Not sure how to start this because this is a little embarrassing for me. If I hadn’t gone through with this myself, I’d swear it was bull, but my conviction speaks otherwise. Before I go further, I can’t promise you won’t believe me or that you won’t be mad. However, this is the truth of how I left the occult, along with the Orisha Tradition. This is the truth of how I found God again.
In 2017, I survived a near-death that left me feeling unbodied and ethereal at the same time, especially after I heard a voice say, “You only have one life,” in my unconscious state. That was the same year I went to the beautiful New Orleans itself, home of Voodoo. Even though my mother was born and raised in Louisiana, she never liked that place. She said it made her feel uneasy. I was the opposite; it left me wanting to understand the workings of the world and the magic in it. Something I couldn’t get from Christianity due to a lack of understanding, along with years of feeling rejected and judged by a congregation and people I thought were my friends.
Two years afterward, I found an Ile in my hometown—it is a place of worship in the Ifa religion. I was greeted by an Iyanifa (priestess) who welcomed me with open arms. I was even met with familiar faces of women I went to high school with and attended dance events. The Iya held weekly workshops, which I attended. I would have never guessed that Iya would turn on me.
The Orisha Tradition is a mono-pluralistic religion of the Yoruba people. A closed practice teaching initiates the importance of nature and how Orisha intercedes on humans’ behalf. During the Atlantic slave trade, the tribe concealed their practice with Catholic figures, which weren’t detectable by their oppressors. In Brazil, it is known as Candomble or Umbanda. In Cuba, it’s Santeria or Lukumi. What is called Ifa in Nigeria and Benin has the most African retention. I later learned them to be unsound doctrine.
I went to these workshops for a total of seven months, and it felt like home for a bit. Learning this religion and the rituals was interesting, to say the least. I just hated how expensive the ceremonies were. I was surprised to find it conservative like Christianity, and even had similar tenets. I liked understanding the world of spirit. My favorite was the idea of paying homage to the ancestors; for a black American like myself, it meant a lot, considering the atrocities they’ve endured in America—healing the generational trauma many have endured.
While learning these methods, what I thought was good turned sour. Aborishas were initiated within a month. Most take longer so you can build a relationship with the Babalawo. Afterward, they had a complete personality change, oblivious and robotic-like, competing for attention and who was doing what task in the Ile. Olorishas started talking down to people…it was a mess. Finally, the Iyanifa began to behave passive-aggressive toward me—something I loathe. She would even go as far as to use scare tactics to enlist money by fake channeling at ceremonies. I’ve had enough and left quickly and quietly.
I thought I dodged a bullet, but it would only get worse from here.
The pandemic hit, and everything was on lockdown. I decided to hold off on initiating into Ifa, and dived into the occult. Everything seemed fine until it wasn’t. I wasn’t doing any damage control, and it worked fine before, except, now I started hearing voices, getting vivid dreams that would come true, and spiritual attacks. After consulting with several psychics, it was concluded that I was being attacked by the priest in the Ile. Now one thing about me is I always had the audacity, so I threw spells right back at them. I didn’t care about their titles or experiences. No one was going to spiritually attack me!
While this witch war was going on, things in my life went from bad to worse. I lost many job opportunities. My friends and family turned against me. My father and brothers were in several car accidents. My cousin got ill, and the doctors couldn’t understand why. Things in the house were breaking inexplicably; it was scary. Not to mention, I was seeing apparitions, and having nightmares. I had no one who understood what I was going through; I was defeated. Finally, I rekindled a long-time friendship with someone who brought me back to the Lord.
As I was telling her my story, I could see the sadness in her eyes. She told me to get rid of whatever the Iyanifa had given me because it was probably cursed before we fell out. She told me to get rid of every item from the occult, or these evils would come back. She came with me to a deliverance church, and I was amazed. I just started crying and saying sorry to Jesus for turning away from Him for so long. I was blind and stupid to believe the false ideologies that didn’t come from Christ.
I began watching and reading other testimonies that were similar to my own. What really scared me was seeing people delivered from other religions. I thought, how can these be good spirits if they’re being cast out in the name of Jesus? I’m lucky. Some people have died or lost their minds engaging with the occult and Orisha Tradition. I urge you to study your Bible and pray every day because He’s the only way. Watch things begin to change in your life for the better.
Day Sibley (b. 1992) is a writer and multidisciplinary artist from southern Nevada. She previously served as an extern for the Red Rock Review-Journal at CSN, and was the secretary for the Blue Sage Writers at NSC. She is the founding editor of Dream Noir magazine, and her work is published in Marias at Sampaguitas, Royal Rose Magazine, Quail Bell Magazine, The Drabble, Sand & Silver, and more.
