Otrupon Rete

Also called Otrupon Birete

nº 194 of 256 · Edited by Ricco Ledesma

The shifting ground and the swamp: an Ifá of ruin, where only what Ifá props up stays standing. The way you go up is the way you come down.

12 patakíes 4 eewó 6 ebbós and works 11 proverbs

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Otrupon Rete is Odù number 194 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Otrupon family. It is also written as Otrupon Birete. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 12 patakíes (3 in full in plain sight, with their teaching, ebbó and chants), its proverbs, 6 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 194 of 256
Composition: Otrupon over Irete
Orishas that speak: Elegbara (Eshu Layibori / Alagbana) · Yemayá · Oshún · Shangó · Orunmila · Oyá · Obatalá · Oshosi

What Ifá says in this sign

Otrupon Rete, also known as Otrupon Birete and Otrúpon Desbarate, is the sign where the swamp and quicksand were born, and that is why it is an Ifá of collapse: the ground you stand on can give way if you do not make it firm. Here the sea made ebbó and became clean, and this is how the sign speaks to you: what is stirred up in your life today becomes clear through sacrifice and perseverance, like the waves that clean the shore. But keep in mind that the way up is also the way down: it costs you a great deal to reach the top, and what you reach can fall from your hands very quickly.

The house of this sign rests on a single post, and the one holding it up is Elegbara. Otrupon Rete owed him a goat, delayed paying him and, when he finally offered him okra, went to look for the smallest pods to keep the best ones; Elegbara grew tired of waiting, let go of the post and the house came down. Do not haggle or delay with what the saint asks of you, and do not give the worst while keeping the best, because you could be thrown out of the place where you live. You also have a debt with Shangó, and from that side someone will come to collect it.

«The way you go up is the way you come down, and it is hard for Otrupon Birete to go up, so as to come down fast: prop things up before you climb.»The pulse of Otrupon Rete

In money, be careful with inheritances. This sign speaks of the young man who received a farm, left it in the hands of the workers, spent with his friends, sold what he had and, when he was left with nothing, his friends went away. If ruin or troubles lead you to think it would be better to die, do not stay silent or alone with that thought: talk with someone you trust, seek a doctor or a professional and go to Ifá, because while hope remains what was lost can be recovered. If you must travel to find what you are looking for, first attend to your head, and do not return by the same road or look back.

In love, there are two people who want to come together and cannot. The woman of this sign has had hemorrhages and sends her husband away believing another will soon arrive; think carefully before leaving what is certain for what is doubtful. If you receive a hand of Ifá, your daughter will have good luck, and if an awó in need comes to your door, help him, because that help comes back to you.

In health, you suffer from the belly and the stomach, and you may have something extra in your body, or a part larger or smaller than usual. Watch over your child for tuberculosis, because a hemoptysis can kill him. Do not eat fish for a few days, since a bone could get stuck in your throat; what is sought very far away, like the fish of the fishermen who went far from the coast, can arrive rotten. Also care for your elderly parents with the patience they had with you, and fulfill your duty to Elegbara in time so he does not let go of the post of your house.

The sign in one line

Prop up your house, do not haggle over what is owed to the saint and do not go back the same way. In the shifting ground of Otrupon Birete only what Ifá props up stays standing.

The prayer of Otrupon Rete · Yoruba

Otrúpon Birete Ifá Ayalu Shishe She Adafun Ayalu Puete Morubo Omó Sheshe She Ni Olo Babalawo Adifa Babalawo Olófin Yelo Puelo Odafun Ozayín Morubo, Owunkó Shelo, Akukó Lorúbbo.

Súyere
Ayá tu sheshe ayalu pate oni babalawo adifayoko.

