Odù 164 of 256 · Osa family

Osa Rete

Where the Flood washed the Earth clean and the healing powers of plants were born: no work gives a result until 72 hours have passed.

Osa Rete is Odù number 164 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Osa family. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 23 patakíes (3 with the full text), its proverbs, 10 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 164 of 256
Composition
Osa over Irete
Orishas that speak
Yemayá · Obatalá · Shangó · Osain · Orunmila · Eshu · Egun

What Ifá says in this sign

Osa Rete is the sign where the Earth was washed clean by the Great Flood — and where the healing powers of plants, botany and the doctor's office were born. Its law of waiting is exact: because of Obatalá's unfair complaint, Orunmila ruled that no work gives a result until 72 hours have passed: do not despair on the third day — the ebbó is sprouting.

Its one road is stated outright: only the Saints will help me settle my problems — everything in this odu is settled at their feet. And its ethics of the trade: the Babalawo divines at his own house — he does not visit anyone to read for them — and the Babalawo does not steal, because it holds him back: the cleanness of whoever serves is his license.

«No work gives a result before 72 hours — the ebbó of Osa Rete sprouts in three days.»The pulse of Osa Rete

Its mirror is the enchanted shrimp: having everything, he complained — and being never satisfied brought him his death. Be grateful for what you have while you fight for more. Keep what you promised Obatalá — he granted your request and you did not pay: do not try to swap the debt for something else — and lower your voice: do not talk loudly, because luck reaches quiet houses, and behind a scene comes weeping.

The cautions: your blood (leukemia), your throat, your skin and rheumatism; no green plantain — it does this sign greater harm than most —, and no long physical strain: calm and patience are how you live. Do not visit the sick and do not go out asking after them — a change of head circles this odu — and what you lost (four things by now) is not chased after with someone else's hands: do not take what is not yours.

The promises: the pregnant woman will have a boy, whoever knows least divines most — do not underestimate your own intuition or that of humble people —, and even if your relatives have left you with nothing at all, the crucifix worn, Orunmila's necklace with its nutmeg and your Angel's cap go with you: after the flood of this odu, the earth is always left clean — and it blooms

The sign in one line

Wait your three days, keep your promise to Obatalá and do not complain like the shrimp — after the flood of Osa Rete, everything blooms.

The prayer of Osa Rete · Yoruba

Osa Rete maferefun Oduduwa, Osain, Orun, Olokun. Osa Rete si roto egun baba paraldo afefe Ikú Orun emosabi boshe afefe baba tibaye yo lorun afefelokun oma tibe egun mayogbo oshinshin inle mafun awa Awo mafun baba iyu mafun mawa agbona bailerun egun bailorun.

Súyere
Ewe tomode ewe tomode guere guere omo leri Osain Awo ewe tomode.

Ifá says — what Osa Rete tells you

Proverbs of Osa Rete · Òwe

15 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

6 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 Osa Rete · Ìbí

What is forbidden · Eewó

7 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 Osa Rete · The sacrifices that open the road

MoneyThe ebbós for settling situations🔒 Babalawo
Beating enemiesThe ebbó so what you have is not taken from you🔒 Babalawo
SpiritualThe paralode gourd🔒 Babalawo
LoveThe ebbó of Alakate's binding🔒 Babalawo
SpiritualThe ebbó of the flood🔒 Babalawo
Beating enemiesThe ebbó of Osa Rete's war🔒 Babalawo
SpiritualThe foreigner's sacrifice🔒 Babalawo
7 ebbós in this Odù, locked.Each full recipe: ingredients, preparation and where it goes. Written in Spanish for now.Unlock →

Works of Osa Rete · The workings of the sign

HealthThe prayer with the white female goat🔒 Babalawo
HealthThe paste for the sick person🔒 Babalawo
SpiritualThe nutmeg necklace🔒 Babalawo
3 works in this Odù, locked.Each full recipe: ingredients, preparation and where it goes. Written in Spanish for now.Unlock →

Patakíes of Osa Rete · The roads of the Odù

1Where the Earth was washed clean

The land of Osa Rete Nifa Inle Okun Fekun Dudu was the land of volcanoes: fire lived beneath it, nothing grew, and everything born died. The earth spent its time cursing and complaining, until it was nearly mud in the shape of a person. Olofin sent it ashé so it could ask, and sent Osa Irete to understand it: «it has to be divided». Shangó dressed himself in lightning and thunderbolts and divided the black earth (Inle Okun Fekun Dundun) from the red (Inle Okun Fekun Pupua); the wind cleaned it, and Olofin let the water loose: it rained, the earth was washed clean of all its wicked creatures, and it produced okra, corn and grain; cotton, the ceiba and the coconut were born, and some of the creatures became animals and the rest people. But Olofin told the earth: «now you see how ungrateful you are: you will always have to live complaining and enslaved — there will be earth under the water, which will be the strength that holds you up». The only Saints left on it were Obatalá, Elegba and Shangó.

Osa Rete Nifa Inle Okun Fekun Dudu was the land of volcanoes: fire lived beneath it, it produced nothing, nobody could live there, and everything born died. Olofin watched this but said nothing, because the earth spent its time cursing and complaining about everything. The earth could bear no more, since it was nearly turning into mud in the shape of a person; that shape would come apart and turn back into mud. Then Olofin sent it ashé so the earth could ask: it cracked and made sounds, and in those sounds Olofin could not understand — it seemed as if it were asking forgiveness, and it sang: «Baba kuele ni laure, baba kuele ni lare, modupue baba».

