This post provides a list of 16 important questions to ask before and after your Ifá reading. It is designed to help both beginners and seasoned practitioners get the most out of their divination session. This guide covers questions about personal destiny, ebo, and how to follow taboos or warnings. It also includes practical advice for applying the answers you receive and integrating the reading into your life.
Updated on November 30, 2025
Table of contents
The Power of Awareness
Getting an Ifá reading can feel like stepping into the unknown. Whether it’s your first session or your fifth, it’s normal to wonder what to ask or what to do after the reading ends.
You don’t need to be an expert to have a meaningful session. Ifá welcomes seekers at every stage of the journey. What matters most is showing up with sincerity and intention.
This guide offers powerful questions to help you gain deeper insight both before your session begins and after your reading is complete. Whether you’re preparing to sit with a Babaláwo or reflecting on recent guidance, these questions will help you engage your reading with confidence and purpose.
Asking the Right Questions
Keep in mind that you don’t need to ask every question listed below. In fact, a good Babaláwo or Ìyánífá may already provide some of these answers during your session without being prompted. At Asanee 44, we are intentional about offering complete and relevant guidance, so many of these topics will be covered automatically.
However, every reader is different. If something isn’t addressed or feels unclear, use the questions that best fit your situation. Trust your intuition, and let your Ori guide you to what matters most.
To help you focus your inquiry, these questions are organized into four core areas that reflect the most common themes in a divination session. Each category is paired with four sample questions you can use or adapt based on your situation. Use them as inspiration to guide your next session.
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Personal Destiny and Ori
Your Ori is your spiritual head, the divine essence that guides your path in this lifetime. Destiny alignment is at the core of every Ifá reading. As such, when you consult Ifá, it’s vital to understand how your path is unfolding and where you may need course correction or deeper alignment.
These questions can help you gain insight into your journey:
- What is my Ori trying to teach me at this stage in my journey?
Use this to identify what phase you’re in and what your essence is prioritizing. - What internal habits or mindsets are blocking my progress?
This helps reveal unconscious patterns that may be slowing your growth. - In what areas am I out of alignment with my destiny?
Ask this to understand where you may be off-course and how to return to your path. - How can I strengthen my connection to my Ori in my daily life?
This question supports practical action to build a more conscious relationship with your inner guidance.
Ancestral and Family Influence
Your ancestors play an active role in your earthly journey, often influencing your circumstances, decisions, and even the outcomes of your Ifá reading. Understanding their guidance or unresolved matters can bring powerful insight into both generational blessings and challenges.
These questions help you explore your ancestral connection:
- What guidance are my ancestors offering me at this moment?
This helps you tune in to any messages or support coming from your lineage. - Are there unresolved ancestral issues affecting my current path?
Ask this to uncover inherited patterns or spiritual debts that may need healing. - How can I strengthen my relationship with my ancestors?
This offers practical direction for honoring your lineage in meaningful ways. - Is there an ancestral promise, blessing, or contract I need to uphold or release?
Use this to understand deeper soul ties that may influence your destiny.
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Understanding Ebo and Spiritual Alignment
Once your Ifá reading is complete, you may receive guidance to complete ebo, which is a prescription to restore alignment or remove obstacles. If you’re unsure about the purpose or process of your ebo, these follow-up questions can help you gain clarity:
- What spiritual imbalance is this ebo meant to correct?
This helps you understand the root issue being addressed so you can connect to the ritual with deeper intention. - What signs should I look for to know the ebo is working?
This question can help you track shifts and know when things are realigning. - Do I need to do anything to prepare myself before the ebo?
Some offerings require a shift in behavior to be more effective. - How can I maintain the alignment this ebo creates?
This helps you integrate the results and avoid falling back into old patterns.
Taboos, Warnings, and Practical Steps
After your reading, you may also receive specific taboos or warnings meant to guide your decisions and protect your path. These are practical tools to help you stay in alignment. Whether lifelong or temporary, understanding how to follow them matters deeply.
These questions can help you better understand what was revealed and how to act on it:
These questions can help you better understand what was revealed in your reading and how to act on it:
- Is this taboo or warning short-term, or something I need to follow continuously?
Clarifying the timeline helps you know whether the guidance is seasonal or an ongoing part of your path. - What specific actions do I need to take to honor this guidance in daily life?
You may need help translating the message into practical steps you can actually implement. Don’t hesitate to ask. - What are the consequences of ignoring this taboo or warning?
Understanding the potential consequences helps you weigh the importance of the guidance more clearly. - What should I do if I can’t avoid violating this taboo or warning?
This prepares you both spiritually and practically in case the situation is unavoidable or difficult to manage.
What to Do With the Answers
The guidance you receive during an Ifá reading is only the beginning. True transformation happens in what you do next. Whether the answers come as confirmations, corrections, or unexpected revelations, how you respond is what shapes your journey forward.
