Irete Roso

Also called Irete Lazo, Irete Iroso, Irete Osu

nº 216 of 256 · Edited by Ricco Ledesma

Where Osun, the staff of Orunmila, witnesses the Itá in front of the board: the Odù is called edí, the one who does not see what he has in front of him.

20 patakíes 5 eewó 13 ebbós and works 17 proverbs

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Irete Roso is Odù number 216 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Irete family. It is also written as Irete Lazo or Irete Iroso or Irete Osu. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 20 patakíes (3 in full in plain sight, with their teaching, ebbó and chants), its proverbs, 13 ebbós and works and the signs it shows in the consultation — with the full eewó in plain sight; the rest of the iré and osogbo and the full recipes open with The Notebook, in English.

The sign at a glance

Order in Ifá: Odù 216 of 256
Composition: Irete over Iroso
Orishas that speak: Osun · Orunmila · Shangó · Azojuano · Ogún · Elegbá · Eshu · Olofin · Agayú · Oshún

What Ifá says in this sign

Irete Roso, also known as Irete Lazo, is the sign where Osun became Orunmila's staff, the one that moves and warns when something bad is coming. Here are born the statues and images used to honor the just, here Orunmila discovered fire and Agayú became a deity. Its ruling is one of authority: you are called to hold command in the world, but a danger hangs over you and over whoever comes to consult. That is why here playing with weapons is forbidden: without meaning to, someone can wound or be wounded from behind.

The iré of this sign is vigilance. If you heed Osun, you discover traps before falling into them, and your enemies flee or end up surrendering. A child of yours brings you a stroke of luck, and Oshún follows after it. You grow when you dare to try new things: initiative and courage give you prosperity. And even if they slander you, the truth of a just man is not lost, because in time it comes to light.

«They call him edí: the one who does not see what he has in front of him. That is why Osun, the one who warns, is the staff of Irete Lazo.»The pulse of Irete Roso

The osogbo is a kind of blindness: what stands before you slips past you. There are traps in the places you are invited to, witchcraft and fire are used against your house, and three people want to deceive you and even take a piece of land from you. You defend what is not yours while what belongs to you is stolen. Eshu pursues you when you do not fulfill your duties, and then come thefts, betrayals and gossip: bring up to date what you have pending.

Your deepest wound lies in the family. Children and godchildren may repay you badly, and their gossip forces you to withdraw from everyone. Keep your family united and respect your parents, and watch Osun: when it falls, it announces misfortune. Be careful whom you take in under your roof: they may court your daughter or a relative and repay your favor badly. At work, share what you know and what you have; power that is shared grows, and power that is hoarded isolates.

In health, the most delicate points are the head and the legs: take care of your nerves and do not ignore any discomfort when walking. The greatest threat is sadness, because disappointment with those around you can snuff you out before your time. When your spirit fails, lean on Osun and Orunmila, who from on high give you back your joy, and keep calm even when you are offended.

The sign in one line

Look at yourself every day with Osun at your side, do not play with weapons and fulfill your duties, for the child of Irete Lazo will have authority in the world if he opens his eyes.

The prayer of Irete Roso · Yoruba

BOGBO TIRORO TOLA OTU IFA PORI OLOFIN KOMASHE.

Ifá says — what Irete Roso tells you

Both the person and the Awó could cause someone's death by accident; for that reason any game involving weapons, whether firearms or blades, is forbidden. He may also wound or kill from behind by accident.
A danger threatens the Awó and the person consulted alike.
It points to problems in the legs, which are solved with the work for Elegba beside a pipe, using a young rooster from the knees.
The person suffers from an illness of the brain or will suffer from it; an Indian rooster is offered, after washing the head with sage omiero.
They are working your house with witchcraft, including fire: your house is very hot.
The person dies of grief because of the disappointment caused by those around her, as happened to Awó Obá Tele.
He may die without being fulfilled; his body did not decay precisely for that reason, for not being fulfilled.
Eshu is pursuing you for not keeping your word.
The Odù commands the family to unite and to behave well toward the parents.
It deals with obstacles and with difficulty in seeing things; to grow, the person must make an effort, push himself and rise above himself in new matters.
The person who has this Odù must have authority in the world.
The person must be marked with an item of Osayin.
Be careful with the one to whom you offer your home.
That whoever carries this Odù as an Awó keeps a bote of ácana inside the big hand of Ifá.
About the work for osobo: the dove for Osun with the lit coal on top, taken out right away to the yard, with honey, fresh water and iyefá; with Osun the floor is lifted and cleaned, and the roasted dove is thrown away after three days into the manigua.
About having the osode done every day and placing Osun next to Orunmila.
About taking sage baths and using a new towel, against disorders.
That if you are a woman, you must live with an Awó.
Herbs of the Odù: sage (for headache, colds and hoarseness), moruro, hierba bruja and peonía.

