EJI OGBE Odus Eji ogbe ,(ogbe meji) In every yoruba word , the meaning is always embedded in the

context , hence the irst Odu in hierachical order o the mystical energy is called !EJI"OGBE! or !OGBE #EJI!$ Be ore giving a concrete ex%lanation to the word !EJI OGBE!, we must try to shield light on the word !O&'!, and this denotes energy , (he word )O&'* is an extraction rom the conjointed word )O+O&'#,-E* , odu is just a short orm o O+O&'#,-E$ .or %ro%er understanding o O&' , we must get the real meaning o who is O+O&'#,-E or what is O+O&'#,-E$ O+O&'#,-E is rom three syllabic words , O+O // O&'/// #,-E$ O+O means , the owner , the controller , the uni0ue , the su%erior , the su%reme , the ultimate , O&' means ,the energy ,the orce , the %ower $ the mysteries , the omni/%resent, #,-E means , the heaven , the mystery %lace o higher s%irit , the abode o the uni0ue energy , the %lace where the su%reme energy dwells, .rom the above ex%lanation o the word O+O&'#,-E( O+O/O&'/#,-E),comes out the middle word O&' / (1E E2E-G3 , (1E .O-4E $ (1E 5O6E- (1,( 4-E,(E7 ,++ (1I2G7 , the energy that brings all things in to mani estation rom(through) a uni0ue and indestructible means , maintaining e0uilibrium through mystical orm without losing his majesty$ Bringing together the mental , emotional , s%iritual and divine ca%abilities into %lay, using all %ower in his domain$ (rans ering these energies to it!s divinities, most es%ecially to O-'2#I+,, and other deities also learn and acce%t these energies as a %rimodial orce in the universe$ (hese were conse0uently trans ered to other elders , or %riests in its original orm, using the system o sacri ice, ritual, %rayer, asting, initiations, moral habit, image, %eace, %ositive mental state, night vigil, love, and courage to attract the uni0ue orce o this omni%resent GO& into our realities and existence$ (he odu teaches us the 8nowledge o these orce and the %eace to attain the light rom the su%reme energy and the belie that all is connected to one %ower , one energy , one source,one li e , one contact and one orce , through a%%easment to di erent divinities and dieties res%onsible or each inex%licable %henomenon in the li e o all beings$ (he secret o these odu(energy) starts with the understanding , 8nowledge and the consciousness o all the undamental stories , mantra, stan9as, incantation, %rayers, and believe in O+O/O&'/#,-E( the owner o the energy), and the a%%lication o these to our li e will give us the much needed light and illumination$ O&' induces the inex%licable %ower in our li e, and serves as ins%iration to others i %ro%erly understood$ lt is used to modi y, control and deter all circumstance and negative energy within our enviroment and also in the universe $(he odu connects the individual %ower with grou% orce, blend it with the universe %ower to bring harmony and %eace we desire rom O+O&'#,-E$ 6ith the above notion o O&', then we can delve on the irst energy that brings everything into existence which is called EJI OGBE, or OGBE #EJI$

:;<=;;=>?$doc

@ o :;

EJI OGBE (he word OGBE literarily means to li t, illuminate, light, overcome, victory, sound, awareness, consciousness, creative thoughts, %ositive mental s%irit, emotional eeling, intellectual and %hysical e ectiveness$ (he word also means %urity, wisdom, sound intellect, stable rame o mind, harmony, serenity and articulation o %ur%ose to connect us to the universal energy$ #EJI in yoruba means )(6O*$ (wo can also be translated into EJI, or #EEJI, hence when the energy thrown a%%ears both at the le t hand side and the right hand side, then we attach #eji or Eji to the O&'$ I OGBE a%%ears at the le t hand side and also at the right hand side, then it is called OGBE #EJI, which can also be re erred to as EJI/OGBE, but our interest here is that the O&'*s name is OGBE, while #eji or Eji is just the double or twice a%%earance o the O&' at both sides$ 6hile the word #eji or Eji has little or minor im%ortance in the li e o the energy, %rovided the name o Odu is %ro%erly understood, we can still use the word #eji or eji either be ore the odu or a ter the odu$ l it is used be ore an Odu, then Eji will be attached to the odu, or instance, EJIOGBE (ejioye, ejiiwori, ejiodi, etc)$ But i the word is used a ter an odu, we are to %ronounce the odu li8e OGBE #EJI( oye8u meji, iwori meji, odi or idi meji, irosun meji etc)$ Indeed, the meaning o OGBE#EJI has been ex%lained and analysed rom the literary %oint o view, but O&' AOGBE#EJI/ has a slightly di erent meaning but a more similar connotation when Babalawo(i a %riest) wants to ex%lain the energy in the course o his divination$ (hat is the chanting o I a stan9as are undamental in giving out the real meaning, and each meaning corres%onds to each sitaution and %eriod, using all the necessary ,(O2,( %ath inders , which include, stone, isin(e8e ruit), owo/eyo(cowries), omo ayo, egungun(bro8en bone), e o awo( bro8en %ot)$ Ogbe meji emanates rom O+O&'#,-E/ the ather o all energies/ and it signi ies goodness, ul illment, %ositive vibration rom the ather o %ower, illumination and light rom GO&$ It goes on to denote %eace o mind, ha%%iness, love, riendshi%, success, ho%e, aith, believe in oneness o O+O&'#,-E, believe in all divinities, as an extension o GO& indwelling orces o%erating in the universe$ OGBE#EJI is the desire or all that is good, su%%ort it with good intention , and ocus all your attention to its ul illment, and ta8e all necessary s%iritual ste% to ensure its reality$ Ogbe meji s%ea8s o the beginning o creation and as well the beginning o all things in the universe, the odu states in one o its stan9as thatB #o nlo lowo mi otun , Ejinrin n8o mi lowo mi otun, Iwerere, Iwerere #o nlo lowo mi osi Iwerere, Iwerere Ejinrin Iba 8o mi Iwerere , Iwerere +o mu ori Iwosin mi dele Co8o8o +o di a un Orunmila +ojo ti nmu gbogbo O8anleniirinwo imale bo wa sode aye O+O&'#,-E ni ewa iwaju ni 8i e i E7' si Esu iwo ni 8i o saju ooo E/s/u, 8i o ma ma gbeyin ,

