IFA: The Answer to All of Life's Troubles

By Fagbemijo Amosun Fakayode

IFA is an ancient sacred science that has been passed down generationally for thousands of
years. IFA is also known as FA or AFA in different parts of West Afrika, as it is practiced by
various ethnic groups in the area. IFA is a science of divination – a means of communication
and interaction with the unseen, spiritual world. Through the practice of IFA we can see what
cannot be seen – in the past, present, and future – and thus diagnose problems that are
beyond our scope. Therefore when we place our trust in the word of IFA, we are always
ensured hope, no matter how dire the situation may seem to us.

Much like when one goes to see a modern medical doctor, going to the Babalawo or Iyanifa
(IFA priest or priestess) starts off with something much like diagnosis. Instead of the doctor
physically checking you out with instruments such as stethoscope, thermometer, etc. the
Babalawo will consult the IFA oracle on your behalf to ask IFA what the energies in your
situation are. Even if you do not reveal any symptoms or details to the Babalawo, they will
consult IFA and IFA will reveal all. The Babalawo must interpret the divination and they will
most usually do so with the use of Ese IFA, verses of divine poetry that has been passed
down for thousands of years. The Babalawo will unravel details of your own situation from the
poems and then they will help you make sense of it all and how it applies to your own
personal current situation.

Often the patient or client will have an internal reaction to the messages of IFA and they
themselves will come out and tell the Babalawo further interpretations and insights into their
own situation or problem. The Babalawo and the patient will discuss the interpretation and
there is much healing psychologically. Certain things that were before overlooked or
subconsciously “swept under the mental rug” are now brought to light, by IFA and by the
person's own Ori (divine head/consciousness), and the whole issue is given a new shade of
light. These new perspectives, and this outside divine word of IFA, help the patient to
reexamine their situation and to look at it from an externalized view. Much like modern
counseling or therapy, this helps the patient to deal with their situation and their problems.

On this IFA says:

Ogbe touches the matter for it not to break
Ogbe touches the matter for it not to bend
A beautiful bride is desirable when passing by
When she moves into the home
She becomes trouble
Cast IFA for Orunmila
When he was in debt in six different places
And IFA requested a goat from him
He then made his cry a cry of shouting
And made his song a dirge of lamentation
Now those who write one off do not know tomorrow
If one is not yet dead
One's chances for achievement have not yet ceased
Those who write one off do not know tomorrow
Travelers to Ipo and Ofa
Join us in the midst of abundant Ire

Next, again much like a modern doctor, the Babalawo will interpret the Odu IFA to prescribe
medicines and sacrif ices necessary to ensure blessings and to keep away all negative forces.
If the patient is sick with a disease, IFA will have revealed the sickness even if the patient
exhibited no symptoms, and then IFA will at the same time offer solutions to overcome the
illness. The prescribed remedy may be in the form of medicine to be ingested, topical
medicine, medicine to be used in the form of a soap or other substance, and many times the
prescribed remedy will include sacrif icial offerings on behalf of the patient to the ORISHA, the
Primordial Forces. By giving prescribed offerings and placating the ORISHA, the Divine
Spiritual Energies, we are able to overcome all obstacles in life. The issue is knowing what to
offer and to which (out of hundreds and hundreds) ORISHA to give the offering to. IFA oracle
will reveal this information and more, and thus help the patient to overcome their issues in life.

All of us came to Earth with certain individual EEWO, or taboos. These are things that before
we came from Heaven (Spiritual World) to Earth (Living World) we decided and swore oath
not to eat, drink, keep, etc. These EEWO are very close to the negative forces in the world
(loss, contention, sickness, death, etc) and when one breaks covenant and eats, drinks,
comes into contact with, etc. their EEWO's, they are inviting those negative forces into their
lives. The way to discover what those taboo items are is through divination with the IFA
oracle. During divination and other rituals such as ceremonial initiation rites, IFA will reveal the
person's EEWO. It is through full itefa (IFA initiation) that one can learn their destiny including
their EEWO (do's and don'ts in life). Then once the person is aware of their EEWO's, they can
avoid them and follow them.

By complying with the directives of IFA such as following taboos, and by offering the
necessary prescribed sacrif icial offerings, we can ensure ourselves that the blessings which
we have selected to receive in life will come to us, and at the same time we are assured that
any misfortunes which lay in our path can be avoided, that any obstacles can be overcome.

On this IFA says:

IFA is the master of today
IFA is the master of tomorrow
IFA is the master of the day after tomorrow as well
Orunmila is the master of all the four days
Established here on earth by the divinities
Cast IFA for Orunmila
On the day that all the malevolent supernatural powers
Were repeatedly haunting his household
Death disease loss paralysis affliction
Were all glancing at Orunmila
They were saying that
One day they would be successful at killing him
Orunmila then consulted his Ori
Ogunda Meji was divined
He was advised to offer sacrif ice
He offered the sacrif ice
After he had completed the sacrif ice
His Ori provided protective shielding for him
Death could no longer kill him
Nor could diseases affect him
He was dancing he was rejoicing
He was singing the praises of his IFA priests
His IFA priests were singing the praises of IFA
He opened his mouth
Joyous IFA songs came out
He stretched his legs and found himself dancing
he said it is exactly how his priests predicted:
IFA is the master of today
IFA is the master of tomorrow
IFA is the master of the day after tomorrow as well
Orunmila is the master of all the four days
Established here on earth by the divinities
Cast IFA for Orunmila
On the day that all the malevolentsupernatural powers
Were repeatedly haunting his household
The day death comes looking for me
IFA spread out and provide protectionfor me
Just as ewe nla spreads out to shield oori
Just as a big river spreads out to shield the sands of its bed
The day all the malevolent supernatural forces come looking for me
IFA spread out and provide protection for me
Just as ewe nla spreads out to shield oori
Just as a big river spreads out to shield the sands of its bed
It is etiponola that spreads out and shields the soil
IFA spread out and provide protection for me
Just as ewe nla spreads out to shield oori
Just as a big river spreads out to shield the sands
Of its bed

Ifa will guide us and protect us. Ase O

Sincerely,
Fagbemijo Amosun Fakayode
Otun Amufawuni of Ibadan Land
Director of Oyeku Ofun Temple

About the author:

Apena Fagbemijo Amosun Fakayode was born and raised in San Francisco, CA. In January
2011, he journeyed alone to Ibadan, Nigeria where he was initiated into the priesthood of Ifa.
He has since returned for several subsequent visits.
On April 13, 2013, Fagbemijo Amosun Fakayode was installed as a traditional chief, with the
title Otun Amufawuni of Ibadan Land. The title of “Amufawuni” means “He who makes people
love/like Ifa”. As the Otun Amufawuni, or Ambassador of Ifa, Oloye Fagbemijo stands as an
example of someone who has been chosen to serve in the capacity of bringing honor and
reverence to the tradition with a unique perspective.
He is the author of other books such as "All Days Are Sacred" and "Ori Mi Gbe Mi: Ori,
Support Me". He is the director of Oyeku Ofun Temple, a traditional Ifa and Orisa temple in
Arcata, CA. Fagbemijo Amosun Fakayode now resides in Northen California with his family.