We're going on fairy family this brand new episode takes me to friend and Eva Priestess Chief. Keef has a lien aoife. Aambala who is a psychological health specialist and former Adjunct professor of Loyola University's graduate counseling program in New Orleans, LA and a graduate of Dillard University's undergraduate psychology program. Chief. Essay isour Dean and initiated as the goddess Siri Araya DV most noble goddess in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, and she was also initiated an ordained into the Asian and African High priesthood of Eva, which is traditional African spirituality in Ocean State Nigeria Chief serves as one of the diaspora ambassadors for the islet Arisa headquartered in Yoruba, Le Nigeria and today May I not only sit with her but also quite a number of her students of the hundred and forty who are currently at the ephah Yoruba ancestor orisha pilgrimage in Birmingham, Alabama. This is a great honor for me and I do hope you all are enlightened. This podcast is a little longer than my usual ones, but the information in this was timely and I do believe what we spoke about will be a blessing to everybody. Who is listening? So please get your snacks your notebooks if you want to take notes or whatever you need and get ready with me and for a singer for the afro fairy goddess podcast. Hey everybody, it's your girl and for singer from Barbados and welcome to the afro fairy goddess podcast today. I sit with friend and Priestess Chief Keef a see an ephah Shambala. Hopefully said that correctly. Yes. We are in for a special treat especially recording this week because she's currently doing a pilgrimage and she so graciously Decided to take some time out and be a part of the episode and she has some of her students here along with us as well. So this is more so a live podcast. They will be other people here listening and you know giving their contributions as well. So magical day to everybody if I say the students and sisters everybody that he's thank you so much for being here. It's really an honor to speak. Meet with everybody and I mean I have to have laugh and say the time for the interview finally came because we can't going this week the next week. There's like even today we had some challenges but we are here no and the ancestors are here and they think they do believe that you know both me and if I say, I need more ancestors, so the students are also here so it A very exciting time for me especially to have this extension by everybody here. So thank you so much. Even the people that I can't see in the frame. Thank you so much for being here. So as you begin, your bio is extremely expensive and that was the short version is Inca what girl got so much things why? Like all right. Let me see if I can pick up some things. So let me see. Let me see. Let me see. Okay, so your psychological health specialist and former Adjunct professor of Lon Loyola University's graduate counseling program in New Orleans, LA and a graduate of Dillard University undergraduate psychology program. She's our Dana and and initiated as the goddess Siri around Aria DV which means and also normal Got it, most noble goddess. And so my hand Buddhist tradition. She was initiated an ordained into ancient African High priesthood of E5 which is our traditional African spirituality more than that because I have a question on that and we'll shoot State Nigeria. She serves as one of the desperate ambassadors for Ali Arisa headquarters in durable and Nigeria and I mean the list goes on and on and on. On and on so I mean this is quite an honor and I mean what I have found with in your bio as well as that you have merged your psychology practice along with your spiritual training. And yeah, so how did all of that become full circle? Hmm. That's a really really intuitive question. The fact that you extracted that speaks highly about your fuel get perceptibility. I pray. That I would be able to do what I love to do full time. And I prayed that I would be able to connect them together and in some ways and the obvious was being overlooked the obvious goal was already in my face for being overlooked and it was actually my sister. It was actually my sister who told me I think you need to, you know, just bring them all under one umbrella in essence. That's what she said. You need to just bring them all under one umbrella. And I said I I gave that a little bit of thought I said, but I'm going to give it a lot more thought and then I will figure it out and down the line just after continuing to do work and seeing that our people worldwide were looking for more Afrocentric psychological Health Services. There was perfect because they wanted to know about spirituality. They wanted to know about African spirituality particularly. And so, you know, I present myself a certain way in public when I'm not in Corporate America. And the look that I have attract people to me who are looking for that kind of service. And so what began to happen is people began to I offered by offered a fusion I said, you can do clinical Western psychological health services. Are you can do traditional West African solely are you can do both because for me they're not really separate, you know, looking at the word psychology. I look at the word psyche and etymologically that word means soul. S OU L the study of the soul. And so I mean the study of the Soul clearly is a spiritual thing. That's spiritual. That's that's totally spiritual and it was in alignment with my beliefs that the majority of the psychological Health dilemmas that we experience as a people worldwide are rooted in some type of spiritual imbalance. Hmm and if we are able to identify that and spend time there. Chattering that appropriately then we can create balance in the areas where we lack it we can strengthen the areas that are weak. We can heal from you know traumas that were damaging to our spirits and damaging to our souls and so organically over time they began to become more one, but I still offer the clinical Western Services because there are some clients of mine who don't want to you know participate in traditional West African spirituality. One thing I loved about my graduate program was that it taught me terminology. I was able to look at the vocabulary and read the concepts read the principles read the quote unquote, you know, theoretical, you know orientations. There were supposedly created by these Western and European people and see that this is African. That's African. That's African created some type of Empirical data repackaged it and threw it back at us. Yes, but for me having to a traditional African spiritual background, I was able to really easily see the African principles and underlying Concepts and what was being presented to me as clinical Western creations. And so I learned I'm thank you for the Western graduate program because what I learned to do was use neutral. Jargon. To educate and build up on and offer healing services from a traditional West African perspective and also other indigenous, you know, traditional perspectives, but just you know, identify and parallel the equivalent in English. Jargon. Hmm an English psychological Health. Jargon, that's beautiful because that way to you can open up the doors for everybody else who may be on the cusp but still we'll have that that fear that is whole thing is bad. But at least you can give them the help that they need until they are ready to