Do it yourself: How to read Obi formations and its meanings

All divinities accept kolanut but that of Sango is exception as he prefers Orogbo (bitter kola). I have been messaged any some practitioners in the diaspora having some difficulties in reading the formation and meaning of the kola nuts when it is been propitiated to any Orisa or Ifa.

Communication with the spiritual energies is very essential as a true devotee. We need them (deities) to keep us updated in every ramification of our lives, what to watch out for what not to, to get your valid bothered  question(s) answered among whatever.

  

This we ascertain by some tools which Kola nut is one of. An item that is multi-purposed in it own right, serves as food to the deities and also a medium of communication to keep in touch.

However, the kola nut reading is not as hard as you think it is. It only requires you to understand the formation whenever it is thrown to the ground which takes probably a week or two for you to master depending on how fast you learn. 

I decided to come up with this simple guideline to follow which i believe could solve your problem. So good news! You don’t have to call on any babalawo or babalorisa to help you out, it high you “Do-it-Yourself”. 

In kola nut divination, most especially that of four lobes is used and then one or two obi may be used to carry out the task of feeding or propitiation.

The following entails the kola nut formations and its interpretations

                                  

  SINGLE KOLA NUT (FOUR LOBES)

1.     Two open, Two closed

Formation: Balance

Meaning: Yes

Brief explanation: 

When you have this kind of formation, the Obi is believed to be accepted by the propitiated/fed Orisa or perhaps if you used to ask a question, it is believed to be a "Yes". This also implies a balance formation because two kola nut are opened and two are closed. You therefore need not to ask any further question as regard what it says "Yes" to.

2.     Four open

Formation: Eji-ogbe/Alaafia, all is well

Meaning: Yes

Brief explanation: 

When you have this kind of formation, the Obi is also believed to be accepted by the propitiated/fed Orisa. If it is  used to ask a question, it is believed to be a "Yes". 

This means Eji-ogbe or Alaafia (Peace) because Eji-ogbe symbol is believed to be opened when it appears and this formation also have all four lobes opened. You therefore need not to ask any further question as regard what it says "Yes" to.

3.     Four closed

Formation: Oyeku/isegun (victory)/ifa (unexpected gift)

Meaning: No

Brief explanation: 

When you have this kind of formation, the Obi is also believed not to be accepted by the propitiated/fed Orisa or perhaps if you used to ask a question, it is believed to be a "No". This also implies victory over adversaries and also represents Oyeku (odu Ifa) because it symbol, when it appears is closed and this obi formation shows that by having all four lobes closed .

4.     Three open, one closed

Formation: Èlé (Additional blessings or Ìwà/character/)

Meaning: No

Brief explanation: 

When you have this kind of formation, the Obì is believed not to be accepted by the propitiated/fed Oriṣa or perhaps if you used to ask a question, it is believed to be a "No" and you must ask further until you get a "Yes". 

This on the positive side means èlé (additional blessings) in your endeavors and also requires you to check if to adjust with your character or to keep up with it. It could also be trying to deliver a message for you. This you must also confirm if it has said also No to the adjustment of your Iwa or the latter.  You therefore need to ask further questions until you get a Yes formation.

5.     Three closed, one open

Formation: Ọ̀kànràn (peace of mind or fear not)

Meaning: No

Brief explanation: 

When you have this kind of formation, the Obi is believed not to be accepted by the propitiated/fed Orisa or perhaps if you used to ask a question, it is believed to be a "No" and you must ask further until you get a "Yes". 

It formation means Okanran (peace of mind or fear not) and it expects you to ask further if you need not to fear or need to put your mind at rest as regard your request(prayer) or question. You therefore need to ask further questions until you get a Yes formation.

Let's move straight to the double

                                   

DOUBLE KOLA NUTS

1.     Eight/ All open

Formation: Eji-ogbe/Àláàfíà, all is well (best combination)

Meaning: Yes

Brief explanation:  

Remember what the all opened four lobes means? It is the same meaning with that of double (8 lobes) kola nut. When you have this kind of formation, the Obi is also believed to be accepted by the propitiated/fed Orisa. 

