Okana Yeku

nº 123 of 256

Orunmila's secretary, the memory of Egun: sacrifice brings riches and refusing it destroys — here the first three Oloshas were born.

24 patakíes 7 eewó 10 ebbós and works 17 proverbs

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Okana Yeku is Odù number 123 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Okana family. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 24 patakíes (3 with the full text), its proverbs, 10 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 123 of 256
Composition: Okana over Oyekun
In the Diloggún: 1-2 · Okana tonti Eyioko
Orishas that speak: Eshu · Shangó · Olokun y Oduduwa · Osanyin · Egun · Oshún · Olugbodo

What Ifá says in this sign

Okana Yeku is Orunmila's secretary — nature's own memory: when the Awó forgets the sign in the middle of the ebbó, he prays this Odù and the memory comes back. Its law of money cuts both ways: sacrifice brings riches, and refusing it brings ruin — and this person likes walking the edge of the blade.

Your character manufactures loneliness: serious marriage trouble — you tend to end up alone because of the way you are: be kinder to your wife and to people, because the luck in this odu comes in through courtesy. You are a man of the road: shut in for a few days you feel like a prisoner and fall ill — keep moving, but with the work done.

«Sacrifice brings riches and refusing it destroys — Okana Yeku walks the blade's edge, but with ebbó.»The pulse of Okana Yeku

For the Awó of this odu, the trade diagnosis: you pick up the bad shadow of the ebbós and paraldos you perform, because you never get read yourself — while everyone you attended to lives well, the only one who is ill and restless is you. Prayer over the head with pigeons, white cloth on top and two hens for Orunmila: the doctor gets treated too. And its higher rules: the ebbó of this Odù calls for the knife, Oduduwa and more than ten years of Ifá — respect the ranks.

The spiritual fronts: they are bombarding you with a sorcerer's pot — feed Ogún so he is on your side —, all the Saints are angry (a bunch of plantains for Shangó, and attention), and your prayers have not reached heaven: they will reach it when you sacrifice. The speckled hen of the ebbó is not sacrificed: she stays alive in the sick person's house.

The secretary's promises: poor today, money tomorrow — if you make ebbó; a son who will come to Ifá, and victory in the war with Eshu beside you. Do not lend the money that brings trouble, put down the gunpowder you are carrying, and remember the first three Oloshas who were born here: even the consecration itself began in this odu — your story can begin today

The sign in one line

Be kind, get read yourself too and sacrifice — the prayers of Okana Yeku reach heaven the day the ebbó pushes them there.

The prayer of Okana Yeku · Yoruba

Ifá arufin aruda akitin bombo walashe asheto akitin bombo Orunmila ñale babashe orun arufin aruda Okana Yeku oberele inayero ashé gbogbo orumale yikotun gbogbo orumale yikosi to iban Eshu orun Orunlofun aye Okana Yeku Barabaniregun arufin aruda.

Súyere
Arufin aruda onishebo ada, arufin aruda onishebo ada Awó.

