Meaning of Iroso Tolda in the Diloggún
- Here speaks the sense of time. Clocks stop.
- Here was born Afitibo: sudden death by cardiac arrest. If the person needs an operation, it is resolved through Oggún.
- It speaks of trouble in business matters.
- The owner of this Ifá must keep 5 silver pesos in each hand of Ifá.
- Iroso Tolda: every time you offer an akuko to Elegbara, take 3 juju from the tail and place them on Eleguá for 3 days. Then burn them and make iye to blow whenever you face difficulties.
- It forbids drinking alcohol, for when the person is under its effects, their words become deeply hurtful.
- When Olodumare created the world, he left Olokun undefined. That is why some say Olokun is a woman and others insist Olokun is a man, but in truth no one knows with certainty whether Olokun is male or female.
- Here was born the grape harvest (the gathering of grapes and the making of wine).
- In this sign, the person falls into a trance with the mind gone blank.
- This sign in an Osode orders the person to be initiated in Palo and to keep prendas.
- A coconut with water and an itana are set out for Eggun.
- In this Oddun, Kofibori must be done walking around the room with Eyele.
- To overcome difficulties, one sleeps wearing a red cap (fila pupua). Oggún must be reinforced, for he is missing a piece.
- The godfather does not hand Oggún to the godchild; the godchild must pick him up from the ground.
- In this Ifá, Olokun stole the leri from Oggún with seven different kinds of drink.
- The prayer of this sign is the one used for the release of the Oparaldo: «Guerele Elebo, Elebo Linkeno Elebo Losiwayu».
- Here the dog was killed for the first time for being a gossip and trying to make Oggún and Olofin look bad. Aya is given to Oggún and also to Shangó.
- When this Ifá is seen, no animals may be killed in the house for 15 days.
- Do not do favors, for they will not be repaid with gratitude.
- Be careful around the sea, for you could drown or push someone else to drown.
- Here, Olokun wanted to claim the whole expanse of the earth, but Obatalá made him understand that this could not be, because his children would live there.
- Here there was a war between the dog and the rabbit, and both lived in the house of Obatalá.
- Beware of betrayal by someone who is at your side.
- Once, two Awoses met: one was from heaven and the other from earth. After talking at length, each went his own way.
- You spoke at length with a person you met along your way. That person is a dead one who walks.
- Olofin was ill and Orunmila made ebbo for him with an aya keke, killing it for Oggún. Then the illness stopped.
- Orunmila says that he fights injustice.
- When no aleyos come to the awo’s house and the Oshas are quiet, one salutes the rising sun three times, then Elegbara, then Orunmila, then Bgogbo kaleno Osha.
- Measure the reach of your words when answering people, so that you avoid war.
Born in this sign
- The jamming of firearms.
- Afitibo, sudden death.
- The grape harvest. The gathering of grapes for the making of wine.
What this sign indicates
- Everything bad that happens to you turns into something good.
- There is someone in your house who always finds fault with everything you do.
- You need a rogation to drive away bad energies.
- Someone will ask you to baptize their child.
- No one can defeat you.
- Great luck and much money await you.
- You will do a favor that will not be repaid with gratitude.
- You spoke at length with someone who was in fact from the other world.
- There is someone in your house who is a child of Olofin. Tell that person to pray to Oshún so that money is never lacking.
- If you are a Babalawo, do not do favors that will not be repaid with gratitude.
- The other Babalawos visit your house every day trying to draw the aleyos away to their own.
Advice and warnings
- Beware of an uprising, for you came very close to falling into the hands of the law.
- Give thanks to Shangó and Oggún.
- Do not take a knife into your hands again, and do not disrespect your elders, for you could meet someone who curses you.
- Be careful, for you may be blamed for something.
- You must offer otí to Oggún and give 2 adie to Orula.
- Feed your head and pray to Oshún every day, so that you never have to go out into the street in search of anything.
The traditional reading of this sign warns, in addition, of the following:
- There is a sick person in your house.
- If there is a pregnant woman in your house, tell her to make an ebbo to avoid risks.
- People are preparing your death, but God says he does not need you yet.
Proverbs of Iroso Tolda
- El mal búsquelo en su casa. Look for the evil within your own house.
Patakíes of Iroso Tolda
When the boys made ebbo
Ebbó: A rooster, corojo-fiber cord, a fishhook, and owo la mello. Then three rooster feathers and tete are taken and placed on top of Elegbá for three days, after which ache is made.
Olokun wished to take the land for his sea, but Obatalá made him understand that it could not be so — for where would his children live? Then he sent Orunmila’s boys and told them to go out fishing, and to make a rogation before setting off, and they did. Olokun saw them and rushed to Orunmila to complain that they were taking fish out of the sea. Orunmila answered that there was nothing he could do, because they had made ebbo.
The rabbit, the dog, and the earthworm
The rabbit and the dog lived in the house of Olofin, and one day the dog stole a piece of meat and hid it under the earth. Noticing it was missing, Olofin ordered an investigation into the theft of the meat, and suspicion fell on all the carnivorous animals, including the lion, the tiger, and the dog.
The lion, who could not bear false witness because of his fierceness and courage, said they should go find the rabbit who lived under the earth. When the rabbit was brought in, he said he was not the only one who lived under the earth, and that they should look for other animals who lived as he did, such as the earthworm.
When the earthworm arrived, she said she had seen the dog dig a hole in the earth and hide a piece of meat there. They found it, and that is how the earthworm cleared up the matter and the rabbit was saved thanks to her.
There is always someone watching you.
The birth of aguardiente
Once, Obatalá was planting grapevines with the idea of gladdening the hearts of his children. But suddenly the devil appeared and asked him: «What are you doing?» Obatalá answered: «I am planting a tree that will gladden the hearts of my children.» «I will help you too,» said the devil, «wait here, I will be right back.»
The devil vanished into a hole in the earth and returned with an abo, an elede, and a sheguele shegue. He killed those animals beside the young vines, so that the blood would soak deep into the earth and reach the roots of the grapevines. Then, pleased with his work, he vanished again.
Obatalá was frightened and said fearfully, looking at the vines: «What will happen to the men who drink the liquid of these fruits?» He soon found out: the animals sacrificed on that occasion would show their character in the effects on whoever drank the wine born of that vineyard.
Men who drink the wine of this vineyard in small measure will become sweet and gentle as a ram. If they drink more, they will become strong and brave as a lion. If they drink too much, they will feel at first like a tiger, then wallow on the ground like pigs, and finally end up ridiculous and shameful as a monkey.
The path of the dragons
Prayer: Iroso Tolda Kaferefun Olokun, Obatalá, Inle Y Oshumare.
Ebbó: Abo fun fun, etu meyi, un pollito,eyele meyi, akofa, malaguidi okuni, bogbo ewe, omi lokun, obi, itana, eku, eya, epo, awado, otí, orí, efun, 16 adimuses,opolopo owo.
Distribution: Bo fun fun and etu meyi for Shangó, Olokun Inle with their ingredients — this if the sign brings a strong osorbo; if not, the abo fun fun is left out. A chick and the remaining ingredients for oparaldo at the feet of Olokun. Eyele meyi for Obatalá with their ingredients.
This story tells that while Obatalá was finishing the creation of the world, certain santos such as Olokun, Inle, and Oshumare were left incomplete. Then Olokun came before Obatalá and told him that he had to define him. Obatalá answered that he could not stop and had to keep working at his task.
Olokun, angered, asked: «Will you leave me like this for good?» To which Obatalá replied: «To Iban Eshu, so you shall remain.» Olokun, who led a great army, declared war on Obatalá, who also had an army — one far larger than Olokun’s.
A terrible battle then began that lasted several months, and in the end Obatalá’s army defeated Olokun’s. When Olokun realized he was losing, he remembered his friend Shangó and sent him a message asking for help.
Shangó, who at that time did not yet possess the «candela» but was master of the dragons, sent the «candela» to Olokun. With it, Olokun armed the dragons with that substance and sent them against Obatalá’s army. The fight was hard, for Obatalá was mighty in matériel and men, but Obatalá’s army began to fall back before the power of the dragons.
