Ofun Rete

Also called Ofún Bíle, Ofún Irete, Ofún Birete

nº 255 of 256 · Edited by Ricco Ledesma

The immortality of the soul and Orí Inú, the inner head: all the Orishas were asleep and only Orí got up. A prosperous life depends on him.

19 patakíes 8 eewó 9 ebbós and works 19 proverbs

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Ofun Rete is Odù number 255 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Ofun family. It is also written as Ofún Bíle or Ofún Irete or Ofún Birete. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 19 patakíes (3 in full in plain sight, with their teaching, ebbó and chants), its proverbs, 9 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 255 of 256
Composition: Ofun over Irete
Orishas that speak: Orí (Orí Aperé) · Olorun · San Lázaro (Azojuano / Oluopopó) · Obatalá · Oyá · Shangó · Oshún · Ozain · Omó Alá Yegún (Orun)

What Ifá says in this sign

Ofun Rete, also known as Ofún Bíle, is the sign where the immortality of the soul and a spirituality without end were born, and with them Orí Inú, the inner head that holds each person's destiny. Here the orishas fell asleep and only Orí rose early to greet Olorun, and so it won the highest place. Its ruling is clear: your Orí is what sustains you; tend to it before undertaking anything and it will defeat those who conspire against you.

You are a fortunate person who has already had three strokes of luck, and through this sign money comes to you. San Lázaro must be in your home, since through him you obtain what you desire, and through Obatalá you receive something great that changes your situation. But many evil eyes are on you: they envy the place you have reached. Remember the frog that would not make ebbó because it felt safe under its stone and died as soon as it came out: in this sign no one is safe by hiding, and there is danger of death if you do not obey Orunmila. Beware of the law.

«All the Orishas fell asleep and only Orí got up: the inner head of Ofún Bíle is the origin and the essence of being.»The pulse of Ofun Rete

Here Indiscretion was born, the child of Ikú, which is not knowing how to listen to advice: Wealth believed it owned everything, listened to no one and the fire consumed it. Hear what you are advised, but decide with your own head, find out before you act and finish what you start. Do not argue, do not get involved in gossip, and stay away from bad friends and from drinking. A departed person who raised you appears to you in white and asks you for food: honor the Egun, because whoever forgets them loses the friendship of their people.

In love and at home, the man who does not please his wife falls behind, and do not mock when women are talked about, or people will take you for a braggart. Look after the youngest child, because Oyá protects that child and through them luck comes to the whole family. Take special care with your mother: the son who charged her for curing her received her curse, and since then nothing he does without charging turns out well. Charge for your work, but ask your mother for forgiveness.

In health, look after your stomach, which is prone to ulcers. This sign speaks of sleeping epilepsy, a sleep so deep it is mistaken for death, and of a harmful dust that falls from above on anyone: only those who protected themselves beforehand are spared. Two friends may die soon, and the neighbors do not let you rest: avoid confrontations. If you are prudent in hard moments, a long life awaits you.

The sign in one line

Listen to advice without letting it rule you, finish what you begin and feed your dead: a well fed Orí overcomes even mortality.

The prayer of Ofun Rete · Yoruba

Ofún Birete Ofún Aguaté Kabú Adifafún Olosé Ladafún Anegún Inyá Obiní Tontó Ekoé Ayerdiyó Wo Orbó Agután Diyuwó Ayá Lordafún Ariegún Lolá Omó Abarín Kolomó Omó Obiní Ordé Alá Yegún Omó Alá Yegún Yeleshisín Ni Bi Maré.

Súyere
Orún Baterí Orí Obawaó Ofún Awaté Onibá Eggun Omó Yegún Orún.

