1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:13,320 Speaker 1: M h. Welcome to the Therapy for Black Girls Podcast, 2 00:00:13,840 --> 00:00:18,720 Speaker 1: a weekly conversation about mental health, personal development, and all 3 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 1: the small decisions we can make to become the best 4 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:25,760 Speaker 1: possible versions of ourselves. I'm your host, Dr Joy hard 5 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:30,560 Speaker 1: and Bradford, a licensed psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia. For more 6 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:34,640 Speaker 1: information or to find a therapist in your area, visit 7 00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 1: our website at Therapy for Black Girls dot com. While 8 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:42,479 Speaker 1: I hope you love listening to and learning from the podcast, 9 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:46,080 Speaker 1: it is not meant to be a substitute for relationship 10 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:57,240 Speaker 1: with a licensed mental health professional. Hey y'all, thanks so 11 00:00:57,320 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 1: much for joining me for a Session to six scene 12 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:02,520 Speaker 1: of the Therapy Feed for Black Girls Podcast. We'll get 13 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:07,960 Speaker 1: into the episode right after a word from our sponsors. 14 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:19,319 Speaker 1: In Session to ten, we talked with Dr Diane Stewart 15 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:24,320 Speaker 1: about the principles and themes that underlie many African traditional religions, 16 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:27,119 Speaker 1: and we promised to a part two of that conversation 17 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:30,280 Speaker 1: to learn more about the practice of these religions to 18 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:33,520 Speaker 1: help us dig into this topic. Today, I'm excited that 19 00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:36,880 Speaker 1: we're joined by a he May. Aura. He May is 20 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:40,399 Speaker 1: a Nigerian words smith and priestess of the Ifa and 21 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:44,680 Speaker 1: Orisha tradition she has grounded in her purpose of reconnecting 22 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 1: others back to themselves as an educator of African spirituality 23 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 1: and holistic wellness. He May and I chatted about her 24 00:01:53,480 --> 00:01:57,240 Speaker 1: personal journey to being a priestess, Where to start if 25 00:01:57,280 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 1: you're a beginner in these practices, how technology and social 26 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:04,520 Speaker 1: media have made it easier to teach others about these traditions, 27 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 1: and how practicing African traditional religions can work in tandem 28 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:13,960 Speaker 1: with Christianity, Islam and other faith practices. If there's something 29 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:17,480 Speaker 1: that resonates with you while enjoying our conversation, please share 30 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 1: it with us on social media using the hashtag tv 31 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 1: G in session. Here's our conversation. Well, thank you so 32 00:02:26,639 --> 00:02:29,480 Speaker 1: much for joining yesterday, and he of course, thank you 33 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:32,239 Speaker 1: so much for having me. I really appreciate a huge 34 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:36,840 Speaker 1: fan Thank you. Thank you. Likewise, I wonder if you 35 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:39,000 Speaker 1: can start by just telling us a little bit more 36 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:41,800 Speaker 1: about who you are and how you got started in 37 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:45,720 Speaker 1: your practice. So my name is ahime Aura also known 38 00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:54,960 Speaker 1: as Aola long name right if noial priestss. I'm initiated 39 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:58,560 Speaker 1: into the societies of Efa, Shango and man Lay. I 40 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:01,639 Speaker 1: am Nigeria and I was born in Nigeria in the 41 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 1: Baden City. I immigrated to a small little town in 42 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 1: Florida when I was around four years old. Even though 43 00:03:09,400 --> 00:03:12,919 Speaker 1: I was disconnected from like my roots and my traditions, 44 00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 1: my mother was really the one responsible for keeping things 45 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 1: alive for me. She would be the one telling me 46 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 1: stories of our ancestors. She would be always the one 47 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:26,640 Speaker 1: telling me about Shana before who I even knew Shango was. 48 00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:29,600 Speaker 1: I wasn't even pritty to that, like at a school night. 49 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:33,480 Speaker 1: She would always tell amazing stories and you know, Nigerian 50 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 1: moms are very dramatic, so she would always be in 51 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:38,480 Speaker 1: the movement and the you know, the voice raise about 52 00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 1: this being sitting there like, oh my God, it's no amazing. 53 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:47,000 Speaker 1: So through her and through her being very deliberate and 54 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:50,640 Speaker 1: connecting me with our ancestors as we are kind of 55 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:54,960 Speaker 1: forced to assimilate as immigrants, I've been able to keep 56 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 1: that connection as I grew into my spirituality organically, as 57 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:02,080 Speaker 1: I found my elders, as I was able to reach back. 58 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 1: It was really through the help of my mother doing 59 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:09,480 Speaker 1: what she could, you know. So that's definitely the foundational 60 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:12,360 Speaker 1: part for me in my practice. Yeah, so when you 61 00:04:12,440 --> 00:04:15,480 Speaker 1: say that your mother kind of kept those traditions alive 62 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:20,039 Speaker 1: through storytelling where they're like practices or spiritual practices that 63 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 1: you grew up with kind of in your home or 64 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:25,040 Speaker 1: did you kind of discover that later in life. So, 65 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 1: my mother is always very connected to her tradition, her group, 66 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:32,680 Speaker 1: her ethnic group that we come from the delta or 67 00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:37,200 Speaker 1: very durable people, and she would always especially when it 68 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 1: comes to like liquor, and my mom would always have 69 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 1: liquor in her house because liquor, to her, it was 70 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:44,919 Speaker 1: attached to wealth in abundance. And even the way that 71 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 1: we would offer liquor in our hoshold is something that 72 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:52,280 Speaker 1: is traditionally rooted to our ancestors. Like the youngest person 73 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 1: would take the liquor and they would pass it around 74 00:04:55,640 --> 00:04:58,880 Speaker 1: the party and the youngest person would be giving the 75 00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:01,280 Speaker 1: liquor to the elder and then they would pour some 76 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:03,880 Speaker 1: out for the ancestors, which is what you know the 77 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:07,200 Speaker 1: diaspora does to brown went out for the homebase and everything. 