Odù 167 of 256 · Ika family

Ika Bemi

The mirages: evil hides behind the face of good, and the turtle who wanted to fly lost her shell — the merchant who ends up rich.

Ika Bemi is Odù number 167 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Ika family. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 13 patakíes (3 with the full text), its proverbs, 10 ebbós and works and the signs it shows in the consultation; the detail of iré and osogbo, the eewó and the full recipes open with the Babalawo plan — that locked part is still written in Spanish.

The sign at a glance

Order in Ifá
Odù 167 of 256
Composition
Ika over Ogbe
Orishas that speak
Yemayá · Oduduwa · Azojuano (Oluo Popo) · Elegba · Oshún · Orunmila · Egun

What Ifá says in this sign

Ika Bemi is the Ifá fore ayé of the merchant: you do well in every business you touch, and you will be rich — but with one lens you must never take off. This is the odu of mirages, where what looks good is really bad: evil hides behind the face of good. Buy, sell and choose people with that magnifying glass in your hand.

Your warning story is the turtle who wanted to fly: she borrowed wings, and she lost her shell — do not reach for what is not in your nature, because in the fall you lose even what was yours. Oduduwa and Azojuano rule here: two serious majesties who ask for respect and steady hands.

«What looks good is bad — the merchant of Ika Bemi checks twice before he buys.»The pulse of Ika Bemi

For the Awó of this odu, the family warning: your own children and godchildren are the ones who destroy you — look at yourself well before you take them on, and do not go out in the street without ebbó when this sign comes up. The son this odu announces — Picanle — will have a hard character and a road of Ifá: raise him with his idefá on and a firm hand.

The cares: fair-haired people and light-skinned mixed-race people stand for the arayé here — keep your distance. The palero who did you harm is answered with a work; the fear of the night, the one that makes you sleep with your head covered, is washed off with the aguardiente bath. And your health asks for three things: watch for a stroke — that bitter taste that rises in your mouth —, cool your door against falls and hernias, and take tabaco cimarrón with avocado leaves as your best prevention.

Your secret for prosperity is a musical one: give a drum to Yemayá — with her sounding, the merchant of this odu never goes broke. Give thanks for last night's dream and to Elegba, and tell no lies — you are a child of Orunmila and your word carries weight. Remember: in the country of mirages, the one who checks twice is the one who buys real gold.

The sign in one line

Look behind the face of good, do not borrow wings, and give a drum to Yemayá — the wealth of Ika Bemi is real if your eye is not fooled.

The prayer of Ika Bemi · Yoruba

Baba Adele Baba Fowo ni emite mabinu Baba Adele Baba Fayani. Emite babinu Baba Adele Baba Fowao viemi lele mabinu ire bogbo tee eba fee ni laye enitu mabinu.

Ifá says — what Ika Bemi tells you

Proverbs of Ika Bemi · Òwe

12 proverb interpretations in this Odù, locked.Every proverb explained: which road it comes from and how it applies. Written in Spanish for now.Unlock →

Iré and Osogbo

5 iré and osogbo readings in this Odù, locked.The iré and osogbo of the sign, sorted by subject — health, money, love, death, loss… Written in Spanish for now.Unlock →

What is born in Ika Bemi · Ìbí

What is forbidden · Eewó

4 eewó (taboos) in this Odù, locked.What the child of this sign must not eat, do or wear. Written in Spanish for now.Unlock →

Ebbós of Ika Bemi · The sacrifices that open the road

DineroThe ebbós of this Odù🔒 Babalawo
Vencer enemigosThe ebbó of the turtle and the eagle🔒 Babalawo
AmorThe ebbó of the pregnant woman🔒 Babalawo
AmorThe ebbó of the woman who had a dream🔒 Babalawo
EspiritualThe ebbó of the great history of Ika Bemi🔒 Babalawo
Vencer enemigosThe ebbó of the revenge of Oluo Popo🔒 Babalawo
DineroThe ebbó of drinking water🔒 Babalawo
7 ebbós in this Odù, locked.Each full recipe: ingredients, preparation and where it goes. Written in Spanish for now.Unlock →