Proverbs of Irete Roso · Òwe

“Osun spins, but he lands on his feet.”
“Have a mass said for the Egun of the four winds.”
“The body did not rot, because his accounts were not settled.”
“He has things in front of him and does not see them.”
“He is in the town and does not see the houses.”
“The prudent man sees the danger and avoids it, but the reckless one suffers for his blindness.”
“A stranger is asked for guarantees before he is given credit.”
“Whoever lives on his dreams is woken by reality.”
“Whoever lives on lies is killed by his own truth.”
“A greeting shouted at a friend is more insult than greeting.”
“Whoever does not know where he came from does not know his future.”
“Whoever looks the most sees the least.”
“Whoever thinks before he acts does not regret his own acts.”
“There is no surer sword in battle than knowledge.”
“Memory is to a man what gills are to a fish.”
“Quarrelsome company bothers you more than a steady drip on the forehead.”
“Tropicbird on land, storm at sea.”

14 proverb interpretations in this Odù, locked.Every proverb explained: which road it comes from and how it applies.Unlock →

Iré and Osogbo

Three iré and three osogbo of this sign, open to everyone.

Iré · what the sign brings

Osun announces to them each evil that draws near and removes the obstacles from their path.
They discover the traps prepared for them before falling into them, and their enemies flee or surrender.
A child of theirs brings them a stroke of luck, and Oshún pursues it.

Osogbo · what the sign warns

A danger hangs over the awó and over the one who comes to be consulted.
They may kill someone without meaning to, or be wounded or killed by a blow from behind.
There are traps in the places where they are invited.

36 more iré and osogbo readings in this Odù, locked.The rest of the iré and osogbo of the sign, sorted by subject — health, money, love, death, loss…Unlock →

What is born in Irete Roso · Ìbí

Placing Osun in front of the board so that it is present at the Itá of this Odù.
The dance of Osun.
The scoring of Osayin.
A mixture is prepared of palm oil, iyefá, coal of Osain and 7 flies. On each shoulder blade 3 upward incisions are made with a piece of glass, while the Meyi, Irete Lazo and the sign of the Awó himself are prayed, and the mixture is rubbed on the incisions.
That Osun is Orunmila's staff.
Osun warned about the fire and about the cave of the enemies under the house of Orunmila.
The totem, statues and religious images.
From the good King whose incorrupt body the people worshiped: from this comes the making of statues for martyrs.
That when Azojuano is fed, Shangó must be fed as well.
That this sign is undone with sage and a guinea fowl.
That Orunmila uncovered the fire.
That the dead were set on the branch of the carob tree (tele).
That Agayú became a Deity.

What is forbidden · Eewó

The full eewó of this Odù, open to everyone — with the road each ban came out of.

Do not play with firearms or with sharp weapons.
You may harm or take the life of someone by striking him from behind, unintentionally, as Shangó wounded Osun.
Do not eat anything red.
Do not cross the sea for at least 7 days.
Do not take just anyone into your house.
You may win over the daughter or a relative of the one who hosts you and repay favors badly, as Azojuano did in the house of Ogún.
Do not defend what is not yours.

Ebbós of Irete Roso · The sacrifices that open the road

Overcoming enemiesEbbó of the trap🔒 The Notebook SpiritualEbbó of Osun's staff🔒 The Notebook Keeping death awayEbbó of Olofin (foreseeing the trouble)🔒 The Notebook MoneyEbbó of Teteregun🔒 The Notebook

4 ebbós in this Odù, locked.Each full recipe: ingredients, preparation and where it goes.Unlock →

Works of Irete Roso · The workings of the sign

SpiritualSecret of Irete Lazo by osobo (the charcoal and the dove)🔒 The Notebook HealthFor the legs (Elegbá at the foot of the drainpipe)🔒 The Notebook HealthFor the head (indio rooster and salvia)🔒 The Notebook SpiritualScoring of Osayin🔒 The Notebook Overcoming enemiesInshés of Osayin of this Odù🔒 The Notebook LossWork of the snail (to get out of a problem)🔒 The Notebook SpiritualWork for Osun so that the home does not fall apart🔒 The Notebook MoneyWork of the crown and the powders🔒 The Notebook SpiritualEshu Lade Akongo Ruja (the Eshu of this Odù)🔒 The Notebook

9 works in this Odù, locked.Each full recipe: ingredients, preparation and where it goes.Unlock →

Patakíes of Irete Roso · The roads of the Odù

1The Guinea Fowl Reveals the Fire Trap

One morning Orunmila consulted his fortune and saw this Ifá. It spoke of a necessary journey and advised caution, since a trap awaited him farther on.

He had an invitation to a party. He obtained a guinea fowl (etú), made the ebbó with it and, all along the way, kept cleansing himself with the bird. When he arrived, he released it. The guinea fowl climbed onto a stick and kept saying “It is there.” Orunmila went forward and pushed the stick into that spot; the stick sank and the flame of the fire burst out from there. Orunmila then greeted Eshu with this phrase of respect, and the enemies all ran away.

