Iroso Umbo

nº 77 of 256

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

21 patakíes 4 eewó 14 ebbós and works 15 proverbs

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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 — 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 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 (a dark spirit of the dead)

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.”

12 proverb interpretations in this Odù, locked.Every proverb explained: which road it comes from and how it applies.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…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

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

Do not eat fats in your meals.
Do not enter an empty house.
Do not wear black clothes, do not hang them in the room, and do not put them on the table.
Do not steal anything from any brother of religion or of blood.
So that you do not suffer a shame.

Ebbós of Iroso Umbo · The sacrifices that open the road

Beating enemiesEbbó of Orunmila surrounded by enemies🔒 The Notebook Beating enemiesAgainst the three sworn enemies🔒 The Notebook LossAgainst poverty and destitution🔒 The Notebook LoveThe nail of Oboni-Oshé🔒 The Notebook LoveSo someone comes back🔒 The Notebook MoneyEbbó of Iroso Umbo🔒 The Notebook Keeping death awayEbbó of the Abikú (the woman of the swamp)🔒 The Notebook Beating enemiesTo drive the law off your corner🔒 The Notebook Beating enemiesTo keep someone away🔒 The Notebook MoneyTo hold the upper hand🔒 The Notebook

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

Works of Iroso Umbo · The workings of the sign

HealthThe inshé of the alligator's tooth🔒 The Notebook HealthInfusion for the stomach🔒 The Notebook Beating enemiesThe three little huts🔒 The Notebook SpiritualInshé-Osanyin of Iroso Umbo🔒 The Notebook

4 works in this Odù, locked.Each full recipe: ingredients, preparation and where it goes.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 took him for a false diviner and set a trap for him with three huts: in the first they put gold; in the second, jewels and diamonds; in the third they posted Ogún, machete in hand, with orders to kill him if he got it wrong. When they sent for him, Orunmila had already read himself: this Ifá had come out and his angel asked him for a rogación de cabeza, so he came with his apeterbí and a basket of coconuts.

The three huts stood in front of him, one white, one red and one black. Before answering he asked permission to pray his head; the coconuts fell in Iroso Umbo and he said: "My angel does not want me to die." The enemies pushed him to say what each one held, 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, as soon as he heard that Orunmila had got it right, jumped out, dropped the machete, threw himself down before him in moforibale and said to him: "As long as the world is the world, there will be no more wars for you, because I, Ogún, will keep them away from 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 started reading the ókpele from left to right. Orunmila did not answer him; afterward he showed him that on the ókpele of Ifá the bigger leg is the right one, and that is why the right is Ifá and the left is Elegbara. He did Osode for him, this Ifá came out and he marked him a mass for an Eggun, a rooster and ebbó for a lawsuit he had over a post. Elegba ran off shouting: "thief, you have stolen my secret." Orunmila prepared the ebbó of the sign and left it on the road; Elegba went for the animals, was caught in the trap, and Orunmila took him tied with rope before Olofin, who handed him over to him. Once at home he put him to live in Ilé Yagbe, the outhouse.

In time he got tired of that place and, since he saw Orunmila's fortune growing, he asked to move to the door and to have Ifá made for him. Orunmila refused; then Elegba threw himself on the floor and broke his head open, and Oshún stepped in: "Better make Ifá for him and get rid of that problem." That is how Orunmila made Ifá for him for free. Days later, now a Babalawo at the door, Elegba divined for Inle something that only Olokun, Yemayá and Inle himself knew; amazed, Inle asked him to make Ifá for him, and Elegba charged him two cartloads of shells, plus women and food; with that payment he settled his Ifá with Orunmila. That is the secret of making Ifá for people for free; 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.

Oberenibate lived in a swamp and had a son, Hilero. His enemies did not want that child to come into the world and were looking to kill her, but the birth happened by the power Olofin had given her. Hilero talked with Heaven every day and never tasted what he was offered, because he could tell good from bad; he always said: "Whether they like it or not, I am going to be born and grow up."

As a young man, one day, before his talk with Heaven, he noticed that something bad was getting into his body and he lost his speech. He ran to Orunmila's house, and Orunmila saw this Odù for him and marked him ebbó: to gather the ingredients afterward, do a ceremony and take it to the river, since that was how he would speak again. He also warned him that whatever was done for him had to be done for his mother too, so he would not be left an orphan, because she was in danger of being lost. Hilero did the sacrifice and the ceremony at the river and got his speech back, though from then on he always rubbed one arm; and by the great power of Olofin he beat all the enemies he had. His mother, on the other hand, died, because she did not do the ebbó or the ceremony. From then on, in the swamp, Hilero would gather his Abikú companions to make offerings and ceremonies in memory of his mother and his dead.

4The ragged, foul-smelling Awó🔒 The Notebook 5The tortoise and the title of Idanigbo🔒 The Notebook 6Lakangbo, crowned King of Ifé🔒 The Notebook 7The wife of Agbeni Maima🔒 The Notebook 8Dissatisfaction in the ofikale🔒 The Notebook 9The witches and the joining of the two lands🔒 The Notebook 10Oshún's daughter who became a herb🔒 The Notebook 11The dog lost the post🔒 The Notebook 12Eshú kills the Awó for disobeying🔒 The Notebook 13The idle dog🔒 The Notebook 14The cockroaches receive the ashé🔒 The Notebook 15Obá Ojiji, the shadow of Olofin🔒 The Notebook 16When the cockroach went on ruling🔒 The Notebook 17Oshún eats with Orunmila🔒 The Notebook 18The countryman and the king🔒 The Notebook 19The clever one and the clumsy one🔒 The Notebook 20Ayán, queen of the world🔒 The Notebook 21The hide trader🔒 The Notebook

18 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 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 (a dark spirit of the dead).

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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