If you it is used to ask a question, it is believed to be a "Yes". This means Eji-ogbe or Alaafia (Peace) because Eji-ogbe symbol is believed to be opened when it appears and this formation also have all eight lobes opened. You therefore need not to ask any further question as regard what it says "Yes" to.

 

Eight/All closed

  

 Formation: Oyeku/isegun (victory)/ifa (unexpected gift)

 

Meaning: No

Brief explanation:  

Just as the four closed formation, eight closed formation depicts victory and unexpected gift. When you have this kind of formation, the Obi is also believed to not be accepted by the propitiated/fed Orisa or perhaps if you used to ask a question, it is believed to be a "No". 

This also implies victory over adversaries and also represents Oyeku (odu Ifa) because it symbol when it appears are closed and this obi formation shows that by having all eight lobes closed. 

3.     Seven open, one closed

Formation: Ogbe-yonu ( patience is requires from you not to miss blessings)

Meaning: Yes

Brief explanation: 

When you have this kind of formation, the Obi is believed to be accepted by the propitiated/fed Orisa or perhaps if you used to ask a question, it is believed to be a "Yes". 

This  formation means Ogbe Yonu which requires you to have patience not to miss forthcoming blessing. You therefore need not to ask any further question as regard what it says "Yes" to.

4.     Seven closed, one open

Formation: Okanran

Meaning: No (you must continue)

Brief explanation: 

When you have this kind of formation, the Obi is believed not to be accepted by the propitiated/fed Orisa or perhaps if you used to ask a question, it is believed to be a "No" and you must ask further until you get a "Yes". 

It formation means Okanran (peace of mind or fear not) and it expects you to ask further if you need not to fear or need to put your mind at rest as regard your request(prayer) or question. You therefore need to ask further questions until you get a Yes formation.

5.     Four open, four closed

Formation: Balance

Meaning: Yes

Brief explanation: 

When you have this kind of formation, the Obi is believed to be accepted by the propitiated/fed Orisa or perhaps if you used to ask a question, it is believed to be a "Yes". This also implies a balance formation because four kola nut are opened and four are closed. you therefore need not to ask any further question as regard what it says "Yes" to.

6.     Six closed, two open

Formation: Okanran (the same as No 4)

Meaning: No

Brief explanation: When you have this kind of formation, the Obi is believed not to be accepted by the propitiated/fed Orisa or perhaps if you used to ask a question, it is believed to be a "No" and you must ask further and you get a "Yes". Check No 4 for more.

7.     Five open, three closed

Formation: Ele

Meaning: No

Brief explanation: 

When you have this kind of formation, the Obi is believed not to be accepted by the propitiated/fed Orisa or perhaps if you used to ask a question, it is believed to be a "No" and you must ask further until you get a "Yes". 

This on the positive side means Ele (additional blessings) in your endeavors. It could also be trying to deliver a message for you. This you must ask and confirm.  You therefore need to ask further questions until you get a Yes formation.

8.     Five closed, three open

Formation: Eta

Meaning: No

Brief explanation: 

When you have this kind of formation, the Obi is believed not to be accepted by the propitiated/fed Orisa or perhaps if you used to ask a question, it is believed to be a "No" and you must ask further until you get a "Yes". 

This requires you to check if to adjust with your character or to keep up with it. It could also be trying to deliver a message for you. This you must also confirm if it has said also No to the adjustment of your Iwa.  You therefore need to ask further questions until you get a Yes formation.

9.     Six open, two closed

Formation: Ogunda Meji

Meaning: No

Brief explanation: 

When you have this kind of formation, the Obi is believed not to be accepted by the propitiated/fed Orisa or perhaps if you used to ask a question, it is believed to be a "No" and you must ask further until you get a "Yes". 

This means Ogunda Meji because it has six lobes up and two down which is exactly the symbol of Ogunda Meji. You therefore need to ask further questions until you get a Yes formation.

So, the aforementioned guidelines happen to be the basics, there are questions to be asked if the kola nut(s) says “NO” and until it says “YES” you can rest assure that the propitiation  is accepted.