Ika Wori

Also called Ika Fefe

nº 169 of 256 · Edited by Ricco Ledesma

The sign of orientation, where bats got their radar: Ifá of impersonation, where the faults of others are carried. Open your eyes wide.

15 patakíes 4 eewó 9 ebbós and works 14 proverbs

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Ika Wori is Odù number 169 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Ika family. It is also written as Ika Fefe. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 15 patakíes (3 in full in plain sight, with their teaching, ebbó and chants), its proverbs, 9 ebbós and works and the signs it shows in the consultation — with the full eewó in plain sight; the rest of the iré and osogbo and the full recipes open with The Notebook, in English.

The sign at a glance

Order in Ifá: Odù 169 of 256
Composition: Ika over Iwori
Orishas that speak: Yemayá · Oshún · Orunmila · Shangó · Elegbara · Osain · Ogún · Obatalá · Olofin

What Ifá says in this sign

Ika Wori, also known as Ika Fefe, is the sign where orientation was born: here the bat received the gift of moving in the dark without bumping into anything. Palm wine was also born in it, which explains why drink unsettles the head. Its ruling is one of guidance: you know how to find your bearings even when you cannot see the road, but what you build with your hands you later knock down with your own feet, and this sign comes to close that leak.

The bat lived without wings; people stepped on it and killed it, mistaking it for a mouse. It made the ebbó with Orunmila and grew wings, but it believed everything was solved and never came back to finish the work, so it was left without strength or judgment to tell good from bad. The same happens to you when you begin to improve and leave half done what Ifá marked for you. Always finish what you begin with Orunmila: once the ebbó is fulfilled, luck, health and victory over betrayal and enemies arrive; without it, poverty.

«What he did with his hands he undid with his feet: Ika Fefe comes to close that tap.»The pulse of Ika Wori

You carry your whole household on your shoulders, like the monkey that lives with its home on its back, and even with a lot you feel you have nothing and nowhere to settle. Do not bring anyone to live in your home: the quail took in a dog that was about to give birth, and the dog ended up throwing her out into the street. You do favors that nobody thanks you for; do not expect that payment. Make sure something you keep hidden does not come to light, and keep your eyes open, because someone may use your name and leave you the blame for what others did.

At work, this sign rewards those who commit to their own effort. Yuno asked Orunmila for some land nobody wanted, sowed it without rest and prospered; but when he grew proud and scorned Elegba, his crops were lost, until he asked for forgiveness. Never scorn the one who opened the door for you. In love there are constant quarrels and suspicions of infidelity on both sides; if one day you find your partner talking with someone else and you want to fight, you will lose.

In health, take care of your stomach and your hands, which are at risk of getting burned. Drink unsettles your head more than it does others: avoid it. The sign speaks of abiku children, who leave early and are born again, and it calls for a head cleansing to bring your orí into harmony. If you finish the work and respect those who help you, your hands and your feet will at last walk the same road.

The sign in one line

Share out the monkey's load, do not fight on the announced corner and finish your works, because the radar of Ika Fefe guides the one who does not sabotage himself.

The prayer of Ika Wori · Yoruba

Ika Wori Ika Ibori Ika Iloguifun. Maferefun Yemayá. Adifafun Orunmila. Maferefun Oshún.

Súyere
Ebbó yero oba ni suya lerí kutale ire suya ni ire ibera ire tbeya ire ibechiche.

Ifá says — what Ika Wori tells you

You have something that comes and goes.
Be careful with something you have covered, so that it is not discovered.
What you have built with your hands, you have undone with your feet.
You carry a burden like the monkey's: you alone bear the weight of your household, you never settle in well, you run into many obstacles, and you always seem to be hanging in the air.
The person knows so much that he ends up sleeping on the ground, just like the quail.
The money you have is not enough: do not pay so much attention to it.
The herb proper to this Ifá is ewe ikami, a climbing vine; the ewe of the sign is aboro osidina.
For the ebbó the animal that is chosen is used, along with a calabash: its crown is pierced and a slug (igbin) is placed inside.
That you have helped others without receiving thanks.
It says that you have two women, and you will find one of them talking with another man: you will want to fight, and you will come out the loser in that fight.
It says that you waited on the corner for a woman; she hid and did not come to the meeting.
That first you will have to do an ebbó in order to obtain a stroke of luck and, at the same time, to be freed from your enemies, from some betrayal, and from an illness; if you do not do it, you will fall into great misery.
That you must perform the prayer for your head using a large snapper, with its tail put in its mouth, and two coconuts.
It says that you suffer from your belly.
It says that you should remember what you dreamed some days ago about Oshún.
That the two couples will meet in the street, in a park, or somewhere else: if you fight, you lose.

Proverbs of Ika Wori · Òwe

“What you make with your hands you unmake with your feet.”
“There is something covered up that can be uncovered.”
“A lid covers just as easily as it uncovers.”
“Whoever throws sand should look after his own eyes.”
“The wrongdoer ruins himself with his own wrongs.”
“Illness does not kill if it is attacked in time.”
“A foolish tongue puts the head at risk.”
“Life rewards your actions with both lashes and gifts.”
“Money does not cure, but it buys the cure.”
“Nobody can give what he does not have.”
“A sandstorm passes; the stars stay.”
“The sound of the trumpet makes the condemned restless.”
“There is no worse punishment than hurting others.”
“Even the fool passes for wise when he keeps quiet.”