78 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:10,880 Speaker 1: So that connection there is definitely what I kind of 79 00:05:10,920 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 1: grew up in my mother. She wasn't spiritually blind, but 80 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:20,240 Speaker 1: she also was very aware of you know, you are 81 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:25,680 Speaker 1: already black and you're an immigrant, so also practicing indigenous 82 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:31,120 Speaker 1: spirituality will make you more targeted than anything else. So 83 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:35,839 Speaker 1: she definitely adopted Christianity, and she definitely grew us in 84 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:39,040 Speaker 1: a Christian home because to her being Christian in this 85 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 1: new land that were all foreigns who meant to be 86 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:47,840 Speaker 1: able to survive, you know. So her ability to connect 87 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:52,000 Speaker 1: us through storytelling was her one way of being able 88 00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:56,560 Speaker 1: to fight back against having to assimilate, against having to 89 00:05:56,640 --> 00:05:59,520 Speaker 1: be in the suppressed state while raising us me and 90 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:03,719 Speaker 1: my brothers. Mmm, God, is that this was something that 91 00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:06,919 Speaker 1: only as you got older did you recognize, like, wow, 92 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 1: this storytelling is connected to something much bigger. M hmm. 93 00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:12,760 Speaker 1: It was really the connection because my mom has a 94 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:17,159 Speaker 1: very strong voice, and she would always say when I 95 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:19,520 Speaker 1: was a child, I don't want to understand that, like 96 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:22,240 Speaker 1: she would always say, if I use my words to 97 00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:25,040 Speaker 1: curse you, the ancestors will hear it. And only until 98 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:28,880 Speaker 1: as I've gotten older did I realize, Oh, my mom 99 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:32,039 Speaker 1: was saying so many things at once without one statement, 100 00:06:32,279 --> 00:06:35,240 Speaker 1: you know. So, can you tell us a little bit 101 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:38,479 Speaker 1: about the differences between what we describe as like spiritual 102 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:42,400 Speaker 1: practice versus maybe an organized kind of a religion mm hm. 103 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:47,440 Speaker 1: So I think it's very easy to say that if 104 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:51,080 Speaker 1: is a spiritual tradition, which it is, that is kind 105 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:54,520 Speaker 1: of true, it is spirituality. But if a and the 106 00:06:54,560 --> 00:07:00,080 Speaker 1: Arecia tradition is specified on culture, and it's specified and 107 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 1: organized hierarchical religious practice. And I say this because we 108 00:07:04,760 --> 00:07:07,119 Speaker 1: have things like the Iraq bag Bayo within the Ifa 109 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:09,800 Speaker 1: and the Recia tradition, which is the head priest of 110 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:14,520 Speaker 1: Ifa on earth and below him are sixteen chiefs. So 111 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:18,520 Speaker 1: you have these hierarchical practice already happening within the tradition 112 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:21,880 Speaker 1: as a whole to keep things going and to keep 113 00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:25,560 Speaker 1: things more organized and disciplined. And below these people you 114 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:28,840 Speaker 1: have you know, certain chiefs or sort of Arabas and 115 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:32,280 Speaker 1: their own villages and their own tribal groups. So these 116 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:34,960 Speaker 1: things are kind of divided in order to keep things 117 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:39,080 Speaker 1: in order. Because when you have things like just you know, 118 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:43,280 Speaker 1: referencing New Aid spirituality, you get things to be, you know, 119 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:47,240 Speaker 1: in a way watered down. New Aid Spirituality. Although it 120 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:50,120 Speaker 1: is a very it's a platform. It's a place where 121 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 1: a lot of people, especially black people, are able to 122 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 1: connect to something outside of Christianity. New Aid spirituality also 123 00:07:57,120 --> 00:08:04,160 Speaker 1: holds in almost simplifying traditional practices, traditional roots, traditional spirituality 124 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:08,280 Speaker 1: of indigenous cultures, and it kind of creates a lot 125 00:08:08,320 --> 00:08:12,200 Speaker 1: of misinformation. And when you're being misinformed of things that 126 00:08:12,280 --> 00:08:16,600 Speaker 1: are connected to something is massive astity reachier practice, you 127 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:20,000 Speaker 1: become very vulnerable, you know, to people who are not 128 00:08:20,120 --> 00:08:24,240 Speaker 1: practicing the tradition with integrity, or even to certain things 129 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:26,440 Speaker 1: that you're not supposed to be doing, you know, because 130 00:08:26,560 --> 00:08:30,720 Speaker 1: the lack of hierarchy, the ethon the Reacier tradition is 131 00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:34,600 Speaker 1: something that is very much connected to eldership and mentorship. 132 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:37,679 Speaker 1: You would be surrounded by your elders in the compound 133 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:42,320 Speaker 1: helping them, being able to understand the religion and being 134 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:45,400 Speaker 1: able to understand all the philosophy and the culture in 135 00:08:45,440 --> 00:08:48,120 Speaker 1: it because you're around it. Does that make sense? So 136 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:52,160 Speaker 1: it definitely is like a an apprenticeship that's happening, and 137 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:55,360 Speaker 1: why the e Fon Reracier tradition is able to survive 138 00:08:55,679 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 1: while still being an oral religion. It's an oral religious practice. 139 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:02,080 Speaker 1: There are no books, you know what I'm saying. There 140 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:04,160 Speaker 1: are no books that are going to really be able 141 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:10,400 Speaker 1: to tell you the full potency of Ifa. And this 142 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:12,960 Speaker 1: is something that it kind of takes me back to 143 00:09:13,920 --> 00:09:18,760 Speaker 1: this book called Socrates and Rumula by Sophia Lua lu 144 00:09:19,240 --> 00:09:23,560 Speaker 1: I believe and she was um a Nigerian philosopher and 145 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:27,800 Speaker 1: she was so smart. Her books are so incredible. They 146 00:09:27,880 --> 00:09:31,160 Speaker 1: open you to a different way of philosophy in a 147 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:34,640 Speaker 1: in a continental sense, right. And in that book she 148 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:38,280 Speaker 1: was saying, what's the difference between Socrates and Rumla because 149 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:42,600 Speaker 1: those two didn't write anything. Yet Socrates is considered to 150 00:09:42,640 --> 00:09:47,160 Speaker 1: be the champion of philosophy, while you know, in Rumla 151 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:51,080 Speaker 1: he's the holder of the Ifa oracle, which is philosophy 152 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:54,760 Speaker 1: and wisdom. So too, they are two fathers of wisdom, 153 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:58,120 Speaker 1: yet one is seen as more credible when I talk 154 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:01,360 Speaker 1: to you know, oral culture or a wistuff right, make sense? 