What it teaches

Heeding Ifá's warning and making the ebbó before leaving makes it possible to recognize the danger on the road. Whoever advances with care can see the trap without falling into it, and his enemies are forced to flee.

Ebbó of this path

A guinea fowl (etú): Orunmila cleansed himself with it during the trip and released it on arriving at the party.

The phrase with which Orunmila greeted Eshu when the flame burst out

TO IBAN ESHU

2Osun warns Orunmila about the tunnel under his house

Orunmila’s wisdom aroused the envy of many people. So many wanted to see him disappear, or to take his life, that they turned to every kind of sorcery.

Orunmila’s house had a floor held up by trunks of wild reed. One day, while performing osode, this sign came out for him. When he looked at Osun he found him uneasy, burning hot and unable to stay upright. The explanation was in the ground: his enemies had dug a cave that ended right under his dwelling, and from that hiding place they sent the witchcraft works with which they planned to bring him down.

Orunmila prescribed an ebbó for himself, besides other works, and poured fresh water on Osun. The water fell on the floor and so the enemies below came into view. Feeling discovered, they surrendered: since he had found their cave, let him decide their fate. Orunmila answered that his only wish was to see their repentance and for them to reach his same knowledge, that is, to practice Ifá.

From that day Orunmila knew that Osun, a saint, has the task of giving notice when some evil approaches a person. For that reason, according to this sign, Orunmila’s staff is Osun.

What it teaches

Envy acts in secret, yet what is hidden comes to light. Osun serves to warn of the evil that approaches. With discovered enemies, the wise person does not seek revenge but that they repent and learn what he knows.

Formula that closes the encounter with the discovered enemies

To Iban Eshu

3The fire under Orunmila’s floor

Orunmila had many arayés and lived in a house built of wood. Since he was a diviner and knew everything, they could not defeat him, and so they decided to burn down his house.

In secret they dug a tunnel under the ground. It began at the street door and ended in the last room, Orunmila’s. Looking through a crack in the floor, they found out where he sat every day to perform osode. There, under the floor, they placed four very strong beams so that the floor would not give way, filled the space with trash and firewood, and set it on fire.

At Orunmila’s right was Osun, who became agitated with the temperature. Noticing this, Orunmila placed him in front of himself. Then the osode told him of a trap set with a great deal of fire (iná). Orunmila gathered a great number of buckets of water and kept pouring them out, until the smoke covered everything; through the cracks he could see the flames. With a thick pole he broke the ground and put himself in safety.

Afterward, the arayés had to leave the place and put themselves at Orunmila’s disposal and told him he could dispose of them as he wished. He answered that the only thing he wanted was for them to practice Ifá, so that they would have the same knowledge he had.

For Orunmila it became clear that Osun is a saint whose task is to give warning and to keep everything bad away from his path. That is why this odu provides that Orunmila’s staff be Osun.

What it teaches

Danger prepared in hiding gives signs, and whoever heeds them in time is saved. Osun has the task of warning and keeping evil away from the path. Defeated enemies are offered, instead of punishment, the knowledge they envied.

Ebbó of this path

A rooster, a hen, a trap, fresh water and a lot of money.

4The awó who did not decay and Agayú became a Deity🔒 The Notebook 5The betrayed king whose body stayed intact🔒 The Notebook 6Eshu steals the corn🔒 The Notebook 7The Awoses and the snail🔒 The Notebook 8Olofin strikes Osun🔒 The Notebook 9Shangó attacks Osun from behind and weapons are forbidden🔒 The Notebook 10Osun comes down from the tree of Iroko and cheers Orunmila🔒 The Notebook 11Irete Lazo divined Ifá for Olofin🔒 The Notebook 12Why Shangó eats with Azojuano🔒 The Notebook 13The leri of Oke🔒 The Notebook 14The leopard and the gazelle🔒 The Notebook 15The rib and the plate🔒 The Notebook 16The donkey and the dog🔒 The Notebook 17The hare and the heron🔒 The Notebook 18The devil's playing cards🔒 The Notebook 19The mad prince🔒 The Notebook 20The right of the agbón🔒 The Notebook

17 more patakíes in this Odù, locked.Read every road in full with The Notebook.Unlock →

The full treatise is in English. With The Notebook, the whole sign opens on this page in English: the full text of every patakí, the recipes for the ebbós and works, and the iré and osogbo readings. · This page is also available in Spanish: See Irete Roso in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Irete Roso

What does the Odù Irete Roso mean in Ifá?

Where Osun, the staff of Orunmila, witnesses the Itá in front of the board: the Odù is called edí, the one who does not see what he has in front of him.

What number is Irete Roso among the 256 Odù of Ifá?

Irete Roso is Odù number 216 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Irete family.

Which orishas speak in Irete Roso?

In the Odù Irete Roso these orishas speak: Osun, Orunmila, Shangó, Azojuano, Ogún, Elegbá · Eshu, Olofin, Agayú, Oshún.

What is a proverb of the Odù Irete Roso?

One of the proverbs of Irete Roso says: «Osun spins, but he lands on his feet.».

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