I find three concepts from clinical psychology helpful in looking at some of the ways we stop ourselves from becoming whole. “Flight from wholeness” is called repression. This refers to burying a basic part of who we are, a fundamental drive, within the unconscious. Once it is buried, we forget we buried it and have no conscious awareness of that part of our nature. A common outcome is physical illness.

If we block a basic drive in our psyche, it can hit the physical body as illness serves unconscious needs. For example, the individual who is extremely strong, competent and capable may have a hard time facing her vulnerable, dependent, childlike side. If she represses her need to sometimes lean on other people, physical illness can become her only route to being taken care of.  This is not the most comfortable way of getting closeness needs met, but no one ever accused the unconscious of being perfect — only of striving to fit in the missing parts. Read the rest of this entry

Human beings, by their nature, experience conflict. That is, none of us (on this plane of existence) is so highly evolved as to have our whole act together. We are all learning and growing. And the path of growth includes making peace between the various warring factions that often exist within our psyches.

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What Ifá is not…

1. Ifá is not an Association of “Religions”
2. Ifá is not a “Traditional” or Cultural Association
3. Ifá is not a Secret Society or Cult.
4. Ifá is not a Confraternity.
5. Ifá is neither a Traditional Religion nor is it limited to Africa.
6. Ifá does not judge.
7. Ifá does not favor anyone.

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Ifa Cosmology

According to Ifa cosmology, the Source of Creation is Olorun. The word Olorun translates as “Owner of Heaven.” Owner is used here in the metaphysical sense of owning a secret or being the Source of a Mystery. Heaven in Ifa cosmology is that invisible real that guides evolution. Olorun is the Mystery of Source which is considered to be beyond human comprehension. When Ifa describes Forces in Nature, it refers to those invisible manifestations of Creation that are believed to flow from Olorun. All of the spirits that are recognizeds by Ifa are considered to be knowable aspects of Olorun, while the essense of Olorun remains a Mystery.

When the universe came into Being at the moment of Creation, it was Olodumare, who was given the task of sustaining all that is. Olodumare comes from the root Olo Odu, meaning “Owner of Odu” or “Owner of First Principle.” Mare is a contraction of Osumare who is the Spirit of the Rainbow. In Nature, the rainbow is one of the purest manifestation of light. Olodumare could be translated to mean “The Source of those Forces in Nature that generate the spectrum of light.” As the Owner of Odu, Olodumare can be described as the Mystical Cauldron that contains all the potential forms that manifest from Creation. Read the rest of this entry

Nowhere is the profundity and beauty of African spirituality more apparent than in the Odu Ifa, the sacred text of the spiritual and ethical tradition of Ifa, which is one of the greatest sacred texts of the world and a classic of African and world literature. Its central message revolves around the teachings of the Goodness of and in the world; the chosen status of humans in the world; the criteria of a good world; and the requirements for a good world. Although these themes are throughout the Odu Ifa, nowhere are they more explicit than in Odu Irosun Iwori. The Odu begins by declaring “Let’s do things with joy…” For it is understood that the world was created in goodness and that we are to find good in the world, embrace it, increase it, and not let any good be lost. It is obvious here that all is not well with the world, given the poverty, oppression, exploitation and general suffering of people. But inherent in this firm belief in the good that is found in the Odu Ifa is the faith that in the midst of the worst of situations there are good people, good will and possibilities for creating good, increasing good, and thus constantly expanding the realm of good. Read the rest of this entry

OGBE OWORIN

(Day of Weeping)

This is the Odu that shares why Ifa is worshiped every five days. We Babalawos give respect by performing this ritual, here and in Nigeria, because of the ability of Orunmila/Esu to combat Death… Read the rest of this entry

It is the view of Ifa that all things on earth, and in our entire universe, are conscious and alive. Everything possesses its own awareness and energy. These infinite, natural energies that comprise the universe are called Orisa. Each has its own specific function and its own myriad aspects, as well as its own unique name. Modern people have likened Orisa to Gods, or anthropomorphic forces with human-like characteristics; however, this simply isn’t accurate. Orisa is energy. It is Divinity revealed through Nature. It is the energy of the forest (Ogun), of the ocean (Yemonja), of the wind (Oya); of opportunity (Esu), of love (Osun), of peace (Obatala) and of war (Sango); of everything found under, and beyond, the Sun.

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Ifa is an indigenous, earth centered African spiritual tradition which was conceptualized by the Yoruba people of Nigeria, West Africa. According to oral literature, the practice of Ifa originated as far back as eight thousand years ago. Therefore, Ifa may indeed be the oldest monotheistic religion in the world.

Ifa is balanced on three legs; Orunmila (Creator), Orisa (Nature Spirits), and the Ancestors.

The Supreme Being, Olodumare, is without gender and is not an active participant in the affairs of living humans. Ol0dumare is benevolent and has provided a Universe with all that is needed for humans to be fulfilled and happy. Read the rest of this entry