Odù 224 of 256 · Irete family

Irete Suká

Where you go from free to enslaved, like the Princess who ended up serving her own maid: Olofin does not bless a King's head with a child's brain.

Irete Suká is Odù number 224 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Irete family. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 32 patakíes (3 with the full text), its proverbs, 12 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 224 of 256
Composition: Irete over Otura
Orishas that speak: Odudúwa · Obatalá (Oshanlá) · Shangó · Elegbá · Azojuano (Dasoyi) · Naná Burukú · Oshosi · Oshún · Oyá (Yanzá)

What Ifá says in this sign

Irete Suká is the odu where you go from free to enslaved: the Princess who hid her son ended up working for her food for her own former maid. Here the secret service and military service were born — by iré you watch; by osobo, you are watched — and a sentence of Olofin that orders a whole life: Olofin cannot bless what has no head — a King's head, a child's brain.

Its scar is betrayal: Akopera Awó betrayed his godfather — you do not go into partnership with Irete Suká, and the godfather can undo a treacherous godchild. The root is confessed: you are given over to pleasure, and your curiosity is so great that it leads you to ruin — a hard head and disbelief make the Santos take the whip to you. The yoko Osha saves you: do it.

«By iré you watch, by osobo you are watched — the spy of Irete Suká lives by loyalty and dies of betrayal.»The pulse of Irete Suká

Your gift makes up for your shadow: you have a talent for pottery, for the arts, for medicine and for healing, and the Awó of this odu stands out for giving great readings of the Odù — though his memory fails him: works to fix things in place, and always count on Obatalá, wearing his necklace.

Mothers are your ministry: Irete Suká settles women's trouble — by birth or by the power of Ifá: the womb, the bleeding and the hard births are seen to — the Ibeyi are received, and no scrapings, since the mother can go mad from that. And your children, never in anyone else's care: they will play you false, like the turtle with the children of the jutía and of the tiger; the marriage is made one with two doves to Oshún before the love triangle breaks it.

Its poisons are literal and figurative: deadly bites, poisoning — including, figuratively, your partner — and the shepe of aguardiente with fermented red beans. Do not repeat your mistakes — that is the habit of this odu —, treat your wife well and do not doubt your children, because Shangó's anger drowns people that way: the loyal spy dies old; the traitor dies of his own curiosity.

The sign in one line

Make yoko Osha, do not betray whoever guides you and do not leave your children with anyone — Olofin does not bless a King's head with a child's brain.

The prayer of Irete Suká · Yoruba

IRETE SUKA APEKANKOLA ADIFAFUN AKOPERA EWERE ODDE OBINI KUAYE AWONIFA OBARABANIRESUN MOYARE OYEBI OYEBIFA ORUNMILA ORUGBO.

Súyere
ADAJA LIYE OFE AYO AIYE MONJE IKABELA SHASHEN IRETE SUKA OBASHE.

