Irete Juani

Also called Irete Wan Wan, Irete Ojuani, Irete Juan Juan

nº 217 of 256 · Edited by Ricco Ledesma

Where the gardens of the world and the ashé of flowers were born: tribute is paid to the river, and the place of honor is held by sacrifice.

16 patakíes 7 eewó 10 ebbós and works 16 proverbs

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Irete Juani is Odù number 217 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Irete family. It is also written as Irete Wan Wan or Irete Ojuani or Irete Juan Juan. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 16 patakíes (3 in full in plain sight, with their teaching, ebbó and chants), its proverbs, 10 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 217 of 256
Composition: Irete over Ojuani
Orishas that speak: Oshún · Elegbá · Eshu Laboni · Osain · Orún · Shangó · Odudúwa · Azojuano (San Lázaro) · Olofin

What Ifá says in this sign

Irete Juani, also known as Irete Ojuani, is the sign of the river and its pacts. Here are born the güijes, gardens and the grace that flowers give, the pact of the king with Oshún's river, and the rite that consecrates two awoses together. When Olofin wanted to place an important post in safe hands, this odu was the one chosen. Its ruling is one of good fortune: very weighty news is coming to you and luck is already waiting on your threshold. If you fulfill your sacrifices, you will live many years and hold places of honor.

The iré of this sign rests on a promise kept. Oduduwa assures you a stable life with money, and Oshún protects you and gives you abundance as long as you keep your duty to her. Elegba saves your children, and in the hour of danger Orunmila and Oshún come to pull them from the water. But the ebbó must be done in full: the one that is forgotten closes doors, and the one done halfway exposes its secret.

«The woodpecker sang and lost its nest, the ayapá did not complete the ebbó and its secret was revealed: Irete Wan Wan stays silent and finishes.»The pulse of Irete Juani

This sign asks you not to rely only on your own strength or on what you already have. Do not believe a protective charm is enough: your path is Orunmila. You are somewhat unbelieving, and looking at what is not your business costs you dearly, as happened to whoever ate Oshún's oranges, and she is still upset. Do not copy anyone either: whoever imitates fails, and fame won through deceit ends up turning against you.

In the family, water is the great warning. Teach your children to respect rivers and the sea, and watch the children who climb to high places; the adventurous spirit of children is a sorrow for their parents. If your father is alive, look after him, because this sign announces his passing. In love, you argue with your partner because she neglects her tasks, especially the cooking, and a woman can enchant you until she lands you in prison; stay away from drugs as well.

In health, have blood tests regularly and take care of your throat, your arteries and your eyesight, because you could lose it. This sign also speaks of hair loss and of a daughter who is ill and needs attention. A fall could break your leg. With good character and good humor you get through the hard hours, and what you do with truth, supported by sacrifice, keeps you standing when bad times come.

The sign in one line

Pay tribute to the river, do the complete ebbó and do not talk too much; because the place of honor of Irete Wan Wan is kept with sacrifice, not with singing.

The prayer of Irete Juani · Yoruba

ODUIBIRI BIRI FOBO TABORI BEBO ADIFAFUN ORUNMILA ONIBARA BANIREGUN IRIGUANKA JUIN WIN OSAIN YORO YORO.

Ifá says — what Irete Juani tells you

If this letter comes out and the father is still alive, his death may be near: the traveling spirit is a cause of sorrow for parents.
If you fulfill your duties, you will hold great posts, like Irete Juan Juan with Olofin.
Have blood tests done regularly and take care of your throat; you may go blind, like the prince before the secrets of Osain.
It speaks of baldness and arteriosclerosis.
Looking at what is none of your business will cost you dearly, as it did Elegba with the dormidera.
It speaks of the flooded river and of the whirlpool: see that your children have respect for the waters.
It deals with deep mysteries and secrets belonging to the sorcerer.
A King dies, and Orunmila performs the Ituto.
The ebbó must be done complete: the ayapá did the ebbó but did not give the rooster to the palm, and its secret was revealed.
With its song, the woodpecker revealed where the nest was: whoever talks too much loses what is his.
If the Awó gives an Elegba belonging to this Odù, a young goat is taken and offered to the Awó's Elegba and to the aleyo's: the Elegba eats as a guest, so that the luck is not ruined.
Of living on the ground floor, in a place where trees can be planted, to prevent problems and attract an iré.
Of how the stone of the Elegba of this sign must be sought at the base of a tree growing beside a river.
About having an Osain with the head, heart and feet of a dove, and about not eating doves.
That you cannot have anything of Mayombe and must receive San Lázaro.
That the person with a prenda of Osain or Mayombe believes that this is enough: they have to receive Orunmila.
About the work against arteriosclerosis: they are baths that include peregún and majagua flower, saltpeter and abrojo, anise basil, dry wine and hazelnut shell, plus cinnamon and neck meat.
Herbs of the Odù: fig, plantain, river flax and sesame.

