Odù 77 of 256 · Iroso family

Iroso Umbo

Where making Ifá for free was born: a sign of trials and false witness, but one whose wars Ogún swore to keep away.

Iroso Umbo is Odù number 77 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Iroso family. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 21 patakíes (3 with the full text), its proverbs, 14 ebbós and works and the signs it shows in the consultation; the detail of iré and osogbo, the eewó and the full recipes open with the Babalawo plan — that locked part is still written in Spanish.

The sign at a glance

Order in Ifá: Odù 77 of 256
Composition: Iroso over Ogbe
In the Diloggún: 4-8 · Iroso tonti Eyeunle
Orishas that speak: Eshú / Elegba · Ogún · Orunmila · Inle y Abata · Olokun · Oshún · Shangó · Eggun (muerto oscuro)

What Ifá says in this sign

Iroso Umbo is the sign where it was born that Ifá is made for free — and where Eshu Ni made the ókpele for Orunmila. It is an Ifá of trials, of theft and of false witness; but it carries an oath found nowhere else in the treatise. Ogún told him: for as long as the world is the world, there will be no more wars for you: I will keep them off you.

Its greatest trial is a public one: you will be falsely accused, the way Orunmila was accused of being a false diviner at the trial of the three huts — and like him, the praying of your head and the word of Ifá will clear you, with your enemies falling one after another: the fire was put out by the seawater, and the heat was swallowed by the swamp.

«For as long as the world is the world there will be no more wars for you — Ogún's oath protects Iroso Umbo.»The pulse of Iroso Umbo

This is the Ifá of the Abikú: the child of this sign is attended with what is his — and whatever is done for the child must be done for the mother too, so the child is not left an orphan. The health of the grown person asks for a firm, gentle watch: diabetes and circulation — take care not to lose a limb —, the throat, the heart, and no fatty food.

In love, this odu paints abandonment: this is where men walk out on women — do not be one of them, because this odu charges for it; and the woman who cheats is playing with her life: her luck stands beside her husband. There is opposition from your partner's family and quarrels over a post or with a brother: steal nothing from a brother by blood or in religion, do not walk into an empty house, and do not dress in black.

Its generosity is what defines it: the Awó of this odu helps his godchild until he gives him his fee back — because here Ifá is made for free when Olofin orders it — and the vulture, his messenger, carries the pleas up to heaven. There is a great title in your family, or a promotion waiting: sacrifice, because Ifá repays whoever serves him honestly, and repays in plenty

The sign in one line

Bear the trial, look after the Abikú along with his mother and serve without greed — Ifá clears Iroso Umbo, and Ogún fights his wars for him.

The prayer of Iroso Umbo · Yoruba

Iroso Umbo skeregun sheré komashe kotushe areshenle adifafun Orúnmila tio fa mare, akofá elebo, aikodie elebo.

Ifá says — what Iroso Umbo tells you

An Ifá of the Abikú, of trials, of theft and of being crushed. Kaferefún Orunmila, Eshú and Ogún.
It marks a public trial and false witness, like the false witness borne against Orunmila.
A debt with Elegba, and debts with Eshú: find out what Eshú wants.
General weakness in the body, and diabetes; you must receive Olokun, Inle and Abata.
The Ikofafún of this sign is given 5 ikines (adeleses).
When the Awó hands over an Awofakan and this Ifá comes out, he has to help the godchild make Ifá and give him his fee back.
This is the Ifá of the Abikú: the child of this sign is fed something hot, with a she-goat for Orunmila and two black hens.
This is where men walk out on women.
Diabetes and trouble with the circulation: take care not to lose a limb.
Illness of the throat and the heart, impotence, and being left with nothing.
Opposition from your partner's family.
If you are a woman: you deceive your husband or your lover, and they may kill you for it; your luck stands beside your husband.
A person of doubtful morals who is fond of parties, tangles and gossip, and thinks themselves better than everyone else.
Enemies who envy you, quarrels over a post, and a quarrel with a brother.
The shadow of Oboni-Oshé, which comes between a couple after they have been together.

Proverbs of Iroso Umbo · Òwe

“Fire is put out by the water of the sea; heat is swallowed by the swamp.”
“The rat makes sacrifice before going into its hole; the fish, before going into the river.”
“For as long as the world is the world, Ogún will allow no war for Iroso Umbo.”
“A woman's luck stands beside her husband.”
“The dog, for stopping to gnaw a bone, lost the post.”
“The head in the tail's place comes to nothing.”
“Every sacrifice will be repaid.”
“However early the oak rises, night still catches it.”
“Patience hits the mark more surely than haste.”
“Whoever keeps at it wins.”
“What is cheap costs dear.”
“Those who study Ifá earn its good will.”
“The little rat blows on it and eats it.”
“Knowing how to lose is a way of gaining experience.”
“A man's gift brings him before great people.”

