Odù 63 of 256 · Odi family

Odi Yeku

Masks and two faces: trade is born here, but whoever gives up his own people dies despised by them, like the jackal.

Odi Yeku is Odù number 63 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Odi family. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 18 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 63 of 256
Composition: Odi over Oyekun
In the Diloggún: 7-2 · Odí tonti Eyioko
Orishas that speak: Oya · Obatalá · Shangó · Yemayá · Olokun · Eggun / ancestros · Azojuano (Ajuanguan)

What Ifá says in this sign

Odi Yeku is the sign of masks: here the masks for the feasts of Olokun and Eggun were born — and so were trade and wealth. The two things stand together on purpose: in business and in life, there are people who show you two faces — and the one who can tell them apart is the one who prospers.

Its method for making a fortune is an inward one: money comes when the head is calmed — a cool orí, a house in order (yours is a mess: put it right), and Oyá and the ancestors attended. When this odu comes in iré, everything is better than good — it even announces a son.

«Whoever leaves his own people for strangers dies like the jackal — the wealth of Odi Yeku is not worth that price.»The pulse of Odi Yeku

Its harshest warning comes as a fable: whoever gives up his own people for money and makes friends of strangers will die like the jackal, despised by the very people he came from. Making money has already pulled you away from your family: mend that bridge today, because on the day misfortune comes, they are the ones who arrive first — or do not arrive at all.

Watch your tongue and your glass: you will say one bad word that will weigh on you — mind what you let out —, do not throw curses (they hold you back), do not mock anyone — not the disabled and not drunks, since drink tempts you too — and if you drink, the people under you lose their respect for you, and your position goes with it.

This is an odu of death and burial, but it comes with instructions: the dead one asking for a mass is attended, the sacrifice made in time keeps you from seeing a death this year, and money lost or money asked for arrives by praying to Obatalá — with his two coconuts, cascarilla and a pardon asked for the wrong you have done. Dress in white and make Santo: behind the mask of this odu there is wealth, and it goes to whoever walks with a clean face.

The sign in one line

Calm your head, put your house in order and do not let go of your family — trade was born in Odi Yeku, and it prospers for whoever goes about without a mask.

The prayer of Odi Yeku · Yoruba

Odi Yeku diyeku olordofun barabaniregun oun ruku oloya umbo oun deiese ayarelo, idi kulu eye ruku, adifafun Oya Abagugu Malabeji.

Súyere
Tele mishe telemishe mofishe Odi Yeku Aña Amojo Oguara.

Ifá says — what Odi Yeku tells you

Kaferefún Oya, Obatalá and Shangó. Maferefún Eggun, Olokun and Orunmila.
This is an Ifá of masks: it speaks of people with two faces.
Money comes to you by calming your head, your orí; and when the luck turns bad, sacrifice keeps death away.
You think you are strong because somebody once took fright at you, and you have been living off that swagger; the day they find out you are afraid, they will destroy you.
Making money has pulled you away from your family; when you fall on hard times, they will be slow to help you.
This odu carries two great meanings: death speaks here, and so does the grave.
Your house is a mess and has to be put in order.
You have a taste for drink, so do not mock drunks.
Illness of the breathing and of the blood vessels; your chest is not well.
Money you lost, or money you asked for, is coming to you — pray to Obatalá for it.
Dress in white and make Santo.
A woman in love with a man who is no good for her, while another man who would suit her is on his way.
You look after other people's affairs and neglect your own.

Proverbs of Odi Yeku · Òwe

“No one dies when someone wants them to, only when their turn comes.”
“Whoever gives up their family and their friends and makes friends of strangers will die like a jackal.”
“The dog with a bone in his mouth cannot howl.”
“Whoever finds beauty and does not look at it will soon be poor.”
“If all my children were alike, there would be no quarreling in the world.”
“Where one dog pisses, his brother pisses too.”
“There is no wiser teacher than time.”
“The turtle and the deer do not walk together.”
“No bird knows where the trap is set.”
“For the old, there is no better medicine than peace.”
“Even a short tail can shoo the flies.”
“The poor man weeps alone; the rich man always has company.”
“In the henhouse, everyone agrees with the fighting cock.”
“However much the dead man owned, one box was enough for him.”
“Other people's affairs bring you nothing but blows and insults.”
“Let each of us sweep our own doorway.”
“No gift is enough to calm a jealous person's anger.”

17 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

5 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 Odi Yeku · Ìbí

Trade, and wealth along with it.
When Orunmila set the world right, the doors of the waters opened, everything began to bear young, and trade was born.
The masks worn for the feasts and ceremonies of Olokun and of Eggun.
Ogún carved the masks out of the Iki Amojo tree; this is the Odù laid down for the masks when they are fed.
The consecration of the first Omofá.
He received a hand of 16 ikines out of the 32 that stood for Orunmila in those days; here a hand of Orunmila (Awafakan) was handed over for the first time.
That the one who disobeys again and again is handed over to Ikú.
Orunmila forgives and saves, but whoever goes back to disobeying, he hands over to death.

