Iwori Ka

Also called Iwori Boka

nº 56 of 256 · Edited by Ricco Ledesma

Stubbornness, adultery and dramas of passion: whoever kills by iron dies by iron, and the wife becomes infatuated with her husband's best friend.

15 patakíes 5 eewó 7 ebbós and works 13 proverbs

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Iwori Ka is Odù number 56 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Iwori family. It is also written as Iwori Boka. This page brings together its prayer in Yoruba, 15 patakíes (3 in full in plain sight, with their teaching, ebbó and chants), its proverbs, 7 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 56 of 256
Composition: Iwori over Ika
Orishas that speak: Orunmila · Eshú · Oshún · Ode (Oshosi) · Osain / Aroní · Eggun · Olofin

What Ifá says in this sign

Iwori Ka, also known as Iwori Boka, is the sign where stubbornness was born, along with the nimble feet of the one who dances, runs and jumps, the taste for hunting and Igi Aya Ura, the tree that talks. You have a very keen sixth sense that warns you of danger, and its ruling is a warning: curiosity and passion can cost you your freedom and even your life if you do not rule them.

Here the deer had already escaped and died because it turned its head to see what had frightened it. The same can happen to you: when you have a hunch, do not start looking into the cause; get to safety. Do not argue with those around you, since this is a sign of stubbornness. You have the gift of speech and can convince anyone, especially women, but do not promise what you will not deliver. Someone wants to turn you against another person to gain from it, and you yourself have quarreled with someone who never meant you harm.

«Curiosity can cost your life: when Iwori Boka feels the hunch, he does not look; he steps aside.»The pulse of Iwori Ka

In love, this is an odu of adultery and crimes of passion, where jealousy and the knife bring tragedy. Do not receive frequent visitors at home or visit other homes too often, because that is where the affairs that break marriages come from. Respect your friends' wives: out of spite, one of them may accuse you falsely and bring you before the law. If one day you catch your partner in a fault, do not raise your hand, for you would end up dying of sorrow in a prison. If you are in a hurry to marry, choose calmly.

In money, this sign speaks of theft, forbidden gambling and doubtful places: keep away from all of it, because whoever lives by theft ends up caught. Do not run after everything, since your luck and your money earn you enemies. The woodcutter Akelu worked without rest and never had anything, until he made his ebbó and grew rich with the tree that talked. Your luck comes to you through a woman or a goddaughter, and Oshún rewards the good treatment you give them. Also receive Ode and Osain to reach what you desire.

In health, someone in your home suffers from the chest or the stomach and needs care in time. The man of this sign may have become sterile from a childhood illness, and he should consult a doctor about it. Take care of your Egun with masses, flowers, food and prayers, for they walk with you. Stay beside your loved ones and do not meddle in what belongs to others, because whoever stays home with his family never sleeps alone.

The sign in one line

Control your jealousy, respect what belongs to others and do not go to look at the danger, for the luck of Iwori Boka dances, runs and arrives by the hand of a woman.

The prayer of Iwori Ka · Yoruba

Iwori Boka baba boka buko gunugun ashaba boko buko adifafun Enilayo oba baba boka bako baba gushoni afedu muye asha ni baba yedeye apata piti anasi odoba teni.

Súyere
Ambe igi kokokua · Iku embelori kokokua · Arun embelori kokokua · Ofo embelori kokokua · Eyo embelori kokokua.

Ifá says — what Iwori Ka tells you

That it corresponds to an Ifá of thefts, of degradation and of addiction to gambling and to stealing.
That curiosity can cost your life.
That the wife has an affair with her husband's best friend, or falls in love with him, and may become pregnant by that man.
That the person has a sixth sense that warns of danger, but curiosity ruins him or her.
That the man has a woman he cannot be with, because she is a woman of Olofin and she falls ill every time he touches her.
That the wife brings her lover into the house when the husband goes out, and they enjoy what he works for.
That the woman scorns her husband, who is the only one who does anything for her.
That if the husband catches her doing something wrong, he should not try to kill her, or he will die in prison of sorrow.
Of someone who tries to turn you against another person in order to achieve his or her own goals.
That the wife of a friend, moved by spite, could slander you.
That you promise things that you then do not fulfill and manage to persuade anyone, especially women.
That you are declaring war on someone over something that is a lie; that person is not your enemy.
That the man may become sterile because of an illness in childhood; consult a doctor.
That you are in a hurry to marry and have children; you must know how to choose your wife well.

