For more than 1000 years, the Yoruba of Nigeria have planned their lives, found true love, and learned their destiny through a vibrant and poetic fortune-telling system. African Oracles in 10 Minutes puts the power of these ancient methods in your hands. Sensing the strong link between sexual and spiritual energy, the Yoruba have traditionally explored both male and female paths to wisdom. You can choose to follow either the "White Cotton Road," which women have relied on for centuries, or the "Melon Seed Road," favored by men. Each path offers more than 250 readings that are both relevant to modern life and faithful to the spirit of the original systems. All you need are 16 objects -- coins, shells, beads or dried beans -- to get instant answers to yes or no questions as well as in-depth readings on more profound considerations. African Oracles in 10 Minutes provides both a fascinating glimpse of Yoruban spiritualism and a time-honored method for unlocking the secrets of the past and revealing the destiny that awaits you.

"The texts of this book are a collection of legends, stories, incantations and prayers, secretly guarded by the oracle-priests, the babalawo. These texts are treating with wisdom all events and problems which occur in the daily life of the Yoruba. The babalawo ask the oracle for solution of problems, treatment of sickness, repairing of misfortune or advice for the future. The stories give the answer of the gods to the questioner. The babalawo uses a special system of convex and concave signs which is explained in this book to interpret the stories. The book offers more than seventy-one stories and hundred-twenty incantations which are used by the priests. The texts present a large knowledge about the mentality of the Yoruba and reflect the magnific ethical background of an old and great African religious tradition - before its partial destruction by the confrontation between the African und European civilisations. About the author: Dr. Christoph Staewen, born in 1926, a German medical doctor, is specialist of psychiatry, neurology and psychotherapy. In 1963 he began to study in Western Nigeria, amongst the people of Yoruba, the conditions of uprooting of these Africans caused by the increasing confrontation with the technical civilisation of the ""White Man"", and provoking more and more reactions of anxiety and deformations of behaviour. In Nigeria he received texts of the famous, secret Ifa-oracle. Later he worked for more than six years as all-round-doctor for Africans in Niger, Congo-Brazzaville and Tschad, where he continued his research on African psychology. "

Explores the essence of life by means of the ancient African divination tool, which is also the spiritual foundation of Candombl, Santeria, and Vodun

... a landmark in research of African oral traditions."—African Arts ... a significant contribution to the understanding of Yoruba religious belief, magic, and art." —Journal of Religion in Africa Yoruba texts and English translations of a divination system that originated in Nigeria and is widely practiced today by male and female diviners in the diaspora. A landmark edition.

Clearly explains how to use dominos in divination for people who follow religious practices other than the various forms of Yoruba. The domino oracle is best known in Santeria, but is a universal oracle that may be consulted by anyone. Includes instructions for giving a reading and explains how to read combinations. For each reading y Poenna gives instructions for offerings or prayers to the Yoruba deities or Catholic saints. Glossary. Index.