Odù 129 of 256 · Okana family

Okana Kuña

The creation of the earth: Orunmila spread it over the water and the world grew out from Ilé Ifé — and here the Rainbow was born.

Okana Kuña is Odù number 129 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Okana family. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 21 patakíes (3 with the full text), its proverbs, 9 ebbós and works and the signs it shows in the consultation; the detail of iré and osogbo, the eewó and the full recipes open with the Babalawo plan — that locked part is still written in Spanish.

The sign at a glance

Order in Ifá: Odù 129 of 256
Composition: Okana over Ogunda
In the Diloggún: 1-3 · Okana tonti Ogundá
Orishas that speak: Ogún · Obatalá · Shangó · Oyá · Eshu (Alayiki) · Eziza (Ajija) · Abita

What Ifá says in this sign

Okana Kuña is the record of the creation: Orunmila came down with the snail shell, spread the net over the water, scattered the earth and let the five-toed hen loose — «may it spread out quickly» — and the world grew out from Ilé Ifé. This is a good time for new business — begun with caution.

Your weapon and your risk are the same thing: you have fire in your mouth — if they let you speak, nobody can kill you; but through that same mouth they can kill you: watch how you speak, do not raise your hand, and no stones, no bars, no weapons — the big trouble in this odu starts with an attack you make.

«May it spread out quickly — said Orunmila, and the world grew: Okana Kuña carries that seed.»The pulse of Okana Kuña

Its theology is practical: here it was born that when there are no means for an expensive sacrifice, you improvise with whatever is within reach — faith is worth more than the budget; and great faith in Elegba to get things solved was born here. So was the duty to teach: the Awó teaches whoever does not know — the knowledge in this odu is paid for by passing it on.

The things to watch: the family's kimbisa background calls for a decision — a believer in your own way is not a believer —; be careful of ending up crippled in the end (that is why the work is done in time), of the theft of things of value, and, for the woman, of abortions brought on by doubts: this odu marks them as her inward wound. Do not rest on your laurels: whoever works their Ifá or their profession climbs to the top — and success will manufacture enemies for you: that is the sign you are doing well.

The heavenly bodies speak here — the Sun, the Moon and the Rainbow, which was born in this odu: cool the earth and give them their saraekó. A marriage is coming from outside: a woman from another city for him, a foreigner for her; and the pregnant woman will give birth safely after the ebbó of the six colored birds. The world exists: existence ahead, existence behind — and you, creating like your sign

The sign in one line

Cool the fire in your mouth, improvise the sacrifice if you have to and teach whoever does not know — the world of Okana Kuña spreads out for whoever works.

The prayer of Okana Kuña · Yoruba

Okana Kuña shukudu olo dide abashe kueredi irawo shasha Awó ile pampa eyelé lebó, ashó fun fun, abó, omo ofun iña, owó la meyo kaferefun Ogún ati Obatalá.

