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Irete Meyi

Also called Irete Meji

nº 14 of 256 · Meyi · Edited by

Eyelemere, the one who laughs at death: he goes down to the world of the Egun and returns to the world of the living; he is love in person.

40 patakíes 10 eewó 15 ebbós and works 18 proverbs

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Irete Meyi is Odù number 14 of the 256 in Ifá, one of the 16 Meyi and the head of the Irete family. It is also written as Irete Meji. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 40 patakíes (3 in full in plain sight, with their teaching, ebbó and chants), its proverbs, 15 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 14 of 256 · Meyi
Composition
Irete over Irete

What Ifá says in this sign

Irete Meyi, also known as Irete Meji, belongs to the earth: it receives what life discards and rules over everything that dies. Here the agreement between Ikú and Orunmila was sealed, and here human sacrifice ended forever, when a father learned that the boy meant for the knife was his own son. This sign goes down to the world of the dead and returns among the living. Its ruling is one of long life: death hovers around you, but it cannot overcome you if you tend to Orunmila and make your ebbó in time.

It is a rich Ifá, though full of setbacks and traps. Luck is hanging, in sight but out of your reach, and only ebbó and cleverness bring it down into your hands, as Orunmila did with the tree of riches, by tending to each of its guardians. You are an artist from birth, and in time you will have a house, a car and money. Oshún has already pulled you out of many troubles, Yemayá gives you a firm footing and journeys go well for you.

«Only smallpox can offend Ikú without danger, and so can the son of Irete, who made a pact with it.»The pulse of Irete Meyi

But beware of holes, those in the ground and those in life: do not jump over them, and cover the ones in your home. You will be put to three tests and a boss will want to measure your wisdom, so study your trade thoroughly, because you think you know more than you do. There is envy and witchcraft on your path, and someone who serves you is planning to betray you. Saying too much can cost you dearly, and drink makes you drowsy and lose your chance.

In love, this is the sign of love in person, but also of vanity. You think you are above others and will not sacrifice for anyone else, and when your pride is hurt your words cut deep and you can become dangerous, capable of killing without remorse; you can come to hate the one you love most if they do not do your will. A woman is going to bring you luck, but do not neglect your wife or your daughter, who may go far away from you. Never mistreat a woman or scorn your guardian angel, for you can lose your mind.

In health, watch your skin, with pimples, boils, chickenpox and fevers, and the serious illnesses the sign names: leprosy, syphilis (which in adodi can cause ulcers around the rectum), plague and leukemia. Also take care of your lungs, ears and digestion; you lose weight easily and grow weak from the waist down. Take great care of your legs, since you can fall and hurt yourself. When it comes out for a woman, action must be taken quickly, because death weighs heavily in this sign. Be humble, sacrifice for others too and you will live many years.

The sign in one line

Laugh with life and respect the pact: cover the holes, keep humility at the top and pay with loyalty, for to the one who cheated death, love and wealth come on their own.

The prayer of Irete Meyi · Yoruba

Eyelemere akolomore apoyore amoni orun oni barabaniregun Orunmila mo ika oni awo akolomore Orunmila lorugbo.

Súyere
Ariku mariwa, ariku mariwa oñiki bakuodideo, ariku mariwa, oshe meniei, oshe meniei.

Proverbs of Irete Meyi · Òwe

15 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

  • It has a long life: death cannot overcome the person, who recovers from what seemed to be the end.

  • The person is born with art and with a talent for creating.

  • There is love and joy in their life, and they receive affection from those around them.

Osogbo · what the sign warns

  • Death weighs heavily in this sign: if it comes out for a woman, she is in danger of dying soon.

  • This sign does not let the son of Ogún make progress.

  • Serious fevers, pimples, boils, chickenpox and other skin diseases threaten them, and also leprosy, syphilis, plague and leukemia.