get to that next level are to that that next that what were some of the positives that have come out of doing these pillman pilgrimages like my whole town gone, but in terms of your pilgrimage and what are some of the positives that have come on in doing them a believe how many years You've been doing it. Well, as far as the actual pilgrimage is concerned. This is our second one. The first one was a huge success that we could not have even imagined for ourselves. We were just doing you know, what Spirit guided us to do. There is a team of us here. There's a bears an actual Birmingham Alabama team where we have the pilgrimage and all of the Birmingham Alabama team are students in the EPA orisha education training and development Academy. And so I went to a festival a pilgrimage in Nigeria as a part of my research and this pilgrimage had a very strong impact on me. It had a very strong influence on me for so many different reasons. Oh look at that. that's one of my students who was calling and his wife is actually sitting right behind and so so so the pilgrimage sorry, I was in a experiencing the pilgrimage. She was dreaming and having visions about a pilgrimage or something similar. I was also literally like she was dreaming and envisioning having a pilgrimage we were doing what's called a DSM. It's a special full MO. The new whole meditation, okay where we spend a lot of time writing what we call a visual script and then on the new moon and on the full moon, we do visual meditations on our pre-written visual scripts, and these are prayers. These are things that we want to have manifest in our lives. Well, she and I had similar ones. I wanted to do a retreat for the Academy. She wanted more people at their healing exchange time. Yoga, Alabama the healing exchange Alabama. It is an actual an actual Retreat and Locust Fork Al Alabama and she wanted to have more you know, spiritual group activities that were like the ones we both were envisioning. This is already a spiritual place. She was already going through to work massages and yeah being work and her husband is a sound therapist. Wow. No, we call it a media visual audio. But this joint Vision that we both had, you know allowed us to merge and come together and and honor their Sacred Space by by honoring our ancestors honoring the spirits of the orisha honoring Community honoring the spirit of our destinies by number one having an equal educational training here at the healing Exchange. Bama and Locust Fork Al Alabama and to creating from it as well via the guidance of ephod divination actually by orisha pilgrimage and so going to their website. It was just the icing on the cake for me, which is www.toyotaoflewisville.com. And I saw my core my own with my own eyes how brilliant you know how brilliant owners are like that I want to say. You know how the spirit touch them to to put their own unique Essence into this Sacred Space because when you walk around every every part of it every part of it has a power pocket hmm, no matter where you go. There's a power pocket in the front of the house where the plants are. So power pocket where the trees are in the front house. There's a power pocket. There's a area in the back where when it rains as a water table powwow. There's a A lake to the right. There's a lake to the left power pocket. There's wood to the left power pocket and their Center is like that all around the property. Wow, that's just the outside of the problem. So it's awesome is a whole nother experience. And so the pilgrimage long story trying to be less. You know, that is how the pilgrims came together. We actually we met each other on the psychic metaphysical plane. and then in real life, we began to have discussions and after the E5 divination that was a rap names that was a wrap and so our guidance this year was that we must do this pilgrimage every year we cannot let it die because it's going to benefit so many people more than we can even you know more than we can even conceive of at this time. Yeah, and that the pilgrimage will pretty much mad. They will have longevity in the life of the pilgrimage will have longevity and the Evo orisha trainings will have longevity as well. Bye bye Tommy Fluker. They're beautiful mother Mama FICA and their beautiful grandmother support generational home. Hmm. So there's a great grandmother. There's the grandmother. There's a parent's there's some beautiful very well. Well, well create a children very well created children. And so I have to give honor and homage to my senior priest. Before I go any further and his name is cheap. I did she not Olatunji artist and he is a very strong and powerful spiritual force behind helping us to decipher and interpret the will of the spirits each year about what the spirits want each year and what the spirits want, you know for the training each year. So we do a Did the nation each year on the pilgrimage and on the training and that that divination actually it helps us to see the spiritual profile of the event. It helps us to see a physical profile of the event and ceremonies it helps us to see various obstacles. That might lie ahead that might present as challenge spots challenge areas, and we're given an opportunity to appease the spirits in very Special and unique ways in order to bring about all the blessings that God and the spirit of that our ancestors foresee coming as a result of the training and the pilgrimage and also to apiece and averts any imbalance disruptive are malevolent Wicked forces that we try to you know, get in the way of you know, our progress in our success or you know, if you want to be more Street about it, I shine. Yes. so in terms of readings you you have a or E Counseling Service as well, which you mentioned to as well how I'm trying to wear this in such a way. How was that received? Because it's one thing to be in your community where your accept it and person said. Oh great. I'm going to get a Nori reading or whatever. But now you've broadcast yourself to the globe because we are on a digital platform and digital platforms. So when people see you doing these types of things, what was the process of like what did people say like, I'm not And to get into that that is not for me. Did you get people in your inbox crane you down? What was your experience like? Thank you, and thank my students my old pot on my wall if our princesses see I need funds. Yeah. I need to be babalawo to be they are saying that you're asking some really really profound questions. Thank you. What was it like putting myself out in public? You know, I don't really think about it like that because I've always been a unique spiritual being even from birth. You know, why there's a story floating around my family about his cowboy boots. Yeah. They say it would be like a hundred and eleven degrees outside and you will have those leather cowboy draining in them. People walking around the city and then a lot booth and so I think about story that they told me like that I think about them telling me, you know, you were like five years old putting dots on your face and you were five years old running around talking about my people my queendom at five, you know, I already had a mentality Heaven that my my brothers and sisters were my people and I spoke like that. So I use that vocabulary as a child. Regularly. I don't know where I got that. That Mom I don't remember anybody teaching me that is just is just something that was