marking a new stage in life and a deeper relationship with Ifá and Orisa.

You may come with a sense of calling, questions about your destiny, or the weight of difficult experiences. I want to hear what has brought you here. Your reasons are personal, and they deserve careful attention.

Within the tradition, initiation may reveal taboos or agreements made with spirit before birth and help a person understand how to honor the destiny they chose. Others seek the spiritual support to pursue their hopes and responsibilities. Each person’s path is their own.

The purpose is a deeper relationship with the tradition, greater knowledge of self, and understanding of the unseen world. We begin with divination to discern whether initiation is appropriate for you and what preparation is needed. There is room for your questions, and no need to rush this lasting commitment.

 “Initiation” means
to begin,

Indoor scene with a concrete floor, a yellow mat, clothing and other items on the floor, and a small window with bars.
A man and two children sitting on a yellow mat outdoors, with a garden in the background. The man is wearing a white shirt, patterned pants, and a white cap, while the children are dressed in white. One child is holding a small container and the othe
Children sitting under a table on the floor, surrounded by various pots and household items.

Our Temple currently focuses on performing initiation to Ifa and/or Orisa and empowerments locally; however, Dr. Oba Ifagbemi has performed initiations globally, and leads trips to West Africa, depending upon interest and availability, for initiations, ceremonies, and study.

Some of the various Orisas one may initiate to include the following:

  •  Ifa (Babalawo / Iyanifa)

  • Esu

  • Obatala

  • Osun

  • Obaluaye

  • Egbe

  • Yemoja

  • Aje-Olokun

  • Orisa Aje

  • Ogun

  • Osoosi

  • Osumare

  • Sango

  • Oya

  • Egungun

  • Gelede

  • and various societies within the tradition

Several people sitting around a person lying on a table, with some holding candles or lights, in a dimly lit room.
Collection of African tribal artifacts including a wooden drum, carved wooden objects, and a beaded staff on a wooden surface.
Group of people, including children and adults, lying on beds and looking at a television or screen in a room with framed pictures and decorations.
A man dressed in traditional attire, sitting on the floor with a white cloth in front of him, surrounded by various artifacts and items, possibly during a cultural or religious activity.

There are many levels of participation within Ifa from Aborisa, to initiated devotee (Ifa/Orisa priesthood), to practicing priest. The most important part is to determine what your destiny has in store and balance that with the practice level in which you feel comfortable, and then growing from there.

Spirituality cannot be bought or sold. A spiritual path is a personal journey. The path of spirituality does not have a set price tag and route. Prayer and connection to the Creator (or God, or Olodumare) is freely available for all.

Built upon that is the fact that Ifa and Orisa traditions are an initiatory practice - meaning we cannot just self-initiate; we must be brought into the inner practice. What is so comforting about the Orisa and Ifa traditions is that it is inherently recognized that to properly collect the good things in life that your destiny has in store for you, you absolutely must have a few basic blessings to begin with - blessings like stable health, blessings like sustainable income, blessings like home and a network of support (or family, children, community, etc). Some other traditions call this the state of being a good Householder. This belief is built into the practice and are core focuses at any juncture. With a leveling up like initiation, we must also ensure the initiate is able to maintain, if not expand, their basic blessings. For this reason, initiation to Ifa or any Orisa, while available to any sincere seeker, should be considered on a one-on-one basis based on many factors.

If you have further interest in knowing more about initiation to Ifa or Orisa, we invite you to contact Kabiessi Ifagbemi and/or receive an Ifa divination reading to learn and ascertain more about the practice level that may be most appropriate for you.

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