“It’s always a good time to come to Ifa for a reading.”

-Iya Damilola Famyemi of Alaafia LLC

Divination can be beneficial at any important crossroads in life. Getting a reading helps us at the beginning of a new calendar year, on birthdays, at the change of seasons, when considering a change (career, relationships, home, etc), and when clarity about a life experience can help us to make better decisions on our paths.

No, readings can be done remotely over the phone through video or audio.

It’s strongly advised to wear white, light, or bright colors.

Absolutely, many choose to record on their smartphones. If you prefer you can take notes have take notes as well.

Ancestral Reverence is the vibranium core of most (if not all) indigenous spiritual practices, and it is the support system for Creative Intelligence Healing Arts as a mission-driven organization.

"Energy cannot be created or destroyed...only transferred from one form to another." So, where does it go when our elders and loved ones transition? Our understanding is that the energy of love, sacrifice, experience, knowledge, and wisdom seeks to be remembered, honored, and channeled through those of us who still have lives and work to do. It is the resilience and collective wisdom of our ancestors that creates the foundation for our individual and familial success.

Often, many of our gifts and struggles are rooted in the knowledge (or lack thereof) of our ancestral story. They live through us. Some desire to lend their support as we travel our life's journey. Others need our support to help elevate them so that they may be of greater service to their bloodline. Our active relationship with ancestors is critical to healing ourselves, our families, and our villages, laying the foundation for the prosperity of future generations.

The Orisa, in basic terms, represent the energy of everything around and inside of us. Although we see physical depictions of Orisa, the understanding of them expands beyond an attachment of shared personal attributes. The wisdom of each Orisa opens us to a connection with a different aspect of nature and energy. For more information about the Orisa, consider reading Way of the Orisa by Philip J. Neimark, and/or Seven African Powers - The Orishas by Monique Joiner Siedlak.

Within the wisdom of Ifa, we as spiritual beings having a human experience are not the products of our environments; we are woven into the interconnected fabric of the universe. Forces in nature govern and shape the patterns and colors (universal laws) in this tapestry. The personification of the forces of nature are known as Orisha.

The Orisha guide our destinies through the threads each of us are crafted with; our character and decisions affect this fabric. We nurture our nature through connecting with and understanding the universal law, “As within; so without. As above; so below.” These energies live within each of us as dynamically as they live in the natural world. It is possible to tap into and connect with these energies in order to live and maintain a balanced and fulfilling life. These primary Orisha also correspond with energies commonly known as chakra.

Each person’s divine consciousness (or Ori) selects two complementary forces of nature from the pantheon of Orisha, often referred to as “head and feet”, to guide us in the fulfilment of our destiny. Assessing which orisha walk with you is something that can be done through divination by a knowledgeable Ifá priest (Babalawo or Iyanifa).