Ifá says — what Okana Yeku tells you

The Ifá of Orunmila's secretary: when the Awó cannot remember the Odù of the reading at the moment of the ebbó, he prays Okana Yeku — «Odun eledun Olokun eledun asho risa osode Orunmila Odù toyale lokueri Ifá mokun» — and the situation is resolved. It is an Ifá that is an enemy of sorcerers: Okana Yeku is not a sorcerer, but is capable of it. This Odù also saves a brother. It is the Ifá of the rayamiento and the prenda: there is jealousy between Osanyin and the prenda, which stands for the Devil — the bird is given to the prenda first, and to Osanyin afterwards. It is the Ifá of the hard life of Ifá: Orunmila states that the life of Ifá is one of dedication, study and strict discipline.
You have to have Kuanardo (the knife), Oduduwa and more than ten years of Ifá to make the ebbó of this Odù.
Ebbó is not made for an aleyo with osogbo Ikú without asking Orunmila first.
It is essential to make ebbó with a speckled hen that is not sacrificed: she is left alive in the sick person's house.
Do not seat a Santo on the head with this Odù, or when all the dilogunes fall face down in the washing: the Saints show themselves on the forehead.
There is serious marriage trouble: you tend to live alone and should prepare for the end of your life — your character is what causes this.
The Awó is not happy with the way they work in his branch, and he leaves that place.
Illnesses of this sign: hardening of the arteries, cholera, chronic stomach pain from witchcraft, ulcer and vomiting — here strange things are vomited up.
The woman has trouble having children or giving birth: seven yams and a mother goat to Olugbodo.
The Awó picks up the bad shadow of the ebbós and paraldos he performs, because he never gets read himself or counters the effect: while everyone else lives well, the only one who is ill and restless is him — prayer over the head with pigeons, covered with white cloth, and two hens for Orunmila.
They are bombarding you with a sorcerer's pot, possibly with Sarabanda: Ogún has to be fed so he is on our side.
You have many enemies at war with you: make ebbó so Eshu goes with you and you win the war.
Not one of your prayers has reached heaven — and they will reach it when you sacrifice.
You are a man of the road: when you spend several days inside your house you feel like a prisoner and fall ill; you always have to be doing something.
You are not happy with the line taken in your religious house and you want to go elsewhere.
All the Saints are angry with you: attend to Shangó and give him a bunch of plantains.
They envy you a great deal for what you have and for what God gave you; you will have a partner who will envy you everything.
You will have a son for whom you will have to make Ifá.
Today you will be poor, but tomorrow or the day after you will have money if you make ebbó.
Money you lend will bring you trouble, and you are carrying gunpowder on you.
Your wife is being held back: be kinder to her and to the people you deal with, so good luck comes to you soon.

Proverbs of Okana Yeku · Òwe

“If pure oil sets its eyes on the fire, it melts.”
“The snail never suffers a hot life.”
“The square board wants to be more than the round one.”
“Be content with what you have.”
“Old trouble comes back around.”
“When there is too much fire, Yemayá puts it out with water.”
“Slyness is a sentence and kindness an approval.”
“The root of hatred is trouble; the root of forgiveness is love.”
“Whoever thinks only of deceit will never have a place among the just.”
“Nobody suffers more than whoever will not adapt.”
“The one who puts an end to the beginning is death.”
“She is like the Moorish queen, who sometimes sings and sometimes weeps.”
“The hunter chasing an elephant does not stop to throw stones at birds.”
“You are working for nothing.”
“Whoever serves the orphan serves Olorun.”
“A man only thinks things over when the osogbos touch him.”
“While the wicked fall, the just stay standing.”

14 proverb interpretations in this Odù, locked.Every proverb explained: which road it comes from and how it applies.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…Unlock →

What is born in Okana Yeku · Ìbí

The war of the square board with the round one.
The square one (Osanyin) wanted to be more than the round one (Orunmila and Oduduwa).
Praying this Odù when the sign of the ebbó is lost or forgotten.
Okana Yeku was Orunmila's secretary and filed all his papers: his remarkable memory saved the ebbó of Obatalá Oloyú Okuní.
That Orunmila and Shangó were paleros (Arufin and Aruda), and their redemption before Olofin.
The Awan of Olokun.
The change of head.
That is why the Awó does not make the ebbó of this Ifá for an Awó older than himself — and even less if it is osogbo.
The anger of the Saints: Osha Babinú.
It is avoided with the frizzled hen to all the Oshas, guaguao pepper, Indian plantain yam and the gourd split in two.
The consecration ceremony in Osha, and the first three Oloshas: Akodá, Ashedá and Obaralokue.
Madness from wanting to know the whole of Ifá.
It is not possible for one person to know everything of Orunmila's: that person would go mad.
That Orunmila allows your Odù of Ifá to be revealed.
If someone warns you not to reveal your sign to another Babalawo, that is a sign that whoever warns you is a liar: keep away from them.
The deformed belly, and the prayer over it with a gourd.
Giving a bird to Osanyin, the guinea fowl to the feet, and the special ókpele of this Odù.

What is forbidden · Eewó

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

The Awó cannot sleep with women on Thursdays.
You cannot light candle stubs; and when candles are lit, they cannot be put out together.
You cannot eat dried okra, nor okra with its head.
Do not do the ebbó of this Odù for an older Awó.
It changes head — and if it is osogbo, even less so.
Do not deny food or offerings to anyone who comes to your house.
Do not dig into gossip and do not curse.
Olofin punishes that.
Do not break your word.
You fall into debts that cannot be repaired — like the gourds that broke their promise to the Devil and were beaten.

Ebbós of Okana Yeku · The sacrifices that open the road

Beating enemiesThe secretary's ebbó🔒 The Notebook SpiritualThe two paraldos of Awó Waorun🔒 The Notebook SpiritualThe paraldo on the hill🔒 The Notebook SpiritualThe ebbó of the gourd🔒 The Notebook Keeping death awayThe ebbó of the big land and the small land🔒 The Notebook HealthThe sacrifice of the embrace🔒 The Notebook MoneyThe sacrifice of well-being🔒 The Notebook

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

Works of Okana Yeku · The workings of the sign

SpiritualThe prayer for the forgotten Odù🔒 The Notebook HealthThe prayer over the belly🔒 The Notebook Keeping death awayThe live speckled hen🔒 The Notebook

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

Patakíes of Okana Yeku · The roads of the Odù

1The witches' mark

Before coming down he sacrificed a goat and roast yam to Eshu, warned about his many enemies. On arriving, the Witchcraft Cult put a mark on his forehead to single him out for destruction: everything went wrong for him. In a dream, his Guardian Angel told him to wash his head at Eshu's altar with goat's blood: that sacrifice enabled Eshu to take off the mark of the Elders of the Night, and the witches began to confess what they were doing against him. His chronic stomach pain was cured by a one-eyed woman with some cooked leaves: he vomited up a scorpion, and the trouble ended.

"Uroke mi lawo ligonrin, uroke mi lawo leturuye": that is what the two Awoses were called who read for this Odù when it still had not come out of heaven. They announced enemies in quantity down below and marked him an offering: a goat and roasted yam for Eshu. He obeyed. As soon as he set foot on earth, the Cult of Witchcraft marked a sign on his forehead, so that any witch would know him wherever he was: he was a victim set aside for destruction. By then he was already carrying every kind of setback, and nothing he started came out well.

One night, while sleeping, he dreamed of his Guardian Angel, who told him to wash his head at Eshu's altar with goat blood. When he woke up he read himself: Ifá explained that with that offering Eshu could erase the mark that the Elders of the Night (Awon Iyami Osoronga) had put on his head. He did it, and from then on the witches started to confess what they had against him. Before all of that a chronic stomach pain had started on him that no remedy would ease; one morning a woman with only one eye came to him and gave him some leaves and other materials to boil and drink. After taking that he threw up a scorpion, and with the scorpion the sickness left him. In an ordinary reading: look for a priest of Ifá to wash your head at an altar of Eshu with goat blood, to cut down your witchcraft problems; most likely your stomach trouble comes from the Elders of the Night, and the priest will have to serve the Night in your name.

2Odogbonikere, who bought without paying

The coconut tree carries its fruit so high that no hand brings it down alone, and the palm rises up on long legs and a long neck: with those figures they named the goods that Ifá gave him for life. Odogbonikere came down to the world to enjoy the fortune and the protection of Orunmila: at the market he bought rats, fish, goats and even a wife without paying anything. He offered a goat and his prosperity was great. Serve Ifá well and you will not lack anything as long as you live.

The coconut tree keeps its fruit so high that no hand brings it down without help; the palm, for its part, has long legs and a long neck. That was the size of the benefits Ifá gave him all through his life: at the market he took rats, fish, goats and even a wife without paying out anything, because Odogbonikere had come into the world to enjoy the fortunes and the providence of Orunmila.

