ᐈ Ifa 【What it is, Meaning, Sayings and MORE】

ifa It is and is known as a divinatory practice. However, ifa goes far beyond this practice and at the same time forms a deep and extensive African religious system that also encompasses a set of beliefs belonging to the religion Yoruba.

To know more about ifa and everything that surrounds this system that is an essential part of Santeria, I invite you to continue reading this article.

Ifa: what is it

ifa it is a vast and complex religious method whose origin is imprecise. In fact, this system has more than 5000 years of existence and comes from a West African population called Yoruba. It contains, in particular, all the secrets relating to spiritual evolution. Especially in him is also the life of every human being.

As a result, the system ifa It covers, among other things, the stories of how the universe was formed, as well as the moment and formation of human beings. It also contains the creation of nature, of animals and in the same way, of plants. However, there is the destiny of each person and his mission on earth. That is, the explanation of the creation of the whole world is given.

In Santeria there are also legends that are of great importance and at the same time are passed from generation to generation, they are called Patakies. It is through these stories and legends that we can learn about the life of the orishas, ​​in the same way learn about their triumphs and failures. As a result, they leave useful teachings for our lives. For example, this pataki tells the story how Orunmila was appointed to be the Orisha with the power of divination.

Orunmila’s pataki in Ifa

One day, Olodumare prepared to send Orunmila to earth and before doing so, he called him and gave him 16 barrels full of wisdom. Immediately without specifying what they had, he told her that he should drink them.

Orumnila immediately obeyed and began to drink them and as soon as he started, the biggest barrel of all fell to the ground and broke into pieces. However, Olodumare was not upset but told Orunmila to collect the pieces of the barrel that broke. He also told her that he should scrape the floor so that no trace of the pieces would remain.

In such a way that, Orunmila without hesitating did what he was ordered. So, after picking it up, Olodumare ordered him to eat it all. After this Olodumare confessed that what was in the barrels was “Wisdom”. From this moment it will accompany you all your life. Meanwhile, she will allow you to enrich yourself spiritually and in the same way she will allow you to see much further, especially in a spiritual and complete way.

Consequently, after spending seven days, Orunmila noticed that he could see and know things from the past, as well as the situations that were occurring in the present, and he was also able to see those that had not yet happened on earth, that is, from the future. .

After that, the rumor of the wisdom that Orunmila received by drinking from the barrels spread rapidly and reached the Irunmole (spirits of nature, celestial divinities that were never human). At the same time, the Irunmole’s insistence on Esu (Orisha, intermediary between men and deities) was so great that Esu then found himself in need of telling them what happened to the barrels. Likewise, he told them that Orunmila had collected everything, even the broken pieces and had eaten them, therefore there was nothing left.

Even so, the Irunmole were so desperate to have some wisdom that despite Esu’s words, they went to the place where all this happened and scraped the ground, believing in this way that they would obtain some wisdom and that they would share it with Orunmila. . Later, when Orunmila was on earth, he was the only one capable of interpreting Olodumare’s designs. And he did it through the divination system of the Ifá rule.

It can equally be said that ifa It is the means by which Orunmila interprets the messages of Olodumare. Actually this power remains and connects with Ifá.

Ifa Signs and their Meaning

The Oduns of ifa or signs of ifa, make up the divinatory system of the Osha rule, ifa or also called santeria which allows predictions to be made through the message sent by the Orishas. However, this prediction or message must be interpreted by a competent person and previously consecrated in religion. For this, a Babalawo is consulted, who will certainly have the wisdom for divination.

