02 ODU STUDY

OgundaMeji

GUIDE
School of Orisa Studies

IFA VERSES & STORIES

YORUBA VOCABULARY

ARTISTIC & CREATIVE ACTIVITES

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

FOLLOW UP EXERCISES

OGUN DIVIDES ONE

FISH INTO TWO
School of Orisa Studies

HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE

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JOURNALS
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
Having a special Odu
need is to get familiar with some of the stories and their
Studies Journal is a
symbolism.
perfect place for you
ALWAYS refer to the Odu Study Guide and complete the
to accumulate
activities before you listen to the story. It is filled with
drawings, ideas and
activities and best practices for planning your study.
questions. I suggest
The activities are not done until you complete the FOLLOW
you start an exclusive
UP exercises. This is where you will make the connections
Odu Studies journal
with others and the study becomes meaningful.
and fill it with your
SIX LEVELS OF TRAINING learnings.
School of Orisa Studies

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:
FOLLOW
Salt of the Earth: Reflection & vocabulary building UP
Copper: Visual & creative expression Once you have
Brass: Psychological, social & cultural implementation completed the
Silver: Prayers & spiritual exercises exercises and
Gold: Affiliated orisa, rituals & offerings activities, share your
Amethyst: Medicines, charms and preparations experiences with the
community. See the
Get trained before back page for
sharing instructions.
you get initiated...
Obafemi Origunwa, MA

ORISALIFESTYLE.COM
 HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE

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:

.
1. Pre Activities
2. Odu Main Lesson
3. Class-Specific Exercises
Salt of the Earth
Copper
Brass
Silver
Gold
Amethyst
4. Follow up Activities
BEFORE YOU START
Read the Story Summary and Main Themes for an overview of the
m o s t i m p o r t a n t i d e a s . Y o u m a y d i s c o v e r o th e r s a s w e l l .

story summary
He Who Has a Pond But Had No
N e t w a s o n t h e v e r g e o f d e a th w h e n h e
w e n t t o c o n s u l t I f a . H e w a s to l d to
o f f e r a f r e s h c a t f i s h t o h i s O r i . A t th e
same time, He Who Has a Net But Has
N o P o n d a l s o w e n t t o c a s t I f a . H e to o
w a s t o l d t o s a c r i f i c e a f r e s h c a tf i s h to
h i s O r i . B o t h f a t h e r s s e n t t h e i r s o n s to
g e t t h e s a c r i f i c i a l c a t f i s h . A s f a te
would have it, the boys joined forces.
U n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h e y w e r e o n l y a b l e to
catch one fish. A conflict ensued over
w h o s h o u l d t a k e i t . E v e n tu a l l y , O g u n
a r r i v e d t o c u t t h e f i s h i n t o tw o .

MAIN THEMES
Collaboration/Partnership Exploration
Combine your efforts for success Charting a new path
Competition Leadership
Sometimes competition is inevitable Leaders provide order
Sacrifice Acceptance
Even if you're good, you must sacrifice Destiny unfolds in ways we cannot
always predict, but must accept

02
S C H O O L O F O R I S A S T U D I E S

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I N T R O D U C T I O N

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.

EXPERIENCE: Recall a specific

C O L L A B O R A 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.
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

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L I S T E N T O

T H E S T O R Y
School of Orisa Studies

EXERCISES
Odu Study Guide

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School of Orisa Studies Odu Study Guide

EXERCISE 1
QUESTION:
Record your responses in your Odu Studies Journal
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?

VOCABULARY
Ori - head, seat of destiny
eja ero - catfish
Baba Anibu ma logbun un -
Father who has a pond bu has no
net
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
QUESTION:
Make entries in your Odu Studies Journal
1. 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?
2. Draw a detailed picture of the most memorable scene.

TIPS
Use pencil first
Take your time
Focus on visualizing the scene, not on realism
School of Orisa Studies Odu Study Guide

EXERCISE 3
QUESTION:
Record responses in your Odu Studies Journal
1. Divide the story into four parts as follows:
a. Setting: Where does the story start?
b. Development: What happened to create uncertainty?
c. Culmination: What happened to shift the dynamics?
d. Solution: How did the story resolve?
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.

TIPS
Do not use outside resources when assigning meaning to the symbols
Try mapping the story on paper to show relationships in each part
School of Orisa Studies Odu Study Guide

EXERCISE 4
QUESTION:
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

Memorize this verse

Recite it 8 times a day for 16 days
Pray for the capacity to work collaboratively and create win/win outcomes
School of Orisa Studies Odu Study Guide

EXERCISE 5
RITUAL:
Write this ritual in your Odu Studies Journal MATERIALS
1. Do this ritual first thing in the morning 1. Banana
2. Mash one, ripe banana onto a plate 2. OgundaMeji
3. Mark Ogundameji onto the banana 3. Plate
4. 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!
5. Eat the banana

TIP
Eat the banana with your right hand
School of Orisa Studies Odu Study Guide

EXERCISE 6
CHARM FOR LONGEVITY:
Write this ritual in your Odu Studies Journal MATERIALS
1. Tear or cut the fabric into a strip about 1/4 inch 1. Seven alligator
wide and 12 inches long pepper seeds
2. Place the link onto the plate 2. One chain link
3. Chew alligator pepper 3. Red fabric
4. Holding the plate, recite this prayer: 4. A white plate
a. A single chain link never breaks/Thus, the
hands of death cannot touch me
5. Breathe onto link 3 times
6. Tie the fabric around the link
7. Keep the link on your person

TIP
Periodically, recharge the charm by chewing seven alligator peppers and repeat
the prayer
FOLLOW UP
OPENING THE STOMACH
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.
INSTRUCTIONS
Make a 3-5 minute video response to
the following questions:
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?
Share the responses at:
facebook.com/groups/OrisaStudies