Meaning of Iroso Ojuani in the Diloggún
- It speaks of a king who may lose his crown.
- Kaferefun Elegbara, Lodafun Shangó.
- Beware of arrogance and of blood coming from the mouth.
- Here Elegbara eats together with Shangó, akuko.
- Great care must be taken in places where there is fire, because the person may get burned.
- Put on very striking clothing and go where there are many people; then return home and dress in white, so that Obatalá may see your face and give you what he has set aside for you.
- The man must be careful with women, for they will stir up tragedies over him.
- Wherever you are visiting, withdraw.
- The godfather needs to teach his godchildren, so that they remain content with him.
- This is an Ifá of musicians.
- Here Orunmila had to leave Asia because no one would give up the vice of opium.
- If the person becomes addicted to drugs, they are lost, for as long as they live they will lack the will to free themselves from that vice.
- The person weeps because they have neither work nor money, and yet without doing anything they will find everything, for this is an Ifá of money luck (iré owo — good fortune in money).
- Ebbó is made with akuko and it is given immediately to Osun.
- In this Ifá, the woman has an eggun that lives a marital life with her, and even with money and position she has no stability in marriage. If that eggun in life was an alakuata woman (an invert, in the language of the source), it will incline her toward that situation. An oparaldo must be performed for her quickly. After the oparaldo, the woman is given two eyele fun fun from her breasts down to her genitals, keeping on the underwear she is wearing. All of this is then taken to the cemetery and buried.
- The person has one foot in prison and the other in the hospital.
- Avoid arrogance and every kind of tragedy. Wear metal bracelets of Obatalá.
- Through this Ifá, Yewá is given a fried red snapper with gofio, garnished with tomatoes, and it is then taken to the cemetery. Eyebale is given to Shilekun ilé. Xotobo pinado is made, wrapped in 16 iroko leaves, and left like that for 16 days before Obatalá.
- Be very careful about shaking hands with others.
- Shangó is given, in the middle of the doorway of the room, whatever he asks for.
- It speaks of social upheavals born of the hunger and hardship that peoples suffer through the neglect of their rulers.
- It speaks of how your close relatives will leave you alone, for while you are out partying and feasting, and even involved with drugs, your family lives abandoned by you, lacking your love, your good example, and even the bare necessities of life.
Born in this sign
The electric current.
What this sign indicates
- Be careful with the water you drink.
- You have one foot in your house and the other in the cemetery.
- You must receive Ifá; do not cast curses, because they may fall back on you.
- Your good fortune, because you are a woman of Orunmila.
- You have something in hand that will turn out well; ask Shangó what it is that he wants.
- You must make a rogation with bracelets of Obatalá and afterward you will have to wear them, if you want to get well.
- You are stumbling constantly; be careful with fire.
Advice and warnings
- Beware of an ash-grey bird that your enemy is going to send you; catch it and bring it to make ebbó with it. Set out a large fried fish with tomato for yegua.
- Do not weep over money, for good fortune is soon to reach you.
- Ask forgiveness of the souls in purgatory, of Our Lady of Charity, and of Saint Barbara.
The traditional reading of this sign also warns about the following:
- In your house there is a sick person who must make a rogation, urgently.
- Be careful with pains in the belly.
Proverbs of Iroso Ojuani
- Cría cuervos y te sacarán los ojos. Raise crows and they will pluck out your eyes: the very ones you nurture may turn against you.
- Amigos de hoy y enemigos de mañana. Friends of today, enemies of tomorrow.
Patakíes of Iroso Ojuani
Attend to your spiritual affairs
This man had received the warriors from the hands of a santero, but he soon fell ill and things began to go wrong for him. Worried, he sought the help of an awó, who gave him awofaka and set his warriors in order. Although things improved a little, the man remained ill and believed his godfather had deceived him and had not properly arranged his warriors.
