Ofun Meyi

Also called Baba Ofun Meji, Ofun Meji

nº 16 of 256 · Meyi · Edited by Ricco Ledesma

The powerful one on earth: mother of the fourteen Odù, owner of the empty space, the one who speaks with life and with death as an equal.

34 patakíes 10 eewó 15 ebbós and works 21 proverbs

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Ofun Meyi is Odù number 16 of the 256 in Ifá, one of the 16 Meyi and the head of the Ofun family. It is also written as Ofun Meji or Baba Ofun Meji. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 34 patakíes (3 in full in plain sight, with their teaching, ebbó and chants), its proverbs, 15 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 16 of 256 · Meyi
Composition: Ofun over Ofun
In the Diloggún: 10-10 · Ofún tonti Ofún
Orishas that speak: Obbatalá · Ikú (Death) · Orunmila (Oragun) · Odduduwa · Eshú · Oke · Oshún · Oro (Orun) · Shangó · The Elders of the Night

What Ifá says in this sign

Ofun Meyi, also known as Baba Ofun Meji, is a mysterious sign, mother of the other odus together with Eyiogbe, where life and death come together. Here were born money, in coins and in paper, the voice and words, gray hair, human death and the pact of Orunmila with Ikú and with Oduduwa. Its ruling is one of enormous power: you reach both the good and the bad, you speak with life and with death, and death, who walks beside you, does not take you easily.

Money is the great test of this sign. Here was born seriousness in dealings at the cost of life: oaths are not broken, what is earned in partnership is shared equally, and the awó must not hoard, because he falls behind and leaves no inheritance. You will have wealth and fame, but you will want more, and out of greed the first fault is forgiven and the second costs you your life, like the doctor who twice cured someone death was already claiming. Take care that money does not come to you for your misfortune.

«The first time the angel forgives; the second time, it kills. In Ofun, pacts are kept.»The pulse of Ofun Meyi

You are intelligent and a diviner, what you say comes true, and at night you speak with the dead. But you are stubborn and willful, you want to rule over everyone, and through violence you can lose everything; your guardian angel is angry with you. Leave behind harshness and stinginess, listen to advice and treat people well, or you will be pushed aside and live alone; if you listen, you will reach old age. You have many enemies and a plot against you: do not fight and stay home for a week, because your life is in danger. There is witchcraft and cursing, even among your own, and drinking is your ruin.

In love, without ebbó you will have neither wife nor children, and the two children you have will live at odds. At work you will be dismissed many times, and your religious objects may be stolen. There is a sick child in your home: take great care, because the child could die, and the sign also announces the death of the father. Oshún can undo your problems, even those you have with the law.

In health, take care of your liver, heart, circulation, breathing and eyesight. This sign speaks of cancer, of inflammation inside, of unknown illnesses and of children born with malformations, and also of embolism and of vomiting blood. The sun irritates your skin and eyes, and over the years your memory fails. A long illness has a cure: when it is not yet someone's time to die, death itself sends a doctor just in time.

The sign in one line

Respect your pacts, hold back your ambition and do not live with emptiness in your house, for Ofun governs in old age, and his gray hair is a crown.

The prayer of Ofun Meyi · Yoruba

Oragun minikun tikun Obatalá laona guru guru moba kpui minu moba kpui nikabo kuana tara tara niwafun asho koworoso Orunmila adifayoko kanpun Obatalá iwo omo eruko omo Orunmila koyo omo osha Obatalá ashomo awo ogue la waya kaiti kaiti moroko kafi mewe nire nishe iya Elegbara adifafun Orunmila.

Súyere
Peregun alawa tun tun, peregun alawa tun tun, bogboadewadie atewo mirin, peregun alawa tun tun.

Proverbs of Ofun Meyi · Òwe

“Death is never far away and never tired.”
“The parrot's feather is the light you see the future by.”
“Do not chase money in a hurry and with greed, because it will pay for your own burial.”
“In front of a woman, never forget your mother.”
“The calabash breaks its own house; the iron pot never does.”
“The wind said: I cannot kill the king, but I can blow off his hat.”
“Wisdom is the finest beauty a person has.”
“Wet soap on the head disappears, but the head stays.”
“The yams die, but the crown-of-thorns plant never dies.”
“Whoever stole a kitten from a cat carries her curse with him.”
“Rivers dry up, but the sea never dries up.”
“Death never throws up the bodies it eats, but it cannot digest the soul.”
“Death has no nose to smell with, but it knows who is rich and who is poor.”
“Death has no friends.”
“The world is the hut on the road; Ikú is the destination.”
“When death comes, the truth does not accept offerings.”
“When Ikú is not ready to receive a man, she sends a doctor at exactly the right moment.”
“Fire gives birth to ash, and whoever scatters the ash is chased by the fire.”
“The death of a young man is a canoe that sinks in the river; the death of an old man is a ship that comes to rest at its dock.”
“Nobody can keep the child of mystery a secret.”
“The drunk will never hold a steady job.”