Works of Ika Bemi · The workings of the sign

EspiritualThe igba against the fear of the night🔒 Babalawo
SaludThe load of the goat's lerí🔒 Babalawo
AmorThe fitilá of Oshún🔒 Babalawo
3 works in this Odù, locked.Each full recipe: ingredients, preparation and where it goes. Written in Spanish for now.Unlock →

Patakíes of Ika Bemi · The roads of the Odù

1The turtle and the eagle

The eagle fought to eat the turtle, but her hard shell held up against every peck. Worn down, the turtle went to Orunmila: to get that powerful enemy off her back she had to make ebbó — but she did not believe him and did not do it. One day the eagle invited her to a party up on the hill. «How am I going to get there, if I cannot climb?» — «I will carry you on my wings.» The turtle said yes, never seeing that the eagle was her enemy: high in the flight, the eagle closed his wings, and the turtle fell from that great height and broke apart on the rocks. The eagle came down and ate what was left of the trusting turtle. This Ifá turns fore if the ebbó is done.

On this road, the eagle was fighting with the turtle to eat her; but the turtle had a hard shell, and no matter how hard the eagle pecked at her, he could never do anything to her.

The eagle had the turtle so worn down that she went to look at herself with Orunmila. He saw this Ifá for her and told her that, in order to get that powerful enemy off her back, she had to make ebbó; but the turtle did not believe what Orunmila had told her, and she did not make the ebbó.

One day the turtle was invited by the eagle to a party that was being held up on the hill; but the turtle said to him: «How am I going to go to the party, if I cannot climb the hill?» Then the eagle said to her: «I will carry you on my wings.» The turtle agreed, without seeing that the eagle was her enemy; she climbed onto the eagle's wings, and when he rose in his flight over the hill, the eagle closed his wings, and the turtle fell from that great height and broke apart on the rocks that were below. Then the eagle came down and ate what was left of the trusting turtle.

Note: this Ifá turns fore if the ebbó that is marked is done.

2When evil came to visit Elegbara

Elegbara had his palace at the foot of the laurel trees, and at night he was afraid to fall asleep: when he closed his eyes he saw all the strange shapes evil took to come and visit him. He would cover his head in fright and get up to check the doors and windows. Orunmila told him to set at his bedside an igba with ewe dundún, purslane, ewe tete, atiponlá and laurel leaves, to pour spring water into it, to leave it there and to ask: «Ikú unlo ete» — and to cool his house with an omiero of iwereyeye, onibara, ewe dundún, omi oyuoro and white sugar.

Elegbara had his palace at the foot of the laurel trees, and at night he was afraid to fall asleep, because when he closed his eyes he saw all the strange shapes in which evil came to visit him, and he would cover his head in fright and get up to check the doors and the windows, to see whether they were properly shut or whether someone was inside.

And Orunmila told him to set at his bedside an igba with ewe dundún, purslane, ewe tete, atiponlá and laurel leaves, and to pour spring water into it, leaving it there and asking: «Ikú unlo ete»; and to cool his house with an omiero of ewe iwereyeye, onibara, ewe dundún, omi oyuoro and iyobo funfun — white sugar.

3The great history of Ika Bemi

In the land of Oluloye, the obiní Awani Loye had a son who was given Elegba, and at seven years old he left her side. Going through great hardship, she met Obatalá and fainted from hunger: the shadow of Egun Orugbaye appeared, and Obatalá, with two doves and a rooster, brought her back to life. Obatalá and Egun gave each other moforibale, took the boy before Orun and swore him in: «Go out and find your Elegba, so it can be consecrated together with you.» With Obatalá's little bell around his neck and Egun's piece of iron and hoe, he went sounding down the road and called his mother: «Iyá mi kele kele iye Olorun.» She handed him her Elegba with her blessing — «kashegbó kashetó: everything you do in life will come out well for you» —, Osain appeared, they consecrated the secret inside his Elegba with three jio jio and the blood of three mice, and they took him to Awó Ika Bameyi to make Ifá: he brought out Oyekun Meyi, and in the Untefá, Ika Bemi. Four days into Ifá, together with Shangó, they washed his lerí with seven mariwó at daybreak, and the godfather gathered that water, set it at the foot of Shangó, gave it a young dove and sent it to the river. And that is how the Untefá of Orunmila was made.

In the land of Oluloye there was an obiní named Awani Loye, who had an omo who was given Elegba — and he did not have to make Ocha —, and at seven years old he left his mother's side.

