The sacred texts of ifa, repository of the accumulated wisdom of countless generations of yoruba people, are an invaluable source not only for all students of african oral literature and yoruba civilization, but also for future generations interested in the continuing vitality of. If you are a student of ifa and or a practicing ifa priest, then this book will be an invaluable resource for your studies, and practice. This work focuses on the foundational divination using obi 4 shell divination and expanding into the full 16 odus that lay the foundation for ifa practice. Ifa is the source of knowledge believed to have a keen understanding of the human form and of purity,information of the past and prediction of the future. Orunmila detected opele by using ikin ifa oke iponri to cast the reading, and he is also the one who guides orunmila on his way. Divination performing ifa divination is called ifa dida or idafa or dida owo and ounte ale which may be represented as networking,setting up.
Empowering your life through the ancient african religion of ifa by philip j. The sacred texts of ifa, repository of the accumulated wisdom of countless generations of yoruba people, are an invaluable source not only for all students of african oral literature and yoruba civilization, but also for future generations interested in the continuing vitality of ifa divination and a yoruba way of life and thought. The aseda, second ranking priest of ifa in ilaorangun, using the opele chain to cast ifa. Ifa explains the basis for the existence of all things past, present and future. Orunmila woke up in the morning and cast the reading the odu that came out was ejiogbe. Baba ifa karade holds a degree in africana studies from rutgers university and has written a number of books about the yoruba ifa culture. Reviewing publication the sacred ifa oracle by afolabi a. Dafa the metaphysical foundations of ifa book 6 kindle edition. Practical ifa divination gives the reader a deep insight into ifa and its me. Its central message revolves around the teachings of the goodness of and in the world.
Within the oral corpus of the ifa divination and worship system resides the soul and beating heart of the yoruba people as a whole. Ifa is the oracle god who directed creation, formed the universe, formed the earth, taught humans about divination, medicine, and language. Ifa divination signature that the opele forms is oyeku meji. Ifa acts like a gentle counselor of the soul, conveying to us the best actions to find success, deeper meaning, and peace of mind. Once they have determined which sign is being shown, they will chant a related verse. Jun, 2017 divination for the year from the elders of ifa in ile ife with commentary by awo falokun ogunda iwori ifa of the year 20172018 from okeitase, ileife, state of osun, nigeria. The handbook of yoruba religious concepts ifa karade. Ifa a complete divination gives you a comprehensive presentation of 256 odus beautifully articulated in yoruba and english sidebyside.
The opele consists of eight halfnuts of the opele tree with convexconcave sides linked at regular intervals by short strands of chain at the ends of which the priest may attach small beads, coins, and cowries. Practical ifa divination gives the reader a deep insight into ifa and its messages. Ifa is the oracle of maximum importance to practitioners of orisa lifestyle. Ifa divination helps us communicate with a source of knowledge which transcends all physical knowledge and its inherent limitations. There is a wonderful location to buy the book the sacred ifa oracle by afolabi a. Save up to 80% by choosing the etextbook option for isbn. Oct 21, 2014 ifa divination poetry wande abimbola slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. Yoruba priests of ifa are known as babalawo fathers of secrets. The awo elegan on the other hand, are those babalawo who are not fully engaged in ifa divination.
Ifa transcends all the cultures and traditions of all things man, animals, plants, rocks, water, wind and fire. The word ifa refers to the mystical figure ifa or orunmila, regarded by the yoruba as the deity of wisdom and intellectual development. Ifa concept of divination ifa books by egbe iwapele. Make lifechanging decisions with perfect timing, divination. Osun and the origins of the ifa divination wande abimbola y ifa divination we mean ifa and related systems of divination based on the stories and symbols of the odu such as dida owo divination with the sacred divining chain called opele. It is means of communication between the natural and supernatural worlds that is used as a guide to ones destiny. Opele is one of the elements used to cast an ifa reading. The ancient oracle of ifa can help you achieve all these things. Alex salmond mp delivers the thomas muir memorial lecture in edinburgh on the 250th anniversary of thomas muirs birth 24. Ifa is the first, oldest and truest religion of mankind. Ifa divination is both a body of knowledge and a system of social, emotional, pathological control, employing relevant historical and mythological precedents contained in the special divinatory.
The marks made at the end of the day look like broken intermittent lines and these are symbols of the odu, thrown up by the opele ifa divination string. The ifa divination system is a set of divination acts done by a professional that has been granted authority a babalawo to create and make use of set of rules to communicate with the gods so as. These three books are a foundation for learning the art of divination and for using. Chief popoola is also the author of many great ifa books.
When combined, there are a total of 256 odu a collection of sixteen, each of which has sixteen alternatives. It is through rigorous study, guidance, and practical application over a period of time. Cleromancy casting method of divination astronlogia. Divination is universally concerned with practical problems and it seeks information from which practical decisions may be made. The opon ifa is where the palm or kola nuts are cast so that the babalawo can read them and determine which of 256 signs is displayed. There are sixteen major books in the odu ifa literary corpus. It is through rigorous study, guidance, and practical application over a period. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your first box.