:;<=;;=>?$doc

: o :;

EJI OGBE (ire ni8an lo soro , (ranslation , I am going in the right hand side &i iculties hold me tightly 4almness, 4almness I am going on my right hand side (here is a bloc8age on my %ath 4almness , calmness Is the beginning o my toughness (his divine i a or Orunmila 6hen he is coming with our hundred and one divinities(D;@ deities)to the mysterious world God intructs all the great &ivinities to come let %ut E7' at the ore/ ront Indeed , esu should be at the ore ront, E7' should not be at the bac8 E7' O&,-, (esu , the magician ) Because, you are the most %roblematic$ 6hat this stan9a is telling us is that at the beginning o any investment and at the beginning o every good intention, E7' the great magician should be a%%eased to create a %ositive atmos%here$ (hat is every good intention must be accom%anied with a ritual to E7' and other im%ortant divinities to create a situable atmos%here or blessing, %rogress and success$ Ejiogbe s%ea8s o the im%ortance o ritual, sacri ice, and initiation into OB,(,+,, O-'2#I+,, E+,, O-O, OG'2, 7,2GO, E7', O7'2 , O3,, E-I2+E, OB,+',3E, O77O7I, EG'2G'2, 2,2, B'-'C', E6, , 3E#OJ,, ,,7,, O+OC'2, O+O7, , O-I7,OCO, and O-I$ (he energy denotes %ros%erity, good wi e, good husband, good children, sound health, long li e, well being (8aroju se ile aye), victory, and winning s%irit$ (he odu s%ea8s o the consciousness o wisdom and the sharing o wisdom to urther the light o O+O&'#,-E(GO&) among divinities(irunmoles), deities(orisa) and the entire human race$ (he odu tells us to reach out to those who are in need and %assing to them the wisdom o GO& so that we can discover oursel in the service o GO&, and the consciouness o all irunmole$ (he odu s%ea8s o bringing out your ability in inability situations, that we can not %ossess all the ability to do all things without s%iritual su%%ort and without rituals, sacri ices, and other im%ortant s%iritual ste%s to ma8e li e more meaning ul and more ul illing$ 6e must de%end on God or the ul illment o our li e desire, and also see8 the su%%ort o divinties, and i a %riest or our objectives$ I a stan9as has this to say o the above ex%lanationB Owo ewe 8o to %e%e, (agbalagba 8o wo 8eregbe Ise ti ewe babe awon agba Ci won 8o ma8o mo Ohun ti ari lajo nran ara eni , di a olu iwo , a di a oro :;<=;;=>?$doc = o :;

EJI OGBE +ojo ti won yoo torun bo wale aye Olu iwo (obatala) gba igba iwa ( the calabash o moral , habit , and good characater) wa saye 2igbati ti won de ile aye bi o8unaye baja nibi8an Orisala ti je olu Aiwo a ran O-O 8o lo so %elu Igba iwa Bi o ba ti naa si o8un naa ,si di siso %ada Gbogbo n8an ti won ba si i rubo Oro a 8oo lo un obatala 2igbati o ya awon irunmole w adi ote 6on si 8o O-O %e 8i o ma 8o awon Ohun irubo %amo di%o , ti o i n8o won un obatala 2itori%e O-O 8i se eru Obatala +ehin ote yii, bi o8un aye ba ti jE Odo oro ni won nlo, eni8eni ninu irunmole 8o so un obatala mo Inu wa bi Obatala, o sa to Orunmila +ati se asewo lowo I a, odu Ejiogbe ni o yo si Obatala I a wa so un 8i o rubo %elu orisirisi ounje, eran obu8o Obi alawe (=), orogbo =, atare=, iyereosun, owo eyo, igo oti =, igo emu meta, o unloju ,ti a%e ti won se ebo Orisa nla rubo, a ranse %e O-O lati wa ba oun je ebo, O-O eran ounje %u%o, O-O je, o mu, o si yo ina ina, Co %e %u%o, oti bere si %a O-O, o si sun lo, $nigbayi ni i E7' wa so un Obatala Oseremagbo 8i o yo IGB, I6, ni iha O-O, o si gboro si E7' lenu, o si yo igba iwa lowo O-O, nigbati Oro ji, o wa igba iwa 8o ri, o si bere si binu$ ,won irunmole ba bi %e ti o ba F ri igba iwa, 8i o ro*8in itan igba iwa na Oro 8o lG se eyi, oju re siwale Eyi ni o mu 8i oro maa 8e 8iri %e #O #'(I #'(I #O #E#' #E#' #O J' 6, 2' ,won omode O-O yoo si maa dahun %e, #,-O, #,-O, #,-O ,won omode O-O yoo si ma 8e%e Eee%a oro, Iwa ti oro hu si orisala yii, ni o mu 8i won maa 8i O-O ni O-O O+'GBI3E+E ,7E I6O O-O 2I O+'GBI3E+EH (@) (-,27+,(IO2B (he hand o the baby ailed to reach the to% +i8ewise the hand o the old will not be able to reach the bottom o a 8eg with small hole at its entrance( everyone is im%ortant, and we must de%end on ourselves, or betterment ,and s%iritual ul illment ) 6henever the young ones see8 the hel% o the old , the old should be ready to give hel%ing hand 6e should always give a hel%ing hand to one another :;<=;;=>?$doc D o :;

