Oshe Bara

Also called Oshé Obara, Oshé Bara La Nube

nº 233 of 256 · Edited by Ricco Ledesma

The tongue, scourge of humanity (the most dangerous hole is the mouth): the Awó does not die as long as his things remain alive.

23 patakíes 9 eewó 11 ebbós and works 14 proverbs

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Oshe Bara is Odù number 233 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Oshe family. It is also written as Oshé Obara or Oshé Bara La Nube. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 23 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 233 of 256
Composition: Oshe over Obara
In the Diloggún: 5-6 · Oshé tonti Obara
Orishas that speak: Shangó · Oshún · Egun · Eshu · The Ibeyis e Ideu · Obatalá · Aggayú · Ozain

What Ifá says in this sign

Oshe Bara, also known as Oshé Bara La Nube, is the sign of the tongue. Here was born the law that whoever talks too much errs too much, and the mouth punishes all of humanity. Also born here were the forgetfulness of those who push the mind without measure, the double personality, and the river bath of the one who is going to be crowned in Santo. Its ruling tells you that what you ask for, you get, and that is why you must weigh very carefully what you ask for.

Luck is near: you have money saved, and an inheritance is coming your way, perhaps from a deceased father. You are a spiritualist and a diviner. But you get into everything and finish nothing; you change religion, trade and position, and you have left the Saints and your former profession. The sign asks you for a complete change of life and a return to what you knew how to do. You promise and do not deliver, and that is why Elegba puts you in tight spots and you are robbed. Do not work at night, because you lose your wealth. Oshún is upset with your behavior and Obatalá feels offended: make peace with them.

«The bell rings well when it speaks good words. The tongue of Oshé Bara is its scourge or its music.»The pulse of Oshe Bara

Do not share your plans or your private matters, because they will be undone, and watch your tongue: misfortune can come to you through it. You are slandered, like Oshún, who was accused of adultery for giving birth to twins, and you are at war with a mayombero. A mulatto woman you had dealings with may become your worst enemy and slander you wherever you go. Also beware of getting mixed up in a crime: you may witness a killing or be handed the weapon of a killer to keep.

Children, like the vines of the pumpkin, grow and move away, and may even set you against your partner: secure their future early. This sign is one of passage for children, who can die, and there is a sick child in your home who needs care. The woman may have multiple births. Do not fight with your partner, and beware of women with blue eyes, whom the sign marks as osogbo.

At night, the dead wander free and gather wherever they see light: do not sleep with the light on, and look after the door of your home. In health, take care of your belly, gallbladder and liver, as well as your heart and blood; you may need an operation on your hand, and you must avoid drinking too much alcohol. If your memory fails from pushing yourself too hard, rest and let a brother in religion help you. Take care of the relics of the Saints: the awó does not die as long as his things stay alive.

The sign in one line

Speak little and speak well, make your money jingle in your pocket and take care of the little pebble of Oshún. Oshé Bara does not die as long as his things remain alive.

The prayer of Oshe Bara · Yoruba

Oshe Bara Baralanube Egun Omaye Orun Obaniayeawo Oshe Omo Oshe Bawami Ifa Ori Layeo Oba Made Iku Egun O Bebeye Awo Orun Iku Kofilere Ashe Ona Eshu Atokun Orun Koniwede Enishe Mayele Iku Ori Wabaye Ofo Omoleri Omonifa Mana Lori Omo Koniku Omoloyu Kaferefun Orunmila, Lodafun Shango.

Súyere
Ayoro Enu Eluti Eñi Oforo Ni Ope Oforo.

