
One chain link
Red fabric
A white plate
MATERIALS
1.
2.
3.
4.
FOLLOW UPO P E N I N G T H E S T OM A C H
The sacred text of Ifa is filled with
wisdom that facilitates mental,
emotional and spiritual healing.
Traditionally, once the babalawo has
shared the messages of Ifa, he will
say, "Ifa has opened his stomach for
you. Now, it is time for you to open
your stomach to Ifa.
"Opening one's stomach" is what
African American Christians call
testifying. It is when you share how
the message resonates with you and
speaks to your condition.
Opening your stomach is an integral
part of the healing process.
What does this story mean to you?
Why do you believe this story
revealed itself to you at this
particular time?
If there was one lesson you
learned from this story, what
would it be?
What is one thing you can do
immediately in response to this
lesson?
INSTRUCTIONS
Make a 3-5 minute video response to
the following questions:
Share the responses at:
facebook.com/groups/OrisaStudies