Osa Kana

nº 159 of 256

Where looms and the automobile were born, and the great power of Oyá: faith is lost here, and the only defense of its children is to make or receive Ifá.

21 patakíes 6 eewó 12 ebbós and works 22 proverbs

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Osa Kana is Odù number 159 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Osa family. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 21 patakíes (3 with the full text), its proverbs, 12 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 159 of 256
Composition: Osa over Okana
In the Diloggún: 9-1 · Osá tonti Okana
Orishas that speak: Oyá · Oduduwa · Shangó · Obatalá Iyá Monkuo · Ayao · Obon · Ogún · Osain · Olokun

What Ifá says in this sign

Osa Kana is the Odù of sacrificing for peace: here looms, the spinning wheel and the automobile were born — and the great power of Oyá: she has to be greatly respected, and the dead have to be worked with. Its spiritual warning runs deep: when faith in the Saints is lost, the soul is left mute — do not let yours go silent.

This is an Ifá of knowledge but of the second rank — not of show: accept the part of the quiet wise one, because your strength is there. For the Awó it is a hard odu: you can be thrown out of your job or out of where you live, and Eshu is what pulls the house apart — what begins badly ends badly: begin everything well, or do not begin it.

«When faith is lost, the soul is left mute — Osa Kana gets it back by sacrificing.»The pulse of Osa Kana

Your character has both a storm and an origin: your stormy temper gives you trouble with your mother — and that is why you go from house to house with nothing settled. Peace with her is your anchor: make it even if it costs you. And the peace still owed to that other person too: three strokes of luck come to you through that — the best of them from above.

The table is where you are tested: you eat more with your eyes than with your mouth — greed here kills through food: neither stingy nor greedy, and never eat where you do not trust the house. The dead woman who was your wife — a daughter of Shangó or of Oyá — is hungry and prays for you: a mass and food, because that ally is worth an army. And the thing buried that gets in your way: dig it out, because your luck comes back with it.

Your one defense is named outright: to make or to receive Ifá — and if you are a woman, Olokun, who may be your mother at the head. Your chest and your heart to a doctor, Orunmila's necklace with its Oyá beads when you are seated, and other people's wishes kept quiet — do not say «I want to have that», because your thoughts are heard. The one of the second rank who sacrifices sleeps in peace — and the brilliant ones end up coming to him for a reading

The sign in one line

Make peace with your mother, feed your dead wife and receive Ifá — the peace of Osa Kana is bought with sacrifice, not with show.

The prayer of Osa Kana · Yoruba

Osa Kana osara Awó Ikú eni lorun inle Ololukoye intori Shangó afuse abebe Orun Osa Kana ti Oyá isitile Osa Kana afoyu tie sin Osa Kana ofoyu akua Ikú afefe.

Súyere
Baba Olofin omo Shangó Iyá beleke Oyá Yanza omo dide inle Ololukoye.

Ifá says — what Osa Kana tells you

An Ifá of knowledge, but of the second rank: it is not an Ifá of show. An Ifá that is bad for the Awó and his family: they will throw you — if they have not already — out of your job, out of your house or out of wherever you are. An Ifá where Eshu is what pulls the house apart, and where everything is badly done: what begins badly ends badly. An Ifá where faith in the Saints is lost: when faith is lost, the soul is left mute. An Ifá of the stormy temper: Osa Kana has trouble with his mother and because of it lives with nothing settled, going from house to house.
You will have to sacrifice in order to avoid mishaps and secure your peace.
When you lose weight, you get trouble with your skin.
It marks heart trouble: you suffer with your chest — be careful you do not die.
You eat more with your eyes than with your mouth: you cannot be greedy or stingy.
For a man: he goes around with two women; through arrogance, one of them will die and will never leave him in peace. That dead woman goes hungry; she was a daughter of Shangó or of Oyá. Feed her: that way she will help you and pray for you.
Osa Kana, through his stormy temper, has trouble with his mother, and because of it lives with nothing settled.
Three enemies want to pull your house apart, and that is why your head is hot.
There is something buried that gets in your way: it has to be dug out so your luck comes back.
You are at odds with someone: make peace, because three strokes of luck come to you through that — the best of them from above.
The owner of this Odù should have, besides Orunmila's necklace, a necklace with eight green beads, eight yellow and nine of Oyá in each section, long enough to reach them: it will live with Orunmila and be worn only when they are seated.
The herbs of this Odù are: aroma, caimito, tamarind, jiquí, jagüey, amansa guapo, cambia voz, atiponlá, ceiba, sage and white bleo.
You are very greedy and you eat more with your eyes than with your mouth: make ebbó so you are not killed through your mouth, through food.
You have to receive Ifá: it is your only defense — and if you are a woman, receive Olokun.
You are a son or daughter of Olokun.
Be careful of a snare they want to set for you: give thanks for the dream you had last night, to Obatalá and to Orunmila.
Today you are going out into the street and into a great many places: be careful you do not get a fright.
If you see someone with something that catches your eye, do not say «I want to have that»: your thoughts are bad and they will say it for you.
You had another wife, a daughter of Shangó, who is dead and prays for you: have a mass said for her.
You cannot eat anywhere you do not trust, because they will kill you.
If you owe Shangó, you have to seat him, because otherwise everything of yours will be in a mess.
Your monthly cycle is not right.
You have trouble with your mother because of your stormy temper, and because of it you live with nothing settled.
Be careful you do not kill your wife.
You cannot lose your faith in the Saints, you should bathe with herbs to keep witchcraft off, and have an inshé Osain.
Be careful you are not thrown out of your house, your job or the places you go, so you are not shamed: everything is in a bad way.
If it comes osobo: there is something in the doorway holding you back.

Proverbs of Osa Kana · Òwe

“What begins badly ends badly.”
“He eats more with his eyes than with his mouth.”
“Patience brought me happiness.”
“If I sacrifice, I avoid mishaps and secure my peace.”
“When faith is lost, the soul is left mute.”
“Greed tempts the eye and makes a fool of the mouth.”
“Greed splits the sack.”
“A bird in the hand is worth a hundred in the air.”
“Children's pride is their parents.”
“Stubbornness leads nowhere good.”
“Taking your own life is a challenge to God.”
“Whoever looks after their health will spend little on it.”
“Every man will one day be judged by what he did.”
“Each of us sees with our own eye and eats with our own mouth, right at the edge of the cliff.”
“What your ears hear, let your mouth keep quiet.”
“There is no wise youth and no vigorous old man.”
“Laziness is the mother of poverty.”
“In a wicked world, nobody believes the man of honest intent.”
“No jutía weeps at the hawk's death.”
“The wolf's strength is in the pack.”
“The elegant man does not speak like a fool, nor the respectable one with deceit.”
“Show me how you eat and I will know how you think.”

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

Iré and Osogbo

4 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 Kana · Ìbí

The powers of the various herbs for keeping witchcraft off doorways.
Looms, the spinning wheel and the sewing machine.
The overcoming of difficulties and the great power of Oyá.
Because thanks to the power of Oyá and the will of Oduduwa, Omo Aberí Awó was able to beat every difficulty he had and became great.
The automobile.
That godfather and godchild take the oath in Orun when this Ifá comes in Untefá.
To avoid losses: the son of Shangó who would not take the oath before Oyá was lost — «he lost himself», said Ikú.
That a knife of ácana wood is placed for Shangó, and that the ebbó of this Ifá carries a knife of ácana or júcaro.

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.
Do not be greedy or stingy.
You eat more with your eyes than with your mouth — and they can kill you through food.
Do not put adimú for the Santos.
In this Odù you do not give them adimú: you give them a full meal.
The woman cannot have abortions.
She can die, or at best lose her health forever.
Do not eat where you do not have trust.
They are going to kill you through food.
Do not say «I should have that too» about what belongs to others.
Your thoughts are bad, and they are going to say so.

Ebbós of Osa Kana · The sacrifices that open the road

Beating enemiesThe ebbó of the three flags🔒 The Notebook MoneyThe ebbó of Yemayá's little steamer🔒 The Notebook Keeping death awayThe ebbó so you are not killed through food🔒 The Notebook SpiritualThe ebbó-paraldo of the nine flags🔒 The Notebook Beating enemiesThe ebbó of the nine-colored pot🔒 The Notebook SpiritualThe ebbó of the oath in Orun🔒 The Notebook Beating enemiesThe ebbó of the land of Takua🔒 The Notebook

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

Works of Osa Kana · The workings of the sign

LoveThe goat at the mother's back🔒 The Notebook HealthThe red and blue coconut🔒 The Notebook Beating enemiesThe inshé Osain against witchcraft🔒 The Notebook SpiritualThe ácana knife🔒 The Notebook SpiritualThe foundation of Iyá Monkuo and Agbala🔒 The Notebook

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

Patakíes of Osa Kana · The roads of the Odù

1Oyá's power and Oduduwa's will

In the land Ayereni Lokun, Omo Aberí Awó had run out of faith in the Oshas: nothing went well for him because he did not believe in Oduduwa, and every time he attended to an Orisha, Oduduwa gave that same Orisha something bigger to eat so it would not hear his requests — that is why he was losing the great war against Awó Obá Oggo Obá Ishé. One day Oduduwa visited him; Omo Aberí Awó threw himself down before him to beg his pardon, and Oduduwa put him to sleep with his prayer and blessed him: he dreamed of Oyá, of the ebbó and of the baths. Oduduwa took the food away from all the Santos so they would go back to work, and sent him to throw the ebbó in the bush, where he would run into Oyá — the only Santo he had never asked anything of. The smell of the hen brought all the Orishas down on him; he handed the ebbó to Oyá, who set fire to her nine sticks, took the machete and the pot, and ran to the land of Obá Oggo, putting an end to the trouble. With the strength of Oyá and the will of Oduduwa, Omo Aberí Awó left behind every difficulty he had and became great.

Omo Aberí Awó lived in the land Ayereni Lokun and did nothing but take herb baths: he had run out of faith in the Oshas, whom he had prayed to and asked much for a big problem he needed to beat. Nothing went well for him, and the cause was that he had no faith in Oduduwa. As soon as he attended to an Orisha, Oduduwa handed that same Orisha something bigger and better, so that it would be distracted and deaf to what Omo Aberí Awó was asking. As he did it, Oduduwa sang to the Santos: "Orisha abelele omoni lele, orisha abelele omo lanire, orisha abelo". They all gave themselves over to eating, and that is why none of them worked. That is where it came from that he was completely dominated by Awó Obá Oggo Obá Ishé, with whom he was holding a very big war.

One day Oduduwa went to see him. On coming into his house he noticed what bad shape he was in and the upset he carried, since neither his affairs nor his work were prospering. Omo Aberí Awó, as soon as he saw him, threw himself on the ground before him to beg his pardon, because on other occasions he had scorned him and had almost thrown him out of the house. Oduduwa put his hand on his head and started to pray over him: "Omo Aberí Awó leri odara omo lade Awó mayerbi edubule". The man fell into a deep sleep, and in that sleep Oduduwa blessed him: he dreamed of Oyá, of the ebbó he had to do and of the baths he had to take. He woke with a start and, seeing Oduduwa there, asked him for his blessing and told him what he had dreamed.

Oduduwa answered him: "Ashe bó, ashe tó. I am going to help you so you can beat all your difficulties. Do what Oyá told you; but first I am going to speak with all the Orishas you have done something to, and I am going to take away the food I have put out for them, so that they work." Oduduwa went out, started with Eshu and went on taking the food away from all the Santos; when he came back he told him: "Make ebbó, and when you go to throw it in the bush you will run into Oyá." Omo Aberí Awó said: "Goodness, Babá, that is the only Santo I have not asked anything of and have not done anything to."