155 00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:03,400 Speaker 1: You know. So it's a really interesting book and I 156 00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:07,800 Speaker 1: definitely recommend that. Okay, okay, thank you for that. So, 157 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:09,920 Speaker 1: you know, I think, you know, we had a conversation 158 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:13,120 Speaker 1: with Dr Stewart recently on the podcast more about like 159 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:17,240 Speaker 1: the theory behind some of the African traditional religions, and 160 00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:19,400 Speaker 1: it is something that a lot of people are interested 161 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:21,120 Speaker 1: in it. It sounds like, you know, you kind of 162 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:23,480 Speaker 1: got some of this, you know, kind of through your 163 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:25,600 Speaker 1: mother and kind of growing up with that storytelling. But 164 00:10:25,640 --> 00:10:28,319 Speaker 1: I think a lot of people just feel really confused 165 00:10:28,360 --> 00:10:31,320 Speaker 1: as to where to start. How do I know, you know, 166 00:10:31,360 --> 00:10:34,559 Speaker 1: like which traditions feel that like the best alignment for me? 167 00:10:34,920 --> 00:10:36,920 Speaker 1: So can you give some tips for people who like, 168 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:39,520 Speaker 1: maybe you're figuring out like, Okay, I want to maybe 169 00:10:39,559 --> 00:10:42,000 Speaker 1: start learning more about this, but do I know if 170 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:44,960 Speaker 1: it's ifa, a risha or something else? Like where do 171 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:48,400 Speaker 1: people get started? Um? I always recommend that people get 172 00:10:48,480 --> 00:10:51,520 Speaker 1: started back to their roots where they come from and 173 00:10:51,679 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 1: social reveneration. It's the foundation of all diasporic and continental 174 00:10:57,240 --> 00:11:00,680 Speaker 1: spiritual practices. Without your ancestors, you're not going to be 175 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:03,160 Speaker 1: able to have the foundation needed to be able to 176 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:05,880 Speaker 1: work with other spirits. You'll be even more in a 177 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:10,480 Speaker 1: vulnerable position because you don't even know if your ancestors 178 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 1: want you to practice certain things, if these things are 179 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:16,280 Speaker 1: even aligned with your destiny. You know what I'm saying. Um, 180 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:20,559 Speaker 1: As an Efondersia priest, There's so many people who come 181 00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:23,160 Speaker 1: across me who I can tell that their ancestors don't 182 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:27,280 Speaker 1: want them to press the Fonderia, but using platforms, are 183 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:31,160 Speaker 1: using you know, the connection with African spirituality. It's being 184 00:11:31,200 --> 00:11:34,080 Speaker 1: able to guide them into okay, maybe who do would 185 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:36,800 Speaker 1: be beneficial for you? Or Haitian you doom and things 186 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:38,880 Speaker 1: like that. But that's how you're going to be able 187 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:41,560 Speaker 1: to really be able to understand. It's through and such 188 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:46,000 Speaker 1: a veneration and working back with your ancestors the altar space, 189 00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:51,200 Speaker 1: which is really the foundational connection between you and your 190 00:11:51,240 --> 00:11:54,680 Speaker 1: ancestors and the physical space residing in your home, so 191 00:11:54,760 --> 00:11:57,800 Speaker 1: they're able to protect you in your space and to 192 00:11:57,840 --> 00:11:59,920 Speaker 1: be able to grow with you. And it doesn't need 193 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:04,600 Speaker 1: to be the most extra dramatic things. Starting out simple candle, 194 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:08,079 Speaker 1: simple water, you know, a nice little white blanket. That's it. 195 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:10,440 Speaker 1: That's all you really need to do to start to 196 00:12:10,520 --> 00:12:14,320 Speaker 1: grow your connection with your ancestors and being able to 197 00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:18,120 Speaker 1: understand that your ancestors are not gonna be communicating in 198 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:21,920 Speaker 1: the same way as somebody else. Maybe other people can 199 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:24,520 Speaker 1: hear or see them, but maybe you can have all 200 00:12:24,640 --> 00:12:27,000 Speaker 1: these intense streams with them. You are in the dream 201 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:29,720 Speaker 1: world and you're connecting with them in that way, or 202 00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:32,880 Speaker 1: maybe they're showing you simples you maybe the bird that 203 00:12:32,920 --> 00:12:35,360 Speaker 1: you see outside is them. There are ways that you're 204 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:37,760 Speaker 1: gonna be able to be like those are my people, 205 00:12:38,040 --> 00:12:40,120 Speaker 1: you know what I'm saying, And it's gonna be a 206 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:43,520 Speaker 1: unique and it's gonna be even the most refreshing thing 207 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:49,120 Speaker 1: because the ancestors go with you wherever you go. So 208 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:51,080 Speaker 1: even if they don't want you to go with efa 209 00:12:51,480 --> 00:12:54,240 Speaker 1: like if you attend to walking them that they can't 210 00:12:54,280 --> 00:12:56,600 Speaker 1: just be like okay, where this connected? Now, you know 211 00:12:56,600 --> 00:13:00,200 Speaker 1: what I'm saying. So it's so important to be in 212 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:02,559 Speaker 1: a group effort to be able to be like, okay, 213 00:13:02,840 --> 00:13:05,960 Speaker 1: this is what benefits all of us, so you can 214 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:09,200 Speaker 1: see their work happening to you in real time, you know. 215 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:14,000 Speaker 1: So you mentioned that ancestral veneration is kind of like 216 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:17,520 Speaker 1: the basics, right, so that is building your own phone. 217 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:20,320 Speaker 1: You've already given us some very basic tips, you know, 218 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:24,640 Speaker 1: like a little bit table, white tableclothed, white towel, a candle. 219 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:28,240 Speaker 1: You mentioned something else, water couple, Yeah, a couple of water. 220 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:30,720 Speaker 1: Water is acting like a bridge between you of the 221 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:34,400 Speaker 1: spiritual world. So it's gonna really act as a purifier, 222 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:38,600 Speaker 1: so it's not necessarily like a drink offering. You can 223 00:13:38,679 --> 00:13:40,480 Speaker 1: get the water if you want to, but the water 224 00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:43,240 Speaker 1: is gonna be like a telephone, like making things are 225 00:13:43,480 --> 00:13:46,559 Speaker 1: clear as possible for you to the other side. So 226 00:13:46,679 --> 00:13:51,400 Speaker 1: when the fire is representing passion, the heart, the strength, 227 00:13:51,760 --> 00:13:55,000 Speaker 1: being able to have your ancestors see you here, you 228 00:13:55,080 --> 00:13:57,199 Speaker 1: feel you in a way where it's heavy, it kind 229 00:13:57,200 --> 00:14:01,360 Speaker 1: of gives them almost like the heart of the fire 230 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:05,400 Speaker 1: the spark for the altar space, and the white it's 231 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:09,120 Speaker 1: just giving cleanliness, purity, It connects us to you know, 232 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:12,560 Speaker 1: for an example of Atla whose eurisha of white cloth, 233 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:16,800 Speaker 1: being able to have spiritual tranquility, serenity, and being able 234 00:14:16,840 --> 00:14:19,720 Speaker 1: to not feel so absorbed by a lot of the 235 00:14:19,800 --> 00:14:22,920 Speaker 1: spiritual heaviness that's happening because the altar space is going 236 00:14:22,960 --> 00:14:26,440 Speaker 1: to be spiritually active when you're working with your ancestors. 237 00:14:26,440 --> 00:14:30,080 Speaker 1: So starting out with something white and cloth would definitely 238 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:34,280 Speaker 1: be beneficial for the beginner mm hmmm. Yeah. And you know, 239 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:36,680 Speaker 1: and like some earth as well, you know, to keep 240 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:40,280 Speaker 1: things grounded into the earthly plane, which is like flowers 241 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:43,160 Speaker 1: or crystals or stones or anything that connects to you 242 00:14:43,280 --> 00:14:46,600 Speaker 1: to Mother Earth. Okay, And so the purpose of setting 243 00:14:46,640 --> 00:14:48,520 Speaker 1: up this altar in your home is really kind of 244 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:51,840 Speaker 1: just like opening this pathway to your ancestor so that 245 00:14:51,920 --> 00:14:55,400 Speaker 1: there can be an establishing of that relationship, so that 246 00:14:55,480 --> 00:14:58,520 Speaker 1: they do come to you either in dreams or messages 247 00:14:58,600 --> 00:15:00,680 Speaker 1: or symbols or you know. It's kind of like letting 248 00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:04,400 Speaker 1: the ancestors know I'm open to this, and to me, 249 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:09,080 Speaker 1: the altar space really is just a physical place where 250 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:11,920 Speaker 1: you're able to connect, like a communication spot between you 251 00:15:12,040 --> 00:15:15,880 Speaker 1: and ancestors because they're already within, you know, and if 252 00:15:15,960 --> 00:15:19,240 Speaker 1: I thought tells us that the ancestors reside in our 253 00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:23,760 Speaker 1: body and particularly our feet, specifically the left toe of 254 00:15:23,840 --> 00:15:26,480 Speaker 1: the foot, you know what I'm saying. So being able 255 00:15:26,560 --> 00:15:29,560 Speaker 1: wherever you walk, you are walking with your ancestors, you 256 00:15:29,560 --> 00:15:31,880 Speaker 1: know what I'm saying. So it's a definitely a literal 257 00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:35,600 Speaker 1: thing when we say the ancestors walk with us. But 258 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:39,920 Speaker 1: the alter space is just a good physical communication spot 259 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:41,880 Speaker 1: between you and your people where you can be able 260 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:44,000 Speaker 1: to greet them in the morning and being able to say, 261 00:15:44,040 --> 00:15:46,920 Speaker 1: this is the intentional place where I lay offerings, where 262 00:15:46,920 --> 00:15:49,560 Speaker 1: I do prayer, but I'm also going to acknowledge you 263 00:15:49,640 --> 00:15:52,640 Speaker 1: outside of back, you know what I'm saying, So it 264 00:15:52,680 --> 00:15:55,360 Speaker 1: should be less of a super focus on the altar 265 00:15:55,440 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 1: space and more so about creating intentional time with your people. 266 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:01,040 Speaker 1: You know what I'm saying, got it? And the also 267 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:04,080 Speaker 1: is just a reminder of that exactly. Definitely got it. 268 00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:06,600 Speaker 1: Thank you for that. More from my conversation with the 269 00:16:06,720 --> 00:16:18,800 Speaker 1: he may after the break. So you've already mentioned that, 270 00:16:18,840 --> 00:16:21,840 Speaker 1: you know, there are no real books that people like. 271 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:24,880 Speaker 1: The tradition is more oral, right and so, but it 272 00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:26,840 Speaker 1: feels like a lot of people are now getting this 273 00:16:26,960 --> 00:16:30,600 Speaker 1: information through social media, right, Like you use your platform 274 00:16:30,680 --> 00:16:33,680 Speaker 1: to share more in the interests of educating people. You know, 275 00:16:33,760 --> 00:16:36,160 Speaker 1: we see people on TikTok and on Instagram kind of 276 00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:39,080 Speaker 1: sharing these different things, and I would imagine that there 277 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:42,560 Speaker 1: are some benefits to the information being shared there, but 278 00:16:42,640 --> 00:16:45,600 Speaker 1: I would also imagine there are some limitations. Right, So, 279 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:48,040 Speaker 1: can you talk a little bit about both the benefits 280 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:50,320 Speaker 1: and the limitations to people kind of learning about this 281 00:16:50,400 --> 00:16:54,320 Speaker 1: information through social media. Yeah, So, I think the benefits 282 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:58,320 Speaker 1: is being able to demystify the tradition, being able to 283 00:16:58,360 --> 00:17:01,120 Speaker 1: be like, Okay, this is something that is actually still 284 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:05,880 Speaker 1: being practiced now because you know, if you go into museums, 285 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:10,800 Speaker 1: you'll see Ifa and Norisia, like spiritual tools inside the museums, 286 00:17:10,840 --> 00:17:13,880 Speaker 1: almost making it feel ancient, almost making it feel like 287 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:17,200 Speaker 1: tradition has left us, you know what I'm saying. But no, 288 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:20,920 Speaker 1: people are still venerating the Arisia's even on the continent. 289 00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:24,800 Speaker 1: To this day, the people are still having festivals venerating 290 00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:27,720 Speaker 1: the Resha's till the stay. It's still very active, still 291 00:17:27,800 --> 00:17:32,800 Speaker 1: very alive, you know. And because EFA to me, is 292 00:17:32,840 --> 00:17:37,600 Speaker 1: like the sentient living being that understands the cosmos and 293 00:17:37,720 --> 00:17:41,240 Speaker 1: understands the world, because that's what IFA is. It represents 294 00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:45,040 Speaker 1: being able to see and recognize the wisdom of the 295 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:49,800 Speaker 1: entire universe within this algorithm code which is very mathematical, 296 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:56,040 Speaker 1: but IFA being able to be so aware it knows 297 00:17:56,200 --> 00:17:58,560 Speaker 1: that the next move is going to be on the Internet. 298 00:17:58,920 --> 00:18:01,840 Speaker 1: I always make the joke with my friends, my FA 299 00:18:01,960 --> 00:18:04,120 Speaker 1: friends would be like, oh, EFA is on WiFi now, 300 00:18:04,320 --> 00:18:08,399 Speaker 1: because if I understands, you know, like the EASU is 301 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:11,440 Speaker 1: on wifile because the way that it's going to see 302 00:18:11,480 --> 00:18:16,200 Speaker 1: like okay. People are wanting answers, especially during the pandemic, 303 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:19,120 Speaker 1: especially when we were initially in the pandemic last year 304 00:18:19,160 --> 00:18:21,760 Speaker 1: and everyone was just like so what now, And people 305 00:18:21,800 --> 00:18:24,560 Speaker 1: have the space and the ability to be like, you 306 00:18:24,600 --> 00:18:28,879 Speaker 1: know what, my faith is changing when I'm believing is 307 00:18:29,040 --> 00:18:32,320 Speaker 1: changing and I'm looking for information to connect me back 308 00:18:32,359 --> 00:18:35,439 Speaker 1: to myself, and then i FA pops up like okay, 309 00:18:35,480 --> 00:18:38,119 Speaker 1: so let's go on the internet. Now, let's educate the 310 00:18:38,119 --> 00:18:41,960 Speaker 1: people in this way. IFA is traditional. But what I 311 00:18:42,080 --> 00:18:45,719 Speaker 1: also want people to understand it it's traditional doesn't always 312 00:18:45,760 --> 00:18:50,120 Speaker 1: mean stagnant in time. It can be updating, it can flow, 313 00:18:50,520 --> 00:18:53,720 Speaker 1: it can be adjusted, especially by the people who are 314 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:56,600 Speaker 1: holding the tradition. You know that they are going to 315 00:18:56,680 --> 00:19:00,800 Speaker 1: be the people responsible in updating, being to making things 316 00:19:00,840 --> 00:19:05,880 Speaker 1: more combinating for everyone. Because what EFA doesn't like us 317 00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:10,720 Speaker 1: to do is to be soap boxed preachers and trying 318 00:19:10,760 --> 00:19:13,840 Speaker 1: to convert people into the IFA ary tradition and the 319 00:19:13,880 --> 00:19:16,080 Speaker 1: old you. It says to not convert. You don't need 320 00:19:16,119 --> 00:19:19,120 Speaker 1: to convert anyone to IFA. You just need to talk 321 00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:22,160 Speaker 1: about IFA. Therisa always says, as much as you talk 322 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:25,080 Speaker 1: about you FA, Theresia will bless you because you're talking 323 00:19:25,119 --> 00:19:29,000 Speaker 1: about them, You're bragging on them. Very Nigerian thing to know. Okay, 324 00:19:29,119 --> 00:19:31,119 Speaker 1: be a little bit arrogant with the you know what 325 00:19:31,160 --> 00:19:34,920 Speaker 1: I'm saying, Um, But right, And it's just so fun 326 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:38,680 Speaker 1: to me to talk about it because though Ifa and 327 00:19:38,840 --> 00:19:41,240 Speaker 1: Racha something that's outside of their own culture and what 328 00:19:41,320 --> 00:19:44,200 Speaker 1: they grew up in, and to be able to think differently. 329 00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:50,080 Speaker 1: Because EFA tradition relies on self actualization, the ability to 330 00:19:50,280 --> 00:19:55,240 Speaker 1: change yourself, IFA relies on self accountability. In order for 331 00:19:55,359 --> 00:19:59,120 Speaker 1: you can to see blessings in your life, you must change. 332 00:19:59,560 --> 00:20:03,440 Speaker 1: The most important sacrifice that you can give is your character. 