Oshé Fun

nº 241 of 256

The pact between Ikú and Orunmila, where the Iddefá was born: death respects whoever wears his necklace and his iddé — and men who join together win.

19 patakíes 11 eewó 8 ebbós and works 19 proverbs

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Oshé Fun is Odù number 241 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Oshe family. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 19 patakíes (3 with the full text), its proverbs, 8 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 241 of 256
Composition: Oshe over Ofun
In the Diloggún: 5-10 · Oshé tonti Ofún
Orishas that speak: Orunmila · Obatalá · Shangó · Oshún · Ogún · Yemayá · Azojuano · Ozun

What Ifá says in this sign

Oshé Fun is an unclean, dangerous Odù where death is out looking for someone to take — but the greatest protection was born right here: the pact between Ikú and Orunmila — the Iddefá: death does not take anyone who carries the mark of Orunmila, his yellow and green necklace and his iddé, unless Orunmila hands that person over.

This protection even comes with rules about how you look: do not get fat, keep your hair cut and your face shaved, watch your appearance — Ikú was watching Orunmila «until he got stronger and fatter» so she could take him, and the okra made death slip in his doorway with its slime. Disobedience here is not a small fault: it is an appointment with Ikú — do not be disobedient, because death is looking for you.

«Ikú and Orunmila signed the pact of the Iddefá — death respects whoever carries the mark of Orunmila.»The pulse of Oshé Fun

Its strength comes from numbers: this is the Ifá of human beings joining together to win — scattered, they could get nothing — and its thinking does not accept bad luck as an excuse: for every difficulty there is a solution; if you are unlucky, you are not wise enough. Obatalá covers what is good and uncovers what is bad: live so that what gets uncovered will not shame you.

The health warnings here are serious: the blood and how it moves, the brain, the throat, the belly, diabetes — you go to a doctor — and there is a tug of war between the dead and the Santo: get the dead and the bad influences off you, because they are what put every kind of illness into the body. They work ogú against you with doves — Obatalá cursed the doves for that — and the man of this sign does not make Osha but Ifá, because he may need emergency surgery.

Its pictures speak for themselves: the quail that wanders so much that the dog finds her — she knows so much that she sleeps on the floor: do not wander —; the eleguedé where Oshún kept her riches; as many as 7 new enemies that joining together defeats. Not everyone is chosen among the Komó Oshé, Komó Owá — but whoever is chosen will be lucky in the end: learn Ifá or Osha: whoever carries the mark of Orunmila walks through epidemics without Ikú touching him.

The sign in one line

Wear your iddé, join with others to win, and get the dead off your back — because in Oshé Fun the unlucky one is only the one who is not wise yet.

The prayer of Oshé Fun · Yoruba

Shefun Shefun Baba Areru Orunmila Ni Ayashe Ria Ria Awo Igbin Koto Kilu Osala Kole Ika Koye Adafun Lode Ikoko Keye Wofin Awo Oni Kako Adifafun Onikako Pewo Oni Kako Orubo Igui Ni Asho Eru Eni Peyu Tompon Kolero.

Súyere
Bonoli Baba Lokua Oshefun, Minabli Baba Lokua Oshefun, Nawa Bonu Oshé Fun.

