Irete Untendí

nº 215 of 256

The born diviner: the war between santeros and Awoses over who comes first — and power and ashé are lost over a woman.

28 patakíes 8 eewó 12 ebbós and works 17 proverbs

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Irete Untendí is Odù number 215 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Irete family. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 28 patakíes (3 with the full text), its proverbs, 12 ebbós and works and the signs it shows in the consultation — with the full eewó in plain sight; the detail of iré and osogbo and the full recipes open with The Notebook, in English.

The sign at a glance

Order in Ifá: Odù 215 of 256
Composition: Irete over Odi
Orishas that speak: Yemayá · Oshún · Elegbá · Shangó · Osain · Obatalá · Ogún · Oluó Popó (Azojuano) · Olofin

What Ifá says in this sign

Irete Untendí is a born diviner — you like being read and you need praise — and this is an Ifá of kings: you should keep a carpet to get out of bed onto, because you are a king. Even the washing of money was born here, and the omó of this odu uses money as a walking stick: plenty comes naturally to you — the trouble is holding on to it.

Your fall has a woman's name: as happened to Titilayé, this sign marks the loss of power and of ashé because of a woman — for that love the vows of conscience and the liturgy are forgotten. And its fraud has an insect's name: Cricket, who passed himself off as a diviner — be careful about prophesying what you do not know, and about those who pretend to know.

«Irete Untendí is a king who gets up onto a carpet — but Titilayé lost the ashé over a woman: a throne has to be looked after.»The pulse of Irete Untendí

Its law is one of seating and of unity: through disobedience, with no Osha on your head, you die; there is separation of families and of Awoses, and this Odù orders unity between iyaloshas and oluos — the war between santeros and Awoses over who comes first is condemned by this sign. The Awó does not forget his commitments to Orunmila and he studies, so as not to have losses.

Children are its priority: this odu puts its weight on those between one and fifteen years old — Osha is seated for them — and it teaches through the hen who raises other birds' chicks: taking in an abandoned child will do you good in your old age. The pregnant woman watches the Rh factor with her firstborn: this sign warns of it with laboratory precision.

Its household works: carpets at the door — so the bad stays in them —, throwing everything cracked or broken out on the corner with aguardiente, black and white cloth against the fire that is coming, and the work that shuts the door on the law. The body holds salt and water — liver, kidneys and bronchi get checked; the corn silk in a brew is its diuretic. Be the grinding stone: it does not need anyone to lift it — there will always be someone who comes to it.

The sign in one line

Seat Osha, study instead of settling, and give Osha to the children — the king of Irete Untendí keeps his power when he does not trade it for a love affair.

The prayer of Irete Untendí · Yoruba

AMA DANIMA ADIFAFUN ABUAN LORI TONSHOLU OSI MODI LEBO ARIE NIKOMA LAMAWARODO KAFEREFUN MALAMBO.

Ifá says — what Irete Untendí tells you

An Ifá of the born diviner: you like being read and you need praise. An Ifá of thefts and tricks: people pass themselves off as diviners, like Cricket. An Ifá of kings: you should keep a carpet to get out of bed onto, since you are a king. An Ifá of loss through a woman: it marks the loss of power and of ashé because of a woman, as happened to Titilayé.
There is separation of families and of Awoses: this Odù orders unity between iyaloshas and oluos.
The power of the silk of the corn speaks: its brew is a strong diuretic and calms kidney pain.
The woman who never laughed speaks: the woman laughs for the first time when her husband dies.
People pass themselves off as diviners, like Cricket; be careful about landing in trouble by prophesying things you do not know.
Salt is held in your body: illnesses from too much water in the tissues, or from not taking up salt.
The grinding stone speaks, who does not want to be lifted: there will always be someone who comes to it.
The diviner of the loose life speaks, who foretold the birth.
This odu puts its weight on those between one and fifteen years old: Osha should be seated for the children.
Taking in an abandoned child will do you good in your old age, as the hen teaches with the other birds' chicks.
You are not content with the fame and fortune you have got, like Cricket.
For the love of a woman, the vows of conscience and the religious liturgy are forgotten, as with Titilayé.
The dragon's fire went out: impotence and losses in general.
The omó uses money as a walking stick.
The pregnant woman should keep the Rh factor in mind between herself and her firstborn, and the antibodies it produces when they are not compatible, above all in later pregnancies.
Black and white cloth has to be set out, because of the fire that is coming; it speaks of the airways.
Illnesses of this Odù: cirrhosis of the liver, nephrosis, anemia, diabetes, the pancreas, the bronchi, the lungs and the gall bladder.
About seating Osha on your head: through disobedience, you die.
About setting carpets at the door, so all the bad that feet bring in stays in them; and about keeping a carpet to get out of bed onto, since you are a king.
About throwing everything cracked or broken (glass or tiles) out on the corner, with aguardiente, against the arayés and against accidents.
About the work to keep the law (ashelú) from coming into the house.
The Awó of this Odù cannot forget his commitments to Orunmila and should study, so he has no losses of any kind.
About persistence and steadiness, but with a need for change: do not settle, avoid thinking you need nobody.
About not throwing out the water anyone has bathed in, and not using another person's soap.
About not going about with grease on you.
The herbs of this Odù: doradilla (good for the liver and the heart) and white vicaria (its flowers for the eyes).

