Odù 245 of 256 · Ofun family

Ofún Dí

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.

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; 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 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 greed without limits, lending at a profit and the false diviner were born. It is such a heavy Odù that it cannot be set on the board, because it is the dirt of the floor — out of greed he went to keep watch over Olofin skipping the steps of command: in this sign, jumping over rank is the first sin.

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.”

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

8 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 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

7 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 Ofún Dí · The sacrifices that open the road

EspiritualEbbó of Olofin crying for the first time🔒 Babalawo

EspiritualEbbó of the false diviner🔒 Babalawo

Vencer enemigosEbbó against the evil spirits of Igbade🔒 Babalawo

Alejar la muerteEbbó of Shakén (at the foot of the hill)🔒 Babalawo

La pérdidaEbbó of the willful and forgetful one🔒 Babalawo

DineroEbbó of Obatalá and the neighbors🔒 Babalawo

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

Works of Ofún Dí · The workings of the sign

EspiritualThe Awó's sponge (secret of the sign)🔒 Babalawo

EspiritualCup of sea sponge for Egun🔒 Babalawo

EspiritualEbbó of the reliquary against the troubling spirit🔒 Babalawo

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

It happened once that Orunla had two Eleguá who worked for him in every duty of Ozain and to carry the ebbós where they belonged.

But one day Orunla did his osode, and Ifá told him to look carefully, that his ebbós were not working and were not reaching their destination properly. Orunla began to doubt his two Eleguá, and he called Odí Fumbo and asked him where Ofún Dí was, since he had sent him to deliver an ebbó and he had not come back. Odí Fumbo answered: «Babá, Ofún Dí is stealing the things from your ebbó».

Then Orunla realized that Ofún Dí was a thief and that his ebbós could never work and his children could never get ahead, and from that moment he told Odí Fumbo: «You will stay forever to seal the ebbós».

Note: Ofún Dí said to Odí Fumbo: «You are a traitor, you betrayed me to Orunla». But Odí Fumbo answered: «The traitor is you, who have betrayed Orunla and Olofin, since you were the one the two of them trusted».

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 story tells part of the life of Ozain, who was lazy and spent his time with the doves and the drums. One day, Olofin came down to Earth to hand out all the wonderful powers to the Santeros and Babalawos, and when Ozain heard about it and went to where Olofin was, he came late: the handing out of powers was already over.

But Olofin settled it that, when the Santeros and Babalawos needed the herbs, they would have to go and get them at Ozain's house and pay him the fee for that work.

But Ozain was always late to the consecrations of Osha and Ifá, and so complaints were brought to Olofin, and he, ashamed, was put to shame, and one day he came to the land of Adarasá by surprise, with Osun beside him, and threw shepé on Ozain. When he was finished scolding him, he went away crying, and when he got to lesé Iwí Arabá he began to sing:

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

Olofin looked for Iwí to take Ozain's place, and Iwí swore to be on time: every time a Santero or Babalawo called him, he always did what was asked.

Note: whoever betrays his own elder will betray anyone, no matter how much friendship or duty 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, this person must be respectful and carry out his duties completely; he must be on time and fair in his decisions.

This story is from the days and the life of Ozain, who was lazy, and whose time spent with the birds, with music and with drink made him a useless man.

Olofin, seeing this, took pity on him and called him, saying: «Ofún Dí, I want to help you. What do you know how to do?». And he answered: «I know the herbs». «Very well», Olofin told him, «from today on you will see to bringing the herbs to the Orishas and the Awoses for their ceremonies». And right after that, Olofin vouched for him as a reliable man he trusted.

It happened that one day a consecration was to be held, and Ofún Dí had been given charge of the herbs, a job he did not do, and so nothing could be done. This outraged all the Orishas, who went to complain to Olofin: «Olofin, if you knew that man was unreliable, why did you vouch for him to us? Look: because he did not come through, we could not hold a ceremony».

After they had all left and Olofin was alone, he had to regret before all the Orishas the trust he had put in Ofún Dí: his word had fallen to the ground. Tears came to Olofin's eyes, and he cursed Ofún Dí.

4Ozain, King of everything that grows🔒 Babalawo

5The false diviner (Awó Lerí Mashe)🔒 Babalawo

6The evil spirits of the village of Igbade (Awó Obani Ikú Orun and Awó Obaniré)🔒 Babalawo

7Eshu frees the Awó («The wall that falls down in the house does not kill the man who is out in the field»)🔒 Babalawo

8Shakén goes straight up to keep watch over Olofin out of greed and it costs him his life🔒 Babalawo

9Eshu cut the rope and Shakeu hung in the air for being greedy🔒 Babalawo

10When Obatalá wanted Orula to dry up the sea🔒 Babalawo

11Obatalá got lost in the woods🔒 Babalawo

12Obatalá at odds with the neighbors over the goat🔒 Babalawo

13He got his freedom through a shame🔒 Babalawo

14The willful, stubborn and forgetful one with bad diarrhea🔒 Babalawo

15Elegbá, Ozain's errand runner, came to know the herbs🔒 Babalawo

16The lost girl and the coal mine🔒 Babalawo

17Oshún Obiní Olelé travels the world🔒 Babalawo

18Ofún Dí under the board🔒 Babalawo

19The woman who turned Awó Iguelé into a handkerchief🔒 Babalawo

20The miser of the gold mines🔒 Babalawo

21The unbeliever turned into a sea sponge🔒 Babalawo

22The dwarf king🔒 Babalawo

23Osain became Obá of Ilé Katsina🔒 Babalawo

24The two goats🔒 Babalawo

25The lost son🔒 Babalawo

26The straight one and the crooked one🔒 Babalawo

23 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 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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