In Afa, Ete Ora encodes the sense of hearing as the gateway into the fifth element—ether, the unseen medium that allows all things to manifest. Hearing is unlike the other senses: it requires stillness, surrender, and receptivity. Just as ether is invisible yet foundational, hearing is subtle yet essential, the bridge (Ete) through which vibration becomes revelation (Ora). It is the sense upon which instinct, intuition, prophecy, and consciousness depend. To hear is to pause, to receive, and to actualize the hidden energies of the cosmos. This teaching expounds on this concept.

In Afa, Aka Ete encodes the sense of taste as one of the five main senses. Centered around the element of water, taste is the hand of discernment that guides what enters the body and spirit. It preserves memory, binds culture, and sustains communion with the divine. Every taste is both immediate and eternal, a vibrational knowing that life is sustained through the waters of existence. This teaching expands on this concept.

In Afa, Obala Ijite represents the sense of smell, a divinatory faculty linked with Agwu (spirit of divination) and Ikuku (air element). Smell beyond being a physical sense is also viewed in Afa as a subtle path of revelation, exposing what is hidden e.g freshness or decay, danger or delight, long before sight or touch confirms it. Centered around in breath, smell bridges the inner and outer worlds, ties memory to presence, and functions as a spiritual herald of truth. This teachings expounds on that insight.

In Afa, Odii Ijite represents the sense of touch, the sacred faculty of contact through which the human being confirms existence. Odii (midnight, darkness) signifies the hidden realm where seeing fails and touch becomes the first guide. Ijite (the wave of “consciousness”) is the affirmation that every touch grounds us in being, revealing continuity between self and other. Rooted in Ani (Earth, Land), touch is the most primal of the senses: it anchors us in the physical world, connects us to the unseen, and serves as the path through which the soul navigates life. This teaching explores that perspective in more detail.

Obala N’abo is the sacred aperture through which reality reveals itself. In Afa consciousness, to see is to come in touch with cosmic light (fire). Through Obala N’abo, the hidden emerges into form, and the veiled speaks through symbol. As the sense of sight it serves as the eye of light — the portal through which reality becomes visible and knowable. It allows us not only to see, but to understand, to witness the movement of truth from mystery into form. This teaching explores Obala Naabo as the sense of sight with the power of illumination — a fire that reveals, discerns, and directs.

In Afa mystical thought, the Dibia exists as a vessel of cosmic arbitration. Obala Otule — the “unveiling of disputed matters” — is not just an appellation; it is a spiritual technology. Obala, the act of making hidden things visible, reflects the light-consciousness of Anwu—illumination that pierces veils. Otule, the speech of resolution, is the Dibia’s sacred utterance, not born of ego, but of divine appointment. Together, they form the ritual of revelation and response: to see clearly and to speak justly. In this, the Dibia becomes both mirror and mouthpiece of truth — a child of light (Umu Anwu) navigating the troubled cases of human souls with the language of stars.

In Afa mystical thought, Ose Otule represents the source (eye) of joy, the cosmic renewal linked to Sirius, the brightest star in the sky. It teaches that true happiness does not arise from escaping trouble, but from resolving it through vision, speech, and alignment with divine consciousness.

In Afa mystical thought, Ekwensu as Ora Obala is a divine guardian of cosmic order, symbolized by the eagle (as Ugo tugbulu agwu) that destroys the serpent and releases the Sun. Far from being a devil figure, Ekwensu is the universal Chi that resists evil, the sacred energy that confronts darkness, unveils hidden truths, and restores spiritual clarity. This teaching explores Ekwensu’s role as the radiant force of resistance and renewal in the Igbo spiritual consciousness.

In Igbo cosmology, Afa Akpukpala beyond being a tool for divination, is a living map of the cosmos. Built on the binary principles of Obi (inner planets) and Akwu (outer planets), Afa mirrors the structure of our solar system, encoding planetary movements and spiritual forces within its sacred seeds. Each divination session becomes a reenactment of cosmic interactions, making Afa not just spiritual, but fundamentally astronomical.