The man then went to another awó, who performed an osode for him and revealed that he had not followed Orunmila’s instructions, and that his illness and misfortune were the result of that. The awó advised him to ask his godfather’s forgiveness and to make Osha, in order to be cured of the stomach ulcer he suffered from and to avoid dying before his time as a punishment from the Santo. He also reminded him that he and his wife were spiritists, and that they had to attend to their spiritual protectors so as not to lose everything.
The blacksmith
There was a blacksmith who lamented that everything was going very badly for him. He decided to go to Orula’s house in search of help. The diviner told him he had to make ebbó, but the blacksmith did not have the means to carry out the rogation, and so he returned to his sorrow.
The next day, early in the morning, he lit the forge to begin his work. As he stirred the ash, he found a yam and said: «With this I will have enough for today.» But when he split the yam open, he was greatly surprised to discover money inside it. With that money he was able to pay his creditors and perform the rogation he needed.
It was Obatalá who granted the blacksmith that wealth, so that he would never again suffer hardship and could pay his debts.
The bracelets of Obatalá
Obatalá was ill and went to Orunmila’s house to make ebbó, and when the rogation was finished he put on his bracelets and thus was cured.
Where the electric light bulb was born
Prayer: Iroso Juani Alabuli Lampe Shangó Adifafun Okidi Umbati Loso Loso Oyo Inle, Lorugbo Abo Lebo, Etu Meyi, Awo Mayi, Owo Tenteboru Shangó Aina Loke Mano Loke, Lodafun Shangó.
Ebbó: Abo, etu meyi, dos platos, akara ina, opolopo owo.
This story tells of Shangó and his helper Aleguli. Aleguli was learning from Shangó how to control fire and light. One day, while they were visiting a town called Loso Oyo Inle, Aleguli burned down the houses of his brother-in-law and his son-in-law, which made the people afraid of Shangó and Aleguli.
Shangó learned of this and went to Orunmila’s house for counsel. Orunmila told him to make ebbó and to go to the land of Ejigbemekun Inle, where some of his disciples lived. There he was received with a great feast, and after this he went to his relatives’ homes to gather the children he was going to teach.
However, no one wanted to entrust their children to Shangó, because of the bad reputation he had acquired through Aleguli’s deed. Shangó returned to Orunmila’s house, and Orunmila advised him to hold a feast and marked an ebbó for him.
When the feast was held, the people came to eat, but they still did not want Shangó. Yet while Shangó was singing and dancing, he stamped his foot on the ground and suddenly flames burst from his mouth and everything around him lit up. Everyone was astonished, and from then on Shangó was named Oba of Loso Oyo. Thus was born the electric light bulb, which illuminated the whole town and the whole land.
Works and ebbó of Iroso Ojuani
Works of iroso ojuani
- Ozain of this Ifá
- A carpintero, an arriero, palo para mí, yaya; on the second Friday after it has been mounted, it is asked what it eats. It carries a stalk of owunko. Ozain is sung to it.
- Work
- The person is given the bud of the yam to use until it dries out, and afterward the person brings it back so that an Ozain may be made with it.
- Ebbó
- Two guinea hens and $3.15.
- Ebbó
- A hen, tallow, potatoes, asho fun fun, and $4.20.
Prayers and suyeres of Iroso Ojuani
Liturgical material transcribed from the source manuscripts; it is preserved verbatim.
Prayer
Iroso Juani Anaboro Ona Odo Adifafun Oru Leye Eyele Oñi Oko Dun Dun, Akuko Lebo, Ewefa Lebo.
Orishas in this sign
The orishas that the letter itself links to this sign, according to the source:
Other important aspects of the sign
Ewé of the sign
Adra cana, hierba, nitro dulce, palma, malvate, pino.
Maferefun Yalorde Y Shangó. Anaboro Ona Odo Adifafun Orulollo Eyele Oni Oko Dun Dun Eko Ebefa Owo Lebo Owo Mefa.