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We expect growth…we need to make sure it happens!

We like our cars, television and computers to represent the latest in technology.  We would not think about electing a president who wore bell-bottoms. We would not watch a TV show in black and white or a movie on a flickering sepia toned screen. If our cars still got 10mpg, we would be appalled. Worst of all, if you were waiting to read this in the mail, instead of getting it instantly on the web, you would hide your head in shame.  So, what’s new? Or, more to the point, why is it we love our religions frozen in the past and we live our lives in the future of today?

It appears there is some kind of permanent disconnect between spiritual reality and temporal reality. God bless the Cartesians…simply one more thing that makes their methodology and conclusions suspect and destructive. They would have us believe that the exact words, methods and ideas that conveyed important truths, stayed frozen in time, while the rest of the world advanced.

This “disconnect” caused the vast majority of the “religious faithful” to fail in accessing that which they sought. While they placed their i-Pads aside and  turned off their cell phones, they went about the task of connecting with the Divine in ways totally appropriate to hundreds, if not thousands, of years in the past.  Almost without exception, none would have denied how they traveled to the Church, Masque, Ashram, Temple etc. None would have denied that they would return to the temporal world, with all of its problems and rewards, once they left. Yet, few saw the reason they failed.

It was as if they gave no thought to the possibility that these great religious figures had brought them CONTEXTUAL truth. Truths that made sense, worked in the world they were formed in, but would only continue to work as the Truths of “then” metamorph into truths of today. It was as if they saw these sandal wearing men and women in the same fixed frame of thousands of years in the past.

If you asked them would Thomas Edison be a great inventor today they would reply, “of course.” They would know his curiosity and drive would focus on today, not yesterday.  Yet, they do not give that understanding to Jesus, Moses, Mohammed, Gandhi, Buddha, or dozens of other great prophets and  religions.

Today, they are trying to do the same thing to Ifa.  Ifa, singularly among great religions, refused to be frozen in time. Indeed, the very process of it having been an oral tradition, where daily experiences slowly, and inexorably, modified the process, guaranteed it. Then, came the printed books, my own included, and the process of freezing began.

I could go on and on, but let me give you a simple example. If Henry Ford were alive today, his truth would be movement. Not travel on a camel, a boat, a donkey, a horse, a train etc. but the unfolding concept of movement and improving on it.

At the Ifa Foundation, we have always held the respect and reverence for the BASIC truths. Yet these Truths need not freeze themselves in the truths of thousands of years ago. We must interpret the broader meaning and apply results that can successfully deal with today’s jet planes and the Internet.

When we created the Sacred Orisha Gardens, as Susanne Wenger did, we did so as monuments and CONNECTIVE TRUTHS to the essence of the Orisha they represent. Every Orisha represents the changing reality of that time, political activities, scientific advances, climate change etc. Each MUST be applied to today’s world.  Having the ancient symbols around us is essential, but only if we understand HOW to apply them to today…and tomorrows, world!

Oluwo Philip Neimark

Differences in Divination

The Labyrinth of the 256 Odu

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Absolute Doubt to Absolute Certainty

At 72 years old, I have the opportunity of not only guiding the Foundation, with the support of my wife and son, but of occasionally veering off in a philosophical direction, the meaning of which is more obtuse, but just as important, in the understanding of Ifa. This is one of those indulgences…

“I may choose paths for moments of my life, but my overriding philosophy is this”:  “If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things.” – Descartes

This was said to me by someone who I admire a great deal, a much younger man than myself. Yet, it was 180 degrees from the circle of life, as I perceived it.  On the surface, it seemed to contradict a major premise of mine that I often make to those initiates who are ready to hear it.  Nevertheless, it continued to bother me, so I sat down and spent a long, hard; few hours examining what it was that bothered me.

It took me a while, and it took me back a solid 50 years, but I finally got it. Moreover, while I may not have possessed the words, or known whom to credit, it was as if I had spoken them   myself. However, that is only half the story…

The other half was how does one go from point A to point B. You see, for the last number of years I deal not from doubt, but from certainty. Indeed, I tell my initiates that the necessity for certainty is what propels my ebo and work into reality. The tiniest doubt or indecision will absolutely diminish, if not destroy, the potential results I am seeking.  They look at me quizzically…as if they do not quite understand what I am saying. The answer has to do with your ability to doubt everything and the integrating into your reality that which is left.

You see, when I managed to go back 50 some years to my own “young manhood” I realized that I had cast aside belief in everything I was told or taught.  When others were figuring out what they wanted to do in life, I embarked on a series of Quixotian  ideas for which there was no history or record of accomplishment. I can remember saying later in my life how, if I had known how difficult or impossible the tasks were, I would probably have never attempted them. Yet, attempt them I did ,and a brief look at my history, from TV producer, to Floor Trader, to Market Letter Writer and finally to Ifa Priest let me know that they could be accomplished!

You see, I had gone from a place of total doubt to total certainty. I had not paused along the way. So too will the young man, follow the same murky path, until by virtue of traveling it, the signposts become clear and the destination, while, perhaps, not totally visualized, at least worth following. You my friends can do the same.

Blessings,

Philip Neimark

inside ifa foundation initiations

Inside Ifa Foundation Initiaitons -

New video just posted with an inside look at Orisha and Ifa Initiations.

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businessmen/womens ifa

When I first began to practice, almost 40 years ago, my clientele consisted of a rather nice mix. There were approximately 85% business men and women who had little, or no interest, in undertaking the study of a thousands of year old African Philosophy. What they wanted was results…results they were unable to get with their traditional methods. Certainly I felt that each and every one of them “could” understand that while I could “do things” for them, they were things I would rather have them learn, so they wouldn’t have to repeat my pulling them out of a self-inflicted jam...

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A note sent to Iya Vassa that's worth reading!

The tool you sent me is nice to work with and I love this idea of full, honest communication on every level - spiritual, mental, verbal, emotional because I think in our culture we don't think about all the ways we truly connect and communicate - it is more than talk! It is intention, emotion and body language, and all of that.

Anyhow, I can't wait to be wearing white and holding your hand down a new path that will be amazing. You're pretty cool yourself!!!  Anyhow, I went and further investigated that factoid about Ifa as one of the new growing religions and discovered that the newest estimate is 100 million people working w/ the orisa and Ifa worldwide (according to Kevin Baxter in 2007 published in the LA times).

So truly, I do believe the foundation has played a part in spreading the light and wisdom and I do think that the foundation will truly be an international force in the future. I ran across this blog by a Cuban Santeria person (http://www.cuba-junky.com/cuba/religion.htm) who is PRAISING the Ifa Foundation saying that he is impressed that you make ceremonies affordable and reasonable but also that quote:

"Hopefully, as the Ifa Foundation and others organizations and individuals of good character continue to bring our work (the work of orisa  priests/awos) proudly to a public forum, as opposed to hiding in secrecy, more and more people will see that objective judgments regarding talent, training and character can, and must, be made if our use of this divine energy is to lead us to fulfillment and wisdom."

So you can tell Phil that after YEARS of harassment and attack from the Lukumi traditions, it seems like the tides are changing and people are realizing that the fundamental messages of the Foundation are the truth and not about anything but holding people to being the best people we can all be on every level. I loved seeing that because it confirmed for me that no matter how hard other people try to hold down good intentions and wisdom, Oludumare always ensures that the truths are out there for us and that those with character will win.

 J. Crandell