My introduction to IFA came in 1996 when I met my first teacher Babalawo Chief Adetunji Olokodana in Phoenix, Arizona. Given that there was no significant Ifa community in Phoenix, I consider it a blessing that our meeting took place. It was On my Path! From 1996 to 2001, Chief Olokodana, (Baba Tunji to myself and others) taught me into an understanding of the Tradition of Orisa and Ancestor Worship. I learned something of the Yoruba language as we performed readings and ebos (sacrifices) for seekers, and divined the Orisa who governed the heads of those who wanted to know. Baba Tunji read my Orisa as Orisa Ogun. Orisa Ogun remains a prominent and powerful force in my consciousness and my life but in 2001 I was destined to learn more about the Ifa way of being in the world and about myself.
With this experience as a foundation it was On Path for me to meet Chief Adeyela Adelekan via long distance telephone from Phoenix to London in early 2000. Chief Adelekan was to become my mentor and I his protégé during and after my Journey to The Root which I’ve described on our website. While in Ile-Ife in 2001, I was initiated into the House of Obatala and affectionately referred to by Chief Adelekan as his priest. Ile Awo Orisa, The House of the Mysteries of Orisa was established immediately upon my return from Ile-Ife. In the 14 years that I have been a practitioner of the Ifa Tradition and in the 9 years since I traveled to Ile-Ife, Nigeria IFA has had a profound positive influence and affect on my life, on the lives of my spiritual godchildren, and others who have come seeking.
What has really prompted this Blog site are the emails that I have received over the years from individuals who have visited the website, read about my Journey to The Root, and been inspired and motivated to write and say thank you. The acknowledgment is much appreciated! The Blog is also a response to those who have written seeking someone who can assist them in their own journey. I don't think that I am that one. I am but a humble Priest of Obatala and consider myself limited in knowledge, a seeker like many of you. However, I do believe that by sharing in an open dialogue we might find answers in each other. After all, each of us is connected to the All! Often the emails express being overwhelmed by the amount of information and the diverse views about Orisa and Ancestor Worship one encounters on the web. Another complaint is that many Priests, Priestesses, and Babalawos seem to be all about large sums of money to access their spiritual advice. If this Blog can serve as a free venue of sincere, honest, and informed dialogue about the Ifa Tradition of Orisa and Ancestor Worship, if it can assist even one individual in remembering how and why they chose to come into this world, if it can provide you with a place to share your experiences with Orisa and Egungun, if it can help in making our ancient African traditions and worldview a part of the current dialogue about world affairs, then all effort in maintaining the Blog will be worthwhile. We welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions.
May Orisa and Egun look favorably on what we say!