While Awani Loye was going through great hardship, she met Obatalá on the road one day and began to sing: «Awo Baniche yenyere Obatalá, Awani Loye Obatalá, Awani Loye.» And Obatalá said to her: «Omoya nilegun oyanilegun omo yareo egun Awani Loye.» And Awani Loye fainted from the hunger she carried, and the shadow of Egun Orugbaye Oku Orun Oru Baye appeared.

Obatalá was astonished; he had two doves and a rooster, and he gave them to eat, and that is how Awo Obaniche came back to life. Obatalá gave moforibale to Egun, and Egun gave moforibale to Obatalá, and they took the boy to where Orun was and swore him in, telling him: «Go out and find your Elegba, so it can be consecrated together with you.» He set out, and said to Obatalá and to Egun: «Give me your blessing», and he left for the land of Oluloye. Obatalá handed him a little bell and hung it around his neck, and Egun gave him a piece of iron and a hoe so he could go sounding down the road, and Egun told him: «You have to call your mother this way: Iyá mi kele kele iye Olorun.»

When he reached the land of Oluloye, his mother was eating guinea hen and dove; she gave him some of what she was eating, and he was happy and told her: «I have come for my Elegba.» She handed it to him and said: «My son, kashegbó kashetó: everything you do in life will come out well for you.» At that moment Osain appeared and said: «Etu mayawa egun eye egun mayilona», and he set out walking with the boy Ogbe Nile, and all along the road he went praying: «Oshanlá egun bimori weye.»

They brought him before Obatalá and consecrated his Elegba, and they gave it three jio jio and the blood of three mice. All this secret they put inside his Elegba, and they went out singing to where Awó Ika Bameyi was, so he would make Ifá for him. Awó Ika Bameyi was astonished to see Obatalá, Osain and Egun; after giving them moforibale he asked them: «What have you come for?», and they answered him: «Wabani tefo eni Ifá tifa Orunmila eni fa adele wewe nifa yumbale.»

And Orunmila took them in and sent for the Babalawos, and they made Ifá for him, and he brought out Oyekun Meyi; Oni Shangó Awani Loye sat Osa Kuleya, and Ika Bemi came out. And four days into Ifá, together with Shangó, they took him out early in the morning and brought him with seven mariwó, and they washed his lerí and sang to him: «Oniere lewa oni Ifá Olorun, onire lalawe eni Ifá Olorun.»

The godfather gathered that water with the mariwó, set it at the foot of Shangó, gave it a young dove and cleaned it, and sent it to the river. And that is how the Untefá of Orunmila was made.

4The revenge of Oluo Popo🔒 Babalawo
5When drinking water ran short on the earth🔒 Babalawo
6The whip of marriage🔒 Babalawo
7The woman who had nothing to keep herself busy with🔒 Babalawo
8When Ika Bemi made Olofin's wife give birth🔒 Babalawo
9The old snake and the young snake🔒 Babalawo
10The wooden plate and the steel tongue🔒 Babalawo
11Anacahuita, queen of the forest🔒 Babalawo
12When the goat wanted to be a lion🔒 Babalawo
13The child with the heart of a guinea hen🔒 Babalawo
10 more patakíes in this Odù, locked.Read every road in full with the Babalawo plan. Written in Spanish for now.Unlock →
Before you subscribe: everything you read on this page is in English, but the locked part of the treatise — the full text of the other patakíes, the recipes for the ebbós and works, the iré and osogbo readings and the eewó — is still written in Spanish. We are translating it. · This page is also available in Spanish: See Ika Bemi in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Ika Bemi

What does the Odù Ika Bemi mean in Ifá?

The mirages: evil hides behind the face of good, and the turtle who wanted to fly lost her shell — the merchant who ends up rich.

What number is Ika Bemi among the 256 Odù of Ifá?

Ika Bemi is Odù number 167 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Ika family.

Which orishas speak in Ika Bemi?

In the Odù Ika Bemi these orishas speak: Yemayá, Oduduwa, Azojuano (Oluo Popo), Elegba, Oshún, Orunmila, Egun.

What is a proverb of the Odù Ika Bemi?

One of the proverbs of Ika Bemi says: «Disobedience is the mother of innocence.».

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