HISTORY AND TRADITION

Across the different sections, I will offer an overview of the Ifá tradition, Yoruba mythology, the Orishas, the Odus, and the Ifá Oracles. The goal is to provide a brief and accessible context for those interested in discovering more about these topics. For anyone looking to explore them in greater depth, I will also share valuable resources, such as books and blogs, to guide your journey.

These ancient traditions carry profound wisdom, and I hope this introduction inspires your curiosity and encourages you to delve deeper.

A Journey from Africa to the Americas

The Ifá tradition and Yoruba mythology originate from the Yoruba people of West Africa, primarily in regions that today include Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. This ancient African society is known for its rich cultural heritage, and its spiritual practices have been passed down orally for centuries. The Ifá tradition, rooted in these teachings, offers timeless lessons that continue to guide people today through the wisdom of the Orishas and the Odus.

During the transatlantic slave trade, millions of Africans, including many Yorubas, were forcibly displaced to the Americas. Despite the brutality of slavery, these enslaved individuals carried their spiritual traditions with them, ensuring that the teachings of Ifá and other African spiritual systems survived and adapted to new lands.

In the Americas, these traditions gave rise to new religious practices such as Umbanda and Candomblé in Brazil, Santería in Cuba, and Voodoo in places like Haiti and New Orleans. Some religions, like Umbanda, incorporated local and European spiritual elements, blending Catholicism, Alan Kardec’s Spiritism, and Indigenous Shamanism with African beliefs. Others, like Candomblé, though adapted to their new environments, remained closer to the original African traditions.

It is important to note that in Africa, the Ifá tradition still exists and is widely practiced today, continuing to be a cornerstone of Yoruba spirituality.

Ultimately, all of these spiritual systems, both in Africa and the Americas, maintain a strong connection to the Orishas and the Ifá tradition, preserving their deep African roots while continuing to provide spiritual guidance to millions of people around the world.

What is Ifá?

Ifá is not simply a system of divination or a religion, but rather a philosophy and a way of seeing the world.

"Ifá is the preservation of the anceﬆral wisdom in Yorùbá culture which gives guidance on how to make the right decisions on the journey towards developing good character. Ifá is not a doctrine of belief; it is a way of looking at the world."

Awo Fa'lokun Fatunmbi (2013)

At its core, Ifá is a wisdom system rooted in Yoruba culture, offering guidance on how to face life’s challenges, make decisions, and develop ìwà rere or ìwà pèlè — a good or peaceful character, which, simply put, means living in harmony with oneself, the world around you, and spiritual life. Ifá is a concept with no direct translation; it reflects something deeper — a way of approaching the world with curiosity and reverence for its mysteries. Ifá holds the secrets of creation and the key to understanding the visible and invisible forces that shape our lives.

Rather than being a rigid belief system, Ifá invites us to explore the mysteries of life, creation, and consciousness itself. Whether it’s the beauty of nature, the complexities of life, or the enigmas we encounter, Ifá teaches that everything is part of an interconnected whole, a dance of polarities. Through this lens, we are encouraged to admire the world, approach it with ashé (divine energy), and view each challenge as a mystery to be understood, rather than a problem to be solved.

Ifá helps us decode these mysteries and enigmas through wisdom passed down in the form of poetic verses, proverbs, stories, and mythology. At the heart of these teachings is the concept that life is dynamic — everything is in constant motion and change. Eshu, one of the main Orishas in Yoruba mythology, is considered the guardian of crossroads, representing choice, truth, and the dynamic flow of existence. He embodies the principle of free will and is the bridge between the visible and invisible worlds, ensuring that humanity can access the wisdom of Ifá and use it on their journey toward fulfillment.

In Ifá philosophy, truth is not static but is in constant motion, just as Eshu guides people along the paths of life. To understand Ifá is to understand this fluidity — the idea that every situation contains a range of possibilities, and the choices we make shape our destiny. Destiny, in Ifá’s view, is something we create through these choices. It is not a predetermined path but the result of our actions and decisions, which lead us to happiness, peace, and personal fulfillment.

The Nature of Ifá

Ifá as a Way of Life

The teachings of Ifá encompass more than just philosophy; they include the energetic patterns that govern life itself. Ifá views everything in terms of duality: presence and absence, life and death, light and darkness. These forces interact to generate everything, from atoms to galaxies, from thoughts to actions. Every choice we make is part of this vast interconnected web, and Ifá teaches us how to navigate these decisions with wisdom and discernment.

Fortune and misfortune, from Ifá’s perspective, are both part of life’s journey. The wisdom of Ifá enables us to transform misfortune into fortune, to learn from difficulties, and to make choices that lead to stability, balance, and harmony, both in our personal lives and in the world around us.

At its core, Ifá is a philosophy of life and a guide for understanding consciousness. It is not tied to any specific religion but serves as a foundational worldview that has influenced many spiritual traditions, including those practiced in the Yoruba diaspora. While religions like Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are referred to in Yoruba as ẹsin (servitude), the Yoruba people refer to Ifá as asa or oro ibile — a custom related to the land and ancestors. This reflects the deep connection between Ifá and the spiritual heritage of the Yoruba people.

Contrary to what many might think, Ifá is monotheistic, believing that all possibilities arise from a single source — Olodumaré (God), a condition of being and non-being, light and darkness. It represents the birth of consciousness, which Ifá teaches is the beginning of all things. In Ifá, the invisible world of ideas and potential is considered more "real" than the physical world, as it is from this realm that everything takes shape.

Through this profound understanding of life and existence, Ifá guides people toward the fulfillment of their personal destiny. By understanding and embracing the mysteries of the world, we can make choices that align with our true destiny, leading us to happiness, fulfillment, and harmony in all aspects of life.