Ofun Bara

Also called Ofún Susú, Ofun Obara, Ofun Bado, Ofun Obara Ife

nº 248 of 256 · Edited by Ricco Ledesma

Here the position of Oyugboná originates, both in Osha and in Ifá: Olofin restores strength to those worn out by age; the person is a chosen one and will obtain what is wanted.

23 patakíes 10 eewó 14 ebbós and works 19 proverbs

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Ofun Bara is Odù number 248 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Ofun family. It is also written as Ofún Susú or Ofun Obara or Ofun Bado or Ofun Obara Ife. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 23 patakíes (3 in full in plain sight, with their teaching, ebbó and chants), its proverbs, 14 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 248 of 256
Composition: Ofun over Obara
In the Diloggún: 10-6 · Ofún tonti Obara
Orishas that speak: Oggún · Olorun y Oshukpuá · Shangó · Elegbará · Orunmila · Odduduwa · Oluopopó · Inle · Yemayá y Aggayú · The Virgin of Santa Clara

What Ifá says in this sign

Ofun Bara, also known as Ofún Susú and Ofún Badó, speaks to a person chosen by Olofin. In this sign Ofun Bara served as secretary to Eyiogbe, and here were born the post of Oyugboná, which exists in Ifá and in Osha, the medicine of the omiero and the strength of what feeds the fire. Its ruling is one of privilege: you can come to have power and obtain on Earth what you wish for, and here Olofin even gives the ability to renew the strength of those who are already old.

Its animal is the giraffe, tall, silent and dignified, which hides among the trees in order to live. That is how you are: shrewd and reserved, though at times you do not listen to good advice. At work they will look down on you at first, but in the end they will come to you for what you know, just like the country awó who knew more than everyone in the town. Charge a fair price: in this sign greed is punished in the hands.

«Ofún Susú is a chosen one of Olofin: he will have on Earth whatever he wishes, unless he loses it through greed or arrogance.»The pulse of Ofun Bara

Think carefully about what you tell. Do not open your heart to just anyone: some people want to know about your life in order to harm you, and other people's wars can reach you even when they are not yours. Fire pursues you, and the water of the sea and the rivers is dangerous for you. Alcohol and drugs can lead you to acts that drive you away from your loved ones and may even put you in prison.

In love, women are charmed by the awó of this sign, but the man easily loses himself over them. A beautiful young woman who pulls him off his path can ruin him, and desiring another man's wife brings the ruin of the home. In your home, the Egun wait at the door: take care of them and feed them there, because everything the house needs comes in through the door. Empty jars and bottles are turned upside down so as not to provoke the anger of Ogún.

In health, pride and anger upset your blood and can end in a heart attack: take care of your heart, your circulation and your legs. Exercise and eat well, because the bones suffer, and be careful with what you eat, since flies carry infections. If you live with calm and humility, Olofin's chosen one enjoys in peace everything this sign promises.

The sign in one line

Feed the Egun at your door, charge what is fair and do not open up to anyone. The giraffe of Ofún Susú reigns tall, dignified and quiet.

The prayer of Ofun Bara · Yoruba

Ofún Obara Ifá Ofún Sun Sun Oreré Obara Sun Sun Olosá Adifafún Akibí Aun Tukutú Ofé Ayá Lobiní Oyá Lután Loroló Tariashó Awó Obiní Kanlofé Komarú Siologú. Otro rezo: Ofún Susú Olaremí Obara Susú Olosalé Adifafún Aribitó Tintó Lolofó Oyá Lobiní Suré Lebó.

Súyere
Addié Meyi Fun Fun Oreré Lawá.

