Ifa: A Forest of Mystery by Nicholaj de Mattos Frisvold is a major
study on the cosmology, metaphysics, philosophy and divination
system of Ifa, written by a tradition holder and member of the
council of elders, known as the Ogboni society, of Abeokuta,
Nigeria. Ifa - an alternative name for its prophet Orunmila - is a
religion, a wisdom tradition and a system of divination encoding
the rich and complex oral and material culture of the Yoruba
people. The Yoruba culture is grounded in memory, an ancestral
repository of wisdom, that generates good counsel, advises
appropriate ebo (sacrifice) and opens the way to develop a good
character on our journey through life and in our interactions with
the visible and invisible worlds. The work is a presentation of the
first sixteen odu of the Ifa corpus of divination verses explained
in stories, allegories and proverbs reflecting the practical wisdom
of Ifa. The work is both a presentation of Ifa for those with
little knowledge of it, and a dynamic presentation of the wealth of
its wisdom for those already familiar with Ifa. The deities and key
concepts of Ifa metaphysics are discussed, including: Obatala,
Onile, Sango, Ogun, Oya, Osanyin, Yemoja, Esu, ase (power), egungun
(ancestry), iwa (character), and ori (head/consciousness/daimon).
Notably, Dr Frisvold has created a work which celebrates the Yoruba
wisdom tradition and makes a bridge with the Western world. It is
of value for the light that it casts on the origins and mysteries
of Esu and orisa, and an important source for those practicing
Quimbanda, Palo, Santeria, Vodou and the African Diaspora
religions. Yet its lessons are universal, for it is the art of
developing character, of attracting good fortune and accruing
wisdom in life. "Ifa is a philosophy, a theogony, theology and
cosmology rooted in a particular metaphysic that concerns itself
with the real and the ideal, the world and its beginning. It is
rooted in the constitution of man and the purpose of life and the
nature of fate. Ifa is a philosophy of character. The philosophy of
Ifa lies at the root of any religious cult or organization
involving the veneration of orisa. [...] Through stories and
legends, divinatory verses and proverbs, this philosophy will be
revealed piece by piece until the landscape has been laid open
before you." - Nicholaj de Mattos Frisvold
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