18 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

Their power in the world is enormous and reaches both the good and the bad.
If they make their sacrifices, they attain tranquility, progress, goods and many years of life.
They can communicate directly with life and with death, and death, which always accompanies them, does not easily take them.

Osogbo · what the sign warns

It is a tumultuous sign of danger, desperation and suffering.
They are stubborn, uncompromising, capricious and violent, and lose everything through violence.
Their protective angel is upset with them and withdraws its help.

52 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 Meyi · Ìbí

Silver coins and paper banknotes.
They were born from the stone (otá), and Olofin declared: “They will love this more than they love me.”
Financial seriousness paid for with life.
Here arose the ambition for wealth and the pact with death: whoever pursues money with greed will receive death because of it.
Funeral oaths.
Heaven judges and punishes whoever breaks an agreement: pacts must not be broken.
That an Awó must not hoard money.
Because he falls behind, and when he dies he cannot leave an inheritance to his children.
The resurrection of Lazarus and of Jesus.
Ofun Meyi is the one who brings the dead back to life and represents both life and death.
Strange beings, monsters and unknown illnesses.
This sign rules the empty space and everything that science cannot name.
The voice and words.
The sign rules the voice, and with it the oaths and the curses that carry weight.
The agreement between Oro and Orunmila, and also the one that binds Ikú, Oduduwa and Orunmila.
Through these pacts Orunmila can save people from death and Odduduwa speaks through Ifá.
Gray hair.
Elders are honored: this Odù symbolizes a white man with gray hair, who stands for wisdom.
Human death.
In this sign death came into the world of men, together with wisdom and the pact with her.

What is forbidden · Eewó

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

Do not drink alcoholic beverages of any kind, or rub yourself with alcohol.
It is your undoing, as it is for Obbatalá, who must be guarded from white liquor.
Do not keep bottles or anything empty in the house.
This sign rules emptiness, and empty spaces in the house attract evil. It is advisable to sleep with a bottle of water at the head of the bed.
Do not blow out candles or fan the fire.
The candle represents the person's life: putting it out with a breath takes life from them.
Do not wear black or printed clothes, or get wet with rainwater.
From the patakí in which Ikú dresses in black; the person of this sign cannot identify with death.
Do not throw curses.
Like Obbatalá and the savanna bird: the curse of the sign comes true and becomes a burden.
Do not expose yourself to the Moon or take too much sun.
You may suffer inflammation of the skin and the eyes; your planet is the Moon, which must not be challenged.
Do not let anyone sleep in your house.
Like Obbatalá with Elegbá: whoever lodges becomes a burden that makes you sick until they leave.
Do not keep mourning.
Since death is your friend, keeping mourning is to bind yourself to her improperly.
Do not let the candle reach the end.
A little is lit each day for sixteen days and on the last it is put out before it burns down: life is not used up.
Do not be dictatorial or arbitrary with your fellows.
Your dictatorial manner and your lack of generosity leave you alone, and make you lose your dominance.

Ebbós of Ofun Meyi · The sacrifices that open the road

MoneyEbbó so as not to kill for money🔒 The Notebook MoneyEbbó to become noble and rich🔒 The Notebook LoveEbbó for the woman who wants children🔒 The Notebook LoveAgainst the one who lights candles upside down🔒 The Notebook Keeping death awayThe pact with Ikú🔒 The Notebook Keeping death awayThe saraekó of the sick child🔒 The Notebook LossAgainst cancer (the compound of Orunmila)🔒 The Notebook LossWork of Oshún to dissolve the tumor🔒 The Notebook Overcoming enemiesThe fence of the three cloths (of Oke)🔒 The Notebook Overcoming enemiesWork to eliminate the arayé🔒 The Notebook

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

Works of Ofun Meyi · The workings of the sign

MoneyThe basin of the itá (the sixteen years)🔒 The Notebook HealthTo raise the health of the sick🔒 The Notebook Keeping death awayThe candle of sixteen days to Obbatalá🔒 The Notebook LossPraying over the okpele of coconut shell🔒 The Notebook Overcoming enemiesSarao of ekó for the house🔒 The Notebook

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

Patakíes of Ofun Meyi · The roads of the Odù

1The doctor who broke his pact with Death

A doctor, who lived from his trade, was a close friend of Death. They understood each other so well that none of his patients died. That left Death without an occupation, so they agreed on a sign: a lit candle beside the pillow would mean that the patient was the doctor's; a candle beside the feet, that he belonged to Death.