11 proverb interpretations in this Odù, locked.Every proverb explained: which road it comes from and how it applies.Unlock →

Iré and Osogbo

Three iré and three osogbo of this sign, open to everyone.

Iré · what the sign brings

In this sign orientation is born: the person knows how to find their way even when they cannot see the road.
Once the ebbó is done, they are freed from mistreatment and gain a new virtue that lets them get ahead.
With the ebbó done, they gain good luck and at the same time are freed from an illness, a betrayal and their enemies.

Osogbo · what the sign warns

They undo with their feet everything they achieve with their hands.
They do favors that nobody thanks them for.
Something is covered up that may come to light, and they must take care that it is not found out.

32 more iré and osogbo readings in this Odù, locked.The rest of the iré and osogbo of the sign, sorted by subject — health, money, love, death, loss…Unlock →

What is born in Ika Wori · Ìbí

Orientation.
Here the bats were given their radar: Orunmila made ebbó for the bat with white sheets, and out of them came his wings.
Palm wine, and why drink turns the head.
From the topped palm where Aparo died, wine flowed from the heart of the palm: what comes out is the spirit turned to blood of the egun Olufon, who dwelt in the interior of the palm, that is, the blood of Obatalá, which makes one lose one's head so that disrespect is remembered.
The white line on the quail's head.
In his agony, Aparo called on Obatalá, who rubbed orí and efún on his lerí.

What is forbidden · Eewó

The full eewó of this Odù, open to everyone — with the road each ban came out of.

Do not do favors.
They are not going to thank you for them.
Do not take anyone into your house.
You may lose your position and end up in the street, destitute, as happened to the quail with the dog.
Do not fight if you find your partner with another person.
If you fight, you lose.
Do not send others to do your works for you.
You must do them quickly and in person: this is an Ifá of impersonation.

Ebbós of Ika Wori · The sacrifices that open the road

MoneyThe ebbós of this Odù🔒 The Notebook LossEbbó for the illness🔒 The Notebook MoneyThe ebbó of Yuno🔒 The Notebook Overcoming enemiesOgún's ebbó in the land of Ilu Ina🔒 The Notebook LoveThe ebbó of the little dog🔒 The Notebook Keeping death awayThe ebbó of the bat's wings🔒 The Notebook

6 ebbós in this Odù, locked.Each full recipe: ingredients, preparation and where it goes.Unlock →

Works of Ika Wori · The workings of the sign

HealthWork for an abikú child🔒 The Notebook SpiritualInshé Osain for the Awó of this Ifá🔒 The Notebook SpiritualThe Elegbara Mabinu🔒 The Notebook

3 works in this Odù, locked.Each full recipe: ingredients, preparation and where it goes.Unlock →

Patakíes of Ika Wori · The roads of the Odù

1The Bat

A bat lacked wings, so it could not fly. It dragged itself along the ground, clumsy, and amid the movement of people it always ended up trampled. Nobody paid attention to it; on the contrary, they killed it shouting that it was a mouse.

Weary of that treatment, one day it came before Orunmila, wanting to consult its fortune. The diviner marked this Ifá for it and asked for an ebbó that included a rooster, two doves, sheets and other ingredients; those sheets are now its wings. It carried out the ebbó.

When it finished, wings sprouted and at last it could fly. It convinced itself that it no longer had problems and did not go back to Orunmila. It overlooked that it had obtained only one quality, flight, and that it still lacked strength, foundation and character. Since it abandoned the work halfway, it was left without direction and without judgment to tell one thing from another.

That is why today the bat does not perceive what is put in its mouth: it makes no difference whether it bites, eats or smokes it.

This path warns those who, as soon as they begin to get out of their problems, stop visiting their awó's house: they are left incomplete, like the bat.

What it teaches

Abandoning a work halfway, convinced that nothing is left pending, leaves a person without direction. When relief arrives, the wise course is to return to the one who began it and finish it.

The bat's ebbó

A rooster, two doves, sheets and other ingredients of the ebbó.

When this path comes out

Once the first problems improve, the person must keep visiting the awó to finish the work and not remain incomplete like the bat.

This path keeps 1 awó secret in the complete treatise.🔒 The Notebook

2The quail and the dog

A pregnant dog, about to give birth, had no roof over her head. She went to the quail, whom she treated as a friend and comadre, and explained her situation: she needed a place to wait for the birth.

A few days later the puppies were born, and the quail told her she could leave now, since she had given birth. The dog begged for more time, until her young ones grew strong, and the hostess agreed. When that time had passed, seeing that the puppies ate by themselves and had strength, the quail repeated her request, because they could now walk behind their mother wherever she went. What she received was very different from what she expected: the dog attacked her with enormous rage and drove her out of her own home.

