One of the most important things you can do to begin
your journey is to find out exactly which Orisa crowns your head, along
with the life path that you selected for your Destiny. This can only be
accomplished through a competent Babalawo or Iyanifa.
At the Ifa Foundation we offer Life/Guardian readings
by either Oluwo Philip John Neimark ( author of: "The
way of The Orisa & The Sacred Ifa Oracle" ) or Iyanifa
Vassa. For specific information click here.
After this important first step, spend some time
and contemplation connecting with, understanding and feeling comfortable
with the attributes of the energy you have chosen. For example-
if your Primary orisa is Yemonja, try and go to the Ocean, or a large
body of water if you are not close to an ocean - and sit there - watch
the water - listen to what is around - bring an offering -there are different
ones and you can learn more about this as we go.
If your energy is Osun - go a river, If your energy is Esu, Ogun, Obatala,
Oko, Sango - go into the woods. If your energy is Oya - find a windy spot
and listen etc.
DAILY - YOU SHOULD START YOUR DAY WITH A PRAYER TO
ORUNMILA - There is a suggested one in the book “The Way of the
Orisa” - you could use this as a guide and then add parts that you
feel compelled to - remember to keep it simple and clear.
DAILY - YOU SHOULD SPEND SOME TIME WITH THE ORISA
OF THE DAY - You will find the information for this also in our book.
This helps you start to build a relationship with each energy. Go slow
and get to understand. You may start to build little altars to each as
you go.
MONTHLY - ANCESTOR WORSHIP - This is a very powerful
experience for everyone. And, it costs you nothing! To learn more click
here.
MONTHLY -
IN THE BEGINNING IT WOULD BE WISE TO GET A GENERAL
READING TO GET YOURSELF FIRMLY SET UP AND MOVING ON THE PATH CORRECTLY
- Think of it as a tune up. You will get lots of wisdom and turn things
around quickly through this.
WEEKLY - READ THE WEBSITE -
WWW.IFAFOUNDATION.ORG
- Every week Oluwo Philip Neimark does a reading for those who are
not initiated, and this will give you a general feel of the week’s
energy. The readings contain the ebbo to do. You will gain lots of wisdom
from following this and going through these processes…and your life
will go better!
WORKSHOPS -
SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR WE OFFER
3 DAY WORKSHOPS WHERE WE TEACH THE ACCUMULATION OF OUR YEARS OF GROWING
IN THIS PATH. We post the dates on the site along with a general view
of what to expect. We do these at our retreat, Ola
Olu land where we have the Orisa Gardens set up and where we do the
ceremonies. We will do head cleansings, readings and ceremonies during
these workshops as well. So many people have
had life changing experiences from attending one.
THERE ARE TOOLS WE CAN MAKE THAT CAN HELP YOU TAKE
THE NEXT STEP. Using our ase, our wisdom and our deep connection with
all the energies of Ifa and doing this with good Iwa Pele - we can make
you tools
for specific use that can help you to improve the quality of life and
bring you closer to the energies.
ONE OF THE FIRST TOOLS - RECEIVING YOUR OWN PERSONAL
ESU - a sculpture is built by Iyalawo Vassa and Oluwo Neimark with
Orunmila’s guidance. It is then consecrated, triangulating your name
and personal energy throughout the process. We pray over your Esu - asking
the doors and paths and roads to open to create great opportunity for
you.
We send this out with an instruction sheet on how to work with Esu’s
energy.
Note that later on - you can receive many different Esu’s made
for specific purposes. There is an Esu for each Orisa - such as Esu/Ogun,
Esu/Osun, etc. There is an Esu/Sigiti for protection and a traveling Esu.
These are smaller and can sit on the dashboard of your car or in your
purse or briefcase.
ICOFA - ONE HAND OF ORUNMILA - this connects
you directly with Orunmila’s energy - wisdom and knowledge ( this
is what a Babalawo and an Iyalawo use to divine with) This is a set of
Ikin that are consecrated in a major ceremony and then after 3 days a
reading is done to determine your Life Path connection to this energy.
You do not need to be present. This is a very important part to knowing
who you are and about your destiny - we type this reading up and send
it to you with the Ikin (both men and women MUST get a full set of 16
plus two extra) and we enclose an instruction sheet as well. Upon your
review we ask you to call us with any questions. Each and every month
(at the beginning of each month) we post an Icofa
reading on the website as a courtesy to all who have received this ceremony
and this will tell you the energy of the month as well as give you an
ebbo to follow. You will gain enormous power when you do this regularly.
THERE ARE THREE LEGS THAT WE STAND UPON
1. THE ANCESTORS
2. ORUNMILA AND THE ORISAS
3. ORI / DESTINY
RECEIVING ORI
- This is about reconnecting to your original destiny which you selected
at the moment you were conceived. THIS IS A BIG CEREMONY - A REAL
LIFE CHANGING MOMENT IN TIME. PROFOUND. YOU MUST BE PRESENT FOR THIS.
WE MAKE A THREE LEGGED STAFF FOR YOU AND YOU COME WITH A ROCK THAT HAS
CALLED TO YOU. WE NEED A FEW HOURS OF YOUR LIFE AND WE DO A MALE AND FEMALE
BALANCING OF ENERGY WITH A UNIQUE SACRIFICE.
AT THIS POINT - Your level of commitment and base
of working with the energy will lead you. IF YOU WANT TO GO FURTHER AND
LEARN - To get the seeds planted that will allow you to divine and become
initiated - there are various levels.
For a woman - She can go from a guardian reading,
to receiving an Esu, to receiving Icofa, to becoming a priest of her Orisa,
to becoming an Ifa priest - Iyalawo or Iyanifa and then the highest level,
Nana Buuken
For a man - The steps are the same except at
the end - he would become a Babalawo and then an Oluwo by receiving the
Igba Iwa.
THIS IS HOW WE BALANCE IN IFA - THE MALE AND FEMALE
ENERGY WORKING TOGETHER.
Initiating with the Ifa Foundation starts with 4
days of living on the retreat where ceremonies are performed and teaching
begins. This is the best time of your life. This is the start to the rest
of your life. We continue our educating you through email and phone
and invitations back to the retreat to do the ceremonial work. It is a
process and we keep a growing relationship with each initiate.
THERE ARE OTHER CEREMONIES THAT WE INCLUDE IN OUR
“TOOLS” SECTION ON THE SITE.
(Weddings, Sheddings, Head Cleansings, Aje for prosperity, Osain for
protection and control, Sigiti for warding off any negativity, Pinardo
for removal of negative energy, Abuse ceremonies and various ceremonies
that come up in a specific reading.
The Ifa Foundation offers over 30 years of experience.
We have created a leading website to teach Ifa for no charge for over
7 years. We have a 9 acre retreat devoted to the teaching and ceremonial
work for Ifa along with the Orisa gardens.
