Ifá: A Forest of Mystery

385 Pages·2016·6.99 MB·English

by  Nicholaj De Mattos Frisvold

ifÂ: a forest of mystery
nicholaj de mattos frisvold
IFÁ
A forest of mystery
bibliothËque rouge
mmxvi
Publisher Scarlet Imprint / Bibliothèque Rouge
Text © Nicholaj De Mattos Frisvold, 2016
Illustrations © Childerico
Typography & design Alkistis Dimech
eisbn 978-0-9931200-2-2
All rights reserved: no part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by
print, or any other means, without prior permission being sought and obtained in
writing from the publisher.
www.scarletimprint.com
Contents

Preface by Chief Ògúnṣínà Adéwuyì
Introduction
part i · a philosophy of character
The timeless wisdom of Ifá
Ôrúnmìlà and the secret structure of odù
The art of divination
The cosmology of Ifá
part ii · a forest of mystery
Ëjì ogbË · The moist air of consciousness
ɚyĘkú mÊjì · The mother of the spirit of death
ìwòrì mÊjì · Celestial agriculture in the land of transformation
òdí mÊjì · The house of deep comfort
ìròsùn mÊjì · The rivers of consciousness
ɚwɳnrín mÊjì · The sweet and biɢer traɣ
ɚbárá mÊjì · The fork in the road
ɚkànrán mÊjì · The crossroad the heart gave
ògúndá mÊjì · The relentless pathmaker
ɚsá mÊjì · The mysteries of the birds of night
ìká mÊjì · The wiɣed cobra of fire
òtúrúpɚn mÊjì · The secret path of truth
òtúrá mÊjì · Love’s gentle harmony
ìrẹtĘ mÊjì · The author of fate
ɚṣĖ mÊjì · The sweetness of mystery
òfún mÊjì · The calabash of ɫaracter
ɚṣĖtúrá · Èṣù and the design of the world
Glossary
Bibliography
Index
Illustrations

ɚrúnmìlà
Ëjì ogbË
ɚyĘkú mÊjì
ìwòrì mÊjì
òdí mÊjì
ìròsùn mÊjì
ɚwɳnrín mÊjì
ɚbárá mÊjì
ɚkànrán mÊjì
ògúndá mÊjì
ɚsá mÊjì
ìká mÊjì
òtúrúpɚn mÊjì
òtúrá mÊjì
ìrẹtĘ mÊjì
ɚṣɶ mÊjì
òfún mÊjì
ɚṣɶtúrá
Preface
This book ensures that Ifá spreads across the world, something which is not
only exciting, but also divine. In my perception, those people who spread Ifá
as a consequence of integrating its tenets as a way of life, a philosophy or
religion, should be known as ọmọ ìrúnmọlẹ, ‘true children of divinity.’ These
people, independent of their colour, race, sex, customs, culture and creed are
indeed the true children of divinity. They speak Ifá, act Ifá, demonstrate Ifá,
learn Ifá and teach Ifá to the world, and in this way they represent the tradition
itself.
What other word can be used to qualify these great souls and beings other
than using the Ifá term ìṣeṣe? From the perspective of Ifá, ìṣeṣe means ‘the
great tradition’ in the sense of being an old and venerable religious philosophy
maintained and preserved by trusted and devoted people who clamour for
knowledge, wisdom, understanding and good character in the physical plane of
existence. Ìṣeṣe is the true language of Ifá that causes Ifá to spread across the
world.
For me personally, Nicholaj is one of the greatest ọmọ ìrúnmọlẹ that I have
encountered. His dedication, his way of life and his character testifies to this.
He speaks, learns, teaches, lives and writes Ifá. In doing this he is making sure
that the knowledge of Ifá is not shrouded in secrecy but disseminated
throughout the world as this knowledge is transformed into written texts, in the
form of a book that will benefit humankind. This work is a result of a desire to
grow in spirit and dedication to Ifá only possible for a true devotee. This book
demonstrates how the principle of Ifá flows in the bloodstream of Nicholaj and
makes him tradition itself. No other word than ìṣeṣe can be used when
intellectual prudence, wisdom of diction and light of knowledge takes the
shape of ìwà rere (good character) as in this work.
As a true disciple of Olódùmarè, an initiate of Ifá and a member of Ọgbɳni,
the society of wise men, Nicholaj with this work establishes his name in the
mind, soul and the spirit of people whenever Ifá is mentioned. What this work
accomplishes is to make a mark, announcing a century of miracles and wonders
for Ifá. I say it is a miracle and a wonder because we see today many Yoruba
people who instead of embracing their own customs, religion, culture and
philosophy are leaving it behind. So it is in truth a miracle to see how a
Western man embraces the principles of Ifá, this great storehouse of wisdom
that offers insight into the mysterious mind of Olódùmarè – the infinite being
and ageless spirit that brought all things into existence – with such great
wisdom that was passed down through his diviner and messenger known as
orunmila bara agbonniregun akeyo ifa akeyo gbogbo agbaye (orunmila father of
agbonniregun, the teacher of Ifá and the renowned master of Earth).
And like Ôrúnmìlà, Nicholaj has not only embraced Ifá, but he has made an
effort to spread its wisdom. In doing this he has not only brought Ifá to people
unfamiliar with the tradition but he has also made it possible for people to
bring this old and venerable faith into the lives of others, for the sake of
improving the quality of life of all humanity, now and in the future. I am aware
I am giving a lot of praise, but in truth this work is truly remarkable. Not only
in its way of disseminating the wisdom of Ifá, but also how this work enables
the legacy of Ifá to thrive upon the earth. For those reading this book it will
bring hope, as this work radiates light and wisdom, the kind of light we find at
the source of all things.
I am grateful to Olódùmarè and his ìrúnmọlẹs as I am grateful for Nicholaj’s
confidence in me, to such an extent that I was asked to write this preface for
such a great work. I am grateful for Nicholaj’s dedication, companionship and
support of myself, Ifá and his family.
I pray that Olódùmarè will always illuminate Nicholaj and his apetẹbi,
Adétutu and may his family wherever in the world they might be, be blessed,
because for a true devotee of Ifá, humankind is his family. This book shines
forth from the aafín imɳ (palace of splendour and light) and imparts ìṣeṣe to
the world. This book is a reminder to all the children of Odùduwá how rich
their culture, tradition, religion and wisdom truly are.
Nicholaj is a good student, a great teacher, a faithful priest, a laudable
author, an impressive researcher, a commendable educationist, a praiseworthy
pathfinder and I do hope this great work is just the beginning of his
dissemination of the wisdom of Ifá. In wise ways Nicholaj has acted with