You don’t have to act on everything at once. However, you do need to sit with it, reflect, and make necessary adjustments.
Here’s how to work with what you’ve learned:
- Write down key messages. After your reading, take time to jot down or record what stood out to you. This helps you remember details and begin the process of reflection.
- Journal your reactions. Note what stirred you emotionally, both positively and negatively. These reactions often indicate areas where growth or healing is occurring.
- Give yourself space to process. Insight doesn’t always land right away. Let the messages breathe. You might find new meaning days or even weeks after your session.
- Ask follow-up questions if needed. If something remains unclear or you’re unsure how to apply the guidance, don’t be afraid to reach back out. Follow-up questions can bring new understanding.
The goal of any reading is to guide. Let the wisdom unfold over time, and revisit the messages as needed. Each layer of reflection deepens your alignment with your Ori.
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The Four Dimensions of Ifá Divination
Asking the right questions in your Ifá reading is only part of the process. The Four Dimensions framework helps you make sense of the answers you receive so you can act on them with greater insight.
- Message About Your Destiny: Each answer you receive in a reading offers a window into your larger life path. Paying attention to how your questions connect to your Ori can reveal where you are headed and what is most important to protect or pursue right now.
- Mirror of Your Life: The responses you receive often reflect your current state, including your challenges, habits, and opportunities. This “mirror” helps you see patterns you may not have recognized and shows how your life choices are shaping your present situation.
- Mandate for Change: Many reading insights come with an implicit or explicit call to action. This might involve a mindset shift, a new daily practice, or a specific ritual. Seeing your answers through this lens helps you recognize where change is needed.
- Map for the Journey Ahead: The guidance from your reading, paired with the questions you ask, can create a clear roadmap. This includes next steps, ongoing commitments, and ways to revisit the wisdom you’ve received so it continues to support you over time.
Discover the Power of Ifá Divination
Ifá divination is more than just a reading. It is a destiny-centered dialogue that offers insight into the forces shaping your life and provides guidance rooted in ancient wisdom. Through this sacred process, solutions and remedies are revealed to help restore balance and peace in your life.
At Asanee 44, Ifá divination consultations are performed by Babaláwo Ifákúnlé Àdìsá of the Àtẹ̀pa Ìwòrì Temple in Oyo State, Nigeria. Ifá readings are grounded in Odu-based wisdom and conducted through traditional protocols to support discernment and informed decision-making.
Ready to Go Deeper on Your Path?
Whether you’re preparing for your next session or reflecting on the messages from a recent one, these questions are here to guide your process. At Asanee 44, we’re committed to helping you connect with your destiny through Ifá divination in a way that feels supportive and grounded.
If you’re ready to revisit your last reading or move forward with a new one, you can request a personal Ifá consultation with our team.
Key Takeaways: Questions to For An Ifá Reading
- The quality of your Ifá reading depends on the diviner and on the types of questions you present before, during, or after the session.
- Organizing your questions into concrete categories can ensure you cover the most important aspects of your destined path.
- Inquiring about the purpose, timing, and application of remedies like ebo and taboos helps you understand how to effectively implement the guidance in your daily life.
- Processing your answers through writing, reflection, and follow-up questions allows the wisdom of the reading to unfold over time.
Common Questions About An Ifá Reading
No. These questions are meant to inspire you, not overwhelm you. A skilled Babaláwo or Ìyánífá will naturally cover many of these areas without you needing to ask. Use the questions that feel most relevant to your situation.
It’s best to reflect first. After sitting with the reading for a day or two, you may notice areas where you need more guidance. This is the right time to reach out for clarification or schedule a follow-up session.
Yes. While these questions are specifically designed for Ifá divination, many of them can be adapted for other spiritual readings or ancestral consultations. They are especially useful for anyone seeking deeper guidance on destiny, alignment, and personal growth.
That’s a good sign. It often means that the priest or priestess is thorough and in tune with your needs. You can still ask the question if you want more detail or clarification, but you may also choose to focus on areas that weren’t addressed in depth.
Want to gain deeper insight about Ifá divination?
To discover more about the intricacies of Ifá divination, explore our Ifá Divination library:
- How to Get an Ifá Divination Reading
- Can You Trust an Online Ifá Reading?
- What to Expect From an Ifá Reading
- Is Ifá Divination Right for Me?
- Ifá Divination Services at Asanee 44
- Ifá Divination Decoded Blog Series
Written by Dr. Asanee Brogan, founder of Asanee 44, a spiritual brand rooted in Ifá wisdom. Dr. Asanee Brogan is an Ori Alignment Coach, Ifá Educator, and author. She guides seekers in starting their Ifá journey, learning about Ifá divination, uncovering Odu wisdom, and aligning with their Ori.
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