Òbàrà Méjì

Compatibility is the Pillar of Relationships

Opo ile ree maa gbe ile duro, Idasi ree nmu Akiton dagba, Dáfún Eepin too nlo soko Igba  Won koo rebo kii Aake re lee ron igi Eepin gbẹbọ rẹbọ, Nje Eepin se oko Igba, Igba beere si wuuyi, Kii Eepin rubo kii Aake re lee mu igi,  Eepin se oko igba, igba sii wuuyi. 

The pillar or column of the house makes the house to stand firmly. The act of dumping rubbish on the dump site is what makes it to grow and become tall. These were the Babaláwo who cast Ifá for Eepin (sandpaper-like leaf) when going to marry Igba (calabash). Eepin was advised to make Ebo so that Eepin’s axe will be able to cut the tree. Eepin made Ebo and Eepin becaame Igba’s partner and Igba’s life became more beautiful.

Eepin is a plant whose leaves are very hard and corse like sand paper. The leaves are traditionally used to clean Igba (calabash), leaving Igba looking more beautiful and cleaner. Eepin was going to become the Oko (partner) to Igba. They went to Ifá to seek consultation to know whether if it was okay to go into a relationship, partnership and marriage. 

The esoteric name of the Olúwo in this Esè, Opo ile nii mu ile duro means there is no house that can stand without a pillar, a column, or central beam. Opo is the column or the pillar that makes something to stay very well and stand strong; Opo from the non physical point may be understood as the mother or father or the support structure of a family, a household, or livelihood. Opo in this context can mean supporting the home financially or by virtue of caring for the home. The second Olúwo is Idasi loo maa nmu akiton dagba. Akiton is the dumpsite and for a dumpsite to be great; it has to take and accept everything. Idasi is the act of pouring more and more at a dumpsite. Ifá is saying that if you are the type that accepts everything you will become bigger and occupy more space; the dumpsite becomes big because it accepts everything.  

Àsefá 

Ifá is speaking metaphorically about the need to find what is ones pillar or support systemt.  What or who is it that makes our ‘roof’ to stand up right and not be shaky. To become big and great in life is instilled through the action of tolerance. For Akiton to become a dumpsite it accepts and deals with everything through tolerance; that is why Akiton grows bigger and bigger overtime. Looking at the relationship between Eepin and Igba, Eepin is a very strong a corse leaf that has a unique relationship to Igba in that it can clean and wash Igba very well making Igba look more attractive. Eepin took Igba as a partner. So, this Esè tells the person that they may be entering some form of relationship either intimately, sexually, or a business partnership that has the potential to be supportive and mutually beneficial relationship. This person is advised to take their time and examine who is the pillar, who is the column, and who is the supporter.  Ifá advises this person that they must persevere, endure, and be tolerant like that of Akiton. They are also advised that at times in the relationship they may be more like Eepin who cleans Igba, or more behave like Igba who is cleaned by Eepin depending on the circumstances and dynamics of the relationship. Life is give and take.

Aboru Aboye.

Ifáwuyì Opéifá