Osa Fun

Also called Osa Ofun

nº 166 of 256 · Edited by Ricco Ledesma

«Obeying my prohibitions will be my victory»: in this sign Obatalá rewarded the worm with butterfly wings, and two ebbós are always made.

19 patakíes 5 eewó 10 ebbós and works 27 proverbs

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Osa Fun is Odù number 166 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Osa family. It is also written as Osa Ofun. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 19 patakíes (3 in full in plain sight, with their teaching, ebbó and chants), its proverbs, 10 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 166 of 256
Composition: Osa over Ofun
In the Diloggún: 9-10 · Osá tonti Ofún
Orishas that speak: Orishaoko · Osain · Ogún · Obatalá · Olofin · Orunmila · Ikú

What Ifá says in this sign

Osa Fun, also known as Osa Ofun, speaks to a person who needs order and obedience so that their life does not fall apart. In this sign was born the transformation of the worm, which wanted to fly against the advice it received and bore what that brought; here Ogún began to dress in purple, and it was said that each one brings their own skill and their own strength. Its ruling is clear: your triumph lies in respecting what Ifá forbids you, because the disorder of each day is twisting your judgment.

Whoever makes sacrifice lives many years and finds life on Earth good. Like the tortoise that beat the dog in the race, the weak one who seeks Ifá defeats the strong one who is overconfident, so do not humiliate anyone: the one you look down on can give you a scare. Orishaoko and Osain open the way for you, and when you return to your land you find work, luck and calm. Receive Osain, who frees you from your enemies, and wear a shirt with purple stripes.

«The worm wanted to fly and Obatalá gave it wings: the obedience of Osa Fun is the price of the butterfly.»The pulse of Osa Fun

This sign warns that trusting too much is dangerous. Someone close may accuse you without proof before those in power, like the monkey that betrayed Obatalá, and you are caught up in gossip. You may be reported for something wrong you did, and even if you do the ebbó, you must be careful with the law. There is danger of violence: in a brawl you could be beaten to death with a stick. Disobeying the saint or the elders can cost you your life, and here the young refuse to respect those who taught them.

In love there is infidelity: your partner deceives you, and if they leave with someone else, endless grief follows and everything is lost. If you are a man, your wife is thin, with reddish skin, a daughter of Obatalá, and she too must do ebbó. With money, take care of Obatalá so that money does not slip away from you, and fulfill what you offered. Like the butterfly, life in the countryside suits you better than the city.

In health, you are sicker than you think, and a strong upset can cost you your life. This sign also speaks of a great emptiness in the spirit, a sadness without cause that makes you live as if you did not want to go on. If that sadness leads you to think of taking your own life, talk about it right away with someone you trust, seek a doctor or a professional, and do not stay alone. The emptiness is filled by drawing near to the orisha, above all to Ogún, and by feeding Ikú so that life is lengthened.

The sign in one line

Obey your prohibitions, make the two ebbós and live discreetly like a field butterfly, for the triumph of Osa Fun is written in its own motto.

The prayer of Osa Fun · Yoruba

Osa Fun maferefun Awo Guayiri osada fun tayire aguegue Osain oguati buru boshe ekute ague gueneri Awo Olofin ashibi Osain mayigue eku masi fun obayire Awo alguesa abati inle Orishaoko.

Súyere
Osa Fun aquiloda Orishaoko, Osa Fun mefun aquiloda.

