Idi Meji

I I
II II
II II
I I
In the fixed order of Orunmila, Idi-Meji occupies the forth position.
Divided circle-symbolizes the reproductive organs of women
Indiscreet curiosity
Physical element = Earth
Physical body element = Buttocks and Hips
Someone sitting and they have to mark off their own area.
Too much talk! "Ass backwards"
Children would be disposed to be rulers.
Idi is very aggressive and pugnacious
Conceited --- Containment
Prominent Fighter
How Orunmila calmed the Iyamis
Market woman and their use of honey to sweeten the good things in life.
A restraining influence
This is the rest and completion that follows anticipation. Known as the "Seal".
Babalawo said: A single chain-link does not break. So ended the raging plague and death.
Awo's were decapitated for malpractice!
One divides, two perform, three sustains wants accord hole up releases four.
![]()
Yimiyimi, a beyin paale (alias of a Babalawo)
Cast divination oracle for Ori (head)
When suffering from unreasonable loneliness
Head was advised to offer sacrifices
Head complied
The ears came to keep head company
The nose came to keep head company
The eyes came to keep head company
The mouth came to keep head company
May my head not be without companion
What this stanza is stressing is that with appropriate sacrifice, one will be able to
enjoy the company of others. It is also saying that loneliness is not good in any way.
Just looking at the head without nose, mouth, ears, eyes etc, is not pretty to
percieve.
It will be recalled that at the beginning of time, plants and animals did
not procreate as we know it today. Following the creation of men and women, they
merely lived together without knowing how to procreate. The woman did not know what
to do with her pelvis and the man did not know what his penis was meant for.
The sperm and menstruation who had separate identities then went for divination in the
home of Idi-Meji. Both Spermatozoa and Menstruation were both anxious to know how to
procreate. God had created them leaving them to use their own intelligence to
contrive how to procreate. They were both advised to make sacrifice in which they
both complied. Thereafter, the sperm was told to go and live with man while
menstruation was advised to periodically live with the woman. That is how we became
the children of the sperm and menstruation through the instruments of man and woman.
"Hollowing is the foundation of the aran drum; if it goes up, it becomes huge; if it goes up, it becomes immense" was the one who cast Ifa for Ipesan, Chief of the Market. Ipesan arrives, oh, Chief of the Market; he is going to take new land on which to settle. Ipesan is what we call the Odan tree. A lucky person arrives at the market, Oh!
Ifa says this is someone who will have a settlement of his own and lots of room, but he
should sacrifice lest he encounter an enemy and a thing which will decrease the size of
his settlement. They said that Odan tree should sacrifice one he-goat, one cock, one
cutlass, and one shilling seven pence eight onions, so that he would not encounter a
slanderer at his settlement. They said he would find a large enough place in which
to settle, and that he would stretch out his arms and stretch out his legs. Odan
tree heard the sacrifice, and he offered one he-goat and one shilling seven pence eight
onions for a place in which to settle, but he did not offer the cock and the cutlass that
he might be able to stay there for a long time. When Odan tree reached his settlement, he
stretched out his arms and he stretched out his legs; but when he had finished stretching
them out, people came and took a cutlass and began to cut off his arms and legs.
Therefore this person should sacrifice in order that what he has achieved in the morning
of his life shall not be destroyed by others in the evening of his life.
Don't you see, Ifa has promised to receive what we relinquish.
Listen, listen to what I'm saying now:
Though our heads are carrying heavy loads,
If we haven't arrived, we've got to keep going...
Ase O!
Note: These verses are only a fraction of the entirety of
Idi-Meji