Odù Mèjì: The Map of Existence in the 16 Sacred Signs of Ifá
The Odu Meji represent the heart of the Ifá divination system, one of humanity's oldest and most complex oracles. They are the 16 primordial signs, the "parents" of all the other 240 combinations, forming a sacred map of 256 paths that describe the entire human experience.
Considered the "cosmic DNA," each Odù Mèjì is a portal to a vast repository of wisdom, containing myths (ese), ritual prescriptions (ebó), and profound teachings on the nature of the universe and destiny. They are not mere predictions, but rather diagnostics of the energy governing a given moment, offering guidance for restoring balance and aligning with one's life purpose.
In this section, we invite you to explore each of these 16 sacred paths. Each is a key to self-knowledge and harmony.
The study of the Odu Meji is a lifelong journey, a path of continuous deepening into the ancestral wisdom of the Yoruba people. The academic basis for the content presented here was William Bascom's seminal work, "Ifa Divination: Communication Between Gods and Men in West Africa," which serves as a fundamental bridge between traditional knowledge and contemporary scholarship. May this exploration serve as a guide for reflection and spiritual growth.
