The Life of Ofun Meji
The continuous biography of this odù's own spiritual evolution — celestial works, then earthly works — told as one unfolding life. Click any title to read it.
The Six Days of Creation and the Birth of Initiation
Ofun Meyi is the odú in which the cosmos first revealed how it had been built. The diviner who cast Ifá for Ogun, Olokun, Orunmila, and all the divinities at the dawn of things told them that they should make sacrifice to their guardian angels for six days, that they might rest on the seventh in peace and tranquility. Orunmila asked why the sacrifice should last seven days rather than one. The diviner replied that Olodumare himself had taken six days to create the earth, the seas, the atmosphere, the plants, the animals, and humanity --- and rested on the seventh. The reason God had created all the organic and inorganic matter before creating the human race was to provide shelter for man, water for him to drink, food for him to eat, air for him to breathe, so that from the seventh day onward humanity might dedicate itself to a tranquil life in heaven.
In keeping with the precedent established by God in creation, every priestly initiation must take six days, and the priest must clean the house and rest on the seventh. It is only through this process that the sacrifice manifests. And because heaven's order requires it, no fights or discord may take place during the six days of initiation --- so that the figure of creation may be honored without violence.
The Patakín Corpus — 1 to 21
Presented in strict numerical order as in the source Tratado. Click any title to read it.
01Ofun Meyi Reveals the Six Days of Creation
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Odibi reku reku lere --- the place of great suffering is close by. Odibi ridi ridi --- the place of intense punishment. Le ale Akakpo Ogun --- it has taken down even Ogun's war commander. Kobo Eledare --- it does not spare the creature of the Creator. Ibi reku reku --- a place of destruction and loss. Je Akakpo Orunmila --- even Orunmila's lieutenant. Je Aje Ugba Erumole --- even the powers of the two hundred primordial divinities. Kiwombo Eleedaa won --- let the Creator bring justice upon them. Ibi raku reku --- a place of relentless affliction.
This chant is a spiritual lamentation describing a mysterious and dangerous spiritual affliction --- a curse, illness, or divine punishment that spares no one, not even the powerful like Ogun or Orunmila. It speaks to the inescapable force of cosmic retribution. Each line intensifies the idea that not even the strong or divinely favored are immune unless protected by spiritual alignment, offerings, or sacrifice.
The difficult problem that was peacefully resolved at the end was the name of the awo who divined for Ogun, Olokun, Orunmila, and all the other divinities. He advised them to make sacrifice to their guardian angels for six days, in order to rest in peace and tranquility on the seventh.
Orunmila asked why the sacrifice should last seven days rather than one. The awo replied that it had taken Olodumare six days to create the earth, the seas, the atmosphere, the plants, the animals, and humanity. The reason God created all the organic and inorganic matter before creating the human race was to provide shelter, water to drink, food to eat, air to breathe --- so that from the seventh day onward, humanity might dedicate itself to a tranquil life.
He revealed that God rested on the seventh day after completing the creation of the divinosphere. He told them that, in keeping with this precedent, it would take six days to complete the initiation ceremony of any priest, and that the priest must clean the house and rest on the seventh. Only through this process would the sacrifice manifest. Orunmila asked again whether a seven-day ceremony would not generate disputes during the period --- and the awo replied that fights and discord are forbidden during the ceremony of initiation.
Aikoro lule awo. Oragun Deyin Ekun Eekpa.
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