inside of me. And I remember getting upset about things that my people would do like fighting each other being bullies towards one another and I remember as a young girl before the agency and saying and praying and chanting to God. I want my people to get it together to be well my God I wish I could make give her a hug. But I remember you being this vulnerable when you were here in Barbados. Yeah, cuz you were standing it was it was like literally out of the blue and that you were asked to you know, just come say a few words, you know, and Baba on Friday is is always doing that to people like he's got a vitamin. He's like come and talk something like yeah it really prepared. I mean in terms of who you are like men men spirit gives you a message. Usually you don't even have any control about the where the where the hall are even the way because the purpose is a lot bigger than what you expected to be. You are just a vessel and every time I see who you are even remember you I always remember you as that person you you are a vessel. There is a lot of growth around you. Eva is true, even though at the level where we met late remember that first time I saw you at Pelican Village here and it was like we were supposed to meet. I don't know why but I just feel like we were supposed to meet because DJ my husband was at vegan cafe working at the time. He was like, there's a lady here who came in and I think you guys should meet at that. You guys would vibe and every time I went same similar with All gasp I would try to get there or I would try to get to you but it never really worked. So even the evening at the shop. It didn't really wasn't working. Oh and then I didn't even know you were gonna be there late. I don't even think you were supposed to be there because they even understand you're like, oh, well, I was afraid I was like, I was going out going to grab my stuff. Yes and That was going on in the room at the time because remember there's a lot of drumming there was a lot of prayer goes on for always opens up the door and pours ligation everything. Yeah. I was like this this woman is legit like, you know, you see people coming in and you play all right just about okay the person just coming or whatever but I was like, yeah, even from that level for me you from then until know there was a lot of growth Yeah, you and seeing what has happened even with the pilgrimage here and it's went into exactly what I thought it was longer. Maybe I'm seeing it in a reverse. Maybe I'm already seeing it has already happened that it was a lot longer. So I do believe that it needs to continue because same way how that lady had the dream and you guys were in two different places Maybe. Dee has yet to dream no to get to you. So the contacts those people and those people know who are learning under, you know, or an extension of you and the reason why you're here in the messaging first, you need to bring so all of this will be coming like full circle. You know, I just And Richard goes in now to my next question in terms of readings because you do do your Ori readings. But how many times should one get a reading? I've heard numerous responses to this from people who were initiated into the religion those who were not as well. And as well as some bubbles here in Barbados, some people believe you should just get one because that Your life reading and whoever gives you that reading. I saw you supposed to take it in but how you like it or not? That is what it is. But suppose it's something about the person who gave you the reading not the reading itself, but suppose it is about below or Priestess or whoever doing the or even afraid you feel uncomfortable. Should you get a different reading should you get a reading on something important your life your solar return like what should you do? Yes, that's a very important question. Oh, that's a very important question. We have to start at the foundation first and that would be the lineage of orientation. You know, what kind of reading and we're talking about eat by Unova readings. There are some things that are consistent. There are something that are overlapping which is getting a reading for very special and important events and Points in life such as making a decision about who you're going to date in a committed relationship or who what kind of winter are you going to buy this house? Are you going to invest money in this house? If you are trying to choose a business partner someone to go into long-term business with if you if you are pregnant and you're going to have a baby that baby needs a reason you want to get married, you know, before you even get married you need to get the reading about the person they want to marry. You know if you want to take a job if you're going job hunting and you want to increase your chances of being able to get the job is going to be in most alignment with your highest Destiny, you know, it would be beneficial and wise to get a reading if you notice that there are unique occurrences happening in your life. It would be wise to get a reading I get a reading. At a maximum once a month, okay, and at minimum at minimum once every three months and that's because of the nature of the work that I do and so that's why my you down fog. That's what we call them neat. But that's what we call them in the Yoruba language. You don't bother hmm and so for me because of the level of energy that I put into the e-file work and also, you know because I know there are non-physical entities that would like to obstruct the progress that I'm making by the grace mercy and favor of God all over my and I also know that there are actual physical beings that was sick to also do the same and so I I'm not just doing it out for me. There is a whole Academy of students who are relying on me. Yeah to take care of myself. Not just We and nutritionally but Also spiritually there are over a hundred students in the academy. The youngest is like maybe four years old and the eldest is now in the early 80s. There are married couples in the academy. There are people getting ready to be engaged in the academy. They are single people in the academy. And so I feel as though these edog guard not only important for me to continue to be successful. Cecil and following my Destiny's path, but they're also important, you know for my students and for my clients who don't practice it by either and I get spiritual work done for me. My prayers are very inclusive. They cover my students. They cover dilemma that my students are going through. There's a lot of attention and care and energy put into refining the cat the academy and to refining the academy year after year. Month after month, you know, there's a lot of thought that goes into that getting any doubt by I would say for a person who doesn't do this kind of work at the level that I do it. I would say the more high stakes of a lifestyle you have for example, if you have a job that is a very high stakes job. If you live in a neighborhood, that's a very high safe neighborhood. If you notice there have been a lot of unfortunate events that have happened to you and in a unique pattern that paternalistic fashion in your life. It might be a virus. That you get any doll far. There are a multitude of spiritual services in E5 is also important to do research research the priest research the Priestess call them and ask them questions, you know, we got to be careful about asking other people about people