Osa Wori

Also called Osa Woriwo, Osa Iwori, Osa Wo

nº 154 of 256 · Edited by Ricco Ledesma

Fortune that arrives through the spiritual path. Doing a favor can cost a life, and the tiger could not devour the goat: cunning beats strength.

20 patakíes 4 eewó 11 ebbós and works 17 proverbs

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Osa Wori is Odù number 154 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Osa family. It is also written as Osa Woriwo or Osa Iwori or Osa Wo. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 20 patakíes (3 in full in plain sight, with their teaching, ebbó and chants), its proverbs, 11 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 154 of 256
Composition: Osa over Iwori
Orishas that speak: Orishaoko · Ode (Oshosi) · Oduduwa · Eshu · Obatalá · Shangó · Olokun · Egun

What Ifá says in this sign

Osa Wori, also known as Osa Woriwo and Osa Wo, is the sign where thunder was born, along with Shangó's mother, whose name is Ayalua, and the chain that binds all living beings. Here Oshalufon gave speech to human beings, and here, when no one wanted to be the Earth because it is trampled on, Orishaoko agreed to be its owner and Olofin blessed him with the moruro staff. Its ruling is one of fortune: you were born with uncommon luck, and material things come to you along the spiritual path.

Your strength is cunning. The goat of this sign, who chewed corn and said he was eating stones, frightened the tiger who wanted to devour him, and the tiger never came back. That is how you are: here cunning is worth more than strength. But beware of your good heart, because in this sign a favor can cost you your life and it is almost always repaid badly. Whoever stays under your roof will make your life bitter, and in an agreement among three, take nothing.

«The tiger could not beat the goat that said it ate stones: the cunning of Osa Woriwo is worth more than strength.»The pulse of Osa Wori

So much luck creates enemies for you, and the most dangerous ones are close. Two of your friends are your worst enemies, and one of them wants to kill you: get away in time and do not trust them. They treat you with hypocrisy, and you must respond the same way. Your woman is thinking of leaving with another man, who is a friend of yours, and she joins those who wish you harm. You are also pursued by a lame spirit, and if it hovers too close, your leg hurts.

At work, you labor for others, you have a lazy partner and you feel your home belongs to everyone but you. There is a lawsuit in your path: offer Shangó a rooster and you will win it. Look after Shangó and Oshún and pray to Eshu with plenty of fruit, for a great blessing is coming toward you. You may be a child of Oshosi, and here you must receive Ode, Orishaoko and Ifá. Money you borrowed may stay in your hands when you learn that the lender has died.

In health, take care of your teeth, your eyesight, your circulation and your legs, which suffer from rheumatism, and be very careful with falls. Make plenty of ebbó, because when this sign comes in a bad way, it walks toward death. And do not grow arrogant because of your gifts: pride puts out even the brightest light.

The sign in one line

Measure your favors, chew your corn with a reputation for stones and receive Orishaoko, because the exceptional fortune of Woriwo enters through the spiritual.

The prayer of Osa Wori · Yoruba

Osa Iwori abiti eleyela nimiwa adifafun etu tinshomo olu bebe abo akuko lebo.

Súyere
Osa Wo iguro wo Awo aleyo atena soku.