A patient came who did not improve with anything. The doctor promised to cure him, and then Death put out her candle and the man recovered.

One morning, the doctor woke up and found a lit candle beside his own feet. He asked his friend Death what it meant. She answered that he had healed someone who was supposed to die, and that, for breaking the deal, now it was he who had to die and pay with his life.

That is why pacts with death are not broken.

What it teaches

A pact with death is not broken without paying. Whoever saves one who was not his to save puts his own life at stake.

Ebbó of this path

This path has its own ebbó; the full list is in the complete treatise.

This path keeps 1 awó secret in the complete treatise.🔒 The Notebook

2Death, Godmother of the Doctor

A man with many children learned that his wife was expecting another. Worried, he wondered how he would support one more child when he could barely manage with those he had.

A boy was born, and the father refused to let any being of this world baptize him. The Devil appeared, offering himself, but the man said no, since he wanted nothing to do with him. Soon afterward Death came with the same offer, and this time the father accepted: she would be his compadre.

When the boy had grown, his godmother Death asked him what he wanted to do. He answered that he wanted to practice medicine. She then took him to an iroko tree and explained the rules: every sick person who received that herb from his hands would be healed, except one who had a candle at the foot of the bed. To that one he must give nothing, because she had to take him.

The young man accepted and began to cure; his name became known everywhere. One day the King fell ill and sent for him. On arriving, the young man saw Death beside the bed and told the King that he could not cure him. But the promises of riches were so many that he ended up giving in and healed him.

When he left, Death went to look for her godson, who had disobeyed her. He apologized and she forgave him. Soon afterward the princess fell gravely ill and they called for him again. In the room he saw his godmother again beside the princess and refused to treat her, but they even offered him marriage to her. He gave in again and cured her.

At once Death went for him, since this was the second disobedience. Now she accepted no apologies. She led him to a place with very many little candles burning and wearing down, and told him that the one about to run out was his life. However much he explained, begged and pleaded, he got nothing.

Thus the godson died: for saving someone who had to die, he paid for his disobedience with his life.

What it teaches

One who receives a gift with a condition must respect it even when tempted with riches. A person may be forgiven once for disobeying, but the second time is paid for with life. Ambition endangers the one who does not know when to stop.

Take care with the candle

The candle is each person's life; the awó never lets it burn down completely. It is not put out by blowing on it, because that takes life away; it is put out in another way and the leftovers (mochos) are thrown away.

Candle for Obatalá

For 16 days a candle is lit for Obatalá, only a little each day. On the last day it is put out before it is used up, and that piece is thrown into the bush (nigbe).

Works reserved to the awó

This path has an ebbó for a sick child, which includes a preparation with the ókpele, a secret ebbó and an inshé of Osain. Because these are matters for the awó, their detail is in the complete treatise.

If you do not sleep well at night

The person rests badly because someone is doing harm to him and lights candles backwards. He must clean himself with a dove (eyelé), release it in the bush and pray for his head (lerí) with a snapper (ejá bo).

What is advised when this odu comes out

When young, everyone mocks the person; when older, he will be respected and powerful, and everyone will serve him and see him as a treasure of wisdom. He must not quarrel with the angel who guards him, and he must baptize whoever falls to him. If all he wants is wealth and fame, his angel will grant them to him, but ambition will end him. When sleeping, he will have a bottle of water (omí) beside his head.

This path keeps 3 awó secrets in the complete treatise.🔒 The Notebook

3Obatalá Falls Ill from Lending Money

In this path Obatalá was a moneylender: he kept piles of money on a silver tray and lent with the harvests of the field as security.

One day Elegba told Ogún that he felt like eating well and giving a party, and that he planned to ask Obatalá for the money without returning it. Ogún doubted that he could do it, but Elegba went to see Obatalá and asked him for three pesos. Obatalá agreed on the condition that Elegba pay by working in the field, and he also gave him a sickle. Elegba held his party, with a great meal, and squandered all the money.

