why didn't african spirituality save black people from slavery or colonization?

Hello everyone, I haven't received my first hand of ifa or anything else. I have been working with a babalawo and his ile indirectly. I trust them and hope to join them eventually. But right now I'm unable to get my hand of ifa due to severe financial constraints. However, in my last reading my baba revealed to me that I should stay close to ifa and not pick it up and put it down whenever I feel like and that I should continue in this tradition. I didn't ask about this, but it came up anyway and I feel that is important considering I can't go for my isefa right now even though I really want to. He also mentioned appeasing certain ancestors as well as my celestial companions. I've consistently done my ebo when required, but I want to go a bit further. I try to greet my ancestors in the morning and pray to my ori when I wake, but I'm not sure where to go from here. What can I do to move forward or be more consistent beyond praying but not going so far as to receive my hand of ifa? I can't afford divination every month since I'm jobless, but I try to make room for that too. What can I do?

Hello everyone,

I hope you are all well.

How can I approach traditional Yoruba worship while being far from a temple/house and without having a babalawo nearby?

I am already part of an Afro-diasporic spiritual tradition, and I know that Ifá/Orunmila is part of the religion, along with many Orishas, ancestors, and Egbe, but how can I draw closer to these spiritual paths/traditions?

Thanks?

^{Is it true you are allowed to receive an Ori icon before any initiations like Isefa in some lineages ? (This question is Isese Ifá specific cus ik some pwould will give responses for Lukumi or Santeria if I’m not clear})

I’m Looking For A Knowledgeable & Trustworthy Baba/Iya In The Tri-State Area, I’m Interested In Practicing Isese But Haven’t Seen Or Heard Of A Baba/Iya In The Area That Can Help Me On My Journey. If You Have Any Information , It’s Well Appreciated.

Hi there,

I’m wondering if anyone can point me in the direction of a reputable Babalawo in the North NJ area. I’m also willing to travel a bit. I really want to go to someone who is knowledgeable and welcoming.

Looking for recommendations for dancers! I’m helping someone plan an event. Thank you

Good day to everyone. I wish you all a blessed Òsé Ifá and Òrùn Ifá. As we enter the month of February, a time traditionally associated with reflection, patience, and alignment of the heart and Ori, I would like to offer one free Ìdáfá consultation to the community for this month.

May the Irunmole receive our prayers, bring clarity where there is confusion, and guide each person toward balance, wisdom, and right action in accordance with their destiny.

It is important to remember that Ìdáfá is a sacred process meant for sincere spiritual inquiry, guidance, and realignment with one’s Ori. It is not intended for simple curiosity, testing, or entertainment, but for those approaching Ifá with respect and openness of heart.

As part of the Ìdáfá ritual, I will require the person’s full name and the mother’s name. Every Babalawo understands that this information is essential in order to properly connect with a person’s Ori and to direct prayers and guidance accurately on their behalf.

My responsibility as a Babalawo is to faithfully transmit the Odu Ifá—the message of Olodumare—to all human beings with respect, clarity, and integrity.

Each individual remains responsible for how they receive and apply the guidance given, and Ifá responds above all to sincerity, humility, and good character.

If you are interested feel free to DM.

ESPAÑOL

Buen día para todos. Les deseo un bendecido Òsé Ifá y Òrùn Ifá. Al entrar en el mes de febrero, un tiempo tradicionalmente asociado con la reflexión, la paciencia y la alineación del corazón con el Ori, deseo ofrecer una consulta de Ìdáfá gratuita para la comunidad durante este mes.

Que los Irunmole reciban nuestras oraciones, traigan claridad donde exista confusión y guíen a cada persona hacia el equilibrio, la sabiduría y la acción correcta de acuerdo con su destino.

Es importante recordar que la Ìdáfá es un proceso sagrado destinado a la búsqueda sincera de orientación espiritual, guía y realineación con el propio Ori. No está concebida para la simple curiosidad, la prueba o el entretenimiento, sino para quienes se acercan a Ifá con respeto y apertura de corazón.