Ifá says — what Osa Wori tells you

This Odù must be studied very carefully, and much ebbó is needed to escape death (Ikú).
Because of osobo, the person moves unavoidably toward death; the ebbó consists of three pieces of beef, each with four nails, taken to three different posts.
The person must not give shelter to anyone in his home, for they would ruin his life and he could even lose it if he does not react in time, like the goat with the tiger.
Umbatileyó speaks: the sacred object of the countryside.
In this sign the woman allies herself with those who are against her, and everyone treats her badly; to stay well she must live deceiving those she regards as friends.
The harassing spirit lacks a leg: it is a dead person who causes the person difficulties in one of his legs.
This Odù brings illnesses such as ailments of the teeth, circulation disorders, poor eyesight, pain in the legs and rheumatism.
Herbs belonging to this Odù: marjoram (belladonna), almond and barberry.
Your home belongs to everyone except you.
That you should be loyal: cunning is worth more than strength.
That you enjoy harming others, not to kill them, but to cheat them.
That you have great luck, and for that reason enemies pile up around you.
That you have bad fortune when doing favors, since they almost always repay you with harm.
That two of your friends turn out to be your greatest adversaries, and one of them wants to kill you.
That your wife plans to run off with another man, a friend of yours; make ebbó, so that your enemies do not defeat you.
That you should return to your enemies the hypocrisy they show toward you.
That from time to time you should chew grains of corn and, if they ask what you are eating, answer: «I eat stones».
That you work for the benefit of others and have a partner who is somewhat lazy.
That you are the master of your house, and the woman you have is right for you.
That you will do a favor for which you will be thanked; before the reward arrives, make ebbó, so that you are not dead when it is your turn to receive it. You are a Babalawo, and the person you favor is one too or will become one, and is also a child of Ode.
That you asked to borrow some money to return it when you could: when you go to settle the account, you will find out that this person died, and for that reason you will have more money.
That you should honor Oshún and Shangó, and with this great luck will open up for you.
Of disputes coming your way over a matter, and of a deal between you and three people: accept nothing, and you will avoid what happened to the goat with the tiger.
That you should take care of your eyesight and your teeth, and be careful of a fall.
That you have to receive Ifá.

Proverbs of Osa Wori · Òwe

“For one favor a life is lost.”
“What is received in ink is hard to erase.”
“The knife of an Awó will cut the throat of Orunmila's goat.”
“The vulture was consecrated by Olodumare.”
“If we do not see the message, we cannot eat the vulture.”
“Your house belongs to everyone except you.”
“Write in the mind and time will erase it; write in the heart and it will remain for eternity.”
“It is better to be patient than to be brave.”
“A house without a voice of command is a house without an owner.”
“A favor that puts a friend in danger is a hellish favor.”
“God gives each person what each person deserves.”
“There is no pain that time does not console.”
“It is better to conquer yourself than to conquer mountains.”
“Better pale once than red a hundred times.”
“A clever tiger cannot be devoured by a foolish tiger.”
“Everything that rises with pleasure falls with pain.”
“No castle in the air bears more fruit than a root in the earth.”

14 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

They have an extraordinary good fortune, and through spiritual action they find material success.
Better cleverness than force: intelligence frees them from the one who wanted to devour them, and the danger withdraws by itself.
A great luck comes to them if they look after Oshún and Shangó well.

Osogbo · what the sign warns

By doing favors they can lose their life, and as a rule they are repaid badly.
After doing favors they are filled with fear, since they think they may be left without anything they have.
Their great luck creates many enemies for them, and two of their friends are their worst enemies; one of them wants to kill them.

39 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 Wori · Ìbí

Ayalua, Shangó's mother.
Thunder.
It was represented by the solar deity Jakuta, he who throws stones or fights with them, guardian of social morality, who hurled stones of fire whenever someone acted against the wish of Olodumare. Before Shangó was born, there were already thunder and lightning.
The chain of life.
Plants draw their sustenance from the ground; animals feed on plants and on other animals; men eat animals and plants. All end up submitting to the Earth, which is their common origin and endures their struggles and problems.
Why the Iyawó receives blows with a stick (cuje) at the moment Elegbara is made for him.
The Iyaloshas drove away with rascabarriga whips Elegba, who would not let them do Osha for his wife, an Iyalorisha.
Oduduwa Ore Oko: the hunchback.
That Obatalá Oshalufon granted human beings the gift of speech.
From birth: but the child develops it with the memory of his parents, not with Obatalá, because children steal his memory.
That the sacred place held by the vulture in Ifá was established.
He sacrificed kola nuts, a ram and 86,000 cowries, and Olodumare himself consumed his kola: nobody eats the vulture on Earth.
That the tiger could not eat the goat.
Cunning is worth more than strength: the goat chewed corn saying that it was eating stones.
That Olofin gave Orishaoko the moruro staff.
With the gourd bowl of ashé on the grip, eight multicolored ribbons and eight colorín shells: «with this you will reign over the Earth, for you are a child of Marikoto».

What is forbidden · Eewó

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

Do not let anyone stay in your home.
They will make your existence unbearable and you could even lose it if you do not act in time, just as happened to the goat with the tiger.
Do not carry or pamper children if you are an Awó of this sign, not even your own children.
They steal your memory and power, and if you are an omo Obatalá, even more.
Do not accept deals with three people.
Make sure that what happened to the goat with the tiger does not happen to you.
Do not do favors without ebbó.
A favor can cost a life.