Ogún saw it and felt sad that he could not enjoy himself in the same way. Elegba asked him the reason and encouraged him to do the same; Ogún answered that he could not, and Elegba offered to do it for him. So Elegba put Ogún to work in his place, and the payment never came.

When Obatalá met Elegba, he told him that he already had a lot of money in advance. He thought Elegba was very clever and decided to leave him that money on the condition that he stay in his house to help him.

Elegba stayed and took care of everything in the house in a moment. A few days later Obatalá fell gravely ill and sent for Orunmila. Orunmila consulted his Ifá and told him that his illness came from the last money he had lent: if that person asked him for money again, he had to give it to him, but driving him away at a run in order to recover his health. Obatalá obeyed and was healed.

Note: cheap things end up costing dearly, and one must avoid letting whoever lodges in the house end up being a burden.

What it teaches

Lending money to someone who does not plan to pay makes the lender ill. Cheap things end up costing dearly, and it is not good for someone who lodges in the house to become a burden. Giving and sending away in time brings health back.

What Orunmila indicated

If the person who received the last money asks to borrow again, give it to him and drive him away at a run right away, in order to recover health.

The prayer that opens the path

OBATALA OMO AWO OBALULO FADAKA LODAFUN OGGUN

The súyere of the path

OYOKU YOKURE ONI ONIKUNKIN ORIREO ONI AWO YEKURE

This path keeps 1 awó secret in the complete treatise.🔒 The Notebook

4The son of Oshún who stole Obatalá's cloth🔒 The Notebook 5The hen's blood that stained Ikú black🔒 The Notebook 6The king who went out to look for clarity🔒 The Notebook 7The three children who looked at Olokun's gift🔒 The Notebook 8The phonograph in Oragún's room🔒 The Notebook 9Oduduwa's sacrifice and the pact of the two brothers🔒 The Notebook 10Shangó loses command of the world because of a broken axe🔒 The Notebook 11Shangó watches over Obatalá's passage🔒 The Notebook 12Elegba asks Obatalá for three pesos🔒 The Notebook 13From the otá, money is born🔒 The Notebook 14Oke scares away the thieves of his harvest with colored cloths🔒 The Notebook 15The cloths of three colors that drove away the farmer's enemies🔒 The Notebook 16Orunmila, the only one who came into the world with food🔒 The Notebook 17The destruction of Eyiogbe by Oragun🔒 The Notebook 18Orunmila rescues Olofin's daughter and keeps the secret of Orun🔒 The Notebook 19Why women do not receive Orun🔒 The Notebook 20The pact between Osain Arugbo, Airá and Abokú (the four roots of the world)🔒 The Notebook 21Shangó, Oyá and Elegba give a goat to Oduduwa🔒 The Notebook 22Obatalá's curse on Ananagú🔒 The Notebook 23Eyá and Oro, the guabina (memory is born)🔒 The Notebook 24Oragun betrayed Eyiogbe🔒 The Notebook 25The rise of death (the sixteen Irunmole Egun)🔒 The Notebook 26Ikú comes down to the town (the dove and the staff)🔒 The Notebook 27The turncoat🔒 The Notebook 28The two friends (what the bear whispered)🔒 The Notebook 29You build your own heaven or your own hell🔒 The Notebook 30From anger to loss (the old woman at the canal)🔒 The Notebook 31The land with no sun (Ifá Fumi and the bears)🔒 The Notebook 32The professional and the smart one🔒 The Notebook 33The cat and the seven lives🔒 The Notebook 34The moon and death (the chain from heaven)🔒 The Notebook

31 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 Meyi in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Ofun Meyi

What does the Odù Ofun Meyi mean in Ifá?

The powerful one on earth: mother of the fourteen Odù, owner of the empty space, the one who speaks with life and with death as an equal.

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

Ofun Meyi is Odù number 16 of the 256 in Ifá, one of the 16 Meyi and the head of the Ofun family.

Which orishas speak in Ofun Meyi?

In the Odù Ofun Meyi these orishas speak: Obbatalá, Ikú (Death), Orunmila (Oragun), Odduduwa, Eshú, Oke, Oshún, Oro (Orun), Shangó, The Elders of the Night.

What is a proverb of the Odù Ofun Meyi?

One of the proverbs of Ofun Meyi says: «Death is never far away and never tired.».

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