Ofun Meyi

nº 16 of 256 · Meyi · also Ofun Meji

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. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 34 patakíes (3 with the full text), its proverbs, 15 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 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 is the powerful one on earth: mother of the fourteen Odù, owner of the empty space and of gray hair, the one who speaks with life and with death as an equal. It can do everything — the good and the bad — and for that very reason it has one single law: power is handled with respect, or it charges you your life.

Its patakíes about the doctor teach it without mercy: Death was his godmother and his partner — if the candle stood at the head of the bed, the patient got better; if it stood at the feet, the patient belonged to her. The godson disobeyed twice out of ambition, and the sentence stayed forever: the first time the angel forgives; the second time, it kills. In Ofun pacts are kept — with the santos, with the dead and with people.

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

Money here is sacred and dangerous: in this sign silver and paper money were born, and also being serious about money at the cost of your life. The Awó of Ofun does not keep money, does not chase it in a hurry — «because it will pay for his own burial» — and when it arrives all at once, it should not be for his ruin: make ebbó first.

Its house has rules of mystery: nothing empty — no empty bottles or jars, because empty things call what you do not want —, do not blow out candles or let them burn all the way down, do not wear mourning, do not curse, do not let strangers sleep over. These are the precautions of someone who lives with Death as a friend: she will not take you just like that — but she lives close by.

And the promise, for the one who holds on: when you are young everyone laughs at you, but as an old person you will be respected and powerful, and everyone will come to you for your chest of wisdom. You are a diviner from birth: everything you say comes true. Hold back your ambition, listen to advice, and the gray hair of Ofun will be your crown: the one who learned how to wait ended up ruling the daylight.

The sign in one line

Respect your pacts, hold back your ambition and do not live with empty things in the house — Ofun rules 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.

Ifá says — what Ofun Meyi tells you

The ashé of this sign: He is the powerful one on earth: he can do everything, the good and the bad. · He is the one who brings the dead back to life; death is his constant friend, but she does not take him just like that. · When he is young everyone laughs at him, but as an old man he will be respected and powerful, and everyone will come to him for his chest of wisdom. · His intelligence gets him out of the trouble he walks into. · He is a diviner: everything he says comes true, and he reads the mind of whoever he deals with before they speak. · His guardian angel will give him wealth and fame, if he holds back his ambition.

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

6 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 Ofun Meyi · Ìbí

Silver (metal money) and paper money.
They were born from the otá; and Olófin said: «people will want this more than they want me».
Being serious about money at the cost of life.
Greed for money was born, and the pact with death: money will bring death to whoever chases it with greed.
Funeral oaths.
Heaven judges and punishes whoever breaks them: pacts cannot be broken.
That the Awó must not keep 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; he stands for 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 pact between Oro and Orunmila, and between Ikú, Odduduwa and Orunmila.
Through these pacts Orunmila can save people from death and Odduduwa speaks through Ifá.
Gray hair.
Gray hair is respected: it is the Odù that stands for a white-haired man, 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.
The sign rules the void; what is empty in the house attracts evil. You must 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 cast 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 irritations of the skin and the eyes; the Moon is your planet and is not defied.
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 you do not kill over money🔒 The Notebook MoneyEbbó to become noble and rich🔒 The Notebook LoveEbbó for the woman who wants children🔒 The Notebook LoveAgainst whoever lights candles upside down🔒 The Notebook Keeping death awayThe pact with Ikú🔒 The Notebook Keeping death awayThe saraekó for the sick child🔒 The Notebook LossAgainst cancer (the compound of Orunmila)🔒 The Notebook LossWork of Oshún to dissolve the tumor🔒 The Notebook Beating enemiesThe fence of the three cloths (of Oke)🔒 The Notebook Beating enemiesWork to get rid of 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 lift the health of the sick person🔒 The Notebook Keeping death awayThe sixteen-day candle to Obbatalá🔒 The Notebook LossPraying the okpele made of coconut shell🔒 The Notebook Beating 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

1Death and her partner the doctor

The doctor and Death made a pact: if the candle stood at the head of the bed, he cured the patient; at the feet, the patient was hers. He cured a patient who belonged to Death, and for breaking the pact he had to pay with his own life.