Ifá says — what Irete Suká tells you

An Ifá of betrayal: Akopera Awó betrayed his godfather Apekankola — Irete Suká is a traitor and you cannot go into partnership with him; the godfather can destroy and undo him for the godchild's betrayal. The Ifá of the secret service and of military service: people of this Odù are used as spies; by iré you are watching and by osobo you are watched. An Ifá of remedies for illness: the Awó does whatever is needed to avoid brushes with death, because through Ifá he knows how to choose the right road. The Ifá of the mother's salvation: Irete Suká settles women's trouble, by birth or by the power of Ifá.
You have a very hard head and are in danger of going from free to enslaved; you tend to disbelieve, and the Santos take the whip to you.
The woman can have trouble conceiving, or the children can be born with problems; she suffers from her womb and has bleeding: receive the Ibeyi.
Children can be taken or abandoned; the father leaves through a love triangle: do the works to make the marriage one, with two doves to Oshún.
The men are taken into the army.
The Awó stands out for knowing how to give great readings of the Odù of Ifá, but he has trouble with his memory and should do works to fix things in place.
You do not know your own ailments: skin and blood from birth, from what is in your family line.
You repeat the mistakes you make.
You always suffer over your children, and your partner is slandered because of them.
You can die from an animal bite, suddenly, or from poisoning — including, figuratively, your partner.
You are given over to the pleasures of life: your curiosity is so great that it leads you to ruin and turns you into a traitor to Orunmila and to your godfather.
Do not leave your children in anyone's care, since they will play you false, like the turtle with the children of the jutía and of the tiger.
The mother can go mad from trouble in childbirth or from ending a pregnancy on purpose: do not have scrapings done.
You have a talent for pottery, for the arts, for medicine and for healing.
You can drown through the anger of Shangó or of the Santos, for behaving badly toward your wife and for doubting your children.
The elders do not back Irete Suká and criticism is stirred up against him, as it was against Ogué.
The woman can go too far and strike the man, as in the days of Akamale Ashe.
Guard against the curse (shepe) through aguardiente: the secret of the shepe is otí with fermented red beans.
The Awó should always count on Obatalá so things go well for him, and wear his necklace.
Yoko Osha has to be made for the person to be saved.
The shell of the Santo Domingo mamey is used for money, as an Inshé Osain.
About Irete Suká's mapping of the world: the pot of Ifá Kadashe, with which he became the wise man of the court.
Parts of the mockingbird and the tomeguín are used to draw the woman in, as Oshosi learned.
Fish blood is given to Egun, with pepper — and the opposite work: fresh fish with Irete Suká, corojo, cocoa butter, cascarilla, corn, yam, okra and amalá, cleaning the Awó and giving blood to Egun, for good.
The river stone is fetched and a dove is given with the river jar and coconut at the door of the house.
About asking God with your whole heart: otherwise you will get nothing.
Here Orunmila keeps the world steady by Olofin's order, and the owner of this Ifá sets before Odudúwa, at the start of the year, 101 handkerchiefs of different colors.
The herbs of this Odù: don shayo, espanta muerto (aberikunló), male jagüey, guamá, palm and aroma.

Proverbs of Irete Suká · Òwe

“A King's head, a child's brain.”
“She goes from free to enslaved.”
“Life does not move with the movement of death.”
“Luck and fortune are hanging in the air.”
“The Awó rises above life because he knows the right road.”
“Ignorance turns a free man into a slave.”
“Do not ask of another what you would not be able to do yourself.”
“A mother is not only the one who gives birth, but the one who raises you.”
“Only the doctor knows the ailments of the body.”
“Whoever does not claim his inheritance loses it.”
“The troublemaker destroys everything.”
“Whoever lives in the street loses his house.”
“The parents' eye protects the children.”
“Whoever covers up a fault of his friend's will never be forgiven by him.”
“The vapors went to his head.”
“The honest man is fortunate, the stubborn one wretched.”

16 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

9 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 Irete Suká · Ìbí

Iyaremu, the mother of Odudúwa.
Her shadow protects the children of this sign.
Going from free to enslaved.
The Princess who hid her disgrace ended up working for her food for her own former maid.
That Olofin cannot bless what has no head.
Irete Suká presented the sacrifices with no head, learning nothing from experience: a King's head, a child's brain.
The monogram on clothing, the marks on the skin and the secret of the changing of the skin.
From the deer (agbani) who turned into a maiden.
The secret service.
From the Queen's spying on the King's servant.
Military service and the dance of death.
From the ebbó of the little canoe with the seven potatoes that saved the seven children of Irete Suká.
Part of the consecrations of Osha, by the hand of Odudúwa and Shangó.
In the land of Bebeli Iyá, Santo was made to send illness and death away.
Setting a metal gag before Eshu and before Obatalá.
From the ekuele of chest 99: so Irete Suká measures his words, which are a traitor's words.
That the ekuele of Irete Suká is made of ivory or turtle bone, with a gold chain, and lives in a silver chest with Orunmila.
That Elegbá was born deformed and Oyá lost her omodé.
Ayalala, the power of Irete Suká's sorcery: the secret pot of Gudoté, handed over by Jebioso and Azojuano.
The three tree-women — Wanko (of the Palm), Wanka (of the Guamá) and Wankarika (of the Aroma) — and the male Jagüey, their husband, who masters none of them.
Iwan Karigui, Iwan Karika and Iwan Kawanka: the three powers of Odudúwa's son, in the form of three agboranes.
The land of Eri Bawa Lode, «the great road of blessing», which Orunmila, Shangó and Obatalá give to Ogué through Egun.
That the son of Odudúwa who does not mount and has the makings of it is made Ifá directly; whoever mounts is made Oshanlá or Obanlá.

