Oggunda Masa

nº 145 of 256

The «Oggunda crossed over»: the Babalawo above all others for calling the igbodun of Ifá; bring your family together, because peace is Olordumare's to give.

14 patakíes 6 eewó 18 ebbós and works 18 proverbs

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Oggunda Masa is Odù number 145 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Ogunda family. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 14 patakíes (3 with the full text), its proverbs, 18 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 145 of 256
Composition: Ogunda over Osa
In the Diloggún: 3-9 · Ogundá tonti Osá
Orishas that speak: Ogún · Obatalá · Olokun · Yemayá · Oshosi · Elegba · Oduduwa · Olofin y Olordumare

What Ifá says in this sign

Oggunda Masa is the «Oggunda crossed over»: Ogún crossed the road Olofin had forbidden, and Olofin ruled — «leave him: if he wants to lose the sense of life, let him find the sense of death». It is the watchman of the igbodun of Ifá, the Oyubona of the signs: like the eagle, it never sleeps — it watches over everyone, and for that reason it must watch over itself twice as hard.

Your larder is guaranteed: like the vulture, you will always have food — Olordumare arranged it; but the vulture knows where it wakes up and not where night will find it: you do not — have a house of your own and do not go wandering. And your origin story calls for healing: your mother cursed you — she did not want you born. The prescription is a wise one: live far from her and get on well with her — your happiness is not at her side, but your peace does depend on that truce.

«Like the eagle who never sleeps, Oggunda Masa watches over the igbodun — and the vulture's table is never empty.»The pulse of Oggunda Masa

You have iron to spare: you want to settle everything with iron — leave it, because it does not suit you: no raised hand (and to your wife least of all — and she is braver than you), no fight with blood and the law in it. You will win the war you are fighting — and after you win it the fear will come: that is normal in this odu; you work on it, you do not run.

The family is brought together with work: the clay pot with everyone's details, the 21 sticks and the seven tools of Ogún — this sign carries the family falling apart (even children who eat their mother) and its remedy too. For the child on the road to prison, take steps beforehand; for the child sent to control you, cleaning at the foot of Ogún; and marijuana, cut off at the root with the work for Elegba: it would be your ruin.

Your personal rites: be baptized three times — the last one in the Santo; you are claimed for Ifá: receive Orunmila; do not sleep naked (it holds you back), do not put on weight (it destroys you), and see to your sight, your kidneys and your constipation with their remedies. Let the gossip that tangles you around run: the watchman of the igbodun does not come down from his post to argue with people who whisper

The sign in one line

Put down the iron, make peace with your mother from a distance and bring your family together in the pot — Olordumare set the food on the table for Oggunda Masa: the peace is his to bring.

The prayer of Oggunda Masa · Yoruba

Ogunda Masa awara wara sokonde awara wara loyere awara wara Olorun ayo adifafun Gunugun ni aundi ebo kere.

Súyere
Akuedi nimu mama, yerimo yere igi kimano; akuedi nimu mama, yerimo yere igi kimano Awo Osheminie.

Ifá says — what Oggunda Masa tells you

An Ifá of trouble with holding the family together: to get it, the work has to be done — the clay pot with everyone's details, the 21 sticks and the seven tools of Ogún. An Ifá where the children eat their mother. An Ifá of gossip: you will always be tangled up in it because of the many arayés you have — let it run and make ebbó. The Ifá of the vulture: you will always have food, because Olordumare arranged it that way; but you should have a house of your own and not go wandering or stay out of the house, so you do not live like the vulture — who knows where it wakes up but not where night will find it. The Ifá of the watchman: Oggunda Masa is the watchman of the igbodun of Ifá, like the eagle, who never sleeps.
Oggunda Masa should be baptized three times, and the last one will be in the Santo.
The safe speaks, and the pork smuggler.
You have a child sent by your partner to control you: take them off you with the cleaning at the foot of Ogún.
You may have a child who will be prison fodder: take steps before it happens.
You may smoke marijuana: do the work for Elegba with the three brushwood cigarettes so you avoid it, because it will be your ruin.
Your parents separated because of a woman.
You should live far from your mother and try to get on well with her, so she is not your enemy and does not put ogú (witchcraft) on you. This is a hard Ifá: your mother cursed you and did not want you born — she meant to abort you on purpose. Your happiness is not at your mother's side.
The Awó has a mark on his body, and should not put on weight because it destroys him.
You suffer from constipation: take mineral oil with five drops of anise and five drops of honey.
Look after your sight and your kidneys: you may suffer from kidney stones.
For the woman: a fibroid may form in the neck of your womb — see to it quickly and use vaginal washes with jiba root.
You are claimed for the Santo or for Ifá: you have to receive Orunmila.
You get frightened by anything or any noise, without thinking about why.
You have left the warriors unattended, or you threw them out.
It speaks of one who takes Egun on, and of seating Osha.
You want to settle everything with iron: leave it, because it does not suit you.
Do not raise your hand to anyone, and to your wife least of all: if she asks you questions, pay no attention — you do not like her giving you advice, and she is braver than you.
Keep your relatives in check so you can be all right.
You are at war, and it is after you win that war that you are going to get frightened.
Be careful of a fight where there could be blood or the law could get involved.
Watch out for a trap; you are in an agreement with three people where the law could get involved: make ebbó so you come out of it well.
You like sleeping naked: do not do it, because it holds you back.
Your legs go weak on you and you have trouble with your sight.
You have an Egun who can throw you off a ladder: make paraldo to take it off you.

