In their battle against witches the edo diviners and healers use staffs, such as this one, as devices of protection and power. What we are seeing here is the symbolization of the god of iron (Ogun), and the more feminine magic of Osun, an entity manifested in herbs and plants. The staff rises upwards like a mystical flower, with one leaf extending from the lower portion. At the summit is a cluster of rods or inverted bells similar to certain tubular plants. These shapes, apart from their floral associations, emphasize the connection between the obo diviner and others who use iron tools. Thus we see the essences of two opposite elements of nature, hard iron and soft plant, combined in a single unit of perfect harmony and balance for use against the negative forces of the cosmos.