Ifa and Personal Responsibility

Facebook carries with it the imperative of Personal Responsibility. The upside is that people of similar interests can share those interests with others. The downside is, “how do you make reasonable judgments regarding the validity of the ‘truths’ offered?” The answer is not simply a matter of who is telling the truth, but more important, how do these truths relate to you.

First, we can ALL dismiss, the charlatans at work. Those, whose promises are as grand as the fees they charge, backed up by a total lack of evidence.

What we are looking for here, is a way of deciding who you should consider trusting your spiritual, emotional and indeed physical health to.

Tradition: The Ifa Foundation is a firm believer in respecting tradition. Our Sacred Orisha Gardens is an example of this. Quoting Professor Robin Poyner: “The Sacred Gardens are unique in Florida and the United States. Perhaps the closest would be a site in Oshogbo, Nigeria, named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The site in Florida is surely the most extensive Sacred Garden in the United States…and the ways it recalls certain African Places, and extends them to embrace a new place and a new age are what attracted me…” Indeed, Iyanifa Vassa’s prior friendship with the late Susanne Wenger has guided her every step.

Tradition, however, must reflect on the past with new symbols and understanding, taking the literal truths of an older age into the reality of today. It is an ongoing process, that has been the primary reason the “frozen in time” philosophies of the Christians, Jews and others, which once worked, fails us so badly in the 21st century.

Truth: It is impossible to identify Truth without knowledge. Too many Practioners hide behind the wall of secrecy to mask their own ignorance. The Foundation’s original mentor, the late Afolabi Epega, used to say: “What they don’t know they make a secret.” At the Foundation, you will receive thoughtful and logical answers to any question you ask. There are NO secrets. You must decide on the validity of the answers, but you cannot do this without them.

Continuity: Within our constant growth, is the reality of our commitment. For example, the Igba Iwa, which has guided the Foundation for more than 30 years, originally belonged to the Patriarch Epega, the original informant for world famous anthropologist William Bascom, PhD. His son, Afolabi Epega, bestowed it on our work. All the ase’, of the Ifa Foundation flows from this reality. Every liturgical decision, every advancement, is read and validated by its presence.

Accomplishments: Since 1982, we have spent our early years restoring the philosophy. From re-introducing the concept of Ori (which was lost to Santeria after the diaspora), to reminding all of the equality for women and gay men. An equality that allowed them all their inherent rights previously bestowed in African Ifa. Add to this the logical innovations such as equal Ikin for men and women, use of oils other than Palm oil for ebbo, divination other than “in-person”, and the real meaning of one’s Life Path among others. Additionally we have instituted the most comprehensive educational system in Orisa, a plan that continues for years, not a single week!

Others would maintain the old ways. Those who believe that things must not be changed, lest they lose their validity. While we strongly disagree with them, and believe that only with the continual evolvement of Orisa and Odu can you ever maintain the living quality of the energies involved, we respect there ways. Examine both and decide which works best for you.  

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