Proverbs of Oggunda Masa · Òwe

“The bird that imitates the vulture dies behind the stove.”
“There is no bird in the world like the vulture.”
“The vulture knows where it wakes up, but not where night will find it.”
“Olofin splits the difference.”
“Not understanding life.”
“The Saint is the one who never falls, and Olorun always speaks standing up.”
“Speaking without arguing clears a great many things up.”
“For as long as the world is this way, the vulture does not eat grass.”
“There is strength in unity.”
“Whoever does not know the road of life will come to know the road of death.”
“There are those with a head and no cap, and those with a cap and no head.”
“To put your finger in the wound is cruelty.”
“Only whoever has broken the law needs a lawyer's defense.”
“A little pleases; too much annoys.”
“A sick person is obedient and does everything to get well.”
“Above every head there are nine solid heavens.”
“A glad heart, a happy face; a sick heart, a sad face.”
“There is strength in unity.”

15 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 Oggunda Masa · Ìbí

Erubawao, Olokun's slave women.
Obanlá made them from sand at the shore and bones Olokun had left scattered, and with them the waters were calmed.
That Ogún is handed over along with Oshosi.
From the pact at Orunmila's house: apart, they were nobody.
The igbodun of Osha: the birth of the Santo.
The work of Orunmila and Obatalá so this person does not die before their time.
The calling of the igbodun of Ifá, and its watchman.
Oggunda Masa stands for the Oyubona; the eagle was consecrated in Ifá as watchman, because it never sleeps.
Olofin's treasurer.
The only one who could be treasurer was the one who had been robbed, not the thieves.
That Obatalá holds out his hands for Olordumare to give him power.
That Orunmila told the sky it was vast, but no grass grows there.

What is forbidden · Eewó

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

Do not eat pork.
The kidneys suffer, and the pig was the animal of your mockery and your test.
Do not sleep naked.
It harms you and holds you back.
Do not get fat.
The Awó of this sign destroys himself if he gets fat.
Do not live with your mother.
She can throw ogú at you: your happiness is not at her side.
Do not let friends influence you into irresponsible acts.
The hawk died from a shotgun blast because of its misdeeds; the vulture, which flew along without taking part, found its food. Be careful when you choose your friends.
Do not wander about and do not stay out of your house.
So you do not live like the vulture, which does not know where night will catch it. Have your own house.

Ebbós of Oggunda Masa · The sacrifices that open the road

SpiritualThe ebbó of the journey🔒 The Notebook Keeping death awayThe ebbó of the Erubawao🔒 The Notebook HealthThe ebbó of Olofin's doorkeeper🔒 The Notebook MoneyThe treasurer's ebbó🔒 The Notebook Beating enemiesThe ebbó of the post🔒 The Notebook LossThe thief's ebbó🔒 The Notebook

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

Works of Oggunda Masa · The workings of the sign

SpiritualThe cleaning at the foot of Ogún🔒 The Notebook LoveThe pot of family unity🔒 The Notebook Beating enemiesThe two works against the arayés🔒 The Notebook MoneyThe sarsaparilla of good luck🔒 The Notebook Keeping death awayThe work for not dying before your time🔒 The Notebook SpiritualThe oparaldo of the prenda's Egun🔒 The Notebook MoneyObatalá's panpipe🔒 The Notebook HealthThe inshé-Osain of the snapper's eyes🔒 The Notebook SpiritualThe three brushwood cigarettes🔒 The Notebook Beating enemiesThe afoshé Burukú Otá🔒 The Notebook SpiritualThe Osain of the wind🔒 The Notebook Beating enemiesWinning through with Shangó🔒 The Notebook