Proverbs of Irete Juani · Òwe

“The wandering spirit is a grief to parents.”
“Whoever copies fails.”
“The client wins and the opponents lose.”
“The one who holds out his hand and takes the great fish that leaps into it.”
“Iron is sharpened with iron, and a man with another man.”
“Whoever is original creates; whoever copies forges himself.”
“Whoever is not good as a son will not be good as a father.”
“Whoever neglects his health sentences himself to illness.”
“Wisdom is never stored in a barrel with no bottom, or in a hollow head.”
“Whoever does not remember his ancestors bends the destiny of his own blood.”
“Whoever turns away from an open door will find it shut.”
“Fire only burns whoever takes it for granted.”
“Whoever rebels against Olorun by worshipping riches does nothing but work his own ruin.”
“Out of the thunder and into the lightning.”
“Whoever looks after the fig tree eats figs; whoever looks after a friendship receives honors.”
“Whoever neglects today what he loves will weep for it lost tomorrow.”

13 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

Very good and weighty news reaches them, and luck is already waiting at the threshold.
They have a long life on Earth if they make the sacrifices that correspond.
If they fulfill their obligations, they hold great positions and keep a place of honor.

Osogbo · what the sign warns

If their father is alive, he may die in a short time.
They may go blind, and they suffer in the throat, in the blood, from hardened arteries and from baldness.
Looking at what does not concern them costs them dearly.

35 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 Juani · Ìbí

Why Osain eats turtle (ayapá).
The ayapá blamed the palm for the hunger and it was the ayapá itself; Awó Aladi discovered it with the glowing osun of Osain.
The rite of consecration of Amonso and Amoro within Ifá.
The first consecration of two Awoses together, before the river and the ceiba, watched by Olofin and Shangó.
The güijes.
About the two brothers of the river: the envious one, by imitating, became a güije.
The gardens of the world, and flowers with their ashé as an aid.
Burying the ebbó ipín (ebbó Iquín).
The Awoses Molaño and Molabo speak; they wait at the river, in the form of Egun, for the ebbó ipín.
The ventriloquist.
The dove of the ebbó answered for Orunmila without him opening his mouth, and they made him president of the society of Osain.
The secret vault of Osain and Orún.
About the mad King of the land Inle Yoroyoro: from his remains the secrets were made that gave light back to the town.
The reason why sweet and sour oranges exist in the world.
Oshún's sentence for the ingratitude of her people: «not all my oranges will be sweet anymore».
How Elegba Eshu Laboni became the slave of Oshún, and what the dormidera is used for.
Bina, the God who rules the lands of the world.
The covenant that joined the King, Oshún, the river and the great mediating fish.
King Laro stretched out his hand and the great fish leaped into it: he took the title Ataoja.
The Adó Shure for Elegbá.

What is forbidden · Eewó

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

It is forbidden to keep birds at home, and also to raise them.
Do not eat doves.
Your Osain carries the head, heart, and feet of a dove.
You cannot have anything of Mayombe.
You must not cross the sea or the river until you have been told to.
Do not let anyone whistle on the threshold of your house.
Do not wear the stone ring that you have.
You can lose it and it is not good for you.
Do not look at what is not your business.
It costs you dearly, as it did Elegbá with Oshún's dormidera.