Ifá says — what Osa Fun tells you

The person feels an enormous spiritual void, because of which she lives without wanting to live; make ebbó to be free of that sorrow.
You must beware of quarrels or situations, because you could be beaten to death with sticks, like the butterflies in the city.
The young refuse to respect their elders.
The person has to reside in the countryside, or already does; the butterfly does not come near the city, since the boys finish it off.
Even if the person makes ebbó, he must beware of the law.
A white shirt with purple stripes is worn.
When ebbó is made for this Ifá and taken to its destination, the clothes one is wearing are left beside the ebbó; so one must bring a change of clothes and an extra pair of shoes, and thus leave behind everything bad.
You can die from an upset.
That you are consulting on behalf of another sick person, although you yourself are sicker than she is, and you want to know whether the illness is the work of God or the product of a harm.
That someone will report you for a bad deed of yours; if you make ebbó, you will be able to get free of it.
That your husband betrays you; and, if the person consulting is a man, his partner is also deceiving him.
That you should move away from where you live.
That you should arrange a Mass for a deceased person.
That you are caught up in gossip; do what you have in mind, tell no one and keep silent. You are like the butterfly, looking for where to land in order to fulfill its instinct.
About a person who will go as far as a certain place to look for harm to do to you: beware of that person.
That you should not be stubborn, so as not to lose or share the fate of the monkey, who was sold for having sold out Obatalá.
That your wife has a reddish complexion and is slim, a daughter of Obatalá; she must make ebbó.
That you promised something and did not keep it.
That you did something and you will be asked to undo it.
Of a person in your house who is drinking alcohol; recommend that he place a little palm oil (manteca de corojo) before Obatalá.
That you should offer sará ekó to Obatalá, so that money will not slip away from you.
That you should wear a shirt with purple stripes.
That you should feed death, and have an inshé Osain to free yourself from enemies.

Proverbs of Osa Fun · Òwe

“The danger lies in trusting.”
“He leaps the road away from death and buries himself in the sword's sheath.”
“Obeying my prohibitions will be my victory.”
“If I do not keep my daily doings in order, they will call me mad.”
“Those who sacrifice will have long life on the earth.”
“Nobody is more exposed to risk than the naive.”
“True friends are known in the hours of distress.”
“A man's guarantor is answerable for his debts.”
“In the land of monkeys you do not sow corn at the riverbank.”
“From so much copying others, the monkey one day cut his own throat.”
“The renegade carries misfortune with him.”
“Too many cooks spoil the food.”
“In the dark, all cats are gray.”
“Neglecting an illness benefits the undertaker.”
“Whoever leaves it undone is as guilty as whoever does it.”
“The braggart's offense soon sets the hoe to work.”
“Traitors will inherit nothing but disloyalty.”
“It is a useless thing for a butterfly to fly out to sea.”
“Arguing is punished with enmity.”
“Man's justice punishes on earth; Olorun's, in heaven.”
“Faith creates hope and hope achievement.”
“Steadiness in suffering makes us grow.”
“A gossiping man is a man in the pit.”
“Whoever hates the honest witness is guilty of the sin.”
“Death came into the world through a fault, but obedience delays it.”
“The other face of the crime is the sentence.”
“The gift is the declaration of honor.”

24 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

On returning to their town after the ceremony, they find work, good luck and tranquility.
Whoever makes sacrifice lives many years and life on Earth is good to them.
A person rejected for their poor appearance or their poverty is the one chosen to marry when others have failed.

Osogbo · what the sign warns

The chaos of what they do each day twists their judgment.
Their excess of trust is dangerous: someone close may accuse them without proof before the one in charge, and they lose their place.
They may be reported for something bad they did, and even if they do the ebbó they must beware of the law.

28 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 Osa Fun · Ìbí

The worm's transformation.
The worm wished to fly: Orunmila made ebbó for him, Obatalá rubbed cocoa butter on him and, after three days, beautiful colored wings sprouted. But the boys began to kill butterflies: «you wanted to fly and I made ebbó for you so that you could do it; about what comes after, I know nothing».
That Ogún dressed in purple.
He fell in love with the king's shirt and they exchanged garments; Ogún's was purple.
That each person have his own cunning and strength.
The jicotea turtle beat the dog with the ebbó of the trap, the bone and the tangle of threads.
That two ebbós are made.
Otherwise, the enemy dies.
That the iyefá of this Odù carries butterfly powder.
That Awó Osa Fun answers from inside the room at the calling at the Igbodun door.
That is his function if he is among those present: this is born in Baba Ejiogbe.

What is forbidden · Eewó

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

Do not look down on anyone or humiliate anyone.
Each one has his own cunning and strength, and you could be given a fright, as happened to the dog with the tortoise.
Do not be stubborn in argument.
Avoid sharing the fate of the monkey, who was banished for accusing without being certain.
Do not disobey the Santo or the elders.
It can cost you your life.
Do not talk about what you plan to do.
Hold your mouth: you are caught up in gossip, and for that reason you are like the butterfly, looking for somewhere to land.
Do not go to the city without ebbó, if your place is the countryside.
In the city the boys kill the butterfly.

