At the Ifa Foundation we sped an enormous amount of our time attempting to get people to see the broader picture. The larger picture of their own lives, how it relates to their family, relationships, community and the planet we live on. It is an uphill battle. In this culture we have been taught the wonders of short-term gratification. We want what we want, and we want it now!

The wise men and women of the Yoruba culture were far more intelligent. They understood that we are part of an incredibly complex organism, and that the secret of success was to be integrated properly within it. Indeed, their brilliant observations included not only identifying the almost endless energies by their characteristics, but in addition, discovering the best way to connect and work with them. The results are the philosophy of Ifa.

It might well be equated with music. A brilliant piece of music has an underlying theme, rhythm, and beat. While it is composed of a series of individual notes, it only becomes complete and meaningful when they are strung together, and relate in a specific form.

In our culture we are always looking for the clash of the symbols, and the reality that it has nothing to do with the music, rhythm, and form of the universe, but actually disrupts the symphony, is ignored.

We must learn to hear the music, perceive the structure, and place ourselves into the power and beauty of the composition. Despite our Western arrogance, we will not impose our view on the universe that Oludumare created.