Illumination Fundamental Art (Ifá)

Illumination Fundamental Art (Ifá)

Ifá philosophy

Illumination Fundamental Art (Ifá) is the word of Olodumare encompassing all knowledge of things past, present and future. Ifá philosophy is one of the oldest  form of knowledge revealed to mankind. Hence tthe body of knowledge called Ifá  is endless, ageless and eternal. Click here to buy Practitioner's Handbook for the IFA Professional

The expression of Ifá encompasses revelations, way of life and religion taught by òrùnmìlà . That is why it is said that Orunmila is the divinity but Ifá is his words The  Ifá priest  is the mouth piece of  Orunmila. Knowledge of Ifá  has mainly survived by oral tradition from one Ifá priest to another. No conscious effort has ever been made to record the complete works of Orunmila for public consumption until resent. 

The Ifá priests themselves are often reluctant to part with their knowledge for fear of the knowledge becomes pubic property and the mythical facade behind which they operates be destroyed because it takes over 21 years of indentured servitude to produce a proficient  Ifá priest. Get a copy ofOrunmila (Fabian Argomedo Remix)

The revelations of Orunmila (Ifá) have since beginning of time been shrouded in utter secrecy and those who could afford the time and leisure of acquiring the knowledge of Ifá and wisdom of  Orunmila had no means of leaving any record behind them.  

Whatever we know of Ifá had been handed down orally from generation to generation.Most of what is know about Ifá today are revealed by himself because frequently appears to his adherents in dreams to  teach them what they ought know about him and his work (Ifá).  Buy Iwa-Pele: Ifa Quest: The Search for the Source of Santeria and Lucumi

The knowledge of Ifá has given òrùnmìlà such unparalleled powers that made him the most effective of all divinities that were the first  creatures of God. Orunmila who was the youngest of all divinities created by God; was actually God's own witness when he began to create other organic and inorganic substances ; That is why  Orunmila is referred to as Eleri ipin. He alone knows the true nature and origin of all creatures created by God.  Get a copy of Ifa Divination: Communication Between Gods and Men in West Africa (Midland Book)

The followers of òrùnmìlà who are able to acquire some of the knowledge therefore weld tremendous powers which have often baffled many uninitiated into calling it magic or juju. The  Ifá priest  is the mouth piece of  Orunmila he is the axis around which daily life revolved in the community. Until relatively recently it was respectable to consult the Ifá priest openly to seek solutions to the problems of living but in recent times; it has become fashionable to consults in absolute secrecy and stealth.

The factors responsible for this secrecy attitude are as these:

• The advent of modern civilization and education it brought in it wake.
• The overbearing influence of later-day religions which were used by the imperialists as weapon of conquest of both moral minds, territorial ambitions and lately economy dominant.       
• The last is the is the aggregate impacts of the two forces.   

The children of ifa priest no longer wish to be associated with religion and wisdom of ifa their forefathers which they dismiss as barbaric superstitious paganism. 

It is important to appreciate that òrùnmìlà does not go about looking for converts . Ifa religion is for the individual, which does not rely on weight of numbers for survival. Ifa philosophy is designed to assist the students and initiates in acquiring more in-dept knowledge of Ifa wisdom and to demystify the philosophy of Ifa religion. Contrary to all outward appearances there is nothing mysterious and superstitious about Ifa.

More importantly is to make Ifa religion rank Parnassus if not superior to much younger religions like Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Buddhism etc .These other religions had the advantage of earlier documentations. 

Many Ifa priests endowed with brilliant knowledge of the theory and practice of Ifa wisdom left no records of their wealth of knowledge and experience hence Ifa is a much richer and older body of knowledge.  Tratado De Los ODU De IFA Sintesis Tercera Edicion Espcial (Spanish Edition)