Osa Di

nº 155 of 256

The war between the hook and the fish, caught by the bait of deceit: be content with your own luck — peace of spirit is the greatest wealth.

16 patakíes 5 eewó 9 ebbós and works 16 proverbs

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Osa Di is Odù number 155 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Osa family. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 16 patakíes (3 with the full text), its proverbs, 9 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 155 of 256
Composition: Osa over Odi
In the Diloggún: 9-7 · Osá tonti Odí
Orishas that speak: Yemayá · Oyá · Ogún · Eshu · Shangó · Orunmila · Obatalá · Egun

What Ifá says in this sign

Osa Di is the sign of the war between the hook and the fish: for not making ebbó, the fish fell for the bait of deceit — and here men learned to gather into towns in order to survive. Its philosophy is one of balance: there are humble people who live like kings, and there is the one who has everything and lacks everything — because peace of spirit is the greatest wealth after health.

Live off your natural ability and be content with your own luck without envying anyone: each of us will live off what is ours — whoever looks at someone else's plate loses their own. And respect what is old: ancestral customs are not criticized inside the family — the young woman who cursed the custom of the river was swallowed by the whirlpool.

«The fish who made no ebbó took the bait — Osa Di learns to see the hook inside the deceit.»The pulse of Osa Di

Your battlefront is a domestic one: betrayals in the family — there is someone close who has even stolen from you —, a friend with bad ideas setting a trap for you (and you do him favors), and your marriage under siege: the shishirikú — dark eguns — keep the union away from you, and the friend who plays go-between wants to spoil it. The bellows for Eshu and kalalú for Shangó: betrayal is disarmed in the santo's kitchen.

Your character has only one key: do not be so headstrong and use your head — this odu says it itself. No cursing, no starting with force, no going into hidden places to take what is not yours (they will catch you inside). And look after your job: over a single day missed they can replace you — steadiness.

The concrete hopes: the son you want comes with ebbó, not with quarreling with your wife; the passage you cannot get is unstuck (a working was done on you: undo it); memory and stomach are seen to — and the curious promise: they are going to raise you to a place where good comes to you out of something bad. The fish that makes ebbó sees the hook — and eats without biting it

The sign in one line

Be content with what is yours, respect what is old and soften your head — the peace of spirit of Osa Di is worth more than everything you envy.

The prayer of Osa Di · Yoruba

Osa Di ishe isheri oshe koloja tobati ishe guolo iba lafimunu adifafun Baba Bokun bante poroki akuko, eyele lebo.

Ifá says — what Osa Di tells you

An Ifá of taking down the fences or the sieges so a relationship goes well. The Ifá of the war between the hook and the fish: whoever does not make ebbó is caught by the bait. An Ifá where you work for someone who does not deserve it, and where you are advised to keep away from everything bad. An Ifá of betrayals in the family: it speaks of trouble with a close relative who has even stolen from you. The Ifá of the shishirikú: dark eguns who keep marriage away from you. An Ifá where the woman and the man live together without being in love: lightning struck, the woman's cycle came, and having children came with it — the man was left in love with the woman, but she was not with him.
You suffer with your stomach, your legs and weakness of the brain: loss of memory — the head does not respond.
You lose your way through being headstrong and having no calm: you cannot curse. Osa Di says: «do not be so headstrong and use your head».
The woman has had two husbands, both now dead; there are dead elders in the family who have to be attended to, and elders who are ill who have to be treated with the Santo and with a doctor.
The woman likes another man and the man likes another woman.
It marks betrayal in the house: the bellows are put for Eshu and kalalú for Shangó to avoid it.
Ancestral customs cannot be criticized inside the family: the young woman who cursed the custom of the river was swallowed by the whirlpool.
Under this Odù the godfather can lose his luck.
The herbs of this Odù are: male fern and marjoram.
Do not be so headstrong and stubborn, keep calmer, do not curse and do not start with force.
You have a friend setting a trap for you to fall into: he has bad ideas about you, and you do him a great many favors.
You are due to have a great deal of trouble because of a relative: listen to advice and watch what you do.
You are very fond of women, there is a very jealous woman, and that friend wants to spoil your marriage.
You are going into a hidden place to take something that is not yours: be careful, because they are going to catch you inside the house.
You have to feed your head.
You want to have a son and you quarrel with your wife over it, because she does not bear you one: make ebbó if you want it.
At a job, over a single day you missed, they removed you and put someone else in your place who would do the same thing better and cheaper.
You often travel by sea and now you cannot: your friends have done a working on you so you cannot set sail.
Be careful you do not go from free to enslaved, or lose your mind.
Your work does not show: there are people who have cursed you.
You had a dream some days ago: give thanks to Obatalá and Oshún.
You have a friend who owes you money and likes his drink.
You have a hard mouth on you: they are going to raise you or place you somewhere where good comes to you out of something bad.
You are bad in one leg or one arm, in your stomach or your head, and you want your head at peace.
You want to leave your wife but you do not because of your children: there is always something unsettling you; if it is your wife who leaves and you never go back to her, another woman will turn up.
You cannot say «I know» anymore, because saying it costs you.
You have to receive Eshu so the upheaval in your house stops.
One way or another you are due to have another woman, because the one you have is not the one who fills you: yours is far away and you were chasing her a long time ago. You will have to go about alone always.