Ifá says — what Okana Kuña tells you

The Ifá of the creation of the earth: Orunmila was the one who created it and the first to set foot on it — «the world exists: existence ahead, existence behind». The Ifá of the heavenly bodies: the Sun, the Moon and the Rainbow speak — ceremonies are made for them, they are given saraekó, and the earth is cooled. The Ifá of the one who improvises: when the client has no means for expensive sacrifices, the Awó improvises with whatever is within reach (aseboru) — that is how this Odù became effective on earth. An Ifá of prison and chains, of war and of things falling apart: Ogún tied Shangó with a chain, and the fire melted it.
You have a kimbisa background in the family; you are a believer in your own way; you end your life crippled — be careful of ending up crippled.
You have fire in your mouth: if they let you speak, nobody can kill you — watch how you speak so it does not cost you, because through your mouth they can kill you.
The woman should be careful about having two husbands at once, and she is someone who takes her pleasures to extremes.
It marks a mother and child left with nothing, because the man leaves and then dies — like the girl and the prince's son.
Be careful of theft by intruders, and of the theft of things of value.
It marks illness from the throat to the stomach, constipation, the nervous system, death by poison, illnesses of the head and operations; the woman is ill inside from abortions brought on by doubts about who the father was.
The Awó should work Ifá or his profession and not rest on his laurels, in order to climb to the top of prosperity.
Success in everything you do will make you enemies.
A woman who is not from your city will come to marry you; for the woman, a foreigner will propose marriage.
The woman is pregnant and will give birth safely after making ebbó with six colored birds.
Be careful blood is not spilled in your house: the law is bound to come — do not raise your hand.
You lost a piece of jewelry and it has turned up somewhere else, and when you claim it they will insult you.
You have to be careful your wife's good name is not ruined, and not to be so demanding.
Your situation will get worse from not believing in Orunmila, or in Shangó as your Guardian Angel.
You want something impossible, and you want a binding done quickly: that is why you have moved over to kimbisa, but you have seen nothing.
Be careful with knives or guns, with stones or metal bars: do not use one of them to attack someone — you will land yourself in serious trouble.
You should have your head prayed over right away and ask Shangó what he wants to eat.
There is a great deal of envy on you, and the Awó has to teach whoever does not know.

Proverbs of Okana Kuña · Òwe

“Fire melts the chain.”
“Black fades and white gets dirty.”
“Success breeds enemies.”
“The woodpecker is the sculptor of all the birds.”
“Gray hair makes its home on an old man's head.”
“The powerful one enjoys the world.”
“Fire does not melt fire, but it melts metal.”
“The good man leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren; the wicked one piles up what will belong to the just.”
“The glutton cannot fight with the cook.”
“The stars give tendencies; the orishas give orders.”
“The angry earth throws up lava; the angry man throws up blood.”
“An enemy stays an enemy even after death.”
“No nation prospers at war with another.”
“You have to make the best of it.”
“Whoever corrects their child does so because they love them.”
“There is no worse wedge than one cut from the same tree.”
“You have to carry two sacks: one for giving and one for receiving.”
“The wise man builds his house; the fool tears it down.”

18 proverb interpretations in this Odù, locked.Every proverb explained: which road it comes from and how it applies. Written in Spanish for now.Unlock →

Iré and Osogbo

5 iré and osogbo readings in this Odù, locked.The iré and osogbo of the sign, sorted by subject — health, money, love, death, loss… Written in Spanish for now.Unlock →

What is born in Okana Kuña · Ìbí

Feeding the drains and the rubbish.
That with no means for the sacrifice, you improvise with other things.
A chick for the blood and the feathers of the birds called for, or the bones of the animals from the daily food.
The Awó teaching whoever does not know.
The instinct for survival.
Great faith in Elegba to get things solved.
The guard of honor at the prince's coffin.
Agbalumo (the cherry), and the Rainbow.
Giving crocodile to the head and to Ifá.
That God gave the ashé for predicting truths.
The priest of the oracle sacrificed white cloth, opa atori, cascarilla, white kola nut and parrot feathers.
That the horse yawns over and over because it is calling its rider.
Ifá is calling the Awó to work: do not turn your back on your Ifá.
That Okana Kuña sets down the creation of the earth, and that battles can bring wealth and honor.

What is forbidden · Eewó

5 eewó (taboos) in this Odù, locked.What the child of this sign must not eat, do or wear. Written in Spanish for now.Unlock →

Ebbós of Okana Kuña · The sacrifices that open the road

HealthThe washing of the head🔒 Babalawo

Beating enemiesThe ebbó of the chain and the fire🔒 Babalawo

Beating enemiesThe ebbó of the snare🔒 Babalawo

SpiritualThe ebbó of the instinct for survival🔒 Babalawo

LoveThe ebbó of the thunderstone🔒 Babalawo

MoneyThe ebbó of strength🔒 Babalawo

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

Works of Okana Kuña · The workings of the sign

SpiritualThe saraekó of the heavenly bodies🔒 Babalawo

Beating enemiesOshún's honey for Eshu🔒 Babalawo

HealthThe turtle at the door🔒 Babalawo

3 works in this Odù, locked.Each full recipe: ingredients, preparation and where it goes. Written in Spanish for now.Unlock →