Ifá says — what Oshe Bara tells you

The person talks too much and others speak of her both well and badly: she must avoid slander, because her tongue is the worst thing she has.
The bell speaks: its frame is the mouth and the clapper is the human tongue; if it wants to sound good, it must speak well.
The person witnesses a killing or knows who did it, because he was asked to keep the weapon used in the crime.
This person has money saved; the chest of coins speaks, with great luck for money, but the person must make it jingle in the pocket and not wrap it in papers.
It speaks of strange dreams caused by a hermit Egun.
They blame the woman as an adulteress, as they did Oshún with the twins.
The woman has multiple births; women with blue eyes are osobo.
The children gradually grow apart from their parents and turn him against his spouse; it is up to the parents to guarantee a successful future for their children.
He asks for something, gets it, and then becomes frightened.
There is war with a mayombero.
The person neglects the Saints and his profession; he wants to be everything and changes religion, occupation and social position.
Elegba puts him in difficulty and he is robbed, because he promises without fulfilling; that is why he is disappointed with the results.
The illnesses of the Odù: problems in the belly, gallbladder, liver, heart and blood circulation; a hand operation.
It is not good for an Awó with this sign to work after 6 in the evening; if he does, he loses his wealth.
The squash (eleguedé) speaks, whose fruits are born far from the trunk: the children leave.
The bell, the mouth and the tongue speak: the ewé herbs of the Odù are raspalengua and languelo.
The plantain plant speaks, which Ikú was chasing and which was saved with ebbó.
The skull of the road speaks, the one who talked too much, and so does the agere, the perforated pot that symbolizes the firm union that the secrets of life keep: through each little hole only one drop escapes, never the whole.
The sandbox tree speaks, cursed by Obatalá when its seeds burst and made him get wet in the rain.
The little pebble of Oshún speaks: according to how you care for it, you prosper; whoever throws it away dies poor and alone.

Proverbs of Oshe Bara · Òwe

“Mind your own, and other people's afterward.”
“A child is not the parents' happiness.”
“A hammer, a knife and a sharp arrow is the man who bears false witness against his neighbor.”
“The tongue is the whip of the body.”
“Whoever talks a great deal errs a great deal.”
“Of the two openings of the body where the bad comes out, the most dangerous is the mouth.”
“Put away from you the wrongdoing of the mouth and keep from you the wrongdoing of the lips.”
“The drunk man thinks one thing and the shopkeeper another.”
“The habit does not make the monk; his deeds do.”
“Whoever eats sweet speaks sweet.”
“Blood is the fuel of the body.”
“Night for sleeping, day for working.”
“I give you a lift and you want to drive.”
“You throw the stone and hide your hand.”

11 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

An inheritance comes to them along the way, and the son receives something from his late father.
Luck is near them, and they have money put away.
This sign assures a prosperous future for a child and announces a promising future to adults.

Osogbo · what the sign warns

They lose their memory from overusing their mental faculties.
They suffer a personality disorder: they lead a double life, change beliefs and want to take everything on without settling on anything.
A misfortune may come to them through their tongue: they talk too much, and people speak of them both well and badly.

38 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 Oshe Bara · Ìbí

The memory that is lost by overusing one's faculties.
Awó Oshé Omó Oshenifá studied at night, the Egun came near his light and the grey matter left his brain.
The unsettling of the personality.
The Awó went to church with the excuse of preparing to be a priest, but in fact he was studying to be a lawyer: he changes religions and wants to be everything.
That the neophyte who is to be crowned in the Saint is taken to the river to be bathed.
Olofin's ruling after Oshún's twins: to be cleaned of everything bad before the consecration.
The bunch of plantains hung at the entrance of the Igbodu of Osha.
The oguedé, to make known that Shangó approves that birth, and the malanga leaf together with the ewé Iroko, to cover everything bad.
The load of Shangó's asheré.
Awó Sheshere saved the plantain tree from Ikú with the asheré covered in shells, loaded with a rooster's beak and claws, sixteen ero, sixteen picapica seeds and afoshé of osun naború.
That the tongue is a scourge for all humanity and that whoever talks too much makes many mistakes.
The skull by the roadside said so: it was there for talking too much.
Multiple births, and that there is no adultery in them.
Olofin decreed that any woman may have twins and triplets without having been unfaithful, as Oshún did with Shangó.
That you have to keep prendas.
The father of Oshé Bara kept his dead in an igba and talked with them every day; a son receives an inheritance of something from his deceased father (Odil Poli).

What is forbidden · Eewó

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

Working during the night and sleeping with a light on are forbidden.
At night the dead roam free and gather where they see a light, which disturbs the person.
Do not talk about your private matters or about the plans you have in mind.
They will be torn apart on you.
Do not get wet in the rain, and avoid frights, even if there are explosions.
Obatalá cursed the salvadera because it made him get wet in the rain.
An Awó is not allowed to work after 6 in the evening.
He loses his riches; the sacrifice of Oguno is done in the dark, but daily work is not.
Do not forget to keep your commitments.
The King who broke his promise to Oshún lost the chest and the rule over his people.
Do not fight with your spouse.
The children grow distant and turn him against his partner.
Avoid excess of alcoholic drinks.
The drunkard and the shopkeeper think differently: keep your word.
If you are a woman, keep your clothes in good repair and do not lend or give them to anyone.
Rule of this Ifá.
Be careful with what you ask for.
Your mouth is very dangerous: you ask for something, you get it, and then you become frightened.