Proverbs of Iwori Ka · Òwe

“Whoever kills by iron dies by iron.”
“Curiosity can cost you your life.”
“Whoever runs around everywhere makes enemies.”
“Whoever stays at home with their family does not sleep alone.”
“It is not only the stench that tells us something is rotten.”
“Seeing is believing, and so is feeling; but so is sensing beforehand.”
“The wise fear the anger of Olorun; the fool is arrogant and careless.”
“The poor are hated even by their neighbor, but the rich are loved by everyone.”
“The wise will soon be rich; the foolish will soon be in need.”
“Like father, like son.”
“The truthful witness saves lives, but the false one is a traitor.”
“The glory of a king is his people, and the ruin of a prince is having no followers.”
“Fear sometimes saves, and curiosity kills.”

10 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

Luck comes to them through a woman or a goddaughter, and if they treat her well, Oshún rewards them.
With five yellow hens for Oshún and a rooster for Eshu, with plenty of honey, they obtain what they wish for.
By receiving Ode and Osain, they achieve what they set out to do.

Osogbo · what the sign warns

There is stubbornness, and the person has disputes with those around them.
Their curiosity can cost them their life: if they feel a fright or a hunch and set about finding the reason, they expose themselves to danger.
The man has a woman with whom he falls ill every time he is with her, because she belongs to Olofin.

50 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 Iwori Ka · Ìbí

Arguing.
Skill in the feet: this person is a dancer, a runner, a jumper.
The taste for hunting.
The turtle wood (Igi Aya Ura), which has the gift of speech and serves for sorcery.

What is forbidden · Eewó

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

You must not get into dispute or quarrel with those around you.
You must not seduce the wives of your friends.
You must respect them to avoid problems.
If you find your wife doing something improper, do not try to kill her.
You will die in prison from sorrow.
You must not look into the cause when you have a hunch.
Out of curiosity you could lose your life.
This odu forbids frequent visits of men and women to the house.
That is where the breakup of the marriage comes from.

Ebbós of Iwori Ka · The sacrifices that open the road

LuckEbbó for the iré🔒 The Notebook EgunWork of the flowers at the cemetery🔒 The Notebook ProsperityEbbó of the turtle wood🔒 The Notebook AdulteryEbbó against the tragedy of passion🔒 The Notebook

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

Works of Iwori Ka · The workings of the sign

OsainTurtle wood (Igi Aya Ura)🔒 The Notebook EshuEshú on the roof🔒 The Notebook EgunMass for the dead Awó🔒 The Notebook

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

Patakíes of Iwori Ka · The roads of the Odù

1The messenger dove

A certain town was inhabited by people of a calm nature. One day some of its men needed to travel to a more distant land, and their route crossed a town of warriors, where an army always lived ready to fight.

Seeing the travelers pass, the soldiers went out to face them, convinced that they were coming to attack. The fighting was fierce and, although the soldiers were well trained, they could not overcome the travelers.

Their chief proposed surrounding them: they were strong, but since they did not carry enough provisions, hunger would eventually make them surrender.

The leader of the travelers used to carry, every time they left their territory, a cage of messenger doves. He proposed releasing them, since they were thirsty: if they came back, it would be a sign that the siege had been broken, and they would also inform his town, which would send help; if they did not come back, the siege was still in place.

The doves flew away until they disappeared. One of them rested for a moment on an olive tree before going on. The army's chief saw it and understood that those men had never come to make war on them, as he had believed. Then he let them continue on their way.

What it teaches

Attacking without finding out what the other seeks creates adversaries who did not exist. A calm sign of peace can prevent a great conflict.