Ebbós of Osa Fun · The sacrifices that open the road

Keeping death awayThe ebbó to lengthen life🔒 The Notebook Overcoming enemiesThe ebbó to remove war (intori iña)🔒 The Notebook SpiritualThe ebbó of displeasure🔒 The Notebook LoveThe ebbó for a woman🔒 The Notebook SpiritualThe ebbó of Awó Obayire🔒 The Notebook Keeping death awayThe sacrifice of the children of man🔒 The Notebook Overcoming enemiesThe ebbó of Aremon🔒 The Notebook

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

Works of Osa Fun · The workings of the sign

Keeping death awayFeeding death🔒 The Notebook MoneyThe sará ekó of Obatalá🔒 The Notebook SpiritualThe iyefá of the butterfly🔒 The Notebook

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

Patakíes of Osa Fun · The roads of the Odù

1Orishaoko opens the road for Awó Obayire

Osa Fun, in this path, was named Obayire and was an awó. His five brothers each lived from a secret practice of his own, since Osain protected them from Ikú. For Obayire, however, his bad situation left him far from them, and he settled in the countryside, in the land of Obatiguele. As soon as he arrived he began to sing, asking for Orishaoko’s help.

Osain heard him and appeared to ask what was happening to him. Obayire explained everything, and Osain said he would put him in touch with a man named Orishaoko, who was able to help him. He called him by singing a song.

Orishaoko appeared and wanted to know what they needed. Both paid him moforibale and told him about Obayire’s situation. Orishaoko reassured him: he would help him, although Ikú always accompanied him. He would give him work only for a while, so that when he reached his brothers they would assist him. Obayire kissed his hands and received his blessing.

Once at work, Obayire labored without stopping, and never ceased singing to Orishaoko. He was glad to hear it and decided that he should help Awó Obayire. One time he asked him, for the next day and before dawn, for a large gourd and other elements for a ceremony. Orishaoko would provide the rest.

Obayire went to get everything at once and, at dawn, arrived where Orishaoko was waiting for him, beside a ceiba. There Orishaoko performed the ceremony, with sacrifices and songs, and ordered him to wait the indicated time before burying everything.

When the rite was over, Orishaoko announced that he could return to his land, where he would find work, calm and progress. He gave him clothes and showed him the route back to his town. He also gave him a small bell to ring during the journey, two hens for Orunmila and a bottle of aguardiente.

Back in his town, Obayire found what Orishaoko had promised him: work, good luck and peace.

What it teaches

If hardships separate a person from his people, help from someone who knows the way and the carrying out of the indicated ceremony give him back his direction. Steadiness in work and gratitude bring back a livelihood and calm.

Orishaoko’s ceremony

Orishaoko asked Obayire for what was needed for a ceremony beside a ceiba. The full list and the steps are in the complete treatise.

Prayer of this path

OSA FUN MAFEREFUN AWO GUAYIRI OSADA FU TAYIRE AWEWE BA TISHE OSANYIN AWO TIBURU BOSHE EKUTE AWE WERENI ASHE ALA GUISA AWO OSANYIN MAYIGUEIKU NASIFUN AWO OSANYIN OBA SIRI AWO ASHE ALA GUISA OBATI INLE ORISHAOKO.

What Obayire sang on reaching the countryside

Osa Fun quilofa Orishaoko, Osa mefun aquiloda

What Osain sang to call Orishaoko

Komo rigue Orishaoko agua dideo afe Awo aye umbo okumbo

What Obayire sang while working for Orishaoko

Orishaoko dideo Awo Baba dideo obanire Awo Orishaoko

What Orishaoko sang while sacrificing the doves

Baba Olofin ereliye Baba Ejiogbe ereliye…

This path keeps 2 awó secrets in the complete treatise.🔒 The Notebook

2The children of man who fled without knowing from what

Orunmila pronounced “Osa Fun,” and the one telling this story said the same.

In the incantation, the children of man explain what they escape from: the bite of the snake; the elephant and the buffalo, so that they do not trample them; fire, so that it does not burn them; their debtors, so that the people of the place do not laugh at them; the property of others, so that nobody takes them for thieves or one day shouts reproaches at them; and the talisman, so that its evil words do not harm them. The incantation ends by saying that there is no joy for those who claim to flee for no reason, since they do not reach a long life on earth.