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

Patakíes of Oggunda Masa · The roads of the Odù

1When Ogún was frightened by the noise

Ogún was planning to travel to the land of Ibue; first he stopped by Orunmila's, who saw Oggunda Masa for him: "make ebbó so you start your trip well." He would not, and left anyway. On the way there was a big river to cross where the toads were baptizing themselves with a huge racket, and it terrified Ogún to hear them shouting: "we are going to kill Ogún!" He went back home scared to death, and his wife answered him with irony: "my husband, such a warrior, has gotten scared!" Ashamed, he went back to Orunmila and made the ebbó — rooster and scissors. When he came back, she offered to go with him; he tried to talk her out of it, saying the war was rough, but she followed him to the bank. Ogún threw the offering into the water, as Orunmila had told him — and the toads ran off. Then Ogún's wife said: "look at what scared you." Do not get scared: it is all noise. Before starting a trip, make ebbó so your affairs turn out well.

Ogún planned to travel to a land named Ibue. Before leaving he stopped by Orunmila's house, who read him and got this Odù, Oggunda Masa; his instruction was: "Make ebbó, so you can start your trip well." Ogún would not and set out without doing it. A big river was crossed on that route, and the toads were baptizing themselves in it, making a huge racket; when he heard them shouting, "We are going to kill Ogún", the fright left him cold.

He went back home with the fear on him and told his wife what had happened; her answer was ironic: "My husband, such a warrior, has gotten scared!" Carrying the shame, Ogún took the road to Orunmila's house again and made the ebbó that was marked: rooster, scissors, jutía, fish and corojo — an ebbó that is thrown in the river. On the way back, his wife offered to go with him as far as the river crossing; Ogún tried to get it out of her head, saying the war was very rough, but she, unwilling, did not leave his side until they reached the bank. Ogún threw the offering as Orunmila had told him, and as soon as it touched the water the toads ran away. Watching them flee, Ogún's wife said to him: "Look at what scared you." Note: the warning of this Ifá is that you must not get scared — it all stays as noise —, and that before starting a trip it is good to make ebbó, so things turn out well and no setbacks show up.

2The birth of the Erubawao, Olokun's slave women

Obatalá gave birth to Ogún in the bush, and Elegba, who was nearby playing agogó with hooked sticks, heard the baby crying in the thicket, picked him up and raised him in full freedom: Ogún came out powerful, willful, a warrior and a tireless worker, fond of arguing. He married Yemayá, a warrior too, and they recognized him as the balogun with the most power in those lands — warring without rest. One day Yemayá put it to him: "the war should end now"; but he kept on like a madman. The Oshas got together, and Yemayá offered: "leave it to me." She took the machete and went at Ogún: he ran at first, then fought — and Yemayá, seeing herself losing, called Olokun with a song. Olokun stirred the bottom of the ocean, the seas came out, and all the Oshas, with Ogún among them, fled to the hill. Obatalá gave them shelter and planted his white flag; Ogún went into the bush, ashamed that his wife had made him run. Obanlá went to Orunmila: Oggunda Masa — gather sand from the shore and the bones Olokun left scattered, crush them and make the secret called Erubawao: two slave women tied with chains. Obanlá took them to Olokun; he calmed down, the waters went back to their place and the Oshas came down from the hill. Ogún, on the other hand, did not come out of the bush: he stayed there to live, and Yemayá in the sea, at Olokun's side.

It was in the bush that Obatalá gave birth to Ogún. Elegba was near there, playing agogó with hooked sticks of every kind of wood and singing: "Agogo laro agogo Laroye Elegba Ode Mata ago". Suddenly the crying of a baby reached him from the thicket; he came closer, found Ogún crying, lifted him up, took him along and raised him in the middle of that bush. Ogún became strong and powerful; raised by Elegba with no ties of any kind, he did as he pleased and lived on pure whim. Nobody argued with his merits as a warrior or his tireless drive at work — although he did love to argue. He met Yemayá, a warrior like him, and married her; he came to be recognized as the balogun with the most power in all those lands, and he warred without rest.

