This is one of my favorite questions @Victor Zamacona because it tells me you're serious about learning the right way. There is a growing body of literature on Ifá, Lukumí, and Yoruba tradition, and some of it is genuinely excellent. Here are authors and scholars worth knowing: Scholarly & Ethnographic Authors - David H. Brown — Santería Enthroned is one of the most thorough ethnographic studies of Lukumí practice in Cuba and the diaspora - Lydia Cabrera — her work, especially El Monte, is considered foundational for understanding Cuban Lucumí and its plant/herbal traditions - Joseph Murphy — Santería: African Spirits in America is a solid, accessible introduction to the tradition from an academic lens - John Mason — prolific writer on Orisha culture, foods, ceremonies, and Yoruba spiritual life; deeply respected in the community - Miguel "Willie" Ramos — a practicing priest and scholar whose work on Lukumí liturgy and history is highly regarded - Wande Abimbola — one of the foremost authorities on Ifá from the Yoruba homeland; his work on Odu and Ifá philosophy is essential - William Bascom — his ethnographic studies on Yoruba divination and Ifa remain academically significant - Robert Farris Thompson — Flash of the Spirit traces African artistic and spiritual traditions across the diaspora beautifully A necessary caution though. Even the best books can only take you so far. Some of what is written — even by respected authors — reflects a particular lineage, a particular moment in time, or an outsider's interpretation of what they observed. Books cannot initiate you. Books cannot read your Ori. Books cannot tell you what your specific path requires. The most important thing you can do alongside reading is learn from your elders. A living, initiated, experienced elder in your lineage will always be your most credible source. What they pass down to you directly — through ceremony, through conversation, through years of relationship — carries an authority that no book can replicate.

What do you all do with cash offerings you have for the warriors or egun or anything else in general, once it builds up?

I just want to share my story about how surrendering and following advice from Ifa sometimes may be difficult and feel counter intuitive, but will eventually reveal its purpose. My mother has a horrible, rare, atypical form of Parkinson’s disease which causes dementia and loss of muscular control that leads to “locked in syndrome”. My stepfather cares for her. He had a major health issue that resulted in his hospitalization. I live across the country and flew out immediately to care for my mother. My stepfather’s sister also showed up because she lived in the same state as they do. For the next 3 months I was there caring for them both, but his sister constantly undermined me and battled me for control. This woman doesn’t like my mother and hadn’t spoken to her in 15 years. Ifa told me to go home, I had to have a Panaldo. I was so confused….that was my mother!! Wasn’t I the person that should care for them? My son was in online school and my husband and I had decided my son could come live with me at my mom’s while I cared for them. Ifa said “NO!”. I was devastated about the situation for eight months…and then I saw an article about the town my mother lives in. Her street is the epicenter of an epidemiological cancer cluster study due to chemical waste!! Ifa saved my son from that exposure. Mafarefun Orunmila!!!

So I’m going through the boveda course, this might be a question for @Afefe Guzman but, in the course it said to have a significant barrier between a boveda and orishas. Does that apply to an ancestor altar? I have my warriors by my front door and the ancestors are in a shelf above them is this ok?

Bendiciones Everyone! I've decided to add a "Spiritual Development" tab to our Skool. But before I start creating content, I want to hear from you. I don’t want to assume I know what you need. I want to actually listen. So tell me: What are your biggest spiritual development questions right now? No question is too basic. No question is silly. And please don’t feel like you have to already know the “right words” to ask. Just tell me what you’re wondering, what you’re struggling with, what you’re curious about, or what you wish someone would explain in a simple, grounded way. Your questions will help me create content that is actually useful for you — not just random lessons, but teachings that meet you where you are. Drop your spiritual development questions below, and I’ll use them to start building out this new section for our community. I’m excited about this. 🤍