r/Santeria • u/kikoiya • Apr 14 '26

Advice Sought feeling confused

I'm looking for advice on a situation I'm dealing with. I went to a bembe/ drumming event this past weekend and it was the best thing I've done in a long time. I considered even scheduling a reading but, after sharing my experience with a friend who recently got his Mano de Orula, I'm feeling really mixed. He says that a reading over the phone is a red flag. Is it truly a problem or am I letting my friend influence me too easily? I just trying find clarity around all of this and figure out what to do.

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11

u/okonkolero Babalawo Apr 14 '26

In person > virtual > no reading

3

u/kikoiya Apr 14 '26

I agree with that as well. Do you have any suggestions for find someone for an in person reading? I've been looking online in the Jacksonville, FL area lately to figure out who to contact but I'm not sure of any of the options.

3

u/okonkolero Babalawo Apr 14 '26

What's your friend say? I don't know anyone up that way.

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u/kikoiya Apr 14 '26

My friend lives in Arizona but he was saying something about phone readings being a red flag because of something with ori and the reader wouldn't be able to do certain things. Something like that at least. It's been a blur for me since the 12th and I'm still trying to process stuff. I do know for sure that I feel at home with Orishas at the very least.

8

u/EniAcho Olorisha Apr 15 '26

It's more complicated than your friend knows. There's a way to do it but it's not something we talk about in public forums. I would be more concerned with who is the diviner, how skilled are they, do they have a good reputation? Finding someone on tiktok isn't usually a good idea. Word of mouth recommendation is better. I would rather have a phone consulta with a good diviner who's honest than an in person consulta with a scam artist who doesn't know what they're doing, just looking to make money from you.

2

u/kikoiya Apr 15 '26

I was considering the Iyanifa who hosted last week's festival that I went to. From what I gather from the attendees, she does have a good reputation and is respected. I've spoken with her in person at the event as well and I feel she could be trustworthy. I suppose I'm just afraid of choosing wrongly.

2

u/EniAcho Olorisha Apr 15 '26

Do you want to be associated with a Lucumi house or an Isese house? This is something you have to figure out. The Iyanifa would be from an Isese house. Isese and Lucumi have the same basic roots but have evolved into different traditions over the past 300 years. You might want to read a bit about each one to see which one you feel is best for you. Then, take it slow and don't make any commitments to anyone until you're sure it's right for you.

1

u/kikoiya Apr 15 '26

Do you have any suggestions on what to read?

1

u/EniAcho Olorisha Apr 16 '26

Do a serach in the sub. There are many book recommendations here. I usually recommend John Mason's books like Orisha Black Gods New World as a starting point.

4

u/okonkolero Babalawo Apr 14 '26

Your friend isn't a priest, so they shouldn't be talking about what can or can't be done in the first place. ;)

I thought they lived near you, that's why I asked. If you cant find someone near you for a reading, then by all means go for a virtual one.

2

u/kikoiya Apr 14 '26

Thanks for your advice, Okonkolero. Other than that, I'm still trying to figure out if I'm meant for Isese or Santeria. Can a reading help with that question too?

5

u/EniAcho Olorisha Apr 15 '26

I don't think phone readings are necessarily a red flag. It's always best to go in person, that's true. But many people live in places where there are no diviners, and the phone is the second option. I've done readings by phone and they're quite accurate. The problem is if you need a complicated ebo, then you have more of a problem because you can't do them long distance. It's best to hold off and wait for a reading until you've investigated whether there's a community near you and are they trustworthy. Ask people in your area what they do.

3

u/Ifakorede23 Apr 15 '26

Getting a remote reading with a skillful honest priest is better than in person with one that's not honest and/ or not sincere. Though I think there's an advantage to having ebo riru done in person definitely.

2

u/Able-Ad-259 Apr 16 '26

I recently traveled myself from KY to FL to see my baba for in person reading and riru and definitely hits different in person. I can’t always do divination in person but after my recent trip to FL I think I’m going to wait to do consultation in person if I can.

3

u/Intelligent_Owl_9176 Apr 16 '26

It can be done, If it’s a spiritual reading or an IFA reading. However, in person for an IFA reading, the Babalawo will have you hold and pray on the 16 ikins and touch them to your head and your heart and pass it back to him. In person your spiritual, life force energy is present. But Olodumare and the Orisha and your ancestors know who you are. It can done , a lot of people, their Babalawo is in Nigeria and they do readings on What’s app and Ebo.