The Power of The Orishas

Walking the Path of Ifa: Merging Ancient Traditions with the 21st Century

The Path of Ifa

A traditional form of mentoring

What is Ifa

Ifa is a proud and thoughtful philosophy and traditional practice from the Yoruba culture in West Africa. It has been respectfully introduced into western culture to share knowledge and is practiced by over 50 million people worldwide.

I was called to the path of Ifa after a deep longing drew me home to Slovenia. As I enjoyed lunch with one of my best friends, a High Priestess in the Order of Ifa, some unusual drawings and statues in her home caught my eye. I recognised them from my childhood and so in many ways, Ifa became my path to remembering the old ways; my path home.

The path of Ifa teaches people how to use ancient energies to modify events, guide their destiny, and improve their lives and the lives of those they love. This mentorship teaches you how to use these energies and practices in modern times and adapt them into your life, whether you live in a city or closer to nature.

Like most, if not all, ancient traditions, the Yoruba observed every aspect of nature as exhibiting constant dynamic movement designed to achieve or maintain balance. A thunderstorm dissipates excess heat, earthquakes release tectonic pressure, and the life cycles of trees, plants and animals can be predicted by the hours of daylight throughout each season.

Just as the energy of wind and rain can correct the imbalance of drought, and the energy of a forest fire clears dead foliage to allow for new growth, the energies of nature can maintain and restore our own personal balance.

Mystery & Abundance

BRING A SENSE OF MYSTERY & ABUNDANCE INTO YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE

Even though our landscapes have changed, the principles have not. You will learn about the old ways of working with the land, including rituals and practices to work with these natural energies in your modern day life. In order to begin to understand, feel and restore a proper relationship with nature, we must once again become a part of it. Only then will we remember that all of life is a celebration.

In 2011, I was initiated as an Ifa Priestess at Uluru and then became a Wise Woman (Nana Buukan) by invitation in 2018. I am now taking applications for mentorship and initiation into the Order of Ifa. This mentorship introduces you to the path of Ifa, sharing ancient practices that can be applied in the 21st Century.

Please read the 16 truths and if they align with your soul’s truth, I invite you to apply for a free introductory appointment by registering your details below.

Apply to Walk the Path of Ifa

The 16 truths of Ifa

This is a benevolent universe created by a benevolent god
You need have no fear
There is one single creative force (god)
There is no devil
It is your birthright to be joyful, successful and loved
Personal empowerment is the path for success and fulfilment
You are part of the universe in a never ending symbiotic relationship
Character determines outcome

All supremacy is evil
You must never initiate harm to another human being
You must never harm the universe of which you are a part
Discrimination is personally and culturally destructive
Diversity is the template of Oludumare’s (god’s) creation
You select your destiny
Divination provides the road map to your destiny
Balance, growth and wisdom provide your empowerment

Apply to walk the path of Ifa here

SHANGO

OBATALA

OSHUN

The Orishas

The Orishas are the emissaries of Olodumare (God/Spirit), They rule over all forces of nature and the endeavours of humanity.

The Orishas are often best understood by observing the forces of nature they rule over. By observing the Orishas in the world around us and in our own lives, we can gain a better understanding of their ways.

Each can be recognised through different numbers and colours, and each has their own favourite foods and things to receive as offerings and gifts. By making our offerings in the way they are accustomed to and have always received them, we can be sure they will recognise our offerings and come to our assistance.

Esu

Elegguá is the owner of the roads and doors in this world. He is the repository of ashé. The colours red and black or white and black are his and codify his contradictory nature. Elegguá stands at the crossroads of the human and the divine, as he is childlike messenger between the two worlds. In this role, it is not surprising that he has a very close relationship with the orisha of divination, Orunmila. Nothing can be done in either world without his permission. Elegguá is always propitiated and called first before any other orisha as he opens the door between the worlds and opens our roads in life. His are the numbers 3 and 21.

