Out Now
Practical Foundations of Ifa
A Handbook of Ifa View and Practice
A high-quality, full-color book on Ifa, covering the foundational concepts of the practice, written for the novice but easily applicable to practitioners at any level. With over 100 Ifa verses included, and illustrations to break down various topics, this is sure to be a cornerstone to any spiritual-minded bookshelf.
Finally, after over 12 years of research and writing, across 30 trips to West Africa, Dr. Oba Ifagbemi Faseye Babatunde’s long-awaited first book, Practical Foundations of Ifa, is here.
He aims to help you understand the Ifa and Orisa practices on a level anyone can digest.
The Ifa and Orisa traditions are a varied and complex set of spiritual practices. The vast global reach of the Ifa and Orisa traditions is nothing short of astounding - with modern practitioners found not just in Africa, but in North, Central and South America, most of Europe, Australia, parts of Asia, and is ever growing!
Thanks to growing presence in popular culture, a resurgence of connection to and interest in African-based and indigenous faiths, and an evolving landscape of religious affiliations, there have never been more sincere seekers looking for direction in this spiritual sphere.
Through different cultural groups, lineages and family lines, innumerable branches of the Ifa and Orisa traditions have arisen, each with its own rich variation. Ifa and Orisa practices themselves are an elastic and multi-applicable treasure of sacred knowledge.
How do we take this beautiful, varied, complex tradition and integrate it in our lives for transformative benefit? This book cracks open the universal teachings of Ifa and Orisa beyond cultural trappings, personal biases, dogma, fanaticism, cultism and fundamentalism, while venerating the integrity central to the traditionalism of the sources of these practices. To show the humanity of this spiritual practice we have to look beyond the surface level towards an even deeper meaning and applicability.
Practical Foundations of Ifa stands apart with over 100 verses of Odu Ifa and full-color images and illustrations to explain various topics.
Learn exactly how to propitiate and care for your Ifa shrine at home, including prayers, the process of making offerings, how to divine for yourself using a basic obi abata divination method, supplies to keep on hand, and how to clean and refresh Ifa on a regular basis.
The book introduces the core concepts of the Ifa practice, and how to approach them from a pragmatic and practical point of view. Also included is an introduction to the major Orisa pantheon in the general Yoruba cosmology and the first 16 (oju) odu.
UNESCO has categorized the tradition of Ifa as one of the “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity”. Olodumare gifted the Yoruba people, and the stewards who came long before them, with this cultural treasure collectively referred to as Ifa, and yet each and every human being is likewise endowed with something of our own that is divinely inspired to add to any treasure that is considered a living practice or masterpiece of humanity. For a thing to be a heritage of humanity it has to speak to and have a relevant yet fluid message that addresses the human condition as a whole beyond its source or point of origin, with provisions for adaptability that foster tolerance, respect, and love of one’s fellow human, irrespective of differences.
Coming soon! Practical Foundations of Ifa will be offered in Spanish, French, Portuguese, and German as well.