Ifá says — what Oshé Fun tells you

It is the Ifá of the pact between Ikú and Orunmila: death does not take anyone who has the mark of Orunmila (the Iddefá), unless Orunmila hands the person over or orders it. It is an Ifá of disbelief and pride: people did not believe in Ifá, and Orunmila used to wear a mask just like Ikú, and they came to fear him. It is an Ifá of government: Obatalá brought his 16 designs and humankind worked witchcraft on him with doves, so he cursed them. It is the Ifá of human beings joining together to win: scattered, they could get nothing. It is the Ifá of the Komó Oshé, Komó Owá: with this Odù not everyone is chosen, but whoever is chosen will be lucky in the end; he has to learn Ifá or Osha. It is an Ifá where the man does not have to make Osha, but Ifá, because he may need emergency surgery.
It speaks of a great epidemic coming: leukemia, the blood, the brain, impotence, scales on the skin, trouble in the sex organs, amnesia, surgery, throat and belly; diabetes.
Do not get fat: keep your hair cut and your face shaved, watch your appearance to keep Ikú away, since she was watching Orunmila «until he got stronger and fatter».
You may end up unable to walk; the blood does not move through the body as it should.
There is a tug of war between the dead and the Santo; the dead and the bad influences have to be taken off you, because they are what put every kind of illness into the body.
It speaks of new enemies: as many as 7 people.
Death is looking for someone to take: do not be disobedient, because death is looking for you.
They work ogú against you with doves and other birds.
The man does not have to make Osha but Ifá, because he may need emergency surgery.
It speaks of children who die and of the troubles, illnesses and accidents they face as life goes on: they must be sheltered by the Oshas and by Orula.
If it is a woman, she is about to get pregnant; be careful that her husband does not catch her with another man.
This Odù speaks of the power of Ifá to settle every problem: for every difficulty there is a solution. Ifá ni kaferefun Olokun.
The Iddefá joined by a chain speaks, the one the owner of this Ifá wears, and so does the yellow and green necklace of Orunmila.
The eleguedé speaks, where Oshún kept her riches and her jewels.
The quail that wanders speaks: she wanders so much that the dog finds her; she knows so much that she sleeps on the floor.
The okra speaks, whose slime made death slip in Orunmila's doorway.
The shaved pig of Yemayá speaks, and the disobedient snake.
The ewé of this Odù are the cordovan plant — which stops bleeding — and the ponasí, which cures the sores, the pox and the skin diseases this Odù suffers.

Proverbs of Oshé Fun · Òwe

“Obatalá covers everything good, but uncovers what is bad.”
“They know God in the morning and always.”
“The quail wanders so much that the dog finds her.”
“The quail knows so much that she sleeps on the floor.”
“Do not tell lies, because you fool yourself.”
“By being disobedient the same thing happens to you as to the snake.”
“If you are unlucky, then you are not wise enough.”
“There is always water in the sea and in the lagoon.”
“Arode: I grieve that children fall into the trap.”
“The lowliest pig saved its herd.”
“Orunmila changed the hour of death.”
“Asking saves a man from mistakes; whoever does not ask gets into trouble.”
“When the stomach does not turn right, the guts twist.”
“Glass in the garbage can looks like a diamond.”
“Whoever has the power to create has the power to destroy.”
“Whoever gives to the poor receives honor.”
“The goodness of Olodumare has no end, but he punishes in order to teach.”
“A donkey loaded with books is still a donkey.”
“Whoever corrects a fool with words alone will not be obeyed.”

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

Iré and Osogbo

8 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 Oshé Fun · Ìbí

The pact between Ikú and Orunmila: the Iddefá, the mark of Orunmila.
Death slipped on the slime of the okra in Orunmila's doorway; Eshu, Shangó and Ogún caught her, and she made a pact not to take anyone who has the mark of Orunmila.
The yellow and green necklace of Orunmila.
Obatalá ordered the yellow seeds of Oshún and the green ones of Ogún to be joined: the two lands death did not enter.
That Obatalá covers everything good and uncovers everything bad.
That is how he made himself known before the Orishas gathered at the house of the wise man of Ara-Ifé.
Incest, leukemia and amnesia.
They are born in this Odù; leukemia and amnesia come from the road of the pilgrim and the disobedient man.
The noise women make when they wash themselves, and scales on the skin.
Births of this Odù.
That Oshún gave up the quail.
The quail wandered so much — «it is big… it is small…» — that the little dog caught her, and Oshún sold her.
Obatalá's curse on the doves.
They worked witchcraft on him with doves: that is why doves and hens are not raised here, because they die.
Dipping your finger in epó and rubbing it on your tongue so you do not get burned.
From the road where Shangó, when he was not taken into account, set fire to things.
The Komó Oshé, Komó Owá (the ones with little skill).
Sighing over their bad luck, they learned Ifá and were lucky in the end.
The children who did not wait for Orunmila and die.
The gatekeeper of the world kept sending them back; Orula paid 240 cowries for each one: that is the amount paid today to ransom a newborn.
The canastillero.
It speaks in this Odù, from the road of the yellow and green necklace.
Putting a mat or a rug down to step off the bed.
Ikú slipped: this is how you scare her off.

What is forbidden · Eewó

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

Do not get fat; keep your hair cut and your face shaved.
Ikú was watching Orunmila so he would get stronger and fatter, and was looking for the hairy man with sideburns.
Do not leave your clothes twisted after they are washed.
A rule of this Odù, from the path of Yemayá's pig.
Do not wear bracelets or necklaces while you sleep.
You can choke yourself.
Do not sleep under the Moon.
A rule of this Ifá.
Do not raise doves or hens, and do not keep animals that brood.
They die: Obatalá cursed the doves.
Do not eat too many sweets.
Because of the blood problems; if you already have the condition, you must not eat sweets.
Do not overdo pork.
It can give you indigestion and an upset stomach: take a purge of palmacristi and coconut butter.
Do not vouch for anyone.
They will make you look bad.
Do not practice Mayombe while leaving the Santo behind.
The Oyoyorun family spread Mayombe, and to that land came setback and illnesses of the throat, the belly and the blood.
Do not blaspheme against the Creator, and do not complain about your luck.
If one is unlucky, then one is not wise enough.
Do not tell lies.
You deceive yourself.

Ebbós of Oshé Fun · The sacrifices that open the road

Keeping death awayEbbó of the Iddefá (Ikú and the hairy man)🔒 The Notebook SpiritualEbbó for leaving the Santo behind🔒 The Notebook HealthEbbó of the guinea hen (Orula saves the village of Oshé Ni Fun)🔒 The Notebook HealthEbbó for leukemia and amnesia🔒 The Notebook MoneyThe sacrifice of the Komó Oshé, Komó Owá🔒 The Notebook SpiritualThe moruro walking stick🔒 The Notebook

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

Works of Oshé Fun · The workings of the sign

SpiritualEshu Agbadá🔒 The Notebook HealthPrayer for the erection🔒 The Notebook

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

Patakíes of Oshé Fun · The roads of the Odù

1The Iddefá, the mark of Orunmila

Ikú was watching Orunmila, waiting for him to get fat; when she went to take him, she slipped on the slime of the okra in his doorway, and Eshu, Shangó and Ogún caught her: out of that fright came the pact that death does not take anyone who has the mark of Orunmila, the Iddefá.

Death had her eye on Orunmila and was waiting for him to get fat and gain strength. One day she worked it out: "In three days I can take him!"

But Orunmila had spread okra slime at the entrance of his house, and there, when death went to look for him, she lost her footing. As soon as she hit the ground, Eshu, Shangó and Ogún threw themselves on her and questioned her: "Did you not know that Orunmila lived here?" She said she did not know it, and out of that meeting came a pact: she would not touch anyone who wore Orunmila's mark, the Iddefá, unless Orunmila himself handed the person over or ordered it.

Note: do not get fat.

2The yellow and green necklace of Orunmila (the canastillero)

Death did not enter the lands of Ogún and Oshún; the Orishas went to the house of the wise man of Ara-Ifé, and Obatalá — who covers what is good and uncovers what is bad — ordered the yellow and green seeds joined together: Olofin put on his iddé and said that door would always be open for his children.

Ebbó: two black adié for Orunmila; akukó and two adié for Oshún. Dress in white for 16 days; kofiborí with orí, efún and obi.

In the time when the Santos were apart, each one had his own territory. Nobody was allowed to know more than the King and the Queen, whom nobody got to see either. Death made her deals at night: under cover of the darkness she carried off whoever she felt like.

There was only one territory where she did not set foot, that of Ogún and Oshún, and that seemed strange to the other Orishas, who agreed to go together to see a wise man from Ara-Ifé, Orunmila. Once at his house they noticed that to divine he used some seeds split in two and fastened to a chain, and that he also had one necklace of green seeds and another of yellow seeds whose use they did not know. They were sure the seeds looked like the identity of Ogún and Oshún, and that death used them to tie up her victims. In the town nobody dared to report it: they were afraid the wise man was a friend of death.