What is forbidden · Eewó

5 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 Odi Yeku · The sacrifices that open the road

MoneyWork to Obatalá to get things moving🔒 Babalawo

MoneyEbbó of plenty🔒 Babalawo

LoveEbbó for the partner who suits you🔒 Babalawo

LoveEbbó to rebuild your life🔒 Babalawo

Pushing death awaySo the sick one is saved🔒 Babalawo

Pushing death awayThe sacrifice of Olori-Oga against death🔒 Babalawo

Beating enemiesThe ram's hide of the grey hairs🔒 Babalawo

Beating enemiesThe trap in the Castile cane🔒 Babalawo

LossPraying to Obatalá for what was lost🔒 Babalawo

LossThe consecration of Ajuanguan🔒 Babalawo

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

Works of Odi Yeku · The workings of the sign

HealthPraying to Obatalá and asking his pardon🔒 Babalawo

MoneyA white ram for Shangó and Yemayá🔒 Babalawo

SpiritualAtena of masks for Olokun and Eggun🔒 Babalawo

HealthThe consecration of Azojuano-Ajuanguan🔒 Babalawo

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

Patakíes of Odi Yeku · The roads of the Odù

1Abiniku, the blue jackal

A jackal, running from the dogs, fell into a vat of indigo dye and came out blue. All the animals feared him and made him king; but on hearing jackals howling far off, he howled back, was found out, and was torn apart by his own subjects.

A jackal came into a town and the dogs set off after him; running, he got into a dyer's house and fell into a vat of indigo blue. He came out dyed blue, and the dogs, not knowing him, backed away. In the forest, every animal — the tiger, the panthers, the bears, the wolves — fled in fright before this unknown creature, afraid of what it could do.

The jackal made the most of their fear: he called them together and told them the God of the animals had chosen him as king, under the name Abiniku. He handed out posts to every species, but he banished the jackals, his own kind, without so much as speaking to them. He lived in plenty, waited on by the wild beasts. One day, in Council, he heard the mournful howling of jackals far off; his blue coat bristled, his eyes filled with tears and, unable to help himself, he answered with a piercing howl. The tiger cried out: «He is nothing but a jackal — he has fooled us all». They all fell on him in a rage, killed him and tore him apart. Whoever gives up their family and their friends and makes friends of strangers will die like the jackal.

2The birth of the masks

The trees asked Orunmila for standing in the world and made no ebbó. Iki Amojo made the ebbó for his honor but not the one for his body; Ogún carved the masks of the Adamu-Orisha out of him, which calmed the Eggun — and that is why the masks are renewed when the termites eat them.

When the trees came into the world, they went to Orunmila to be held in some regard in life; Odi Yeku came out and he marked them an ebbó, but not one of them made it. To Iki Amojo, Orunmila said he should also make another ebbó with two roosters to protect his body against witchcraft, but he answered that he was only after regard, and that once he had it he had no need to protect his body.

The land was drying out, children were dying and women were not giving birth. Olofin called Orunmila, and he marked goats and roosters for Eshú and a praying of the head with 16 doves. Ogún went and cut the trunk, the mouth, the nose and the ears of Iki Amojo, carved many masks and took them to Olofin; the drums of Ifá were played and the masked men danced from morning to night, consecrating the spirit Adamu-Orisha. That night, Eshú told Ogún that Iki Amojo had made no ebbó for his body; so they put the masks away for the termites to eat the eyes and the nose out of the wood, so new masks would have to be carved. Because he had made ebbó for his honor, he would have the honor of serving for the masks; because he had not made it for his body, the masks have to be renewed. And with the masks, happiness came back, because they set the Eggun at ease.

3The three sorcerer spirits of Ajuanguan

Ajuanguan, the king's twin brother, was a sorcerer who fed on blood. However often they buried him, he came back more violent. Orunmila revealed that he carried two sorcerer spirits, and taught them to shut him inside a jar so he would serve as protection and not as destruction.

In the land of Hebio, King Dijisu Dada had a twin brother, Ajuanguan, a terrible sorcerer who fed on human blood and used it to feed his prendas. The king dug a hole, put him in it with food and covered it over, consecrating him as a Bodun; but Ajuanguan came back a greater sorcerer and more violent than before. They packed in dry roots, cut down a palm trunk and buried him deep, and every time he came back stronger.

Unable to bring him to heel, the king sent for Orunmila, who saw this Odù and said: Ajuanguan carries two sorcerer spirits; for him to serve as protection and not as destruction, he must be put inside a jar, given a goat, a rooster and palm oil, covered with a lid of Ajaraka, buried deep, and a cardón plant sown over him, and fed with his suyere. That is why the Awó of this Ifá receives Azojuano and consecrates Ajuanguan out in the yard, and works him with great care, because he is dangerous.

4The grey hairs🔒 Babalawo

5When they stole Oya's Castile cane🔒 Babalawo

6The dancing owl and the envious rooster🔒 Babalawo

7Orunmila sets the world right and wealth is born🔒 Babalawo

8The man who had no wife🔒 Babalawo

9Obatalá's son and the first hand of Ifá🔒 Babalawo

10Idiyekuyekete divined for Olori-Oga🔒 Babalawo

11Okun Kunsu reaches Ifé by night🔒 Babalawo

12The wild cane, the yam and the miser Suguokun🔒 Babalawo

13The absurd joke🔒 Babalawo

14The trap in the henhouse🔒 Babalawo

15The farmer and Abita🔒 Babalawo

16The hog plum tree🔒 Babalawo

17The golden egg🔒 Babalawo

18Hardship and success🔒 Babalawo

15 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 Odi Yeku in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Odi Yeku

What does the Odù Odi Yeku mean in Ifá?

Masks and two faces: trade is born here, but whoever gives up his own people dies despised by them, like the jackal.

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

Odi Yeku is Odù number 63 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Odi family.

Which orishas speak in Odi Yeku?

In the Odù Odi Yeku these orishas speak: Oya, Obatalá, Shangó, Yemayá, Olokun, Eggun / ancestros, Azojuano (Ajuanguan).

What is a proverb of the Odù Odi Yeku?

One of the proverbs of Odi Yeku says: «No one dies when someone wants them to, only when their turn comes.».

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