Finally came the capitulation. When Obatalá and Olokun stood face to face, Obatalá said to Olokun: «You have beaten me because you resorted to tricks, using those beasts from the other world.» To which Olokun answered: «I had to, because you were more powerful than I — and look how we have ended up, through your fault.»
Olokun must be received.
The substitute
In a village, a boy was born, and a diviner foretold that he would marry the king’s daughter and become a diviner when he grew up. But the wicked king had the boy kidnapped, shut inside a box, and thrown into the river. The box, however, did not sink, and it was picked up by a miller, who decided to raise the child together with his wife.
Time passed and the boy became a young man of 17, old enough to marry the king’s daughter. When the king passed through the village and saw the young man, he discovered who he was and sent the miller to the city with a letter arranging the marriage to his daughter.
On the road, the young man met Eshu and Oggún, who altered the letter so that he would not be imprisoned and killed. The young man then arrived at the palace, and the wedding was prepared, but the king was slow in coming.
On his way to the palace, the king met Eshu and Oggún, who took him to a raft and left him there carrying out a mission. Meanwhile, the young man married the king’s daughter and was crowned king.
Works and ebbó of Iroso Tolda
Works of iroso ogunda
- For Ikú (death) unlo
- An ounko keke (a suckling one) is given to Elegbara, and the person bathes with crotons. Sweet wine is set out for Orunmila and Oshún.
Work: A joro joro is opened, and inside it is placed an igba with a burning coal. Behind the joro joro, Elegbá is set, and the person is cleansed with an osiadie while singing: «Eponsi Laye Egun Eronsi Laye Laye»
- Ebbó
- Beans of three kinds, beef, the knife, and owo la mello.
- Ebbó to free oneself from death
- A young goat, hairy yam, red ochre and a painted quilt, 5 juju from a rooster’s tail, and it is placed on Elegbá — this is called a gallardete (pennant).
- Ebbó for the pregnant woman
- Two adie, a basket of leaves that fall from the plant, owo la meni.
- Ebbó ire alle
- Akuko, etu meta, otí, 3 ears of maloja, ataré meta. Iyefa is made and blown.
- Ebbó
- Three kinds of beans, beef, the knife, rope, yam, eku, eya, epo, orí, eyele, and $7.35.
- Ebbó for the sick person in the house
- A puppy, a rooster, and $7.35.
Prayers and suyeres of Iroso Tolda
Liturgical material transcribed from the source manuscripts; it is preserved verbatim.
Prayer
Agrio Amubo Obibo Allabo Obibo Mucherebo Omubo Oma Andifa Yecan Fun Obatalá Achererebo Lugua Aún Araye Tionife.
Prayers
Kaforeshe Eraco Cama Foreche Ena Adifafun Oggún Akuko Efun Ewe Tete Añio Toto Guelete Emife Adifafun Congo Apolo Umbati Loyobe Ayibo Eyele Lebo. Maferefun Oggún Maferefun Shangó.
Orishas in this sign
The orishas that the letter itself links to this sign, according to what the source records:
- Elegbá — Works of iroso ogunda: an ounko keke (a suckling one) is given to Elegbara, and the person bathes with crotons.
- Obatalá — Here there was a war between the dog and the rabbit, and both lived in the house of Obatalá.
- Oshún — Sweet wine is set out for Orunmila and Oshún.
- Shangó — Aya is given to Oggún and also to Shangó.
- Oggún — Aya is given to Oggún and also to Shangó.
- Orunmila — Orunmila says that he fights injustice.
- Olokun — When Olodumare created the world, he left Olokun undefined.
Other important aspects of the sign
Ewé of the sign
Parra cimarrona, almendra, uva, adán caído, yaya, algodón, meloncillo.
Iroso Tolda Obatalá Mowayeni Aiye Gbogbo Orisha Ewunyiara Okun Olokun Ore Osha Yanya Aguema Opa Oñí Ina Adenu Eñi Olokun Abakua Obatalá Lodafun Osha Odonu Kaferefun Shangó.