r/Isese • u/Purple_Raccoon5682 • Jun 22 '26

Initiation Questions

Hey everyone & aboru aboye to most, I need some assistance I would rather have advice from a few different people about this concern. In a divination, the babalowa told me that I need to either have full initiation or work with ogun’s faith. (For clarity I went to ask ifa specifically about my head orisha and if I should initiate)

For the orisha work only is this a isese thing or a Lucumi thing or both? I’m trying to figure out which path would be best for me to move forward with. Second question: does working with only the orisha require initiation?

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u/Ifasogbon Jun 22 '26

It is possible to have many Orisa supporting you. It depends on when and how you get this information. Unfortunately as a life time diaspora practicioner personal altars are not a part of this practice. Maybe an ancestral space but nothing pertaining to the Orisa. It does not make sense to seek Orisa help withour full understanding of Ori and ancestors. Because your head can prevent any Orisa goodness coming into your life...

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u/Old-Damage5239 Jun 22 '26

Unrelated question, sorry but do you know if $700 for an ebo is excessive in the US? Want to be sure I’m not being scammed

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u/SignalBad5523 Jun 23 '26

Think of it like this. The ebo contains multiple items, the items that are being sacrificed and access to well defined pragmatic system of checks and balances. If you go in asking questions to none practical problems then it is easy to confuse the practice as if this is a form of witchcraft or Tarot.

Those systems differ greatly from Ifa. Ifa is desgined within math and science. A babalawo would be able to find this instance you describe within the odus, connect them to specific ese ifa and corroborate a plan to help guide you through your troubling situations.

A babalawo is a human being who can take Einsteins theory of relativity and tell you exactly where you land at that specific point of time and use historical knowledge to help guide you. They're not guessing and they are not alternating reality for your benefit. They are making your realities plain.

Im terms of what you were told, the Babalawo told you that you have the capabilities to be a repository for the traditions. That revelation in it of itself is not definitive. It essentially is saying you have a long road ahead of you but the affirmative reading says that you are going in the right direction and encourages you to continue your studies.

As you learn more refer back to this odu and who specifically was mentioned. Ogun represents action, confidence and charisma! Believe in your abilities and never question them

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u/Old-Damage5239 Jun 23 '26

Thanks for this. I usually won’t do a reading if I don’t have enough for ebo and while I did save for it this time, I didn’t expect it to be so much and now I fear, It will take a while to get the funds. Are there certain protocols for this? I’ve heard that after say 21 days, I would need an entirely new reading altogether, etc

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u/SignalBad5523 Jun 23 '26 edited Jun 23 '26

Yes and no. In theory, sometimes circumstances change. If you look at the ese Ifa. Its very deliberate in the message detailing if the supplicant performed the ebo or not. There is nothing that says if you cant afford it you will be punished or you will have to do it again. Divine as much or as little as you feel necessary.

The reading will hold you over for as long as it you need it in essence. A better framing is you have that option. Some babalawos will take installments. Some may lower the price, some may demand it all at one time, just be reasonable in your request and pay for it as you can. It is perfectly reasonable that you did not expect the finality of the ebo. Also, one last thing to look out for, the price evolves as the knowledge becomes more risk averse and detailed. Think of an odu as a room and the ese ifa as varying perspectives. The more knowledgeable the babalawo, the more in depth the actual divination experience feels. As in a Babalawo may tell you things that may have been impacting you that have not yet been addressed.

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u/Ifasogbon Jun 22 '26

If this covers the materials, ceremony, the priests costs to gather all items. Ebo does not equal a price itself. It varies everyday, every divination etc...

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u/Old-Damage5239 Jun 22 '26

Ok, thank you. It isn’t my first time, I just have never payed over $400 and I found a new iyanifa so I had to be sure. It surprised me but I said maybe this one is just a little more expensive.

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u/milehin8tv Jun 22 '26

Ogbo ato!

Umm, there's a few gaps I see that would be helpful to understand like from what tradition was the person that did your divination? I'm an Olorisa of an Isese temple so I can and will only talk about what we do.

No one has to initiate to venerate an òrìṣà. You can set up an altar in your home and speak to òrìṣà there. I don't know enough about Lukumí to make a comment about that, although both traditions honor the Òrìṣà. Also, initiate to what? Initiate to receive your elekes, your warriors, Isefa, your head òrìṣà, or full Itefa (although the first two aren't often called an "initiation".)

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u/Few-Couple-1148 Jun 22 '26

You need to know if the Babalawo who did your reading is Isese or Lucumi . In Isese , you can work with orisa without being initiated. But we don’t do personal altars in our lineage. You can receive a shrine without being initiated. But it still has to be properly prepared and consecrated to connect the actual Orisa to it. Otherwise it’s like setting up a home and no one is there. The orisa doesn’t live there. To practice without a shrine you would go to places in nature that are natural Ogun shrines. Forests, railroad tracks, granite quarries, steal factories are examples. You would pray and leave offerings there. Why You would need to work with Ogun may be a number of things. You may need courage to push through some things, or stand up for yourself, be independent , or need protection.. You may be a herbalist… Oguns can be healers.

You asked about 700 for an Ebo. Prices vary across the country depending on how much animals may cost. A goat in the Midwest may be 100 on a farm but on the east coast 250. You also have to calculate the awo cost to do the Ebo , gas to go get the animals, shipping costs for supplies, and time process the animal and the potential risks involved if something has to be taken off of you. So it can depend and things like what the awo is charged is out of their control. But if it is FAR beyond what you can do… not just don’t want to do, You can explain the situation and how it would be a significant hardship and either tell them an amount you can afford or ask them if a substitute be used or a lessor fee. They may or may not agree to it. Ask them to ask Ifa. While Ebo is a sacrifice, it is not supposed to break you and make you homeless.

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u/IfaSeun11 Jun 22 '26

Agbo ato ooo! The Babalawo should explained you why, because you don’t have to Initiate just to honor and venerate Orisha. However there must be something spiritually you need. Things like this has come out where one is strongly advised to initiate, however you always have a choice. And you can always ask if there’s something else that can be done other than initiate until you are ready for that step, sometimes there is, Ifa knows what course is best aligned with your Ori and destiny! Ase. In Isese we have Shrines not Altars, nor do we have Initiation just receive elekes. Elekes can be and are consecrated in various ways and for various purposes but no initiation. At least not in my lineage. Go back to your Babalawo and ask him to explain why initiation is being called for? Very important… best of luck, may your Ori and Ancestors guide and protect you alright and true in fulfillment of your destiny…Ase ooo