Ofún Dí

nº 245 of 256

Greed without limits and lending at a profit, where Olofin cried for the first time: it is not set on the board — and an Egun will give him the ashé he was cursed out of.

26 patakíes 7 eewó 9 ebbós and works 17 proverbs

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Ofún Dí is Odù number 245 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Ofun family. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 26 patakíes (3 with the full text), its proverbs, 9 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 245 of 256
Composition: Ofun over Odi
In the Diloggún: 10-7 · Ofún tonti Odí
Orishas that speak: Ozain · Olofin · Elegbá (Elegbara) · Shangó · Obatalá · Egun

What Ifá says in this sign

Ofún Dí — also called Ofún Din Din — is the sign where Olofin cried for the first time: here were born unchecked ambition, usury and the false diviner. It is an Odù so heavy that it cannot be put on the board, because it is the dirt of the floor — out of ambition he went to keep watch over Olofin breaking the steps of the chain of command: in this sign, skipping the hierarchy is the fault at the origin.

The spiritual diagnosis here can be turned around: he is born without the ashé to read, because of curses thrown on him — but an Egun will give him everything: he is the witch who gets bewitched. The dead one behind him turns his life upside down if he does not listen — and is his best weapon if he does; the dark shadow, Enikejiren Orun, is pulled off with oparaldo.

«Out of greed he climbed up to keep watch over Olofin, skipping the steps — and Olofin cried for the first time with Ofún Dí.»The pulse of Ofún Dí

His portrait needs correcting: stubborn, willful, stingy and unreliable — that is why they push him out even when he holds a good post — he does not admit fault and does not say sorry, because he is too greedy, and the false diviner of this sign gets it wrong because he does not want to see the reality around him: in the end he dies hungry and with no titles. Be respectful, be on time, be fair — and do not talk about Ifá if you are not an Awó.

Here is where his luck leaks out: laziness and getting lost in music, parties and drums — that is where the fortune goes — drink that turns his stomach with allergies and diarrhea, the people close to him who steal from him, the woman behind the harm thrown in his house, and the neighbors who want him out. There are even riches under the ground that are lost if he does not turn to the wisdom of Ifá.

Its secrets at the door: the sponge behind the door with its seven Black Princes — it is turned over every month with its two doves — and a handkerchief in the street is never picked up: it stands for an Egun and it sickens the eyes. If the ebbó brings you a fright and a shame, it will be for your good: Orunmila saves the one who lost his way — and leads him until he finds his true destiny.

The sign in one line

Respect the ranks above you, listen to the Egun behind you, and give up the partying — because Orunmila leads Ofún Dí all the way to his true destiny.

The prayer of Ofún Dí · Yoruba

Ofún Dí Awó Nifa Awó Lerí Mashe Kue Obomi Beleke Inlé Añañaifin Ogori Ninshawo Ebere Ni Yoyorun Iyare Eggún Awó Ibashe Orí Ni Bashe Ofo Lerí Boshe Shangó Ení Bewa Efi Mi Oyun Orí Intorí Ofo Oduto Adifafún Etú Osutu Adifafún Lofi Osuto Abe Ni Awa Oyu Bemi Boshe Inlé Tori La La Elegbara Ibashe Orí Bashe Akarin Boshe Eleriri Fete Awa Ni Awa Ona Shini Awa Obbá Ni Boshe Bogbo Ni Orún Male Ofún Dí Awó Mofun Ewa Beni Orún Oni Laye Opkuele Bolishe Awó.

Súyere
Eyelé Dun Dun Eggún Dun Dun Mawa / Eyelé Fun Fun Mawa Eggún Fun Fun Mawa.

