Ifá Divination, Sacrifice, and Òrìṣà (Orisha) Worship

Name: Ifá Divination, Sacrifice, and Òrìṣà (Orisha) Worship
Rating: 4.9 (75 reviews)

Examining the inner workings of Ifá divination (Ìdáfá), ẹbọ or sacrifices, and how the Yorùbá worship Òrìṣà deities.

Created byAfrican Spirit Academy, Dr. Asanee Brogan, Babaláwo Ifákúlé Àdìsá

Last updated 8/2024

English

What you'll learn

Explore the fundamental principles that underpin Ifá divination.
Examine divinatory methods employed before and after sacrifice rituals.
Understand the importance and process of giving sacrifices in the Ifá tradition.
Gain a holistic understanding of the roles of Olódùmarè, the Òrìsàs, and Egúngún (Ancestors) in Yorùbá spirituality.
Explore the context of Yorùbá mythology and how it applies to Òrìsà worship.
Gain deep knowledge of mythology, prayers, incantations, and worship practices for Òrìsàs Orúnmìlà, Èṣù, Ajé, and Orí.

Course content

10 sections • 42 lectures • 2h 4m total length

Overview of the Ifá Tradition1:19
Explore the Ifá tradition, a spiritual system by Orunmila from Yoruba land, with òrìṣà (orisha) worship and deities, now spreading worldwide as people reconnect with ancestry.
The Core Beliefs of the Ifá Religion3:07
Explore the core beliefs of the Ifá religion—the supreme being Olodumare, the Orisha, and the ancestors—and learn about the two lineages and the duties of Babalawo and Iyanifa.
Destiny Alignment in the Ifá Tradition3:57
Discover destiny alignment in Ifá, a spiritual system guiding balance, harmony, and life lessons through divination toward your unique soul mission, not just material gain.
Yorùbá Terminology Lesson - Core Beliefs of Ifá0:29
Learn Yorùbá terminology and the core beliefs of Ifá, including terms such as babalawo, iyanifa, and udu, within the context of Ifá divination and Orisha worship.

Olódùmarè in the Ifá Religion2:33
Explore Olodumare as the supreme, invisible force in the Ifá religion, and see how Orishas, Egungun, and offerings connect worshippers to the divine through prayer, priests, and jujuba.
Guidelines for Feeding the Òrìsàs2:42
Identify who may perform offerings to the Orisha, what offerings are accepted, and the prescribed handling of animals and blood, including taboos and placement of offerings.
The Òrìsàs in the Ifá Religion3:44
Explore the key orishas in the Ifá religion, including Anomala, Orunmila, Aja, Obatala, Sango, and Oya, and how they guide destiny, wisdom, wealth, purity, and protection.
Egúngún in the Ifá Religion3:55
Explore Egúngún and ancestral spirits in the Ifá tradition, and learn how offerings, Eduba praise, and elaborate rites connect families with protection, wellbeing, and holistic spirituality.
Yorùbá Terminology Lesson - Olódùmarè, the Òrìsàs, and Egúngún0:53
Explore Yorùbá terminology in this lesson, featuring Obatala, Yemoja, Oya, and Egungún. Understand how the caption connects these terms to Yorùbá worship and Orisha traditions.

Understanding the Context of Yorùbá Mythology2:54
Explore how Yoruba myths convey truths, moral lessons, and metaphors through Orishas and Ifa narratives, and how these stories teach balance and wisdom.
What is Òrìṣà Worship?1:57
Understand orisha worship through bowing, sacrifices and offerings, consecrated idols or pots, and the ritual use of prayers, incantations, and songs invoking Orisha presence.
Common Misconceptions About Òrìṣà Worship2:15
Clarifies common misconceptions about Òrìṣà worship, explaining that it honors spiritual forces infused in icons rather than worshiping objects, and that it is open to all, not secret or exclusive.
Ritual Work Preparation4:49
Prepare your mind and space by cleansing, focusing, and setting intention before ritual work. Gather offerings near your icon, remove distractions, and approach with a positive, transformative mindset.
Ritual Protocols for Women2:10
Explore Ifá ritual protocols for women, detailing how menstruation and postnatal cleansing shape preparation and eligibility for Orisha rites.

Orúnmìlà Mythology6:48
Orúnmìlà Mythology Interpretation6:05
Orúnmìlà embodies knowledge, wisdom, and enlightenment, guiding humanity through Ifá divination and a complete divination system that teaches humility, balance, and creative expression.
Orúnmìlà Worship1:26
Explain orúnmìlà worship in ifá divination, highlighting sunday rites, the green-yellow-brown colors, and an annual, lineage-based festival with sacrifices like pigs and chickens.
Ọ̀sẹ̀ Ifá (Ifá Worship Day)2:50
Explore ocfa, the Ifá worship day honoring Orunmila, with family offerings at 3, 6, 7, 9, 15, or 21 days, guided by divination.
Orúnmìlà Offering1:20
Place items on Ifa icon three times, open it, perform prayers with fire and cold water, roll the cola to check before offering, spray Ifa, roll again for positive result.
Orúnmìlà Incantations (Yorùbá Translation)1:06
Orúnmìlà incantations with Yorùbá translation illuminate Ifá divination and Òrìṣà worship while connecting the material to personal insight.
Orúnmìlà Incantations (English Translation)1:06
Explore Orúnmìlà incantations and their English translation within the context of Ifá divination and Orisha worship.

