I’m crowned Chango and have needed to receive mano de Orula for a few years now. The thing that’s held me back is the money because every time there was an opportunity I didn’t have enough money to get it done. I also ran into the problem where I don’t know any babalawos and there has been a stigma in the Chicagoland area about babalawos doing cocaine and stuff like that. Was a huge scandal years back and idk if it’s still an issue or not tbh because of my lack of contact with anyone in Ifa. My original padrino was very anti babalawo so we would interact with them very minimally and my Padrino after that initial one (first one turned out to be a scammer) always said that unless we were meant to be Babalawos then we didn’t need to worry about seeing them except to receive Mano de Orula or unless it was directed by the Orishas or muertos in a consulta.

I understand there are varying schools of thought on this. I don’t know right or wrong in this matter. I just know what I’ve been told and taught all these years. At this point my padrino is unreachable and I have no one to turn to except for an elder in Palo (I’m also scratched and a Tata) who told me recently during a consulta that I needed to get a reading from a babalawo. I’m nervous and apprehensive because of the stigma towards babalawos I’ve always encountered but I realize that other people’s negative interactions doesn’t have to dictate my perceptions. Ultimately I just need help and guidance. I read on a previous thread on this page that babalawos can do consultas over the phone. I can count on one hand how many times I’ve had a consulta with a babalawo and still have several fingers to spare. One that I saw like 18 years ago was named Juan (no idea last name) and another one was Hector 14 years ago who I believe was the babalawo that set up the Ifa/Lucumi exhibit at one of the museums out here. From being scammed by my original padrino I’m nervous working with people I don’t know let alone can’t see but I know at some point I have to take that leap of faith and have faith in the Orishas to guide me to the person that will help me with this.

So my questions are:

Does anyone know of a reputable babalawo in Chicago or surrounding suburbs?

If not, do any babalawos here do consultas over the phone and would you be willing to help with that?

I appreciate the responses and please understand that none of my responses were meant to cause offense at all just explain what my experience has been with all this and what I’ve been told.