One of the principal of these is ifa, the god of palmnuts, to whom they ascribe the power of healing, and to whose priests they apply in times of sickness. Ifa divination, knowledge, power, and performance provides an invaluable glimpse into the richness of indigenous african spiritualities, even when they are transmitted into new geocultural environments as africanderived religiosities. The sacred spiritual practices of the yoruba in the old and new world. When this class of babalawo feel like doing so, they can divide for themselves or. Dafa ifa divination ifa divination gives a clear and precise look into the energies that are involved in any given situation and also provides answers and solutions for how to deal with any given circumstance that can occur in the universe. Afolabi epega, nowadays, will not require you to constantly acquire in the shop offline. Before time was born, even before the beginning of life, there was eledumare who presided over fellow divinities, the orisas. A comparative study of ifa divination and computer science. The ifa divination system is a set of divination acts done by a professional that has been granted authority a babalawo to create and make use of set of rules to communicate with the gods so as to solve peoples problems. Odun ifa is the annual ifa festival, during which rites and ceremonies are performed. Once read, the meaning of ifa and the responsibilities reposed in the babalawo and the client will be clearly understood. Divination books divination books can help an individual learn how to scry, use crystal balls, pendulums, dowsing rods, ouija boards, and all other divination tools. Dafa, the act of performing the divination system of the yoruba of nigeria is. The ifa divination system, which makes use of an extensive corpus of texts and mathematical formulas, is practiced among yoruba communities and by the african diaspora in the americas and the caribbean.
One of the principal of these is ifa, the god of palmnuts, to whom they ascribe the power of healing, and. Osun and the origins of the ifa divination wande abimbola y ifa divination we mean ifa and related systems of divination based on the stories and symbols of the odu such as dida owo divination with the sacred divining chain called opele and et. Though this volume is labeled volume 3, it is the first published of a proposed eighteen volume series. He rose to ifa priesthood under the instruction of oluwo adeboye oyesanya, of the indigene faith of africa in ebute metta, lagos, yorubaland. Of all the methods of divination employed by the yoruba, ifa divination is considered the most reliable, and the most popular means of divination.
Trained from their youth in the rituals of divination, they are masters of a vast corpus of oral literature known as ese ifa often referred to as containing the wisdom of ifa. A book of changes for intuitive decision making help people access, understand and use these ancient tools for making better choices, tapping intuition, and living a. Divination can be a hard ability to learn but with a divination book to compliment your craft you can learn and hone this skill with more ease. Ifa prescribes the spiritualphysical solutions to all problems. Bade ajayi university of ilorin, ilorin, nigeria 1.
Introduction divination is universally concerned with practical. When one speaks of the yoruba people, culture and their traditions, it is impossible to separate the subject from odu ifa. Sacred tools for reading the mind of god and the visionary i ching. Dafa the metaphysical foundations of ifa book 6 kindle edition by awo fatunmbi. Egbe iwa pele is an international association of ifa devotees. He has traveled to kenya, nigeria, the caribbean, brazil, netherlands, and throughout the united states. It shows what really is ifa poetry and what should.
Ifa divination may be practiced more widely than is indicated above. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. The ifa concept of divination and the process of interpreting odu from ifa books by. Ifa divination communication between gods and men in west africa by william w. The doorway is draped with palm fronds indicating that it is the home of the leader of ilas ifa priests. The kamuku and gbari or gwari are neighboring peoples in niger province, northern nigeria. Ifa books awo study bundle the majority of the books i have written are on the. The oponifa ifa divination tray, has the head ori or north, furthest from the diviner. He instructed them on how to bury the old, dead divination sage with a promise that an ugili, sacred tree, will sprout and grow from her head and that its fruits, when they ripe and fall, should have their shells broken into two and arranged four on each of four strings, which when cast and interpreted will tell with accuracy, what was, what is.
Ifa divination 9780253206381, 9780253114655 vitalsource. Ifa is a system of divination based on sixteen basic and 256 derivative figures odu obtained either by the manipulation of sixteen palm nuts ikin, or by the toss of a chain o. Mar 21, 2015 ifa is the source of knowledge believed to have a keen understanding of the human form and of purity,information of the past and prediction of the future. Dafa, the act of performing the divination system of the yoruba of nigeria is the fun. Ifa books awo study bundle the majority of the books i have written are on the theology of ifa and the meaning of liturgical yoruba words. The paperback of the earth divination, earth magic.
Ifa is a central feature of yoruba religion, culture, and society, and it constitutes a main source for their knowledge, cosmology, and belief system. Ifa, a system of divination, is one of the cults comprising the traditional religion of the yoruba. Ifa divination by baba eli, springfield, louisiana. Ifa divination definition of ifa divination by medical. Candidate in religious studies at boston university and folasade woodbine have created this website to provide a support network and forum for all students and practitioners of yorubaifaorisa religion, to learn and discuss ifa divination. Ifa books awo study bundle 3 books ifa books by egbe. Candidate in religious studies at boston university and folasade woodbine have created this website to provide a support network and forum for all students and practitioners of yoruba ifa orisa religion, to learn and discuss ifa divination. Ifa foundation international is an international temple of sacred healing sciences located in central florida, usa. The babalawo uses the ifa divination system to make a spiritual inquiry into ones akashic record to see how a problem or situation is best resolved. Awo, dafa and oriki and different in that they focus on the use of ifa sacred technology. Communication between gods and men in west africa 1969, clarified the yoruba divination system, which is orally transmitted by ifa priests to apprentices. But the books ifa a complete divination of salami to me is far better i will explain why. Baba ifa karade holds a degree in africana studies from rutgers university and has written a number of books about the yorubaifa culture.
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