46 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 Meyi · Ìbí

What is forbidden · Eewó

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

Ebbós of Irete Meyi · The sacrifices that open the road

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

Works of Irete Meyi · The workings of the sign

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

Patakíes of Irete Meyi · The roads of the Odù

1The birth of Irete Meyi (Olomo, the enslaved son)

Eyi Elemere needed a whole deer for a sacrifice that would bring him a son. He came to the town of Ujo, where he divined for Kporoye, who had no children, and prepared her ebbó. Then he went into the forest and, with the help of his mirror, conjured an enormous deer. As he fought with it, both rolled into a deep pit.

Children, men and women passed by, and all of them laughed at him: in their view, a doctor who heals others should be able to heal himself. Nobody helped him. Only Kporoye, who was approaching the pit to leave her offering, held out her turban to him. Eyi Elemere conjured it so that it grew longer, and she was able to haul up him and the deer.

As she pulled, Kporoye fell backward and was left naked. In that meeting, on a bed of ikín leaves, Eyi Elemere told her that she would have a son. He also told her what his house was like, in Oke Mesi, and the two took different roads.

Kporoye gave birth to Olomo, who grew up singing the songs of a father he did not know. When she finally took him to look for his father, three bandits seized them and sold each of them separately as slaves. The wife of Eyi Elemere wanted a slave for the human sacrifice at her husband’s yearly Ifá festival, and without knowing it she bought Olomo.

The boy was splitting palm seeds and, as he did, he sang his whole story: the pit, the turban, the deer and the house beside a tree of corals. Eyi Elemere heard him from a hiding place and put him to tests. The fire did not burn him and the boiling water turned cool. Then he embraced him as his true son. When the day of the festival came, Eshu took the edge off the knife of the man who was to kill him, and he could not wound the young man’s throat. The priests identified him as the son. Eyi Elemere declared there that, from that day on, Orunmila would never accept a human life as a sacrifice. Later he went to rescue Kporoye: he put on a mask of palm leaves and carried her off dancing from her father’s palace. With her and with his children he lived in prosperity forever.

What it teaches

Help can come from the one nobody expects, while those who mock walk past. Telling the truth in one’s own song saved a life and ended a cruel custom.

Prohibition

One must not make love directly on the ground; in the story it was done on ikín leaves.

Song of Eyi Elemere from the pit, to the children

OMONDE UDO MOYA GBAMILA ATANO, ABO AARITIJE, AARITIMU ELA MINI OLOFIN YI ELA MINU OLOFIN YI ORUNMILA ELA MINU OLOFIN YII OOO.

Song of Eyi Elemere from the pit, to the men

AGBA UDO MOYA GBAMILA AGBA UDO MOYA GBAMILA

Song of Eyi Elemere from the pit, to the women

OBINRIN UDO MOYA GBAMILA OBINRIN UDO MOYA GBAMILA

Song of Eyi Elemere to Kporoye

KPOROYE OMON ABALU ODU OMUN EKPO JERE OTIKPA IMON GBAMILA ...

Song of the Ifá priests to move Ifá from one position to another

BAMI GBE BARA GBEGBE LEYIN MOLE GBEGBE (Esta es la canción usada por los sacerdotes de Ifá para mover a Ifá de una posición a otra).