Olofin sent Osa Irete to see whether he understood the same as he did. He reached the land and said: «What my father has said is true», and went back to Olofin and told him: «Father, the earth is wicked, and what you have heard is quite true: it is always cursing. It has to be divided, telling one piece from another».

Olofin spoke with Shangó and Yemayá Afefelorun and told them: «I need you. A way has to be found for Osa Irete to live on the earth, and for the earth to produce, so its produce is eaten at the proper time, and things are allowed to live as long as they have to live, so the world can hold together». Shangó said: «I will begin, but I am going to divide the earth». He filled himself with stones, dressed himself in lightning, thunderbolts and flashes that fell on the earth and divided it as they went: he marked the black earth and called it Inle Okun Fekun Dundun; he marked the red earth and called it Inle Okun Fekun Pupua.

Shangó went back to Olofin and told him: «I have divided the lands». Olofin told him: «I know what you did, but you left the red earth dry». Shangó answered: «Because this will serve for painting different things, and when Afefe Ayé (the wind) cleans the lands, the dust will be carried off and will serve to feed them». Along with the rain he sent the wind, and it cleaned the lands; but it could not hold the red earth, it let it go and it mixed with the dark earth. Olofin sent a funnel cloud and a waterspout to gather the water and lift it upward. They reported to Olofin, and he said: «Let the water loose» — and it began to rain.

The earth was washed clean of all the wicked creatures it held, and the first thing it produced was okra (ailá), the second corn (aguadó) and the third grain (eré). The first tree born was the cotton (oú), the second the ceiba (aragba) and the third the coconut (obi). Olofin sent a blessing to the earth, and some of the creatures became animals, and the rest became people.

The earth was glad with all Olofin's children, and he heard it and told it: «Now you see how ungrateful you are; but you will always have to live this way. And this I will never forgive you: there will be earth under the water, which will be what gives the strength to hold you up, or you will never be able to live except by complaining, and as a slave, since that is what you are. I will send all the Orishas to help you live». The Earth, still not satisfied, told him no, and all the Orishas, when they came down, had to go back up again. The only Saints who stayed were Obatalá, Elegba and Shangó.

2The frog and Obatalá's curse

There was a great drought on the earth, and the frogs began croaking because they could bear no more. Obatalá heard them and granted them seven days of rain; so much water fell that the frogs, overjoyed, went on croaking at the top of their lungs, making such a racket that Obatalá was annoyed and told them to be quiet. They carried on out of gladness, and Obatalá first cursed them and then told them: «for as long as the world is the world, you will live croaking». Through their disobedience and not listening to their elders, they have gone on croaking to this day. Through disobedience, an elder curses this person; they make a great deal of noise, and that is bad for them — behind laughter comes weeping.

There was a great drought on the earth, and the frogs began croaking because they could bear no more. On hearing them, Obatalá granted them seven days of rain, and so much water fell that the frogs, overjoyed, went on croaking at the top of their lungs, and made such a racket that Obatalá was annoyed and told them to be quiet.

The frogs carried on out of gladness, and Obatalá then took measures with them: the first thing he did was curse them, and then he told them: «For as long as the world is the world, you will live croaking».

And through the frogs' disobedience and not listening to their elders, they have gone on croaking to this day.

Note: this road speaks of an elder cursing this person through their disobedience. It also speaks of this person making a great deal of noise, and that being bad for them. Here, behind laughter comes weeping.

3The birth of the continents

Shangó, by Olofin's order, split the Earth in two by throwing his enormous odu-ará, and the continents were born: ever since, humankind has lived divided. Seeing that dividing the Earth had not achieved what he wanted, Olofin cursed it, saying: «for being as you are, you will always have to complain and live enslaved».

On this road, Shangó, by Olofin's order, split the Earth in two by throwing his enormous odu-ará, and the continents were born. And ever since, humankind has lived divided.

Seeing that dividing the Earth had not achieved what he wanted, Olofin cursed it, saying: «For being as you are, you will always have to complain and live enslaved».

4When Obatalá was annoyed with Orunmila🔒 Babalawo
5When Osain helped Osa Irete🔒 Babalawo
6The birth of binding women with the prenda and the dog🔒 Babalawo
7The curujey, through pride, loses its place🔒 Babalawo
8The great drought and the suffocation🔒 Babalawo
9The father and the son🔒 Babalawo
10The frog and Shangó🔒 Babalawo
11The shrimp and the fisherman🔒 Babalawo
12You do not visit anyone to read for them🔒 Babalawo
13The reading made for the foreigner who went out to the country🔒 Babalawo
14The war Osa Rete lost by lying🔒 Babalawo
15The enchanted shrimp🔒 Babalawo
16When Orunmila saw Osa Rete for Shangó🔒 Babalawo
17The water and the sand🔒 Babalawo
18The frog and the bull🔒 Babalawo
19The debt with Esu🔒 Babalawo
20The parrot🔒 Babalawo
21The wife and the monkeys🔒 Babalawo
22The mocking bird🔒 Babalawo
23The rose and the stone🔒 Babalawo
20 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 Osa Rete in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Osa Rete

What does the Odù Osa Rete mean in Ifá?

Where the Flood washed the Earth clean and the healing powers of plants were born: no work gives a result until 72 hours have passed.

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

Osa Rete is Odù number 164 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Osa family.

Which orishas speak in Osa Rete?

In the Odù Osa Rete these orishas speak: Yemayá, Obatalá, Shangó, Osain, Orunmila, Eshu, Egun.

What is a proverb of the Odù Osa Rete?

One of the proverbs of Osa Rete says: «The rain washes the earth, but it does not stay on the surface.».

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