Ofun Di

Also called Ofún Oddí, Ofún Din Din

nº 245 of 256 · Edited by Ricco Ledesma

Unbridled ambition and usury, where Olofin wept for the first time: it is not put on the board, and an Egun will give you the ashé that was cursed away from you.

26 patakíes 7 eewó 9 ebbós and works 17 proverbs

First time with an Odù? Learn how to read one →

Ofun Di is Odù number 245 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Ofun family. It is also written as Ofún Oddí or Ofún Din Din. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 26 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 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

Ofun Di, also known as Ofún Oddí and Ofún Din Din, is the sign where Olofin wept for the first time, when the man he had recommended failed him. Here were born boundless ambition, the false diviner, usury and betrayal between brothers, but also the duty to help those in need. Its ruling is hard and generous at once: you came into the world without ashé because of curses cast on you, but an Egun will give you everything, and through him Shangó hands you the powers you need.

The main warning is ambition. Rein in what you want and do not skip over anyone to get to the top: in this sign someone went straight before Olofin seeking a title and ended up hanging from a rope. Respect the chain of command, do not flatter your bosses and do not keep money hoarded, because here wealth hidden under the ground smothers whoever keeps it. Keep your word and admit your faults: asking forgiveness in time saves you.

«Out of ambition he went up to keep vigil over Olofin, skipping the steps, and Olofin wept for the first time with Ofún Dí.»The pulse of Ofun Di

Beware of betrayal, which comes from the hand of someone you fully trust. Those close to you steal from you, a woman is working harm in your home and the neighbors want to drive you out of where you live. Do not use a handkerchief you find in the street, because it harms your eyes or an Egun attaches to you. At parties you may be made a fool of; stay away from drink, music and carousing, which take away your luck. Excessive curiosity can make you lose your way in the world and even cost you your life.

At work, your stubbornness and forgetfulness push you aside even when you have a good position; make the ebbó in time, for the envious are waiting for your slip. By playing the innocent you can learn a great deal from whoever knows most. In love and in the family, a rumor born of jealousy can drive you apart: clear things up face to face. The woman of this sign, desperate, dreams of going far away with another man; let her not rush. Help anyone who is lost without asking questions, for a great reward comes to you from that.

In health, the stomach and belly are your weak point: gas, severe diarrhea or constipation. Upsets go to your belly, and alcohol gives you allergies. Take care of your lungs and intestines, and get checked if your leg hurts when you urinate. You have a dark shadow behind you and a dead person who unsettles you if you do not listen: attend to your Egun. After the ebbó you will go through a fright and an embarrassment that will turn out for your good, and Orunmila will guide you to your true destiny.

The sign in one line

Respect hierarchies, listen to the Egun you have behind you and give up the partying. Orunmila guides Ofún Dí to his true destiny.

The prayer of Ofun Di · 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 Ofun Di tells you

This is a false diviner whose predictions fail: he refuses to know what happens around him, does not admit his faults or apologize because his ambition is excessive, breaks the rules of Ifá's wisdom, thus wastes his opportunity and ends up dying of hunger and without titles.
A stubborn, capricious, forgetful, stingy and unreliable person, even if he holds a good position, and for that reason is pushed aside: he must be respectful, punctual and impartial in his decisions and fully carry out his duties.
Drinking liquor and listening to music turn him into a useless person; in addition, alcohol can cause him serious stomach problems because he is intolerant to wines and liquors, with specific allergies that trigger severe diarrhea.
There are stomach ailments, such as gas, intense diarrhea and its opposite, constipation: in this case the stool hardened like stone and could not come out. You must take care of the belly, the walls of the intestine and the lungs.
The leg hurts when urinating.
Conflicts with the neighbors, who do not want the person to remain in that place and seek to drive her out.
Those who are stealing from you belong to your close circle; a woman is behind the harm that is being sent to your home.
Valuable things are found underground, such as deposits of products of Nature, but if one does not turn to the wisdom of Ifá, they are lost.
The person becomes bold and overly curious: so absorbed in the subject that he gets lost in life, becomes tainted by the plagues that scourge humanity, and may even lose his life.
He will look exhausted and tired, and since he is not obedient, they will doubt what he is capable of doing; his elders are ashamed of his behavior, and also of the poor choice they made in choosing him.
The woman plans to leave her husband and go to another place where a man she likes lives; she is extremely stubborn and listens to no one.
The person holds back his own good.
The ewé of the Odù are: poppy, cypress, uvas vanosas and culantrillo de pozo.
The sponge speaks: the foundation of the Awó of this sign is to keep a sponge behind the door of his house and, beside it, seven Príncipes Negros, as well as salvadera and siempreviva. Every month the sponge is turned over and an eyelé dundún and an eyelé funfún are offered to it.
Eshu Alawata speaks, the Eshu of this Odù. His load is made up of hierba pata de gallina, with frescura and ortiguilla, yedra and peonía, picapica and levántate, plus ero, obí, kola and ozún. Added to this are barren earth and earth taken from the hill, and also from the jail and from the four roads, and the lerí of an ayapá, an akukó and an aya. It also includes quicksilver and awadó, ekú, eyá, epó, otí, oñí and otí kana, and cowrie shells serve as eyes and mouth, along with 3 ikordié.
Oshún Olelé speaks, who traveled the world in order to make a living: the woman is a thief and of bad conduct.
The foul smelling gas and the embarrassment after the ebbó speak: if the ebbó is done, the person will be frightened and will go through an embarrassment that will turn out well.
Here speaks the handkerchief from the street: it personifies an Egun; the person must not pick it up or use it, since the eyesight can become ill.
Here speaks the brujo who bewitches himself: Ofún Dí, osó se o to.