Reading Afa strings is a sacred skill and unlike Western language systems, Afa is read from right to left, reflecting a movement from the visible world to the ancestral realm. This teaching guides learners in retraining their perception, honoring the divine codes within each cast, and deepening their spiritual sensitivity to interpret the language of Afa with clarity and reverence.

In Afa, Otule-Ete represents the sacred dance of creation, where Ogwugwu and Omumu energies embody the cosmic interplay of divine forces. Symbolic to Enigwe na-agba Ana Uta cosmic principle, this union of the Divine Feminine and Masculine reveals the spiritual blueprint of all existence. Through the lens of Afa in Odinani, they are not separate beings but inseparable principles—mirrors of balance, awakening, and creation.

In Igbo mysticism, Akwu Ose represents a woman’s deepest spiritual essence, where stillness meets divine potency. It is from this sacred center that women naturally manifest creativity, insight, and transformative power. This teaching explores how modern narratives have limited this vast potential to fertility, and how reclaiming Akwu Ose allows women to reconnect with their true strength, purpose, and the feminine force that fuels the divine mind itself.

In Afa Akpukpala mystic matrix-system, not all spiritual vision is the same. Ose Aka is the divine eye that sees spirit in its pure, original form, beyond our dimension. Ose Ora, on the other hand, is the eye of Universal Consciousness, used to perceive divine guidance and spiritual truth within our world. This teaching explores the difference between these two sacred eyes, and how each reveals a unique aspect of the unseen.

In Afa Akpukpala mystic matrix-system of divination, everything begins with a sacred balance: Akwu (stillness) and Obi (motion). These twin forces shape not only the universe but our daily lives. This teaching explores how recognizing this binary rhythm of action and rest, speaking and silence etc can bring us deeper clarity, harmony, and spiritual insight.

In Afa and Igbo mysticism, not all seeing is true vision. 'Ose Ululu', which refers to the ordinary eye, helps us navigate the physical world, but it cannot perceive the spiritual forces shaping our lives. This teaching from the wisdom of Afa explores the limits of physical sight and the importance of developing inner vision to understand the unseen truths that guide destiny and purpose.

The Akasa (Akashic) Records are a vast, non-physical archive of every soul’s journey—past, present, and even future possibilities. Rooted in ancient spiritual philosophy and accessed or understood in Odinani through Aja Ani, the Records are believed to exist within the subtle energy field of Aka Ose—Akasa (Akasha), the essence of all creation. This teaching explores the origins, meaning, and modern interpretations of the Akasa Records, along with practical ways people access them today through meditation and intuitive practice.

Uga Azi, known in Afa as Aka Aghali, the age of wild animal-like behaviour, is a time when human beings fall into patterns of instinct, ignorance, and spiritual disconnection. Marked by anger, selfishness, and ritual without depth, it reflects a state of being where people act more like wild animals than awakened souls. This teaching explores the meaning of Uga Azi and how recognizing its signs can guide us back to true spiritual consciousness.

Afa language which is used primarily for divination and spiritual consultation in Igbo spirituality, consists of specific terminologies that typically differ from everyday (regular) Igbo words. Knowing these Afa terms and their regular Igbo and English equivalents can provide deeper insight into your cultural and spiritual practices as an Odinani practitioner. This post contains Afa terms with “Ululu”, their regular Igbo equivalents, and their English meanings.

Afa language which is used primarily for divination and spiritual consultation in Igbo spirituality, consists of specific terminologies that typically differ from everyday (regular) Igbo words. Knowing these Afa terms and their regular Igbo and English equivalents can provide deeper insight into your cultural and spiritual practices as an Odinani practitioner. This post contains Afa terms with “Otule”, their regular Igbo equivalents, and their English meanings.

Afa language which is used primarily for divination and spiritual consultation in Igbo spirituality, consists of specific terminologies that typically differ from everyday (regular) Igbo words. Knowing these Afa terms and their regular Igbo and English equivalents can provide deeper insight into your cultural and spiritual practices as an Odinani practitioner. This post contains Afa terms with “Ogheli”, their regular Igbo equivalents, and their English meanings.