Obatala

Obatalá is the kindly father of all the orishas and all humanity. He is also the owner of all heads and the mind. Though it was Olorun who created the universe, it is Obatalá who is the creator of the world and humanity. Obatalá is the source of all that is pure, wise peaceful and compassionate. He has a warrior side though through which he enforces justice in the world. His colour is white, which is often accented with red, purple and other colours to represent his/her different paths. White is most appropriate for Obatalá as it contains all the colours of the rainbow yet is above them. Obatalá is also the only orisha that has both male and female paths

Orunmila

Orunmila is the orisha of wisdom, knowledge and divination. He was the only orisha allowed to witness the creation of the universe by Olorun and bears witness to our destinies in the making as well. This is the source of his title of Eleri Ipin or “Witness to Destiny in its Creation”. His priests, the babalawos or “Fathers of the Secrets” must devote themselves entirely to the practice of divination and the accompanying arts. Through the Table of Ifá his priests unfold the secrets of the universe and the secrets of the unfolding of our lives. His colours are green and yellow which reflect Orunmila’s relationship with Osayín (the secrets of the plant world) and with Oshún, who is his apetebí with whom he has an extremely close relationship.

Yemonja

Yemayá lives and rules over the seas and lakes. She also rules over maternity in our lives as she is the Mother of All. Her name, a shortened version of Yeyé Omo Eja means “Mother Whose Children are the Fish” to reflect the fact that her children are uncountable. All life started in the sea, the amniotic fluid inside the mother’s womb is a form of sea where the embryo must transform and evolve through the form of a fish before becoming a human baby. In this way Yemayá displays herself as truly the mother of all. She partakes of Olokun’s abundance as the source of all riches which she freely gives to her little sister Oshún. She dresses herself in seven skirts of blue and white and like the seas and profound lakes she is deep and unknowable. In her path of Okutti she is the queen of witches carrying within her deep and dark secrets. Her number is seven for the seven seas, her colours are blue and white, and she is most often represented by the fish who are her children.

Oshun

Oshún rules over the sweet waters of the world, the brooks, streams and rivers, embodying love, fertility. She also is the one we most often approach to aid us in money matters. She is the youngest of the female orishas but retains the title of Iyalode or great queen. She heals with her sweet waters and with honey which she also owns. She is the femme fatale of the orishas and once saved the world by luring Ogún out of the forests using her feminine wiles. And, in her path or manifestation of Ibú Ikolé she saved the world from draught by flying up to heaven (turning into a vulture in the process). Ikolé means Messenger of the House (of Olodumare). For this reason all who are to be initiated as priests, no matter what orisha rules their head, must go to the river and give account of what they are about to do. She recognises herself in the colours yellow and gold and her number is five. Peacocks and vultures are hers and we use them often to represent her.

Oya

Oyá is the ruler of the winds, the whirlwind and the gates of the cemetery. Her number is nine which recalls her title of Yansá or “Mother of Nine” in which she rules over the egun or dead. She is also known for the colours of maroon, flowery patterns and nine different colours. She is a fierce warrior who rides to war with Shangó (sharing lightning and fire with him) and was once the wife of Ogún.

Shango

Perhaps the most ‘popular’ of the orishas, Shangó rules over lightning, thunder, fire, the drums and dance. He is a warrior orisha with quick wits, quick temper and is the epitome of virility. Shangó took the form of the fourth Alafin (supreme king) of Oyó on Earth for a time. He is married to Obba but has relations with Oyá and Oshún. He is an extremely hot blooded and strong-willed orisha that loves all the pleasures of the world: dance, drumming, women, song and eating. He is ocanani with Elegguá, meaning they are of one heart. When sees the quickness with which lightning makes short work of a tree or a fire rage through an area, one has witnessed the temper of Shangó in action. Though he traded the Table of Ifá to Orunmila in exchange for the gift of dance, his children have an innate ability for divination. To acknowledge the greatness of this king, all in the religion raise up on the toes of our feet (or rise out our chairs if we are sitting) at the mention of his name. His colours are red and white and he recognises himself in the numbers four and six. He is most often represented by a double headed axe.

Ososi

Oshosi is the third member of the group known as the Guerreros or Warriors, and is received along with Elegguá, Ogún and Osun in order to protect the Guerreros initiate and to open and clear their roads. Oshosi is the hunter and the scout of the orishas and assumes the role of enforcer of justice for Obatalá with whom he has a very close relationship. His colours are blue and yellow.