In the sacred Odu Ogbetura, it clearly states: "Throughout the teachings of Ifa it has been clearly expressed that human beings cannot live peacefully without offering sacrifices. Little sacrifices avert premature death."

In many ways it has become quite clear that those who were not directly impacted by the Terrorist acts of September 11, have also been severely damaged. I receive call after call, conversation after conversation, with individuals who are disrupting their plans and life styles because of those horrible events. People afraid to travel, fearful every time they walk into a crowd, canceling tickets to sporting events and the theater. People who feel that the world they once thought they had control of, is out of control! Because of this, they are afraid.

One of the great strengths of Ifa is that it places the issue of Control in perspective. Unlike the Cartesian ( Western ) world view which has sought to have man take control over his world through scientific methodology, Ifa has always understood that we cannot control the world! Western scientists sold man on the concept that, " if you could break things down to their smallest component parts, then you could re-arrange them in the manner you choose." Indeed, from this concept, they were originally called " Atomists." This human arrogance, which flowed from a religious view point that identified man as "supreme" and in charge of the Earth and it's creatures, flew in the face of tens of thousands of years of earth based peoples understanding of the necessity of working with the universe they were part of. Ifa, foremost among them, understood this non-supremacist symbiotic point of view.

It was patently absurd to believe you could control the world.but Western civilization is based upon this unsupportable premise. People have managed to cling to this absurdity primarily by separating, or dichotomizing, events. When the earthquake, tornado or hurricane shattered our homes and communities, it was categorized as a "natural disaster" Something we would live with until science figured out a way of protecting us. When El Nino caused worldwide drought and climatic shifts that virtually destroyed certain areas of the world, it was placed in the same category. But, when 20 zealots take over four airplanes, and destroy our landmarks as well as the lives of thousands who believed they were in control of their lives, we have no place to put it. If they could be killed in an instant in the safety of the world's tallest structure, while sitting at their desks in their offices, or while flying back to work or to see loved ones, then who could ever be safe again?

In many ways I think this shattering of the Western illusion of control may be their ultimate goal.

Ifa has always allowed us to have individual control within the energy matrix of the universe we are part of. Through divination we are able to adjust our own infinitesimal thread in the universe. To assure that we are not in the path of hurricane, accident or, indeed, terrorist!

In the sacred odu Ogbetura, it clearly states: "Throughout the teachings of Ifa it has been clearly expressed that human beings cannot live peacefully without offering sacrifices. Little sacrifices avert premature death." Through Ifa, through keeping our balance emotionally and spiritually as well as temporally, and through divination, we do have individual control of our lives. We can exercise this individual control only because we understand we cannot exercise total control. By accepting the divine nature of the universe, and our own place within it, we can give up the illusion of control, and accomplish genuine control. With it will come a return to peace, personal safety, fulfillment and empowerment.

Blessings

Philip Neimark
Oluwo