Odi Oro

The path of Oro, the blind awo

Oro was a vendor who was blind and offered «water flower» in a tub to cure eyesight. He was paid fifty cents for each sale. Yet the money he set down beside the tub was always being stolen from him. Oro decided to seek Orunmila’s help. Together they performed a ritual called «ebbo,» using a lasso, the pulp of eko, a rooster, and a dove. Then Oro placed the lasso and the eko near the money in the tub, and they waited for the thief to come. When the thief tried to pull the money out of the eko pulp, Oro yanked the lasso and caught the thief by the hand.

This story shows how Oro solved a problem with cunning and Orunmila’s help. It also teaches us the importance of finding creative solutions to our problems and not letting adversity stop us.

Shangó the obedient: the path of the mouse

Olofin called upon Eshu, Oggún, and Shangó to bring him a mouse from the wilderness. Yet when they returned, Oggún and Eleguá lied to him, saying they had found nothing. But Shangó had the honesty to show Olofin what he was carrying in his mouth. As a reward for this, Shangó has thundered in the sky and on the earth ever since.

The secret of ojuero

In the land of Obaoyu Inle there lived an awo named Omologu, who was Odi Oro and devoted himself to doing evil. There were no limits to his destructive behavior; he was capable of doing harm with or without reason, all for money. He was feared in that land and in the neighboring lands, and everyone hated him for the way he acted.

One day he began living with Yekun, the daughter of Inle, who loved him despite the suffering he caused her. She went daily to the bank of the river Ile Ibu to weep over her misfortune and tell Oro what was happening. One day, while she was there, her tears fell into the river’s water and were transformed into beautiful white flowers. From among them arose a figure shining like a rainbow, who said to her: «I am Aina, the concentrated spirit of father Inle. I am tired of seeing you suffer so much. I will resolve your troubles.»

Then she took Yekun omo Inle and drew her down with her into the ibu, singing the following suyere: «Yekun omo inle sokun, sokun yere ojuero, agbotan bi ojuero ashe ashini lele ojuero aina iya inle».

There she told her that no one would see her or cause her any more suffering. In this land she would be the representation of her father and of Aina herself, and the water flower would be the representation of her spirit. When Omologu, also known as Odi Oro, saw that his obini Yekun had disappeared and was told what had happened at the river, he went there and began cursing her. But when he looked into the water, his curses turned back upon him and he was struck blind.

In despair he went to Orunmila and had osode performed, where, groping in his blindness, he was able to touch this Oddun. He wept bitterly upon realizing all the evil he had done and that he had lost his obini forever. In the midst of his weeping he heard a voice that said to him: «Odi Oro, I am no longer at your side, but I still love you and I forgive you the harm you did to me.» The spirit of Yekun gave him the secret of the ajuero to recover his sight, and Aina granted him her blessing.

Leaving evil behind, Omologu became an awo and devoted himself to healing his fellow beings, carrying goodness across the land with the Ashe of Aina and the secret Yekun had taught him.

Then a piece made of caracol, cobo, or kinkobe that is iridescent is placed inside, calling well upon Aina, and plenty of ojuero is put within it; payment is made. (This refers to the derecho, the ritual fee.)

In this Ifá the secret that is the cazuela of Yekun is prepared in the following way: on a clay pot the following atena is painted: Oshe Tura, Odi Oro, Okana Yekun, Okana Sibilari, Otura She, and the 16 meyis. Over everything, eyerbale of akuko and eyele okan is given; then water and 17 coins are added, and prayers are said to Aina Inle and to the signs that were painted.

The chameleon and the son of Olofin

The son of Olofin and the chameleon walked the road together. The chameleon thanked Olofin for the ability to change color, so he could use it as camouflage in case of danger. One day, the chameleon discovered that Olokun, she who lived at the edge of the sea, wished to devour his friend.

The chameleon advised him, saying: «Do not go near the seashore, so that Olokun does not devour you. Let us go to Orunmila’s house to seek protection.» And so they did. Orunmila performed osode for them, and an Ifá came out telling the son of Olofin to be very careful, for there were people trying to devour him; and he recommended an ebbo to ward off those evils. The son of Olofin took the matter in hand and performed the corresponding ebbo.

Upon learning of this, Olokun then thought of devouring the chameleon himself. He went urgently to Orunmila, who during his examination drew another Ifá marking the same ebbo. He then told the chameleon to go see Olofin and tell him what had happened, in order to find a solution to the problem. The chameleon hurried to tell Olofin what had occurred; Olofin then intervened and withdrew the waters of the sea, thus saving the brave chameleon.

This Ifá speaks of marine phenomena and tidal waves. This Ifá forbids receiving Olokun, and the person must beware of the daughters of Yemayá, who are their worst enemies. There is possibly a conflict with one of them who, feeling abandoned, scorned, or deceived, may try to kill the person. Spiritual development is not recommended, because the person is not a medium.

Oggún’s reasoning

Orunmila wanted to set the world in order and fill it with joy, so, seeing the need, he began performing ebboses to achieve this. Oggún discovered Orunmila’s intention and went directly to see Olofin to tell him what Orunmila had in mind. Olofin gave Oggún permission to speak with Orunmila about the matter.

When Oggún approached Orunmila, he delivered Olofin’s message along with his own opinion: the world had to hold a little of everything, from those who sing to those who weep, rich and poor, decent and indecent. Upon hearing this, Orunmila understood that it was impossible to accomplish his aim.

1.- The confusion of the opposite sex.
2.- The caraira eating the eyes of the dead.
3.- Offering black-eyed beans to one’s Guardian Angel, whatever Osha it may be, in various adimuses.