Irete Yeku

nº 213 of 256

Where the Santos, out of envy, declared war on Orunmila — and he proved before Olofin that he does not kill: he saves, with the animals of the ebbó.

27 patakíes 7 eewó 8 ebbós and works 18 proverbs

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Irete Yeku is Odù number 213 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Irete family. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 27 patakíes (3 with the full text), its proverbs, 8 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 213 of 256
Composition: Irete over Oyekun
Orishas that speak: Orunmila · Olofin · Obatalá · Shangó · Elegbá · Eshu Odara · Azojuano (San Lázaro) · Oyá · Egun

What Ifá says in this sign

Irete Yeku is the Odù where the Santos, out of envy, declared war on Orunmila — and where Orunmila proved before Olofin that he kills nobody: he saves the world by ordering animals in the ebboses, so the Santos do not eat people. That is why this odu has a rule unlike any other in Ifá: here no ebbó is made — adimú is set, and everything good is kept in writing.

Its portrait is a lonely one: Irete Makelekun has no friends, and Arun — illness — will always be after him; it is an odu of luck, but of luck pursued. Do not trust those who keep you company socially or in business: in moments of danger they leave you alone, as they left the general who disobeyed Orunmila.

«In Irete Yeku no ebbó is made: adimú is set — and everything good is kept in writing.»The pulse of Irete Yeku

Its risings have their hour and their place: a false accusation is raised against you — you can be accused out of envy before your elders —, death is out looking for you and is at the door, and where you live they tear you down: do not live where you are, and be home before the Sun goes down. Parties and drums call for sobriety: no mounting and attacking anyone, and no falling in love at a drum — it can bring you disaster.

Your conduct is your armor: whoever is initiated in this odu carries a severe and strict morality — noble and true to his word, with no mischief, so death, lawsuits and poverty do not hound him. And no idleness either: the man who eats the egg does not think about the work it cost the hen to lay it. Disbelief kills — it cost Darabiño, the unbeatable dancer, his life — and the mayomberos go under here: Orunmila beat them.

Its fine cares: no weight on your head and no efforts that harm your spine — neuralgia and sciatica are circling —, no climbing to high places, and watch out for rings and objects on your hands: infections, as with the woman with the ring. Bathe with four different herbs for luck and make pilgrimages: on those journeys you will find your fortune — you are seated at the side of Olofin and Orunmila, because it is they who send you.

The sign in one line

Live by a strict morality, be home before sundown and look for your luck on pilgrimages — Orunmila proved in Irete Yeku that he does not kill: he saves.

The prayer of Irete Yeku · Yoruba

ADIFAFUN AWERE ORUNMILA, AKUKO, ADIE LEBO, OFA META LEBO, AGBADO LEBO. ABADA BI ABADA, ABADA BI ABADA ADIFAFUN WENWELE ALETISHO MA AYA LORUBO KORU OKA ABENU BABA ADIFAFUN OLOSOSHE UMBATI OWO WERE AGUTO BIELE.

Súyere
DARABIÑO UNLOYO KORU EBO.

Ifá says — what Irete Yeku tells you

The Ifá where no ebbó is made: making ebbó brings a great deal of trouble and obligations; adimú is set and everything good is kept in writing. An Ifá of unhappiness: Irete Makelekun has no friends and illness will always be after him. The Ifá of the true Ituto of the Awó: when something bad comes up for him, Ifá is passed over his head and omiero is scattered in the house. An Ifá of conduct: whoever is initiated has to keep a severe and strict morality.
A false accusation is raised against you; you can be accused out of envy before your elders.
Death is out looking for you and is at the door of your house.
Do not live where you are, because they tear you down; you live in darkness: look for the light of religion.
Be home before the Sun goes down, so you win the wars that come up.
See that going to festivals, parties and drums does not end badly: be careful about mounting at a drum and attacking someone, or the other way round, and about falling in love at a drum, since it can bring you disaster.
Do not trust those who keep you company socially or in your work: in moments of danger they leave you alone, as they left the general who disobeyed Orunmila.
The mayomberos go under here: Orunmila beat the mayomberos.
By making pilgrimages you will find your luck.
Disbelief can cost you your life, as it cost Darabiño, the unbeatable dancer.
The two sons of Oluó Popó speak: Sori Bokun (the good one) and Tinshomo Awó Ifá (the bad one); and the twin brothers Osisu (the good one) and Ajuagan (the wicked sorcerer).
The hollow sword of the peregún (bayonet plant) speaks, and the three sorcerer spirits.
The world was covered by a layer of dust: life becomes impossible where you are.
When in the osode it is osobo intorí obiní, it speaks of intimate habits of the couple that Ifá points to with discretion.
You are a Babalawo and you are seated at the side of Olofin and Orunmila, because it is they who send you.
You have to bathe with four different herbs so your luck improves.
You should not carry weight on your head or make heavy efforts that affect your spine: neuralgia, sciatica and irritation of the outer nerves.
You have to avoid climbing to high places, since you can fall and have an accident.
You have to be careful with rings and other objects on your hands, which can give you infections (sepsis), as they did the woman with the ring.
Animals have to be raised and fed before they are sacrificed, in order to save your family.
You have to be noble and true with others and do no mischief, so that death, illness, lawsuits, poverty and losses do not hound you.
The man has to make Ifá.
You cannot be an idler: the man who eats the egg does not think about the work it cost the hen to lay it.
The herbs of this Odù: sarsaparilla and bayonet plant (peregún); with the bayonet plant and the sarsaparilla, works are done with pins.