This is what was consulted for the children of man. They were ordered to make a sacrifice so that they would learn what they were fleeing from, and this is known as eewó, the forbidden act. Some of them carried it out.

Afterward it was announced to them that those who had made the sacrifice would enjoy a long existence on Earth, which would be favorable to them.

What it teaches

A person who flees without knowing from what cannot live long. Making the sacrifice helps to understand what must be avoided and brings a long life and a favorable earth.

Sacrifice of the children of man

Leaves of omo, 16 slugs, salt and palm oil butter (manteca de corojo), together with 30,200 cowries.

The incantation of the children of man

Orunmila dijo: Osá Fun, yo dije Osá Fun. -Estamos huyendo de la mordida de la Serpiente. -Estamos huyendo para que el Elefante no nos aplaste. -Estamos huyendo para que el Búfalo (efún) no nos aplaste. -Estamos huyendo para que el Fuego no nos queme. -Estamos huyendo de nuestros deudores para que la gente de la Tierra no se burle de nosotros. -Estamos huyendo de las propiedades ajenas, para que no crean que seamos ladrones y no pueda la gente de pronto vituperarnos y gritarnos algún día. -Nosotros estamos huyendo del talismán para que su palabra mala no nos afecte. No existe placer para aquellos que dicen que huyen en la tierra por nada. Ellos no pueden vivir mucho tiempo en la tierra.

3The harvest that won Ogún the daughter of Olofin

Olofin had a daughter of marrying age, and six men courted her without success. Then Ogún appeared, dressed in rags and looking miserable, with a guín in his hand from which hung potatoes, yams, sweet potatoes and fruits.

Ogún knocked on the door, and Olofin, who took him for a beggar, questioned him about the reason for his arrival. The visitor answered that he came to ask for his daughter. Olofin was stunned, but the young woman appeared and told her father that this was the right man for her. Olofin wanted to know how long Ogún would take to be ready for the wedding. Ogún shook the guín several times and answered that it would be the time those fruits needed to grow.

Olofin then gave him some seeds, cotton among others. Ogún planted them, the harvest turned out excellent, and he was able to wed the daughter of Olofin.

What it teaches

Appearances deceive: a person who arrives with little, but with patience and work, can achieve what others who were better off did not. A well made planting gives the expected fruit.

What is asked when making ebbó

When preparing an ebbó, it is asked what allows winning: seeds, root vegetables (viandas) or fruits.

Prayer of this path

OSA FUN MARIWAO TUYEYE AWO ORUN ADIFANFUN OLUO AGONI OBATALA

The invocation that opens the path

WUELE URONA OBATALA LODAFUN OBATALA ORUNMILA

4When the worm wanted to fly🔒 The Notebook 5The monkey who accused Obatalá without reason🔒 The Notebook 6Respect for elders🔒 The Notebook 7The enemy of Obatalá🔒 The Notebook 8The butterflies that never made ebbó again🔒 The Notebook 9The race between the dog and the tortoise🔒 The Notebook 10The spiritual emptiness🔒 The Notebook 11How Aremon defeated the eguns🔒 The Notebook 12Evil breeds evil🔒 The Notebook 13The prosperity of the babalawo🔒 The Notebook 14The omo Ifá and the omo Ikú🔒 The Notebook 15Poverty and old age🔒 The Notebook 16The kick in the forehead🔒 The Notebook 17The loss of rebirth🔒 The Notebook 18The dialogue of the ceibas🔒 The Notebook 19The dog and the tortoise🔒 The Notebook

16 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 Fun in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Osa Fun

What does the Odù Osa Fun mean in Ifá?

«Obeying my prohibitions will be my victory»: in this sign Obatalá rewarded the worm with butterfly wings, and two ebbós are always made.

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

Osa Fun is Odù number 166 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Osa family.

Which orishas speak in Osa Fun?

In the Odù Osa Fun these orishas speak: Orishaoko, Osain, Ogún, Obatalá, Olofin, Orunmila, Ikú.

What is a proverb of the Odù Osa Fun?

One of the proverbs of Osa Fun says: «The danger lies in trusting.».

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