Brian Madigan, Life Path Mentor, Brian's history and bio
Why Ifa Works
Ifa, with its grounding in joy and its vision of humans as part of a bigger whole, expresses ideas that I have picked up from sources as diverse as Aleister Crowley and Zen Buddhism. After many years studying many different systems I felt that nothing I had explored could encompass everything that I knew to be true. Every new tradition that I studied required me to abandon all that I had previously learned. I firmly believe that the essence of each system should be held intact and as I explore Ifa everything that I hold true and valuable fits within its world-view.
As I embrace the principles of Ifa, I am challenged to see myself as part of the universe in a very literal way. This understanding very closely echoes the Buddhist focus on compassion. As we begin to understand the true nature of the world we live in, we start to release our feelings of separateness. We want to care for the world as well as the people and creatures that live in it. Connection with the Orisa (the natural energies of the universe), my ancestors, and my destiny has strengthened that focus.
Huna, Hawaiian Shamanism which I use in energy work, and Ifa are both earth based philosophies. Both embrace the belief that connection to the natural forces of the universe balances us so that our lives can run more smoothly.
Keeping its feet firmly planted in the ground, Ifa also has urban roots. No doubt the ancient Yoruba lived far closer to nature and its cycles than the typical modern person but they lived in large communities and understood things like market places. This viewpoint can help bridge the gap that separates us from the world we live in and bring us into harmony with it. Ifa also approaches worship with joy and celebration, incorporating music and dance to deepen our connections.
For the ancient Yoruba, as well as the modern Ifa follower, there is no sin, no hell, and no deity that seeks to punish its creations or rule the universe by fear. There is no holy word handed down by God that cannot be challenged. It is a living and growing system that can adapt to any shifts in human culture and mind-set that it encounters.
Ifa's message of harmony; of the importance of love, family and other things beyond the physical; its insistence on long-term thinking; and its vision of a benevolent creator match my understanding of the Christian teachings of my childhood.
These are basic truths that have informed enlightened people since the beginning of our journey on the planet. They exist in almost every religious tradition. Their profound simplicity can bring us into deeper relationship with ourselves and with the creator.
Perhaps it is Ifa's grounding in joy that has attracted me most. As Crowley wrote in Liber al vel Legis, "Remember all ye that existence is pure joy; that all the sorrows are but as shadows; they pass & are done; but there is that which remains." As my experience of Ifa deepens, I connect with a powerful current of joy that supports everything I do and experience.
Ifa is inclusive, open, willing to question and creates courage in people that I never would have thought possible.
The ancient Yoruba Life Path reading forms the foundation of my work regardless of the path that my clients are taking. This profound information is completely neutral. Getting value from it only requires that clients are willing to take responsibility for their life and for the unconscious choices that they made before they were born. Regardless of their beliefs, they can benefit from aligning with the natural energies that run through and around them.
My work is first and foremost about empowering my clients to move along their own chosen path with the support of the universe. Our goal is always to increase joy, fulfillment, success and love.
Since my involvement with Ifa I have made a career transition that had been in the works for almost twenty years. I have found and married a man who is not only an amazing partner but in every way my best friend. I have deepened my understanding of myself and the world around me. I have connected with the eternal power of my ancestors, who have become constant sources of inspiration and guidance on my learning journey. I have developed intuition that has given me profound insights into my own struggles and the issues and challenges faced by everyone in my life. Most of all, I have seized the opportunity to use the tools at my disposal to improve the lives of everyone around me, whether they be friends, family or clients.
I am living a life aligned with a profound sense of who I really am and with the long-term orientation that helps me to let go of the small stuff and allow my life to flow with the changing currents of the universe.