Here in Brooklyn growing up around the Voudun community amongst Haitian childhood friends, as well as Santeria among hispanic friends, also Yoruba in my family I was overwelmed with a kind of joy that cannot be translated in English, when I as a Christian saw the tenets , that I have been waiting all my life to see, and now embrace from my ancestral religion.
I hope that you would provide further readings or books if possible for further knowledge of our indigenous and original philosphy, because finding this great wisdom has put an amazing landmark in my quest for more Light.
It is my hope that our children would be blessed to be aware of these foundations, which can be used as a cure to the traumas we see in the current youth population.
Asante' sana
I feel ya Swope! I've had some of the same experiences growing up in Harlem. When I think back in time, there were aborisa all around me, I just didn't connect the dots, no pun intended ( a little initiation reference)
Brotha I came (returned) to Ifa for the sake of healing, myself as well as others. As you well know, Africans, particuliarly in the diapsora are like the dismembered body of Ausar. Traditional healing methods were employed by Auset to reconstitute the fragmented condition of the lifeless Ausar to return from amenta
Here are a few books that can serve as a primer to facilitate a means to bring us back in alignment
Black Gods- Orisa studies in the New World by John Mason
Four New World Rituals: John Mason
Imoye: A defition of the Ifa tradition: Baba Ifa Karade
Storms of the Orisa: Baba Ifa Karade
Yoruba Ritual: Margaret Thompson Drewal
Ifa: Wande Abimbola
Olodumare: God in Yoruba belief: Bolaji Idowu
Flash of the Spirit: Robert Ferris Thompson
Remember this, no book can ever replace the first hand experience and guidance of a competent and dedicated Babalawo
Ase
Ire Ogun