Proverbs of Osa Di · Òwe

“The jug goes to the fountain so often that in the end it breaks.”
“Whoever raises someone else's dog loses the bread and loses the dog.”
“Two big noses cannot kiss.”
“The egg the dog cannot swallow, the hen can peck.”
“A tiger that eats bone, satisfaction for its throat.”
“Do not be headstrong and use your head.”
“Ancestral customs are not criticized inside the family.”
“When the fences and the sieges come down, relationships go well.”
“The machete asked for so much edge that it ended up as filings.”
“Two opponents in a temper can hardly understand each other.”
“The intruder who gets in among family ends up shamed.”
“Good news is cause for joy.”
“Whoever throws away bread because they are full will beg for it when they are hungry.”
“For the ungrateful, neither give nor take away.”
“The anvil and the hammer do not strike each other because there is iron in between.”
“The chain turns a free man into a slave.”

13 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 Osa Di · Ìbí

The war between the hook and the fish.
The fish, for refusing to make ebbó, were caught by the hook, which deceived them with the bait.
Men gathering into societies or towns in order to survive.
The works done with nails (isherí).
Every time one of those works is done, this Odù should be prayed.
That each of us will live off our own natural ability.
You have to be content with your own luck and not envy other people: peace of spirit is, after health, the greatest wealth on Earth.
That through someone's selfishness or revenge you are separated from your parents at birth.
Like the king's son, stolen as a newborn, who became an Awó and was recognized by his two moles of hair.

What is forbidden · Eewó

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

Do not do favors.
They will not thank you for it, and in the end you will be the one harmed.
Do not criticize the ancestral customs inside your family.
The young woman who cursed the custom of the river was swallowed by the whirlpool.
Do not be stubborn and do not curse.
The person gets lost by being stubborn and having no calm.
Do not say «I know» anymore.
You harm yourself by saying it.
Do not take what is not yours.
They will catch you inside the house.

Ebbós of Osa Di · The sacrifices that open the road

SpiritualThe ebbó of the king with no responsibility🔒 The Notebook Beating enemiesThe monkey's ebbó🔒 The Notebook MoneyThe sacrifice of the lamp — where Osa could not be opened🔒 The Notebook MoneyThe sacrifice of the great revelation🔒 The Notebook

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

Works of Osa Di · The workings of the sign

Beating enemiesThe prayer of the 16 pigeons and the inshé of the gourd🔒 The Notebook SpiritualThe obsessing egun of the platanillo🔒 The Notebook HealthOgún's reinforcement🔒 The Notebook SpiritualThe female goat and Oyá's Awan🔒 The Notebook Beating enemiesThe bellows and the kalalú🔒 The Notebook