333 00:20:03,800 --> 00:20:06,560 Speaker 1: You know what I'm saying. It doesn't matter how many 334 00:20:06,600 --> 00:20:09,800 Speaker 1: you know offerings you relate to the arisha. If your 335 00:20:09,840 --> 00:20:13,320 Speaker 1: own behavior does not alter, it's gonna be hard for 336 00:20:13,359 --> 00:20:16,320 Speaker 1: you to see you beginning to see change happening in 337 00:20:16,359 --> 00:20:18,960 Speaker 1: your life, you know what I'm saying. So being able 338 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:21,960 Speaker 1: to have that accountability, being able to be like, okay, 339 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:25,600 Speaker 1: maybe I'm the problem here and changing that is what 340 00:20:25,760 --> 00:20:28,640 Speaker 1: I love the most about EFA because you really cannot 341 00:20:28,680 --> 00:20:33,200 Speaker 1: blame anybody but yourself. That's why the most powerful arisia 342 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:36,080 Speaker 1: is the o Read, which is your higher self living 343 00:20:36,119 --> 00:20:39,600 Speaker 1: within your head. It is the most powerful arisia being 344 00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:43,399 Speaker 1: able to overpower them, all of them combined. You know. So, 345 00:20:43,600 --> 00:20:45,439 Speaker 1: if your own o Read does not want you to 346 00:20:45,520 --> 00:20:48,480 Speaker 1: do something it's gonna be hard for you to accomplish 347 00:20:48,520 --> 00:20:51,320 Speaker 1: those tasks. So what they always say before you go 348 00:20:51,440 --> 00:20:53,600 Speaker 1: to the arisha, you must always go to your own 349 00:20:53,800 --> 00:20:56,760 Speaker 1: read first. You know what I'm saying. The Creator gave 350 00:20:56,880 --> 00:20:59,800 Speaker 1: you your o read to be godener, to be able 351 00:20:59,840 --> 00:21:02,600 Speaker 1: to go to things and make you feel good that 352 00:21:02,760 --> 00:21:06,640 Speaker 1: resonate with your spirit. Which is why not everyone needs 353 00:21:06,640 --> 00:21:09,919 Speaker 1: to practice the found Recia tradition because they already have 354 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:12,640 Speaker 1: their own own and their own OVA can be enough. 355 00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:18,000 Speaker 1: You know. I guess the good facts of sharing online 356 00:21:18,160 --> 00:21:21,760 Speaker 1: is it doesn't always reach the right people. Not everyone 357 00:21:21,840 --> 00:21:26,000 Speaker 1: wants to learn. You know. Um, we are still battling 358 00:21:26,160 --> 00:21:30,080 Speaker 1: even in tradition and being able to pull away, you know, 359 00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:34,280 Speaker 1: ourselves from people who you know Christian background saying that 360 00:21:34,400 --> 00:21:38,320 Speaker 1: rhythemonic or that we are venerating things that our demons 361 00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:42,800 Speaker 1: or the devil, etcetera. Like. Even the most dynamic Arisia 362 00:21:43,440 --> 00:21:47,560 Speaker 1: in the evil tradition called issue issue is the messenger 363 00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:52,479 Speaker 1: between two worlds. He is probably one of the most 364 00:21:52,600 --> 00:21:57,320 Speaker 1: important arisia's and his name translates to the devil because 365 00:21:57,400 --> 00:22:01,400 Speaker 1: of missionaries and their Christianic and influence and their colonialism 366 00:22:01,440 --> 00:22:05,280 Speaker 1: over Nigeria. So there are priests and the continent trying 367 00:22:05,359 --> 00:22:08,800 Speaker 1: to rip away the sercious tie to you know, and 368 00:22:08,920 --> 00:22:13,520 Speaker 1: the demonic influences. But I just feel like that's the 369 00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:16,160 Speaker 1: hugest thing, that's the most biggest thing, is being able 370 00:22:16,240 --> 00:22:22,440 Speaker 1: to be like, being able to tell people that things 371 00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:26,840 Speaker 1: that they don't understand. You don't need to connect that 372 00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:29,840 Speaker 1: to something evil, You don't need to connect that to 373 00:22:29,960 --> 00:22:34,119 Speaker 1: something demonic. Education is the most important thing. Being able 374 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:38,160 Speaker 1: to be educated, being able to understand someone before you 375 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:41,760 Speaker 1: say something, you know, before you even curse. What your 376 00:22:41,800 --> 00:22:45,679 Speaker 1: ancestors came from. You know, our ancestor traditionally weren't practicing 377 00:22:46,560 --> 00:22:50,840 Speaker 1: you know, Christianity or Islam. They're practicing their traditional beliefs. 378 00:22:50,880 --> 00:22:53,600 Speaker 1: And being able to hold space for that, especially the 379 00:22:53,640 --> 00:22:56,920 Speaker 1: people that come from that, is I think the most 380 00:22:56,960 --> 00:23:01,560 Speaker 1: important thing. Having integrity there, you know, mm hmm. That's 381 00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:04,399 Speaker 1: a perfect kind of segue to my next question, which 382 00:23:04,480 --> 00:23:07,000 Speaker 1: is do you think that the practice of you know, 383 00:23:07,080 --> 00:23:11,560 Speaker 1: more African traditional religions can coexist with someone also practicing 384 00:23:11,600 --> 00:23:16,520 Speaker 1: like Christianity or Islam. Yes, definitely, because there's a difference 385 00:23:16,560 --> 00:23:19,920 Speaker 1: between you know, doing EFA and no recial work and 386 00:23:20,040 --> 00:23:24,680 Speaker 1: being initiated in the traditions. There's many old dudes, many 387 00:23:24,800 --> 00:23:29,320 Speaker 1: verses within EFA about how the king who practice Islam 388 00:23:29,359 --> 00:23:31,720 Speaker 1: will go to the priest and get work done. You 389 00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:35,760 Speaker 1: know what I'm saying. Those things can co exist simultaneously 390 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:39,879 Speaker 1: if people allow them to co exist simultaneously. You know 391 00:23:39,880 --> 00:23:42,560 Speaker 1: what I'm saying, Like the it's the word of Ifa 392 00:23:42,640 --> 00:23:45,439 Speaker 1: does not go against Christianity or Islam and any means. 393 00:23:45,920 --> 00:23:48,760 Speaker 1: It's people, you know, that the side, whether they want 394 00:23:48,800 --> 00:23:51,880 Speaker 1: to be to get something or not. So even like 395 00:23:52,359 --> 00:23:55,159 Speaker 1: the divination of the year that was conducted for the 396 00:23:55,359 --> 00:24:00,359 Speaker 1: entire world, In said that it's very important for everyone 397 00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:02,879 Speaker 1: to live and harmony with the religion and to not 398 00:24:02,960 --> 00:24:06,520 Speaker 1: discriminate against people who are of different religious backgrounds, you know, 399 00:24:07,080 --> 00:24:10,359 Speaker 1: mm hmmmmmmm. So can you tell me more about the 400 00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:13,880 Speaker 1: distinction between doing the work he said of eva Asia 401 00:24:14,440 --> 00:24:19,440 Speaker 1: and initiated. What what does that mean? So when I 402 00:24:19,520 --> 00:24:22,280 Speaker 1: say Ifa no racial work, I mean like, let's say 403 00:24:22,880 --> 00:24:26,280 Speaker 1: you are seeking a divination from a priest. So you'll 404 00:24:26,320 --> 00:24:28,680 Speaker 1: go to the priest house, You'll sit on the priest floor, 405 00:24:28,720 --> 00:24:32,440 Speaker 1: and the priest will do a Kenifa, You'll do divination 406 00:24:32,560 --> 00:24:36,160 Speaker 1: for you and what the priest tells you, like, oh, 407 00:24:36,240 --> 00:24:38,640 Speaker 1: you need to do ebo, which is sacrifice. We need 408 00:24:38,680 --> 00:24:42,280 Speaker 1: to sacrifice certain things, which could be certain you know, animals, 409 00:24:42,359 --> 00:24:45,080 Speaker 1: or it can be a certain character behavior traits, or 410 00:24:45,119 --> 00:24:48,320 Speaker 1: it could be warning you of something that is doing 411 00:24:48,359 --> 00:24:52,560 Speaker 1: ifa racial work. Because you're taking the prescriptions, that's what's 412 00:24:52,560 --> 00:24:55,120 Speaker 1: being given to you. If is like it's like going 413 00:24:55,160 --> 00:24:58,480 Speaker 1: to the doctor, it's gonna be literally a medical doctor, 414 00:24:58,520 --> 00:25:01,000 Speaker 1: because that's what a priest is, being able to see 415 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:04,320 Speaker 1: your spiritual health and how to give you good health. 416 00:25:04,440 --> 00:25:06,359 Speaker 1: You know what I'm saying, good health and your money 417 00:25:06,400 --> 00:25:09,240 Speaker 1: and your love life and your achievements and your destiny 418 00:25:09,280 --> 00:25:12,080 Speaker 1: to keep you aligned. But he's also going to offer 419 00:25:12,119 --> 00:25:15,440 Speaker 1: you medication, which is your prescriptions what you should be doing. 420 00:25:15,880 --> 00:25:18,439 Speaker 1: Maybe you should change your behavior. Maybe you should not 421 00:25:18,520 --> 00:25:21,879 Speaker 1: be drinking liquor for the next sixteen days. Maybe you 422 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:25,320 Speaker 1: should do sacrifice for with all this you know, animal 423 00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:28,840 Speaker 1: materials to give you good health on your path. That's 424 00:25:28,840 --> 00:25:32,160 Speaker 1: spiritual work. That's efile work. Anyone can do efile work. 425 00:25:32,640 --> 00:25:36,199 Speaker 1: But to become the priest that tells what the client 426 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:39,000 Speaker 1: is doing, that's what an initiative is going to be doing. 