Otura Tikú

nº 204 of 256

The mother's sacrifice, who turned herself into a goat so her son would receive the power: here the mother is called on for everything — Ikú walks behind you.

19 patakíes 11 eewó 12 ebbós and works 14 proverbs

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Otura Tikú is Odù number 204 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Otura family. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 19 patakíes (3 with the full text), its proverbs, 12 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 204 of 256
Composition: Otura over Okana
Orishas that speak: Orunmila · Obatalá · Shangó · Ikú · Osanyin y Oddé · Oyá · Azojuano · Yemayá · Odudúwa y Obá Kolabbá

What Ifá says in this sign

Otura Tikú carries death in its name and on its back: you have Ikú behind you — and she has stopped at your door. That is why its liturgy is one of thresholds: when this odu is seen, the street door is opened and closed three times, the first three who arrive make ebbó, and whoever is being read does not leave the way they came — death is waiting for them on the corner.

Its central story is the highest love in all of Ifá: the mother of Otura Tikú turned herself into a goat so her son would receive the power — only a mother sacrifices herself like that. Out of it comes the commandment of this sign: always call on your mother for everything — living or dead, she is the door to your ashé.

«The mother of Otura Tikú made herself a goat so her son would receive the power — that is why the mother is called on for everything.»The pulse of Otura Tikú

Your mouth is your enemy: your big talk will bring you losses — here the Kashéoro was born, and the sudden death of the elders. Your shadow is a known one: you have wanted to take your own life, and your osogbo is the obsession with owning what you have been unable to obtain — let go of that quarry, because chasing it costs you your whole life.

In your house you have to look closely: you live with a crooked person — be careful they do not deal with you two-faced — and in the couple, the first one to betray perishes. Look after the daughter who does not sleep and wanders at night — sleepwalking speaks here. The door of your house has the bad and the good at the same time: clean it, so the bad goes out and the good comes in.

The cares of the body: dog bites and cat scratches — here they make you ill and can kill —, poisoning, the eyes and the bowels. The ebbó of the two ladders saves you from falling, and the promise stands: death is behind you, but the mother who made herself a goat showed the road: a sacrifice made in time buys a life.

The sign in one line

Do not leave the way you came, clean your door and call on your mother — Otura Tikú leaves Ikú standing on the corner when the ebbó is made in time.

The prayer of Otura Tikú · Yoruba

OTURA KANA MOLU SHONSHE MOSHE ETU TINSHOWO OLOBO MOLU SHONSHE ADO AKARAN SHAWO MOLOKO MUODO MULAN SHESHE LODA FESHI TINSHOWO UMBO TIO BAYE. ADIFAFUN OYA, SHANGO ATI AZOJUANO.

Súyere
MOLLALLA INA INLE BELELE MOLLALLA INTORI ONA OBA IKU LOFOYE.