Basically we can say that the signs are the result of the experiences left by the rule ifa through the study of life and nature. First divination system ifa It is composed of 16 main oddun. Secondly, each main oddun has 16 signs that are formed from the combination of these main odduns. In such a way that Orunmila has 256 signs in total to carry out the divination. Each of them is named below, in addition to their combinations:

eyiogbe

Baba Eyiogbe.Ogbe Yekun.Wañe.Ogbe Di.Ogbe Roso.Juani OgbeOgbe Bara.Ogbe Kana.Yono.Ogbe Sa.Ika.Tumako.Tua.Ogbe Ate.Ogbe She.Fun Ogbe.

oyekun

Oyekun Meyi.Nilogbe Oyekun.Piti.Oyekun Di.Biroso.Oyekun Juani.Oyekun Bara.Foloko Kana.Oyekun Funda.Birikusa.Oyekun Bika.Oyekun Batrupon.Tesia.Oyekun Birete.Pakioshe.Berdura.

Iwori

Iwori Meyi.Bogbe Iwori.Iwori Yekun.Iwori Odi.Koso Iwori.Iwori Juani.Obere.Iwori Kana.Ogunda Iwori.Iwori Bosaso.Iwori Boka.Batrupon Iwori.Turale Iwori.Iwori Rete.Iwori Boshe.Bofun Iwori.

odi

Odi Meyi.Edibre.Odi Yekun.Oroi.Odi Roso.Moni.Odi Bara.Odi Kana.Ogunda Odi.Odi Sa.Odi Ka.Trupon Odi.Odi Taurus.Leke.Odi She.Odi Fumbo.

irony

Iroso Meyi.Umbo.Iroso Matelekun.Iroso Wori.Odi Iroso.Iroso Juani.Gan.Iroso Kana.Tolda.Iroso Sa.Iroso Ka.Batrupon Iroso.Tualara.Iroso Ate.Iroso She.Fumbo Iroso.

ojuani

Ojuani Meyi.Shorbe.Ojuani Yekun.Tanshela.Shidi.Beautiful.Ojuani Obara.Pokon.Ojuani Ogunda.Ojuani Bosaso.Boka.Ojuani Batrupon.Alakentu.Ojuani Birete.Boshe Ojuani.Ojuani Bofun.

Obara

Obara-Meyi.Obara-Bogbe.Yekun Obara.Wo.Obara Di.Koso Obara.Juani-Obara.Obara Kana.Kuña.Obara Sa.Kasika.Obara Trupon.Kushiyo.Rete Obara.Moroshe.Obara Fun.

okana

Okana Meyi.SordeOkana Yekun.Gio.Okana Di.Roso Okana.Okana Juani.Bara Okana.Okana Ogunda.Okana Sa.Ka Okana.Okana Trupon.Okana Turale.Wete.Okana She.Okana Fun.

ogunda

Ogunda Meyi.BiodeOgunda Yekun.Kuaneye.Dio.Ogunda Roso.Ogunda Leni.Bara Ogunda.Ogunda Kana.Masa.Ogunda Ka.Ogunda Trupon.Tetura.Kete.Ogunda She.Ogunda Fun.

bear

Osa Meyi.Lofobeyo.Osa Yekun.Woriwo.Osa Di.Osa Roso.Leni Osa.Osa Bara.Osa Kana.Kuleya.Osa Ka.Osa Trupon.Eure.Osa Rete.She Osa.Osa Fun.

Ika

Ika Meyi Bemi.Ika Yeku.Wori.Ika Di.Ika Roso.Junko.Ika Bara.Ika Kana.Ogunda Ika.Ika Sa.Ika Trupon.Otura.Ika Rete.Fa She.Ika Fun.

otrupon

Otrupon MeyiBekonwa.Otrupon Yekun.Adakino.Otrupon Di.Otrupon Koso.Ñao.Baraife.Otrupon Kana.Guede.Otrupon Sa.Otrupon Ka.Tauro Otrupon.Otrupon Birete.Otrupon She.Fun Otrupon.

other

Otura MeyiNiko.Otura Yekun.Otura Iwori.Di Otura.Otura Roso.Lakentu.Otura Bara.Tiku.Aira.Otura Sa.Ka Otura.Otura Trupon.Tiyu.Otura She.Adakoy.

go away

Irete Meyi.Untelu.Irete Yekun.Yero.Untedi.Lazo.Wan Wan.Oba.Irete Kana.Kutan.Ansa.Irete Ka.Irete Batrupon.Suka.Unfa.File.

oshe

Oshe Meyi.Nilogbe.Oshe Yekun.Paure.Oshe Di.Leso.Niwo.Oshe Bara.Foloko Kana.Omoluo.Sa Oshe.Oshe Ka.Oshe Trupon.Tura.Oshe Bile.Oshe Fun.