because yeah, there are some people who may not understand our interests and our overstand the choice is and we'll try to deter you from it. Well, one of the things that we have to do is learn that we came into this world most of us use The only one through our mothers moves even twins don't come out of the womb at the exact same time. You know, they come out one after the other they each have their own individual Destiny even even even identical twins don't have the exact same identical life experiences. Yeah, and so how much more so is that true for people who are just different not related to one another and so it's very important that we meditate and we do the work to be able to hear our own spirit guide clearly. You know and and and and make sure that I environment are conducive of being able to receive these spiritual messages so that we can be clear about which direction to go in in addition to doing the research on the priest. I seen let me talk with me in addition to calling the priest or emailing the first to have a conversation with the brief hmm, you know and taking our time to make a decision a really good pre should educate potential client very well about the process there. Getting ready to Embark upon it and there are some point that's our increase don't want to take you should take every client. Really. I had a man call me Brett spherical services and you know, I'm very professional about setting be appointments very professional about my expectations and very professional about letting them know what they can expect of me and he called the session and I realized shortly and so with that he was high on something. Hmm. And so I bear especially told him we couldn't continue and He said I saw your going to end this session and I said yes, I'm going to end the session he was very upset that I ended the session and I told him we can't have a serious conversation about your spiritual needs. If you're not a clear mind. Yes, you know and so we have to watch out for things like that on both ends the priest and another client in Back to the spiritual services. So you got e da ba you got cleansing that a person can get head cleansings body cleansing cleansing are you can't is not just any kind of cleansing? They are actually made with special prescribes divinely prescribed ingredients that are spiritually tailored to what a person needs in their life at a given time. So it's not just going throwing some herbs and some Roots together because we like oh, you know frankincense does this appear? Because we don't know what that person's Destiny wants. So we invoke and humbly ask the spirit of that person's Destiny. What does that person need for the success of their Destiny at that particular time? Hmm. So it's very very detailed very very intricate. And any priest who's just really quick to take your money and not educate you. I would say proceed with caution if you first OC at all and also to clients have to be careful about exploiting Kris a lot of times were very concerned and we're looking at how a priest might try to take advantage of us are haven't been trying to take our money but we don't spend a lot of time looking at all. The ways clients have the potential to exploit Kris. Yeah, what our time exploit our knowledge is what our wisdom trying to eat Bargain shop, you know, you get spiritual reading from one Kris. You're supposed to commit yourself to that priest unless that priest has done some really terrible things to make you feel unsafe or you know insecure in their present under normal circumstances, though. The priest that does the reading or the spiritual work for you is the priest that you should be going to complete that work, you know in entirety unless something happens to that priest, you know, they're unable to continue, you know with the work and so what you have is some people who are poorly disciplined poorly educated. And as much as they say they don't they're conscious are there woke, you know and they don't they don't ascribe to a European mindset. We do European things. We bastardized traditional African and Indigenous spirituality is by putting a spin on it that we want to put on it for our own convenience has it so we don't like the price that the priests quote a lot of times the priest and vines on the price. Yeah divination to get the price because there's so many little things not even little things big things that you have to get. A person's the person isn't going to like take all your money about a good priest or Priestess is not going to go and take your money and just going to put it in their bank account are going to buy flash cards as a bad Brad by below. But if the person is true and God you have to buy the things you have to buy the Florida water used to ride the animals you have to feed the animals have to buy the space to do the things that you have to you know, all these little things that you want to have all these principles and Tough they cost money at the end of this. So the real world of Flesh and Blood and these things have to be manufactured by factories. How are you going to get these things things that are manufactured cost a lot of money because they have to go and get these things especially things like Palo Santo and all these other things but Sage you go wait for it to grow and this type of weather and it has to be shaped. Like if you live in a place such as mining bourbon distinct stick between three to four weeks, maybe two months if it's coming by both, depending on what your dad like Thanks, take a really long time to get here. So when you have to go through all of the duties and and stuff is not even on the spiritual level of patience and waiting for it. This is right Real Deal of it coming into your space hold this the person is going to pay for it for you. And I've always questioned people who said over these things cost too much money. And this person is trying to my mom gave me and they they're trying to fool me or to the things I'm not going to do these things Bob late, but really and truly if you were going to the supermarket you were telling people that you walking in there for free or you won't understand all these things called get ya know things. Do they have to take into consideration. So I agree with you a thousand examples. Yeah, they are when I first started my own journey into African spirituality, you usually see the term Santeria come up a lot a lot more so than aoife. And I really do think at least for my small but growing Community should know the differences between Santeria religion aoife. Yeah. Yeah, that's a very good question as well it when we say when traditional West when traditional you are practitioners say we're talking about traditional West African you Luba, you know from YouTube land. You know Nigeria beneath that region of you know, the Western north western coast of Africa or western coast of Africa. That's what we're speaking about when some of our ancestors are professional African ancestors were kidnapped and brutalized and put on there very extreme Savage conditions and brought to various parts of the new world. If I had to survive if I was going to survive if I Will Survive I Will Survive forever and so our our our our ancestors who were kidnapped. They were mixed together, you know different tribes from various Villages were mixed together. Some of them spoke multiple languages some deny it. Was not just you know, kidnap enslave professional