A doctor lived from his profession and was a compadre of Death, and they got on so well that no patient of his ever died. Since Death was left with no work that way, the two of them made a deal: if the patient belonged to the doctor, there would be a lit candle at the head of the bed; if the patient belonged to Death, the candle would go at the feet.

There was once a patient who did not get better by any means. The doctor gave his word to cure him, and then Death blew out her candle and the man got well.

One morning the doctor woke up and saw a lit candle at his own feet, and he asked his compadre Death: "how is this?" Death answered that he had cured a patient who had to die, and that for breaking the pact it was now his turn to die and pay for it with his own life. That is why pacts with death are not broken.

2Death, godmother of the doctor

A poor man made Death the godmother of his son, who became a doctor with her herb. Twice he disobeyed and cured someone who was meant to die; Death forgave him the first time, but the second she showed him his own candle burning down and took him.

A man with many children did not want anyone in this world to be godparent to his newborn. The Devil came to offer and he turned him down; Death came and he agreed that she would be the child's godmother. When the boy grew up, his godmother Death asked him what he wanted to be, and he said a doctor. So she took him to the foot of an iroko and told him: «every patient you give this herb to will get well; but when you see a candle at the foot of the bed, that one has no cure: give him nothing, so I can take him».

His fame grew. One day the King fell ill and, although the young man saw his godmother at the foot of the bed, faced with so much wealth on offer he made up his mind and cured him. Death came to complain, he made his apology and she forgave him. Shortly after, the princess fell ill; they offered him her hand in marriage, and again he disobeyed and cured her.

This time Death allowed him no apology: she took him to a place full of little burning candles and showed him one that was going out. «That is your life». No matter how much he begged, he got nowhere. That is how his life ended, for saving the life of another who necessarily had to die. So be careful with ambition: the angel forgives once, not twice.

3Obbatalá was a moneylender

Obbatalá lent money. Elegbá asked him for three pesos and never paid, leaving Oggún working in his place; and Obbatalá fell ill from the last money he lent. Only by running off the man who came asking again did he get well. Cheap turns out expensive.

In this road Obbatalá was a moneylender: he had a silver tray loaded with piles of money and he lent against the crops of the field as security. One day Elegbá told Oggún that he wanted to throw a party: "I am going to ask Babá for it and I am not paying him back." He went to Obbatalá, asked him for three pesos, and Obbatalá handed them over along with a sickle, on the deal that he would work in the field. Elegbá threw his party, wasted it all and paid nothing.

Oggún, upset that he could not treat himself the same way, ended up put to work by Elegbá in his place — and even so there was no payment. Obbatalá, who saw how clever Elegbá was, kept him in his house to help him. A few days later he fell seriously ill and had to send for Orunmila.

Orunmila saw this Ifá for him and told him: "you are very sick from the last money you lent. If that person asks you for money again, give it to him, but throw him out fast so you get well." Obbatalá followed the instruction and got better. The lesson of the road: what is cheap turns out expensive, and you have to keep whoever stays in your house from turning into a burden.

4The omó of Oshún stole the cloth of Obbatalá🔒 The Notebook 5Ikú dresses and writes in black🔒 The Notebook 6The land where it was always night🔒 The Notebook 7The hunter who lost his three sons🔒 The Notebook 8The gramophone in the room of Oragun🔒 The Notebook 9The pact of Orunmila and Death (why Odduduwa speaks through Ifá)🔒 The Notebook 10The younger one arguing with the elder (Shangó and Obbatalá)🔒 The Notebook 11Shangó clears the road for Obbatalá🔒 The Notebook 12Elegba asks Obbatalá for three pesos🔒 The Notebook 13Silver and paper money were born🔒 The Notebook 14When they stole the harvest from Oke🔒 The Notebook 15The farmer and his planting on the hill Oke🔒 The Notebook 16Orula comes down to earth with everything he needs🔒 The Notebook 17The destruction of Eyiogbe by Oragun🔒 The Notebook 18The daughter of Olofin and the pact between Orun and Orunmila🔒 The Notebook 19The creation of Olorun (why women do not receive Orun)🔒 The Notebook 20The pact between Osain Arugbo, Airá and Abokú (the four roots of the world)🔒 The Notebook 21Odduwa eats a young she-goat🔒 The Notebook 22The curse of Obbatalá (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 Eggun)🔒 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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