Proverbs of Ofun Di · Òwe

“What is thrown into the sea goes to the bottom.”
“In the swamp, flowers also grow.”
“Curiosity can cost you your life.”
“He who grasps too much holds little.”
“The one who betrays his elder betrays anyone, no matter how much friendship or commitment there is.”
“He gained his freedom through an embarrassment.”
“The wall that collapses in the house does not kill the one who is out in the field.”
“Clench the anus and let it fly; do not clench it and let it fly.”
“Tie up the boat so that it does not sink.”
“Fear is not so bad when it can protect us.”
“No one who restricts kindness in his own house will receive kindness from outside.”
“However much infidelity is hidden, the betrayed one always finds out.”
“Children cannot be hidden because they never stop growing.”
“The sun cannot be covered with a finger.”
“To be born is a mystery; to die you only have to be alive.”
“You are a son, you will be a father; as you do, so it will be done to you.”
“The one who cheats has no defense when it is done to him.”

14 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 born without ashé because of curses cast on them, but an Egun gives them everything, and Shangó gives them through that Egun the powers they need.
After the ebbó they go through a fright and an embarrassment that turn out well for them, and so they obtain their freedom.
If they help someone who is lost or in need without asking questions, they later receive great luck and a greater reward.

Osogbo · what the sign warns

Their excessive ambition leads them to destruction: they may die hanged, without titles and of hunger.
They suffer in the stomach, with gas, acute diarrhea or constipation, and the lungs and intestines also suffer.
Stress and upsets cause them stomach ailments, and wines and liquors produce allergies and diarrhea.

33 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 Di · Ìbí

Unbridled ambition.
Shakén climbed a rope to watch Olofin directly, skipping the levels of authority, and Eshu cut the rope: he died without receiving his father's title.
Dropping anchor so that the ship does not sink.
Moor the ship: restrain your ambition, because it will end up ruining you.
The false diviner, through 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.
Usury and rapacity.
The Awó of this sign was a pirate: he stole the things from the ebbós he was supposed to carry where they belonged.
Helping the needy.
Orunmila took in Obatalá, who was lost in the forest, and offered him water and food; in return, Obatalá granted him great fortune.
One brother betraying 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.
Olofin weeps for the first time.
Because Ofún Dí was careless with the herbs for the consecration, Olofin's word fell to the ground; Olofin burst into tears and cursed him.
Odí Fumbo seals the ebbós forever.
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 manifests in the person, who may suffer eye trouble; a woman bound Awó Iguelé with a spell and turned him into a handkerchief.
Do not work under the ground and do not hoard money.
It is what brings about his death, like the miser who searched for gold deep in the mines: he runs out of air.
Respect the chain of authority: do not go to the highest superior without first going through the intermediate levels.
Shakén, driven by ambition, went to watch Olofin directly, without intermediaries, 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 causes allergies and intolerances that end in severe diarrhea; in addition, liquor and music make him useless.

Ebbós of Ofun Di · The sacrifices that open the road

SpiritualEbbó of Olofin crying for the first time🔒 The Notebook SpiritualEbbó of the false diviner🔒 The Notebook Overcoming 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 Ofun Di · 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 Ofun Di · The roads of the Odù

1Ofún Dí Steals Orunmila's Ebbós

Orunmila had two Elegba in his service. They helped him in everything related to Osain and took care of carrying each ebbó to the place where it had to be delivered.

One day Orunmila consulted the osode, and Ifá advised him to keep his eyes open, because his ebbós were not bearing fruit and were not reaching where they should. He suspected the two Elegba. He sent for Odí Fumbo and asked where Ofún Dí was, the one to whom he had entrusted an ebbó and who had not come back. Odí Fumbo told him that Ofún Dí was keeping the things of the ebbó for himself.

In this way Orunmila discovered a thief inside his own house and understood why his ebbós failed and why his children did not improve. From then on he ordered Odí Fumbo to stay forever, sealing the ebbós.