Ifá says — what Ofun Rete tells you

The okuní must be indulgent with his wife, so that his life does not stall.
When dealing with matters of women, stop the mockery and the tall tales: among those who hear you, they already say that you are a boaster.
Listen to advice, but do not let anyone direct you: use your own intelligence.
Neither the mother nor the woman may dress in showy prints or bright colors.
This Odù brings an unbearable smell, like that of epó and the fats of Miná Popó.
Money is received through this Odù; something great is obtained through Obatalá.
He will make a Santo or an Ifá for someone of higher rank than himself; to avoid dying because of it he must do orugbó. If he is an Awó and it falls to him to give a Santo to another Awó or to an Iyalosha, he first feeds the person's lerí with obí, then with two etú or two eyelé, and it is asked through divination whether Elegbara should receive an obí or a whole raw ishú with epó; afterward it is thrown in the plaza, cut lengthwise into two halves.
When the mother has already died, a jutía is offered to her.
You must hold a festival for the Jimaguas and receive Osain.
He is arrested and hunted for having escaped, like the reckless young man of bad company.
The stomach tract needs attention, because it gets into a depressing condition; for stomach ulcers, the liquid from the banana plant stump is taken.
You are very fortunate, but you have many evil eyes on you; you have had three lucks.
You dreamed of a dead person who appeared to you dressed in white, the same one who raised you: he is asking you for food.
The ewé of the Odù are the canistel and the filigrana.
Orí, Orí Aperé (the Head, the Governor) and Orí Inú speak. Orí Aperé holds dominion over every Orí Inú, and they are the ones who govern the destiny of all beings, Orishas included. Orí Aperé is a sphere that, as Orunmila decides, is made of stone, ivory, clay, wood or lead; its indispensable component is the Odù that rules each person.
The sacrifices to Orí speak here, and they are of four kinds: the kola nut (obí), which drives away evil; water, snails (igbín) and coconut, which are called «softeners» because they act on Orí, whose main difficulty is its hardness; toasted ground corn (aadún) together with sugar cane (ireké), which attract good fortune; and the rooster and the duck, with which the favor of the community is won and those who have been wronged are calmed.
Here speaks the Egun Pakunwá Lerí, with which the people of the land Ofún Awaté fell when the great shadow of Orun rose.
Here speaks the owl that swallowed the cricket: flattery hides the trap.
It speaks of the cosmic dust that Oshún sends to the Earth.
Here speaks the whirlwind of water and fire in which Wealth lost everything.
Here speaks the Orí of each creature: the dog's Orí helps it cut through the bushes; to split the Iroko tree, thunder makes use of Orí; and the fish, with its Orí, swims through the water without trouble.

Proverbs of Ofun Rete · Òwe

“The spirit is to the body in life what wings are to the bird in the sky.”
“What a blind man he is who explains the road to you.”
“Rich people tend to die young in the search for more riches.”
“Those who keep their heads in hard times are meant to enjoy the fresh air of a long life.”
“Indiscretion and wealth are always at odds.”
“Find out first and act afterward.”
“My Orí Inú (my spirit head) gave me life.”
“Orí is the maker of a person before the world began.”
“The dog's Orí helps him cut through the brush.”
“There is something worse than death: the fear of it, since that is what torments you.”
“The harm we do not know about we cannot get rid of.”
“Whoever takes care lives, whoever is careless dies.”
“Whoever lives to feed his appetites is their slave.”
“A lotus in disguise is still a lotus.”
“The dead man in front and the shouting behind.”
“Whoever thinks with his back to Heaven dies facing the ground.”
“Paper puts up with everything you put on it.”
“Whoever knows what others cannot see is surely a diviner.”
“Whoever listens to wicked advice sinks.”

16 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

They are a very fortunate person, and have already had three strokes of luck.
Their inner head, their destiny, defeats the conspiracy of those who envy them when they look after it.
Through San Lázaro they get what they wish for, and through this sign they receive money.

Osogbo · what the sign warns

They have many evil eyes on them, and people envy their position and want to destroy them.
There is a conspiracy against them, although their destiny protects them.
They are jailed and are sought for having escaped.