Proverbs of Irete Untendí · Òwe

“Lerí bishola: in the stubborn head.”
“Once he has eaten, he does not mind being killed.”
“Irete Untendí, a born diviner.”
“When you cannot take the father, you take the son.”
“The grinding stone will always have someone who comes to it.”
“Santeros and Awoses fight over who comes first.”
“He loses everything over a woman.”
“If someone has bitten you, they have reminded you that they have teeth.”
“The very man you save will be your executioner.”
“The sorcerer may forget, but the one whose child he ate never forgets.”
“Perfume gladdens the heart; a friend's advice gladdens the soul.”
“Whoever harms a rogue should watch out for his grudge.”
“Sleeping around is more a fault than a virtue.”
“What is inherited is not stolen.”
“A near neighbor is worth more than a distant brother.”
“What is learned slowly is not forgotten quickly.”
“The old stone will always have someone to carry it to the feast of the knives.”

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

Iré and Osogbo

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

What is born in Irete Untendí · Ìbí

Giving duck (kuekuéye) to Elegbá, and goose to Yemayá and to Oshún.
To give the Santos the water in a clay jar, held with both hands when they come down, so that they grant the favor.
From Irete Di's care for Obatalá when she was worn out.
Dropsy.
From the dragon Kole Masa, who ate the salted meat of the ebbó and drank until he burst — the water bred the monster (illnesses inside).
The secret of the four kashé oró.
Singing three songs to Osain.
The washing of money.
Dirty money is ordered changed for clean.
That the woman suffers when she gives birth and the man enjoys himself.
Because the man made sacrifice and the woman did not.
Kole Masa, the dragon.
Yemayá Asezú, the one with no memory.
Like the duck: she broke every tie that bound her to the earth; she is Olokun's inseparable daughter.
That the young Awó tells Olofin everything he hears.
That Elegbá traded everything for a sack of horns.
That the servants clean the master.
The war between santeros and Awoses over who comes first in the religion.
A war that has never ended and lasts to our own day; this Odù orders unity to avoid losses.

What is forbidden · Eewó

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

Do not eat duck or goose.
Behind that comes the curse that Oluó Popó threw.
Do not wash with anyone else's soap, and do not throw out the water of someone who bathes.
Do not live on upper floors.
Do not drink water from a clay jug.
Do not handle grease.
Never speak badly of Orunmila.
The ducks and geese spoke badly of him for not doing ebbó, and they ended up in Yemayá's pot.
Do not get involved in gossip, even if they come looking for you.
Do not give in to the demands and whims of your wife.
So that you are not lost, like Titilayé; take care of what is yours.

Ebbós of Irete Untendí · The sacrifices that open the road

MoneyEbbó of this Odù🔒 The Notebook HealthEbbó for the sick person🔒 The Notebook Beating enemiesEbbó of the basin (seven days)🔒 The Notebook LoveEbbó of the two obiní🔒 The Notebook

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

Works of Irete Untendí · The workings of the sign

Beating enemiesInshé of Osain (for when you are struck)🔒 The Notebook Beating enemiesInshé to beat the arayé🔒 The Notebook Beating enemiesWork to keep the law away (ashelú)🔒 The Notebook LossKuekuéye (duck) to Elegbá for a grave problem🔒 The Notebook SpiritualGoose (oban) to Yemayá🔒 The Notebook MoneyGoose to Oshún🔒 The Notebook Beating enemiesElegbá's horn🔒 The Notebook MoneyWork of the pot of corn🔒 The Notebook

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

Patakíes of Irete Untendí · The roads of the Odù

1The war of Orunmila and Osain

Osain threw powders at Orunmila and boasted of knowing more than anyone; they made a wager before Obatalá to bury their children for three days and bring them out alive — Oshún opened the tunnel that fed Orunmila's children, and Eshu stopped up Osain's horn with the ebbó: Osain lost and became Orunmila's slave.

