About Ifa
Why Ifa?
After many years studying under many different systems and integrating many different beliefs I felt that nothing I had studied could encompass everything that I knew to be true. I firmly believe that the essence of each system should be held intact. It seemed that every new system I studied required me to abandon all that I had previously discovered. Ifa proved the exception. As I open myself to deeper exploration of Ifa it seems that everything that I have learned, that I see to be true and valuable in my years of study, fits within the Ifa world-view. No need for reinterpretation, no forcing square pegs into round holes. Ifa with its grounding in joy and embracing of the bigger whole of our lives expressed ideas that I have picked up from sources as diverse as Aleister Crowley and Zen Buddhism.
As I grow in my alignment to the principles of Ifa I am challenged to see myself as part of the bigger whole of the Universe in a very literal way. This understanding resonates very closely with the Buddhist focus on compassion. As we understand the symbiotic nature of the world in which we live and start to release our feelings of separateness we are compelled to care for it and the people and creatures that populate it. Connection with the Orisa, my ancestors and my destiny has strengthened that focus on compassion.
Huna and Ifa re both earth based philosophies that understand that connection to the natural forces of the universe is a way in which we can balance our selves and have our lives run more smoothly. With its feet firmly planted in the ground Ifa also brings an urban sensibility to the practice. No doubt the Yoruba lived far closer to nature and its cycles that the typical modern westerner. Their urban society, however, understood larger communities and things like market places. This viewpoint can help bridge the gap that has separates us from the word in which we live and bring us into harmony with it. Ifa also approaches worship with joy and celebration, like Huna incorporating music and dance to deepen our connections.
For the Yoruba, as well as the modern Ifa practitioner there is no sin, no hell, no deity that seeks to punish its creations or rule the universe by fear. There is no holy word handed down by God that cannot be challenged. It is a living and growing system that can adapt to any shifts in human culture and mind-set that it encounters. Yet its message of harmony, of the importance of love and family and other things beyond the physical, its understanding of the creator as benevolent, all of these principles resonate with my understanding of the Christian teachings. These are the basic truths that have informed enlightened human beings since the beginning of our journey on the planet. They are reflected in almost every religious tradition that has sprung up in the world and their profound simplicity can bring us into deeper relationship with ourselves and thereby with the creative force.
With all that said it is perhaps Ifa's grounding in joy that has most attracted me. As Crowley wrote in Liber al vel Legis, "Remember all ye that existence is pure joy; that all the sorrows are but as shadows; they pass & are done; but there is that which remains." As my experience of Ifa deepens I am connected with a deep and abiding groundswell of joy that permeates everything I do and experience. It is inclusive, open, willing to question and creates a courage that I never would have thought possible.
The power and simplicity of the Yoruba Life Path reading forms the foundation of my work with all of my clients regardless of the path that they are taking. This profound information is completely neutral. Garnering value from it requires on one thing, that the client is willing to take responsibility for their life and for the unconscious choices that they made before they came. Regardless of philosophical or religious persuasion they can benefit from an understanding of and alignment with the natural energies that run through and around them. My work is first and foremost about empowering my clients to move along their own chosen path with the support of the Universe. Our goal is always to increase joy, fulfillment, success and love.
Since my involvement in Ifa I have made a career transition that had been in the works for almost twenty years. I have found and married a man who is not only an amazing partner but in every way my best friend. I have deepened my understanding of myself and the world around me. I have connected with the eternal power of my ancestors who have become constant sources of inspiration and guidance on my learning journey here on Earth. I have developed the intuition that has given me profound insights into my own struggles and the issues and challenges faced by everyone in my life. Most of all I have seized the opportunity to use the tools at my disposal to improve the lives of everyone around me whether they be friends, family or clients. I am living a life aligned with a profound sense of who I really am and with the long-term orientation that helps me to let go of the small stuff and allow my life to flow with the changing currents of the Universe.
Call me at (604) 626-6277 or email me to set up an appointment or book your free 10 minute telephone consultation.