Ebbós of Oshe Bara · The sacrifices that open the road

Overcoming enemiesSecret of the little jar to settle situations🔒 The Notebook MoneyLittle jar of the six quail to obtain the power🔒 The Notebook Overcoming enemiesBinding the tongues of enemies🔒 The Notebook HealthEbbó of the memory (band of seso vegetal)🔒 The Notebook SpiritualFor Egun and to win Eshu over🔒 The Notebook Overcoming enemiesElegbá against the arayé🔒 The Notebook

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

Works of Oshe Bara · The workings of the sign

SpiritualInshé Ozain of the wild cane (Oshé Bara)🔒 The Notebook SpiritualOzain of Yemayá and of Obatalá🔒 The Notebook SpiritualOzain of Shangó (the turtles)🔒 The Notebook Keeping death awayThe tin of Aggayú (nine holes)🔒 The Notebook SpiritualThe sacrifice of Oguno (Odil Poli)🔒 The Notebook

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

Patakíes of Oshe Bara · The roads of the Odù

1The loss of memory

The land of Oshé Baralanube was governed by the awó Oshé Omó Oshenifá, a son of Oshé Bara and also of Shangó. Very intelligent, he devoted day and night to studying the secrets of the place, which belonged to Orun. It bothered Shangó that he studied so much in the dark. In that land the Egun wandered free during the night, gathered in meetings, and headed toward wherever a light was burning; Eshu Atokun led them.

Before studying, the awó lit three candles for Orun and, on his knees, invoked him. When he finished, sleep overcame him and the Egun gathered beside him. There were so many that his mind slowly clouded. Little by little he lost his memory, and all he could do was ask himself why he forgot what he had studied.

One day his brother, the awó Obebeye, also a son of Shangó, passed through the land and went to see him. He found him distressed, remembering nothing. Obebeye consulted the Osode, and Oshé Baralanube came out; in the reading he saw Eshu marching ahead of all the Egun. Then he sang to call Shangó, who came, took vegetable brain, and placed it on the head of the awó Oshé Omó Oshenifá.

Obebeye took his place at the door with a jio jio and an eyelé. Just then the Egun were approaching, headed by Eshu. Obebeye stretched out a chain and, while reciting a prayer, handed out the jio jio and the eyelé as food, always outside the house. The Egun ate. Eshu saw the blood of the eyelé, became afraid, and fled.

Then Obebeye performed an oparaldo on his brother using an osiadié, and afterward made the ebbó for him. The awó began to improve. Shangó asked Obebeye to stay with him for seven days, taking care of him and keeping him from working. By the end of those days the awó's memory had returned. Obebeye summoned Shangó again, and Shangó set several obligations for the awó: to stop studying and working at night, so that the Egun would no longer disturb him; to give him, who is the power, an akukó to eat, together with Orun, so that everything would go well; to offer all the Egun, at the entrance and from time to time, jio jio and eyelé, to avoid their bother; and to always call Obebeye so that they could work together. That way Obebeye would watch over him, he would have the blessing of Orun, and he would live on Earth without difficulties.

What it teaches

Studying at night with lights on draws the Egun and can cloud the mind through forcing one's own abilities too much. With the help of a brother in the religion, the ebbó, and rest, memory comes back.

Ebbó of the story

An akukó for Shangó, offered with Elegba; an osiadié for the oparaldo; a jio jio and an eyelé for the Egun, given outside the door; and vegetable brain to be placed on the awó's head. The ebbó also includes eku, ejá, awadó, obi, orí, efún, otí, itaná, and a good amount of money. This path also has a belt with a load; its full contents are in the paid part of this path.

Prohibitions and care

This odu forbids studying or working at night and sleeping with a light on. When the ebbó is finished, one must rest for seven days without working; that is how memory returns. Jio jio and eyelé are given to the Egun at the door from time to time. The awó of this sign must ask another awó every so often to look after him and make ebbó for him.

What this odu points to

It indicates loss of memory from forcing one's own abilities too much, and strange dreams caused by a lonely Egun.

The prayer that opens the path

Oshé Bara Baralanube Egun Omaye Orún Obaniayeawo Oshé Omó Oshé Bawami Ifá Orí Layeo Obbá Made Ikú Eggún O Bebeye Awó Orún Ikú Kofilere Ashe Ona Eshú Atokun Orún Koniwede Enishe Mayele Ikú Orí Wabaye Ofó Omoleri Omonifa Mana Lori Omó Koniku Omoloyu Kaferefún Orunmila, Loddafún Shangó.