38 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 Ofun Rete · Ìbí

What is spiritual and eternal, and the immortal nature of the soul.
Orí triumphed over mortality: «I shall not die; may all good things belong to me, just as the light belongs to Amakisí».
Orí Inú: the inner head, the destiny.
Every human being and every Orisha, before coming to the Earth, goes to Ajalá, the molder of heads; the Orí Inú of each being sets its most immediate destiny.
Sleeping epilepsy.
The daughter wept over her dead mother, fell asleep and was almost buried by mistake.
That everything has to be done completely.
The son of Obatalá only had his head prayed over and gave food to Oshún without making the whole ebbó, and he went through great hardship in Miná Popó.
That the frog perishes for not obeying what Orunmila said.
Trusting her stone, she did not make ebbó, and when she came out a man killed her with a thrown rock.
Indiscretion (Aigborón, child of Ikú): not being able to listen to advice.
Wealth wanted to buy endless long life from Ikú, and Indiscretion came like a whirlwind of fire: Wealth died going in to save her treasures from the burning house.
That for everything one does a fee must be charged, so that it turns out well.
From the curse the mother cast on Afuké Awó: «Just as you charged me, although I am your mother, nothing you do without charging will go well for you».
That all the Orishas kept sleeping and only Orí stood up.
Ogbón (Wisdom) ordered that the Creator be greeted with reverence right at dawn: only Orí obeyed, and his sacrifice was received with favor.
That on waking one must honor Olorun.
From the victory of Orí: you have to get up early and ask God for power and authority.
Orí Odé (the outer head), the counterpart of Orí Inú.
The physical head comes out first at birth, as Orí Inú is the first thing created: that is why it is treated with respect and worshipped as Iborí.
Cosmic dust.
Oshún sends it to the Earth: whoever has an umbrella is saved; whoever does not has it fall on them.

What is forbidden · Eewó

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

Do not get caught up in quarrels with anyone and do not take part in gossip.
Rule of this Ifá.
Never look back.
Rule of this Ifá.
Do not drink alcohol.
Rule of this Ifá.
Do not wear clothing identical to another person's.
It comes from the sleeping epilepsy: they almost buried her by mistake; she has a nickname, and must do orugbó using the clothes she has on.
The mother or the wife cannot dress in big flower prints or loud colors.
Rule of this Ifá.
Do not leave things half done.
Everything must be done in full: the son of Obatalá went through hardship for not doing the whole ebbó.
Do not charge your mother, and do not deny her good because of money.
The curse of the mother of Afuké Awó reaches whoever does it.
Do not climb up to where flattery calls you.
The cricket climbed up because of the owl's praise, and she swallowed him in one bite.

Ebbós of Ofun Rete · The sacrifices that open the road

SpiritualEbbó of Miná Popó🔒 The Notebook SpiritualEbbó of the pact with Omó Alá Yegún🔒 The Notebook Overcoming enemiesEbbó of the owl and the cricket🔒 The Notebook HealthEbbó of the curse of Ofún Bíle🔒 The Notebook MoneyEbbó to make the family greater🔒 The Notebook

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

Works of Ofun Rete · The workings of the sign

SpiritualThe agborán Omó Alá Yegún (pact for the Awó's growth)🔒 The Notebook MoneyWork to make the family greater🔒 The Notebook LoveTo bring back those who have fallen out🔒 The Notebook HealthWater for the illness🔒 The Notebook

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

Patakíes of Ofun Rete · The roads of the Odù

1The frog who trusted her stone

The frog lived under a rock. Orunmila was traveling the world and, passing by, he saw her. He wanted her to be spared from what was coming and told her to make an ebbó. But the frog answered that she did not fear her enemies, because she lived under that rock and nobody could harm her.

Orunmila continued his journey. After a while, the frog came out from under the rock and a man saw her, took a stone and killed her with a single blow.

The frog died because she did not heed Orunmila's advice.