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

Patakíes of Osa Di · The roads of the Odù

1The king with no responsibility

Awo Ori Sese, the young king of Oni Efan, envied a life with no responsibility: he would go out in disguise to feasts and masked balls like any other man. At one of them he met a woman as beautiful as his wife, and they lived together a long time. When she became pregnant and told him she had dreamed he was a king with a wife and children, the king fled, never to return. Years later, the woman and her son, now a man, came to Oni Efan looking for work, and she went pale when she saw the king on the balcony: he came out to meet her — «I know we have a son; you will both live here in the palace; it was greater reasons that made me leave you». All she said to him was: «All I want is that you never forget your responsibilities». To Iban Eshu.

Awo Ori Sese ruled in the land of Oni Efan. He had inherited the throne while still very young, and the life with no duties drew him and made him envious: he took it for granted that the post he had just received would take away the freedom he had enjoyed before. He was a man fond of parties and fun.

For a long time he accepted a quiet life, but the rule held him so tightly that it was no longer possible for him to go back to what he had before. That is how the years went by.

One time he felt like going out for a while, not with the trappings of a king, but like any neighbor: he set aside the jewels and the clothes of the throne, dressed another way and went out that night; he saw that in the town nobody noticed him. He repeated the outing again and again, living as he pleased, and sometimes he went to parties and masked balls, where it was easy for him to hide who he really was.

One day he learned that in a nearby town there would be a masked ball and he decided to go. Once there he covered himself with his costume and went into the dance; there he met a woman as beautiful as his wife. He offered to go with her and she agreed. She turned out to be more demanding than the other women he had dealt with, since she wanted to see his face; the king refused at first, but after a while he uncovered his face. Since he saw that this did not put his secret at risk, he stayed at the party until the night was over. Afterwards, the king and that beautiful woman lived as man and wife for a long time.

One day she got pregnant and told him a dream of hers: in it, her partner was a king and had a wife and children. The shock was so great that the king fled and never came back. Again the years went by.

When the son was already a man, mother and son came to the land of Oni Efan looking for work to support themselves. A great party for the king met them, and just then Awo Ori Sese, lord of that land, came out on the palace balcony. The color drained from the woman's face: she recognized the man who had been the great love of her life. Once she got over the blow, she went up the stairs; the king saw her, came to meet her and said to her: "Say nothing. I know you are right, I know we have a son; nothing will happen to him, nor to you either. The two of you will live here in the palace. I always loved you, but there were greater reasons that forced me to go away from you, which is the truth you see today. I want you to leave me our son, to make a good man of him; I will help you too".

She answered him only: "The only thing I want is that you never forget your responsibilities". To Iban Eshu.

2Whoever was born a monkey is a monkey and stays a monkey

Obatalá and Yemayá lived alone and sad, and Obatalá took pity on the monkey, his son, who was going about the world having a hard time: he took him home, they dressed him like a person and he even had a seat at their table. The monkey thought himself important — «those two are nobody without me» —: he refused Obatalá the bread, answered him back, and threw himself on Yemayá for ofikale trupon. She struck him with her chain and went to Orunmila (Awo Lamu Regun), who saw Osa Di for her: «whoever was born a monkey is a monkey and stays a monkey». He prepared the chain: they got him drunk, chained him and shut him behind bars — with no war, because although they would always beat him, if he bit them their blood would sicken. So the monkey lost his power for not knowing how to be grateful, and ever since he lives shut in when he lives with men.

Obatalá and Yemayá shared a house, with no company but each other, because the children of both were scattered around the world; that is why sadness would not leave them. The monkey was a son of Obatalá; nobody took him into account and he went from place to place suffering hardship. Obatalá took pity on him, took him along and gave him a roof.

With the daily dealing, the monkey won the love and the trust of the two: they bought him new clothes and dressed him in a way that made him look like a person; from then on he went around like a dandy. It fell to him to receive those who came to visit Obatalá and Yemayá, and those who before had not taken him into account began to show him respect. They also gave him his own place at the table at mealtime. With all that the monkey started to feel important and changed the way he thought, until he said to himself: "These two without me are nobody".

One day, with the three of them at the table, Obatalá asked him to pass the bread. The monkey answered that he should take it with his own hand, since a king's meal is not to be interrupted. The answer took Obatalá aback, and he called him to order, and the monkey answered him with insolence. Obatalá left the table, and at that moment the monkey threw himself on Yemayá to ofikale trupon with her. She, who more than once had caught him peeping at her while she was with Obatalá, took a chain of hers and brought it down on his head.

Without losing a moment, Yemayá went to the house of Orunmila, called in that land Awo Lamu Regun. He did osode for her, saw Osa Di and told her: "He who was born a monkey is a monkey and a monkey he stays". Right away he asked her: "Give me your chain". He prepared it and told her: "Take this chance now and bring this chain to Obatalá; sit down at the table again to eat with the monkey and give him plenty of rum, and when he is falling over you put the chain on him and lock him up, because it does not suit you to be at war with him: even though you will always beat him, if he bites you your blood will get sick".

The two did what Orunmila said. With the monkey already drunk, they fastened the chain around his neck and he was left a slave; they put him behind bars, and everyone who came laughed at seeing him like that, jailed and chained. That is how the monkey lost the power he had and went back to his condition as a monkey, all for not being grateful for what Obatalá and Yemayá did for him. From that day on, when the monkey lives with men —children of Obatalá and Yemayá on earth—, he lives locked up.

3Yemayá and the three little monkeys

Yemayá had no one to share the house with and, finding three very charming little monkeys at the market, she bought them for company: at her house she put them in the bath, put perfume on them and dressed them, and she spent her days with them very happy. With Orunmila she had a secret love affair; he would show up with the excuse of religious business, in flashy clothes and with his iñafá, and when he arrived people gave him moforibale. The monkeys were taken with him the moment they saw him and left in his company: Yemayá was left alone.

In this road, Yemayá took a walk through the market, where three very charming little monkeys were on offer; since she had no one to share the house with, she bought them for company. Once at her house she put them in the bath, put perfume on them and dressed them.

Her days went by with the three little monkeys inside the house, and there was no one who did not have something to do with them; that is how she lived, very happy.

With Orunmila she had a secret love affair: he would show up at her house with the excuse of religious business and work, and alone they did ofikale trupon. He appeared in flashy clothes, with his iñafá and all his gear, and when he arrived people gave him moforibale.

As soon as the monkeys saw Orunmila they were taken with him and left in his company; Yemayá was left alone.

4The young woman's curse🔒 The Notebook 5The theft of the king's son🔒 The Notebook 6The disobedient bellows🔒 The Notebook 7The hawk🔒 The Notebook 8Where Osa could not be opened🔒 The Notebook 9The reading made for the great revelation🔒 The Notebook 10Orunmila's pact with Iku and Arun🔒 The Notebook 11Discord among friends🔒 The Notebook 12Every trade matters🔒 The Notebook 13Who could steal the moon🔒 The Notebook 14Asking is for fools🔒 The Notebook 15The stag and the lion🔒 The Notebook 16The ripe plantains🔒 The Notebook

13 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 Osa Di in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Osa Di

What does the Odù Osa Di mean in Ifá?

The war between the hook and the fish, caught by the bait of deceit: be content with your own luck — peace of spirit is the greatest wealth.

What number is Osa Di among the 256 Odù of Ifá?

Osa Di is Odù number 155 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Osa family.

Which orishas speak in Osa Di?

In the Odù Osa Di these orishas speak: Yemayá, Oyá, Ogún, Eshu, Shangó, Orunmila, Obatalá, Egun.

What is a proverb of the Odù Osa Di?

One of the proverbs of Osa Di says: «The jug goes to the fountain so often that in the end it breaks.».

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