The Practice
Divination is about finding one's purpose. It is performed to help address some of the most important things in our lives, like weddings or sicknesses.
There are a total of 256 Odu Ifas, which are patterns of a binary code that represent the different energies within the universe. These energies are what create ones blessings and misfortunes. The Odu are the oracles of Ifa. These energies will guide individuals on how to achieve their destiny and live to full potential. Out of the 256 Odu Ifas, the first are 16 are the Meji, or Oju Odu. The next 240 Odù Ifá are various possible combinations of the first 16.
A Opele (divining chain) or16 sacred Ikin (kola nuts or shells are used by the babalowo. As he shakes them, he counts how many remain in the original hand and lines are made on the board references the odu's of the person (Morton-Williams, 1966).
Examples of patterns created by Ibos that are used to formulate the divination readings. Each individual pattern represents its own unique story and principle.