He sacrificed a goat, and his life was one of great prosperity. In Igbodu: attend to Ifá properly, and as long as you live you will lack nothing. In an ordinary reading: receive your own Ifá and you will have a prosperous life.

3Osogeregere and the sentence of the Night

Okana Yeku was no sorcerer, but he could attend the meetings of the Witchcraft Club and knew how they sent their messages. One night they sentenced his brother Osogeregere — a rogue — to bring water from the river in a basket, with no coming back until he managed it. He did not tell him directly: he persuaded him to serve Olugbodo with seven yams, and to tell the infertile woman who would come near the altar to serve Olugbodo with a mother goat so she could conceive. The woman — the witch appointed to carry out the sentence — served Olugbodo, became pregnant and gave birth: and she refused to hand Osogeregere the basket for the river.

Okana Yeku was not a witch, but he had permission to sit in the meetings of the Witchcraft Club and he knew how to read the way the witches sent messages to each other. A brother of his was named Osogeregere. In one of those night meetings the matter of the brother came up for discussion, and the witches decided to hand Osogeregere a basket so he would bring water from the river: he would not come back until he did it. Osogeregere was a rascal. Once he knew about the impossible task the Night had set for his brother, he did not pass him the news straight: he sent for him and asked him to go get a reading. Osogeregere refused, saying his life had no problem at all; even so they convinced him to go, and to serve with seven yams a lesser divinity named Olugbodo. They announced to him that, right in the middle of the offering, a woman who could not give birth would come up to the altar, and that he had to tell her to buy a mother goat to serve Olugbodo and get a child that way.

He carried out the sacrifices. While he was at it the woman came up to him, and he pointed out the goat for Olugbodo if she wanted to conceive. That woman was a witch commissioned by the Night to carry out the sentence handed down against Osogeregere; even so, she served Olugbodo, got pregnant and in time gave birth to a boy. Having decided her own fate inside the world of the witches herself, she refused to hand him the basket for the river water. In Igbodu: in your family there is a woman who cannot give birth, and there is also a divinity of the house whose priest you are meant to be — do not refuse to serve it; serve Ogún three times before closing the Ifá ceremonies and give a second goat to Eshu. In an ordinary reading: goat to Eshu and rooster to Ogún, to get out of a problem in a relationship.

4The voice with authority🔒 The Notebook 5When Orunmila left for heaven never to return🔒 The Notebook 6The embrace of the oil and the snail🔒 The Notebook 7Igbehin and Itori🔒 The Notebook 8Igbeyin-Odo and the war turned aside🔒 The Notebook 9The reading for well-being🔒 The Notebook 10Orunmila and Shangó were paleros🔒 The Notebook 11The deformed belly🔒 The Notebook 12Orunmila visits the prisoners🔒 The Notebook 13Okana Yeku, Orunmila's secretary🔒 The Notebook 14The gourd tree and the Devil🔒 The Notebook 15The big land and the small land🔒 The Notebook 16How the Odù Okana Yeku came together🔒 The Notebook 17The wealth Oshún gave Awó Moyedí🔒 The Notebook 18The consecration of Osha: Ashedá, Akodá and Obaralokue🔒 The Notebook 19The fight of the four Odù of power🔒 The Notebook 20When the king won the war🔒 The Notebook 21The toad and the princess with the golden ball🔒 The Notebook 22The double of Shangó's son🔒 The Notebook 23The king and the goose🔒 The Notebook 24The three enchanted gourds🔒 The Notebook

21 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 Okana Yeku in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Okana Yeku

What does the Odù Okana Yeku mean in Ifá?

Orunmila's secretary, the memory of Egun: sacrifice brings riches and refusing it destroys — here the first three Oloshas were born.

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

Okana Yeku is Odù number 123 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Okana family.

Which orishas speak in Okana Yeku?

In the Odù Okana Yeku these orishas speak: Eshu, Shangó, Olokun y Oduduwa, Osanyin, Egun, Oshún, Olugbodo.

What is a proverb of the Odù Okana Yeku?

One of the proverbs of Okana Yeku says: «If pure oil sets its eyes on the fire, it melts.».

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