Song of Olomo while splitting the palm seeds

Mi nombre es OLOMO, El de mi madre es KPOROYE, De OSA, hija de AJERO, En la tierra de IJERO, Casada con EWI de ADO. Mi madre KPOROYE me dijo La historia de cómo, al buscar un hijo, En busca de adivinación vino a UDO Donde, con un sacerdote de Ifá se encontró, Quien hizo sacrificio y para ella adivinó. Cuando fue a depositar El sacrificio cerca del hoyo Ella en la distancia oyó Un grito de auxilio Que venía del hoyo. He aquí, era el sacerdote de Ifá Que hizo el sacrificio por ella El que estaba dentro del hoyo. Mientras lo ayudaba a salir Al suelo ella cayó Y su gloria femenina expuesta quedó. El sacerdote de Ifá Que no pudo resistir El impulso de la naturaleza Cayó sobre ella Y le hizo el amor. Mi madre, KPOROYE, Al sacerdote de Ifá no ha visto desde entonces. Pero, conforme a su vaticinio, De aquel hecho fortuito Un hijo varón nació. Yo le nací a KPOROYE En su mayoría de edad En un momento en que nadie Imaginó que un hijo tuviera. Aunque el esposo de mi madre, El Rey de ALE UGOTUN, Como su hijo me aceptó Por mis venas corre La sangre de quien en verdad me engendró. Y el hecho de que yo vaya Cantando canciones y recogiendo hojas, Cual costumbre de mi padre, Hizo que mis compañeros de juegos Me pusieran apodos graciosos. Un día a mi madre afronté Para que me dijera la verdadera historia de mi nacimiento. Ella me dijo que mi padre Viene de la tierra OKE MESI Y que a la entrada de su casa Hay un árbol que produce dinero de Las ramas y el follaje; De la cima se producen coronas, Del tallo salen canutillos Y de las raices corales. A la entrada de la casa Está el cuerpo seco de un ser humano. Después de oir la historia Insistí en venir a ver a mi padre. En el camino de OKE MESI fuimos capturados por tres bandidos Y como esclavos vendidos. Yo pensé que nunca Vería a mi padre. Aún si muero siendo esclavo, Ya puedo estar seguro Que a la casa y a la tierra de mi padre al fin he llegado. La descripción que me dió mi madre Me asegura que la casa A la cual fui vendido como esclavo Y donde ahora esta semilla de palmera rompo Es en verdad la casa de mi padre EJI ELEMERE de OKE MESI. Si muero en un término de seis días Ya en vano no sería Porque he llegado a morir en el seno de mi padre.

Song of Olomo in the pot of boiling water

OMI ARE DOMI TUTU (El agua caliente se ha vuelto helada)

Song of the Ifá priests when Egi came to carry off the skulls

EGI MOGBORI EKU ORI EKU LOMAGBA MAMA GBORIE NIO EGI MOGBO RIEJA ORIE JA LOMANGBA MAMA GBORIENIO EGI MOGBORIERION ORI ORON LOOMANGBA MAMA GBORIENLO

2The tree of wealth

When he finished his work of creation, Olodumare planted the tree of prosperity, an ikín plant that held all riches, and placed the boa, the father ram and the rooster in its care. Two hundred divinities tried to obtain the tree’s wealth and all of them failed, since none took an interest in finding out how its fruits were gathered.

Before trying, Orunmila went to three priests of Ifá, who told him: “Whoever empties the river of water ruins the home of the fish; only the patient man succeeds.” To begin with, they ordered him to tear down his house in Heaven, because without that he could not bring prosperity to the earth. He had to build a house of special leaves on top of Eshu’s shrine, and the priests would tear it down using a billy goat. For that reason, when this sign appears in a consultation, the person is asked whether he is building a home and, if so, he is advised to stop the work for a while.

Once that first sacrifice was finished, Orunmila went to another priest of Ifá, who told him to prepare a sacrifice with a lot of corn, plenty of pieces of yam and numerous jutías. Eshu was to receive a billy goat and a ladder. Part of the material had to go in a bag to the base of the tree.

On arriving, the boa was the first to launch itself at him. Orunmila acted as he had been told: he threw it a jutía in a hurry and the boa devoured it in an instant. Then the rooster flapped its wings, ready to crow, and Orunmila threw it a good amount of corn; the bird began to peck. With that, the threats of the boa and of the rooster calmed down.

The father ram stood firm, ready to charge. Orunmila tossed it the pieces of yam and the ram began to eat them. With the bag hanging at his side, Orunmila climbed the ladder that Eshu had set in place and gathered all the fruits at the top.

When the rooster had eaten all the corn it wanted, it searched for Orunmila with its eyes and found him up in the crown of the tree. It flapped its wings and crowed “Orunmila gegoo,” which ever since is the rooster’s crow and means that Orunmila was the first to climb the tree of wealth. Orunmila answered with a song.

That is the secret with which Orunmila can make his children rich and prosperous.

