IFA VERSES & STORIES YORUBA VOCABULARY ARTISTIC & CREATIVE ACTIVITES PRACTICAL APPLICATION FOLLOW UP EXERCISES School of Orisa Studies
IFA VERSES & STORIES YORUBA VOCABULARY ARTISTIC & CREATIVE ACTIVITES PRACTICAL APPLICATION FOLLOW UP EXERCISES
ORUNMILA TAKES
A CROWN
ODU STUDY
GUIDESchool o f Orisa Studies
05OturaElej 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 ryOrunmila was sent to Oyo kingdom to
upgrade his practice . At the same
time , the King of Oyo lost his dog .
Upon arrival , Orunmila was falsely
accused to taking the dog and was
sentenced to death . At the last
moment , Esu released the king 's dog ,
revealing the king 's hasty mistake . The
king tries desperately to compensate
Orunmila . But each offer only makes
matters worse for the kingdom .
Eventually , he awards Orunmila half of
the kingdom . Finally , Orunmila takes
the crown and balance is restored .
MA I N T H E M E S
Continue to upgrade your life
Nothing ventured, nothing gained
Decision making implies errors
Improvement
Risk taking
False accusation
Give thanks and count yourblessings
Demand compensation forwrongdoing or injustice
Gratitude
Compensation
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 does compensation mean
to you? What comes to mind when you think
of compensation? Do you believe
compensation is necessary?
List everything in your Odu Studies Journal.
C O M P E N S A T I O NEXPERIENCE: Recall a specific
time when you were compensated
fairly or unfairly. How did you feel
about the situation and the people
involved? Maybe it was in your
relationship, at work or in your
family. How did the experience
shape your values or perception?
TIP: It could involve money or any
other medium of exchange.
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
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
https://www.patreon.com/posts/33979327https://www.patreon.com/posts/34334985https://www.patreon.com/posts/34334985https://www.patreon.com/posts/34334985https://www.patreon.com/posts/34334985
EXERCISESSchool of Orisa Studies
Odu Study Guide
orisali festyle .com
School of Orisa Studies Odu Study Guide
EXERCISE 1
If you had to pick out one message to be learned from this verse,
what would it be?
Why did Esu make the dog disappear and then reappear?
Why did the king respond with such haste?
Do you think that Orunmila was fairly compensated?
QUESTION:
Record your responses in your Odu Studies Journal
Alaafin - King of Oyo
Oyo - Yoruba Kingdom
Ade - Crown
VOCABULARY
Awo - Priest
Aafin - Palace
Ilu - Kingdom
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
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., Crown, King, Dog, etc)
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 dog represents LOYALTY and the Alaafin represents
POWER, explore the relationships between LOYALTY and POWER.
School of Orisa Studies Odu Study Guide
EXERCISE 3
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 birds arm is just a bit bigger that its thigh
Cast Ifa for Ori, the offspring of Atete-niran
Offspring of the one who quickly supports someone in the presence of Oosa
The wealth I have today
It is the work of my Ori
It is Otura-Oriko
Spouse, children and all the good things of life that have today
It is the efforts of my Ori
Thanks to Otura-Oriko
- Holy Odu OturaOgbe
Recite it 8 times a day for 16 days
Pray for the gift of support from your destiny
Memorize this verse
White candle
Red candle
MATERIALS
1.
2.
School of Orisa Studies Odu Study Guide
EXERCISE 5 Do this ritual first thing in the morning
When you awaken, touch your head to the floor
and give thanks to Olodumare for your destiny.
Recite: To wake up early in the morning/And give
destiny its due/This was Ifa's message to the
person who will meet with luck/It is I who give
destiny its due upon awakening in the
morning/Therefore, it is I who will meet with luck
on earth today and tomorrow/It is I who give
destiny its due upon awakening in the
morning/Therefore, it is I who will meet with luck
on earth today and tomorrow/It is I who give
destiny its due upon awakening in the
morning/Therefore, it is I who will meet with luck
on earth today and tomorrow
RITUAL:
Write this ritual in your Odu Studies Journal
1.
2.
3.
You can also keep
fresh water beside
your bed to drink
after reciting the
prayers
TIP
School of Orisa Studies Odu Study Guide
EXERCISE 6
Peel bananas and eggs
Place them neatly onto white plate
Pour honey onto materials
Recite: Iré ija mo njá/Cast divination for Alaba owó
(hut full of money)/the son of Òsun gbedu/When
she was crying because of money/She was asked
to make sacrifice/She complied/Òsun pèlé, Òsun
you dig holes to keep the money
Place contents with Orisa Aje or take to orita meta
MEDICINE FOR PROSPERITY
Write this medicine in your Odu Studies Journal
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
8 Small bananas
8 Boiled eggs
Honey
Palm wine
Ekuru funfun
White plate
Orisa Aje
MATERIALS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
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