Ifá says — what Ofún Dí tells you

It is an Ifá of being looked down on and of the slap in the face: the slave is freed ahead of time because of a shame. It is an Ifá of losing your bearings, your direction in life and in things: Orunmila saves this person and will lead him until he finds his true destiny. It is an Ifá of no progress because of bad payments and betrayal by people close to him: Orunmila and Olofin are betrayed here. It is an Ifá of laziness and of getting lost in things with no worth — music, parties, drums — and that is how the luck is lost. It is an Ifá of duties not carried out and of a word not kept. It is an Ifá of a dark shadow behind him, Enikejiren Orun: oparaldo has to be done. People talk about Ifá here without being Awó and throw shells without being Iworo: the false diviner gets his readings wrong because he does not want to see the reality around him. He has a dead one behind him who turns his life upside down if he does not listen; otherwise, that dead one is his best weapon: an Egun will give him everything.
This person is a false diviner who gets his readings wrong; he does not want to know the reality around him, he does not admit fault and does not say sorry because he is too greedy, he breaks the pattern of the wisdom of Ifá, and so he loses his chance and ends up dying hungry and with no titles.
A stubborn, willful, forgetful, stingy and unreliable person, even if he holds a good post, and that is why they push him out: he must be respectful, be on time, be fair in his decisions and carry out his duties completely.
Drink and music turn him into a useless person; drink can bring him great stomach trouble, since he cannot take wine or alcohol, with allergies that give him bad diarrhea.
The stomach suffers here: gas, bad diarrhea and its opposite, being stopped up; here the waste turned to stone and could not come out. He must take care of his belly, the walls of his gut and his lungs.
His leg hurts when he passes water.
Trouble with the neighbors, who do not want this person living there anymore and want him out.
People are stealing from him, and they are people close to him; a woman is behind the harm thrown in his house.
Things of value are found under the ground — deposits of things from Nature — but if he does not turn to the wisdom of Ifá, they are lost.
He gets bold and far too nosy, to the point of sinking into his subject and losing his way in life, dirtying himself with the worst of what people do, so much so that he can lose his life.
He will find himself worn out and tired, and people will doubt what he can do because he does not obey; his elders are ashamed of how he acts and of the bad choice they made when they picked him.
The woman is thinking of leaving her husband and going somewhere else where there is a man she likes; her head is very hard and she listens to no one.
This person holds back his own good.
The ewé of this Odù are: poppy, cypress, wild grapes and maidenhair fern.
The sponge speaks: the secret of the Awó of this sign is a sponge behind the door of the house, with seven Black Princes, sandbox tree and live-forever; every month the sponge is turned over and given one dundún eyelé and one funfún.
Eshu Alawata speaks, the Eshu of this Odù: he is loaded with goosegrass, coolness plant, nettle, ivy, peony, cowitch, get-up plant, ero, obí, kolá, ozún, earth from dry ground, from the hill, from the jail and from the crossroads, lerí of ayapá, of akukó and of aya, quicksilver, awadó, ekú, eyá, epó, otí, oñí, otí kana, eyes and mouths of shells and 3 ikordié.
Oshún Olelé speaks, who traveled the world to stay alive: the woman steals and is an outlaw.
The foul wind and the shame after the ebbó speak: if you make ebbó, you will get a fright and go through a shame that will be for your good.
The handkerchief in the street speaks: it stands for an Egun; you cannot pick it up or use it, because you can get sick in your eyes.
The witch who gets bewitched speaks: Ofún Dí, osó se o to.

Proverbs of Ofún Dí · Òwe

“What you throw in the sea goes to the bottom.”
“Flowers grow in the swamp too.”
“Being nosy can cost you your life.”
“Whoever grabs too much holds on to little.”
“Whoever betrays his own elder will betray anyone, no matter how much friendship or duty there is.”
“He got his freedom through a shame.”
“The wall that falls down in the house does not kill the man who is out in the field.”
“He squeezes his backside and breaks wind; he does not squeeze it and breaks wind.”
“Tie up the boat so it does not go under.”
“Fear is not so bad when it can take care of us.”
“No one who holds back kindness in his own house will get kindness from outside.”
“No matter how well cheating is hidden, the one being cheated always finds out.”
“Children cannot be hidden, because they never stop growing.”
“You cannot cover the sun with one finger.”
“Being born is a mystery; to die, all you have to do is be alive.”
“You are a child now, you will be a parent later; as you do, so it will be done to you.”
“Whoever cheats has no defense when they cheat him.”

14 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 Ofún Dí · Ìbí

Greed without limits.
Shakén climbed up the rope to keep watch over Olofin directly, skipping the steps of command, and Eshu cut the rope: he died without taking his father's title.
Dropping the anchor so the boat does not go under.
Tie up the boat: rein in your greed, because it will take you to your own ruin.
The false diviner, because of his lies.
A son of Elegbara, who threw him out for lying; he was born without the ashé to be a diviner, but Shangó gave him the powers through an Egun.
Lending at a profit and grabbing what is not yours.
The Awó of this sign was a pirate: he stole the things from the ebbós he was supposed to carry where they belonged.
Helping whoever is in need.
Orunmila took in Obatalá when he was lost in the woods, gave him water and food, and Obatalá gave him great luck.
That one brother betrays the other.
Ofún Dí stole the ebbós and called Odí Fumbo a traitor; Odí Fumbo answered: the traitor is you, who betrayed Orunmila and Olofin, and they trusted you.
That Olofin cries for the first time.
Because Ofún Dí was unreliable with the herbs for the consecration, the word of Olofin fell to the ground, tears came to his eyes and he cursed him.
That Odí Fumbo seals the ebbós for all time.
Orunmila found out that Ofún Dí stole the things from the ebbó and ruled that Odí Fumbo would be the one to seal them.