Proverbs of Irete Yeku · Òwe

“Disbelief costs you your life.”
“Death was looking for a head.”
“You will have luck, but Arun is after you.”
“Nobody can cut Ajuagan down: I defend him.”
“The man who has no friends.”
“Nobody hands you the arrows without your going to the battlefield.”
“The man who eats the egg does not think about the work it cost the hen to lay it.”
“You can trust a friend who wounds you more than an enemy who kisses you.”
“Only Olorun allows death to act.”
“Whoever does not want to die should not cause anyone's death.”
“A sound mind in a sound body.”
“Whoever walks far from his ancestors is a bird far from the nest.”
“Only the stubborn man loses his luck.”
“When death is hungry, she swallows anyone.”
“One button is sample enough.”
“Give me neither wealth nor poverty; give me work to earn my bread.”
“By asking, you get to Rome.”
“Whoever walks a bad road wastes his fortune and grieves his father.”

15 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 Yeku · Ìbí

That in this Odù no ebbó is made.
Orunmila set only adimú when Olofin summoned him: the ebbó here brings trouble and obligations.
Passing your hands over your head, from front to back, to send the bad away.
The slipped disc, breaks in the backbone and deformities of the spine.
From the disobedient man who carried the basket on his head against Orunmila's advice.
That Eshu Odara does not eat pepper or almond oil.
The true Ituto of the Awó.
When something bad comes up for him, Ifá is passed over his head and omiero is scattered in the house with Orunmila's iruke, singing: TETERA MOGUN MOYOKO NIFA.
That Orunmila kills nobody.
It is the Oshas who kill; Orunmila orders animals in the ebboses so they do not eat people.
That the Awó receives Azojuano and consecrates Ajuagan in the yard.
That great figures were buried in the temples.
With all their attributes: bishops, priests and others; the rest were buried in the trees.
Mounting an Osain in the head of an agborán (a figure).
That the Arará carry the Awán in baskets.

What is forbidden · Eewó

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

You cannot steal.
«I will never steal»: losses will not ruin the house of the one who does no mischief and no harm.
Do not wear rings that have not been washed and prepared.
From the road of septicemia: the ring with a harm worked into it cost the woman her life.
Do not carry weights on your head or make heavy efforts.
The disobedient man broke his backbone and died.
Do not get upset.
Shangó is very close to you and it will turn out badly for you.
Do not argue any more, and do not be careless with your enemies.
Do not be a loafer.
The one who eats the egg does not think of the work it cost the hen to lay it.
Be careful with young girls: always keep the proper distance.
So that you do not suffer shame from a false testimony, like the one they raised against Orunmila.

Ebbós of Irete Yeku · The sacrifices that open the road

MoneyAdimú for luck🔒 The Notebook Keeping death awayTo avoid the misfortune🔒 The Notebook Keeping death awayTo avoid Ikú (the rag head)🔒 The Notebook HealthEbbó for the house🔒 The Notebook

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

Works of Irete Yeku · The workings of the sign

SpiritualThe Ituto of the Awó (scattering omiero)🔒 The Notebook HealthBath of the four herbs🔒 The Notebook Beating enemiesTo Shangó🔒 The Notebook SpiritualConsecration of Ajuagan (the secret of this Odù)🔒 The Notebook

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

Patakíes of Irete Yeku · The roads of the Odù

1The Santos declared war on Orunmila out of envy

Oshún, Ogún and the other Santos accused Orunmila before Olofin of the misfortunes of humankind; Orunmila showed that in every ebbó he marked animals so the Santos would eat them and not people — and Olofin cleared him.

Oshún and Ogún led the envy that all the Santos felt toward Orunmila. They took their complaint to Obatalá, and he sent Elegbá to bring him.

That same day Orunmila had looked at himself and this Ifá had come out, so when they came for him, he took his ekuele. When he arrived he found Olofin surrounded by the Santos, who one after another blamed him for the misfortune humankind was going through. When the accusations ran out, Olofin wanted to know if Orunmila had anything to say. Orunmila answered: "Everything they say about me is a lie, my Father, because every time I work with this ekuele or with Ifá, in every ebbó that is marked there is a goat, a rooster, a ram, and so on, and I do not eat them, yet the Santos do". That is why he marked those animals in the ebboses: that way the Santos no longer ate people, but animals.

