The Life of Ika Meji
The continuous biography of this odù's own spiritual evolution — celestial works, then earthly works — told as one unfolding life. Click any title to read it.
Ika Meyi in Heaven
In heaven Ika Meyi was called Ikere Iyansi. He was a very powerful Awo with many followers under his command, including Ekpe Koun and Enikue Koun --- the small oil and the small thread --- who one day performed divination for Utukpa, the lantern.
The lantern was told to make sacrifice with an akukó and an adié. He did, and afterward was given a human being as slave to serve him until eternity. That is why, to this day, a human being is the one who refills the fuel of the lantern and revives its flame when it is about to go out.
People frequently call a child to refill the lantern's fuel. If no one is around, the person does the service for the lantern themselves.
Food, air, water, and peace are important to the human body --- they act on their own. But the lantern is helped only by humans.
When this odu falls in divination, the person is told to make sacrifice. If a man, a woman comes to marry him for free, who will serve him obediently and loyally to the end of his life. If a woman, she will find a new husband who will serve her like a slave, who will never think of marrying another woman after marrying her.
The Patakín Corpus — 1 to 8
Presented in strict numerical order as in the source Tratado. Click any title to read it.
01Where Orunmila Danced with the Heads of His Enemies
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Patakín:
Olofin had many animals in the patios and gardens of his palace, but his enemies grew accustomed to stealing them. One day Orunmila discovered them --- and for this reason all the thieves bore him ill will and conspired to destroy him, watching him day and night.
It happened that Orunmila's wife was pregnant and one day she craved peanuts. To please her, Orunmila went to Olofin's granary to gather some --- but on coming out, his enemies surprised him and conspired together: "Look how the honest Orunmila steals from Olofin!"
Orunmila, seeing himself discovered and to keep Olofin from finding out, went straight to Olofin and said: "Father, in the bush they are forming a great revolution against you --- and the ringleaders already have most of the people on their side." Olofin asked what was to be done. Orunmila made osode and this Ifá appeared, prescribing ebbo with all the ringleaders, given afterward to the saints.
Olofin ordered it done at once. Orunmila told Elegba to bring him the animals --- but with their mouths tied so they could not speak. Each time Elegba brought one, Orunmila sacrificed it, and after killing them all, he danced with the heads --- the heads of those who had been his enemies. Thus Orunmila danced over the heads of all his enemies after defeating them.
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