Meaning of Oshe Kana in the Diloggún
- In this Ifá, Obatalá is petitioned with an igba or a glass of raw milk; goat’s milk is far better.
- This Ifá speaks of neglect in the face of family troubles.
- Parents do not attend to the well-being of their children.
- It speaks of indifference toward the troubles of one’s family and of others.
- Of insensitivity to the pain of others.
- One must be concerned with the health and well-being of the children.
- Through this Ifá, when the children fall ill one must move quickly with them and treat them both with the Saint and with the doctor, so as to avoid losses.
- Men are to receive the Warriors and Ikofa, and to be given the elekes of Osha.
- Male children are to receive the Warriors, be given the elekes of Osha and receive awofaka, so that Ifá may afterwards be made for whoever needs it.
- Baba is petitioned with an igba of wara malu, or ware oure if it is available.
- An akuko is given to Oggún.
- Take great care of the dog,
- You must have a mass said for the deceased who is asking for it.
- Underestimate no one, because the one you least expect may solve a great problem for you.
- Through this Ifá, the results of the works are seen after seven days.
- This is the Ifá of the elephant, the monkey and the camel.
- The three enemies this Ifá speaks of are as follows:
1.- Large, strong, with thick arms and legs and a beaked mouth (the elephant).
2.- Very hairy (the monkey).
3.- A person careless in their appearance, dirty, whose body gives off a stench (the camel).
- In this Oddun Oshosi comes down to earth; one must pray in order to feed him.
Born in this sign
The ceremony of the mamuraye, in which one eats from the teat of the goat at the entrance to the igbodun of Ifá.
What this sign indicates
- You have done favors for which you were never thanked.
- You are in great poverty.
- You have three arayes (strife): one has a beaked mouth, another is very hairy, and the third has a body that stinks.
- You carry a sorrow you have told no one about.
- You have wept a great deal; thanks to that weeping you have unburdened yourself, otherwise you would already be dead.
- You will win the lottery, for you are fortunate in games of chance.
- You keep a relic of Ozain that does not suit you, because Obatalá is following close behind you.
- You wish to come out well and quickly from three matters you have committed yourself to.
- You like everything done for you in a hurry, and things must come in their own time.
- Three strokes of fortune are coming to you along the road.
- You have something in mind and will be restless until you carry it out.
- You are in a war, and Eshu will protect you.
Advice and warnings
- Do not let gossip guide you, so that you do not suffer loss.
Proverbs of Oshe Kana
- Amigo de tres días no se le enseña a fondo. A friend of three days is not shown everything you keep.
- Más mujer que madre. More woman than mother.
Patakíes of Oshe Kana
The ceremony of the mumuraye was born on the day of itá
Oshalufón was a very old man with three children he could not care for properly, because time was never enough for him. When he came home worn out from work, he still had to keep working in the house to prepare food for his children: Oshagriñan, Oshanlá and Ayalguna.
He decided to look for a responsible woman who could care for his children and take charge of the household work. Eshu Yelede recommended to him a lady named Eure, who agreed to work in Oshalufón’s house. However, after a short time she neither took care of the house nor looked after Oshalufón’s three children.
Oshalufón called her out several times for her negligence, but she did not mend her ways. So Oshalufón went to consult Orunmila.
In the osode Orunmila saw this Ifá and ordered Oshalufón to go and see Oggún, for ebó had to be made with Eure so that Oggún would kill her; but it had to be during the day and in a place where there were many people — men, women and children — and when he cut her leri, he was also to cut off a piece of the emu (the teats) and give each person present a small piece of Eure’s emu to taste.
Oggún carried out Oshalufón’s order and cut off Eure’s leri for not heeding advice, for being neglectful, careless and disobedient, and Oggún sang: «Ikú Baba Le Kutan Mamuraye, Ikú Mako Senda Eure Mamuraye. Kaashama Ala Iboru, Kaashama Ala Iboya, Kaashama Ala Iboshishe».
With this, Orunmila and Oshalufón showed the world how necessary it is for mothers to care for and attend to their children, since the neglect and carelessness of irresponsible mothers can lead to fatal situations.
The raising of the parrots
Prayer: Obatalá Lorubo Ida Abado Ikode Eku, Eya, Epo, Owo La Mesan Tonti Mesan.
Ebbo: Un akuko, dos palomas blancas, una corona con 16 plumas de loro, una canasta, bastante maíz, una trampa, tierra de la casa, tela blanca, eku, eya, epo, opolopo owo.
Obatalá was starting a great business and was running into many difficulties in carrying it through, because his second-in-command was unable to help him. Weary of the situation, he decided to visit Orunmila to ask for help. Orunmila advised him to make an ebbo and then to buy a servant to assist him.
Obatalá made the ebbo and, when the servant arrived, he saw that the man was disabled. He thought Orunmila had deceived him, but even so he decided to go ahead with his business. He left for the countryside and left the servant at home to look after it. Meanwhile, the servant had the idea of sowing the corn that had been used for the ebbo. After seven days the parrots came to eat the corn, but the servant drove them off. The next day the servant built a trap and caught a whole flock of parrots. Naked, as God brought him into the world, the servant dragged the captured parrots into Obatalá’s room.