Ifá says — what Otura Tikú tells you

The Ifá of the land of Ilufa (Atiponlá). The Ifá of Ikú behind you: you have death behind you and you have to take care to hold on to your health and your life. The Ifá of the beginning of belief in Olofin. The Ifá of a mother's sacrifice: only a mother sacrifices herself for a child.
It speaks of dog bites and cat scratches, which make a man ill and can cause his death.
When this Odù comes out, the street door is opened and closed again three times; the first three people who arrive will have to make ebbó.
When this Ifá comes out for the Awó, another Awó has already seen it for him too: the two of them have seen each other.
The mothers suffered over the chance of dying young and leaving their children unprotected; you can die before your time is up.
Death (Ikú) is walking behind the person, and it stopped at the door. When the person consulting leaves, they should not go back the way they came: death is waiting for them at the corner.
You suffer from poisoning (indigestion) and from impotence.
It marks sudden death among the elders, and the sick person is not saved.
There is a war of Santos.
The osogbo of this letter is getting obsessed with owning something that could not be got, or that was got only halfway.
You have wanted to take your own life; you have a shadow behind you.
Your daughter has to be looked after, since she can be troubled in her mind: she does not sleep well and gets up at night to wander about the house (sleepwalking).
You live with a crooked person: be careful they do not deal with you two-faced.
It speaks of four children who are brothers by the same father.
At the door of your house is the bad, but the good as well: it has to be cleaned to take the bad away and let the good in.
In the couple, the first one to betray perishes.
You suffer from your eyes and you have to look after your bowels.
When this Ifá is seen, the first person who comes into the house has to be cleaned with a dove, corojo butter and aguardiente, and it is all sent to be thrown into the scrub.
When the Awó sees this Ifá for himself, he makes ebbó with three figures dressed in red, white, black and blue cloth.
Ebbó has to be made with two ladders so you do not fall, giving them dove's blood.
The Awó cannot knock at a door; a floor washing is done for him.
The herbs of this Odù: paraíso, sage, canutillo, espanta muerto, romerillo, basil and quita maldición.
When the Awó Otura Tikú is going to receive Kakuanardo, a mamey, shepé iguí and the Odù of Egun are set in the kutún.
The woman of this Odù has something on her mind against her partner, because she is not content with the way she lives.
This is where the wise man said in front of the other Awós that he knew a great deal, and they all left him alone to prove his wisdom: here you cannot say «I know», because you come to harm.
You have to be obedient, listen to advice and avoid sexual excess with women.
The head is given rogation (kobo-orí) with a fish that has white eyes.
You have to drink a brew of hierba corazón de paloma.
Oparaldo is done from time to time with a black hen.

Proverbs of Otura Tikú · Òwe

“The gardener's dog neither eats nor lets others eat.”
“The disobedient and the stubborn meet death.”
“Only a mother sacrifices herself for a child.”
“War with the Santos, certain death.”
“Water you are not going to drink, let it run.”
“The intelligent man does not let his work be destroyed by ignorance.”
“An arrow with no point kills nobody.”
“Better to live in a tiger's den than in quarrelsome company.”
“The dead collect their debts too.”
“Olorun creates life out of dust as easily as out of seed.”
“Whoever argues against his own sign argues against Olorun.”
“For silver the monkey dances.”
“Water calms thirst; good news calms worry.”
“The innocent man does not tremble the way the guilty one does.”

11 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 Otura Tikú · Ìbí

The Kashéoro.
The daily cleaning with the board that Ifá handed to Awó Orún Layé, reporting to Elegbá so he takes him along a good road.
The sudden death of the elders.
From the road of the land of Ibañe Inlé, where the mothers complained and did not believe in the Orishas.
Ogueday, the restless spirit.
Son of Obatalá who did not go out into the street and, when he did, took the quiet out of the land until Osanyin swore him into his secret.
That the door of the igbodun cannot be knocked on.
From the sacrifice of the mother of Otura Tikú: so he has no trouble with his eyes and the sacrifice is not in vain.
That the mother of Otura Tikú turned herself into a goat.
She gave her life so her son would be sworn into the secret of Ogbeké Kakuanardo.
That the mother must always be called on for everything.
The beginning of belief in Olofin.

What is forbidden · Eewó

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

You cannot eat ekó.
You cannot go back by the same road you came.
Death is waiting for you at the corner.
You cannot wear striped or spotted clothes, like the guinea hen.
You cannot knock on the door.
From the oath of Otura Tikú: so that you have no problems with your sight and your mother's sacrifice is not in vain.
You cannot walk barefoot.
You catch cold; keep your feet warm, because you have a tendency to that illness.
You cannot curse, and you cannot allow cursing in your house.
You cannot say that you know.
You harm yourself, like the wise man who was left alone so that he would show his wisdom.
The Awó cannot have a spouse who is a daughter of Shangó.
The children of Oyá and of Oshún do not eat melón de Castilla.
Ordered by Obatalá.
Do not stand on the corners, and control your curiosity.
The disobedient one and the stubborn one meet death, like Enfeloyu at the gathering of masks.
In marriage you cannot separate or betray each other.
The first one who does it will die.