2The woodcutter and the tree that spoke

Akelu, a woodcutter, was upset because he worked and never had money. He consulted Orunmila, who saw this odu in his reading and recommended an ebbó. Akelu left it undone and went off to the forest to cut trees.

Eshu noticed that the ebbó was missing and put a tortoise in a hollow at the foot of the tree Akelu was about to fell. When Akelu raised the axe to strike, the tortoise began to sing. Frightened, he dropped the axe and fled toward the town shouting that the tree had a voice. The king had him come and answered that he doubted his word, although he sent messengers to verify it, and they came back terrified.

Akelu went back to Orunmila, who performed the ebbó that had remained pending. Then Eshu explained to him: “It is the tortoise face of Osain. From today that tree will be called Igi Aya Ura, or tortoise wood, and it will be able to speak. It will be a secret of Aroní and of Osain, and you will be able to sell its wood for sorcery.” With those sales of wood Akelu became rich.

What it teaches

Putting off the ebbó that Ifá indicates does not save effort, because what is left pending returns in another form. When it is finally carried out, what seemed a threat becomes a source of wealth.

Pending ebbó

Orunmila marked an ebbó for Akelu, who did not make it at first. After hearing the tree speak, he came back and Orunmila performed the missing ebbó. Its full list is in the complete treatise.

Prayer of this path

IWORI BOKA ADIFAFUN AKELUK KONISHE EBO, UNLO IGBO BIRI ADIFAFUN ESHU ABI IGI AYA URA KAFEREFUN ORUNMILA.

Súyere of this path

AMBE IGI KOKOKUA IKU EMBELORI KOKOKUA ARUN EMBELORI KOKOKUA OFO EMBELORI KOKOKUA EYO EMBELORI KOKOKUA

What the turtle sang under the tree

AMBE LE KOLOKUA EYO

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

3The yam that slandered the malanga

The yam and the malanga were disputing before Orunmila over which of them was more needed. The yam, bigger and stronger, humiliated the malanga all the time. Orunmila had them appear so as to hear them both, and told them that he valued them and needed the two of them.

The yam, proud, claimed that it served Orunmila, Obatalá and all the Saints, and asked with disdain what its rival was good for, adding that once Oshún had picked her up and had stained her. Orunmila knew this was not true, so he looked at the malanga. She answered modestly that it had indeed happened, although she was not to blame.

This is how the quarrel between the two began. What remains is the lesson that it is not good to argue with those who live around us.

What it teaches

Boasting of one's own strength in order to put another down does not change the truth. Whoever listens to both sides sees who speaks justly, and the humble person does not need to shout to defend herself. With people close to us, quarreling out of pride brings nothing good.

4The woman who spoke ill of Orunmila🔒 The Notebook 5The adultery🔒 The Notebook 6Curiosity🔒 The Notebook 7When Kusika stole by night🔒 The Notebook 8The thieves and the toads🔒 The Notebook 9The wise advice🔒 The Notebook 10The monkey woman🔒 The Notebook 11The land of plenty🔒 The Notebook 12The bear betrays Orunmila🔒 The Notebook 13The three filters🔒 The Notebook 14The mason's last house🔒 The Notebook 15The tree that speaks🔒 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 Iwori Ka in Spanish →

Frequently asked questions about Iwori Ka

What does the Odù Iwori Ka mean in Ifá?

Stubbornness, adultery and dramas of passion: whoever kills by iron dies by iron, and the wife becomes infatuated with her husband's best friend.

What number is Iwori Ka among the 256 Odù of Ifá?

Iwori Ka is Odù number 56 of the 256 in Ifá, part of the Iwori family.

Which orishas speak in Iwori Ka?

In the Odù Iwori Ka these orishas speak: Orunmila, Eshú, Oshún, Ode (Oshosi), Osain / Aroní, Eggun, Olofin.

What is a proverb of the Odù Iwori Ka?

One of the proverbs of Iwori Ka says: «Whoever kills by iron dies by iron.».

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