427 00:25:39,119 --> 00:25:41,919 Speaker 1: You know what I'm saying. One that is actually doing 428 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:45,280 Speaker 1: the work, that's you know, studying under the elder, that's 429 00:25:45,359 --> 00:25:50,720 Speaker 1: learning all the philosophy, is gonna be the initiate. Got it, okay? 430 00:25:50,760 --> 00:25:53,159 Speaker 1: And so what do you see people who are like 431 00:25:53,280 --> 00:25:55,280 Speaker 1: new in the practice of some of this work, like 432 00:25:55,320 --> 00:25:57,040 Speaker 1: what are you the common things that you kind of 433 00:25:57,080 --> 00:25:59,360 Speaker 1: see come up for people when they are new kind 434 00:25:59,359 --> 00:26:02,840 Speaker 1: of practicing as work. I think the most common thing 435 00:26:02,880 --> 00:26:05,199 Speaker 1: that I get from people who are interested in the 436 00:26:05,240 --> 00:26:09,600 Speaker 1: work is which Arisia guards my head? I get that 437 00:26:09,720 --> 00:26:13,000 Speaker 1: question a lot, and it's very interesting for me personally. 438 00:26:13,040 --> 00:26:15,840 Speaker 1: I have to give the most thorough response to that 439 00:26:15,960 --> 00:26:19,080 Speaker 1: question because it's not just the simplest or no or 440 00:26:19,160 --> 00:26:24,679 Speaker 1: simple small question to me, because it's a whole lifestyle change. Really, 441 00:26:24,760 --> 00:26:26,800 Speaker 1: because when you ask me, when you reach it guards 442 00:26:26,800 --> 00:26:28,600 Speaker 1: your head. What I'm going to tell you is all 443 00:26:28,640 --> 00:26:32,600 Speaker 1: of them guard your head because the Arisha, the purpose 444 00:26:32,640 --> 00:26:36,120 Speaker 1: of the Arisha is to assist humanity. So they're all 445 00:26:36,160 --> 00:26:39,320 Speaker 1: going to be working in your life in individual ways 446 00:26:39,480 --> 00:26:42,760 Speaker 1: because that's what the role is on this earth. And 447 00:26:43,320 --> 00:26:47,199 Speaker 1: it's less about the concept of being a child of 448 00:26:47,240 --> 00:26:49,439 Speaker 1: Arisia and more so about what are you going to 449 00:26:49,520 --> 00:26:53,159 Speaker 1: do with with that information, you know, because it doesn't 450 00:26:53,240 --> 00:26:57,680 Speaker 1: really help you to know that answer without saying that 451 00:26:57,720 --> 00:27:00,480 Speaker 1: you want to be a devotee or to be an initiate, 452 00:27:00,760 --> 00:27:02,920 Speaker 1: because that's the only way you're going to be able 453 00:27:02,960 --> 00:27:06,439 Speaker 1: to use and utilize that wisdom. A priest and elder 454 00:27:06,480 --> 00:27:08,640 Speaker 1: once told me that the you know, yes, you can 455 00:27:08,680 --> 00:27:12,280 Speaker 1: find the arecia's nature, but to understand the wisdom and 456 00:27:12,320 --> 00:27:14,760 Speaker 1: how the racial works is going to be within their 457 00:27:14,800 --> 00:27:20,040 Speaker 1: priest because when the initiate gets initiated into the Aricia, 458 00:27:20,480 --> 00:27:24,119 Speaker 1: they become that Arasia on earth. They hold all of 459 00:27:24,119 --> 00:27:27,199 Speaker 1: the wisdom of the philosophies of the Aracia within their body. 460 00:27:27,440 --> 00:27:31,280 Speaker 1: So it's more so more serious to me, I guess 461 00:27:31,280 --> 00:27:33,480 Speaker 1: when we want to know that, because it's nothing like 462 00:27:34,080 --> 00:27:36,800 Speaker 1: astrology or being able to be like my son is 463 00:27:36,840 --> 00:27:39,760 Speaker 1: in Taurists or my moon is a Acquarius, for example. 464 00:27:39,840 --> 00:27:43,200 Speaker 1: It's more so it's a religious thing, you know, it's 465 00:27:43,240 --> 00:27:47,760 Speaker 1: a very serious thing. It's also very more abstract because 466 00:27:47,840 --> 00:27:51,359 Speaker 1: on the continent you can be connected to the ratio 467 00:27:51,480 --> 00:27:54,080 Speaker 1: because of your lineage or because of the work that 468 00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:57,000 Speaker 1: you do, like maybe you are a blacksmith, so you're 469 00:27:57,040 --> 00:27:59,080 Speaker 1: going to get initiated into a boom, you know what 470 00:27:59,080 --> 00:28:02,399 Speaker 1: I'm saying to help with that work, so definitely is 471 00:28:02,560 --> 00:28:06,000 Speaker 1: more of a larger answer than what people are kind 472 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:09,760 Speaker 1: of expecting, which is something simple like to even find out, 473 00:28:09,800 --> 00:28:13,440 Speaker 1: you know, the Arisha that is aligned with your destiny, 474 00:28:13,480 --> 00:28:16,840 Speaker 1: that is connected to you, that rose up when you're 475 00:28:16,840 --> 00:28:19,960 Speaker 1: going to be incarnated on earth, is going to be 476 00:28:20,080 --> 00:28:24,560 Speaker 1: through rights, like true initiation. Rights, things that kind of 477 00:28:25,160 --> 00:28:27,600 Speaker 1: devote you to the tradition because if you get it 478 00:28:27,640 --> 00:28:32,840 Speaker 1: from like divination, divination is highlighting your energy at this moment, 479 00:28:33,320 --> 00:28:36,439 Speaker 1: which Arisha is assisting you at this moment. It's not 480 00:28:36,600 --> 00:28:40,080 Speaker 1: something that is always current or stuck in time. I 481 00:28:40,120 --> 00:28:42,959 Speaker 1: can change to any moment. But when you do rights, 482 00:28:43,160 --> 00:28:45,880 Speaker 1: then you're getting into something that's a little bit more permanent. 483 00:28:45,960 --> 00:28:49,000 Speaker 1: Does that make sense? Like something that when I received 484 00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:50,880 Speaker 1: my hand to be fought, which is like a step 485 00:28:50,920 --> 00:28:54,600 Speaker 1: down from initiation, it picked up on Shango, and it 486 00:28:54,680 --> 00:28:57,640 Speaker 1: was Shango who was with me this entire time, even 487 00:28:57,680 --> 00:29:01,520 Speaker 1: though I had many divinations as different thesis throughout my 488 00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:05,080 Speaker 1: journey before I got like devoted connection with the fa 489 00:29:05,400 --> 00:29:09,160 Speaker 1: You know what I'm saying, more from my conversation with 490 00:29:09,200 --> 00:29:23,720 Speaker 1: the he mad after the break. So I'm wondering, you know, 491 00:29:23,840 --> 00:29:26,280 Speaker 1: just like we have seen more information about, you know, 492 00:29:26,320 --> 00:29:29,080 Speaker 1: people sharing this kind of stuff on social media, and 493 00:29:29,120 --> 00:29:31,640 Speaker 1: we've also seen i think an increase in like people 494 00:29:31,640 --> 00:29:35,280 Speaker 1: sharing about African traditional religions in pop culture. So you know, 495 00:29:35,360 --> 00:29:38,400 Speaker 1: one of the biggest ones I think was probably Beyonce Eliminade, right, 496 00:29:38,760 --> 00:29:41,520 Speaker 1: And I'm just wondering your thoughts about like sharing that 497 00:29:41,640 --> 00:29:44,000 Speaker 1: in pop culture. Do you feel like that helps to 498 00:29:44,080 --> 00:29:46,000 Speaker 1: kind of promote the messages or do you feel like 499 00:29:46,040 --> 00:29:50,640 Speaker 1: that's a hindrance. I feel like the recis are very smart. 500 00:29:51,240 --> 00:29:53,800 Speaker 1: They do what they think is going to be best 501 00:29:53,880 --> 00:29:56,120 Speaker 1: for people to talk about them because they like when 502 00:29:56,120 --> 00:29:59,480 Speaker 1: people talk about them. And o Show definitely enjoys what 503 00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:01,640 Speaker 1: people have to talk about her. So she's like, yeah, 504 00:30:01,800 --> 00:30:05,160 Speaker 1: of cause yes, Lemonade, Beyonce and me. You know, she 505 00:30:05,240 --> 00:30:09,400 Speaker 1: loves that. And I feel like you cannot especially you know, 506 00:30:09,480 --> 00:30:13,920 Speaker 1: being in the tradition, you cannot curse how somebody finds it. Faugh, 507 00:30:14,200 --> 00:30:17,800 Speaker 1: That's not my job. I'm not going to demonizes or 508 00:30:17,880 --> 00:30:21,280 Speaker 1: even hold up my nose the way that you found Erisha, 509 00:30:21,440 --> 00:30:24,200 Speaker 1: because the way that you found Ratia is meek and 510 00:30:24,280 --> 00:30:27,680 Speaker 1: sacred to your own destiny. And people should hold space 511 00:30:27,800 --> 00:30:31,120 Speaker 1: for those who are exploring the alacial tradition because the Beyonce, 512 00:30:31,440 --> 00:30:33,760 Speaker 1: because you know Beyonce that what she had to do, 513 00:30:33,880 --> 00:30:36,440 Speaker 1: She's doing her purpose, you know what I'm saying. And 514 00:30:36,600 --> 00:30:38,880 Speaker 1: you have the purpose of you know, being in this 515 00:30:39,080 --> 00:30:42,280 Speaker 1: year to be kind, to have iwa Pellette, which is 516 00:30:42,280 --> 00:30:45,200 Speaker 1: a good character to be able to be like, Okay, 517 00:30:45,400 --> 00:30:48,080 Speaker 1: let me tell you what the truth is with the tradition, 518 00:30:48,120 --> 00:30:51,440 Speaker 1: because now you're interested, you know, rather then turning people away. 519 00:30:51,600 --> 00:30:55,480 Speaker 1: Just that's just my opinion anyway, you know. So you mean, 520 00:30:55,560 --> 00:30:59,440 Speaker 1: do you see more African traditional religions as a safe 521 00:30:59,440 --> 00:31:02,000 Speaker 1: space or kind of like a safe haven for people 522 00:31:02,080 --> 00:31:06,120 Speaker 1: in the LGBTQ community who may have failed, isolated or 523 00:31:06,160 --> 