Ika She

Also called Iká Fá

nº 180 of 256 · Edited by Ricco Ledesma

Ika Fá, the blessed word of Orunmila: what is said comes true. Here cotton won before Olofin, and it dresses in white.

15 patakíes 4 eewó 5 ebbós and works 14 proverbs

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Ika She is Odù number 180 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Ika family. It is also written as Iká Fá. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 15 patakíes (3 in full in plain sight, with their teaching, ebbó and chants), its proverbs, 5 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 180 of 256
Composition: Ika over Oshe
Orishas that speak: Orunmila · Oshún (Yalorde) · Olofin · Obatalá · Elegbara (Eshu) · Ogún · Egun · Oduduwa

What Ifá says in this sign

Ika She, also known as Iká Fá, is the sign of the word of Orunmila. Here were born the ikines, which are the sacred voice of Ifá, the fingers we have on our hands and feet, the club, the olelé and the ekru aró. Its ruling carries weight: what is said in Ika She comes true, because the word of Ifá never stays on the ground. So measure your words and your promises, and dress in white, since in this sign cotton won the dispute before Olofin.

This sign speaks to someone who is not a believer and who comes to the saint after suffering a great deal in life. Your own family does not believe either, makes your days hard and tries to pull you off the religious path. You give a lot for your people and receive little gratitude: just like Oshún, who stopped a war and was later scorned by the very people she saved. Keep going without expecting gratitude, respect your elders and do not accept the invitations made to annoy you.

«What Ika Fá says comes true: the blessed word of Orunmila is not wasted on complaints.»The pulse of Ika She

Good fortune is close, but do not scorn it when it arrives. A small child in your house is your fortune, and must be cared for well. A pregnant woman can bring you luck if you receive her kindly. Near where you pass there is a river or a lagoon where Oshún is: by stepping over her you harmed yourself, so keep what you promised her. In time you will have money, children and a home of your own.

With money, you have a debt outstanding and you are due to be initiated in the saint. Do not close the door to the poor, and do not send away anyone who comes to your house from the street without a meal, because sometimes help comes from the least expected person. What is earned through work brings respect and honor, and fame comes with study. In love, you may come across a woman initiated in the saint who will get angry when you stop spending on her. And do not get angry over something done to you without ill intent, or you will lose the one who served you well.

In health, this sign strikes the chest and the heart. Sorrows of the soul and troubles with your possessions pile up until they take your breath away, and here a person can die of grief. Do not keep so much inside: talk with the right person, see the doctor and take care of your breathing. Say only what you want to see born and keep your word to Oshún, for the word of Ika She is never lost.

The sign in one line

Dress in white, do not despise the pregnant woman with the banknote and look after the little one of your house, because the word of Ika Fá sows what it pronounces.

The prayer of Ika She · Yoruba

Ika She Ninshe Ika Miru Kiri Ika Mu Kiri Adifafun Orunmila Miopeye Owunko, Agutan Lebo.

Súyere
Ika koloju Ika koloju adifafun Dada Awo Ifa Ika koloju.

Ifá says — what Ika She tells you

The person dies of the heart.
The person's moral and material problems are so many that he dies of grief; he dies drowned, for lack of air.
This is a person without faith who comes to the santo after enduring many hardships; the relatives are unbelievers and will try to pull her away from the religious path.
Coral is used.
A mattress of vergonzosa is prepared for the orishas.
Your chest hurts.
Herbs of this Odù: gooseberry, aroma, sensitive plant, cotton and pata de gallina.
That you must take care of your good fortune and not despise it: a pregnant woman will come and invite you to play a lottery ticket, and you must not turn her down.
That near where you walk there is a river or a lagoon: that is where Caridad is. Fulfill to Caridad what you promised, offered or owe her, and in time you will have luck, money and children.
That you have a plan in mind and also want to write a letter to someone: before doing so, make ebbó.
That you must honor those who are older than you.
It says that you do not want a better fortune.
That when you walk along the street you should pretend to limp.
That for any invitation you should accept out of courtesy but not show up, because they are trying to harm you.
That a woman who has already made her santo will appear in your life; when you no longer want to spend more money on her, she will become angry.
That you owe some money and that the time will also come to settle your santo.
That after some time you will have money and a home of your own.
That a small child lives in your home who needs a great deal of care, because your luck lies in that child.