Obatalá showed up there one day, said who he was and spoke like this: "I believe I have come as the representative of Olofin, and just as I cover everything good, I also uncover what is bad. You do not dare say what you feel out of fear that this wise man is a friend of Ikú, of Ogún and of Oshún; but this had to happen to you this way: split up as you were, you could not get anything done."

Then Olofin came down from Heaven with this word: "I have the 16 rays of the Sun and I hand you my power so that you find the fakes. That old wise man is the doorkeeper, and he has the control and the release of death on Earth."

When Obatalá looked, this Odù came out, and he ordered the green seeds and the yellow seeds to be joined into a single piece. He explained that the yellow identified Oshún, owner of half the world of Gold, while the green ones, with the chain, are Ogún, the killer who obeys the God of Death. That is why death killed nobody in the territory of those two.

And he added: "Now you will look for what Olofin wanted: that you recognize him in the morning and always." Then he placed his iddé on them and closed: "This door will always be open for all the children of Olofin."

3The Santo must not be left behind

In the land of Elupá, the Oyoyorun family spread the belief of the Mayombe because it was the fast way; the people left the Santo behind, and hard times came along with sickness of the throat, the belly and the blood. Orunmila showed them the cause: they had left the Santo behind.

Ebbó: a cot, a mat, two doves, a cedar doll, orí and efún for Egun; and a crooked cane that goes behind the door, at the foot of Egun.

The land of Elupá lived at war with itself, and nobody could work out where that quarrel came from. The cause was a family of that place, the Oyoyorun, impatient people who wanted everything fast: they knew the secrets of the Santo and they also knew why the Santo takes so long, so they planted the belief of Mayombe in the town. The neighbors got excited, they gradually left the Santo and gave themselves to mayombeo, until hard times came with the setback that fell on that land, and with it the illnesses of the throat, the belly and the blood.

It was Oyoyorun who took on the task of finding out where the trouble came from. Orunmila saw this sign for him and pointed out the cause: having abandoned the Santo. The remedy was to make ebbó if they wanted to save themselves. Oyoyorun did the ebbó and afterwards left that land to settle somewhere else.

Note: whoever gets this Ifá must go only with the Santo; if he trades it for something else, he comes out losing.

4Orula puts the iddé on Oshún🔒 The Notebook 5Yemayá curses the eledé🔒 The Notebook 6The Iddefá was born (the hairy man with sideburns)🔒 The Notebook 7When Oshún gave up the quail🔒 The Notebook 8Orula saved the village of Oshé Ni Fun🔒 The Notebook 9Ogún disobeys Obatalá🔒 The Notebook 10Obatalá cursed the doves🔒 The Notebook 11Leukemia and amnesia are born🔒 The Notebook 12The Komó Oshé, Komó Owá who learned Ifá🔒 The Notebook 13The babies who did not wait for Orula🔒 The Notebook 14Not knowing gets you into trouble🔒 The Notebook 15The straight santo and the mixed santo🔒 The Notebook 16The wise man and the rich man🔒 The Notebook 17The prince and the lion🔒 The Notebook 18The rescue of the young women🔒 The Notebook 19Hunger and anger🔒 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 Oshé Fun in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Oshé Fun

What does the Odù Oshé Fun mean in Ifá?

The pact between Ikú and Orunmila, where the Iddefá was born: death respects whoever wears his necklace and his iddé — and men who join together win.

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

Oshé Fun is Odù number 241 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Oshe family.

Which orishas speak in Oshé Fun?

In the Odù Oshé Fun these orishas speak: Orunmila, Obatalá, Shangó, Oshún, Ogún, Yemayá, Azojuano, Ozun.

What is a proverb of the Odù Oshé Fun?

One of the proverbs of Oshé Fun says: «Obatalá covers everything good, but uncovers what is bad.».

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