Africans who were mixed in the dungeon of hell that was created, you know for for us in the west, but it was also indigenous people that was already over here. You know, that way that we are outnumbered the number of enslaved African professional that were kidnapped abroad over to the new world. They were the indigenous people already there. Hmm. And so what happened was everybody was enslaved by the way, it's very immature, silly. Mature, you know and Neo fiddich, you know aggressive children, you know children and so what ended up happening was they all got mixed together under the gun, you know, I'm done by the force of the gun by by force of just sheer brutality and so in order to you know survive together. The indigenous spiritualities began to be mixed and commingled in order to survive. They began to be disguised and cloaked with coloring, you know, and and morphed and evolved as well into Traditions like on doble Child of aoife. YouTube are from Nigeria beautiful and venereum Santeria, you know child of Eva child will be for her child. Problem the you know western part of not Africa Nigeria the name that region Luke only which which literally means me just go Curry is a YouTuber word. It is a truncated. You know, what word it means my friend, you know, it means my friends looks like that the Africans from the area the indigenous peoples that were already in the west knew that they had to stick together in order to survive and sold. The spiritualities were also merged together, you know to create some of these children of the mother, you know spirituality if I YouTube of abuddin from Veneno who don't practice in Benigno who don't practice and you know, so It all of them carry the essence of equality shh all of them carry the essence of equality. It is very important to acknowledge Our Roots no matter which branch we gravitate towards. Mommy Africa other Africa is home in some people say we are not everybody's from Africa I disagree because I remember in my Western history and geography class seeing something called Pangea. And that was the whole land mass before tectonic plates at the beneath the ocean surface started to shift the part and create individual countenance. And so to this day we still don't know where we don't know any other place where the oldest living skeletal remains were found other than Africa, even though we have a even though we have evidence of ancient civilization that other parts of the world, you know radiocarbon dating they Dark out date the things that have been found in Africa. Hmm. So, you know, it's Mama Africa's Child research very well. I say this. Different people's Destiny needs different things. I was ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist. Priest first. It was my own Tibetan Buddhist Guru who not only initiated me into the tradition, but came to me so sweetly after he initiated me look me in my eyes and said follow study and seek out the tradition of your ancestors. Mmm after he initiated me in the Tibetan Buddhist priest. Loving very very loving man and him and his wife very loving people. Hmm. So I appreciate him for that sweet guidance and wisdom because it resonates with me. You know, I'm from these people. I look like these people. I love the food of these people. You know, these are my people I have visions. I dream of people speaking Yoruba, so I can't imagine that I would be more satisfied practicing. You know, what we now know look for me. Me to be or somebody had to be which is a largely practiced by people love, you know, Spanish, you know background and so before that culture for that ethnic background that might be appropriate for what resonates with their soul and there may be some people who are not of that cultural background specifically who also resonate with some Fatiha, but I say, you know, I want me we are all looking me. We are friends. Hmm and the motto Realized that we should stop arguing fighting over differences and realize that we got one mama, you know, we can we can really do some collective spiritual work with the child back in a place. Yes. Yes. Yes totally agree because they from Caribbean descent and you can't do that room here. Dad knew that from her. Okay? No. No, I see some things happening in America, like what? What? Okay. Y'all have a good time. I could not I could not pass the road and say good morning. No, I'm not said tell somebody Hello. I could not be disrespectful to any of my elders like just the things that are happening now and there are seeping into my community and my culture is from a global perspective because there was always this thing about Community you would go to work and come back and find a Fruit on your doorstep our Black Eyed Peas on your doorstep and you know who that person was from if anybody was lurking around you somebody would come and say somebody has been late trying to get into your home. No, no way. Everybody has gone away from that. The community has broken up into smaller and smaller pieces. There is no Unity anywhere anymore. Everybody's out for themselves and we who were already broken apart already are slowly. Fading away from ourselves. We're not friends. We're not family anymore. There are no compounds anymore for people to that community and everybody is scared that especially within the black community that somebody is out to get them buddy. Note to get you sis. Nobody know they're trying to get you that's all in your mind. What is the cup like everybody is very paranoid and it is Justified because of the history. What we've had I it is there the paranoia and everything is Justified because you go through this whole PSD thing. It is heavy it is heavy and it isn't hard and at the end of the day, we do have to decide whether or not we want that Community because that's the only way we can heal we can only share our stories if we heal we can only heal vice versa if we share a story is this it's a full circle thing, but I have a lot of things to work through and it might not be in my time or even in my children's time or whatever but it is it is a lot is a lot to do but we need to start moving forward. Otherwise, we're going to be here podcast over and over again about the same things and seeing you as fun as a priestess and going through all of these different things. I know. I spoke about this in our very first phone conversation maybe were you know, trying to Hash of what we were going to speak about. Usually you see about bulow's Mill priests at the Forefront of everything, especially in my experience in here in Barbados. What has been your experience being or rather your challenges being effect Priestess. Yeah. You're older mama. Oh she about to give the tea like she recorded too. Captured. Okay. Yeah. Beautiful and in Europe on land if I has a strong leadership, you know as ahead. Male presence hmm. However, if I knew you were able and also revers and respects the position and the roles of women as well as the place of women in oral tradition or spiritual sacred tradition and all Spiritual Secret history. Hmm. I would say that I have encountered very mature and wise men in Africa and in the dyes for who Stand over stand this and treat women and honor women and Reverend women and seek the consultation and guidance of Wise Women. Hmm and I have also seen the opposite unfortunately, and I know people like to blame everything on, you know European influence, but Europeans have left a very strong and toxic