Proverbs of Ika She · Òwe

“Orunmila is so great and powerful that he lives in the world while standing outside all of it.”
“His word is a truth as solid as a temple.”
“The word of Ifá never falls to the ground: there is always a head to catch it.”
“A man puts himself in the position he deserves.”
“Nobody is wise while drunk on wine.”
“A diviner's honor does not let him start arguments.”
“Damaged blood draws the face of the pale man.”
“There is no more valuable inheritance than knowledge.”
“He who lives too much may be dying before his time.”
“Wealth has a jacket of many colors.”
“Whoever tells the truth is never wrong.”
“Saying it is not the same as doing it.”
“A fine dish eaten under pressure sits badly; a poor meal in peace nourishes you.”
“The lazy man only turns up on harvest day.”

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

What is said through this sign comes true: no one lets the word of Ifá fall, there is always someone to pick it up.
With time they have luck, money, children and a home of their own.
A small child in their house is their luck.

Osogbo · what the sign warns

They die of the heart.
They have so many sorrows of the soul and of possessions that they die of grief, or drown for lack of air.
They do not believe, and only approach the saint after going through many hardships.

36 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 She · Ìbí

The fingers and the toes.
The hand, which helped the man grope his way and which everyone mocked, made ebbó and found itself with 5 children who served as its support and were its eyes, guided by Ika Bela, the index finger.
The ikines, which are the sacred word of Orunmila.
Ela died between the arms of Olofin, his father. On the third day the palm tree Ifadé sprang from his grave; through Ifá, its fruits reveal the mysteries of life.
The olelé and the ekru-aró.
The club.
With the blows of Olofin's staff, Ela pronounced one word for each blow: the names of the 16 Meyi.

What is forbidden · Eewó

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

Do not scorn the pregnant woman who invites you.
She is your luck: in time you will have money and children.
Do not offend the old man who is disrespectful to you.
It is Obatalá in disguise, testing you.
Do not let the one who arrives from the street leave without eating.
When this Ifá comes out, herbs are placed for Elegbara and then thrown into the street.
Do not go where they invite you, even if you accept out of politeness.
They want to do you harm.

Ebbós of Ika She · The sacrifices that open the road

MoneyThe ebbós of this Odù🔒 The Notebook SpiritualThe ebbó of the fingers of the hand🔒 The Notebook

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

Works of Ika She · The workings of the sign

Overcoming enemiesTo take away someone's voice🔒 The Notebook HealthThe milk in the sun🔒 The Notebook SpiritualThe seven cloths of the steam🔒 The Notebook

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

Patakíes of Ika She · The roads of the Odù

1Oshún Stopped the War With Her Sacrifice

Two peoples were fighting a war that wore both of them down. Oshún looked upon so much death and, finding no other remedy, decided to give herself as a sacrifice. She walked between the two armies, and the warriors on both sides followed her, and so the fighting ceased.

Soon afterward, Orunmila found her unconscious by the sea. He came to her aid and, when she woke, announced that, in payment for her sacrifice, she would always have the blessing of Olofin and his own.

In time, Orunmila married her.

This is the Ifá osobo: those who received her help and benefited from her sacrifices show her no gratitude. It is an Ifá of sacrifices, onire Ifagui. Kaferefun is rendered to Yalorde, to Eshu and to Orunmila.

What it teaches

Whoever gives themselves for others deserves the blessing of the elders, even though those who benefited rarely acknowledge it. Help offered without expecting anything in return is worth more.

