Odu Ossá
What the odu Ossá (9 open cowries) answers, advises and warns against, and which orisha speaks through it. Free online cowrie reading.
abrupt changes · strong emotion · courage · turning points · spirituality · farewells
Strong winds blow. Iansã takes what is loose and Iemanjá gathers what is left — together, they describe a turning point that has already begun, even if you haven't admitted it yet. Ossá is an odu of intense emotion and demanded courage. It is not a bad fall: it is a quick fall, and what is asked is firmness to get through it.
What it answers
Responds well to questions asked amidst crisis, breakup, dismissal, grief, urgent decision, and 'should I endure or should I leave'.
The advice
Do not decide at the height of emotion, but also do not pretend that everything is the same. Seek trustworthy people and real support — including professional, if the burden is great. Let go of what has already come loose.
The warning
An explosion that burns bridges, a decision made in anger, and the opposite: clinging to what has already ended. Be careful with the exhaustion of sustaining alone what is too great.
In a yes-or-no reading
Yes or no does not apply here: the scenario is changing as the question is being asked. Explain this and help the person rephrase when the wind calms down.
Other spellings and correspondences
Spelling Òsá. Candomblé houses make Iemanjá, Iansã and Orí speak, and sometimes Ajalá and the eguns; some lists also include Ewá. Classic readings: renewal, intelligence, gestation.
This page describes a living religious tradition and does not replace consulting an initiated priest.