Osain spent his time throwing powders, eggs and other things at Orunmila. Eshu warned him every day: "Look at everything that is happening to you." Orunmila let it go.

Osain got so bold that he went around saying he knew more than anyone, and people started going over to his side. Orunmila got a reading, this Ifá came out, and he made ebbó with a rooster, two hens, a horn and corojo butter. Then he sent for Osain, asking him to keep still. That is where the quarrel came from, and before Obatalá they closed the bet: each one would bury his children for three days and then would have to bring them out alive.

The ebbó was already done, so Orunmila ordered two holes dug on the riverbank and gave two hens to Oshún, so that she would open a passage between one hole and the other; food reached the buried children through there.

On the third day the court gathered. Orunmila broke into song, the earth stirred and his children appeared. Before that he had already told Eshu to throw the ebbó into the hole. Eshu picked it up, stuffed it into the mayombero's horn and blocked the holes; he left him just one. When the mayombero tried to play, the instrument made no sound: the holes were plugged. That is where he lost. Orunmila raised his own children through the hole Elegbá had left open, and Osain ended up as Orunmila's slave.

Note: an abandoned child must be taken in, because in old age he may turn out to be a support. Work: a horn is put on Elegbá with the enemy's name inside it, sealed with soap.

2Osain challenges Orunmila

Osain kept challenging Orunmila to war, and he accepted: to bury their children and see who brought them out first; Orunmila played his apón and his children came out — when Osain went to sound his horn, Eshu had stopped it up with corojo butter, and he had to beg Orunmila.

Osain would not stop challenging Orunmila to a war. Tired of it, Orula finally accepted and wanted to know what kind of war it was. The answer was: "Bury our children, to see who takes them out first."

Before all this, Eshu had asked Orunmila for a rooster, and he got it. The two rivals came to the agreed place and each one called his children. Orula played his apón and his children came out. Osain, on the other hand, blew his horn without getting a single sound out of it: Eshu had it clogged with corojo butter. His children stayed underground, and he had no choice but to beg Orunmila.

Note: 3 súyeres are sung to Osain.

3The duck is taken for Yemayá

Orunmila told the duck to make rogation so he would not be taken for the Santos; the duck paid no attention — and ever since, the duck is taken for Yemayá.

One day Orunmila advised the duck to make a rogation, to keep from ending up in the hands of the Santos. The duck ignored the warning. That is why the duck is given to Yemayá.

Note: the crazy duck — stability and memory — is saved by the moment when Orunmila washes over the board.

4Obatalá visits her children🔒 The Notebook 5The goose to Yemayá, with the face covered🔒 The Notebook 6The road of the goose🔒 The Notebook 7Ogún ate turkey🔒 The Notebook 8Yemayá's food🔒 The Notebook 9They do not invite Yemayá to eat at the party🔒 The Notebook 10The corncob🔒 The Notebook 11War between santeros and Awoses🔒 The Notebook 12The man nicknamed Cricket🔒 The Notebook 13Adifafún Osi (the black swan)🔒 The Notebook 14Titilayé, the woman who never laughed🔒 The Notebook 15The disrespectful children of Shangó🔒 The Notebook 16The hen and the hawk🔒 The Notebook 17Kole Masa, the dragon🔒 The Notebook 18The grinding stone🔒 The Notebook 19The woman suffers when she gives birth🔒 The Notebook 20Character (Iwa)🔒 The Notebook 21The life after (the two Orún)🔒 The Notebook 22The goose who wanted to be a woman🔒 The Notebook 23The camel and the lion🔒 The Notebook 24Trust killed his friend🔒 The Notebook 25The monkey and the wedge🔒 The Notebook 26The war of the ewe bana🔒 The Notebook 27The defeat of the usurping king🔒 The Notebook 28The scarecrow🔒 The Notebook

25 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 Untendí in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Irete Untendí

What does the Odù Irete Untendí mean in Ifá?

The born diviner: the war between santeros and Awoses over who comes first — and power and ashé are lost over a woman.

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

Irete Untendí is Odù number 215 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Irete family.

Which orishas speak in Irete Untendí?

In the Odù Irete Untendí these orishas speak: Yemayá, Oshún, Elegbá, Shangó, Osain, Obatalá, Ogún, Oluó Popó (Azojuano), Olofin.

What is a proverb of the Odù Irete Untendí?

One of the proverbs of Irete Untendí says: «Lerí bishola: in the stubborn head.».

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