footprint not only on the diets or but on the entire bowl of Earth. On the entire Hall of Earth and their their their impact cannot be ignored. We cannot we cannot talk about any of these issues without mentioning their contributions to it. When we spend all their little time there the bulk of the time should be spent on speaking about you know, what we are capable currently now of doing to reset the balance again putting the child in their places. It's only it's only a juvenile delinquent the world like this. Yes or no, and so we have a responsibility as well and allowing them to do it. We were the Guardians the keepers of the Sacred knowledge. We had the wherewithal and the spiritual power to to prevent these things from happening in the world. So that makes me say okay these things were destined. This is a part of Earth's Destiny. Hmm. These things are part of Earth's Destiny. And so therefore there are there's purpose there's purpose. Sometimes sometimes sometimes it takes for devastating things to happen for us to really start looking at and valuing the resources that have already been in place for us with the role of women in aoife in the United States. It is very important that women take responsibility and know who Yard. Hmm. If we continue to allow people to tell us what our place is and we continue to allow people to tell us who we are and how much we're worth instead of connecting with our own relationship with the most high God and receive the guidance that God has to give us about how we should be of benefit and a servant to and of leadership to our own people. Hmm, you going to constantly have people creating the box for us creating the most for us. No woman can tell a man how to be the optimal man the most optimal man. He could be she can be a contributing factor and give him guidance and give him wisdom and no man can tell a woman exactly how to be the most optimal woman. She can be hmm. There are they are aspects of manhood and Womanhood masculinity and femininity that God made special and unique to women and the God made special and unique to me and my man could never be me and I never wants to be a man. So we thank our power and though we are first know we are first as God beings that's beautiful. Now, you've also started a school and we really really want to talk about that. What was the purpose of this school? Yes. Yes. It is the Ori Counseling Services Division of cycle chiral spiritual education. Yes, these class orisha education training and development Academy level 1 because we also have a level two. Okay, take four years to get through level 1 very intense training a lot of expectations but a lot of care and attention goes into developing the students the academy was created because I saw firsthand the corruption. I saw firsthand the exploitation. I saw firsthand the imbalance. I saw positive aspects of you know, Yvonne the West to but I saw Park Board that was heartbreaking. Hmm, you know, then that which made me eager to be a part of some of these groups. And so yeah. So now remember my Foundation is the same woman who was once the girl talking about I want to save my people. Yes, you know, I would chance of my ancestors to come and deliver me something more roots or African men what I was experiencing in some of the mainstream spiritualities I was practicing And so we ask my ancestors living on that and so I got a message from although demarre from God to create a space that was safe to create a space that had the principal and Foundation of you are fairly balanced and gentle character and that honor the tradition the principles and the the actual culture of traditional West African YouTube, uh from the motherland from those who practice it from a place of integrity. And in honor and homage of God first and sets of legs and all audition. And so those were the fundamental guiding principles that created the building blocks of the academy. And on top of that our goal is to create develop educate trained competent Eva priests who desire to go on that path or feel with character good character balanced character and who are filled with integrity and who know what they're doing. Hmm, and who are disciplined? Yes. Well, my next question would extend to anybody who's brave enough to answer. But I know that there are many families in attendance and you've made mention of husband and wife. There is the the generation of great grandmother down to daughter also being a part of it people who are single people who are engaged and whatnot. I guess my question is if anybody wants Open up to their ancestors get to know if I practice more but however, they're not in a position to start and what I mean by that is this you have a family who is still practicing European religion who may look don't know what you're doing and something that is evil or from the pun or you may live with somebody a roommate who might not be comfortable and you butt heads a lot with putting up Alters in your space people more or less. Pushing you back on something you feel that you need to do what let me break it down first if there was anybody here on the lave right now who wanted to speak on that if they had that experience what they did and our what would be the advice to those listeners who want to take that next step, but don't know how because of that push back. As for you, I think I appreciate it. I can speak on there. So getting on Google me me Uniqua affect so many know about which means my name is Yvette semolina pasta. I come from a family with a strong Christian background. Hmm and I come from a very close-knit family. Hmm, and I always felt like the Actually for the family, okay, I would also venture to say that many of the people in The Academy sometimes like have felt like black sheep in the family. And so for me, I never I searched all throughout my adult life for something before my ancestors and old to my led me to a lawyer's essentially who introduced me to to E5. Hmm and my family You know, they were not happy at all with it. They threw outbursts and different weights different things that they just were not happy, but I stuck with it and stuck to my guns. I went with into buying you know, what was right for me and then continue to build that relationship with my ancestors. Where they're heavy telling me what was up? Hmm and although the mind with the guidance of a lawyer and I continued that to this day I've been practicing for about maybe almost almost five years. Now. Wow what I say because my my family still they don't like it, but because he the differences that it's made of my life and that's undeniable. They see the blessings. I've been blessed in ways that I haven't even dreamed to be blessed us is and and they see a difference the other piece that I think is so wonderful about this Academy is that the focus on character is very very real. I was talking to one of the fabric Ola who is another amor. Oh-oh-oh. Almost I will yes if I'm called I was talking to him the other day about you know coming into contact with some other people and she said, you know, I honestly she was like it's not very often that people interact with those of us who work on our character in E on a daily basis. Hmm to do Daily Reflections to do daily work on how to get Get it, right or what we did right or how we grown on things that we set to work on is very very serious. And so what I would say to people who are thinking about practicing and who may not have