Odù 40 of 256 · Oyekun family

Oyekun Berikusa

Respect, and ingratitude punished: the proud and disrespectful one loses everything, and the curse he throws turns back on him.

Oyekun Berikusa is Odù number 40 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Oyekun family. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 13 patakíes (3 with the full text), its proverbs, 7 ebbós and works and the signs it shows in the consultation; the detail of iré and osogbo, the eewó and the full recipes open with the Babalawo plan — that locked part is still written in Spanish.

The sign at a glance

Order in Ifá: Odù 40 of 256
Composition: Oyekun over Osa
In the Diloggún: 2-9 · Eyioko tonti Osá
Orishas that speak: Obatalá · Orunmila · Shangó · Eshú / Elegba · Azowanu (Agoi) · Oggún y Oshosi

What Ifá says in this sign

Oyekun Osa is the Ifá of respect: the story of Darico, the man who received everything from Obatalá and Orunmila — clothes, ashé, fortune — and turned proud and disrespectful. Elegba wrecked his business and he ended with nothing: ingratitude, in this sign, is charged in full.

The diagnosis stings: you keep up with no saint at all and do not treat religious people with respect — and that, not your enemies, is what is holding you back. The good news is that the remedy is just as simple: start keeping up again. Pay Shangó what you owe him — his bunch of plantains covered with álamo for nine days, with the asheré sounding — and find out what Elegbara wants before he wrecks the house.

«The saints raised Darico up and his own ingratitude brought him down — respect is the key to Oyekun Osa.»The pulse of Oyekun Berikusa

Your luck has a cleaning protocol: paint your house white and keep it clean and tidy, because Obatalá wants to visit and bring you some luck — he stopped visiting Darico because of the foul house. Dress in white, do not get soaked in rainwater and do not go halves with anyone: neither a shared house nor a shared business suits you.

What cannot be seen is asking for order: there is an obsessing Eggun leading you to do what you should not — a Paraldo with whatever Orunmila indicates — and a family Eggun who used crutches and is waiting for its light. Do not throw curses: the one you threw at a child of Shangó came back on you. And choose your partner with your head, not with your daydreams: here whim costs failure and even life.

In the house there is a fight over money or over who owns it — make ebbó so as not to lose, and do not stand on the corner the sign marks. By keeping up, this odu turns in your favor: the luck Obatalá has put aside comes in through the door of a clean house.

The sign in one line

Keep up with your saints, clean your house and do not curse — Obatalá has luck for you, and he only visits where they wait for him in white.

The prayer of Oyekun Berikusa · Yoruba

Oyekun Rikusa kukute kukú adifafun Oggún ati Oshosi. Dariko Oyekun Sa kaferefun Oyá, Orunmila adifayoko aladafá awó aladafá otoké toyo inña meyi inya lowo Osa nito lesushu komandi kolikú edan atoke toye orugbo sikordie, akukó pupua Elebo.

Ifá says — what Oyekun Berikusa tells you

Kaferefún Oyá and Orunmila.
You keep up with no saint at all.
The Awó of this Ifá does not respect Orunmila and as a rule goes on living the same life as before, until he is living in filth.
You do not treat the babalawos with the respect they deserve, and that is what is holding you back.
On the corner of your house there will be a dead one.
You go halves with another person, and it does not suit you.
A family Eggun who in life suffered in the legs and walked with crutches.
Strange spiritual happenings: you think you see things that walk, talk and fall — whims of your own mind.
You marry whoever catches your eye in a daydream, without asking whether it suits you, and failure and even death follow.
Paint your house white and keep it clean, so Obatalá visits it and brings you some luck.
You cursed an omo of Shangó, and that curse turned back on you.
You live under an obsessing Eggun that leads you to do what you should not.
In the house, two people are fighting over money or over who owns it.
If you turn proud and disrespectful, you will be thrown out of your own house.
You are going hungry and have been weeping these days, with no one to help you.

Proverbs of Oyekun Berikusa · Òwe

“The curse you throw reaches you yourself.”
“The proud one who will not get down to greet you loses his horse.”
“A white, clean house draws luck.”
“Whoever does not think about who they love finds failure.”
“Whoever has no peace at home has war in the street.”
“The vain one wants to be a dried fig before being a ripe one.”
“Nothing good is got without effort.”
“Of my corn, not one grain for the idle.”
“An old man does not mock his own wrinkles.”
“Whoever helps you in misery helps you in plenty.”
“Do not try to collect in one day what is owed you over seven.”
“Alone, on the wind, life and death travel.”
“From diligence the springs of life flow.”

13 proverb interpretations in this Odù, locked.Every proverb explained: which road it comes from and how it applies. Written in Spanish for now.Unlock →

Iré and Osogbo

6 iré and osogbo readings in this Odù, locked.The iré and osogbo of the sign, sorted by subject — health, money, love, death, loss… Written in Spanish for now.Unlock →

What is born in Oyekun Berikusa · Ìbí

Agoi (San Lázaro in female form).
From the road of the daughter of Azowanu who married a spirit, and the strange spirits were born.