Ebbós of Otura Tikú · The sacrifices that open the road

Keeping death awayEbbó of this Odù🔒 The Notebook HealthEbbó of the three pairs of underpants🔒 The Notebook Keeping death awayEbbó Oparaldo for older people🔒 The Notebook Beating enemiesEbbó of the disobedient man (the road of Enfeloyu)🔒 The Notebook LoveEbbó of the woman of the mariwó🔒 The Notebook

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

Works of Otura Tikú · The workings of the sign

SpiritualOparaldo of the two hens🔒 The Notebook SpiritualOparaldo of the doll🔒 The Notebook Keeping death awayFor Ikú (when this Odù is seen for a child)🔒 The Notebook HealthFor the eyes🔒 The Notebook HealthKobo-orí and brew🔒 The Notebook SpiritualLoad and secret of the board of the Kashéoro🔒 The Notebook SpiritualEshu Laroye (the Eshu of this Odù)🔒 The Notebook

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

Patakíes of Otura Tikú · The roads of the Odù

1The gardener's dog

Otura Tikú was a woman divorced from a bad-tempered man who, even with another woman of his own, would not let her rebuild her life; with Ifá's ebbó she got him to leave her in peace.

Otura Tikú was a woman married to a man who knew about Santo, bad-tempered with women and, even so, a big womanizer. He did not even respect his wife's friends: he went as far as getting involved with a woman Otura Tikú knew, and from that they had several fights.

She, who had already given him three children, kept complaining to him; between arguments and complaints, the man ended up one day raising his hand to her. So, as soon as he spoke of divorce, she accepted and was divorced.

Once divorced, he still would not leave her in peace. Otura Tikú knew that man was with another woman, but she did not dare accept anyone, out of fear that he would hit her again.

Fed up with that situation, she came to the house of the Awó of the town, who made osode for her, saw this Odù and ruled: "You have to make ebbó, so that man leaves you in peace." She did it, and from then on she lived in peace and was able to accept another man.

2Ogueday, the restless spirit

Ogueday, son of Obatalá, born deformed, did not go out into the street; when Obatalá made him go out, he and Elegbá took the quiet out of the land, until Shangó turned Osanyin into a bird and Osanyin swore him into his secret.

In the land of Obí Ikú Orún, Ogueday was born, son of Obatalá. He came into the world deformed and he was ashamed to go out in the street: he did not let anyone see him and he took whatever Obatalá had in the house. Obatalá, who saw him like that, felt sorry for him and let him do it.

When Ogueday was 14, his father asked him: "You are the same as everyone else, why don't you go out in the street?" The son promised to go out every time, and he never went out. Seeing that there was no way, Obatalá built a house outside that land made with all types of sticks. He also took a stone, smeared it with corojo butter and put it in the center of the town. For 7 days he went to smear corojo butter on it and to scrub the house with cotton. When the 7 days were up, at 12 noon, he sang: OGUEDAY INA FUN LOYE, OGUEDAY INA FUN LOYE.

Ogueday heard his father and came out to see what was going on. He grabbed a club and, running, he went along singing: IKU LOREO AWA LENERO IKU LOREO AWA LENERO OFO OGUEDAY.

From that moment the peace of that land was over. Obatalá was scared of what he had done, of the state he had put his son in and of what his son was doing.

Elegbá, back in the land of Obí Ikú Orún, asked what was happening there, why there was no peace. At 12 noon he saw Ogueday and what he was doing, and he shouted: "Oh, my brother, I am going to be with you!" The two of them together did and undid, wrecking whatever they felt like.

Obatalá suffered with all of that. He started walking down the road saying to himself: "I am going to see who I find to give me some protection for my peace and the peace of this land." And while he walked, he sang: OSANYIN BOMBO OSANYIN SHAKOTA OSANYIN LA MIRA MI.

That is how he came to the land of Orí Koye, which was the land of Osanyin. Osanyin heard him and broke into song: AWA NIYE OMO OSANYIN AWA NIYE OMO OGUEDAY AWA NIYE OMO TINSHE OMO ELEGBA.

The two of them embraced, and Obatalá told him what had happened since Ogueday was born. And Osanyin answered him: "I am going to ask permission from my father Shangó, to see if he can solve the problem of that land."