What is forbidden · Eewó

7 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 Irete Suká · The sacrifices that open the road

Alejar la muerteEbbó of the little canoe (military service)🔒 Babalawo

AmorInshé Osain to make the marriage one🔒 Babalawo

DineroInshé Osain for owó (Santo Domingo mamey)🔒 Babalawo

La pérdidaEbbó of the luck hanging in the air🔒 Babalawo

SaludWork for the memory (Ifá Kadashe)🔒 Babalawo

5 ebbós in this Odù, locked.Each full recipe: ingredients, preparation and where it goes. Written in Spanish for now.Unlock →

Works of Irete Suká · The workings of the sign

EspiritualThe ekuele of Irete Suká🔒 Babalawo

EspiritualOsain of Irete Suká for the door (shilekún)🔒 Babalawo

SaludStrengthening wine of Irete Suká🔒 Babalawo

Vencer enemigosThe 101 handkerchiefs of Odudúwa🔒 Babalawo

EspiritualThe three agboranes of the son of Odudúwa🔒 Babalawo

EspiritualOparaldo of Irete Suká🔒 Babalawo

EspiritualThe loaded ogué (ox horn)🔒 Babalawo

7 works in this Odù, locked.Each full recipe: ingredients, preparation and where it goes. Written in Spanish for now.Unlock →

Patakíes of Irete Suká · The roads of the Odù

1The Princess goes from free to enslaved

The Princess hid her disgrace by sending her newborn son out to the bush, wrapped in the sheet with the royal emblem; the Prince, coming back from the war, disowned her and she was thrown out — the child was raised by the maid who had carried their messages, whom the Prince married, and the Princess ended up working for her for her food.

There was a Princess who was seeing a Prince, and a maid of hers carried their messages. The Princess had become pregnant and decided to hide her disgrace; however, the Prince had to make a long journey because of the war, and told the Princess to look after his child, because he would marry her.

When the Princess gave birth to the boy, they wrapped him in a sheet marked with the emblem of the Royal House and she had the child taken out to the bush. Nearby lived some country people who, seeing him, took him in.

When the Prince came back victorious from the war, he asked the Princess for his son. And on learning what she had done, he not only disowned her, but everyone found out and she was thrown out of the house, losing her royal position. The Prince had notices posted asking for the child, who was given back by those country people.

The child was raised by the maid of the house, who had carried the messages with the Prince and whom he came to marry. As time passed, the Princess fell into such poverty that she had to turn to the maid, who gave her work for her food.

Note: on this road, the person has a very hard head and is in danger of going from free to enslaved. They disbelieve and are open to the whip of the Santos.

2The secret service was born

The King had a son by a servant, and the Queen had them spied on and the child stolen; a poor man, with Orunmila's ebbó, found in the bush the basket with the child and a sack of money — the King rewarded him, pardoned the Queen who had ordered it and had the accomplices killed: the secret service was born.

There was a King who liked having children, but his wife did not conceive, and he went to Orunmila's house, who made ebbó for him.

In the Palace there was a servant the King liked, and that is how the war began, since the other servants told the Queen, and she had the servant spied on. And they were seen together in the street one day when the King was going with the servant so the doctor could examine her, to see what was wrong. The doctor told him she was pregnant. Then the King told her: «We are going to say you are the wife of one of the coachmen or servants.»

At last she gave birth, and it was a boy, and the Queen learned of it and ordered the child stolen. They managed it by tricking her: they told her to go and do something in the yard while a servant of the Queen's wrapped him in a sheet and carried the child off.

When the King learned of it, he offered a reward to whoever found him. In that land there was a man who was badly off, and he went to Orunmila's house, who saw this Ifá for him and told him that his good was a child he was going to find in the bush, in a tree, and he made ebbó.

One day, this man went out to the bush and found a basket. He went to look and inside there was a sack of money and the child, with a paper, and that is how he knew it was the King's son. He went home and put the money away. Afterward he went to the King, who rewarded him, and it came out that the one who had ordered it was the Queen, whom he pardoned, but the accomplices he had killed. The Queen was called Eregrigri and the poor man, Ifá Kadashe.

Note: here the ailment is the woman's womb, which bleeds. Receive the Ibeyi.