15 proverb interpretations in this Odù, locked.Every proverb explained: which road it comes from and how it applies. Written in Spanish for now.Unlock →

Iré and Osogbo

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

What is born in Iroso Umbo · Ìbí

That Ifá is made for people free of charge.
Orunmila made Ifá for Elegbara free of charge to be rid of the trouble; afterward Elegba brought him the good fortune of earning money many times over.
The ókpele of Orunmila.
Eshu Ni made it for him; in the argument it was settled that the larger foot of the ókpele of Ifá is the right one: the right is Ifá and the left is Elegbara.
The joining of the lands of Iwori Juani and Iroso Umbo.
After they beat the witches together with Shangó's lightning; that is why these two signs go with the Meyi on the board when ebbó is made.
The herbs Awende (marilope) and Añai (cockroach herb).
Oshún and Osanyin's daughter became the marilope that heals the stomach and the belly, and Olokun's son, who deceived her, was turned into the herb the secrets of Olokun and Yemayá are washed with.
That the vulture is Olofin's messenger.
The dog, for stopping to gnaw a bone, arrived late and lost the post.

What is forbidden · Eewó

4 eewó (taboos) in this Odù, locked.What the child of this sign must not eat, do or wear. Written in Spanish for now.Unlock →

Ebbós of Iroso Umbo · The sacrifices that open the road

Beating enemiesEbbó of Orunmila surrounded by enemies🔒 Babalawo

Beating enemiesAgainst the three sworn enemies🔒 Babalawo

LossAgainst poverty and destitution🔒 Babalawo

LoveThe nail of Oboni-Oshé🔒 Babalawo

LoveSo someone comes back🔒 Babalawo

MoneyEbbó of Iroso Umbo🔒 Babalawo

Pushing death awayEbbó of the Abikú (the woman of the swamp)🔒 Babalawo

Beating enemiesTo drive the law off your corner🔒 Babalawo

Beating enemiesTo keep someone away🔒 Babalawo

MoneyTo hold the upper hand🔒 Babalawo

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

Works of Iroso Umbo · The workings of the sign

HealthThe inshé of the alligator's tooth🔒 Babalawo

HealthInfusion for the stomach🔒 Babalawo

Beating enemiesThe three little huts🔒 Babalawo

SpiritualInshé-Osanyin of Iroso Umbo🔒 Babalawo

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

Patakíes of Iroso Umbo · The roads of the Odù

1The false witness borne against Orunmila

The town accused Orunmila of being a false diviner and set up three huts for him: gold, jewels, and Ogún hidden with a machete to kill him if he got it wrong. Orunmila prayed his head, named all three, and Ogún leapt out, threw down the machete and swore to keep every war off him for as long as the world lasted.

The town kept accusing Orunmila of being a false diviner, and set a trap for him with three huts: in one they put gold, in another jewels and diamonds, and in the last, Ogún with a machete in his hands to kill him if he failed to divine. They brought Orunmila, who came with his apeterbí and a basket of coconuts, because on reading for himself he had seen this Ifá, and his angel had marked him a praying of the head.

When he arrived he saw the three huts — white, red and black — and asked leave to pray his head; when he threw the coconuts, Iroso Umbo came out, and he said: «My angel does not want me to die». His enemies demanded that he divine, and he answered: «In the one painted white there is gold; in the red one, jewels; and in the black one is Ogún with his machete to kill me». There was no need to open the black hut: Ogún, hearing that Orunmila had divined it, leapt out of it, threw down the machete, rendered him moforibale and said: «For as long as the world is the world, there will be no more wars for you, because I, Ogún, will keep them off you, and I will always be your faithful servant».

2When Orunmila made Ifá for Elegbara free of charge

Elegbara kept arguing with Orunmila over which of them was the better diviner. Orunmila proved his art, caught him with the trap of the ebbó and set him to live in the outhouse; to be rid of the trouble he made him Ifá for free. Elegba later made Ifá for Inle and paid Orunmila many times over: making Ifá for free is born here.