It was proven before the Eternal Father that it was Orunmila who saved the world from its ruin. Seeing such a show of intelligence, Olofin cleared him of everything the Santos charged him with.

Note: out of envy they can accuse you before your elders. In this Odù no ebbó is done, and the Awoses must keep a careful written record of everything they do.

2The false accusation before Olofin

The Santos raised an infamous accusation against Orunmila to discredit him before Olofin; Orunmila, who had made osode before going, showed that it was all slander and, in turn, proved that it was the Santos who collected in human lives.

The Santos accused Orunmila before Olofin with a most serious infamy, in order to discredit him and take his command from him. Olofin sent for Orunmila and, before going, he made osode.

When Orunmila arrived, Olofin questioned him and Orunmila told him that it was an infamy raised out of envy and, in turn, he accused all the Santos: that they killed when someone robbed them or owed them something, and that way they ate human beings. That he, in the ebboses, ordered animals so the Santos would eat those and not people.

So the slander was proved as such, and Orunmila came out cleared and greater than before.

Note: be careful with a false accusation that is going to be raised against you.

3Orunmila kills nobody

Summoned before Olofin over a complaint, Orunmila set only adimú — Ifá told him the ebbó would bring obligations — and came with his secretary and his book; once three proofs of the good he had done were read out, Olofin gave him his title of command, and Orunmila proved one by one the deaths each Osha had caused.

Here it is proven that Orunmila does not kill (otokú) anyone; the ones who kill are the Oshas.

Before Olofin they raised a complaint against Orunmila, painting him in the worst terms, and so they called him to a meeting. Before going he looked at himself: he made osode, this Ifá came out and it said arayé. Ifá told him to put only adimú, because an ebbó would bring him plenty of trouble and obligations. He went to the meeting with his secretary and with his book.

Olofin had already warned that, if the complaint was proven, Orunmila would be removed from the rule of the Earth. On arriving, Orunmila greeted him and said: "I am at your orders". Olofin then explained why they had been called together.

Orunmila asked: "Let us see the proof". He told his secretary to open the book and added: "Here is everything I have done this year for the good of humankind". The first proof was read. Olofin listened and said: "I said so all along". Amazed at the good that man had done, he ordered: "Say no more about it". Orunmila insisted: "No: read the second proof". Even more surprised, Olofin let out: "Enough". Orunmila replied: "Read the third".

Olofin was so amazed that he exclaimed: "I need no more". Right away he handed him his title of rule. Orunmila, for his part, settled accounts with the Oshas for what they had done: with Yemayá, because they took a fish out of the sea for her and she drowned a man; with Shangó, who burned the man who owed him a ram; with Ogún, in the same style... One by one he proved to them what they had done.

As Orunmila was saying goodbye, the meeting now over, Olofin told him he was sorry for having called him and troubled him at that gathering with the Oshas. Orunmila answered that, on the contrary, being there made him proud, that he came out gaining more, and that he forgave them all.

4The three brothers who set out to see the world🔒 The Notebook 5Darabiño, the unbeatable dancer🔒 The Notebook 6The disobedient man broke his backbone🔒 The Notebook 7The road of septicemia🔒 The Notebook 8The disobedient general🔒 The Notebook 9The road of death and Orunmila🔒 The Notebook 10The world covered in dust🔒 The Notebook 11The food on the Santos' table🔒 The Notebook 12The fight at the drum🔒 The Notebook 13Sori Bokun and Tinshomo Awó Ifá, sons of Oluó Popó🔒 The Notebook 14The two brothers: the palero and the santero🔒 The Notebook 15The three sorcerer spirits (Ajuagan)🔒 The Notebook 16Peregún makes sacrifice and does good🔒 The Notebook 17I do no mischief and no harm🔒 The Notebook 18The birds and the bat🔒 The Notebook 19The snake and the snail🔒 The Notebook 20The ox of Oricha Oko🔒 The Notebook 21Show and wisdom🔒 The Notebook 22The savanna bird🔒 The Notebook 23Beauty and leprosy🔒 The Notebook 24The dog does not eat fire🔒 The Notebook 25From one fool to another🔒 The Notebook 26The devil's needle🔒 The Notebook 27The flesh and the stone🔒 The Notebook

24 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 Yeku in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Irete Yeku

What does the Odù Irete Yeku mean in Ifá?

Where the Santos, out of envy, declared war on Orunmila — and he proved before Olofin that he does not kill: he saves, with the animals of the ebbó.

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

Irete Yeku is Odù number 213 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Irete family.

Which orishas speak in Irete Yeku?

In the Odù Irete Yeku these orishas speak: Orunmila, Olofin, Obatalá, Shangó, Elegbá · Eshu Odara, Azojuano (San Lázaro), Oyá, Egun.

What is a proverb of the Odù Irete Yeku?

One of the proverbs of Irete Yeku says: «Disbelief costs you your life.».

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