Ẹgbẹ́

In Yorùbá cosmology, each person belongs to a community of spirit companions in ọ̀run (the spiritual realm) before choosing to be born. These ẹgbẹ́ relationships are understood as profound soul-level connections that persist even after incarnation. The bonds formed with one's ẹgbẹ́ are considered as significant as earthly family ties, sometimes more so.

Ẹgbẹ́ spirits are believed to influence an individual's destiny, relationships, and sense of belonging in the physical world. When a person feels unexplained longing, restlessness, or difficulty forming earthly attachments, diviners may identify unresolved ẹgbẹ́ connections requiring attention. Proper acknowledgment and ritual appeasement of one's ẹgbẹ́ can restore balance and facilitate personal fulfillment.

Ifá divination often reveals the nature of a person's ẹgbẹ́ relationships and prescribes appropriate offerings or ceremonies to honor these spirit companions. Such rituals help negotiate the boundary between heavenly obligations and earthly life, ensuring that neither realm's bonds unduly constrain the individual's path.