Patakíes of Okana Kuña · The roads of the Odù

1The goat and the divinities' cherries

The three Awoses read in heaven for the 480 animals and the 480 divinities: four roosters and cherries each, to avoid the risk of hunger. The divinities sacrificed; the animals refused. Hunger came: God gave the divinities cherry seeds, Eshu poured air and water on them, and in seventy days they were eating the fruit. The goat, passing the tree, carried fruit off for his family and got into the habit of coming back every morning — until the divinities set traps: caught, every divinity fouled the air around his head and the toxic gas killed him; Eshu offered to eat him. That is why goats' heads smell bad, and why goat is Eshu's favorite food to this day.

«The priest who reads Ifá twenty ways, the priest who reads Ifá thirty ways, and the countless agboyin leaves, which the children counted endlessly in the bush» were the three Awoses who made the reading in heaven for the 480 animals and the 480 divinities. They were warned that they had to make sacrifice to avoid the risk of hunger: each of them was to sacrifice four roosters and cherries (agbalumo). The divinities made the sacrifice, but the animals refused. There came a time when there was hunger in heaven, and everyone was looking for food: the divinities appealed to God, and he gave them cherry seeds, which they planted at once. Eshu poured air and water over the seeds, and in three days they had sprouted; in ten days they bore fruit, and in seventy the fruit was ready to pick: the divinities began to feed themselves.

Meanwhile, the goat passed the cherry tree and saw the ripe fruit fallen on the ground: he gathered as much as he could carry to feed his family, and got into the habit of visiting the tree every morning. Not long after, the divinities discovered that an intruder was gathering fruit without permission, and reacted by setting traps around the tree. The next time the goat went, he was caught in a trap and began shouting for help: when the divinities found him, each of them began fouling the air around his head, and the toxic gas killed him. When they asked who would eat the culprit, Eshu volunteered and carried him off. These two incidents explain why goats' heads have that bad smell, and why goat is Eshu's favorite food to this day. In an ordinary reading: sacrifice with a goat and black soap — the blood and the soap wash the person's head at Eshu's altar, against an illness of the head. For a community: sacrifice to avoid a lean year.

2The Awó who improvised sacrifices

Before coming down he served Ogún with palm wine, a rooster, a dog and a turtle — so as not to die at his hands —, Eshu with a goat, and his head and his Ifá with a crocodile. On earth the elder Awoses took no notice of him, until his readings proved effective. He did what Orunmila expected of his followers: when a client could not afford expensive sacrifices, he improvised with whatever was within reach — a chick for the blood and the feathers, the bones of the animals eaten daily. People came in crowds, and envy came with them: the priests of Ogún took up arms. He repeated the sacrifice — a dog, a rooster, a turtle and palm wine to Ogún, a goat to Eshu, a crocodile to Ifá — and his enemies left him alone: he went on enjoying the people's praise, and was very prosperous.

Before leaving heaven, he had a reading made and was warned to serve Ogún with palm wine, a rooster, a dog and a turtle, so as to avoid being killed by him on earth; also to serve Eshu with a goat, and his head and his Ifá with a crocodile. He came down into the world after making every sacrifice and receiving God's blessings. When he reached the earth the elder Awoses took no notice of him; but when they found that his readings and sacrifices proved effective, they began to watch him. He did exactly what Orunmila expected of his followers: when clients did not have the means to carry out expensive sacrifices, they should make them with improvisations within the client's reach (aseboru) — if someone needed to sacrifice a guinea fowl, a hen, a rooster and pigeons, a female goat or a ram, it was asked whether it could be varied, using a chick for the blood and the feathers of the birds called for, or the bones of the animals killed daily for food. People began to come to him — which brought him the envy of other priests.