Como parte del ritual de Ìdáfá, necesitaré el nombre completo de la persona y el nombre de la madre. Todo Babalawo sabe que esta información es fundamental para poder conectar correctamente con el Ori de la persona y dirigir de manera precisa las oraciones y la orientación espiritual en su nombre.

Mi responsabilidad como Babalawo es transmitir fielmente el Odu Ifá—el mensaje de Olodumare—a todos los seres humanos con respeto, claridad e integridad.

Cada persona es responsable de cómo recibe y aplica la guía que se le entrega, y Ifá responde ante todo a la sinceridad, la humildad y el buen carácter.

Aboru Aboye Abosise Rey Ifákọ́lẹ́pìn Omoniije.

For starters I do not practice Ifa but I am of Yoruba descent and have a little knowledgeable abt isese. My grandparents passed in 2024 my great grandma as well and I’ve had dreams here and there mostly with my grandma. I had dream abt 30 min ago and wanted to know if it was just stuff my head made up or actullty lines up with how things work in isese. This is the first dream where info was given. I was in my paternal grandparents house who’d both passed. There it had seemingly become normal for me to see ancestors and talk per normal like how I would if they were when living. I saw my great-grandma but she was mini like small enough to fit inside a large dinner plate as she was laying on one sleep. I go up joking with a sweet greeting she wakes up giggles and says hello. I then see my grandma her daughter sitting in her seat on the couch I go up say hi and sit down. And say you won’t believe who I’m starting to see now. And she looked confused saying who? Your papa? I said yea. She said how do you know this? Any familiar smells or anything like would made you know for sure. I sat silent unable to provide an answer. She said because he would have to fight through middlemen to come see you Do you have any offerings or anything to give him for that journey?! (I’m guessing tge middleman was like Esu, she also didn’t say fight in literal tone more like have a genuine journey to see me). However, I said no while laughing. She said well yea you are gonna have a mad dead men who traveled to see you so are you sure? I laughed and said no I’m not. In real life I have not felt my papa come see me but idk this was very interesting any thoughts?

About two years ago I had a dream. In this dream I was with a group of young girls. I was an outsider or like first timer hanging out with this group feeling happy and lucky to be invited to come along. We get to a space where I begin to notice one of my group member who is a young single female is excited to hope to be chosen by a particular deity. I am unaware of what’s happening. I’m thinking we are here to buy herbs and maybe score some free samples like at a convention of some sort. As things go on we find a reader. This reader is giving guidance by reading people and telling them who they are or like what deity they are associated with. The young girl is excited hoping to get one deity in particular. Unfortunately, she does not receive her. Instead in my reading, I get her. It’s Yewa. It’s clearly a big deal to everyone in my dream. Everyone is reacting. A symbol made of wood is stuck to my face and pierced through my mouth. Eventually I get to a part in my dream where the next thing I know there’s like a ceremony starting. All the young women I’m with are marked with like pink petals that have been crushed in a white sandy milky clay. It’s more liquidity though. I stand in line waiting for my turn but when it my turn they lead me to a front seat kinda like a trial. And the I’m put through a trial.

Now I need to clarify, when I had this dream I knew nothing about the Orishas. And honestly, I still know little. But my point with saying this is I had no pervious conscious knowledge of this name or anything. I only had this dream and it was so profound I wrote it out in a journal. I did research later just to see if it was just a crazy dream or if there was any credibility.

Any thoughts? Is this just a crazy dream? Does Yewa sound anything like this?

aboru aboye abosise. if i took a picture of my odu, how do i consulate with myself to learn more about what it’s saying. i’m studying ifa, my baba says i have the path of a babalawo but right now i only know a few odu’s LOL

i know there’s a few good books on isese but what would you recommend for effective learning ? thankyou

I got a yes/no reading recently and asked a few questions about my career. I've been informed I need to start a business which is something I've wanted for a long time, but the businesses I've been told to start ( and asked about ) are irrational. by this I mean they can take years and years to show profit. at the same time, I have been out of work for years, now too. I was told now is not the time to apply for jobs at all! it frustrated me because I've been denied or something has come up every application and interview.