What is forbidden · Eewó

4 eewó (taboos) in this Odù, locked.What the child of this sign must not eat, do or wear. Written in Spanish for now.Unlock →

Ebbós of Oyekun Berikusa · The sacrifices that open the road

Money in disputeEbbó for money being fought over🔒 Babalawo

Getting out of hungerEbbó against hunger and being held back🔒 Babalawo

AzowanuEbbó of Agoi🔒 Babalawo

WarriorsEbbó of yam for the Warriors🔒 Babalawo

4 ebbós in this Odù, locked.Each full recipe: ingredients, preparation and where it goes. Written in Spanish for now.Unlock →

Works of Oyekun Berikusa · The workings of the sign

ShangóThe bunch of plantains with álamo🔒 Babalawo

ObataláThe white house🔒 Babalawo

EggunParaldo of the obsessing Eggun🔒 Babalawo

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

Patakíes of Oyekun Berikusa · The roads of the Odù

1The war of Eshú and Shangó

Eshú's son chased Shangó, who was unarmed, with a weapon. Shangó ran, climbed an álamo tree and vanished from sight among the branches; then he dropped on him and beat him. That is why álamo leaves facing up are the ones chosen.

Shangó had a war with Eshú's son, who always went armed and wanted to kill him wherever he found him. One day, out walking, Shangó — unarmed — ran into him; Eshú's son drew his weapon and Shangó had to run for his life. When he was well ahead, he saw an álamo tree, climbed it and hid among the branches. When Eshú's son reached the tree, he could not see Shangó anywhere and stood there amazed. Shangó took his chance and dropped on him, knocked him face down and beat him. That is why the álamo leaves chosen for the santo and for work meant to do good are the ones lying face up, and the ones facing down are used for work meant to do harm and for Ituto.

2The strange spirits (spiritual plasma is born)

Agoi, daughter of Azowanu, turned down every suitor until she married a man of great beauty who turned out to be a spirit. On the journey to his land she crossed a world of strange beings: the strange spirits were born.

Azowanu, Soyi and Nami had a most beautiful daughter, Agoi, who sold her wares in front of her father's palace and turned down every suitor, since she only wanted a man who matched her in beauty and finery. One day she saw coming from far off a tall, richly dressed man who won her over; that same day she married him and set out for his land. On the road, a voice in the bush asked her husband for his clothes: he undressed and was left as nothing but a bright candle of light, with no head, arms or feet. Agoi, sworn as a child in Zamgbete (Eggun arará), took heart and went on.

They crossed a river of strange waters where colored cloths walked and talked — they were Eggun; she saw an unborn child inside a jar with a crown of feathers, and a rooster in trousers smoking a pipe — the spirit of Ozain. Her husband warned her: «never tell this, for you will die». At her husband's house she was received by beings that moved by the power of thought, who found her too worn down to be sacrificed to Alosin and let her recover for 7 days.

3Obatalá and Shangó (the ingratitude of Darico)

Darico prospered in horses after making ebbó and sheltering Obatalá in his house. Grown vain, he greeted Orunmila on the run without getting down from his horse; Orunmila sent Elegba to wreck it all, and he was left in misery.

Darico went to Orunmila's house, made ebbó and whitewashed his house. One day, caught in a downpour, he took shelter soaking wet in Obatalá's house; Obatalá took pity on him and gave him clothes. Darico's income improved, he went into trade and into dealing in horses and had great luck. One day Orunmila came by and Darico, making himself important on his horse, instead of getting down to greet him, greeted him on the run. Orunmila, outraged, sent Elegba to wreck everything he had, and Darico was left in misery.

4The ebbó of Darico🔒 Babalawo

5When Darico was disrespectful to Orunmila🔒 Babalawo

6The hutia and Eshú🔒 Babalawo

7The white birds and the black ones🔒 Babalawo

8The earth and the rubbish🔒 Babalawo

9The house and the home🔒 Babalawo

10The ungrateful horse🔒 Babalawo

11The three crowns🔒 Babalawo

12The golden mortar🔒 Babalawo

13The world of light🔒 Babalawo

10 more patakíes in this Odù, locked.Read every road in full with the Babalawo plan. Written in Spanish for now.Unlock →

Before you subscribe: everything you read on this page is in English, but the locked part of the treatise — the full text of the other patakíes, the recipes for the ebbós and works, the iré and osogbo readings and the eewó — is still written in Spanish. We are translating it. · This page is also available in Spanish: See Oyekun Berikusa in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Oyekun Berikusa

What does the Odù Oyekun Berikusa mean in Ifá?

Respect, and ingratitude punished: the proud and disrespectful one loses everything, and the curse he throws turns back on him.

What number is Oyekun Berikusa among the 256 Odù of Ifá?

Oyekun Berikusa is Odù number 40 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Oyekun family.

Which orishas speak in Oyekun Berikusa?

In the Odù Oyekun Berikusa these orishas speak: Obatalá, Orunmila, Shangó, Eshú / Elegba, Azowanu (Agoi), Oggún y Oshosi.

What is a proverb of the Odù Oyekun Berikusa?

One of the proverbs of Oyekun Berikusa says: «The curse you throw reaches you yourself.».

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