Ifá says — what Ofun Bara tells you

Do not open up to anyone: they can annoy you and cause your death; people go around wanting to know your business, and may seek you out to harm you.
The Egun have stopped at the door of the house; they say there is no Iworo here (if there were, they would know of their existence) and that they were hungry. They must be attended to and food put for them in the shilekún so that luck comes in: everything necessary must arrive through the door.
You must give more solidity to your affairs and be content with what you are allowed to earn.
Women lack the milk needed to nurse their children.
Bone problems appear from lack of exercise and poor eating, like the disease of giraffes.
Too much is charged for the works that are done, no matter to whom: greed and obsession with owó must be avoided, because Oluopopó punishes with stiffened hands and fingers full of sores.
When alcohol and drugs take effect, reprehensible acts are committed; the person tries to redeem herself once the deed is done, and that drives her away from loved ones; because of those actions she may go to prison.
The person will not find peace with the woman he has sexual relations with: he may marry a very beautiful woman, but if he later wants a divorce, she will refuse.
The woman goes out into the street to settle a matter and does not manage it: what the woman achieves in a day, the man achieves in an hour.
The shadow of an obiní weighs on the person.
Through subjective and objective alterations, the person suffers from cyanosis: the bluish color of the lips, cheeks and nails from venous stasis; arrogance can lead to death by heart attack.
Take great care with what you eat: there is a risk of catching infectious diseases (typhus, cholera and tapeworm, whipworm or ascaris, the ones the fly spreads); also take care of wounds, the nasal cavities and the ears.
There is an Arab or Chinese Egun. To obtain iré, the leaves and seeds of ewé tomodé are smoked in a pipe, inside the drain or the bathroom, and on a shelf 4 pipes are placed for him together with that herb.
The ewé of this Odù are melon, Juan libre, boboseo and árida. Here the platanillo de Cuba is known for the first time.
The giraffe speaks: the tallest mammal, with a dignified and majestic gait, an enormous neck like a mast in motion, an intelligence comparable to that of humans, mute (it has no vocal cords), which camouflages itself among fallen trees covered with lichens; in captivity it dies of a disease of the skeletal system. The Osain of this Ifá is charged with something of the giraffe.
The fly speaks (Ololofó / Eshishí): with the inshé of Orunmila it entered wherever it wished, both the house of Olofin and that of Ikú; with its Iwí and its mother, the one of the popcorn, it passed the test of the tiger and the hyena. The Awó of this Odù is forbidden to kill flies.
Here speaks Oluwa Erí, the Egun owner of the river, son of Aggayú and Yemayá.
Here speaks the Virgin of Santa Clara, who makes the roads clear.
Here speaks the fire (Iná Roró) and its fuels: the adelé of this Ifá live with opolopo epó.
Here speaks the melon: the offering that quenched Ogún's thirst and brought positions as a reward.
Do not let your clothes be returned twisted after they are washed.

Proverbs of Ofun Bara · Òwe

“When the man and the woman are as old as the dove, they have no trouble mating.”
“You are useful, but not necessary.”
“A man does in an hour what a woman does in a day.”
“Those who know a man's courage and fierceness know he has the right to rest one day, and so his bravery cannot be doubted.”
“Oggún only goes to war to finish everything off.”
“A man with money, even with no title, is sometimes more important than a chief.”
“The smallest mistake costs him his life.”
“The Awó who is false with the word of Ifá is punished.”
“Whoever mocks his elders deserves to be eaten by the crows.”
“The tongue is the only muscle that never hurts, unless you bite it.”
“Whoever cannot count always loses.”
“The mute man does not stop thinking just because he does not speak.”
“The womb that someone curses, Olorun blesses.”
“No one can curse if he blessed first.”
“Whoever asks for much is given little.”
“By the thread you find the whole ball of yarn.”
“Whoever does not want what is not his is never greedy.”
“Where there is no flour, everything is famine.”
“The unfaithful woman wipes her mouth and says she has done nothing wrong.”

16 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

The person is chosen by Olofin: they come to have power and obtain on Earth what they wish for.
Olofin renews their vigor and strength, even in old age.
Even if they are looked down on at first, in the end people come to them for their knowledge and intelligence.

Osogbo · what the sign warns

If they tell their affairs or trust the wrong person, their enemies use it to harm them and even cause their death.
Some people try to find out about their life in order to harm them.
Other people's wars can reach them even when they have nothing to do with them.

