09 December 2016
In a world where everything is in motion, nothing can remain unchanged. Civilizations rise and fall, religions flourish and wane, and leaders emerge and fade. Yet, in comparison it seems some basic human characteristics have hardly changed over the vast expanse of time. One such characteristic is our ability to feel and express complex emotions. Another is our capacity for imagination and...
01 May 2015
As dawn broke over the crests of the Andes, the silhouette of a lone traveler navigating a high ridge was no more than a speck. An alpaca followed at his heels bearing several packs, blankets and wedding gifts. Slowly, the pair descended deeper into a valley dotted with plowed fields and windowless houses made of thrush. The year was 1808 and unrest was growing in many areas of colonial So...
26 November 2014
To begin the divination process, the Babalawo dusts the Opon Ifa with powder from irosun trees. He traces sacred signs and then taps the Opon Ifa with the pointed end of a tapper known as the ‘Iroke Ifa.’ He establishes a rhythmic beat, invoking the presence of Orunmila. While a tarot card reader will rely on a deck of 78 cards, the Babalawo throws 16 sacred palm nuts called I...