Later, Ofún Dí confronted Odí Fumbo and accused him of having betrayed him to Orunmila. Odí Fumbo answered that the traitor was Ofún Dí himself, because he had betrayed Orunmila and Olofin, who trusted him.

What it teaches

Whoever keeps what he was meant to deliver to another gains nothing, because a stolen ebbó loses its effect. Betrayal ends up coming to light, sometimes thanks to someone who dares to give warning.

2Osain, Lazy and Easily Distracted

This story tells an episode in the life of Osain, an idle man who let himself be distracted by doves and drums. On one occasion Olofin came down to Earth to distribute his marvelous powers among the santeros and the babalawos. Osain learned of it too late: when he appeared before Olofin, there was nothing left to distribute.

Even so, Olofin left him something in exchange. The santeros and babalawos who needed herbs would have to go to Osain's house to get them and pay him for his work.

The problem was that Osain never arrived on time at the consecrations of Osha or of Ifá. The dissatisfied went to Olofin, and he felt ashamed. Once he came down without warning to the land of Adarasá, with Osun, and gave Osain a shepé, a harsh reprimand. When it was over he left in tears and, already at Lesé Iwí Arabá, began to sing a chant.

Olofin then went looking for Iwí to replace Osain. Iwí promised to be punctual and, from that day, always did what a santero or a babalawo asked when calling him.

Note: whoever betrays someone above him will betray anyone, even if there is friendship or commitment in between.

What it teaches

Spending time on distractions makes one late for what truly matters. Whoever fails in a commitment loses the place that was kept for him, and someone more punctual takes it. Whoever betrays an elder can do the same to anyone.

What Olofin sang when he reached Lesé Iwí Arabá

Oro Bini Ozain Akuedi Maro Oro Bini Ozain Akuedi Maro

3Olofin Weeps for the First Time

This path demands respect and the fulfillment of one's obligations, as well as arriving on time and judging without leaning toward anyone.

The story is set in one period of Osain's life. He spent his days with drink, music and birds, and so he was of no use to anyone.

Olofin took pity on him, sent for him and said: “Ofún Dí, I want to help you. What are you good at?” Osain answered that he knew about herbs. Olofin then decided that, from that moment, Osain would see that the herbs reached orishas and awó whenever they needed them for their ceremonies, and without delay he presented him to everyone as a person who could be trusted.

The day of a consecration drew near, and the herbs were Osain's matter. He never delivered them, so there was no way to hold anything. The orishas, very annoyed, went to Olofin to protest: if he knew that man was not serious, why had he recommended him? Because of his carelessness, they said, the ceremony had been lost.

Everyone left and Olofin remained alone. Then he understood his mistake: he had vouched for Osain before the orishas and now his word was worth less than nothing. His eyes grew moist, and so Olofin wept for the first time; then he cursed Osain.

What it teaches

Recommending someone who does not fulfill his duties commits one's own word, and when that person fails, the one who vouched for him loses credit. Kindness has a limit when faced with carelessness. Duties are carried out on time and without favoring anyone.

Ebbó of the path

For Osain, a grifo rooster (akukó); two doves (eyelé meyi); a small drum; atitán nigbe; hutia (ekú), fish (eyá) and toasted corn (awadó); a candle (itaná), water (bogbo omí) and one stone (otá okan); the heads (lerí) of the animals; money (owó mello tontiello); and many herbs (opolopo ewé) and many sticks (opolopo iguí), about which it is asked which ones and how many.

4Osain, king of vegetation🔒 The Notebook 5The false diviner (Awó Lerí Mashe)🔒 The Notebook 6Igbade strikes the diviner who asked him to make ebbó🔒 The Notebook 7Eshu frees the diviner who warned Igbade🔒 The Notebook 8Shakén goes up to heaven for a title and dies hanged from the rope🔒 The Notebook 9Shakeu ignores Orunmila and dies hanged from the rope🔒 The Notebook 10When Obatalá wanted Orunmila to dry up the sea for him🔒 The Notebook 11Obatalá got lost in the woods🔒 The Notebook 12Obatalá, the female goat and the neighbors who did not like him🔒 The Notebook 13The king with gas and the servant who won his freedom🔒 The Notebook 14The capricious man who forgot the ebbó and lost his job🔒 The Notebook 15Elegba learns the herbs of Osain🔒 The Notebook 16Obatalá's curious daughter who got lost in the 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 Ofun Di in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Ofun Di

What does the Odù Ofun Di mean in Ifá?

Unbridled ambition and usury, where Olofin wept for the first time: it is not put on the board, and an Egun will give you the ashé that was cursed away from you.

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

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

Which orishas speak in Ofun Di?

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

What is a proverb of the Odù Ofun Di?

One of the proverbs of Ofun Di says: «What is thrown into the sea goes to the bottom.».

Unlock the 256 Odù See all the Odù See something to correct? Write to us with your source

← Ofun Wori Index Ofun Roso →