With the ebbó done, he went out to throw it away. The smell of the hen was so good that it called all the Orishas, and with Eshu in front they went after him. When he noticed them, he ran off to the bush, where he handed the ebbó to Oyá and told her his situation. Oyá had nine sticks in her hands: she set fire to them, took the machete and the pot from the ebbó, and set off in a hurry toward the land of Obá Oggo; the Orishas went after her to see what she would do.

As soon as she set foot there, Oyá put an end to the trouble Omo Aberí Awó was carrying. She filled a pot with omiero and put it in Eshu's hands so he would get it to him and he would bathe in the name of Oduduwa. With the strength of Oyá and the will of Oduduwa, Omo Aberí Awó left behind every difficulty he had and became great.

2Where godfather and godchild have to take the oath in Orun

The land of Ololukoye was one of great, deep secrets: children born there were given great consecrations to avoid losses. Shangó brought Oyá to rule it by Olofin's order, with his son the Awó remaining Obá of the ceremonies — unhappy at having Oyá beside him, but silent for fear. When the first Ifá was made for a child of that land, Osa Kana came out in Untefá: Olofin said the new Alawo's elders had to take the oath with him in a secret unknown there, so there would be no losses. Shangó arranged a pact with Ikú, but his son said: «I am not going to let anything be done to me in front of Oyá», and left. Shangó, in Oyá's presence, gave the Alawo Osa Kana the oath with Ikú — and Ikú ruled: «your son, for not listening to you and not respecting Oyá, was sentenced by Olofin; I can do nothing for him: he lost himself». To Iban Eshu.

Ololukoye was a land of big, deep secrets: there, for every child that was born, heavy consecrations were done so that neither the child nor his elders would be lost. One day Shangó and Oyá arrived; Olofin had sent him to leave Oyá in charge of that place. On coming in, Shangó broke into song: "Baba Olofin omo Shangó Iyá beleke Oyá Yanza omo dide inle Ololukoye". The whole town came when they heard him and gave him moforibale. With everyone gathered, Shangó spoke to them: "By order of Olofin, I bring you this woman named Oyá, so she can lead you: she will give out Olofin's orders among you."

In that land lived an Awó, a son of Shangó, who ruled the ceremonies and was also the Obá of the place. When he saw him, Shangó warned him: "Olofin knows that in this land ceremonies are done for everything that is born, and that this land is full of great secrets; but there needs to be someone who is not from here to confirm the consecrations of this land." Then he left in peace, with the promise of coming back later on to see how things were going, and left word to Oyá and to his son to call him if they needed him.

In time, Oyá and that Awó went on consecrating those born in that land. Shangó's son did not like having Oyá at his side, but he kept quiet out of fear of his father and of Olofin. One day a son of the land showed up whose turn it was to be made Ifá. Happy about it, the Awó sent for Oyá so she would give notice to Shangó of the new consecration. Once he knew, Shangó came to the Awó with this warning: "For the first time a son of this land is going to be consecrated in Ifá: you have to pay close attention to the Odù that Olofin gives him."

Father and son got everything ready and made Ifá for that son of the land. The Odù that came out in Untefá was Osa Kana: through it, Olofin asked that the elders of the new Alawo swear along with him in a secret that nobody there handled, and so avoid losses. Shangó explained to his son that a pact had to be made with Ikú so that neither of the two would come out losing, and sent him off to get nine black doves, two pieces of yagua and the herbs bleo colorado and yanifa, with everything ready for when he came back.