EJI OGBE (his divine i a or O+'/I6O(O-I7,,+,) ,nd divine I a or oro 6hen they were coming rom heaven to the mysterious world O+'/I6O brought IGB,/I6, rom heaven to the %hysical world On getting to the world and whenever there is a %roblem or %andemonioum in the world O+' I6O will send O-O to mend the situation, Oro did not carry out his unction without sacri ices and rituals and o errings, ,ll the materials received would be brought be ore Obatala 6ith time, all other divnities gathered together to cons%ire and envy O+'II6O and instruct O-O not to deliver sacri icial materials to OB,(,+,$ O-O being cunning heeded to the cons%iracy o other divinities and since O-O was also a dynamic and %ower ul &ivinity, he should no longer serve Obatala, 7o, whenever there is a %roblem in the world , O-O mend the %roblem without the 8nowledge o Obatala O+'BI6O later consulted Orunmila or divination , and the odu that a%%eared or him was EJIOGBE, (the 8ing o all O&'7), the odu instructed O+'/I6O to sacri ice %lenty ood, he goat, obi =, orogbo =, atare=, iyereosun(carmwood), cowries=, bottle o gin= (%ure alcoholic drin8), bottles o %alm wine =, o un loju, and sacri icial %ots$ O-O by nature was a glutton and a drun8ard, obatala then invited him to his east ( in reality, it is a ritual to revert a bad situation to a better situation)$ O-O without hesitation, acce%ted the invitation$ On getting to the %lace o the east, he (O-O) ate and dran8 until he was drun8 and lost his consciousness$ E7' later adviced Obatala to ta8e away the IGB, I6, rom him$ 6hen O-O regained his consciousness, he realised that IGB, I6, has been ta8en away rom him, he became sad and rustrated , since then, he has been crying all over the entire universe that I &-,2C ,2& &-,2C, I E,( ,2& E,(, I +O7( #3 41,-,4(E- ,2& #O-,+$ (hen his ollowers will res%ondJ 2EKE- (1I2C ,G,I2 ,BO'( I( 2EKE- (1I2C ,G,I2 ,BO'( I( 1is disci%les will also sayB O1H O-O O1H O-O (his habit o O-O to O+'/I6O has made oro to be called O-O O+'GBI3E+E, ((1E '2(-'7(6O-(13 ) ,7E I6O O-O 2I O+'GBI3E+E ( (1E '2(-'7(E& .E++O6) (he above stan9a s%ea8s o cautions and reliance on GO& rom creation$ or all things, because human can be deceit ul, arrogant, annoying and %om%ous$ 6henever you need to go into any agreement with them, see8 the ace o GO& through i a and o er sacri ice to Esu and ta8e all necessary s%iritual ste%s to really shed light on any dar8 side o the agreement or investment$ (he story above stresses the ca%abilities o E7' as an intelligent divinity that always li8e to recti y a deceit ul situation and mend all %roblems without bias and %rejudice$ .rom the above stan9a, i a itemised %ros%erity, success and blessing, through the use o calmness, wisdom and %atience$ I a s%ea8s o %eace to be able to :;<=;;=>?$doc L o :;

EJI OGBE overcome the negative mysterious %art o men, and tell you that success is attainable during %eace$ 1ence, %eace o mind denotes s%iritual wisdom, intelligence and attraction to goodness rom GO&$ (he odu attributes %atience to %urity, and calmness to victory$ Ejiogbe signi ies the divinity that ensures mental e0uilibrium, and %ro%er use o mental ca%abilities to attain and achieve objectives$ In the beginning, !O-I! was a divinity and one o the greatest messengers o GO& that once lived among men since creation$ (he traditions tell us that O+O.I2 (one o the deities and a great 8ing in i e) consulted i a with the intention o see8ing an illumination to his li e and bring %eace to his domain$ (he odu that came out was so mysterious that no single human being, including the dieties that lived during that era, could ind a %ro%er ex%lanation and meaning or it$ In the course o inding a %erson that will give a concrete and coherent ex%lanation to the odu, Olo in was advised to invite Ori the mental oracle$ Ori did not betray him, but gave the true translation and meaning to the energy (ogbemeji) and directed Olo in to have @; obi, @; orogbo, :;;; owo eyo (cowries) and a bowl$ Ori also directed Olo in to use each obi (8olanut) to touch the child who was ill during the divination, and the child shall be well$ Olo in did not hesistate to ollow the instructions o O-I, and he did the ritual and it was acce%ted and the child was made %er ect, whole, healthy, hearty and well$ &uring the sacri ice, Ori only bro8e one o the 8olanuts and 8e%t the remaining nine$ Indeed, other divinities did not understand why Ori should behave in such a manner and they cons%ired to ight Ori and Ori told them to come or a ight one a ter the other, so that he will 8now how to deal with them and 8now how to handle their case, based on their mental ca%acities, %hysical strength, s%iritual dis%osition, and emotional balance$ Obatala, the irst among e0ual, came orward to iron it out with O-I$ O-I over%owered Obatala, and landed him at i8oyi, and there he settled, and became their 8ing$ .rom then he was called O2ICO3I, in act with blessed and advanced mental ca%acities Orisaala started to rule many cities, many nations and many %eo%le ollowed his s%iritual ste% and his emotional consciousness overwhelmed his ollowers$ 1e later became the 8ing o the %eo%le and his s%iritual con0uest reach as ar as ejigbo$ 1e became the 8ing o many nations and cities and he was 8nown as Ogiyan o Ejigbo, olu%o%o o %o%o, olu on o i on, orisa adatan at the city o adatan, orisa i8ire at town o i8ire$ Orisaala became amous and res%ected among %eo%le and among other divinities$ (1E O&' (E++7 '7 (1,( ,&K,24E& #E2(,+ 4,5,4I(IE7, 5O7I(IKE ,((I('&E , 5E-7EKE-,24E, 4,+#2E77, whenever we su er any loss and when we are de eated by the strong waves o enemies and nature will elevate us and shoot us to higher level o consciousness, %rogress, wealth, ame and bring us absolute %o%ularity$ Ogun was the strongest and bravest o all divinities and he believed O-I will be intimidated by his %hysical strength, but O-I %roved him wrong, and OG'2 was con0uered, and sent to O&E AI-E (the city o ire) and Ogun became their 8ing$ (his is to show, that O-I 8nows, what they deserved, and gave them without any urther consideration o alternative$ 6hoever wants wisdom, money, intelligence, success and %rogress, should as8 irst his mental head (O-I)$ ,nd whoever has good O-I, will be attracted to his good destiny without delay$ Ori turn to 7ango, over%owered him, and sent him to CO7O and there he bacame their 8ing$ (ill today he is called the 8ing o Coso$ Ori de eated 7a%%onna(Obaluaye) and sent him to ode i%o%o$ On getting there he became their 8ing$ 1e sent Orunmila baba I., :;<=;;=>?$doc M o :;

EJI OGBE ,gbonniregun to O&E AO6O$ Orunmila became their 8ing and Orunmila ruled many cities and many nations, and he became the lord o many nations, and the oracle o wisdom res%ectively$ 1e (ori), sent Ela bac8 to O-'2 (divine abode o GO&) to assist God in his divine glory$ ,nd whenever we need E+, we called him through one o the energy, and he will come down by the %ower o the O&'$ Indeed, Ela remained more relevant to s%iritual and divine activities, to miracles and wonders, and to many activities that involve the using o words, incantations and %rayers$ ,nd Ela s%ea8s o the abstainance rom sex once in a while, water, ood, and other %ersonal enjoyments$ Other divinities witnessed the extreme greatness o Ori when they engaged 1im (O-I) in a ight and Ori hel%ed them and blessed them with enormous %ros%erity, wealth and success, without mincing word$ (hey started to sing to %raise Ori$ (he song run thusB O-I +O#, J,J' 6O2 +O, O-I +O#, J,J' 6O2, E2I (O-I &, CO +,.,-,6E, O-I +O #, J,J' 6O2$ (ranslation (he head (ori) is beyond imagination or greater than them all and it will give victory$ (he head is beyond imagination and it will decree victory$ Because one created with strong mental ca%acity is beyond jealous and he is uncom%arable, 1ence the head is stronger than all$ (his is the mantra that comes to orisala when he was chosen as the leader o all divinities$ 1ence EJIOGBE 75E,C7 O. +E,&E-71I5 ,2& #,5 O'( (1E ,((-IB'(E7 O. , GOO& +E,&E-, GOO& (E,41E- ,2& GOO& 5-IE7($ ,looso di a awo egbeona , di a un gbogbo o8anlerinwo irunmole 6on lo ree se ebo nile olo in, 6on 8i a , 8i a, won 8o ja a 6on 8i/8i/8i won 8o un gbooo 6on wa ran ni sori , Ori 8i a , ori ja a 6on lodi 8iriji Ori lodi 8ijan Ogun bo sita won 8o ja 3iyan tori yanan Ode ire loyan an si Ori ni luu, tire nu un Ori ni 8o maa tuba Ori ni 8o maa tunse Ogbe orisaala, dida ti o daa Ile i on lodaa si O da sango o bale si 8oso O da oya o da a sile ira Ogbe elegbara o yan na si ile 8etu :;<=;;=>?$doc ? o :;

EJI OGBE O gbe san%onna sode %o%o (ranslationB (hose who 8neel down to divine are the su%%orter o the god o the %ath, (his divine or all the D;@ divinities 6hen they were as8ed to do ritual in the house o O+O.I2 (hey chant i a verse but did not get to the root o the %roblem, (hey recited, they did not understand it (hey later summon O-I Ori chanted i a verse and understand the rudiment and the source o all the %roblem (he ex%lanation brought jealous and dis%ute or su%remacy Ori con ronted them with great strength Ogun was the irst to battle ori Ori %revailed and sent ogun to the city o ire Ori said you will be installed and became a 8ing o ire$ 7ango came, ori %revailed and sent 7ango to Coso, to become their 8ing$ Orisaala came, Ori %revailed and sent Orisaala to the city o I on and he became olu on$ 6hile oya to the city o ira$ Esu the great magician was sent to the city o Cetu, and became their 8ing$ Ori too8 7o%%ona to the city o %o%o and he became their leader$ Ejiogbe s%ea8s o good destiny and good ortune$ It also s%ea8s o %sychic orce that determine the individual ortune in li e$ lt signi ies actors o %ersonal res%onsibility in luencing the total individual lot, choice, allotment and creative in luence$ Ejiogbe deters mis ortune and encourages ancestral guardian$ It is the orce that connects us to our %lan with all the s%iritual ste% available, it is the architect o success, wealth and %rogress$ Ejiogbe encourages the low o wealth, good %artner, %ros%erity and long li e$ It is the energy that assists you and see you through all di icult situations, trans orms your %ersonality, re orms your habit and illuminates your %ath$ It s%ea8s o moral rectitude, it builds ho%e, o%timism and aith in the universal energy o O+O&'#,-E$ It builds ame and %o%ularity o an individual, dieties and divinities, based on mee8ness, %atience, good character, moral obligation, and sound mental consciousness $(his attribute is credited to OB,(,+, with his creative ca%acity$hence, there is stan9a o ejiogbe that attribute this unction to obatala and other amous %eo%le o the world$ Gbogbo ola omi ti nbe laye Cole to ti olo8un Gbogbo iyi odo 8ole to ti olosa +odi a un obatala oseere igbo +ojo ti yio je alabaalase (i gbogbo irunmole nleri %e ,won yoo gba o8an ninu ori8i re Orunmila agboniregun yehun E su lalu elegbara ogo yera 8osi i a ti ni yi 8oja ejiogbe alase ni a i ase un gbogbo odo 8ee8ee 8ee ti oba so %e ti olo8un 8o si laye :;<=;;=>?$doc < o :;

EJI OGBE gbogbo won nii gbe lau/lau bi %a%a bajo, eru8u asoloju won mo toro ola lowo olosa ibi8eji odo mo rije bee ni mo yo rara tani 8o mo%e ola O+O-'2 ni8an loto ni ije dojo i8u eni (<) translationB all the honor o the earthly water none can match the honour o O+OC'2( the goddess o ocean) all the glory o the river , none can match the goddess o sea this divine or OB,(,+, O7E-E#,GBO the day he was crowned the head o all divinities all the divinities were jealous and %romised that they will ta8e one o his numerous honour and glory orunmila agbonniregun did not utter any word esu lalu elegbara stayed away none o the odu that has honour com%arable to ejiogbe honour is given to whom its due ejiogbe , you are the greatest o them all i the little river want to claim su%eriority over the ocean it will dry to its source i the bush is burning, those who need to go into hiding must do that l as8 or %ros%erity rom the goddess o the sea, the second in command to the ocean l am ull with blessing , everybody 8nows that the blessing o GO& is su icient or us till end, (<) Ejiogbe s%ea8s o the chosen one and s%iritual selection o the leader$ 5eo%le determine and cast vote or a leader, but we should not be deceived o one act, that divine ste% guide a collective selection o one %erson out o numerous$ Ejiogbe determines s%iritual consensus and collective balance$ Ejiogbe indicates ha%%iness, understanding , consciousness, %eace, harmony, com ort, light, %ositive energy, true vibration, joy o living, ecstatic eeling, a meaning ul li e o emulation, dedication to ul illed and ambitious li e, leadershi%, emotional growth, s%iritual enlightment, mental consciousness, sound morality, strength and true 8nowledge o GO&$ #ani estation o %hysical, mental, emotional and s%iritual mechanism to balance our li e to attract %ositive emotion and %ositive vibration $(he balance comes rom rituals, sacri ice, %rayer, good head, initiation to all necessary deities and divinities$ 6hen chosing any %erson to a %lace o res%onsibility and leadershi%, Ejiogbe is res%onsible or divine a%%ointment and divine selection o a leader$ #oreso, ejiogbe is the energy or a concrete and %ositive ste% to have a better society or better organisation$(his can been seen when Orunmila intended to choose his O+',6O (>) , EJIOGBE was the odu that mani est which according to the below mantra runs as ollowB :;<=;;=>?$doc > o :;

EJI OGBE

Co si ibi ti ategun 8ii e de Co si ibi ti e uu u lele 8i i jaare +o di a un i8o orunmila ,gbonniregun I a ni eni ti a ba wa de +aa 8oju si Oluware ni e maa %uro mo jeun Oluwa yin 8ii rajo Oju na naa ni oluwa yin i gbe (i ohun gbogbo ti ba n e ba a Eniyan yoowu tio ba jE yin ni ro (i o so %e ise ti e je 8o suwon (o %innu ati i oju 8an O+O&'#,-E (i o ba i lo 8o ni bo mo Ero ehin ni yoo gba ejo oluware ro Eni8an 8ii jE iro Orunmila lehin Iro ti e ba %a mo oba Iro naa ni e ma i jeun Eni ti o ba si e jaro yin ha di ero ehin ,ero ehin ni yoo da translationB the air blows to every cNrner o the universe the oxygen exists everywhere this divine i a or the re%resentative o Orunmila ,gboniregun i a says that who ever we are loo8ing or should be the object o our ocus and attention who ever sends us an errand should su%%ly our means o livelihood my lord will not underta8e any unex%ected journey because he is immovable, but attracted to all things in his glorious way whoever want to 8now this secret and 0uestion the mystery behind your energy and decide to go and meet O+O&'#,-E i eventually he goes he will not come bac8 to tell the story the mysterious elements will %lead on his behal nobody 0uestions the integrity o orunmila in his %resence or absence whatever orunmila utter signi y blessing o sur%lus and whoever intends to 0uestion the integrity o orunmila will ail$ ( he above mantra shows that ejiogbe is res%onsible or choosing a leader, $the energy also identi y the %ower o each divinity$ (a8ing account o what ejiogbe says about OB,(,+, O-I7,+, , 3O' #'7( -E('-2 (O 3O'- 6O-C , (1E B+,4C 7#I(1 #O'+&7 I-O2 OKE- ,2& OKE- ,G,I2 :;<=;;=>?$doc @; o :;

EJI OGBE '2(I+ I( I7 7(-,IG1( ,2& 5E-.E4( (1E B,-BE- 1,7 2O( .I2I71E& 1I7 6O-C '2(I+ B,4C ,2& 7I&E7 ,-E 6E++ (-I##E& 3O' #'7( -E('-2 (O 3O '- '2.I2l71E& 6O-C GE2E-,(IO27 O. CI2G7 1,KE -EIG2E& O2 E,-(1 3E(, I 1,KE 7EE2 2O2E (O -IK,+ (1I7 &EI(3 (O -IK,+ OB,(,+, CI2G O. ,++ O-I7,7 -O3,+ ,-(I.I4IE- O. 5E-.E4(IO2 61O 4,#E .-O# ,BOKE B'( 5+,4E7 1I7 E,-(1+3 1O#E O2 (1E +,2& O. I-,JE 1E ,+O2E 1,7 5O6E- (O +O4C (1E -,I2 G,(E7 1E ,+O2E 4-E,(E& (1E 61I(E &O#E O. (1E 7C3 1E 4-E,(E& (1E 75E4IE7 O. -,( (O +,7( .O-EKE1E 4-E,(E& (1E 75E4IE7 O. (1E .I71 (O +,7( .O-EKE1E 4-E,(E& (1E 75E4IE7 O. (1E BI-& (O +,7( .O-EKE1E 4-E,(E& (1E 75E4IE7 O. (1E BE,7( (O +,7( .O-EKE,2& O-&,I2E& (1,( (1E 7E4IE7 O. #,2 BE 2EKE- &E7(-O3E& (he same thing ha%%ened to 7ango Jinhinni ja%e E8isa iya omo 8ii%a omo lerin Ain +o di a un Orunmila I a i ogoji te 7ango ni a O wa ogoji da odu un um , !e8e, a !odale Bi 7ango ba %a awo ile lo da (ranslationB ,s mystic as sur%rise (he child will not moc8 his mother because o her rags (his divine i a or Orunmila I a used orty to initiate 7ango into I a I a used orty to give him his odu(energy) (he usur%ers and the traitors I 7ango 8ill the son o the secret, he betrays his cult membershi%(@@) (his tells you that EJIOGBE denotes aith ulness, honesty, su%%ort and straight orwardness$ $1owever, 7ango used the mystery o Ejiogbe to increase his energy, ame, %o%ularity, bravery and strength$ ,nother mantra o Ejiogbe really %oint to this act Ori8i olo8i8i 8ii gbasan 6on %ariwo re nile 6on %ariwo re logun +odi a un obileja :;<=;;=>?$doc @@ o :;

EJI OGBE 7ango ti o ni oun 8o lo8i8i Oni nje oun lG ni iyi 6on ni yoo ni iyi Bi o ba le toju obu8o meji ,ti isaasun titun lati rubo 7ango ra obu8o meji O mu o8an un awon irunmole o mu o8an yoo8u losi odo Osanyin ore re %elu isaasun 7ango se bee o in o ran iyawo re 2igbati iyawo mu eran ati isaasun de odo osanyin Osanyin se eran naa o si i ewe sii, o de isaasun, Osi 8ilo un iyawo %e 8i o ma si isasun yi wo 2igbati iyawo de oju ona, o siiwo, o si mu e8iri 8an je Bi 8in ni o jee tan si ni e in beere si ru lenu re Iyawo tun mu e8iri 8an jee si, bi o ti de ile ti o F soro si 7ango ina bere si yoo lenu re 7ango ni haH Iyawo mi, o ti si isaasun wo, bayi ni 7ango naa sare 8o eran yoo8u je, lati igba yii ni ina ti yo lenu 7ango (@=) (-,27+,(IO2B (he amous %raise name will not be in vain It will be %o%ularised within the household It is made amous in the battle ield (his divine or obileja 7ango, who said he did not have the necessary ame 1e 0uestioned himsel that is it %ossible or him to be res%ected (hey said he will be res%ected I he can get two he/goats ,nd a sacri icial %ot or ritual 7ango later brought two he goat (he divinities share one o the he/goat ,nd the other he/goat be given to osanyin, his riend with the sacri icial %ot 7ango later instructed his wi e to go and deliver the he goat 6ith the new sacri icial %ot to osanyin Osanyin %re%ared the he/goat with herbs and other s%iritual things Osainyin cut the meat o the he/goat into small %arts (hen covered the %ot and warn sango!s wi e not to o%en the %ot On the way sango!s wi e o%ened the %ot and too8 %art o the meat and ate it , ter eating, smo8e and ire started to gush out rom her mouth 7he also o%ened the %ot again and ate another %ortion o the meat On reaching home, she o%ened her mouth to greet sango, ire and smo8e started to come out rom her mouth 7ango noticed that his wi e had o%ened and ate rom the magic %ot 7ango 0uic8ly ate the remaining meat$ .rom that day 7ango started to emit ire and smo8e rom his own mouth, :;<=;;=>?$doc @: o :;

