Through Ifa, the role of the diviner (known as a babalawo) is to help an individual or community to see what is in store for them in their day-to-day lives.
What is the purpose of a babalawo?
Functions in society
The Babalawos are believed to ascertain the future of their clients through communication with Ifá. This is done through the interpretation of either the patterns of the divining chain known as Opele, or the sacred palm nuts called Ikin, on the traditionally wooden divination tray called Opon Ifá.
What do you say to a babalawo?
Whenever you greet a Babalawo or Iyanifa, the proper greeting is Aboru (Ah Boo Ru) Aboye (Ah Boy Yea) Abosise (Ah Bo She Shay) . It’s a lot to learn at first but becomes easier over time.
What religion is a babalawo?
A priest of the highest order belonging to the Santería religion, similar to vodoun, with magic powers, including the ability to heal the sick, divine the future and punish wrongdoers.
What is the female version of a babalawo?
Kumari defines Iyalawo as the “female equivalent” of babalawo, 21 which is significant because the more traditional Yoruba term iyanifa is simply the counterpart of the male Ifa priest, demonstrating a subtle difference in orientation toward gender roles and norms.
What is a babalawo in Santeria?
A babalawo is a Santeria priest who acts as a medium channeling the prophecy from the Orishas. Orishas are spirits who are a manifestation of the supreme God Olodumare.
How do I become Ifa?
How do you become an IFA? In order to become an IFA, you first need to complete a Level 4 Diploma for Financial Advisers (DipFA). This qualification is made up of two units, with the first being based on financial services regulation ethics and the second focusing on advanced financial advice.
How do Ifa people greet?
Spirit of Destiny I am greeting you, Spirit of Destiny I am greeting you, Spirit of Destiny I am greeting you. Ifa mo pe, Ifa mo pe, Ifa mo pe. Wisdom of Nature I am greeting you, Wisdom of Nature I am greeting you, Wisdom of Nature I am greeting you.
What does it mean to be crowned in Santeria?
On February 2nd, I went through a ceremony called ocha/regla de ocha/kariocha/crowning. Here’s what it means: Ocha (Kariocha, making Santo): The initiation of a new priest or priestess where his/her tutelary Orisha is put on his/her head (crown) during a seven-day ceremony.
Where is Ifa practiced?
Ifa divination is practiced by the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria and West Africa. The exact origin of Ifa divination is unknown, but it appears to pre-date Christianity and Islam in West Africa and it continues to be an important part of Yoruba culture in Nigeria and for Africans in America.
How much does Santeria cost?
A full-on initiation ceremony into Santeria, which grew out of the Yoruba religion brought to the Americas by African slaves, would cost a foreigner well over $1,000.
What is an Olorisha?
At drum dances called bembés, initiated devotees, now properly called olorishas—those who “have the orisha”—may lose their ordinary consciousness and manifest that of their orisha patrons.
Does Yoruba religion believe in God?
Followers of the Yoruba religion believe that a single omnipotent deity named Olodumare (or Olorun) rules over the universe. Olodumare is also referred to by other names, including Oluwa (Lord) and Orise (the source of all things), but has no gender.
What is Ifa divination?
The Ifa divination system is applied whenever an important individual or collective decision has to be made. The Ifa literary corpus, called odu, consists of 256 parts subdivided into verses called ese, whose exact number is unknown as they are constantly increasing (there are around 800 ese per odu).
How many orisha are there?
Yoruba tradition often says that there are 400 + 1 orishas, which is associated with a sacred number. Other sources suggest that the number is “as many as you can think of, plus one more – an innumerable number”. Different oral traditions refer to 400, 700, or 1,440 orishas.
What is a Ifa priest called?
babalawo
Yoruba priests of ifa are known as babalawo (fathers of secrets). Trained from their youth in the rituals of divination, they are masters of a vast corpus of oral literature known as ese ifa often referred to as containing the wisdom of ifa.
How do I become a Santera?
The novice must be protected and trained by his/her madrina/padrino, and only after one year will the novice be fully trained and allowed to use the title santera or santero. A Santería novice must only wear white.
What does the green and yellow bracelet mean in Santería?
It should be the first ceremony anyone receives in the Santaria religion. At the end of this you can wear the green and yellow bracelet that signifies you know who your Orisha is and have taken the ceremony. The only way to really know your true Orisha and sign is to take the ceremony. It is not for the faint hearted.
Who is the god of Santería?
Santería teaches the existence of an overarching divinity, known as Olodumare, Olofi, or Olorun. Practitioners believe that this divinity created the universe but takes little interest in human affairs. As this creator deity is inaccessible to humanity, no major offerings are dedicated to it.
What happens when you leave Ifa?
Some time after settling at Ado, Ifa became tired of living in the world, and accordingly went to dwell in the firmament, with Obatala. After his departure, mankind, deprived of his assistance, was unable to properly interpret the desires of the gods, most of whom became in consequence annoyed.
What is initiation to Orisha?
Initiation is a seven-day process rich with prayers, animal sacrifice and divination. During the ceremony, orishas are placed inside the initiate’s head, which is why the heads of Thomas’ initiates were shaved.