Ifá says — what Otrupon Rete tells you

There are ailments of the belly and the stomach.
You have suffered hemorrhages; to the husband she says to leave, that another will come if he goes.
Protect your son from tuberculosis: a hemoptysis could cause his death.
Your body has something extra, or some part larger or smaller than usual in people.
These are two people who want to be together and cannot manage it.
One comes down where one climbs up: climbing takes you great effort, and then you come down quickly.
The herbs of the sign: canutillo, purslane and tomato.
Of the fact that you will have to take a trip: make ebbó and feed your head to find what you seek.
Of the fact that, when making that trip, you should not return by the same road or look back, because it would be your ruin.
Of the fact that you should refrain from eating fish for three days, lest a bone get stuck in your throat; but offer one to your head.
That you owe something to Shangó.
Of the fact that from that side someone will come to wash your necklaces.
Of the fact that you should receive a hand of Ifá, so that a stroke of luck comes to your daughter.
Of the fact that your wife told you a dream of hers.
That you gamble and see nothing.
That they are going to throw you out of where you live.
Of the fact that you are looking for something you find impossible to locate, but you will get it if you do what is commanded here.

Proverbs of Otrupon Rete · Òwe

“The way up is the way down.”
“The sea, with its waves, cleans the shore.”
“To live like this, it is better to die.”
“Whoever knows where he is going knows where he came from.”
“What is done is done.”
“A rotten tree bears no fruit.”
“You do not see the blood boil, but you feel it.”
“When grey hair covers the head of a just man, he is crowned with glory.”
“Whoever takes on another man's debts pays with his own goods.”
“Whoever does his work well will not lack for honorable customers.”
“Eyes that watched you leave are eyes that will not see you again.”

8 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

What seems muddled and dirty in their life becomes clear when they do the ebbó, like the sea that cleaned itself.
With perseverance, what seemed lost is cleansed and recovered, just as the waves clean the shore.
They find what they are looking for, even if it seems impossible, if they do what the sign commands.

Osogbo · what the sign warns

It is a sign of collapse: they may be thrown out of where they live, and their house falls down if they do not reinforce it.
The swamp and the shifting ground can sink them if they do not protect themselves.
If they delay doing the works for the saints, Elegbara lets go of what holds things up and their house collapses.

22 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 Otrupon Rete · Ìbí

The swamp.
Shifting ground.

What is forbidden · Eewó

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

Do not haggle and do not pick and choose what you look for for the santo.
The okra for the ebbó is not chosen: the one that was brought to you is used, otherwise Elegba disturbs your affairs.
Do not eat fish for the next three days.
In case a bone gets stuck in your throat.
Do not come back by the same road and do not look behind you on the trip.
It will be your ruin.
Do not break floor tiles in the house.

Ebbós of Otrupon Rete · The sacrifices that open the road

SpiritualThe ebbó of the omiero (to see what you want)🔒 The Notebook Overcoming enemiesThe ebbós of this Odù🔒 The Notebook LossEbbó so they do not throw you out of where you live🔒 The Notebook

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

Works of Otrupon Rete · The workings of the sign

Overcoming enemiesThe propping up of the house🔒 The Notebook SpiritualThe Eshu Layibori🔒 The Notebook SpiritualThe sea stone for Eshu Alagbana🔒 The Notebook

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

Patakíes of Otrupon Rete · The roads of the Odù

1Elegba and the post of the house

At that time Otrupon Irete had a farm full of okra. Orunmila told him that, for everything to go well for him, he had to offer a goat to Elegba. But he was one of those who put off what they owe to the orishas, and he did not offer it.

His dwelling was shaped like an umbrella and stood on a single post set in the center; someone had to hold it so that it would not collapse.

The goat did not appear, and Elegba, hungry, went to ask for food. Otrupon Irete said he had nothing to give him. Elegba insisted and, at last, was offered okra. He accepted, and they agreed that he would hold the post in the meantime.

So Elegba stood hugging the post and Otrupon Irete went off to pick the pods. The best ones grew beside the house, but it was hard for him to part with them; he kept moving away, already far from the house, looking for the smallest ones.

With so much delay, Elegba grew tired, let go of the post and the house collapsed.

What it teaches

Putting off offerings and haggling over the best one has costs the support of the one who was holding up the house. Whoever gives the worst and keeps back the best also loses the support of his home.