32 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 Bara · Ìbí

The position of Oyugboná within Ifá and Sodorisha.
The Awó of the countryside, when he performed the Ifá for the son of Olofin, named the Awó Ofún Bará as his assistant and gave him the name Oyugboná.
The medicine of the omiero.
It arises in this Odù; in it the Osain of Inle was consecrated.
The strength of the materials that feed the fire.
From the road of Iroso She, who stole the fire from Ofún Badó without knowing the secret of making it grow: the epó over Shangó made Iná Roró grow.
That the Awó Ofún Susú must never sit at the table, because he suffers losses.
Eshishí (the fly) died stuck to Atemú (the table), daughter of Ozain, for disobeying Orunmila.
That Ofún Susú was secretary to Eyiogbe.
Like the fly, he shows up at the table of the King as well as at that of the beggar, and knows many secrets of the Oshas and of Ikú.
That empty bottles are turned over (laid down) on the table.
To avoid Ogún's wrath if it happens, since the slaughter of Iré, and not, as is wrongly said, because spirits get into them.
That he is given a post as a reward.
Olofin's three sons gave their melons to a thirsty Oggún, and he made them Governor, Chief of Sanitation and Awó of the town.
That the water becomes poisoned and the fish die.
Keso and those who supported him killed the fish, children of Oluwa Erí, because of an offense against his wife; for this reason this Ifá is related to Ogbe Ká and Obeate and must respect them.
Part of the secrets of Olorun.
The 4 eyelé of the ebbó are dedicated to Olorun; plenty of ekú is added, offered to him.

What is forbidden · Eewó

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

Do not open up to anyone or tell your business.
They can kill you, like the one whose heart they covered with the stone.
Avoid bathing in sea or river water.
Rule of this Ifá.
The Awó must not sit at the table (eat carelessly at another person's table).
The same happens to him as to Eshishí with Atemú: he has losses.
Do not kill flies.
The Awó of this Odù must have Osain and respect Ololofó, who held the ashé of Olofin.
Do not tie up the obiní.
It is deadly for you: the black adié cursed Orunmila.
Do not consume alcoholic drinks or smoked drugs.
You commit blameworthy acts and can end up in prison.
Do not carry out any religious activity after December 13.
On a Tuesday the 13th of December the adié cursed Orunmila; it is a shadow that follows this Ifá.
Do not call Oggún for unimportant things.
Ogún goes to war only to put an end to everything.
Do not ask for more than you should for your religious work.
Ifá condemns the Awó who falsifies what the Odù says: the shepé reached Awó Owó Omó Ará.
Do not keep jugs, glasses or empty bottles face up in your house.
They are turned upside down, so that serious problems and the anger of Ogún are avoided.

Ebbós of Ofun Bara · The sacrifices that open the road

Overcoming enemiesEbbó of the heart (against the three enemies)🔒 The Notebook MoneyEbbó of Oggún's melons🔒 The Notebook LoveEbbó of the 7 keys🔒 The Notebook SpiritualEbbó of the fly (Ololofó)🔒 The Notebook HealthEbbó of the false one punished🔒 The Notebook Keeping death awayParaldo and ebbó of the prisoner🔒 The Notebook LossEbbó of Oluwa Erí🔒 The Notebook

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

Works of Ofun Bara · The workings of the sign

MoneyCeremony to feed Olorun🔒 The Notebook MoneyCeremony to feed Oshukpuá🔒 The Notebook HealthOggún's melon and the ebbomisí🔒 The Notebook SpiritualWork with the Virgin of Santa Clara🔒 The Notebook LoveAfoshé to move aside an obiní who is in the way🔒 The Notebook Overcoming enemiesInshé of Ozain of Oluwa Erí🔒 The Notebook SpiritualThe mamey of Santo Domingo for Oggún🔒 The Notebook

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

Patakíes of Ofun Bara · The roads of the Odù

1The Heart Hidden Under the Stone

It is said that in one age people took out their hearts before bathing and put them back on coming out.

A certain very shrewd man had three enemies who could not defeat him. He consulted Orunmila by means of an osode and this Ifá came out. Orunmila warned him that he had to make an offering, because otherwise his enemies would end his life. The man did not listen.

Afterward his adversaries invited him to bathe. At the river, each one took out his heart and hid it; the man took out his, covered it and went into the water. The enemies had been watching him and knew where it was, so they also put a stone on top. When he reached the middle of the river he could no longer see his heart, and he drowned.

A warning is drawn from this: one's own affairs are not entrusted to just anyone, because there are people who seek the harm of others, and it can cost one's life.

What it teaches

Entrusting one's affairs to someone who cannot be trusted leaves a person exposed to those who wish him harm. An offering that Orunmila orders must not be postponed or ignored. Shrewdness alone is not enough when the advice of Ifá is disregarded.

Ebbó of the path

Watermelon, two doves (eyelé meyi), hutia (ekú), fish (eyá), palm oil (epó), honey (oñí) and a lot of money (opolopo owó).