Ofun

Ofun Meyi.Nalbe.Yemilo.Gando.Ofun Di.Ofun Koso.Funi.Ofun Bara.Kana Ofun.Ofun Funda.Sa Ofun.Ofun Ka.Batrupon Ofun.Tempolá.Ofun Bile.Ofun She.

sayings

Inside the Osha- ifa (which is just another name for religion Yoruba or Lucumí or Regla de Osha or Santeria) the interpreter of ifa You should primarily know the stories of this religion.

However, due to the transculturation that this religion suffered when it arrived in South America, African proverbs were taken and adapted into proverbs so that they could be understood later by the people who attended the consultations.

They are basically part of his divinatory system. As a result, the level of adaptation to these sayings means that the babalawo cannot carry out a consultation without saying a divinatory saying to the consultant. In fact, each sign contains one or more sayings, which to its credit add up to more than 1210.

We let you know some sayings that are part of the Oddun combinations, for example:

Eyiogbe Ifa Sayings

Baba Ejiogbe: understanding, thought and wisdom are the energies that make the earth move.Ogbe Yekun: to do evil there is no little man.

Sayings Oyekun Ifa

Oyekun Meyi: the drops of water can never fall alone.Nilogbe Oyekun: what was lost a long time ago will appear again.

Iwori Ifa Sayings

Iwori Bogbe: you are not like the dog that always follows its master.Iwori Yekun: flies do not enter a closed mouth.

Odi Ifa Sayings

Edit: if a mother gives birth to a child, she can be born again from her him.Oroi: if we have wisdom and we don’t use it, we become ignorant.

Iroso Ifa Sayings

Umbo: You don’t need to be in a hurry to get there.Iroso Wori: do not take what is not yours.

Ojuani Ifa Sayings

Ojuani Shorbe: the bad without a teacher is learned.Tanshela: If you can’t fulfill an obligation you must be frank.

Obara Ifa Sayings

Wow: money can dirty a person’s will.Koso Obara: there is one virtue, there are many evils.

Okana Ifa Sayings

Gi: Play dead so you can watch the burial they’re going to do for you.Okana Say: each one with what corresponds to it.

Ogunda Ifa Sayings

Kuaneye: tree that is pruned, sprouts again.Gave: nothing tires you if the desire you have is firm.

Osa Ifa Sayings

Woriro: your best friend is always your worst enemy.Osa Bara: the one who persists triumphs.

Ika Ifa Sayings

Ika Wori: something hidden can be discovered.Ika Junco: bad people do not take into account their actions before acting.

Otrupon Ifa Sayings

Adakino: He came to visit and stayed alive.Nao: what the king has left over is a delicacy for the rest.

Otura Ifa Sayings

Niko: The sun rises for everyone but you.lakentu: If a child does not know his father, the earth is not right.

Irete Ifa Sayings

Tell me: The working man is rarely in need. Wan Wan: he who imitates always fails.

Oshe Ifa Sayings

Oshe Nilogbe: To sentence a trial, both parties must be heard.Niwo: eyes that do not see, heart that does not suffer.

Ofun Ifa Sayings

Nalbe: The thought of a wolf is enough to kill a sheep.Funi: Justice takes time but arrives.

Odun of Ifa

The Odun are the signs, letters, ideograms or variants that make up the divination system ifaThey are also known as Meyis.

It is a system that has 16 main odduns and from the combination between them, basically 256 odduns are formed. However, because this system is so broad, there is a record of it in which the name and characteristics of each oddun are specified in an orderly manner.

Despite time, to this day it is a system that is maintained and respected in religion…