Taoism is My Ifism Too

Although I have not had any formal Taoism training. I feel that I am a Toaist at heart. I had been involved in the practice of I Ching ideology & divination from the age 0f 23 through the age of 36. From there, I had went on to becoming a practicing Ifa Shaman. Throughout those years, I had allowed myself to be guided by my spirit guides; Orisha guardian(Shango), the holy sages of China, and my heart. Unknowing that the I Ching would serve to be as the beginning stages of my formal Ifa training. My spiritual enlightenment and growth defined itself, as such.

I have not met a babalawo today as of yet, which knows Ifa as I do, incorporating two binary divination systems. The I Ching & Ifa divination systems have a common ancestry. According to the Yoruba's it is Orunmila.  It is said within Yoruba scripture that Orunmila traveled to the land of the Filani(Chinese). Such is the story in the Odu(oracle) of Iroso Juani, where when teaching the Filani, Orunmila abandon them half way through their training. It is said that he did this because he became upset, that the Filani preferred the substance of opium over the continued ifa studies. Hence, why the I Ching is 8 X 8 for 64 hexagrams or oracles, and Ifa is 16 x 16 for 256 Odus or oracles, is my observation. This statement is not indicative of, or a criticism of chinese peoples, in being less intelligent or substance abusers. This oracle is meant to be interpreted to acknowledge how substance abuse inhabits learning or study. It is also the only proof the I have that Orunmila, as far as I know being  African. Met or traveled as far east as China. I am a firm believer that if it were not for the contributions from China. Mankind would not have advanced in such away as it has in the last 2000 years. I adore, and love chinese culture. It is evident that if it were not for the I Ching, I would not have had a base knowledge of Ifa.  I am thankful and greatly appreciate chinese philosophy, culture, intellect, and believe to have the holy sages with me always.  Also, from little of what I have read of Fu Shi, his attributes and characteristics are the same as of Orunmila. Could Ifa have started in China(Fu Shi) becoming upset with his people, and then traveled to Africa? Where the I Ching turning into IFa, had a chance to expand? 

The difference between I Ching and Ifa, as I have studied is that all can be known on earth by way of the I Ching and its link to the spiritual realm of earth. The exactitude is based on the network of communication within the forces of earth(nature), and mankind(ancestors) or spirits(positive & negative). Yet, Ifa transcends the spiritual world of earth and man, by reaching out to heaven the realm of the Gods, angles, deities, and other divine forces, for intervention. Ifa rituals are meant to bring those far away forces down here to intercede within the spiritual realm of earth and man. Through the Ifa rituals their presences is re-assured, and the message reaches God whom concedes the Ashe(power), for positive change to take place on earth for man. 

I wrote this article because I had just gotten turned on to a book which has fascinated me. I call it the bridge between Taoism and Ifism. The book is called "The Art of Getting Even" by Min Tzu.  It is also called the book of "Chinese Toaist Sorcery."  What amazed me, is that it spoke about things that I had learned coming up through the years within my hispanic Yoruba Lucumi tradition. Yet, in a chinese mystical way.  I give thanks to my good friend and godson Ron for sharing this book with me. 

Connecting and working with spiritual forces to generate positive changes in our lives, could not have been explained to the western mind, in any better way.