Osanyin went to Shangó and told him everything. Shangó answered: "Why has Obatalá not come? Bring him." When the two of them came before him, he ruled: "The one responsible for all of this is you, because you had to leave him as he was and look carefully at what had to be done for Ogueday."

Obatalá started to cry. Shangó dried his tears with his tongue and spoke to Osanyin with these words: "I am going to give you a virtue: I am going to turn you into a feathered bird." And so he did. Osanyin took flight toward the land of Obí Ikú Orún. It was 12 noon, and Ogueday and Elegbá were up to their tricks. When they saw that bird they got scared, because it was telling them: "I am Osanyin, the one who has command of the world." He pulled Elegbá away from Ogueday and warned him: "Elegbá, you have ashé of mine." He let him go, and Elegbá ran out of that land.

Osanyin took Ogueday and swore him into his secret. From then on peace came back.

3The disobedient, stubborn and curious man

Enfeloyu, who wanted to know everything, ignored the Awó and put on the mask to get into a masked gathering loaded with bad spirits; he fell ill and fell behind, and was only saved by receiving Awofakán and swearing to be obedient.

There was a very disobedient, stubborn and very curious man they called Enfeloyu, because he wanted to know everything: he read and studied a lot, and for that reason he claimed to understand everything. He had an industry or business he lived off in the land of Ilufa, where he lived.

Because of the evil of envious enemies, the business started going badly for him. He decided then to go to the land of Oyá and, once there, he looked for the Awó of that place to make osode for him. The Awó registered him, saw this Odù, Otura Tikú, marked ebbó for him and warned him that, if there was a masked party, he should not go near: he should go the other way. He also told him not to put on the mask he had given for the ebbó, because that had to be asked of his Ifá to see what it ordered him to do.

He did not listen. To know and find out what those people were talking about, he put on the mask just like them and went into the meeting. Those people were carrying bad spirits behind them and above them, and they were meeting precisely to say their prayers, as Oyá had ordered them, and get the spirits off.

When he left there, Enfeloyu started to get sick and got very bad: his health in a hard state and his industry falling behind. He decided to go back to the Awó of the land of Oyá to tell him what had happened. The Awó's answer was this: "You have to receive Awofakán right away and after that make Ifá, to save yourself from the bad health, fix your situation in your business and, on top of that, settle the situation with your wife, because, in spite of everything, you have been a big flirt."

He also told him to listen to advice and stop being disobedient, stubborn and curious. He did it that way, and the state of prosperity and peace he wanted to have came to him.

4The sacrifice of the mother of Otura Tikú🔒 The Notebook 5The Kashéoro was born, and why the mother must always be called on for everything🔒 The Notebook 6The sudden death of the elders🔒 The Notebook 7The taboo in food (ewé)🔒 The Notebook 8It was divined for Alafura🔒 The Notebook 9It was divined for Otu🔒 The Notebook 10When they did not make ebbó🔒 The Notebook 11The duck🔒 The Notebook 12The woman of the mariwó🔒 The Notebook 13The impotence of the Oba🔒 The Notebook 14Tell me who you walk with and I will tell you who you are🔒 The Notebook 15The deadly leap🔒 The Notebook 16The masks of Oya🔒 The Notebook 17The astral journey🔒 The Notebook 18The itá of Osha by Opele🔒 The Notebook 19Vanity, power and wealth🔒 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 Otura Tikú in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Otura Tikú

What does the Odù Otura Tikú mean in Ifá?

The mother's sacrifice, who turned herself into a goat so her son would receive the power: here the mother is called on for everything — Ikú walks behind you.

What number is Otura Tikú among the 256 Odù of Ifá?

Otura Tikú is Odù number 204 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Otura family.

Which orishas speak in Otura Tikú?

In the Odù Otura Tikú these orishas speak: Orunmila, Obatalá, Shangó, Ikú, Osanyin y Oddé, Oyá, Azojuano, Yemayá, Odudúwa y Obá Kolabbá.

What is a proverb of the Odù Otura Tikú?

One of the proverbs of Otura Tikú says: «The gardener's dog neither eats nor lets others eat.».

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