One of the most important things you can do to begin your journey is to find out exactly which Orisa crowns your head, along with the life path that you selected for your Destiny. This can only be accomplished through a competent Babalawo or Iyanifa.

At the Ifa Foundation we offer Life/Guardian readings by either Oluwo Philip John Neimark ( author of: "The way of The Orisa & The Sacred Ifa Oracle" ) or Iyanifa Vassa. For specific information click here.

After this important first step, spend some time and contemplation connecting with, understanding and feeling comfortable with the attributes of the energy you have chosen. For example- if your Primary orisa is Yemonja, try and go to the Ocean, or a large body of water if you are not close to an ocean - and sit there - watch the water - listen to what is around - bring an offering -there are different ones and you can learn more about this as we go.
If your energy is Osun - go a river, If your energy is Esu, Ogun, Obatala, Oko, Sango - go into the woods. If your energy is Oya - find a windy spot and listen etc.

DAILY - YOU SHOULD START YOUR DAY WITH A PRAYER TO ORUNMILA - There is a suggested one in the book “The Way of the Orisa” - you could use this as a guide and then add parts that you feel compelled to - remember to keep it simple and clear.

DAILY - YOU SHOULD SPEND SOME TIME WITH THE ORISA OF THE DAY - You will find the information for this also in our book. This helps you start to build a relationship with each energy. Go slow and get to understand. You may start to build little altars to each as you go.

MONTHLY - ANCESTOR WORSHIP - This is a very powerful experience for everyone. And, it costs you nothing! To learn more click here.

MONTHLY -

IN THE BEGINNING IT WOULD BE WISE TO GET A GENERAL READING TO GET YOURSELF FIRMLY SET UP AND MOVING ON THE PATH CORRECTLY - Think of it as a tune up. You will get lots of wisdom and turn things around quickly through this. (link to divination)

WEEKLY - READ THE WEBSITE -

WWW.IFAFOUNDATION.ORG - Every week Oluwo Philip Neimark does a reading for those who are not initiated, and this will give you a general feel of the week’s energy. The readings contain the ebbo to do. You will gain lots of wisdom from following this and going through these processes…and your life will go better!

WORKSHOPS -

SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR WE OFFER
3 DAY WORKSHOPS WHERE WE TEACH THE ACCUMULATION OF OUR YEARS OF GROWING IN THIS PATH. We post the dates on the site along with a general view of what to expect. We do these at our retreta, Ola Olu land where we have the Orisa Gardens set up and where we do the ceremonies. We will do head cleansings, readings and ceremonies during these workshops as well. So many people have had life changing experiences from attending one.

THERE ARE TOOLS WE CAN MAKE THAT CAN HELP YOU TAKE THE NEXT STEP. Using our ase, our wisdom and our deep connection with all the energies of Ifa and doing this with good Iwa Pele - we can make you tools for specific use that can help you to improve the quality of life and bring you closer to the energies.

ONE OF THE FIRST TOOLS - RECEIVING YOUR OWN PERSONAL ESU - a sculpture is built by Iyalawo Vassa and Oluwo Neimark with Orunmila’s guidance. It is then consecrated, triangulating your name and personal energy throughout the process. We pray over your Esu - asking the doors and paths and roads to open to create great opportunity for you.

We send this out with an instruction sheet on how to work with Esu’s energy.

Note that later on - you can receive many different Esu’s made for specific purposes. There is an Esu for each Orisa - such as Esu/Ogun, Esu/Osun, etc. There is an Esu/Sigiti for protection and a traveling Esu. These are smaller and can sit on the dashboard of your car or in your purse or briefcase.

ICOFA - ONE HAND OF ORUNMILA - this connects you directly with Orunmila’s energy - wisdom and knowledge ( this is what a Babalawo and an Iyalawo use to divine with) This is a set of Ikin that are consecrated in a major ceremony and then after 3 days a reading is done to determine your Life Path connection to this energy. You do not need to be present. This is a very important part to knowing who you are and about your destiny - we type this reading up and send it to you with the Ikin (both men and women MUST get a full set of 16 plus two extra) and we enclose an instruction sheet as well. Upon your review we ask you to call us with any questions. Each and every month (at the beginning of each month) we post an Icofa reading on the website as a courtesy to all who have received this ceremony and this will tell you the energy of the month as well as give you an ebbo to follow. You will gain enormous power when you do this regularly.

THERE ARE THREE LEGS THAT WE STAND UPON
1. THE ANCESTORS
2. ORUNMILA AND THE ORISAS
3. ORI / DESTINY

RECEIVING ORI - This is about reconnecting to your original destiny which you selected at the moment you were conceived. THIS IS A BIG CEREMONY - A REAL LIFE CHANGING MOMENT IN TIME. PROFOUND. YOU MUST BE PRESENT FOR THIS. WE MAKE A THREE LEGGED STAFF FOR YOU AND YOU COME WITH A ROCK THAT HAS CALLED TO YOU. WE NEED A FEW HOURS OF YOUR LIFE AND WE DO A MALE AND FEMALE BALANCING OF ENERGY WITH A UNIQUE SACRIFICE.

AT THIS POINT - Your level of commitment and base of working with the energy will lead you. IF YOU WANT TO GO FURTHER AND LEARN - To get the seeds planted that will allow you to divine and become initiated - there are various levels.

For a woman - She can go from a guardian reading, to receiving an Esu, to receiving Icofa, to becoming a priest of her Orisa, to becoming an Ifa priest - Iyalawo or Iyanifa and then the highest level, Nana Buuken

For a man - The steps are the same except at the end - he would become a Babalawo and then an Oluwo by receiving the Igba Iwa.

THIS IS HOW WE BALANCE IN IFA - THE MALE AND FEMALE ENERGY WORKING TOGETHER.

Initiating with the Ifa Foundation starts with a week of living on the retreat. Where ceremonies are performed and teaching begins. This is the best week of your life. This is the start to the rest of your life. We continue our educating you through email and phone and invitations back to the retreat to do the ceremonial work. It is a process and we keep a growing relationship with each initiate.

THERE ARE OTHER CEREMONIES THAT WE INCLUDE IN OUR “TOOLS” SECTION ON THE SITE.
(Weddings, Sheddings, Head Cleansings, Aje for prosperity, Osain for
protection and control, Sigiti for warding off any negativity, Pinardo for removal of negative energy, Abuse ceremonies and various ceremonies that come up in a specific reading.

The Ifa Foundation offers over 30 years of experience. We have created a leading website to teach Ifa for no charge for over 7 years. We have a 9 acre retreat devoted to the teaching and ceremonial work for Ifa along with the Orisa gardens.

For further information contact: Iyanifa@cfl.rr.com