ODU IFA and IFA
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IFA is an ancient metaphysics that has been passed down from generations to generations over the millennium. IFA divination is a way of communicating or interacting with the unseen, spiritual world usually called our ancestors or forefathers. It is believed that with IFA, we can see the unseen, go into the future, tell the past and ascertain the present situation of things. It is believed that with IFA, problems can be diagnosed by consulting IFA.
IFA temple is much like a hospital, there is a traditional doctor or Babalawo (IFA priest) who is like a medical doctor. The IFA priest diagnoses using his traditional stethoscope or thermometer called Odu. The IFA priest does the consultation and the IFA tell him what the problem is. The IFA priest doesn't come straight, he uses his medical terms called the IFA poetry to explain the issue. Then when you ask for an explanation, he will tell you.
Ifa will tell you the problem, the available solution and what to be done so you do not encounter such problem again.
There are certain odu that IFA uses, each of these Odus has it's own meaning.