Heart of Flesh Literary Journal 
I recently turned 18 a few days ago. I remember reading this 2 years ago, and thinking how foolish you were. I’m a Christian who converted to Ifa, and back to Christianity. I was convinced that Ifa was truly the way mainly because of my dad’s influence, and his aggressiveness. He forcefully convinced me that Ifa was the way, and other religious are rubbish . When I questioned him about the logic and proof of Ifa, he said it was irrelevant, and that a little boy like me(15 at the time) should just listen to his elders. I promptly listened as he was a very close minded, and aggressive man in every part of life. He’d always dismissed my explanations, and took other’s sides purely because I was foolish, and being rude in his eyes to those older than me. After that day, we arrived at the land of the baba la wo. They said they shall mitigate all issues in our life, and tell us what jobs we should do, and how we should live our life. This contained what we should avoid. A week after, my Dad learned that the baba la wo scammed us, and told us lies through his research. A year has elapsed at this point. We have met 20+ baba la wo’s, and they’ve all given half truths, scammed or deceived us. However, my father was content, and got angry when my mother or I stated Ifa might not be the way. Most practitioners aren’t even adequate at their jobs. But he has a superiority complex, and believes he was right. I always been suspicious about every single baba la wo we’ve met, most likely though the Holy Spirit warning me. In all honesty, these “baba la wo” sometimes aligns with a pastor has told us, but they are misleading and make us go through inhumane actions–such as getting our blood from a blade, killing a chicken with a knife, or letting a goat hug us–. To this day, after getting scammed thousands upon thousands of dollars, he still follows the Ifa way like a puppet, and mocks pastors and other religions on some weird Ifa group online. I decided to privately leave Ifa, and sought out for a new religion. This brought me back to Christianity, and I secretly watched videos of churches since none of us were allowed to go to one. Before all of this Ifa rubbish, I used to play trumpet for my church throughout my middle schools years, and obviously quit due to our new lifestyle. I used to be happier back then, school was academically better, and my life was less stressful. Moreover, he selfishly forced us to go to Nigeria every summer of my high school year to explore Ifa. This affected my ability to engage in extracurriculars, and any form of internships. At the age of 17, I truly decided to embrace Christianity, and slowly started to go the Church at my university. Keep in mind, I’m a commuter, and my Mom also believes in Christianity as well. My father is still unaware of my choices, and it’s difficult to outright state my beliefs due to his nature. The main reason for my conversion back to Christianity is remembering when Jesus saved me in a car accident that should have killed both my mother and I. I luckily came out alive with a minor scratch on my forehead. I truly realized that God was with me, and protected me even when I sinned and left him. My father and mother are getting divorced, and it’s not even over the Ifa and Christianity ideals, it’s based on him mocking her, her family, and people in general due to his superiority complex. I won’t fully get into it, but this includes hiding money she received from the government to take care of my autistic brother, and lavishly spending money on himself, forcing my Mom to take of everything and my autistic brother. I hope Jesus can get us out of this situation, and I realized how wrong I truly was. I never thought I’d see this article again, it’s a sign of my sins, and me confronting them.
LikeLike
Your story sounds identical to mine… thanks for sharing.
LikeLike
I was initiated to Obatala in Cuba in 2012. Was part of a well-known Ile in the Dominican Republic. Was initiated into Palo Mayombe Briyumba Congo. Was finally initiated into traditional IFA. I used to also practice spiritualism and mediumship.
Since the start of this journey I did find community and “blessings.” These, however, were short-lived. Depression, infighting, drama, greed, gossip, and degrading behavior followed. I could never find peace. There was always one more ceremony. People were always doing witchcraft at you so you needed to dish out funds for ritual. The amount of animal sacrifice is astonishing.
I was raised Evangelical. My mom has been praying and handing me over to Christ all of my life. In late 2017 I started to drift from those traditions. In 2022 I had ceased all communication with that world. In 2023 I threw away all I was Orisha-related items. In 2024, I recommitted myself to God and reaffirmed that Jesus Christ was my Lord and Savior. Repented. I felt God’s grace and mercy. I recently started going to church again and I now want to become a clergy in the Church.
It is never too late to repent and course correct. God is good, merciful, and truly never left your side. You just forgot how to listen.
Peace be with you all! God Bless and protect you!
LikeLike
Thank you for your story. I think I messed up trying to get into orisha. Sorry God for being mislead.
LikeLike
Thanks for sharing your testimony. It was an encouraging read. I’m in the process of going through my decades of involvement in the occult, which Jesus saved me from and find reading the words of others helps a lot so thanks again.
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing my story Heart of Flesh! I also want to thank those who listened with an open heart.
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing, my boyfriend used to be in Santeria Religion and I won him for Christ. He throw out everything. Thank God.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m going through this now!!!!!my husband and I were just in a bad car crash in Texas 🙏 I’m going through so much mishaps me and my family 🙏
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing Day.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Frances MacNutt, former priest, wrote Deliverance from Evil Spirits. There might be some additional wisdom and guidance for you. When those pesty demonic thoughts sound, “I rebuke you in the Name of Christ Jesus. Out of my sight.”
LikeLiked by 2 people