Elegbara said to Orunmila: «I am a diviner», and read the ókpele from left to right. Orunmila said nothing, and then showed that on the ókpele of Ifá the larger foot is the right one: the right is Ifá and the left is Elegbara. He made him Osode, saw this Ifá for him and marked him a mass for an Eggun, a rooster and an ebbó over a quarrel about a post. Elegba ran off shouting «thief, you have stolen my secret». Orunmila made the ebbó of the sign and set it on the road; Elegba went to take the animals, fell into the trap, and Orunmila led him on a rope before Olofin, who handed him over. Orunmila set him to live in Ilé Yagbe, the outhouse.

Worn out with that place and watching Orunmila's fortune grow, Elegba asked to live at the door and to have Ifá made for him. Orunmila refused; Elegba threw himself on the ground and split his head open, and Oshún advised: «Better make him Ifá and be rid of the trouble». Orunmila made him Ifá free of charge. Days later, Elegba — now a Babalawo at the door — divined for Inle what only Olokun, Yemayá and he himself knew; astonished, Inle asked him to make him Ifá, and Elegba charged two cartloads of shells, women and food, and with that he paid Orunmila for his own Ifá. That is the secret of making Ifá for people free of charge; and it marks that Elegba Awó carries ikines.

3The woman of the swamp (the Abikú)

Oberenibate lived in a swamp with her son Hilero, who spoke with Heaven and was born by Olofin's power against his enemies' will. An evil force left him mute; with the ebbó and the ceremony at the river he spoke again, but his mother, who did not do her part, was lost.

There was a woman named Oberenibate who lived in a swamp and had a son named Hilero; his enemies did not want him born and wanted to kill her, but he was born through the power Olofin had given her. Hilero spoke with Heaven every day, and never ate what he was given, because he knew what was good and what was bad, and he always said: «Whether they like it or not, I am going to be born and grow up».

As a young man, before speaking with Heaven, he felt something evil take hold of his body and he was left without speech. He went to Orunmila, who saw this Odù for him and told him to make ebbó, gather the ingredients, do a ceremony and take it to the river: that was how he would be able to speak. And he warned him that whatever he did for himself he had to do for his mother too, so as not to be left an orphan, because his mother could be lost. Hilero made the sacrifice and the ceremony at the river and spoke again, though he always rubbed one arm; he beat all his enemies by the great power of Olofin. But his mother died for not making the ebbó or the ceremony, and from then on Hilero met with his fellow Abikú in the swamp to hold ceremonies and make offerings for his mother and for his dead.

4The ragged, foul-smelling Awó🔒 Babalawo

5The tortoise and the title of Idanigbo🔒 Babalawo

6Lakangbo, crowned King of Ifé🔒 Babalawo

7The wife of Agbeni Maima🔒 Babalawo

8Dissatisfaction in the ofikale🔒 Babalawo

9The witches and the joining of the two lands🔒 Babalawo

10Oshún's daughter who became a herb🔒 Babalawo

11The dog lost the post🔒 Babalawo

12Eshú kills the Awó for disobeying🔒 Babalawo

13The idle dog🔒 Babalawo

14The cockroaches receive the ashé🔒 Babalawo

15Obá Ojiji, the shadow of Olofin🔒 Babalawo

16When the cockroach went on ruling🔒 Babalawo

17Oshún eats with Orunmila🔒 Babalawo

18The countryman and the king🔒 Babalawo

19The clever one and the clumsy one🔒 Babalawo

20Ayán, queen of the world🔒 Babalawo

21The hide trader🔒 Babalawo

18 more patakíes in this Odù, locked.Read every road in full with the Babalawo plan. Written in Spanish for now.Unlock →

Before you subscribe: everything you read on this page is in English, but the locked part of the treatise — the full text of the other patakíes, the recipes for the ebbós and works, the iré and osogbo readings and the eewó — is still written in Spanish. We are translating it. · This page is also available in Spanish: See Iroso Umbo in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Iroso Umbo

What does the Odù Iroso Umbo mean in Ifá?

Where making Ifá for free was born: a sign of trials and false witness, but one whose wars Ogún swore to keep away.

What number is Iroso Umbo among the 256 Odù of Ifá?

Iroso Umbo is Odù number 77 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Iroso family.

Which orishas speak in Iroso Umbo?

In the Odù Iroso Umbo these orishas speak: Eshú / Elegba, Ogún, Orunmila, Inle y Abata, Olokun, Oshún, Shangó, Eggun (muerto oscuro).

What is a proverb of the Odù Iroso Umbo?

One of the proverbs of Iroso Umbo says: «Fire is put out by the water of the sea; heat is swallowed by the swamp.».

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