What it teaches

Wealth comes to the one who is patient and prepares with ebbó, not to the one who seeks it by force. Giving each obstacle what belongs to it opens the road that haste closes.

First sacrifice

A house of special leaves built over Eshu’s shrine, which the priests of Ifá tear down with a billy goat.

Second sacrifice

A lot of corn, plenty of pieces of yam and many jutías. For Eshu, a billy goat and a ladder. Part of the above goes in a bag to the base of the tree.

When this sign comes up

If this comes up in a consultation, the person is asked whether he or she is building a house; if the answer is yes, the person is advised to stop the work for a while.

At the initiation in Igbodu

If the sign appears during an initiation in Igbodu, the initiate has to plant three trees. How they are planted and with what is in the full treatise.

The verses of the three Ifá diviners Orunmila consulted before trying to climb the tree

AKPONMI, OWO ULE EJA OKPAJIBA, OWO ULE OKPARO ALUGBOGB, KUUKU NI SHEGUN OGUGU LUTU. (La persona que saca agua del río, destruye el hogar de los peces. Solamente un hombre paciente puede tener éxito en matar a un pequeño animal llamado OKHUOKHUA, que construye doscientas casas pero vive solo en una de ellas. Es un poderoso misil el que destruye el mal.)

The diviner of the second sacrifice, whom Orunmila consulted before going to the tree

OGBOLUGBO ODO, ODON OUN IODON ORUN RUN, conocido de otro modo como OGOGO LILA, ABERUN, YAMUNYA AWON LOON DIFA FUN ORUNMILA NIGBATI, OYAGUN EGE IGI AGUNLA

What the rooster crowed on seeing Orunmila at the top of the tree

ORUNMILA GEGOO OR (que es el cacareo del gallo hasta el día de hoy y significa que «Orunmila fue el primero en trepar en el árbol de la riqueza»)

What Orunmila sang in reply

OKEGE, IGI AGULA, IFA GEGE, IGI COLA, LOGUN, OKEGE IGI AGULA

3The Olofen’s ingratitude

Eyi Elemere had grown rich and famous, and later he was named one of the four diviners of the king of Oyó. He was the only one who resided on earth, since the others dwelt in heaven: Okpotere, Ataarata and Agbara. Every five days they went to the Olofen’s palace to perform divinations.

The Olofen was so irritated by the talent and wealth of Eyi Elemere that he resolved to finish him. He ordered a hole opened in the floor of the palace leading to a bottomless abyss, and covered its mouth with a mat. Then he invited Eyi Elemere to the palace. As soon as he arrived, they signaled him to sit on the mat. The moment he did, he sank through the hole and appeared in heaven.

He was wandering without destination when he ran into one of his heavenly colleagues, with whom he used to divine in the Olofen’s house. The colleague wanted to know what he was doing there, and Eyi Elemere answered that he had come to visit. Soon the three diviners of heaven gathered, butchered a goat and celebrated with him. When the meal was over, they got him ready to return to earth, but they insisted that he stay overnight, and he accepted. At dawn they gave him another goat and showed him the shortest way to earth. In an instant he was back in his house, where he held a feast with the goat from heaven for his friends and followers.

Three days later it was time to go to the palace, but this time Eyi Elemere did not want to go. The three diviners of heaven arrived and did not find him. They asked the Olofen why Orunmila was missing, and he answered that Eyi Elemere had run away from the earth. They demanded that a messenger be sent to his house. Two messengers were needed before he answered. At last he arrived and took his usual place. Before the day’s work began, he told how the Olofen had treated him four days earlier.

The Olofen had no defense and was immediately fined four goats and four barrels of wine. The King paid it, and then the day’s divination was carried out. As the diviners rose to go back to their destinations, they sang a song whose meaning was this: their divination for the Olofen had been paid with ingratitude; whoever receives a favor must return another, because a bad deed breaks the relationship between people.

What it teaches

Annoyance at another’s success can lead to an abuse of power, but the abuse ends up discovered and paid for. Whoever receives a favor must repay it, because a bad deed breaks trust between people.

