The Du of Fa

Using sixteen sets of dots to indicate an on-off switch, the sixteen Du figures are described and given a variety of meanings. These are deeply rooted in the geomantic system brought to Dahomey (now Benin) centuries ago. There are relationships to the Ifa divination system of Yoruba and Nigeria, but this is different. The stories are different, the Vodu are different, and the meanings of the Du figures are different. The divination meanings of the sixteen Du figures are woven from the researches of Herskovits and Skinner, blending cultural observation and scholarly researches into a new understanding of the system. The method of using this system is simple, and can be learned easily. The interpretations are a blend of the scholarly research and the voices of the Vodu themselves. Each spirit speaks for itself: the result is a new way to hear the suggestions of a voice outside the ego, that has only truth to tell about human concerns.