the support of their family is that Your family will see you working on your character. Hmm. It's nothing else. Yeah, I said to me before, you know, they've been several instances, which my mom has said, you know, wow, you know, you are more peaceful than I am. I was worried that you are not different things like that and she's actually explicitly said to me, you know, I've seen you grow so much you've grown so much. I like that little religion you practice or whatever you so much. Saying is your spirituality is allowing you to grow. I'm still in the process of accepting it and then yeah exactly what you're doing whether or not do what needs to be done and you never know. She coming down even deeper into. Journey she may even come to you for help if she hasn't already because that has happened to me having parents and aunts and family members who were of age edition of Christian faith background and they would see me doing certain things around the home charging water and crystals and whatnot. And they be like we're doing like that. That is not what we are and I'm like, what are we if not spiritual people and they can and they stuck up with it and like the worst. People are the people who were the most uncomfortable. Let me say that and their growth before I started to do actually turned around and came to me for help. So you never know. Maybe you're supposed to help her see my even get even closer to her as you go on. So, I believe that the overuse of spiritual tools going back to Chief Keef sa everybody. Online in Facebook groups in WhatsApp messaging everybody goes online and does their research. I mean it's a good starting point. But after we have to come off lane and ask somebody qualify for these things, what are your thoughts on everybody using sage and Palo Santo and everything else? I mean, I've done a part 1 so this on the podcast everybody could go and check that out the one before this one, but as a priestess as a Chief what are your thoughts on that? There's the word me you don't buy any father would use and this word is called a way he we Airway. And it means lease, you know means me there's a very very special place for Airway leaves and E5 cosmology philosophy spirituality way of life, you know tradition and it is also one of the most highly guarded areas. Hmm of E5 Because it is the herbs belief. They are way that puts another specialized Shay on the Spiritual Works that we do hmm, the governor of the leaf The Roots the bark off the trees. The plants is called orisha. Who's lying. And each sleeve should be respected. There are certain there are certain things. We need to be doing to condition our bodies to purify our bodies Our Minds our spirit to also tone and strengthen the muscle the spiritual muscle before we use certain, you know sacred herbs. They are trainings that also need to take place before we attempt to use certain sacred spiritual herbs. Hmm these Groups are to be used for sacred purposes. It's just like marijuana, you know, it's not to be abused. It's a sacred herb is a sacred plant but all plants are all plants are sacred all plants have a special eye shade that can do certain things that can perform certain functions to assist Humanity. There are special words, and there are special, you know, Affiliates ingredients that are paired together are combined with various herbs and they are processes that the herbs go through to create the you know, the prescribed and specified medication. If you will spiritual medication for whatever ails a person there are there are spiritual medicines that we make for a longevity of Life their spiritual medicines that we make for protection spiritual medicines that we make for retention of one's assets and property. Spiritual medicine that we make for acquisition of wealth both tangible and intangible spiritual medicine that we make to help, you know appease and ward off malevolent forces spiritual medicines that we make to prevent one from being the victim of Gossip medicine that we make for helping people to beat, you know in just a litigations the list goes on and on and on and on hmm. And so with that being said about the dynamic use Use of the dynamic uses. I'm sacred herbs and sacred plants and sacred leaves. We always include that particular spirit that is allowed to service Us in that area via the sanction of all over my God Almighty to be very mindful to be very respectful and also to be very disciplined about the way we use are way even when we make medicine anybody, you know that there will be some times I dictate that says you only need to use five leaves of this plant. Hmm you only Need to use three leaves of this plant five leaves is that one ate leaves of that way? That's kids. Hmm. You don't go on pull all the leaves off the planet. Hmm, you know, it's the overuse of say just costing us right now, you know because we lacked training, you know, we see things popularized on television and we're so hungry for this spiritual connection more indigenous things that you know, we have a tendency to create things and say we're going to make up our own things and a lot of times people will do this gravitate towards War what's more convenient? It takes a lot of sacrifice and giving up a things to say. I'm going to discipline myself to be somebody's Apprentice. Hmm and study with this person. And becomes humble to this person's teachings. Hmm. It takes trust as well. We have a major trust issue. We have a lot of trauma. Yeah, not a trauma in our community lot of trauma and our families of origin we have trust issues. A lot of us have been exploited and abused by our own people our own kind. So yes, it's going to be very difficult for some to say I'm going to commit myself to someone in a position of authority like that. They want to check you out and sometimes it got commitment issues. Hmm. They say they want something they pray for they do these rituals to get it God brings it in and I realize it takes commitment to maintain its onboard with that because I don't want to be in it for the long haul. I don't have that level of attention endurance, you know and commitment endurance. I'm going to jump ship and I'm going to go try to Dibble and Dabble in something else. Hmm, and we don't really become a true true disciple of anything at all. You just mixing things up and we actually cut ourselves short from growth by doing that. I'm watching the students in this Academy and it's not easy to be my student. I won't lie. It's not easy. It can be challenging at times. But I think that they would all say that the rewards, you know from that kind of dynamic and teacher Apprentice relationship that I apply it actually has benefited them greatly. Hmm. I'm not a toddler. I'm not a you know sprinkler and very direct because I value my time that I'm borrowing hmm also value other people's it's time and I also know what I'm supposed to be doing any world. That's another thing. I know what I'm supposed to be doing with people who are coming to encounter with it. So that type of knowing with the with that type of knowing one one would be foolish to waste time. Yes, when you know that the time is borrowed in the first place agreed final question. What is it that you want to leave behind or what is it that you want to be remembered for? That's a really good question. This is a really good question. I would have to say doing this work. Hmm, I would definitely. I would definitely have to say doing