With no house, the quail went to consult Orunmila. He answered that there was no way to recover what was lost, because she had not obeyed the warning he had given her not to let anyone into her home. He could only perform an ebbó for her, so that she would die in poverty.

It is added that whoever has this path must not lodge anyone in the home, since they risk their position and may end up begging in the street. For the person, because of how much they know, it falls to sleep on the ground like the quail.

What it teaches

Giving shelter to someone not well known can cost a person their own home. A favor without clear limits turns against the one who gives it, and Orunmila's advice has to be followed before it is too late.

Warning for this path

When this path comes out, no one should be lodged in the home. This avoids losing one's position and ending up in the street, sleeping on the ground just like the quail.

3Yuno's pride toward Elegba

Yuno was a boy who lived in his parents' house. His situation did not improve, which clashed with what he wanted: to make progress and become rich.

One day he gathered his things and set out to look for fortune. In a place in the countryside he saw unplanted land and began to find out whom it belonged to. A man came up to him and advised him to forget about it: he would lose his money, since the owner never gave it up.

The young man paid no attention and went to look for the owner, who turned out to live in an enormous mansion. When he knocked, Elegba opened and told him that he would guide him to the owner: Orunmila. Before him, Yuno asked for that barren land in order to farm it. Orunmila wanted to know whether he planned to do it without help, and Yuno assured him that he did. «If you speak the truth,» answered Orunmila, «you will receive from me the land and all the means to farm it.»

Yuno set to work without a pause. After a few months the land looked different: everything was planted and it improved day after day. But when he least expected it, bad weather came and destroyed everything. Without losing heart, Yuno went back to Orunmila to tell him. Before he finished, Orunmila said to him: «So it will be. However, before leaving your house you must make an ebbó. First you will bring a rooster to Elegba, the one who let you enter my house, and then two hens to Ifá.»

Yuno complied, sowed again and, in a short time, the land yielded abundant harvests and his fortune grew.

With the years he became arrogant. One day he saw Elegba and paid him no attention. Elegba went on walking, found Shangó and spoke ill of Yuno to him.

When he found out, Yuno ran to Orunmila's house and told him what had happened. Orunmila told him that he had to attend to Elegba first: ask him what he wanted in order to take away the harm, and apologize for his behavior. Yuno did so, and Elegba asked him for a goat and a sack of corn.

With Elegba satisfied, Yuno's harvests were set right. He learned that one must not boast before the one who helps us.

What it teaches

Pride toward those who have helped is a fault that is paid for with what one had gained. Recognizing Elegba first and asking his forgiveness repairs the harm and brings back abundance.

Ebbó before sowing again

A rooster for Elegba, who allowed the entrance to Orunmila's house, and two hens for Ifá.

What Elegba asked after the scorn

He is attended to first, asked what he wants, and begged for forgiveness. Elegba asked for a goat and a sack of corn.

Ebbó of this path

Goat, rooster, two hens, earth from a road, earth from a tree, malaguidiokumi, smoked jutía, ewe ceguerokus, smoked fish, ashe ara, palm oil butter, isale ishu junkeyo, a large amount of money, orunla isague eleguede and isale de caña brava.

Prayer of Yuno's passage

Omode loma umbo va ile oronlaunsoro elwara eyele akuko adie melli orunla afariye yanza ire oshinshe aye koforibale ni elewara fifun ounko opolopo owo oko eloda dide yure.

Súyere of Yuno's passage

Ebbo yero oba ni suya leri kutale ire suya ni ire ibera ire tbeya ire ibechiche.

4The monkey🔒 The Notebook 5When Ogún wanted otí🔒 The Notebook 6When Oshún gave up the quail🔒 The Notebook 7The owl that reigned asleep🔒 The Notebook 8The grateful son🔒 The Notebook 9The consecration of the paintings of Osha🔒 The Notebook 10The sacrifice to Ayagba Oyiyi🔒 The Notebook 11The quail and the snare🔒 The Notebook 12The mother stone🔒 The Notebook 13The cat that dropped the meat because of a compliment🔒 The Notebook 14The snail who was sure of himself🔒 The Notebook 15The mean feeling🔒 The Notebook

12 more patakíes in this Odù, locked.Read every road in full with The Notebook.Unlock →

The full treatise is in English. With The Notebook, the whole sign opens on this page in English: the full text of every patakí, the recipes for the ebbós and works, and the iré and osogbo readings. · This page is also available in Spanish: See Ika Wori in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Ika Wori

What does the Odù Ika Wori mean in Ifá?

The sign of orientation, where bats got their radar: Ifá of impersonation, where the faults of others are carried. Open your eyes wide.

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

Ika Wori is Odù number 169 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Ika family.

Which orishas speak in Ika Wori?

In the Odù Ika Wori these orishas speak: Yemayá, Oshún, Orunmila, Shangó, Elegbara, Osain, Ogún, Obatalá, Olofin.

What is a proverb of the Odù Ika Wori?

One of the proverbs of Ika Wori says: «What you make with your hands you unmake with your feet.».

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