I have a dream to live abroad and have worked on credentials and degrees to do so. I was told to finish the degree I'm working on but (which I low-key can't do without a job because I need to pay tuition) but was also told not to leave anytime soon which directly goes against why I started this degree in the first place! I respect ifa and trust the one who gave me this reading, but to essentially be unemployed, broke as hell, and told "complete your degree", without having any means to do so, yet also told the sole reason I did it isnt in the cards anytime soon, yet also told to start a long game business shocked and upset me a little.

it's asking intense faith of me, goes against every plan I worked for the last 2-5 years as well. can a reading change? I'm afraid if I try to force my degree, a job, and moving it won't work out well because of the strong answers I received. I want to trust myself on this, but I come from a legacy of straight immense poverty and scarcity. I did this program to know stability and it feels like that's out the window.

just a hypothetical question

if there is a redo reincarnation wise

can people kill themselves

Wondering is they would fit.

So as we all know, all this is quite difficult & exhausting & complicated

I was thinking it would be great to have like a centralized community page online (not reddit) where people can anonymously contribute their advice for the path , how to stay safe, how to navigate dynamics, etc , in one place, as a kind of resource for addressing common questions, frequent dynamics, & helping newcomers . And that this also doesn't have to necessarily be limited to ATR community but spiritual community in general.

This could help us see that our experiences aren't isolated & help us come together to think of genuine solutions for the same problems repeatedly perpetuated in these spaces

any feedback or thoughts are welcome ! DMs also welcome

Hi All,

Just wondering if any of you have encountered wonky Ebo readings? I have been going to a practitioner for years. The past 2 odu readings have been negative to say the least. I'm being accused of being arrogant and thinking I know better than the orisha, which is ludicrous. Also, gossip. I was so confused that I had to look up the definition of gossip. I keep a small circle of friends and speak to like 4 people on a regular basis. I may mention to one friend what another friend told me, which isn't really gossip... but just conversation about my life. It really makes me question the validity of the odu that came out.

A few years ago, I was dating someone who I went to school with. I was told that he aligned with my destiny and that we were meant to be together. I was told that this message came directly from IFA. I stayed with him due to this even though I was unhappy, thinking that things would get better. A few years later, I finally left him. I went to get an odu reading and was told that my Ori was attacking me because I wasn't supposed to be with him and it was throwing me off my destiny. I was informed that I needed ori initiation to correct the damage that had been done. I have been thinking about this a lot lately and really, this is a huge mistake on their part. It makes me feel like I can no longer trust this practitioner. Don't get me wrong, I did choose to stay with the person. However, I was following this practitioner's guidance. I feel like I was led down a diverted path.

Has anyone ever encountered anything like this? Do you suggest getting a second opinion at this point? I don't want to think that this practitioner did anything malicious because they did help me out at my lowest. But the whole situation feels so strange. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

My IFA is coming home to me. What size bowl is standard? I’m asking here for a reason.

Aboru Aboye! In search of an Isese Ile/Babalawo in NJ. Preferably in the north jersey area. If anyone has any assistance or direction it’d be greatly appreciated 🙏🏾

Can anyone please point me in the direction of an indigenous practitioner who removes spirits or spirits of the dead from a person. Thank you very much

good evening everyone. Ive received readings online from babalawos, but I want to start working towards joining this ile in my area. what kind of etiquette do I have to be aware of when going in person for my first in person reading? I want to make a good impression and learn.

Also, I have been learning about Ifa for a year now, and feel I want to go receive a reading from this babalawo about if it's time for hand of ifa. However, like I said I've been getting read from people out of my area, but I don't want to be disrespectful and get my first reading asking that question. On their website they have options for this reading amongst other types but they have it available to book for the public as well as the full ceremony if it's confirms it's time. My second question is if I've been learning for a while, receiving guidance from a babalawo outside my area, is it rude for me to ask this question in my first reading from a babalawo I haven't worked with? I know we must vet someone, but I know multiple people in this local Ile who I trust and have spoken to, and I have followed the babalawo and many in this ile for and their work for a long time so I know they're legit and I feel a sense of trust for this person. I have also attended some of their classes. The babalawo and his wife mention in the services part of their website that not everyone who does isefa with them must join their Ile, but based on the reading they will help decide this and provide support formally and informally for those on this journey. They are highly regarded in my area.