The following day Obatalá came home very tired, and the disabled servant warned him to be careful when entering the room so that what was inside would not escape. Obatalá, disbelieving, obeyed and opened the door cautiously. All at once he went in and was astonished to see so many parrots inside. He asked the servant how he had caught them, and the servant told him his strategy. Obatalá began to pull the feathers from the parrots and built a coop for them. Then he put on a crown of ikode and set the servant free, giving him money and women. From that time on, all who needed parrot feathers had to go to Obatalá to buy them.
Obatalá Oshalufón
Prayer: Oshekaran Ordafun Eshu Yalorde, Orunmila, Lebo Owo Meriloggun Moni Tela Ifá Lolo Orsiha Loshin Oggunda Aguire Un Guibaikon, Lodafun Ordafun Tinshela Olodumare Abbo Oba Miwa Okan Magun Bogbo Oddun Obi Kokan Lora Awo La Mamu Totuaro Oshñ Opariko Ofi Bo Akofara Mofun Fun Sokumba Tinshe Maiyi Shuoro Eja Eñebo.
Suyere:
Mamuraye iku maku seda eure, mamura aye alaiboru aye, alaiboru eure, alaiboru eure iku baralaye ketu, mamura aye iku maku senda Eure. Ifa ni kaferefun Obatala, lodafun Oggun.
Ebbo: Akuko, eyele merin, asho ara, asho fun fun , asho pupua, aja owo.
Ebbo: Akuko mangua, cadena, dilogun (la cadena se le pone al perro para que la desenrede).
On this path, Obatalá was known as Oshalufón and lived alongside Orugbo, who had three children: Jesús, María and José. Oshalufón went through a great deal of trouble caring for Orugbo’s children, since he did not have enough time to attend to them while he worked.
Weary of the daily routine, Oshalufón decided to hire a responsible woman to look after his house and the children. It turned out, however, that the woman was a she-goat. Oshalufón warned her that all he wanted was for her to take charge of the house and the children.
The she-goat gave Oshalufón her word, but after a while she proved to be deeply irresponsible and failed in her duties. Despite Oshalufón’s warnings, the she-goat did not change her conduct. So Oshalufón decided to seek out Oggún and ask him to cut off the she-goat’s head in the park, in broad daylight and in the presence of many men, women and children. He also asked him to cut off the she-goat’s udder and give it to everyone in the square to taste.
Oggún carried out Oshalufón’s order and cut off the she-goat’s head and udder in the square, where all those present tasted the udder. Oggún sang: «Ikú Babala Kuetun Mamuraye Ikú Maku Senda Eure Mamura Aye Ali Bori Kashama Bolañi A La Iboru Ikú Bara La Aue Kuetu Mamura Aye Ikú Maku Senda Eure, Mamura Aye».
In this way Oshalufón showed the world the importance of a mother’s care for her children. The lack of attention, the neglect and the irresponsibility of a mother can lead to fatal consequences that may put the lives of her loved ones in danger.
Works and ebbó of Oshe Kana
Works and rituals of oshe kana
- Ebbo
- Eure, adie meyi dun dun, akuko, osiadie, asho fun fun, pupua and dun dun, obi, itana, eku, eya, epo, malaguidi meta, oñi, oti, efun, ori, agbado, eñi adie, gbogbo ewe, wara eure, opolopo owo. The eure and the two adie dun dun for Orunmila, the akuko for Elegbara, the osiadie for oparaldo. After the itá, mamuraye is performed.
- Ebbo
- Akuko, eyele meyi fun fun, asho arae, asho fun fun and pupua, aya keke, ewa (a chain), eku, eya, epo.
- Ebbo
- Akuko, eyele meni, asho aro fun fun and pupa, eya, owo la mello.
- Ebbo to avoid the dispute
- Two eure, owo meni dilogun and a chain that is afterwards put on the dog; one walks some distance away with him, tangling the chain as one goes, and untangles it on the way back.
Prayers and suyeres of Oshe Kana
Liturgical material transcribed from the manuscripts of the source; it is kept literal.
Prayer
Oshe Kana Oshe Ipilike Afille Akolona Adifafun Sakun Batinshe Maiyesha Eya Oro Lebo.
Prayer
Oshe Kana Lodafun Eshu, Yalorde Ati Orunmila, Cure Ebo Owo Mediloggun Elebo. Moni Tala Ifa Lola Orisha Loshin Oguda, Aguire, Guireun Guabai Yokala Defafa Odafun Tinshele Oluddumare Ebo Oba Newa Okan Segu, Obi Okokan Lora Owo La Marun Elebo.
oshe Kana Lodafun Eshu Yelede Orunmila Lobe Ewe Medilogun Omoni Tela Ofa Lola Orisha Omo Meta Obatala Oshalufon, Oshagriñan, Oshanla Awire Ayalguna Oun Guibakan Adafun Tinshele Oloddumare Wewe Eure Mamuraye.
Orishas in this sign
The orishas that the letter itself links to this sign, according to what the source records:
- Obatalá — You keep a relic of Ozain that does not suit you, because Obatalá is following close behind you.
Other important aspects of the sign
Ewé of the sign
Blue flower, ateje and breadfruit.