Shangó came back with Oyá, who arrived turned into wind; she carried in her hand an ejá orun (guabina) and went along singing: "Ikú lele Ikú bela iba Orun Awó Osa Kana ofo ira Obá Orun". The wind that Oyá pushed grew stronger, and his son, seeing them coming together, left his godchild this order: "Hold on to all these things my father sent me to get, but I am not going to let anything be done to me in front of Oyá"; having said that, he left.

Shangó and Oyá came into the place with that gale, and Shangó said to the Alawo Osa Kana: "Leave my son, he is lost." In front of Oyá, Shangó swore the Alawo Osa Kana with Ikú. When the oath was over, Ikú spoke to the two of them: "Your son, for not listening to you and not respecting Oyá, Olofin sentenced him when the godchild came with the Odù of Osa Kana. I can do nothing for him: for not taking Oyá into account and not listening to me, he lost himself." To Iban Eshu.

3When Ayao and Obon saved the land of Takua from Oyá

Oyá (Yanzan) ruled in the land Takua, and her citizens plotted in a big way because she would not allow them the evil deeds they meant to do. Eshu told her everything, and Oyá went to see Orunmila: Osa Kana came out for her and he marked her ebbó — three geese, a chain, a whip, nine gourds, nine ekó and a knife. She handed the geese to Eshu and kept the rest hidden in the palace; when the town came to make demands of her, she threatened them with the chain and started killing them with the whip and the knife. The punishment was so hard that Obon, Orisha of that city, came with Ayao to ask her for mercy: her sister Ayao's song and Obon's pleas softened her, and she forgave all her children. When a problem comes up for the Awó of this Odù, he will receive Ayao and Obon.

Oyá (Yanzan) ruled in the land Takua, and her citizens put together a great plot: they meant to commit many evil deeds and she would not allow it. Warned of everything by Eshu, she went to see Orunmila; this Odù Osa Kana came out for her and he marked her ebbó: three geese, a chain, a whip, nine gourds, nine ekó, corojo butter and a knife.

The three geese she handed to Eshu and she kept the rest hidden in the palace. When the whole town came to make demands of her, Oyá threatened them with the chain and started killing them with the whip and the knife. The punishment was so hard that Obon, Orisha of that city, came before her along with Ayao, and the two of them begged her to have mercy on the people.

Her sister Ayao's song — "Ayao mi lodo ee, Ayao mi lodo ewé, Ayao mi lodo" — and Obon's pleas softened her, and she forgave all her children.

Note: when a problem comes up for the Awó of this Odù, he will receive Ayao and Obon.

4Ogún's delay🔒 The Notebook 5The godchild's debt to the godfather🔒 The Notebook 6Osa Kana, Iyá Monkuo and her mother🔒 The Notebook 7The crown of Ife🔒 The Notebook 8The guinea fowl and the tiger🔒 The Notebook 9The king of the termites🔒 The Notebook 10Only Oyá settled it🔒 The Notebook 11Where Ozain gave the plants their power🔒 The Notebook 12The crow's greed🔒 The Notebook 13The dog and the fox🔒 The Notebook 14The albino rabbit🔒 The Notebook 15The showing off🔒 The Notebook 16The alchemist🔒 The Notebook 17Resentment and affection🔒 The Notebook 18Rage and joy🔒 The Notebook 19The four cycles of life🔒 The Notebook 20The cat and the tiger🔒 The Notebook 21For the will there are no impossible dreams🔒 The Notebook

18 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 Kana in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Osa Kana

What does the Odù Osa Kana mean in Ifá?

Where looms and the automobile were born, and the great power of Oyá: faith is lost here, and the only defense of its children is to make or receive Ifá.

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

Osa Kana is Odù number 159 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Osa family.

Which orishas speak in Osa Kana?

In the Odù Osa Kana these orishas speak: Oyá, Oduduwa, Shangó, Obatalá Iyá Monkuo, Ayao, Obon, Ogún, Osain, Olokun.

What is a proverb of the Odù Osa Kana?

One of the proverbs of Osa Kana says: «What begins badly ends badly.».

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