At the priests' meetings he was frequently laughed at and looked down on, and the priests of Ogún took up arms against him. He went for a reading: serve Ogún with a dog, a rooster, a turtle and palm wine, Eshu with a goat, and Ifá with a crocodile. He made the sacrifice, and his enemies left him alone: he went on enjoying the people's praise for how effective his work was, and was very prosperous. In Igbodu: prepare Ogún for yourself, so nobody can harm you through Ogún; you will succeed in everything you do, but that success will make you enemies. In an ordinary reading: have your own Ifá and your own Ogún, or serve Ifá with a crocodile and Eshu with a goat.

3Ogún, everyone's servant, and the ashé of the oracle

Before leaving heaven, he read for Ogún: a feast for his Guardian Angel with fourteen different birds and animals, and a goat to Eshu, so as not to become everyone's servant. He refused — and that is why Ogún became the unappreciated servant of every divinity and of men. He also read for the priest of the oracle: white cloth, opa atori, cascarilla, white kola nut and parrot feathers to God. He sacrificed — and God gave him the instrument of authority (ashé) so that every prediction of his would be true: that explains his popularity when he reached the world.

Before leaving heaven, he made the reading for Ogún, warning him that he had to hold a feast for his Guardian Angel with fourteen different birds and animals, and give a goat to Eshu, so as to avoid becoming everyone's servant. He refused to make the sacrifice — which explains why Ogún became a servant unappreciated by every divinity and by men.

He also made the reading for the priest of the oracle, warning him that he had to make sacrifice to God with white cloth, opa atori (squirrel stick), cascarilla, white kola nut and parrot feathers. He made the sacrifice, after which God gave him the instrument of authority (ashé) so that every prediction of his would be true. That explains his popularity when he reached the world: whoever sacrifices speaks with authority; whoever refuses serves without honor.

4The three priests of the nicknames🔒 Babalawo

5The horse that yawns🔒 Babalawo

6Eshi in Oyó🔒 Babalawo

7Eziza, the divinity of the wind🔒 Babalawo

8Babara the father and Babara the son🔒 Babalawo

9The snail shell🔒 Babalawo

10Ogun-Gbemi: the powerful one enjoys the world🔒 Babalawo

11Ogún tied Shangó up🔒 Babalawo

12The cat, the hen and Obatalá🔒 Babalawo

13Where Oyá saved Shangó🔒 Babalawo

14The instinct for survival🔒 Babalawo

15The son who doubted Shangó🔒 Babalawo

16The son who met his dead father🔒 Babalawo

17The wedge and the tree🔒 Babalawo

18The cloth, the colt and the staff🔒 Babalawo

19The quarrel between the stone and the bamboo🔒 Babalawo

20The respect of the town🔒 Babalawo

21The ruined garden🔒 Babalawo

18 more patakíes in this Odù, locked.Read every road in full with the Babalawo plan. Written in Spanish for now.Unlock →

Before you subscribe: everything you read on this page is in English, but the locked part of the treatise — the full text of the other patakíes, the recipes for the ebbós and works, the iré and osogbo readings and the eewó — is still written in Spanish. We are translating it. · This page is also available in Spanish: See Okana Kuña in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Okana Kuña

What does the Odù Okana Kuña mean in Ifá?

The creation of the earth: Orunmila spread it over the water and the world grew out from Ilé Ifé — and here the Rainbow was born.

What number is Okana Kuña among the 256 Odù of Ifá?

Okana Kuña is Odù number 129 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Okana family.

Which orishas speak in Okana Kuña?

In the Odù Okana Kuña these orishas speak: Ogún, Obatalá, Shangó, Oyá, Eshu (Alayiki), Eziza (Ajija), Abita.

What is a proverb of the Odù Okana Kuña?

One of the proverbs of Okana Kuña says: «Fire melts the chain.».

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