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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 #240 · Omo Odu (Odu Combinado)
Ose Ofun
Oshe Fun (lucumí)
"Ose and Ofun: an impure and delicate Odu — put on the idefá with urgency and care for life."
Numerology
31 (synthesis of 15 with 16)
Elements
Water - Purification | All elements - Integration | Synthesis — Integration of forces
Sacred Colors
Green (healing) and Pure white (totality) (a combination of the energies of both Odus)
Symbolic reading — interpretation, not attributed to the Treatise.
Also known as: Ose Fun · Ose Òfún · Oshe Ofun · Oshe Òfún · Oshe Fun
Naming by tradition
- Yoruba / Brazil
- Ose Ofun
- Cuba (Lucumí)
- Oshe Fun
Lucumí name per Tratado Enciclopédico de Ifá, p. 1371.
What is the Odu Ose Ofun
Ose Ofun (Oshe Fun) is an Odu held to be impure and delicate, in which were born incest, the idefá and grave diseases of the blood and the mind. Kaferefun Olokun: here the owner of the Ifá wears the idefá joined to a chain, and the sign asks that one steady the bond with the saint before the bad influence draws them away from it.
Meaning
In the Tratado, Oshe Fun marks pregnancy and disease of the belly and the stomach, and says that the disease comes through the throat, calling for care with the teeth. It announces that three men will court the woman, and that the last is the one who serves, and it commands caring for the companion, who is good. It marks contradiction between the Egun and the saint and a bad influence that draws the person away from religion, so it commands putting on the idefá with urgency. It speaks of a very great epidemic that approaches and commands losing weight.
Sacred Profile
Symbolic reading — interpretation, not attributed to the Treatise.
Numerology: 31 (synthesis of 15 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: Water - Purification | 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: Green (healing) 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: Healing, 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
Put on the idefá with urgency and steady your bond with the saint, so that the bad influence does not draw you away from it. Give to eat to Exu, to Xangô and to Ogum, and make the ebó of protection for the whole house. Care for the companion, who is good, and for the health of the belly, the stomach and the throat. Kaferefun Olokun, and do not neglect the works the sign asks for.
⚠ Cautions
This is an Odu delicate as to life: it warns against wearing bracelets and necklaces and against the risk of the person attempting against themselves at night, so do not remain alone in a moment of suffering and seek at once the saint, the doctor and the support of those who care for life. Do not drink. Guard yourself from a great epidemic and care for the throat, the teeth and the belly. Steady the idefá and the bond with the saint without delay. A sensitive sign: in the face of thoughts of taking one's own life, seek help immediately.
This Odu describes tendencies and possible paths to work on — not a fixed destiny or a guaranteed prediction.
Ire
The protection of the idefá put on in time and of the firm bond with the saint, the shelter of Olokun, and the good companion who stays when the three suitors pass and the one who serves remains.
Osogbo
The impurity and the incest, the bad influence that draws one away from the saint, the disease that comes through the throat and the belly, the epidemic that approaches, and the danger life runs at night when the person is alone.
Context and study of the 256 Odus
Ose 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 Ose 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 Ose 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 Ose 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 Ose Ofun mean?+
What is the central message of Ose Ofun?+
What is Ose Ofun called in the Lucumí (Cuban) tradition?+
What are the Irê and Osogbo of Ose Ofun?+
Sources consulted
- Tratado Enciclopédico de Ifá, section Oshe Fun (Oshe Ofun)
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.