Ebbós of Irete Juani · The sacrifices that open the road

HealthEbbó of Irete Juani (the great one of this Odù)🔒 The Notebook Keeping death awayEbbó of the King's son🔒 The Notebook LossEbbó of the rescue (Orula in the ceiba)🔒 The Notebook LoveEbbó of the pact with the river🔒 The Notebook MoneyEbbó of Oshún's oranges🔒 The Notebook

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

Works of Irete Juani · The workings of the sign

Overcoming enemiesWork to neutralize (Elegbá's dormidera)🔒 The Notebook MoneyAdó Shure of Elegbá (the secret of this Odù)🔒 The Notebook HealthBath for arteriosclerosis🔒 The Notebook SpiritualThe vault of Orún and Osain (the swearing of this Odù)🔒 The Notebook SpiritualEshu Laboni (the Eshu of this Odù)🔒 The Notebook

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

Patakíes of Irete Juani · The roads of the Odù

1The King waited to see his son’s misfortune

The King once visited Orunmila to consult Ifá. Orunmila warned him that his son needed a rogación, because something bad was threatening him. But the King disregarded the warning. He decided to wait and find out for himself whether the danger was real.

It was real. One day the boy went to the beach and misfortune fell upon him: he ended up in the water. When the King heard of it, he ran to where Orunmila lived so that the rogación would finally be done.

What it teaches

A warning from Ifá calls for immediate action. To doubt and wait for proof lets pass the moment when the harm could still be avoided, and afterward there is only regret.

First ebbó

2 hens, a boat, the derecho (ritual fee) and a bunch of plátanos guineos (small bananas).

Second ebbó

A rooster and 7 links of chain; a plátano is hooked on the end of each link. Everything is placed on a plantain plant.

2Elegba, Orunmila and Oshún save the rich man’s son

A certain rich man had two sons, and the favorite was Korotán. Paradoxically, he was the most rebellious: his father had forbidden him to swim in the sea and in the rivers, and he did not obey.

One day he threw himself into the waters next to a whirlpool and the current began to drown him. Someone ran to tell the father, who tried everything within his reach without managing to pull him out. Then, in despair, he proclaimed that he would give anything they asked for his son’s life.

Elegba heard the promise. He told him that there was someone who could rescue the young man, but with a demand: that person was perched at the top of a ceiba tree and would not come down until a ladder made of sacks of money was built for him. The father accepted the deal. The one waiting above was Orunmila. He came down by that ladder, brought a boat to the shore, set it afloat with Oshún’s help and gave the boy back alive.

What it teaches

A child’s disobedience can put at risk what a family loves most, and one who loves is able to give everything. When it seems that nothing more can be done, the ebbó and the knowledge of Orunmila and Oshún open a way to salvation.

Ebbó of this path

A boat, a cord, a banana stalk, a rooster and a dove.

The boat

A boat like this is placed for Oshún, Yemayá and Orunmila.

3The river brother who copied the other and became a güije

The characters are two brothers of the river. Eshu protected the first because of his behavior, and Oshún put an enormous fortune into his hands. The other brother, full of envy, tried to repeat what the first had done and ended up transformed into a güije.

From this story comes the saying that goes with this Ifá: whoever imitates, fails. It is also told that the güijes appeared then.

What it teaches

Each brother received according to his conduct. The fortune that one earned through good behavior cannot be had by copying it out of envy. Whoever imitates without deserving what he imitates ends up lost.

4King Laro's pact with the Oshún river🔒 The Notebook 5The Ifá of the ventriloquist🔒 The Notebook 6Why Osain eats turtle🔒 The Notebook 7Molaño Molabo consecrates Amonso and Amoro together🔒 The Notebook 8The secret of Orún and Osain🔒 The Notebook 9The wandering spirit🔒 The Notebook 10Oshún's sour oranges🔒 The Notebook 11Orunmila on the podium of honor🔒 The Notebook 12Kindness for Temitayo🔒 The Notebook 13The maiden and the scoundrel🔒 The Notebook 14The balloon of the osobos🔒 The Notebook 15The pact of Ile Ijesa with the river🔒 The Notebook 16The false diviner🔒 The Notebook

13 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 Juani in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Irete Juani

What does the Odù Irete Juani mean in Ifá?

Where the gardens of the world and the ashé of flowers were born: tribute is paid to the river, and the place of honor is held by sacrifice.

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

Irete Juani is Odù number 217 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Irete family.

Which orishas speak in Irete Juani?

In the Odù Irete Juani these orishas speak: Oshún, Elegbá · Eshu Laboni, Osain, Orún, Shangó, Odudúwa, Azojuano (San Lázaro), Olofin.

What is a proverb of the Odù Irete Juani?

One of the proverbs of Irete Juani says: «The wandering spirit is a grief to parents.».

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