What he owed Elegba

A goat, so that everything would go well for him. He did not give it and tried to pay with okra.

Warning about the okra of the ebbó

The okra for an ebbó is not chosen on one's own: one uses what is handed to him.

2Deserving in order to ask

Every morning, a man asked Olofin for a flower and a butterfly. Orunmila consulted for him and marked the remedy: he had to repair his bad actions with all the good within his reach, and be patient in order to treat all living beings with affection. When his hour came, his wish would come true.

Olofin decided to test that man’s faith, and instead of what he asked for, he sent him a cactus and a caterpillar. At first the man became sad. Even so he began to water the cactus and feed the caterpillar, until one day the cactus gave a beautiful flower and the caterpillar became a butterfly.

Sometimes what is asked for does not come in the form that is expected. Olofin gives the cactus and the caterpillar; only patience and good deeds turn them, in time, into the flower and the butterfly that were dreamed of.

What it teaches

What is asked of Olofin sometimes arrives in a form different from the one expected, as a test. Patience and good actions transform it in due time, and what seems of little worth, tended with affection, ends up bearing fruit.

What Orunmila marked

Repair bad actions with all the good possible and be patient in order to treat all living beings with affection.

Prayer of this path

Ile emi lagbaja niki won o mu yeye Aje ya si odede mini yeye Aje sun si ti ile fimo.

3The hollow gallows full of jewels

Orunmila consulted a young man who was about to receive an inheritance and advised him to be moderate, so that he would not end up in poverty. The young man listened and made the sacrifice.

Years later his father, now old, spoke to him sadly: he knew what his future would be. When he was gone, his son would take charge of everything, but he would leave the farm to the employees and squander the money with his friends; he would sell the properties to keep spending, and when he was left with nothing his friends would abandon him. Only then would he regret not having listened. “I built this gallows for you,” he said, and asked him to promise to hang himself on it if everything happened that way.

The prophecy came true in every detail. The young man admitted: “I never listened to my father or made him happy in life; at least now I will keep what I promised him, since only my life is left to lose.” He climbed the ladder, adjusted the rope and threw himself into the void, until the cord pressed on his neck.

However, the arm of the gallows was hollow and gave way. The young man fell to the ground, and around him spilled banknotes, emeralds, pearls, rubies, sapphires and many diamonds: the hollow gallows hid a treasure of precious stones. Among the jewels there was a note, which the heir read: “This is your second chance. I love you very much. With affection, your old father.”

What it teaches

A father who loves anticipates and protects his son even from his own ruin. A person who does not heed advice in time may reach the bottom, but sometimes finds in his worst moment the fortune and the second chance that affection had prepared.

Orunmila's advice to the young man

Moderation on receiving the inheritance, so as not to end in poverty. The young man made the sacrifice indicated.

Prayer of this path

Owo ishu sile de Aje nana pese nanature olomo ako gba onigba rora.

4Peace, faith, love, hope and life🔒 The Notebook 5The farmhand who slept while the wind blew🔒 The Notebook 6The law of life🔒 The Notebook 7Ogún receives the crown of the Congo king🔒 The Notebook 8Awo Dide pulls his brother out of the swamp🔒 The Notebook 9The money and the fire🔒 The Notebook 10The felled tree🔒 The Notebook 11The wolf that ate Orunmila's sheep🔒 The Notebook 12The oak and the bramble🔒 The Notebook

9 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 Otrupon Rete in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Otrupon Rete

What does the Odù Otrupon Rete mean in Ifá?

The shifting ground and the swamp: an Ifá of ruin, where only what Ifá props up stays standing. The way you go up is the way you come down.

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

Otrupon Rete is Odù number 194 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Otrupon family.

Which orishas speak in Otrupon Rete?

In the Odù Otrupon Rete these orishas speak: Elegbara (Eshu Layibori / Alagbana), Yemayá, Oshún, Shangó, Orunmila, Oyá, Obatalá, Oshosi.

What is a proverb of the Odù Otrupon Rete?

One of the proverbs of Otrupon Rete says: «The way up is the way down.».

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