This lively introduction to the religious practice of Ifa describes the intoxicating world of its Orisa (or messenger spirits)--their origins and special powers--and shows how to consult your personal guardian Orisa for guidance and wisdom. The practice of Ifa includes ancestor and Orisa worship and a method of divination that helps one bring one's spiritual and worldly selves into harmony. 12 photos.Carried to the Americas by slaves, the 8,000-year-old philosophy of Ifa originated with the Yoruba peoples of West Africa. Ifa's enduring message of strength and inner peace, one that offers a way to harmonize our spiritual and worldly aims, is enjoying a resurgence of popularity in the West. Written by an avid student and accomplished practitioner, "The Way of the Orisa" provides an exhilarating introduction to the orisa, the powerful messenger spirits who act as our personal guardians. Through fables, rituals, prayers and simple guidelines, Philip Neimark shows how we can further our personal and professional goals by cultivating the loving support of orisa energy. Joyous, wise and eminently practical, "The Way of the Orisa" brings a vibrant ancient tradition to contemporary life.Carried to the Americas by slaves, the 8,000-year-old philosophy of Ifa originated with the Yoruba peoples of West Africa. Ifa's enduring message of strength and inner peace, one that offers a way to harmonize our spiritual and worldly aims, is enjoying a resurgence of popularity in the West. Written by an avid student and accomplished practitioner, "The Way of the Orisa" provides an exhilarating introduction to the orisa, the powerful messenger spirits who act as our personal guardians. Through fables, rituals, prayers and simple guidelines, Philip Neimark shows how we can further our personal and professional goals by cultivating the loving support of orisa energy. Joyous, wise and eminently practical, "The Way of the Orisa" brings a vibrant ancient tradition to contemporary life.