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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 #244 · Omo Odu (Odu Combinado)
Ofun Odi
Ofun Di (lucumí)
"Ofun and Odi: the boat that is tied with an anchor so as not to go adrift."
Numerology
20 (synthesis of 16 with 4)
Elements
All elements - Integration | Earth - Rooting | Synthesis — Integration of forces
Sacred Colors
Pure white (totality) and Deep blue (wisdom) (a combination of the energies of both Odus)
Symbolic reading — interpretation, not attributed to the Treatise.
Also known as: Ofun Di · Ofun Òdí · Òfún Odi · Òfún Òdí
Naming by tradition
- Yoruba / Brazil
- Ofun Odi
- Cuba (Lucumí)
- Ofun Di
Lucumí name per Tratado Enciclopédico de Ifá, p. 1047.
What is the Odu Ofun Odi
Ofun Odi (Ofun Di) is the Ifá in which were born boundless ambition, usury and rapacity, and where one learned to tie the boat with an anchor so that it does not go adrift. It is said that the awo of this sign is a pirate, and that he goes to see Olofin directly.
Meaning
In the Tratado, it is an Ifá of betrayal and of contempt, the Ifá of the slap, in which one must guard against a betrayal by the hand of a person of complete trust. There is an obsessing Egun behind the person and evil spirits that wish to carry them off. It speaks of the lungs and of the walls of the intestine, and one suffers in the stomach. Here the woman steals, like Oxum, who, being very poor, had to roam the world and took everything she could.
Sacred Profile
Symbolic reading — interpretation, not attributed to the Treatise.
Numerology: 20 (synthesis of 16 with 4). This number resonates in the energy of this Odu, guiding the seeker in understanding the cycles and vibrations that govern this path.
Elements: All elements - Integration | Earth - Rooting | Synthesis — Integration of forces. The sacred elements establish the bridge between the material and spiritual worlds, offering tools of balance and transformation.
Sacred Colors: Pure white (totality) and Deep blue (wisdom) (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: Wisdom, Discernment, 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
Make ebó with the reliquary of the deceased that you keep: a little mirror tied to the belt so that, when the Egun arrives, it sees itself in it, takes fright and withdraws. Put a basin with anil water and a sponge under the head of the bed, and paint the house white on the outside. Do not take too much sun and care for the stomach and the lungs. Do not use handkerchiefs nor objects found in the street, for an Egun is embodied in them.
⚠ Cautions
Guard yourself from the betrayal of the one who is closest, which is the mark of this Odu. Curb ambition, usury and greed, so that they do not undo you. Do not cast búzios nor speak of Ifá without having received the office, and do not let anyone confuse you. Beware the Egun that pursues you and the evil spirits that prowl.
This Odu describes tendencies and possible paths to work on — not a fixed destiny or a guaranteed prediction.
Ire
The anchor that holds the boat and keeps it from going adrift, and the direct access to Olofin; the cleansing that drives off the Egun when the ebó of the mirror is made, and the discernment that halts ambition in time.
Osogbo
The boundless ambition, the usury and the rapacity, the betrayal by the hand of the one who is trusted, the obsessing Egun that wishes to carry the person off, and the disease of the stomach and the lungs.
Context and study of the 256 Odus
Ofun Odi 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 Ofun Odi 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 Ofun Odi
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 Ofun Odi 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 Ofun Odi mean?+
What is the central message of Ofun Odi?+
What is Ofun Odi called in the Lucumí (Cuban) tradition?+
What are the Irê and Osogbo of Ofun Odi?+
Sources consulted
- Tratado Enciclopédico de Ifá, section Ofun Di (Ofun Odi)
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.