EJI OGBE

EJIOGBE denotes %ower, strength, absolute energy, ame, everlasting %o%ularity, harmony, wisdom and understanding o cosmic energy$ ,%art rom being the odu that builds u% the strength o men, it is res%onsible or selecting the %ower to be among divinities$ It ma8es men grow to his ull stature, ca%acities and ull being with wisdom, becuase o one basic act , !O-I! the real innersel $ It states that the energy within you have enormous ca%acities, %ower, orce and energy, you can cultivate the best and bring it to ull lowing reality and ruit ulness ,hence a good head means good character, good moral, good reasoning, good judgement and the extension o goodness to your enviroment and to the society at large$ (hat ma8es you as the shinning exam%le o the world, and the light o the universe$ ,s an extention o O+O&'#,-E , you %ossess all attributes o 1im, the orce o the divinities, and the %ower to overcome all adversaries, challenges and di iculties with ease$ (hat is why i a says, O-I +,B, #I , BO C, C'C' .O-I7, 7I+E, (#E,2I2G, 6E O'G1( (O (,CE 4,-E O. O'75I-I(',+ 1E,& #O-E (1,2 (1E &EI(IE7) Ejiogbe chooses a good head rom the beginning, and also mould and change a bad destiny to a better one$ (his can be notice rom an i a verseB (@D) It is human being we de y as orisa (rue indeed , it is my lord agboniregun Orisas are dei ied human being Orisa/nla, you 8now was once a human being himsel 6hen he brought blessing to the world, men began to worshi% him as a divinity Even to this day, men revere his memory and su%%licate (he omni%otent in his name Ogun was once a human being 7ango was once a human being ,nd so those who attain wisdom on earth (hey are those indeed whom we worshi% as gods (he orisa are dei ied human being , (@L) (he above stan9a shows that we can reach any level o s%iritual consciousness with an advance inner light and sound mental awareness$ 6ith good O-I, $Ejiogbe justi ies and recognises the divinity o the individual, all %ositive ste%s are ta8en into consideration, and s%iritual %ath are added to our mental orces$ 1owever the transcedent energy o the s%irit is within all according to EJIOGBE, $it recognises human unity with all energy available to hel% him achieve his maximum lot$ Ejiogbe assumes that there is a blessing o longevity, but a sacri ice to secure that blessing is needed$ $I a says that the %erson will live well and grow old, he will not die %rematurely $I a says the %erson should o er sacri ice, one stout goat, and a lot cowries, the %riest should annoit the %erson with magical %ortion made rom i a leaves 1ere is the i a verse su%%orting this ex%lanation, Its a struggle to death, boasted water :;<=;;=>?$doc @= o :;

EJI OGBE Its a ight to inish re%lied the highway On the dread ul day o the duo, (he highway was s%lit into our .orming the cross/road (hus declare i a oracle to -oc8 everlasting (hat lay un%erturbed in river bed -oc8 ,be ore he became everlasting consulted i a oracle ,s8ing how he might avoid %rematured death ,nd live till old age, ,i a %rescribed as sacri icial o ering ,one stout goat, :;;; cowries, obi, orogbo and atare roc8 brought the o ering, the %riest %er ormed the sacri ice and annoited roc8 with the %ortion made rom s%eci ied leaves o i a therea ter roc8 lived till old age and became everlasting everlasting roc8 now %raise his diviner sayingB the %rognostication o the righteous diviner are ever vindicated its a struggle to death boasted waters its a ight to inish re%lied the highway on the day o duel the highway was s%lit into our orming cross road thus declared i a oracle to me when i lay uncertain in river bed but i sacri iced and therea ter became everlasting o%ening his mouth, singing this i a song the uncertain roc8 at river bed is now the everlasting roc8 o age we have become everlasting roc8 we shall not die we shall live orever that day began or roc8 a li e o joy and ha%%iness i a %redicts long li e or any %erson that is created with the energy o EJIOGBE yoruba translation i a wi%e o ri ire ai8u un eniti a da ejiogbe un i a so wi%e 8i o rubo emi gigun wi%e oluwa re a dagba yoo si darugbo 8o ni 8u lewe $ I., so wi%e 8o ni egbaa owo mo8anla, 8i o rubo 8a se 8o8o ewe i a un un ibi ti i a nan gbee A bee omi losu 8iti omi lo bona lori ona lo su 8iti ona lo be omi lori i%ade ona oun omi :;<=;;=>?$doc @D o :;

EJI OGBE won %inra won si merin o wa di a un oyigiyigi ota inu omi oyigiyigi lo da a %e oun o lG 8u lewe na 8i oun dagba 8oun si darugbo won ni 8o ni agbalagba obu8o, 8o ni o8e owo mo8anla won ni 8o ni 8o8o ewe/i a oyigiyigi rubo won si se etutu un won si sin ewe i a naa un um o dagba , o darugbo 8o 8u lewe, o wa nyin awon babalawo oni bee lawon babalawo nsenu ire 8i a omi losu 8iti omi bona lori ona losu 8iti ona be omi lori i%ade ona oun omi won %in! ra won si merin o di a un oyigiyigi ota inu omi o wa!njo, o wa nyo o lanu 8oto orin i a babo sii lenu o nse oyigiyigi ota omi ooo oyigiyigi ota omi awa do yigiyigi ao8u mo oo oyigiyigi ota omi ni ojo naa ni o njo, ni o nyo i a wi%e ire ai8u un eni ti o wa di a Ejiogbe also indicate that no one or not all things are totally good, no one is totally bad, every being is both bad and good at the same time, only the degree o goodness and otherwise varies rom level o s%iritual consciousness, mental alertness, disci%line and commitment to some meaning ul things$ (hose who are not conscious o this act are just not entirely bad but remain in dar8ness because o ignorance and lac8 o aith in the source o universal energy o O+O&'#,-E (GO&), that has the ultimate %ower to rede ine our destiny and illuminate our %ath to %rogress, ha%%iness, good health and long li e$ 1ence, to achieve this %ositive result according to ejiogbe is through rituals, sacri ice, %atience, initiation, %rayer, asting, love, orgiving mind, %ositive strength o mind ( body , and soul) disci%line and %eace$ (he above line o thought is su%%orted by i a stan9a ,

:;<=;;=>?$doc

@L o :;

