- Born in Chicago, 1939 (yes, the "30's", as his daughter loves to point out).
- Grammer and high school at the Laboratory School of the University of Chicago, and then two years at the University of Chicago starting at age 16.
- Became a radio and TV producer, and in 1962 (at the age of 23) won an Emmy for "The Phil Lind Interview...Adults Invited", a syndicated talk show featuring "adult subjects".
- In 1969, went to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and created Josephson Neimark Trading Company, which became the the third largest clearing house on the Exchange.
- Retired to Florida in 1974. In 1975 began to write Pro Trade, an investment letter which became, by 1980, the third largest subscription investment letter in the U.S.
- In 1975, bumped into Ifa by accident (there are none, of course), and began walking a course to becoming the most prominent North American babalawo, or shaman (also the first...there are now many) in the U.S.
- In 1976, received an Honorary Doctorate in Business Management from Riker College, the oldest in Maine (no contributions or donations made).
- Returned to Chicago in 1979 to co-start Moneymaker Magazine, which grew to 472,000 paid circulation by 1982.
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- In 1985, sold all ownership in investment letters to Consumers Digest Publishing Co., with a three-year contract to continue writing letters.
- Became a full-time babalawo in 1986.
- In 1990, created Ifa Foundation of North America, and was the first practitioner to receive status from the U.S. government as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit religious organization.
- Authored two books: The Way of The Orisa (1993), a basic introduction to the Ifa philosophy; and The Sacred Ifa Oracle (1995), the definitive, and first, translation of the Yoruba sacred verses. Both published by HarperCollins.
- Married to Vassa, priestess of Obatala. Together are parents of Dashiel and and Darq-Amber.
- Grown daughter Tanya and son Joshua.
- Founding member of The American Paso Fino Horse Association and emeritus board member of the Lutheran General Medical Foundation.
- Relocated to Bloomington, Indiana in 1994 to create Ola Olu (Gift of God), a spiritual retreat for teaching and initiating devotees of the ancient African philosophy of Ifa, or Orisa worship. Regular events, including intensive Orisa workshops, are offered at Ola Olu.
- Have in the past been part of the teaching schedules at Esalan and Omega.
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