What is forbidden · Eewó

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

Do not pick up or use handkerchiefs found in the street.
An Egun takes shape in them and you can get sick in your eyes; a woman tied up Awó Iguelé and turned him into a handkerchief.
Do not work under the ground and do not hoard money.
It is your death: the miser who looked for gold under the mines; shortness of breath.
Do not break the steps of command: do not go to the top boss without passing through the ones in between.
Shakén went to keep watch over Olofin directly because he was greedy, and it cost him his life.
Do not be a flatterer of the bosses.
Respect the chain of command.
Do not argue stubbornly, do not boast and do not get ahead of yourself.
So that you are not lost: you do not accept apologies and you do not ask for forgiveness, and that destroys you.
Do not fight against the impossible and do not do what you are not sure of.
Obatalá could not soften the stones, just as Orula could not dry up the sea: you have to be humble.
Do not abuse drink.
It creates allergies and intolerances in you that produce bad diarrhea; drink and music make you useless.

Ebbós of Ofún Dí · The sacrifices that open the road

SpiritualEbbó of Olofin crying for the first time🔒 The Notebook SpiritualEbbó of the false diviner🔒 The Notebook Beating enemiesEbbó against the evil spirits of Igbade🔒 The Notebook Keeping death awayEbbó of Shakén (at the foot of the hill)🔒 The Notebook LossEbbó of the willful and forgetful one🔒 The Notebook MoneyEbbó of Obatalá and the neighbors🔒 The Notebook

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

Works of Ofún Dí · The workings of the sign

SpiritualThe Awó's sponge (secret of the sign)🔒 The Notebook SpiritualCup of sea sponge for Egun🔒 The Notebook SpiritualEbbó of the reliquary against the troubling spirit🔒 The Notebook

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

Patakíes of Ofún Dí · The roads of the Odù

1Whoever grabs too much holds on to little (Ofún Dí stole the ebbós)

Orunla had two Eleguá to carry the ebbós; Ifá warned him that his ebbós were not working, and Odí Fumbo told him Ofún Dí was stealing them: that is why Odí Fumbo was left sealing the ebbós forever, and it became clear who the real traitor was.

Orunla had two Eleguá in his service: they helped him in everything to do with Ozain and they took each ebbó where it had to go.

One day Orunla did osode on himself, and in it Ifá put him on notice: he should open his eyes wide, because his ebbós were not working and were not reaching their destination as they should. Suspicion fell on the two Eleguá. He sent for Odí Fumbo and wanted to know the whereabouts of Ofún Dí, whom he had entrusted with an ebbó that never came back. The answer was: "Babá, Ofún Dí is stealing the things from the ebbó".

That is how Orunla learned he had a thief at home, and understood why none of his ebbós had any effect and why his children got nowhere. From that moment he ruled, speaking to Odí Fumbo: "You will stay forever to seal the ebbós".

Note: Ofún Dí faced Odí Fumbo: "You are a traitor, you betrayed me with Orunla". And Odí Fumbo threw the reproach back at him: "The traitor is you, who have betrayed Orunla and Olofin, since you were the trusted one of them both".

2Ozain, lazy and distracted

Ozain, taken up with the doves and the drums, came late to Olofin's handing out of powers; he was left as the one who sells the herbs, but he kept coming late to the consecrations: Olofin, put to shame, threw shepé on him and put Iwí in his place, who swore to be on time.

This road tells of a stretch of the life of Ozain, a lazy man whose time went by between the doves and the drums. It happened that Olofin came down to Earth to hand out to Santeros and Babalawos all those wonderful powers; Ozain heard about it late, and when he finally came before him there was nothing left to hand out.

Even so, Olofin set something up in his favor: whoever needed herbs —Santero or Babalawo— would have to go for them to Ozain's house and leave him his fee for that work.