EJI OGBE 8ama i 8anju/ 8anju jaye 8ama i wara mo8un oro ohun a ba i sagba , 8a simi 8a wo iwaju ojo lo titi 8a tun bo wa ro ehin oro wo nitori ati sun ara eni translation B let us not %ursue worldly %ower in haste let us not gras% wealth with childish habit what should be handled with maturity ought not to be treated with rashness better it were to see8 out a shady grove(wisdom) there to rest and re lect weighing the %resent with the %ast and learn to %re%are or our last day on earth(@<) ,lso, note that the below divinities are created by the energy o Ejiogbe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doc @M o :;

EJI OGBE :<$ E+'C' :>$ E+'J' =;$ GE+E&E =@$ E+' =:$ ,GE#O ==$ 3E#O6O =D$ ,3E+,+, =L$ O-O7'2 =M$ OJI#,B, =?$ ,B,JI In dealing with the energy o Ejiogbe, we can use :@ obi(8olanuts), :@ orogbo, :@ atare, iyereosun, o%on i a(i a tray), gin$ 3ou will mar8 Ejiogbe on the i a tray $and %our the gin on the ground, then say this mantraB I a 8o jebo na o in I a 8o jeebo na o rorun gburegbure Onile gaji Onile gaji Orun tataata tuuru/ta , in onilare ,wo ile orunmila &ia un orunmila O nti i8ole orun bo wa si i8ole aye Oni oun lo re lowo Oun lo re 8ole Oun lo re lobinrin Oun lo ree bimo Oun lo ree joye oba atun aye se 6on ni 8o woju ona ,won ti 8iije 8i eni o se n8an nile aye I a ni to ba se bii toun ni O loun o lowo lowo Oni oun o 8ole mole Oni oun o laya maya Oni oun o bimo lemo Oni oun o joye obataye se 6on ni o daa, lojo wo ni o de O lojo ota inu omi baa %ewe O lodi ojo a%adi igbale baa seje O di ojo ti won ba di agbara 8a wewe I a ni o di ojo atian tian rere 6on ni Ojo wo ni ota inu omi a to %ewe Ojo wo ni a%adi igbale a to seje Ojo wo ni won ato digbara 8a tete :;<=;;=>?$doc @? o :;

EJI OGBE Ojo wo ni won ato digba ra8a wewe Ojo wo ni ojo a tian tian rere I a wa ni (i o ba je %e bee ni O loun o %ada sode orun mo loun wi 2je sawere%e%e 7awere%e%e I a mama je n8u dare oja yi nu I a ma jee 8i emi ati gbogbo ebi ju dare oja yi nu Jee won gbo , je won to Ai a Ci won dagba dagba Ci won darugbo ,se/////@> (ranslationB #a8e the sacri ice aus%icious, i a #a8e the ritual go u% to the highest abode o Olodumare 7olid as the roo 7a e as the roo (he uture is certain and secure as the roo (hus declare i a oracle to Orunmila through his diviner nic8named albino ,t that time when Orunmila set out rom heaven earth/ward bound I go to the earth said Orunmila (o ac0uire wealth and owns houses (o have many %ro%erties, wealth , blessing and sur%lus (o crown all this by bringing , new order into the world 1ow do you thin8 you can succeed ,s8ed those in heaven (he world abound with evil %owers 6ho ensure that nothing good trium%h on earth ,nd loo8 how those %owers stand bloc8ing your %ath 6ith malice a ore/thought I a re%lied ,s or me, l see no obstacle .or i 8now the way to succeed In money, marriage, %ro%erty, %rogeny I have the will to bring a new order into the world Kery well then, and your return to heaven when shall that be I a re%lied in these cry%tic words I will return when the stone at river bed blossom 6hen %otsherds linning the street oo9e out o blood 6hen what has to be done ,has been done 6hen what has to succeed has succeeded 6hen time a%%roaches but never arrives

:;<=;;=>?$doc

@< o :;

EJI OGBE (hen Orunmila was as8ed 6hen will the stones in the river/bed blossom 6hen will %otsherds in the street oo9e out o blood 6hen will what has to be done be done 6hen will what has to succeed succeed On what day will time a%%roach but never arrive I a re%lied I you are so ignorant o %arables (his in %lain language is what it means I will not any more return to heaven I im%lore you i a By the %ower o sawere%e%e By sawere%e%e leaves sacred to you , i a I im%lore you +et me not die be ore my time +et not the members o my amily and loved ones die Be ore their time, i a grant them a long li e +ead us to a ri%e old age i a (,7E) , ter this, you will %ray with all the materials and %ut all In i a %ot with obi/=,orogbo/ =,atare/= and a gin on esu stone$ (he obi/= , orogbo/= and atare/= are %art o the obi you will use to o er sacri ice to i a$ In most or in all sacri ices, one must try to o er esu irst / the messenger o ho%e, later to i a .rom the above i a stan9a, you will notice that success, ha%%iness, long li e, joy, strenght, %ower, abundancy, sur%lus, %rogress, %eace o mind,, 8nowledge, ame, wealth, reedom s%iritual consciousness, mental alertness, emotional balance, wisdom , accom%lishment ex%ansion o 8nowledge and %ro%erties de%end solely on ability to ocus more on s%iritual energy to bring about and attract o%%ortunities$ (he way to success in all things de%end on your understanding o the s%iritual and natural %henomenon$ $I a says nothing should disturb us rom our worldly accom%lishment and joy, using the %ower o Ejiogbe$ Ejiogbe %lace us above every obstacles i we really intend to blend the indwelling orce with natural energies, because the meaning o Ejiogbe is to be above every challenges, to be li ted u%, to overcome and to see the light o O+O&'#,-E, hence Ogbemeji or Ejiogbe signi ies multi%le victory$

:;<=;;=>?$doc

@> o :;

EJI OGBE

:;<=;;=>?$doc

:; o :;