The decision to initiate is one of the most important decisions anyone can make in their life. It is a decision that should be based on a great deal of thought and consideration. It is equivalent to deciding what college or university can best provide you with the information and training necessary to be most successful in your career. If becoming a practicing priest or priestess is your goal, it is exactly the same!

In many respects, we created the Ifa Foundation as a University for Orisa Knowledge. It was created to provide access to information, not prohibitions against receiving it. It was designed to be inclusive, not restricted. It was designed for open access to individuals from all over the world, not as a segregated community prohibited from interrelationships with others. It was structured to provide the very best in Orisa training to those of good character.

This is not to imply we have exclusivity on these ideas. It is to state, that any that deal with those that do not share these standards are going to the equivalent of an unaccredited trade school. It is, ultimately, a decision that will shape the rest of your life!

I, like so many Westerners, was originally initiated in a garage at the rear of the Babalawo's home, in a crowded section of Chicago. Others, in New York, Detroit, Miami etc. have undoubtedly had similar experiences. While some preparation had taken place prior to the actual initiation, 99% of the process took place during that one-week period. And, 95% of that process took place on the single evening of the sacrifices and ritual for the initiation. In addition, the process was both arduous and demeaning. The arduous could be forgiven, as a "rite of passage", but the demeaning, could not. It stemmed, not from the ritualistic differences between Ifa and Santeria, but from a strongly cultural bias that extols machismo and demeans women. Following the initiation, virtually no training or instruction was either given or offered. Indeed, the veil of secrecy that had shrouded my Lucumi experience, and which I presumed would be lifted following my initiation, turned in a steel curtain. Foreboding tales of "young Babalawos losing their heads when they tried to go 'over' older Babalawos," made it quite clear that the caste system remained the same.only the titles had changed. When I would ask for an explanation, I was told it was "too early" for me know, or that it was a "secret."

So, I had to find out on my own. I did, but most others are either not so fortunate or determined. Nor, should it be necessary.

As a result of our own initiations, The Foundation became determined to make the path to priesthood as nurturing and empowering as possible.

Initiation is a process of birth, or re-birth. This accurately defines the new born, and vulnerable, condition of the initiate. Our view, and approach, is to make the path prior to initiation, initiation itself, and the period following initiation, as nurturing, powerful, and loving, as possible. From the time the initiate arrives at Ola Olu, and places their tent in the Garden of the Orisa they will crown, they are encouraged to open emotionally to the positive energy of the natural setting which surrounds them. Nurturing cleansings from the priests, or priestesses that will help conduct their ceremony, follow a day of decompression, of simply allowing the stress and negative energies to peel slowly away, The ceremony itself is conducted with an emphasis on the love and appreciation for the ase' of the animals that make their journey into priesthood possible, as well as the love and ase' of those conducting the ceremony. It should not be a frightening, or terrifying experience. The entrance into their new life can once again be compared to the birth of a child. Unlike the modern technological approach that seeks an efficient childbirth, and that may well use drugs or forceps to forcibly eject the child from the mother's womb, our approach is more of the traditional Midwife. We want the mother (who is about to be initiated) as comfortable and assured as possible. We want the child (as the initiation takes place) to enter this world with love, compassion and a feeling of safety.

Following the actual ceremony, the initiate needs even more nurturing and care. Rather than a time of noisy celebration, it should be a time of quiet introspection and growth. The beginnings of profound energy changes have been initiated, and they need the most nourishing conditions to grow. At Ola Olu we feel that a proper time for celebration is on the one-year anniversary of the persons initiation.

In the days following initiation, the new priest should immerse himself or herself in the natural energies offered at Ola Olu. Quiet time spent sitting at, or meditating in front of, the various Orisa gardens will go a long way towards allowing the new neural connections to take root and grow. For these days, other than for emergencies, the cacophony of Western life should be left behind. Newspapers, books, t.v. Computers and phone calls must not intrude on the delicate, but profound, changes taking place.

There are differences in the approach to Orisa initiation and Ifa initiation. Those who come for initiation as Babalawo or Iyanifa will begin a vigorous training program almost immediately following their initiations. The difference lies in the energy itself. Without the proper foundation in understanding the mechanics and logic behind divination, the energy created at initiation has no anchor. So, before they leave Ola Olu, the Ifa initiate will possess a complete basic understanding of how to perform their craft. The wisdom and experience that only time and additional study can provide, will eventually come. But, from the day they leave Ola Olu, they will be able to perform accurate, basic readings.

Our approach to teaching is both simple and powerful. We want our initiates to learn the basic truths and fundamentals of their craft. The power, and personal empowerment, of our philosophy does not lie in a set of fancy rituals, or complex prayers. It is not about bells and whistles. It is about basic truths. It is our job to endow the initiate with these basic truths. To see that they know these simple, but powerful tools, backwards and forwards. To use a sports analogy, the Green Bay Packers won three world championships running the most mundane offense in the world. The quarterback handed the ball to the fullback, the tackles pulled and swept either left or right to clear a path for the runner. Other teams had fancy plays, trick plays, and razzle-dazzle plays; yet the Green Bay Packers beat them time and time again. Why? Because they took a basic truth, and worked on it until they could perform it to perfection! Orisa is about basic truths. At Ola Olu we will work with our initiates until they can perform them flawlessly.

Finally, the process following the individuals departure is also critical. At Ola Olu we know that learning and growth must never cease. We understand the reality that initiation is the beginning of a life long process, not some goal that someone achieved by spending a week of their time getting initiated. In keeping with this understanding we are always available to answer any questions or issues the new priest might encounter. We also have established an on going program where initiates return to Ola Olu to participate in Workshops, ceremonies, rituals and projects that will allow them the hands on experience so critical in genuine learning.