But Ozain never got to the consecrations of Osha and Ifá on time. Complaints piled up before Olofin, who felt shame and embarrassment over it, and one day he showed up with no warning in the land of Adarasá, with Osun at his side, and threw shepé on Ozain. When the scolding was over he walked away crying, and once at lesé Iwí Arabá he broke into song:

Oro Bini Ozain, Akuedí Maro / Oro Bini Ozain, Akuedí Maro.

Then Olofin went to look for Iwí to take Ozain's place, and Iwí promised to be on time: from then on, called by a Santero or by a Babalawo, he never failed to do what they asked of him.

Note: whoever betrays his elder will betray anyone, no matter how much friendship or commitment there is.

3Olofin cries for the first time

Olofin, taking pity on the lazy Ofún Dí, put him in charge of bringing the herbs to the Orishas and Awoses and vouched for him as a man to be trusted; on the day of the consecration he did not come through, the Orishas complained, and Olofin, with his word fallen to the ground, cried for the first time and cursed him.

On this road respect is demanded, and full compliance with what falls to you: to arrive on time and to decide without favoring anyone.

The story sets down a period in the life of Ozain, a man given to idleness: his time went by among the birds, the music and the drink, and he was of no use.

Olofin, seeing him like that, took pity and sent for him: "Ofún Dí, I want to help you, what do you know how to do?". The answer was: "I know the herbs". Olofin closed the deal: "Well then, from today you will take charge of bringing the herbs to the Orishas and to the Awoses for their ceremonies". And right away he vouched for him, presenting him as a serious man worthy of his trust.

It then happened that a consecration was being prepared and the herbs fell to Ofún Dí. He did not come through, and without them there was no way to do anything. The Orishas, outraged, came before Olofin to complain: "Olofin, if you knew that man was unreliable, why did you recommend him to us? Look: because of his unreliability we could not do a ceremony".

When everyone had gone and left him alone, Olofin measured what he had done: in front of the Orishas he had vouched for Ofún Dí, and his word was now on the floor. Tears came to his eyes and he cursed Ofún Dí.

4Ozain, King of everything that grows🔒 The Notebook 5The false diviner (Awó Lerí Mashe)🔒 The Notebook 6The evil spirits of the village of Igbade (Awó Obani Ikú Orun and Awó Obaniré)🔒 The Notebook 7Eshu frees the Awó («The wall that falls down in the house does not kill the man who is out in the field»)🔒 The Notebook 8Shakén goes straight up to keep watch over Olofin out of greed and it costs him his life🔒 The Notebook 9Eshu cut the rope and Shakeu hung in the air for being greedy🔒 The Notebook 10When Obatalá wanted Orula to dry up the sea🔒 The Notebook 11Obatalá got lost in the woods🔒 The Notebook 12Obatalá at odds with the neighbors over the goat🔒 The Notebook 13He got his freedom through a shame🔒 The Notebook 14The willful, stubborn and forgetful one with bad diarrhea🔒 The Notebook 15Elegbá, Ozain's errand runner, came to know the herbs🔒 The Notebook 16The lost girl and the coal mine🔒 The Notebook 17Oshún Obiní Olelé travels the world🔒 The Notebook 18Ofún Dí under the board🔒 The Notebook 19The woman who turned Awó Iguelé into a handkerchief🔒 The Notebook 20The miser of the gold mines🔒 The Notebook 21The unbeliever turned into a sea sponge🔒 The Notebook 22The dwarf king🔒 The Notebook 23Osain became Obá of Ilé Katsina🔒 The Notebook 24The two goats🔒 The Notebook 25The lost son🔒 The Notebook 26The straight one and the crooked one🔒 The Notebook

23 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 Ofún Dí in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Ofún Dí

What does the Odù Ofún Dí mean in Ifá?

Greed without limits and lending at a profit, where Olofin cried for the first time: it is not set on the board — and an Egun will give him the ashé he was cursed out of.

What number is Ofún Dí among the 256 Odù of Ifá?

Ofún Dí is Odù number 245 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Ofun family.

Which orishas speak in Ofún Dí?

In the Odù Ofún Dí these orishas speak: Ozain, Olofin, Elegbá (Elegbara), Shangó, Obatalá, Egun.

What is a proverb of the Odù Ofún Dí?

One of the proverbs of Ofún Dí says: «What you throw in the sea goes to the bottom.».

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