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The right leg is the principal one and is read first; the left is the secondary (witness). — Bascom, Ifá Divination; Encyclopedic Treatise of Ifá.
Odu #48 · Omo Odu (Odu Combinado)
Iwori Ofun
"Raise ravens and they will pluck out your eyes; guard yourself from the rancour that makes a monster of a person."
Numerology
19 (synthesis of 3 with 16)
Elements
Air - Thought | All elements - Integration | Synthesis — Integration of forces
Sacred Colors
Yellow (intelligence) and Pure white (totality) (a combination of the energies of both Odus)
Symbolic reading — interpretation, not attributed to the Treatise.
Also known as: Iwori Fun · Iwori Òfún · Ìwòrì Ofun · Ìwòrì Òfún
What is the Odu Iwori Ofun
Iwori Bofun is the Ifá where the gallows and the executioner are born, and the rancour and hatred of children towards their parents for past actions. It warns against the feeling that makes a monster of a person, incapable of forgiving the wrong done to him: raise ravens and they will pluck out your eyes. It is an Ifá of trials — they come to test whether you know.
Meaning
In the Tratado, Iwori Bofun brings three strokes of fortune, but it warns against falling into prison before they arrive. It speaks of the pregnant woman who, in poor conditions, tries to end the pregnancy, preferring to die rather than see her children suffer hardships, and it marks, in the woman, problems in the womb that prevent conceiving. If the mother is deceased, she prays for you.
Sacred Profile
Symbolic reading — interpretation, not attributed to the Treatise.
Numerology: 19 (synthesis of 3 with 16). This number resonates in the energy of this Odu, guiding the seeker in understanding the cycles and vibrations that govern this path.
Elements: Air - Thought | All elements - Integration | Synthesis — Integration of forces. The sacred elements establish the bridge between the material and spiritual worlds, offering tools of balance and transformation.
Sacred Colors: Yellow (intelligence) and Pure white (totality) (a combination of the energies of both Odus). The colors of this Odu carry specific vibrations that can be used in rituals, clothing, and environments to harmonize with its energy.
Qualities: Intelligence, Wisdom, Integration, Synthesis, Dynamic balance. These qualities represent the inner forces that the seeker can cultivate to walk in alignment with the wisdom of this Odu.
✦ Recommendations
Rid yourself of rancour and of the pleasure in others' suffering, which will only bring you harm on the path of life. Do not go about careless, for they pursue you to kill you, and guard yourself from paying for others' guilt. Let your children live their loves, as the father in the story did not know how to do.
⚠ Cautions
Three strokes of fortune come to you, but take care not to fall into prison before they arrive. Guard yourself from the rancour that makes a monster of a person — raise ravens and they will pluck out your eyes — and from the pleasure in others' suffering. In the woman, it marks problems in the womb that prevent conceiving.
This Odu describes tendencies and possible paths to work on — not a fixed destiny or a guaranteed prediction.
Ire
Three strokes of fortune come to you, and the mother, already deceased, prays for you; whoever rids himself of rancour and of the pleasure in others' harm clears the path of harms.
Osogbo
The rancour and hatred that make a monster of a person, the gallows and the others' guilt that is paid for, the pursuit to kill you and the problems in the womb that prevent conceiving.
Context and study of the 256 Odus
Iwori Ofun belongs to the full corpus of the 256 Odus of Ifá, a body of oral and written wisdom spanning centuries across the African diaspora and the Americas. Understanding this Odu means placing energies, archetypes, and sacred narratives in relation to the opele, divination, and a life practice guided by balance. The philosophical reading offered on this page does not replace initiation with a Babalawo or Iyanifa, but it deepens respect for the tradition and supports structured study for those who learn with humility.
In Ifá texts, the name Iwori Ofun appears in prayers, ebo, and songs; its energy is tied to cycles of transformation and to relationship with the land, the Orishas, and community. Comparing this Odu with its root Meji and related Odus helps you recognize patterns of Irê and Osogbo that recur through life and everyday choices.
The Ifá Wisdom digital library brings together all 256 paths with epithets, essence, synthesis, and practical guidance. By exploring this page and the full library, you build a foundation for meditation, spiritual journaling, and ethical follow-up—with explicit gratitude to Yoruba culture and its guardians.
Irê, Osogbo, and reading Iwori Ofun
In any Odù, Irê points to blessings and positive affinities; Osogbo highlights challenges and adjustments. Reading this Odu invites integrated reflection on relationships, work, emotional health, and purpose. Ifá asks for patience, right speech, and—when prescribed by an initiated priest—ebo and disciplines of conduct.
When you use the Ifá oracle with artificial intelligence on this platform, you receive a philosophical and educational interpretation: a learning bridge, not a priestly ritual. Keep that distinction to honour the tradition and the role of Babalawos and Iyanifas.
Ethics, respect, and continuing study
Ifá Wisdom is a multilingual educational service. We combine careful documentation of the Odus with the awareness that the living oracle belongs to the communities that preserve it. We do not promise cures, material guarantees, or a substitute for initiatory counsel.
To explore Iwori Ofun in depth, browse the library of 256 Odus, the Odu of the day, and—if you wish—a contextual consultation in the oracle—always respecting your autonomy and the culture of origin.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Odu Iwori Ofun mean?+
What is the central message of Iwori Ofun?+
What are the Irê and Osogbo of Iwori Ofun?+
Sources consulted
- Tratado Enciclopédico de Ifá, section Iwori Bofun
Written by
- Pablo de Lima (Awofakan)
- Thaiana de Lima (Ikofá)
A couple initiated in Ifá in the Cuban lineage — Regla de Ocha / Ifá.
Meet the authors →Notice: This platform is an educational and cultural tool. Consultations are intended for reflection and contemplation, drawing on ancestral Yoruba wisdom. They do not replace professional medical, psychological, legal or financial advice, nor an in-person consultation with an initiated priest.