2The Awó of the Countryside and the First Oyugboná

This path tells that in the countryside lived an awó whom nobody attended to or respected, and whom they did not call for anything. In the town there were fifteen awoses, yet the one from the countryside surpassed them all in knowledge.

When Olofin wanted Ifá performed for his son, he gathered the fifteen awoses of the town. While testing them to see who would be the young man's Oluwo, Ifá answered that the awó of Olofin's son was not among them but in the countryside, and ordered that he be brought.

He arrived with dirty, torn clothes, because he came from tilling the land. He performed Ifá for Olofin's son and appointed as his assistant an awó called Ofún Bará, to whom he gave the name Oyugboná.

When the consultation was over, Orunmila said: “I have finished my task, I am going back home.” Olofin stopped him: “By no means. From now on you will be the awó of this town.” Orunmila accepted on one condition: “Very well, but in my absence it will be the Oyugboná, who bears the same name as I, Ofún Bará.”

So the posts of Oyugboná arose, both in Ifá and in Sodorisha. This path marks the crown of Santo.

What it teaches

A person who knows is recognized by what he does, not by his looks or his renown. Someone who was ignored can turn out to be the chosen one, and sharing the task with an assistant makes the work stronger.

3Ogún Rewards the Sons Who Gave Him Their Melons

Olofin had three sons and every day he handed each one a coin. Once he had no money and gave each of them a melon.

The youngest felt cheated and nearly threw his away, but his brother persuaded him to keep it, and the three set off for home.

Coming the other way was Ogún, who had just fought a war and was worn out and thirsty. Meeting the young men, he begged a little water and asked why they looked so sad and angry. They explained: “Just on the day we most need the usual coin, our father does not have it and gave us these melons.” They carried no water, so one of them offered him his melon to refresh himself.

Ogún ate it and drank its juice, and his thirst went away. He remarked that it had been a long time since he had tasted a melon. The other two brothers gave him theirs as well, and Ogún repaid them with a post for each: one became Governor, another Chief of Hygiene and Cleaning, and the third, Awó of the town.

What it teaches

Offering, expecting nothing, the only thing one has, even if it is little and not to one's liking, ends up being rewarded. Whoever gives with a good heart receives the place that is due.

Ebbó of the path

Two melons and two eyelé, four cachimbas, as well as a stick of the same size, an akukó, ekú and eyá, epó and awadó, ekó and also opolopo owó.

4Ogún in Iré and the empty jars🔒 The Notebook 5Ogún becomes Osha🔒 The Notebook 6Elegbará saves the Awoses🔒 The Notebook 7Iroso She steals the secret of fire🔒 The Notebook 8Orunmila shares his food and luck comes to him🔒 The Notebook 9The ebbó of the 7 keys🔒 The Notebook 10Ololofó (the fly) became powerful🔒 The Notebook 11The fly that married the table, Osain's daughter🔒 The Notebook 12The anger of Ofún Susú and the two white hens for Ifá🔒 The Notebook 13The disciple who deceived Oduduwa and was left with a crooked finger🔒 The Notebook 14The drunk and the madman before the open door🔒 The Notebook 15Oluwa Erí, King Keso's wife and the dead fish🔒 The Notebook 16The impatient woman who wanted to solve things better than the man🔒 The Notebook 17Eshu makes Obatalá dream in order to bring his son back🔒 The Notebook 18Tuesday the 13th of December🔒 The Notebook 19The octopus and its seven hearts🔒 The Notebook 20The hunters and Odé Matá🔒 The Notebook 21Shangó, witness for Olofin🔒 The Notebook 22The merchant and the dog🔒 The Notebook 23The squash and the bamboo🔒 The Notebook

20 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 Bara in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Ofun Bara

What does the Odù Ofun Bara mean in Ifá?

Here the position of Oyugboná originates, both in Osha and in Ifá: Olofin restores strength to those worn out by age; the person is a chosen one and will obtain what is wanted.

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

Ofun Bara is Odù number 248 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Ofun family.

Which orishas speak in Ofun Bara?

In the Odù Ofun Bara these orishas speak: Oggún, Olorun y Oshukpuá, Shangó, Elegbará, Orunmila, Odduduwa, Oluopopó, Inle, Yemayá y Aggayú, The Virgin of Santa Clara.

What is a proverb of the Odù Ofun Bara?

One of the proverbs of Ofun Bara says: «When the man and the woman are as old as the dove, they have no trouble mating.».

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