The awó's invocation to Orun before studying

Orun Agba Iku, Ara Orun, Osha Egun / Elegbe Orun Oshe Omo Oshenifa / Ipori Odara Bi Awo.

Obebeye's song to call Shangó

Shango Baba Ile Konileo Orun / Awo Oshe Omo Oshenifa Awo Shubu / Onifa Olokore Ifa Ori Awo Sodide

Obebeye's prayer while feeding the Egun at the door

Oyekun Egun Iku / Orun Obayeru Aya / Lewa Oni Oshe Ewa / Obani Egun Iku Olorun Olordumare.

This path keeps 3 awó secrets in the complete treatise.🔒 The Notebook

2The banana plant that Ikú wanted to destroy

Ikú wanted to put an end to a banana plant. Awó Sheshere consulted Oshé Bara for it at the time when Shangó had gone off in search of someone for that land. The awó ordered an ebbó: Shangó's asheré, covered with cowrie shells, and two eyelé. That asheré carries a charge proper to the awó, which is not detailed here.

Praying this odu serves to defeat the opponent.

There is also a work against the arayé, whose procedure and prayer are in the complete treatise.

There is also a warning: a dead person may be lying across the threshold of the house. He died of hunger and demands food. To attend to him, an oparaldo is done with a spotted osiadié and nine colored ribbons, and amalá with malvaté is left by the entrance.

What it teaches

When death threatens what one cares for, the awó who reads the odu prescribes the ebbó that protects. This path serves to defeat the opponent and to attend to the dead person who demands food.

Ebbó of the story

Shangó's asheré, covered with cowrie shells, and two eyelé. The asheré carries a charge that is a secret of the awó.

Work against the arayé

This path has a work against the arayé, done with Elegba and the iyefá of the sign; its procedure and prayer are in the complete treatise.

Dead person lying across the door

A spotted osiadié and nine colored ribbons for the oparaldo, and amalá with malvaté on the threshold.

Work for Egun

A white akukó (fun fun) as food for Egun, and the sign Oshé Bara marked on the earth with eyá tuto. This is repeated often.

This path keeps 3 awó secrets in the complete treatise.🔒 The Notebook

3The relatives of Oshé Bara kept dying

Oshé Bara's father found it hard to understand the reason for the deaths among his relatives. Each time one passed away, he put that person inside an igba, and every day he talked with all of them.

What it teaches

If relatives die one after another, the reason is sometimes not understood. This path teaches to take care of the dead and to have prendas.

Advice of the path

It is recommended to own prendas.

4The salvadera seeds🔒 The Notebook 5Oshún's little stone🔒 The Notebook 6The priest who changed his trade🔒 The Notebook 7The unsettling of the personality is born🔒 The Notebook 8The King's broken promise to Oshún🔒 The Notebook 9Oshún gives birth to twins and is accused of adultery🔒 The Notebook 10The eleguedé and her children🔒 The Notebook 11The newborn child🔒 The Notebook 12The skull that talked too much🔒 The Notebook 13The shopkeeper and the drunk man🔒 The Notebook 14The tin of Aggayú with nine holes🔒 The Notebook 15Warning of a journey🔒 The Notebook 16Kanepo beat his enemies thanks to Oguno🔒 The Notebook 17When Oshún had twins (the land of Iyesha Modo)🔒 The Notebook 18Oshé Bara shows off before Orunmila and ends up ridiculous🔒 The Notebook 19The crown of Osha🔒 The Notebook 20The curse of Ikoko Odu🔒 The Notebook 21The sijú that fooled the dove🔒 The Notebook 22The cat that threw it in the mosquito's face🔒 The Notebook 23The güijes of the salvadera🔒 The Notebook

20 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 Oshe Bara in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Oshe Bara

What does the Odù Oshe Bara mean in Ifá?

The tongue, scourge of humanity (the most dangerous hole is the mouth): the Awó does not die as long as his things remain alive.

What number is Oshe Bara among the 256 Odù of Ifá?

Oshe Bara is Odù number 233 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Oshe family.

Which orishas speak in Oshe Bara?

In the Odù Oshe Bara these orishas speak: Shangó, Oshún, Egun, Eshu, The Ibeyis e Ideu, Obatalá, Aggayú, Ozain.

What is a proverb of the Odù Oshe Bara?

One of the proverbs of Oshe Bara says: «Mind your own, and other people's afterward.».

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