Ebbós of Osa Wori · The sacrifices that open the road

Keeping death awayThe ebbó of the three posts🔒 The Notebook Overcoming enemiesThe ebbó of the apron🔒 The Notebook MoneyThe ebbó of the ceiba and the hill🔒 The Notebook Overcoming enemiesThe ebbó of the cat's claws🔒 The Notebook SpiritualThe ebbó of the oath in Ode🔒 The Notebook SpiritualThe ebbó of the rascabarriga switches🔒 The Notebook MoneyThe ebbó of the thunder🔒 The Notebook

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

Works of Osa Wori · The workings of the sign

Keeping death awayThe ram dressed in white🔒 The Notebook SpiritualThe special paraldo of the one-legged egun🔒 The Notebook HealthThe omiero of memory🔒 The Notebook SpiritualThe secret of Orishaoko's staff🔒 The Notebook

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

Patakíes of Osa Wori · The roads of the Odù

1The goat that pretended to eat stones

The tiger came to the goat's house and begged for a place to spend the night. The goat let him stay on the porch. But the next morning the tiger already occupied the living room and, later, tried to keep the whole dwelling. He spent hours watching the goat with threatening eyes. The goat noticed, began to distrust him and feared the tiger wanted to hurt him, so he ran to consult Orunmila.

Orunmila did the osode and, seeing this odu, ordered an ebbó. It was an apron with pockets at the sides: one would be filled with stones and the other with toasted corn. The goat had to wear it everywhere and, now and then, chew kernels of corn. If anyone asked what he was eating, he would say stones and even offer some.

Time passed and the tiger got the idea of inviting the goat for a walk, planning to eat him. The goat accepted. In the middle of the road he began to chew the corn. Curious, the tiger wanted to know what it was, and the goat answered that he was eating stones and offered him some.

On hearing this, the tiger reasoned that someone who feeds on stones could also swallow another animal. He asked the goat to wait for him a moment, promising to return soon, and went into the bush. He never came back, and the goat was safe.

What it teaches

A stronger enemy can be beaten with cleverness when a person acts in time and follows the advice of Ifá. Opening the door to a guest without caution brings risks.

The goat's ebbó

An apron with a pocket on each side, one with stones and the other with toasted corn. The goat wears it, chews corn from time to time and, if asked, answers that he eats stones and offers some.

2Orishaoko Accepts the Earth That Everyone Rejected

Once, all the brothers wanted to hold the Sky and none the Earth, because people spit on her and walk over her. Only one, seeing that contempt for Aiyé (the Earth), went before Olofin, who spoke in the name of Olodumare. Aiyé was Olofin’s daughter, and the great spirit Inle Oguere Afokoyeri would dwell in her. He spoke thus: “Father, I will be the lord of the Earth; on her I will feed people, animals and plants.” That was Orishaoko.

Olofin thanked him and blessed him: his children would be Olofin’s children, he would reign forever and his secrets would never leave the Earth.

Then Olofin looked for a moruro staff whose handle had a curve, placed a gourd on the grip and tied on 8 ribbons and 8 colorful igbin (snail shells). Handing it over, he explained that with this staff Orishaoko would rule the world, being a son of Marikoto, and that everyone would worship him. Each time an offering was made to him, the staff would have to be marked with red dots of osun and white dots of efún.

After that Olofin cleansed him. He rubbed his body with stews, grains, fruits, palm oil, jutía, smoked fish and toasted corn, and put it all in a hole as an offering to Inle Oguere. He cleansed him once more with a young rooster and a dove, likewise for Inle Oguere Afokoyeri. During this, Olofin and his secretary Osa Moriwo (Orunmila) sang a chant.

With that Orishaoko became odara, ready to live in the world. That is why this secret stays with Osa Moriwo and assists Orishaoko in every dispute that arises on the Earth from envy, betrayal or curses.

What it teaches

What others despise can be the most valuable place. One who agrees to carry what is humble receives a blessing and a power that does not end.

Cleansing of Orishaoko

Toasted corn, smoked fish, jutía, palm oil, fruits, grains and stews, rubbed over the body and put in a hole for Inle Oguere. Then a dove and a young rooster, also for Inle Oguere Afokoyeri.