One day Yemayá put it to him: "The war should end now"; but he, as if gone mad, kept on fighting. The Oshas got together to look for a way to put an end to that, and Yemayá offered: "Leave it to me, I will end it." She grabbed the machete and went at Ogún; at first he got scared and ran, though later he stood and fought her. Yemayá, seeing herself losing, started calling Olokun with this song: "Olokuoo iya wawa waoo kamemebao, Olokuoo obake bawaoo namemelodo". Olokun heard, stirred the bottom of the ocean and the seas came out; the Oshas had no choice but to climb the hill, Ogún among them. Obatalá gave them shelter and planted his white flag in the ground; Ogún went into the bush, ashamed of that defeat — that it was his wife who made him run.

Obanlá went to Orunmila; the osode brought out this Ifá, Oggunda Masa, with the task of gathering sand from the shore along with the bones Olokun had left scattered. He crushed them, and out of that came a secret named Erubawao. Tied with chains, he sent Obanlá to see Olokun; when he arrived he put the chains with that secret on him — they were slave women —, and Olokun calmed down, the waters went back to their place and the Oshas came down from the hill to live on the earth again. Ogún, on the other hand, did not come out of the bush: he stayed there to live, while Yemayá stayed in the sea, at Olokun's side. Note: birth of the Erubawao, Olokun's slave women, which are two and are made with sand from the shore, bones of Egun, fish head, the trash the sea leaves on the coast — sticks, herbs and glass, among other things —, erú, obí and kolá, osun, obi motiwao, jutía, fish and cloth of Orunmila.

3The eagle, watchman of Ifá

The eagle was iworo — a santero — and ruled over the birds: she crowned in Santo the alakoso and the tojosa and kept them as her helpers. One day she fell seriously ill and sent for the alakoso to read her: he could do nothing; she called the tojosa: she could not either. Then she called Orunmila, who saw this Ifá for her: "Ifá has to be made for you to save you from Ikú", with ebbó to Olokun. The até came from the forehead of a small elephant, and the hands of Ifá were made with the bones of its legs, which were given the name ikines — and the ceremony was done for her. Once consecrated, the eagle stopped being iworo and stayed as an Awó: nothing but a watcher of Ifá. That is why Ifá was consecrated to the eagle — because she never sleeps — and that is also why she is put in Osain.

The eagle, who was iworo, ruled over the birds. She crowned in Santo the alakoso and the tojosa, and once crowned the alakoso and the little tojosa stayed on as her helpers. A day came when the eagle fell ill, and seriously. She sent for the alakoso to read her, but the alakoso could do nothing for her; then she called the tojosa for the same thing, and she could not do anything either.

It was then that the eagle called Orunmila. He read her, this Ifá came out and his word was: "Ifá has to be made for you to save you from Ikú, giving ebbó to Olokun." The até came from the forehead of a small elephant; and the hands of Ifá were made with the bones of its legs, which were given the name ikines. Once that was done, the ceremony was done for her. With Ifá consecrated, the eagle stopped being iworo and stayed as an Awó: nothing but a watcher of Ifá. Note: that is where it comes from that Ifá was consecrated to the eagle — to have her as a watcher of Ifá, since she never sleeps —, and that is also why she is put in Osain.

4Obatalá, Olofin's doorkeeper🔒 The Notebook 5When the rooster laughed at the ferret🔒 The Notebook 6The vulture and the hawk🔒 The Notebook 7The pig smuggler🔒 The Notebook 8The joining of Ogún and Oshosi🔒 The Notebook 9When Oggunda Masa went to ask Olordumare for ashé🔒 The Notebook 10The shunning🔒 The Notebook 11Ogún's fury🔒 The Notebook 12The second Ife🔒 The Notebook 13The gold and the perfume🔒 The Notebook 14How to turn earth into silver🔒 The Notebook

11 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 Oggunda Masa in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Oggunda Masa

What does the Odù Oggunda Masa mean in Ifá?

The «Oggunda crossed over»: the Babalawo above all others for calling the igbodun of Ifá; bring your family together, because peace is Olordumare's to give.

What number is Oggunda Masa among the 256 Odù of Ifá?

Oggunda Masa is Odù number 145 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Ogunda family.

Which orishas speak in Oggunda Masa?

In the Odù Oggunda Masa these orishas speak: Ogún, Obatalá, Olokun, Yemayá, Oshosi, Elegba, Oduduwa, Olofin y Olordumare.

What is a proverb of the Odù Oggunda Masa?

One of the proverbs of Oggunda Masa says: «The bird that imitates the vulture dies behind the stove.».

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