3Military service is born: the dance of death

When the King of Ibeyú declared war, all the men were taken into the army; Awó Irete Suká, with seven sons to be taken, made the ebbó of the little canoe with the seven potatoes — the magic made the generals believe the young men were dancers under Dambé's protection, and they sent them back to their land with gifts of gold and silver.

When Abesemo was King of Ibeyú, he declared war on the kingdom of Iborín. And as a result, all the men of that city, and even those who lived in the temple, were taken into the army for the war. This was ordered by the kekenkuá of that city.

There was an Awó, called Irete Suká, who had seven sons who were going to be taken into the army for the war. So he made osode and saw this Ifá, his own sign, where it spoke to him of the canoe on the river and of the dance of death.

It ordered him to make rogation with a little canoe, white, red and black cloth, a goat, two roosters, two osun dambé, two jars of dambé, seven potatoes, a lead staff, seven silver reales, a canoe paddle, a dog, jutía, fish and corojo.

On each potato he put the name of one of his sons and put them into the jars of dambé with the seven reales. He made the ebbó and set it all in the little canoe. He put it in the river and pushed it off from the bank, singing: ENI BEKOTARA NI FERA ILU (life does not move with the movement of death).

When the little canoe reached the other bank of the river, the seven sons of Irete Suká set out for military service in a canoe. But on reaching their destination, thanks to Irete Suká's magic, the canoe of the ebbó made the generals of Ibeyú believe that those on the opposite bank were dancers under Dambé's protection. And on seeing these seven young men arrive singing and dancing, they told them to go back to their lands, and gave them gifts of gold and silver besides.

Ever since, Irete Suká and his sons long for Dambé.

4Part of the consecrations of Osha are born🔒 Babalawo

5The world is what the pot paints (Ifá Kadashe)🔒 Babalawo

6The tiger's ignorance with the snake🔒 Babalawo

7A King's head, a child's brain🔒 Babalawo

8The jutía, the turtle's comadre🔒 Babalawo

9The jutía is killed with the irofá🔒 Babalawo

10The luck is brought by Obatalá🔒 Babalawo

11Obatalá blessed the young Awoses🔒 Babalawo

12Obatalá looked down on the Earth🔒 Babalawo

13Naná Burukú, the serpent and the lover🔒 Babalawo

14The brushes with death🔒 Babalawo

15The traitor (Akopera and Apekankola)🔒 Babalawo

16The son of Obatalá and chest number 99🔒 Babalawo

17The turtle eats the dog's food🔒 Babalawo

18The turtle killed the tiger's son🔒 Babalawo

19Elegbá was born deformed🔒 Babalawo

20Yanzá threw Eshu out for being deformed🔒 Babalawo

21Oyá and the unborn child🔒 Babalawo

22Omobitasa, Azojuano's favorite son🔒 Babalawo

23Dasoyi took the road to Dahomey🔒 Babalawo

24The swearing in at Gudoté (the sorcerer's pot)🔒 Babalawo

25The torment of the tears of Irete Suká's wife🔒 Babalawo

26The agbani (the deer maiden)🔒 Babalawo

27The three tree-women and the male Jagüey🔒 Babalawo

28Iwan Karigui, Iwan Karika, Iwan Kawanka🔒 Babalawo

29The forbidden land🔒 Babalawo

30The son of the sacrifice🔒 Babalawo

31The land of Eri Bawa Lode: the great road of blessing🔒 Babalawo

32Awó Obé Ifá Bogunmbe🔒 Babalawo

29 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 Irete Suká in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Irete Suká

What does the Odù Irete Suká mean in Ifá?

Where you go from free to enslaved, like the Princess who ended up serving her own maid: Olofin does not bless a King's head with a child's brain.

What number is Irete Suká among the 256 Odù of Ifá?

Irete Suká is Odù number 224 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Irete family.

Which orishas speak in Irete Suká?

In the Odù Irete Suká these orishas speak: Odudúwa, Obatalá (Oshanlá), Shangó, Elegbá, Azojuano (Dasoyi), Naná Burukú, Oshosi, Oshún, Oyá (Yanzá).

What is a proverb of the Odù Irete Suká?

One of the proverbs of Irete Suká says: «A King's head, a child's brain.».

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