Orunmila & Osun, a Good Combination

Igi ajubani ni n mo jongo jongo
Casts divination for Opinmi
Who was sacrificing to his Ikin and Osun for children 
He was asked to perform sacrifice 
They wished him a lot of good things 
All the good fortunes would be in abundance 
Be it wealth 
Wives 
Children 
But he should combine Ifá and Osun together on a single spot
And offer sacrifice to them simultaneously 
He performed the sacrifice 
Life pleased him 
He then started to dance and rejoice 
He was praising his Babaláwo 
His Babaláwo was praising Ifá 
He said it was as his Babaláwo had said 
IIgi ajubani ni n mo jongo jongo
Casts divination for Opinmi
That was sacrificing to his Ikin and Osun for children 
It was when Opinmi sacrificed to his Ikin and Osun that we had wealth 
It was when Opinmi sacrificed to his Ikin and Osun that we had wives 
It was when Opinmi sacrificed to his Ikin and Osun that we had children 
It was when Opinmi sacrificed to his Ikin and Osun that we built houses 
I praise you IIgi ajubani ni n mo jongo jongo
Opinmi has been worshiping his Ikin 
He has been worshiping Osun
- Holy Odu IrosunIrete

Tako, tabo, ejiwapo is an adage that says, "Maleness and femaleness, together in twoness." It means that the combination of masculine and feminine energies produces exponential results. Sometimes, men and women can become so gender-biased that we overlook the real significance of reciprocal energy. That is, in the exact same ways that we sometimes get stuck in our heads, stuck in our emotions or stuck in materialism, and lose perspective as a result, people sometimes find themselves stuck in a particular kind of gender-bias that prevents us from fully appreciating the transformative power that can only result from the combined efforts of men and women together. 

One virtue of Orisa Lifestyle is that it perpetually reinforces the importance of reciprocal energy, which is exemplified by the spousal relationships between the divinities themselves. Each orisa has a divine consort of the opposite sex. For example: 

• Obatala & Yemoo
• Ogun & Mobowu
• Sango & Oya
• Orunmila & Osun

In the verse above, Ifa draws attention to the fact that the supplicant's problem will be completely resolved by worshipping Orunmila and Osun simultaneously. The efficacy of this combination is exemplified through the institutionalization of the unique relationship between babalawo and apetebii. That is, there is an interdependence between the Ifa priest and his wife, who is known as apetebii. Stated differently, the babalawo's function is only made whole by his relationship to his wife, the apetebii. In this instance, as she carries out her duties in service to her husband's Ifa, the apetebii protects him and brings numerous blessings into his family. Ifa is replete with examples wherein apetebii has saved Orunmila's live, helped him solve impossible dilemmas and restored balance to an otherwise destructive situation. Likewise, there are a variety of reasons why a woman's spiritual mission can only be completed through marriage to a babalawo. Sometimes, it is for her health. Other times, it is because of spiritual protection. Still other times, her ability to give birth can only be realized through her relationship with a babalawo. Ultimately, Orisa Lifestyle strongly reinforces the inescapable need for reciprocal energy, which is perfectly expressed in the saying, tako, tabo, ejiwapo. 


Aboru aboye abosise

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