What it teaches

Whoever feels safe in his shelter and ignores Orunmila's warning pays with his life. No rock protects the one who does not do what Ifá ordered.

2The young fugitive who sought out Orunmila

There was a young man whose mother worked as a prostitute. His family also included people with ties to the religion of the saints. Because of his character and the bad company he kept, the young man was somewhat reckless.

One day he ended up in jail and escaped from the police. The officers searched for him. Meanwhile, he went to see Orunmila, and Orunmila prescribed an ebbó to free him from the trouble.

What it teaches

A careless character and bad friendships can lead a person to jail and to flight. Even so, whoever goes to Orunmila in time finds a way out of the problem.

3Wealth dies trying to save her treasures

Wealth came down from Heaven to Earth and piled up so much that nothing in the world was out of her reach. That made her proud and arrogant, and she even challenged Kings and nobles alike.

One day she returned to Heaven intending to buy from Ikú, death, a long and eternal life. There they explained that she had to make her request to Indiscretion, or Aigborón, Ikú's son, whose full name means “the one who cannot hear advice.” Indiscretion accepted the request kindly and announced that he would come to see her on Earth in seven days; he asked her to prepare his reception.

Back on Earth, Wealth sent invitations to her friends and relatives so that they would help her receive such a distinguished guest with honors, with plenty of food and drink. Guests arrived in great numbers before the banquet was ready.

Indiscretion had not specified either the hour or the manner of his arrival. He came down from Heaven transformed into a tornado, at noon. Suddenly a whirlwind surrounded Wealth's grounds and people ran out in disorder. The whirlwind grew stronger and started fires in front of the kitchen, on the roof of the house and in the palace. Wealth lamented that inside remained very valuable treasures that she had to take out of that blaze.

Everyone begged her not to go into the burning house, and nobody could stop her. She threw herself inside without weighing the risk, and the fire killed her.

That is why the rich die before their time wanting more wealth: once they have it, they stop heeding advice. In contrast, whoever acts with prudence in critical moments will be able to enjoy a long life.

What it teaches

Wealth buys neither life nor wisdom. Whoever becomes rich and stops listening to advice risks losing everything by trying to save what he has.

4Azojuano and Elegba rescue Obatalá's son🔒 The Notebook 5Awó Oloshé and the secret of Omó Alá Yegún🔒 The Notebook 6The owl swallowed the cricket🔒 The Notebook 7The curse of Ofún Bíle (Afuké Awó and his mother)🔒 The Notebook 8The daughter who was almost buried asleep🔒 The Notebook 9The family is made greater🔒 The Notebook 10Orí rises early and wins the throne of the orishas🔒 The Notebook 11Cosmic dust🔒 The Notebook 12How the Sun and the Moon were chosen🔒 The Notebook 13Olofin's cycles of shrinking and spreading🔒 The Notebook 14The magic powder🔒 The Notebook 15The female monkey and the crab🔒 The Notebook 16The great grieving🔒 The Notebook 17Where Oshún saves her children🔒 The Notebook 18The straight one and the crooked one🔒 The Notebook 19The winter cabin🔒 The Notebook

16 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 Ofun Rete in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Ofun Rete

What does the Odù Ofun Rete mean in Ifá?

The immortality of the soul and Orí Inú, the inner head: all the Orishas were asleep and only Orí got up. A prosperous life depends on him.

What number is Ofun Rete among the 256 Odù of Ifá?

Ofun Rete is Odù number 255 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Ofun family.

Which orishas speak in Ofun Rete?

In the Odù Ofun Rete these orishas speak: Orí (Orí Aperé), Olorun, San Lázaro (Azojuano / Oluopopó), Obatalá, Oyá, Shangó, Oshún, Ozain, Omó Alá Yegún (Orun).

What is a proverb of the Odù Ofun Rete?

One of the proverbs of Ofun Rete says: «The spirit is to the body in life what wings are to the bird in the sky.».

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