Song of the heavenly diviners as they rose to leave, after the Olofen was fined

OKPOTEERE AWO ODE OMANIKIN OTAARATA, AWO IMINA ALE AGBARAMIJA GIDI AWO ODE ILAKPORO EJI ELEMERE, AWO ODE OYO AWA MERENRIN LOON SHAWO, AWA MERENRIN LODA FAATUN OLOFEN OSHENDE JOMIIN, JOMIIN OSHENDE JOMIIN, JOMIIN. (Vinimos a adivinar para el Olofen, pero él nos recompensó con ingratitud, recuerda que un buen gesto de bondad merece otro, mientras que un mal gesto destruye las relaciones mutuas.)

4The goat's mouth killed him (and the loyalty of the dog)🔒 The Notebook5The mother of six children🔒 The Notebook6Agbani tricked Orunmila🔒 The Notebook7Orunmila in the well and the three women🔒 The Notebook8Oyá captured by Ogún🔒 The Notebook9The money on the long stick🔒 The Notebook10Ayé, the ugly luck🔒 The Notebook11Orunmila did not let go of the deer and fell into the hole🔒 The Notebook12The hunter and the bath with the two guinea hens🔒 The Notebook13The three enemies and the rain that decided the fight🔒 The Notebook14The luck hanging from the sky and its three guardians🔒 The Notebook15The gift that put Elegba to sleep and gave Orunmila the riches🔒 The Notebook16The cleverness of Orunmila (the sack in the tree)🔒 The Notebook17The wicked son of Oshún🔒 The Notebook18Olokun keeps the china pelona after his ebbó🔒 The Notebook19Olokun comes out of the sea (the bull's head and the nose ring are born)🔒 The Notebook20Olofin tests Orunmila (the hole of Ogún)🔒 The Notebook21Osun Laye and Fa Aydogu (the end of human sacrifices)🔒 The Notebook22Where the women lost Olofin (his crown is born)🔒 The Notebook23Oshún and Nanú (Azojuano swears in the children of Oshún)🔒 The Notebook24When Oshún was a midwife🔒 The Notebook25Orunmila falls into the hunters' trap (the pact with Oshún)🔒 The Notebook26Ikú tests the ewe in Mimagua Oshe🔒 The Notebook27Oro found his father (the bell Aye Agogo Lorun)🔒 The Notebook28The two sons of Olofin are initiated into Ifá🔒 The Notebook29Akan, the crab, moves house🔒 The Notebook30Oluweri, the slaver, and the crab🔒 The Notebook31The old crab threw Ifá for Orunmila🔒 The Notebook32The selfish one (the men and women of Are)🔒 The Notebook33The fight between Orunmila and Ikú🔒 The Notebook34The road of the light (when the night ends)🔒 The Notebook35The climb to heaven🔒 The Notebook36The disappointment of ingratitude🔒 The Notebook37The rabbit and the wild boar (the shaving of Ifá is born)🔒 The Notebook38The female monkey and the calabash🔒 The Notebook39You cannot be judge and party (the rainbow withdraws)🔒 The Notebook40The edge of the unknown (the garden of Azojuano)🔒 The Notebook
37 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 Meyi in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Irete Meyi

What does the Odù Irete Meyi mean in Ifá?

Eyelemere, the one who laughs at death: he goes down to the world of the Egun and returns to the world of the living; he is love in person.

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

Irete Meyi is Odù number 14 of the 256 in Ifá, one of the 16 Meyi and the head of the Irete family.

Which orishas speak in Irete Meyi?

In the Odù Irete Meyi these orishas speak: Orunmila (Eyi Elemere), Oshún, Oyá, Oggún, Shangó, Elegbá, Ikú (Death), Azojuano (San Lázaro), Olokun, Odduduwa.

What is a proverb of the Odù Irete Meyi?

One of the proverbs of Irete Meyi says: «Blood comes back to life: the one who tricked death is among the living.».

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