The Verse of Standing Firm in the Wind
Philosophical Summary
'When the wind of Ọ̀sá blows, the leaves scatter, the dust rises, and the fool runs. Divined for the tree of Ogbè, who was told that if it did not uproot itself in panic, the storm would pass over.' This verse emphasizes that panic is a secondary disaster that often causes more damage than the initial crisis.
Interpretation
Ogbè Ọ̀sá is often called 'Ogbè the Runaway' (Ogbè-Saré). This verse acts as the corrective or 'Medicine' for that tendency. It teaches that the 'Wind' of chaos is seeking a moving target. If the devotee remains as immovable as a deep-rooted tree, the wind can only take the 'dead leaves' (superficial worries) but cannot touch the 'trunk' of their destiny. It warns that 'running' (Saré) without a destination is merely a faster way to fall into a pit.
Sacred Verses
Yorùbá
Ogbè-Ọ̀sá, afẹ́fẹ́ tó ń fùú, tí kò rẹ́ni gbé lọ. A dífá fún igi Ogbè tó dúró gbọin-gbọin.
English
When the wind of Ọ̀sá blows, the leaves scatter, the dust rises, and the fool runs. Divined for the tree of Ogbè. They were told: "The wind has no hands to pull out a tree that decides to stay."