Work when someone wants to take away one's voice

This path has a work for when someone wants to take another's voice away; its preparation is in the complete treatise.

Formula that closes the path

Onire Ifagui: kaferefun Yalorde, Eshu y Orunmila

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

2The Rich Woman and the Servant

A wealthy woman was looking for someone to work for her who would not rob her. She consulted Orunmila, who read this Ifá and pointed out an ebbó, which she had to leave at the river.

Oshún was there, and on seeing her, she entrusted her with the care of a stone. The woman went back home and put the stone behind the door. Later a young man arrived who proved to be an exemplary servant. But one day he wanted to clean the stone and lifted it; the lady became upset and the young man left. So the woman lost everything.

What it teaches

Losing calm over a gesture made with no bad intention can cost everything achieved. What is received from a deity is kept with serenity and gratitude.

Ebbó for the river

Orunmila pointed out to the woman an ebbó that she had to leave at the river. The story does not mention its elements.

3The birth of the fingers of the hand

When the hand was formed, it went to complain to Olofin because it had no eyes. It always helped man blindly, and for that reason the others mocked it, above all the head.

It then consulted Orunmila. In his Ifá, he told it that it had not been born complete because of the karma, the spiritual inheritance, of its parents, but that through Ifá it would receive the blessing of Olofin and the gratitude of the people.

Orunmila made ebbó for it and ordered it to stay covered. The hand obeyed and stopped showing itself.

Later, Oduduwa Awó gathered all the parts of the body so that each could present its qualities and its work. He missed the hand and declared that, without it, the whole was incomplete, so it had to be brought. Someone remarked that it was good for nothing, since it lacked eyes.

At that very moment the hand arrived, covered according to Orunmila's command. When it was uncovered, five children of its own appeared, holding it up and acting as its eyes. From then on it had power, thanks to Ifá and to the one who led those five: Ika Bela, the index finger, who used to be called Ika She.

What it teaches

What looks like a defect can be the source of great power. When the ebbó is done and the right moment is awaited, those who mocked end by recognizing the worth of what they scorned.

Work of the story

Orunmila made an ebbó for the hand and ordered it to stay covered until it was sent for.

Prayer of this path

Ika Bela Lomika Etonto Gomogo Ewi Abunkato Osinto Osin Ika Koloyu Obita Molobu Akakunmbele Ika Bela Bogbo Enifa Awo Lodafun Iku Emiro Kaferefun Eggun.

Súyere of this path

Iká Koloju Iká Koloju Adifafun Dada Awo Ifa Iká Koloju.

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

4Olofin's mute son and the origin of Ifá🔒 The Notebook 5Oshún Tunmise stops her family's war🔒 The Notebook 6The cat's bite🔒 The Notebook 7The blacksmith and the chain to heaven🔒 The Notebook 8The painter's apprentice and the two opinions🔒 The Notebook 9Good sense in the town of madmen🔒 The Notebook 10The elitist babalawo🔒 The Notebook 11The dog that saved his mother in heaven🔒 The Notebook 12The honor of work🔒 The Notebook 13The sparks that gave origin to the orishas🔒 The Notebook 14The cap that broke the peace of the home🔒 The Notebook 15The pact of Obaluwaye with Obatalá Obirin🔒 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 She in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Ika She

What does the Odù Ika She mean in Ifá?

Ika Fá, the blessed word of Orunmila: what is said comes true. Here cotton won before Olofin, and it dresses in white.

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

Ika She is Odù number 180 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Ika family.

Which orishas speak in Ika She?

In the Odù Ika She these orishas speak: Orunmila, Oshún (Yalorde), Olofin, Obatalá, Elegbara (Eshu), Ogún, Egun, Oduduwa.

What is a proverb of the Odù Ika She?

One of the proverbs of Ika She says: «Orunmila is so great and powerful that he lives in the world while standing outside all of it.».

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