this work. Hmm. Because I feel like the ways in which we have been robbed as a people are not only reinforced. Not only the things that have been robbed are reinstated, but we aren't we are empowered and inexplicable in quantifiable and uncontainable ways. Hmm by grasping hold of indeed credible indigenous or traditional African spirituality taking a seriously And and honoring our ancestors and helping their Spirits be you know invigorated so that they continue to serve purpose in their spiritual bodies and their purpose is to redeem and save and catapult forward, you know, and Elevate the lives of The Descendants that they have left behind. Hmm. They are not happy with us of. Mm-hmm. They're not happy with the way we've been decried not happy with the way. He's fighting each other. They're not happy with the way our relationships and our homes and our marriages and our friendships are sister ships and our relationship with our sons and daughters have been broken. Hmm. And it is only you know, it's only humbling ourselves. To the ancient wisdoms that will help correct these things. Otherwise we continue to be fed, you know diluted infraction, you know images of who we really are hmm people as children about ancestors and we wasting borrow time. Hmm. I have a firm believer that we have the wherewithal to turn this thing upside down. Because how can you fight Spirit? No, Cannon? No, right. No biological warfare, you know control the power. And the determination and the ever-present omnipotence omnipotence. Power older my God Almighty has anointed our ancestors witnessed and we have inherited that hmm. But we don't even know how to use it. We're using it to destroy each other. Because we let children yell us who we are. We let children dictate our movement and tell us what's valuable and what we should buy one which has been on winning over that shoulder tell us, you know, what careers you should go in soon. We are the more spiritually mature groups. At large that's on average because I have met many people of European descent who are very spiritually inclined but I am talking about, you know on an average and massive scale. We are the more spiritually mature people and that is a fact I even have European clients coming to me telling me that they do not want to European therapist. Mmm. I'm looking for Spirituality they looking for someone who will tell them the truth and they looking for somebody who has depth perception and foresight from a spiritual frame of reference. I have European clients right now who say things like this to me, huh? And it is a challenge to me to be their clinician. Because I I'm seeing the results of the destruction of some of their ancestors. Yeah, they have not only hurt. You know, Melanie dated people when you hurt any person in the world. You heard the whole world. Yes. They children are sick the old off imbalance and filled with pathology. They suffer into mmm. I will want to be remembered for doing this work because I put so much of my being into this work that when somebody looks at the work the body of work that I have done. It will make them inquire. Hmm. It will make them wonder it would make them start asking questions psychically. And once that question is planted and asked on a psychic metaphysical level. The spirits will do the rest and assistance and assist that person to get to the right place. So I feel like what I symbolize, you know, what the legacy of my ancestors then we should not forget. Thank you so much. You're welcome. Chief essay and sister and friend. Thank you for your time. I thank your students for their time and their attendance and their responses to the questions. I thank the school I thank everybody who has been a part of this seeing or unseen all positive energies. I thank my ancestors a your ancestors for being here and watching over us as we spoke and we learnt on all the different things that they have allowed me to ask because they knew it was a longer podcast than normal, but I do believe that it was very much needed at this time. Thank you so much everybody. Yeah. You're welcome for you and your husband we wish him. Happy birthday. Again. Thank you so much. Thank you before you both because y'all are beautiful couple of met you go deeper you are we are praying for longevity of life, you know Divine protection. Eternal and that the Trinidad and Tobago home with my maternal ancestors be a in a eBay in a onto a TV larceny by doll and Jo may all of your ancestors there and ancestor that you have elsewhere continues to guide you both and covid you both and and bestow upon you a very powerful I shade that makes things happen on your behalf. Protect your joy and protect my protectorate. May God Almighty protect your joy protect your confidence and the Rope around your neck. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. You have an idea what that means to me right now. I'm in this space and it's time you have no idea. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You're welcome. We give thanks to God Almighty our ancestors and I destiny. We love you. Love you guys. Thank you so much. One of the boys chase. Come on be cool. Yeah Ottawa come up, but God I was loading. the bottom of my feet we gotta what a picture Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. That was beautiful. Thank you so much. Thank you. You're welcome. Yes. Hi everybody. Hey fairy firm. Thank you so much for listening to the afro, very goddess podcast if you want to get in contact with Chief if I say, please send an email to Orie counseling. That's all RI counseling at gmail.com or like her Facebook page. If I say balmy Bala Yoruba Priestess of There are links to her and her community can be found right here in the show notes to get in contact or drop a line to Yours Truly send an email to the afro very goddess podcast at gmail.com. Also follow me on Facebook and read this podcast on iTunes. Thank you so much very family for all the love and support and I'll see you next week. I am Empress xanga your host reminding you to always believe leave in your magic
Wuh Gine On Fairy Family! This brand new episode takes me to friend and Ifa Priestess Chief IfáṢèyí Ìyánífá Bamgbàlà. Who is a psychological health specialist and former Adjunct Professor of Loyola University’s graduate counseling program in New Orleans, LA and a graduate of Dillard University’s undergraduate psychology program. Chief IfáṢèyí is ordained and initiated as the Goddess Sri Arya Devi (Most Noble Goddess) in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. She was initiated and ordained into the Ancient Afrikan High Priesthood of Ifá (Traditional Afrikan Spirituality) in Osun State, Nigeria. Chief serves as one of the Diasporal Ambassadors for Ile Arẹ̀sà (Headquartered in Yorùbáland, Nigeria). Today I sit not only with her, but also forty of her 140 students, who are currently at the Ifá Yorùbá Ancestor-Òrìṣà Pilgrimage Birmingham, Alabama. This is a great honor for me and I do hope you all are enlightened. So please, get your snacks, notebooks or whatever you need and get ready for The Afro Fairy Goddess Podcast     Links As Promised: FB: Chief Ifáṣeyì Bamigbàlà  Email:  oricounseling@gmail.com  ======  My Instagram: @the.afro.fairy.goddess.podcast  My Twitter: www.twitter.com/theafrofairygoddesspodcast  My Facebook: TheAfroFairyGoddessPodcast  ---   Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/theafrofairygoddess/message 