Offerings to the staff

When offering to Orishaoko, the staff is marked with red dots of osun and white dots of efún.

Secret for the children of Orishaoko

This path has a secret that is mounted for the children of Orishaoko, with works for the staff and for the child himself. After it is consecrated, the staff is placed beside Orishaoko. The complete note is in the complete treatise.

Chant of Olofin and Osa Moriwo while cleansing Orishaoko

ORISHAOKO IKU AFEFE ARO OGODO GAILOTITIGBARO AGBA MA AGBA AVE OSHA ARA GEGE SARAYEYE AGBA MA EKE FU AYO SARAYEYE GAI OMO OKO SUAYU SARAYEYE AGBA MA AGBA AYE SARAYEYE

This path keeps 1 awó secret in the complete treatise.🔒 The Notebook

3Ode defeats the tiger with the knife and wins back the fire

The fire (iná) belonged to Ekun, Shangó’s pet, and he refused to give it. For that reason Ode and his 7 sons were freezing. Ode sent his eldest son to ask for it. The boy was afraid and told him so: “Erubami.” But Ode insisted, the son reached Ekun’s house, and Ekun welcomed him inside and devoured him. One after another, the other sons went and ended the same way. Then Ode resolved to ask Orunmila for advice.

When Orunmila consulted, Osa Woriwo came out. He told Ode that Ekun could not be beaten without a secret, and that this secret was the knife (obe). Ifá Yeku and Ogún, both awó, swore the oath over the knife, and Ode set out for Ekun’s house with a song on his lips.

The door was closed. Ode knocked and Ekun invited him to come in, but Ode refused and stayed outside, so Ekun was forced to come out to devour him. There the combat began. Ode remembered the obe he carried and with it slit open Ekun’s belly. The 7 sons came out of his insides, took the iná away, although they were left without a voice. Their father wrapped them in Ekun’s abere and entrusted them with keeping the secret of the fire.

From then on Ode was owner of the place, and from this event comes the existence of mute men in the world.

What it teaches

Against a stronger enemy, a secret and the right weapon are worth more than strength. Going without them, and without consulting first, is costly: Ode lost his sons one by one before he sought Orunmila’s advice.

Ode’s adornment

Ode has an adornment of his own; its description is in the full treatise.

Prayer of this path

ODE OMOYADI OMO EYO EKUN ENI KAINI INU INA OBE LOQUEDE OWA IRENISHE LAVERE ETAN AWO IBA YOKU ORUN LAYE ENIFA.

What Ode sang on his way to Ekun’s house

Ode tani Awo Ifayoku teremina, orun niguaye teremina, wa iyaye Osaworiwo oñiña teremina, wa iyaye teremina obe loguede teremina

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

4Awo Lodo Nifa takes Oduduwa and Orun to a new land🔒 The Notebook 5Oshalufon recovers the memory that the children took from him🔒 The Notebook 6Ayaguna scolds Oshalufon for carrying the children🔒 The Notebook 7Why nobody eats the vulture🔒 The Notebook 8The birth of striking the Iyawó with switches🔒 The Notebook 9The birth of thunder🔒 The Notebook 10The owner of the heads🔒 The Notebook 11The chain of life🔒 The Notebook 12When Olofin shared out everything of his🔒 The Notebook 13The women who threw Eshu out of the house🔒 The Notebook 14The goat, the dog and the crocodile🔒 The Notebook 15The pimp🔒 The Notebook 16The reign of Osa Wo🔒 The Notebook 17The sorcerer's power of Otala Mobani🔒 The Notebook 18The unbelieving man🔒 The Notebook 19The limit of pleasure🔒 The Notebook 20The firefly that scorned the others🔒 The Notebook

17 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 Wori in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Osa Wori

What does the Odù Osa Wori mean in Ifá?

Fortune that arrives through the spiritual path. Doing a favor can cost a life, and the tiger could not devour the goat: cunning beats strength.

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

Osa Wori is Odù number 154 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Osa family.

Which orishas speak in Osa Wori?

In the Odù Osa Wori these orishas speak: Orishaoko, Ode (Oshosi), Oduduwa, Eshu, Obatalá, Shangó, Olokun, Egun.

What is a proverb of the Odù Osa Wori?

One of the proverbs of Osa Wori says: «For one favor a life is lost.».

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