Posted on November 18th, 2025.

 

Approaching your first Ifá consultation should feel thoughtful rather than tense, because you’re meeting a living Yoruba tradition that treats guidance as a disciplined practice.

 

Instead of guessing what might happen, you’ll move through a respectful conversation shaped by clear steps, sacred tools, and a trained interpreter of the odu. With a few mindful preparations, the experience shifts from unfamiliar to reassuring, and the insights become easier to apply in daily life.

 

While an Ifá session is spiritual, it’s also practical. The Babalawo or Iyalawo works within a structured method that has endured through lineages, which helps you trust the process even before you understand every detail. You’ll speak about what’s happening now, receive teaching tied to your situation, and leave with steps that match your capacity and timing.

 

This blog post explains what the reading looks like, how to prepare, and how to choose a practitioner you can trust. 

 

The Ifá Reading Process

Your first Ifá reading opens as a respectful exchange, led by a Babalawo (male priest) or Iyalawo (female priestess) who has trained through lineage and mentorship. You’re welcomed, invited to describe the areas you want to address, and oriented to the process so you understand what each step means. The pace is steady, and the tone remains clear, which lowers anxiety and supports honest conversation.

 

Traditional tools give the session structure and reliability, turning a broad inquiry into something focused. The opón Ifá (divination tray), ikin (sacred palm nuts), and opele (divination chain) each function in a defined way to reveal patterns rather than random impressions. Watching the priest or priestess work with these tools demonstrates that the reading follows established protocols, not improvisation.

 

As divination proceeds, an odu is identified, which anchors the guidance. Odu carry verses, maxims, and narratives that speak to common human situations while leaving room for the specifics of your life. The priest or priestess connects the teaching to your circumstances, translating cultural wisdom into practical directions for timing, tone, and approach.

 

During the session, consent and clarity set the tone. If you prefer plain language over specialized terms, say so early; a good priest or priestess will translate teachings without losing meaning. Pace also matters. If you need a brief pause to take notes or think, request it. Small adjustments like these keep the reading focused, respectful, and easy to follow.

 

Clarity matters throughout, so explanations avoid vague promises and emphasize cause, effect, and responsibility. You may hear that a plan needs patience, a financial risk should wait, or a relationship requires repair before the next step. Because the advice is framed by the odu, you see why the recommendation fits rather than treating it as an opinion.

 

Sometimes the consultation includes offerings or an ebo (ritual action) meant to restore balance, express gratitude, or open a path that feels blocked. These are not accessories; they flow directly from the message of the odu. When recommended, you’ll hear what is needed, why it belongs here, and how to complete it safely and respectfully.

 

Before you close, the priest or priestess recaps the odu, the key insights, and any next steps, including suggested timing for follow-up. This summary turns a meaningful conversation into a plan you can keep, so the teaching remains useful once you return to everyday commitments and decisions.

 

How to Prepare for Your First Ifá Reading

Begin with intention so your time has a clear shape. Write a short list of focus areas—career decisions, family dynamics, financial planning, health habits, or spiritual growth—and bring it with you. You don’t need perfect wording; concise topics help the priest or priestess frame the reading and keep the conversation aligned with what matters now.

 

Create a calm starting point on the day of your appointment. A few minutes of quiet breathing or prayer settles your attention, which makes it easier to listen and ask grounded questions. If your consultation is virtual, choose a quiet space, silence notifications, and test your connection in advance, since small disruptions can break your concentration.

 

Bring respectful presence without turning it into a ceremony you don’t recognize. Clean, comfortable clothing is enough, although simple white or earth tones are welcome if you prefer them. Arrive on time, be direct about your situation, and avoid withholding context that would change the advice. Ifá honors sincerity, and honesty improves the precision of the guidance.

 

Prepare notes that make follow-through easier. Jot down names, dates, decisions, and deadlines you might forget under pressure. During the reading, record the odu, the main points, and any offerings or ebo that are recommended. Afterward, summarize what to do in the next seven to thirty days, because a short action horizon helps you build momentum.

 

Stay open to both confirmation and correction, since Ifá emphasizes alignment over speed. Some messages will affirm a direction you’ve already chosen, while others ask you to adjust, pause, or repair before proceeding. If a recommendation feels heavy, say so, because the priest or priestess can discuss options, sequencing, and support.

 

A steady mindset helps. Avoid alcohol and heavy distractions for a few hours beforehand, keep your schedule open after the session, and plan a short walk or quiet time to process what you heard. When insights are fresh, a few minutes of reflection often reveal which action should come first and which can wait.

 

Plan for follow-up before you leave. Ask about timing for a check-in, materials for offerings, and signs that indicate progress. A simple schedule keeps your effort steady without turning it into pressure, and it turns a meaningful moment into sustained practice rather than a one-time experience.

 

Finding Trusted Ifá Reading Services

Look for clear lineage and training first, because Ifá is transmitted through mentorship and community accountability. A credible priest or priestess can explain how they were initiated, who taught them, and how long they have served. When a practitioner speaks plainly about their path, it sets a baseline of trust before the reading begins.

 

Prioritize service over performance. The right practitioner listens carefully, explains the process, and grounds interpretations in the odu received, not in personal opinion or theatrics. Recommendations for offerings or ebo are specific, proportional to your situation, and tied to the teaching rather than added as pressure.

 

Evaluate communication style and boundaries with the same care you’d bring to any professional service. You should feel heard rather than rushed, supported rather than pushed, and informed rather than dazzled. Ethical practitioners maintain privacy, avoid scare tactics, and never guarantee outcomes, because your choices and circumstances still matter.

 

Confirm pricing and scope upfront so expectations stay clear. At Ifanaija NYC, first-time consultations are a flat $100, the lowest entry price we’re aware of in New York, and additional time is quoted only if you choose to extend the session.

 

We outline exactly what the base fee includes, explain when offerings or ebo involve separate material costs, and describe how follow-up works before you commit. This straightforward, no-surprise approach prevents misunderstandings and builds long-term trust.

 

Related: How Does an Ifá Divination Reading Work? Find Out Here

 

Start Your Ifá Journey with Ifanaija NYC

We keep first consultations focused, respectful, and useful, so you leave with your odu, plain-language guidance, and next steps that fit your life. At Ifanaija NYC, the $100 session is designed to be approachable for newcomers while honoring the depth of the tradition.

 

You’ll understand what was revealed, why it matters, and how to proceed without guesswork. If you need support afterward, we’ll help you plan reasonable timing and follow-up that respects your schedule and resources.

 

Book your session today!

 

Engaging with us means embracing a path towards fulfillment with respect and dignity, aligning each chosen action with the insights painstakingly sewn into your being during the consultation.