The Five Blessings of Ifá

”… [Felder’s] enthusiasm for ‘the beauty and complexity of Black life and culture’ is unfailingly enthusiastic and expansive.”—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY“It’s about time for more books like these to be written. Gabrielle does something special by weaving Isese Ifá and its diasporic variations into one cohesive voice of knowledge. No matter where on Earth you come from, Gabrielle ensures you’ll see a part of yourself through her text. This book is one part study, two parts soul, and that’s why it’ll be a book to reach for even long after we’re gone.”—EHIME ORA, author of Ancestors Said and Spirits Come from Water “An indispensable read that integrates Afro-Indigenous spirituality into contemporary environmental discussions.”—JESSICA HERNANDEZ, PhD, author of Fresh Banana Leaves and Growing Papaya Trees“A must-read for anyone who is diasporic and trying to find tools for nurturing a future on occupied Indigenous land alongside Black life and culture…. With deep examination and knowledge, Felder seeks and finds the five blessings of Ifá not in the mythical past or tradition, but in real history and in the present—in the very places where future dreaming work can occur. I walked away from the book feeling renewed about the inventiveness of diasporic life, queer life, and Black life. Read this book if you like to dream with your friends!”—ALICE SPARKLY KAT, author of Postcolonial Astrology“A spiritual homecoming…. Felder gives us coordinates of hope and survival, reminding us that the ancestors have much to show us about how to survive and how to brave the new world. As she writes, ‘Growth is only possible if we look forward toward the future—and bring with us the tools of the past, like Ifá.’ The future is awaiting the promise of our wisdom, and this book shows us how to fuse the technologies of the past so we may be better equipped for all that’s to come. I loved reading this book; these are necessary materials to build the utopia we all deserve.”—FARIHA RÓISÍN, author of Who Is Wellness For?

GABRIELLE FELDER (she/they) is a writer, data analyst, and aborisa born and raised in Orange County, California and is currently based in Los Angeles, California. She explores the history of the African diaspora, drawing from her interdisciplinary background in ecology, anthropology, and data analytics. Passionate about community work, she has trained as a postpartum doula, worked in community gardens, and led Afro-Indigenous ceremonies. She’s shared her work through speaking engagements.