00:31:11,360 Speaker 1: ostracized by Christian communities or other kind of faith practices. Yes, 524 00:31:11,640 --> 00:31:14,720 Speaker 1: so I feel like, yes, there's so much space open 525 00:31:14,840 --> 00:31:17,160 Speaker 1: for people who are like me, who are queer and 526 00:31:17,400 --> 00:31:20,960 Speaker 1: trying to find community, and it just spoils down to 527 00:31:21,280 --> 00:31:25,880 Speaker 1: the elders and what they individual people, what they want 528 00:31:25,920 --> 00:31:30,320 Speaker 1: to twist defied too. Ifa. There are no olders and 529 00:31:30,400 --> 00:31:33,280 Speaker 1: Ifa that I know of that speak ill of people 530 00:31:33,320 --> 00:31:36,520 Speaker 1: who are queer. There are so many arisias I know 531 00:31:36,640 --> 00:31:40,800 Speaker 1: of who are queer, who are in our definition of queer, 532 00:31:40,840 --> 00:31:44,880 Speaker 1: who are not aligned within gender identities, like a Locum 533 00:31:45,160 --> 00:31:48,160 Speaker 1: or Malay man. Lay theercia that I am initiate into, 534 00:31:48,400 --> 00:31:51,480 Speaker 1: there is different versions and different stories where wherever you go, 535 00:31:52,160 --> 00:31:54,400 Speaker 1: they will be a different gender. You know what I'm saying, 536 00:31:54,520 --> 00:31:58,320 Speaker 1: And that in of itself is queer to me. Shango 537 00:31:58,440 --> 00:32:02,120 Speaker 1: Marisia was not for being a drogno looking to be 538 00:32:02,160 --> 00:32:04,240 Speaker 1: able to be so beautiful that it kind of looked 539 00:32:04,240 --> 00:32:07,080 Speaker 1: like a woman, that he would do his hairstyles in 540 00:32:07,080 --> 00:32:08,959 Speaker 1: a way where it was deemed for a woman that 541 00:32:09,000 --> 00:32:11,240 Speaker 1: you would put on that you paint his face, that 542 00:32:11,320 --> 00:32:13,800 Speaker 1: he would cross stressed where it goes into battle. These 543 00:32:13,800 --> 00:32:18,160 Speaker 1: are like these little implications to know that the Eresia 544 00:32:18,280 --> 00:32:23,720 Speaker 1: sees everybody. Euresha accepts everybody because it was the Euresha 545 00:32:23,880 --> 00:32:27,360 Speaker 1: that created everyone. You know what I'm saying very carefully 546 00:32:27,600 --> 00:32:31,200 Speaker 1: and very selectively. And before we are born, we go 547 00:32:31,280 --> 00:32:34,080 Speaker 1: through this process called oor re selection where we are 548 00:32:34,120 --> 00:32:36,720 Speaker 1: picking out our destiny, where we are picking out who 549 00:32:36,720 --> 00:32:39,720 Speaker 1: we want to be on Earth. And it's a heavy, 550 00:32:39,880 --> 00:32:44,080 Speaker 1: heavy thing, a heavy process between the Arisha, yourself, and 551 00:32:44,120 --> 00:32:47,120 Speaker 1: the Creator who are all working on your orea to 552 00:32:47,200 --> 00:32:49,520 Speaker 1: make sure you become who you want to be on Earth. 553 00:32:50,040 --> 00:32:53,560 Speaker 1: You're not going to be queer by mistake. You're going 554 00:32:53,600 --> 00:32:57,600 Speaker 1: to be clear by purpose because your existence can help somebody, 555 00:32:57,640 --> 00:33:00,520 Speaker 1: and it can also help elevate and move for the 556 00:33:00,560 --> 00:33:04,680 Speaker 1: world's soul mission, which is to create peace, mutual reciprocity 557 00:33:04,680 --> 00:33:07,520 Speaker 1: with everybody. You know what I'm saying. So it really 558 00:33:07,680 --> 00:33:11,440 Speaker 1: is an intentional thing for people to be open, especially elders, 559 00:33:11,480 --> 00:33:14,040 Speaker 1: to be open to everybody, because that is what they 560 00:33:14,320 --> 00:33:19,400 Speaker 1: thought in the tradition is about mmmmmmmmmmm. And you tell 561 00:33:19,480 --> 00:33:21,760 Speaker 1: the story earlier about you know, how your mom kind 562 00:33:21,760 --> 00:33:24,400 Speaker 1: of taught you and your siblings, you know, more Christian 563 00:33:24,440 --> 00:33:26,160 Speaker 1: practices as a way to kind of try to keep 564 00:33:26,200 --> 00:33:28,560 Speaker 1: you safe. Right, Like, if if we talk about these 565 00:33:28,600 --> 00:33:31,440 Speaker 1: kinds of things, you'll be even more ostracized. And I'm 566 00:33:31,440 --> 00:33:33,840 Speaker 1: wondering if you have ideas about, like how we can 567 00:33:33,920 --> 00:33:36,760 Speaker 1: talk to elders in our own families who may be, 568 00:33:37,320 --> 00:33:39,640 Speaker 1: you know, concerned. If we're learning more about this, are 569 00:33:39,680 --> 00:33:41,680 Speaker 1: starting to practice more of these things, what kinds of 570 00:33:41,720 --> 00:33:44,760 Speaker 1: conversations might we be able to have with them? Bring 571 00:33:44,840 --> 00:33:46,840 Speaker 1: up the stuff that they already do that is true 572 00:33:46,880 --> 00:33:48,960 Speaker 1: the work, and they don't want to talk about, like Mom, 573 00:33:49,000 --> 00:33:50,680 Speaker 1: why are you why do you never put your purse 574 00:33:50,720 --> 00:33:53,280 Speaker 1: on the ground? Mama? Why are you always cooking this 575 00:33:53,400 --> 00:33:55,920 Speaker 1: food on New Year's Day? What's what? Why don't you know? 576 00:33:56,080 --> 00:33:58,280 Speaker 1: Why don't you want to let my brow mit your feet? 577 00:33:58,280 --> 00:34:01,160 Speaker 1: You know what I'm saying. Those are the stuff, you 578 00:34:01,240 --> 00:34:04,320 Speaker 1: know when we could say, you are already doing something spiritual, 579 00:34:04,640 --> 00:34:07,840 Speaker 1: so let me do something spiritual with intention, you know, 580 00:34:08,280 --> 00:34:10,640 Speaker 1: being able to be like this is what your life 581 00:34:10,760 --> 00:34:12,400 Speaker 1: is walking and this is what I'm going to do 582 00:34:12,480 --> 00:34:15,840 Speaker 1: with my life. And you just gotta have to understand. 583 00:34:16,080 --> 00:34:19,360 Speaker 1: And even the most beautiful thing with ancestor generation is 584 00:34:19,920 --> 00:34:24,560 Speaker 1: it will heal family ties, family wounds. It will make 585 00:34:24,640 --> 00:34:28,400 Speaker 1: things easier, It will make conversations easier, especially when you 586 00:34:28,440 --> 00:34:31,359 Speaker 1: tell your ancestors like I want to be honest with 587 00:34:31,360 --> 00:34:33,279 Speaker 1: my family, but what I do I don't want to 588 00:34:33,280 --> 00:34:35,680 Speaker 1: have to clean up the altar when the kaboa or 589 00:34:35,680 --> 00:34:39,680 Speaker 1: anything like that. And your ancestors will literally create space 590 00:34:40,080 --> 00:34:42,239 Speaker 1: for your mom to see your altars say saying like oh, 591 00:34:42,280 --> 00:34:45,719 Speaker 1: what's that about streaking out or wanting to understand or 592 00:34:45,719 --> 00:34:48,799 Speaker 1: even telling you stories of her own people, of her 593 00:34:48,800 --> 00:34:51,800 Speaker 1: own grandparents that you can add to your own little 594 00:34:52,000 --> 00:34:54,840 Speaker 1: you know, I always recommend having people like the little journal, 595 00:34:55,080 --> 00:34:58,479 Speaker 1: just stories of their ancestors to keep with them family tree. 596 00:34:58,680 --> 00:35:01,680 Speaker 1: It's really beneficial actually, so you can know which ancestor 597 00:35:01,719 --> 00:35:04,279 Speaker 1: to call and you need something, but to have that 598 00:35:04,880 --> 00:35:08,000 Speaker 1: and see how your own parents, how your own elders, 599 00:35:08,000 --> 00:35:12,080 Speaker 1: would be helping building your own ancestral veneration practice. Because 600 00:35:13,080 --> 00:35:17,280 Speaker 1: what EO tells us is is our grandparents are literally 601 00:35:17,320 --> 00:35:21,680 Speaker 1: our connection to our ancestor. They are our first ancestors. 602 00:35:21,680 --> 00:35:24,920 Speaker 1: Our parents are first risia. And to be able to 603 00:35:25,000 --> 00:35:28,440 Speaker 1: understand how meaningful that is and how important that is 604 00:35:28,480 --> 00:35:32,920 Speaker 1: on both ends, how the parents the elders should be 605 00:35:33,040 --> 00:35:36,160 Speaker 1: understanding to have that title, to have that position in 606 00:35:36,239 --> 00:35:38,840 Speaker 1: someone's life, which means you need to have that position 607 00:35:38,840 --> 00:35:41,080 Speaker 1: with integrity, you know what I'm saying, and you're not 608 00:35:41,120 --> 00:35:44,760 Speaker 1: able to abuse that position. It's something what EFA says 609 00:35:45,160 --> 00:35:48,440 Speaker 1: how you should never go far away from your family, 610 00:35:48,480 --> 00:35:51,400 Speaker 1: but your family should never push you there to begin with, 611 00:35:51,640 --> 00:35:55,319 Speaker 1: you know, a mutual reciprocity practice in order for me 612 00:35:55,360 --> 00:35:58,120 Speaker 1: to treat you like the elder. You must first show 613 00:35:58,160 --> 00:36:00,560 Speaker 1: me that you are the elder that I need that 614 00:36:00,840 --> 00:36:04,280 Speaker 1: I can treat you like that with you know, yeah, 615 00:36:05,200 --> 00:36:07,920 Speaker 1: so you've already given us the you know, the kind 616 00:36:07,920 --> 00:36:11,319 Speaker 1: of basics of building an altar you just mentioned, like 617 00:36:11,360 --> 00:36:14,720 Speaker 1: a journaling kind of exercise, right, like a family journal 618 00:36:14,840 --> 00:36:18,040 Speaker 1: of stories of family members. Are there other things that 619 00:36:18,080 --> 00:36:21,280 Speaker 1: you feel like beginners might be it might be helpful 620 00:36:21,320 --> 00:36:23,240 Speaker 1: for them to know about kind of learning more about 621 00:36:23,239 --> 00:36:28,600 Speaker 1: this practice. Oh yes, so food offerings. Offerings are amazing, 622 00:36:28,719 --> 00:36:32,200 Speaker 1: and offerings don't need to be so extra. I know 623 00:36:32,239 --> 00:36:34,520 Speaker 1: when we talk about food offerings, we can feel like 624 00:36:34,680 --> 00:36:39,520 Speaker 1: we need to cook like four course meal, what desserts, everything? 625 00:36:39,640 --> 00:36:41,640 Speaker 1: And I don't recommend doing that all the time, Like 626 00:36:41,719 --> 00:36:43,640 Speaker 1: maybe you can do that for a New Year's Day 627 00:36:43,760 --> 00:36:46,879 Speaker 1: or for a particular ancestors birthday, but you can keep 628 00:36:46,960 --> 00:36:51,719 Speaker 1: things basic. What the food offering represents. What offering represents, 629 00:36:51,760 --> 00:36:56,560 Speaker 1: period is an energy transference because you're giving them energy 630 00:36:56,640 --> 00:36:59,160 Speaker 1: so they can have the energy to provide you with 631 00:36:59,320 --> 00:37:01,719 Speaker 1: whatever you need. You know what I'm saying. If they 632 00:37:01,719 --> 00:37:03,960 Speaker 1: do not have the energy, it's going to be hard 633 00:37:04,000 --> 00:37:06,400 Speaker 1: for them to give you things to help you with, 634 00:37:06,480 --> 00:37:08,840 Speaker 1: things to assist you with things to even protect you. 635 00:37:09,480 --> 00:37:13,279 Speaker 1: So you are providing an energy transfer when you're saying 636 00:37:13,320 --> 00:37:16,319 Speaker 1: this is your cigar, this is your liquor, this is 637 00:37:16,360 --> 00:37:20,040 Speaker 1: your flowers, and I'm giving you with prayer. Prayer is 638 00:37:20,040 --> 00:37:22,799 Speaker 1: the most important thing because now you are empowering that 639 00:37:22,960 --> 00:37:26,719 Speaker 1: object and what you're offering. Prayer is understanding that you 640 00:37:26,760 --> 00:37:29,719 Speaker 1: are connected to the Creator, connected to the universe, and 641 00:37:29,800 --> 00:37:33,360 Speaker 1: your words have the ashade the power to make anything 642 00:37:33,400 --> 00:37:36,239 Speaker 1: happen in this world. So when we take prayer and 643 00:37:36,280 --> 00:37:39,279 Speaker 1: we attach that to offering, which is the energy transfer, 644 00:37:39,520 --> 00:37:42,880 Speaker 1: now you're empowering your lineage and giving them the energy 645 00:37:42,920 --> 00:37:45,360 Speaker 1: they need to create change in your life, which is 646 00:37:45,400 --> 00:37:48,680 Speaker 1: the most beautiful thing in my opinion. So in offering, 647 00:37:48,800 --> 00:37:52,160 Speaker 1: don't ever move away from offering. Should always be laying 648 00:37:52,239 --> 00:37:55,399 Speaker 1: offering because offerings can help you. And I've seen how 649 00:37:55,440 --> 00:37:59,279 Speaker 1: offering from my own two eyes has cleared away so 650 00:37:59,440 --> 00:38:02,399 Speaker 1: much things in my mind, and I will always have 651 00:38:02,520 --> 00:38:07,400 Speaker 1: testimony for offering. Every day. You should be giving an 652 00:38:07,480 --> 00:38:11,000 Speaker 1: offering or making an offering every day. I would recommend 653 00:38:11,040 --> 00:38:14,359 Speaker 1: making an offering at least once a week to give 654 00:38:14,680 --> 00:38:18,000 Speaker 1: energy for me. I do lay offerings every day. I 655 00:38:18,120 --> 00:38:21,160 Speaker 1: lay offerings will never whatever food I'm laying, I will 656 00:38:21,239 --> 00:38:24,640 Speaker 1: have give some of them to my ancestors so they 657 00:38:24,640 --> 00:38:28,040 Speaker 1: are getting empowered. While I'm also not forgetting that because 658 00:38:28,080 --> 00:38:30,080 Speaker 1: you know, I also have a d h D as 659 00:38:30,120 --> 00:38:32,680 Speaker 1: well diagnosed, so it can be very hard being through 660 00:38:32,719 --> 00:38:35,080 Speaker 1: a diverse and keeping up with those things. So finding 661 00:38:35,120 --> 00:38:37,680 Speaker 1: out a schedule that works with you is what I 662 00:38:37,760 --> 00:38:42,239 Speaker 1: recommend thems got it, got it? Any other tips for beginners. 663 00:38:42,600 --> 00:38:46,440 Speaker 1: Keeping the altar clean is very important, making sure that 664 00:38:46,520 --> 00:38:49,680 Speaker 1: you are not having any mold on the altar, that 665 00:38:49,760 --> 00:38:53,160 Speaker 1: the water stays clear, that there's no incest cash on 666 00:38:53,400 --> 00:38:57,480 Speaker 1: the altar space, because this helps you with you know, 667 00:38:57,680 --> 00:39:00,640 Speaker 1: just a clear mind, but also clear communication issue as well, 668 00:39:00,760 --> 00:39:03,759 Speaker 1: so you're avoiding spirits of confusion because a lot of 669 00:39:03,840 --> 00:39:07,479 Speaker 1: things like to live in a messy place, negative energy 670 00:39:07,560 --> 00:39:09,759 Speaker 1: likes live in a messy place, and negative energy and 671 00:39:09,800 --> 00:39:12,279 Speaker 1: tricks or spirits it can be very common when you're 672 00:39:12,360 --> 00:39:15,720 Speaker 1: keeping things in the clutter space. So not only keeping 673 00:39:15,760 --> 00:39:19,239 Speaker 1: your alter clean, but also keeping your surrounding energy to 674 00:39:19,280 --> 00:39:22,680 Speaker 1: your ulter clean as well. MM thank you for that. 675 00:39:23,239 --> 00:39:26,400 Speaker 1: So many other resources that you find yourself suggesting for 676 00:39:26,480 --> 00:39:29,080 Speaker 1: people who want to learn more and more kind of 677 00:39:29,160 --> 00:39:31,399 Speaker 1: dive a little deeper into this topic. Are there things 678 00:39:31,400 --> 00:39:34,680 Speaker 1: that you suggest for our audience. I definitely recommend social 679 00:39:34,719 --> 00:39:37,040 Speaker 1: media because there's a lot of people out there who 680 00:39:37,080 --> 00:39:39,040 Speaker 1: know what they're talking about, and I would love to 681 00:39:39,040 --> 00:39:42,399 Speaker 1: shout them out a little bit if I kid um. Yeah, 682 00:39:42,440 --> 00:39:45,040 Speaker 1: of course. So like a little Juju, she is an 683 00:39:45,040 --> 00:39:48,440 Speaker 1: awesome person. She has a little Judu podcast. He talks 684 00:39:48,440 --> 00:39:51,800 Speaker 1: a little bit more deep about nsentral veneration. So many 685 00:39:51,800 --> 00:39:55,600 Speaker 1: people like myself and Eya the Asia. She has a 686 00:39:55,680 --> 00:39:59,240 Speaker 1: Patreon which she talks about ifa usual tradition in addition 687 00:39:59,280 --> 00:40:02,640 Speaker 1: to myself, what help. So there's so many people Yeah, 688 00:40:02,719 --> 00:40:05,560 Speaker 1: if yow me on Twitter. She also speaks a little 689 00:40:05,640 --> 00:40:10,040 Speaker 1: bit about each reach a tradition in the urbalist side 690 00:40:10,480 --> 00:40:13,160 Speaker 1: of the tradition as well. And there's so many you know, 691 00:40:13,160 --> 00:40:15,200 Speaker 1: a lot of people in that kind of spider web 692 00:40:15,280 --> 00:40:17,840 Speaker 1: who would be really good people. You're looking just for 693 00:40:17,880 --> 00:40:21,000 Speaker 1: a community space, the people that you trust too. Have 694 00:40:21,400 --> 00:40:24,520 Speaker 1: you kind of move with integrity to start your path 695 00:40:24,719 --> 00:40:27,280 Speaker 1: down this little rabbit hole, because once you get one information, 696 00:40:27,320 --> 00:40:32,200 Speaker 1: they're like, now I want to know everything we got you, Okay, 697 00:40:32,600 --> 00:40:35,040 Speaker 1: so tell us where we can find you. Please share 698 00:40:35,080 --> 00:40:38,320 Speaker 1: your website as well social media handles you'd like to share, 699 00:40:38,880 --> 00:40:41,040 Speaker 1: of course, so you can find me at a hem 700 00:40:41,239 --> 00:40:45,400 Speaker 1: Aura dot com and on Instagram and Twitter under the 701 00:40:45,440 --> 00:40:48,800 Speaker 1: same handle a heme Aura. I also have a Patreon 702 00:40:48,920 --> 00:40:51,720 Speaker 1: which you can find me at patreon dot com forward 703 00:40:51,760 --> 00:40:54,360 Speaker 1: slash a hem Aura, which I speak about Ifa and 704 00:40:54,440 --> 00:41:00,160 Speaker 1: Arisia and Sasha, veneration and general holistic wellness. Perfect. Thank 705 00:41:00,200 --> 00:41:02,160 Speaker 1: you so much for sharing with us today. You mean, 706 00:41:02,200 --> 00:41:04,799 Speaker 1: I really appreciate so much. I really appreciate you for 707 00:41:04,840 --> 00:41:11,000 Speaker 1: having me. Was awesome. Thank you. I'm so glad that 708 00:41:11,040 --> 00:41:13,640 Speaker 1: he May was able to share her expertise with us today. 709 00:41:14,160 --> 00:41:16,719 Speaker 1: To learn more about her and her work, or to 710 00:41:16,800 --> 00:41:19,799 Speaker 1: check out the resources that she shared, visit the show 711 00:41:19,840 --> 00:41:22,720 Speaker 1: notes at Therapy for Black Girls dot com slash session 712 00:41:22,800 --> 00:41:25,920 Speaker 1: to sixteen, and don't forget to text two of your 713 00:41:25,960 --> 00:41:28,600 Speaker 1: girls right now and tell them to check out the 714 00:41:28,640 --> 00:41:31,480 Speaker 1: episode as well. If you're looking for a therapist in 715 00:41:31,520 --> 00:41:34,759 Speaker 1: your area, be sure to check out our therapist directory 716 00:41:34,800 --> 00:41:38,279 Speaker 1: at Therapy for Black Girls dot com slash directory. And 717 00:41:38,320 --> 00:41:40,920 Speaker 1: if you want to continue digging into this topic or 718 00:41:41,040 --> 00:41:44,000 Speaker 1: just be in community with other sisters, come on over 719 00:41:44,040 --> 00:41:46,760 Speaker 1: and join us in the Sister Circle. It's our cozy 720 00:41:46,800 --> 00:41:49,880 Speaker 1: corner of the Internet, design just for black women. You 721 00:41:49,920 --> 00:41:53,000 Speaker 1: can join us at community dot therapy for black girls 722 00:41:53,080 --> 00:41:55,520 Speaker 1: dot com. Thank you all so much for joining me 723 00:41:55,560 --> 00:41:58,239 Speaker 1: again this week. I look forward to continue in this 724 00:41:58,320 --> 00:42:05,759 Speaker 1: conversation with you all real soon. Take you care what