Èṣù Mythology4:43
Èṣù myth depicts the trickster as the intelligent messenger who moves between physical and spiritual realms, guiding Orisha and humanity with wit to balance life.
Èṣù Mythology Interpretation5:29
Explore Eshu mythology through crossroad wisdom guiding communication, decision making, and idea generation, while masculine and feminine energy nurture seeds into knowledge and creative life.
Èṣù Worship2:27
Explore Èṣù worship as the messenger and mediator who navigates crossroads between good and evil, light and dark, balancing heavenly and ancestral realms through offerings that open doors of opportunity.
Èṣù Offering1:36
Explore èṣù offering in ifá divination and orisha worship, including salt and palm oil offerings and incantations, with rolling to determine a positive ruling.
Èṣù Incantations (Yorùbá Translation)0:48
Learn Èṣù incantations with Yorùbá translation and discover how ritual language supports Ifá divination and Orisha worship.
Èṣù Incantations (English Translation)0:48
Translate and interpret Èṣù incantations, including lines about a black cat coming alive, luminous signs, following or leaving, fame, and consequences of the wrong choice.

Ajé Mythology3:24
Explore Ajé mythology as the Orisha of wealth and commerce, tracing her blessings of prosperity, wealth, and financial wisdom to merchants and communities through cowrie shells and festival of AIG.
Ajé Mythology Interpretation2:41
IG's story shows that hard work, integrity, and diligence unlock wealth, which she shares by teaching others to gain financial success through education, business acumen, and self-reliance.
Ajé Worship3:27
Discover Ajé worship, the Orisha of wealth and trade, guiding ethical gains through cowry shells and offerings, with Monday rites and a September festival in Oyo.
Ajé Offering1:31
Ajé Incantations (Yorùbá Translation)0:37
Translate Ajé incantations from Yorùbá and share insights into Yoruba worship practices, linking personal inquiry with Ifá divination and Orisha devotion.
Ajé Incantations (English Translation)0:37

Orí Worship2:22
Appeasing Orí in Daily Life4:49
Appease worry daily by fulfilling your destiny and balancing forces through actions that nurture self-awareness, moral living, and authentic self-expression, while practicing prayer and meditation to align with your Ori.
Orí Offering1:25
Perform an Orí offering ritual using coconut, kola nut, and dry gin, rolling to reveal positive signs, spraying the icon, and offering remaining coconut to the hurricane.
Orí Incantations (Yorùbá Translation)0:38
Explore orí incantations through Yorùbá translation, linking chants to Ifá divination and Òrìṣà worship, with practical insights into Yoruba spiritual practices.
Orí Incantations (English Translation)0:38
Learn Orí incantations in English translation within Ifá divination and Orisha worship, connecting ritual language to Yoruba spiritual practice.

Requirements

Foundational knowledge of the Ifá Tradition

Description

Rooted in ancient West African traditions of the Yorùbá people, the Ifá religion has stood the test of time. It is one of the most recognized traditional religions from the African continent. Even more, it continues to spread throughout the diaspora as more people seek to connect with their ancestral roots through Òrìsà (Orisha) worship.

While the Ifá tradition is a replete spiritual system, many people tend to be intrigued by its geomancy-based divination system. Even more, numerous individuals seek to understand the sacrifice processes involved in this religion. Additionally, many are curious about aspects of Òrìsà worship. As such, this course is designed to explore the inner workings of these aspects of the Ifá religion.

In this course, Baba Ifákunle and Dr. Asanee explore the intricacies of Ifá divination, sacrifice, and Òrìsà worship as practiced in Yorùbáland, Nigeria. First, they provide seekers with comprehensive knowledge about Ifá divination or Ìdáfá. This helps learners understand the importance of this process, the intricate mechanisms involved in it, and the wisdom available through it.

Also, with a focus on sacrifice, it gives learners a peek at the vast landscape of ritual work in the Yorùbá tradition. In exploring the practice of ẹbọ, learners gain insight into the essence of sacrifice. As such, they acquire in-depth knowledge about the life-giving power of feeding the Òrìsàs according to Yorùbá practices.

Baba Ifákunle and Dr. Asanee also explore other dynamics involved in Òrìsà worship. These course components help learners understand the process of appeasing Yorùbá deities. Likewise, they offer a visual presentation of how to honor some of the most common Òrìsàs. Of note, lessons feature mythology, worship practices, incantations, and offering rituals for Orúnmìlà, Èṣù, Orí, and Ajé.

Ultimately, students immerse themselves in knowledge pertaining to rituals, incantations, and other worship practices ingrained in the Ifá faith. By honoring the ancient wisdom of Ìdáfá and embracing the transformative power of Òrìsà worship, learners cultivate a deeper understanding of Yorùbá cosmology.

Who this course is for:

Individuals interested in the Ifá Tradition and Òrìṣà Worship.

Ifá Divination, Sacrifice, and Òrìṣà (Orisha) Worship

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction to the Ifá Religion4 lectures • 9min

Ifá Divination Basics2 lectures • 14min

Sacrifices (Ẹbọ) in the Ifá Tradition1 lecture • 12min

Olódùmarè, the Òrìsàs, and Egúngún in the Ifá Religion5 lectures • 14min

Òrìṣà Worship (Bíbọ) in Yorùbá Culture5 lectures • 14min

Orúnmìlà Mythology, Worship, and Ritual Practices7 lectures • 21min

Èṣù Mythology, Worship, and Ritual Practices6 lectures • 16min

Ajé Mythology, Worship, and Ritual Practices6 lectures • 12min

Orí Worship and Ritual Practices5 lectures • 10min

Extra Lesson1 lecture • 3min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: