In Igbo spirituality, Igba Afa (divination) is a sacred and respected system for receiving guidance, clarity, and spiritual insight. While Afa can provide valuable direction, understanding the right times and intentions for consulting it is very important for a balanced spiritual journey.

When Should You Consult Afa?

For Life-Changing Decisions: When you're facing a major turning point, such as marriage, relocation, business ventures, or important commitments, consulting Afa can help align your choices with your Chi and your spiritual guides. These decisions typically have long-term consequences, and Afa with the right diviner can provide the spiritual insight needed to move forward with clarity.
To Clarify Omens and Spiritual Signs: If you have been experiencing strong dreams, gut feelings, visions, or unusual synchronicities, Afa can serve as a way to decode these messages. In Odinani, these signs are classified as nudges from your spiritual guides or ancestors. Afa can help interpret what they mean and what actions you should or should not take.
Examples include:
- Recurring dreams with intense symbols
- Sudden changes in health or fortune
- Persistent feelings of unease without obvious reason
To Confirm Spiritual Guidance: Sometimes, we feel guided toward a certain path but are unsure if it's truly from our higher self or just personal desire. Afa can be consulted to confirm that inner nudge and provide deeper perspective.

What to Avoid When Using Afa

Over-Reliance on Afa: While Afa is a great spiritual tool, constantly seeking it for every minor issue can weaken your own ability to reason and intuit. There's an Igbo saying: “A gbachaa Afa, a chikoo uche,” which implies that deliberation must follow the afa divination session.
Relying on Afa for trivial matters instead of exercising your own judgment and inner wisdom can create confusion and dependency. Afa is meant to support your path, not replace your mind.
Ignoring Discernment After Receiving a Message: Not everything revealed in Afa should be acted upon immediately or literally. Some messages are symbolic, and others require time and reflection. Use discernment to filter, reflect, and apply the wisdom appropriately. Blindly following any message without engaging your mind can lead to spiritual and emotional instability.

To Sum It Up

Afa is a divine communication channel, a gift from our ancestors to help navigate life's complex path. But like all sacred tools, it must be used with discernment, wisdom, and responsibility.

Consult Afa when: