Odu Ogbe Iwori (Ogbe Wo-Ehin):
“LOOK BACK: TO FOREGIVE, AND DON’T FORGET”
People usually say “Forgive and forget”. My mother always said “to forgive, don’t forget.” When you forget you will repeat and end in the same situation again. On another note, people often borrow money, car, and clothes, etc. only to get what they want for the moment. My mother always said “don’t burn your bridges down after you cross it; you may have to run back across it for safety.”
Odu Ogbe Iwori (Ogbe Wo-Ehin):
Ogbe wo ẹhin wo, baja rẹ o pakun, a difa fun Ekuya eyi ti n ṣawo re ile baba rẹ, ti n lọ re jogbo, ti n lọ re jaatọ.
[Ogbe look back and see if your dog has killed a squirrel cast Ifa for Ekuya who practiced Ifa in his father’s house, who grew old but was still strong]
Ekuya [a type of wild plant] went to the other side of the world to try his hand at business there. He tried and tried and tried. He made a good name for himself there, and people favored him, but he didn’t find any gain in any of it. Ifa said he should go back home. When he went home, things began to change for the better; his hometown was favorable for him, and he had peace of mind. 
They prospered, some died, and they multiplied. He was very happy. Every time his ancestral festival came around, he would dance and rejoice and remember the Ifa Priest who cast Ifa for him when he was on the other side of the world and told him to return home. He did not call the priests liars; he did not call Eṣu a liar. He did everything he was told to do. They said when he returned to his father’s house, he would receive his blessing. He would grow and prosper. He praised the Ifa Priest, and the Ifa Priest in turn praised Ifa. He said, my Ifa Priest told me it would be so, my Ifa Priest said:
Ogbe wo ẹhin wo baja rẹ o pakun, a difa fun Ekuya eyi ti n ṣawo re ahoro ile baba rẹ, ti n lọ re jogbo, ti n lọ re jatọ. Ẹbọ ni wọn ni [k]o ṣe, o si gbe ẹbọ nbẹ, o rubọ. Riru ẹbọ ni fi ti n gbe ni. Aitete ru teṣu a da ladanu. Ko pẹ, ko jinna, Ifa wa ba mi laarin iṣẹgun, aarin iṣẹgun laa ba ni lẹsẹ ọbariṣa. Ẹyin o wofawo ki bi ti n ṣẹ.
[Ogbe look back and see if your dog has killed a squirrel, cast Ifa for Ekuya who practiced Ifa in his father’s house, who grew old but was still strong. He did everything Ifa prescribed. His sacrifice was accepted. Failure to sacrifice to Eṣu renders any effort a waste. Not long after that, Ifa met me in the midst of victory; we receive victory at the feet of God. Come and see what the Ifa priest has done!]
That is how Ekuya (is a plant) became successful. If anyone goes all over the place, if (s)he sees a house that has collapsed and become dilapidated and sees the Ekuya plant there, the plant will be prosperous. It will gleam, be sparkling white, and will be shining. This is all because of the sacrifice it made on that first day when it did not refuse to return to its father’s (mother’s) house, the place that was favorable for it. Ifa says if this person should travel abroad, (s)he should look back and stay in touch with what (s)he has left behind. There are no blessings for him/her in front; they are all behind him/her in his/her father’s (or mother’s) house. That is where (s)he will receive his/her blessings. Ifa says so in Ogbe – Wo Ẹhin Wo.
From the Harvard library of Odus and google picture collection
