Although, I had grown up in a spiritually rich and blessed family. Everyone was allowed the right to choose whether or not to participate in Santeria religious practices. It was well understood and respected, that each individual would connect to God, and his forces, in their unique spiritual way, own pace and time. My spiritual awareness I must honestly say, began with Catholicism. I was Baptized at the age of five at Our Lady of Lords, in NYC, 1966; obtained communion, Oh I guess around 1970 in the fourth Grade, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church Harlem, NYC. Also, did Confirmation there. I Became an Alter Boy in Fifth grade. Which, I enjoyed and It gave me a positive understanding of what the priesthood is about. We drank a little wine on the way up from the cellar, when asked to bring it up; every now and then. Don't tell anybody. So, you must imagine how much fun we had, or the priest had with us come confession. Thinking back to those days, They were the best of times which I can remember as a child. And, It was when I grew in awareness to that which is spiritual, along with noticing what was going on at home.

The religious practices at home and church taught me the importance of prayer. The sacredness of a connection to that which is spiritual; the force or power of invocation, and acknowledgement of the presences of God and his divinities. They're every where, supporting us, and helping us overcome obstacles and obtaining that which is true in our destiny. At home, I also learned the importance of connecting to our ancestors. They are the link to what had been before; and what we've become since them. African ideology defines ancestor-ship as being the proof our very existence. As in, you are here because of the ancestors before you. So, there is power in calling them to aid or support our causes. But, how was I to get a response? I asked at times. I didn't feel psychic or clairvoiyant enough. I did not feel the holy spirit, an ancestor guardian, or a spirit guide whisper in my ear. I did not see spirits or ghost that would transmit thought to me, at least not at that time. I did see presences or figures in shadows, yet don't everyone?

All these things, I witnessed mediums do. Yet, I didn't feel or sense in the same way as they did. Through thoughts, dreams, and revelations in my subconscious is how I felt. During recitation of psalms, spanish oraciones, and the meditative or dreaming yet awakening  state. That realm just before wakening, always between 5 & 6 am. This is where visions were revealed to me, in my younger years. Yet, how was to check or varify these revelations? How was I to form a conversation and a more direct connectivity to this spirituality? Was I connecting or being spoken to by the holy spirit?  Were they spirit guides, angels, ancestors, or my Orisha guardian Shango; maybe all of the above. In the Yoruba Lucumi tradition there is the oracle of obi, which is the casting of 4 cut pieces of coconut, or coconut shells, when directing oneself to a deity on shrine. Asking Yes, and No questions, to arrive at a conclusion. This was Ok, yet worked better as I got older and became more intuitive, with the Orisha's. There is also the oracle of dilogun, which is the casting of cowrey shells. Yet, it did not call to my attention, as much. I could not cast Ifa, for this I had to become initiated into the priesthood of Orunmila. So, how was I to develop my communication skills, and achieve an advance degree of spiritual connectivity, wisdom, and understanding?

It was early summer of 1984 when I walked into a Dalton bookstore, searching for something positive to read. I went to the eastern philosophy section and picked up a book on Tao, when I was drawn to a yellow hard cover book, on the bottom shelf. I picked it up, opened it, and said "well I'll be, Chinese Ifa." It's as if I had known of it, yet had never been told, or heard of such a thing. What was interesting is that I did not feel a rush to study the book right away. When I arrived home, the first thing I did was set it down, on my spiritual alter. I decided not to pick up this book, unless I was serious enough to study it from front to back. It took four months for me to feel discipline that I needed in order to study this philosophical work of art. It was the Richard Wilhelm version of the I Ching called the book of changes.

When I began studying or as I began training. The first thing I did was look at the sections of the book. It's broken up into 3 sections. The first section is all 64 hexagrams, and how they are interpreted, from Wilhelm's translations. The second section is where the ideology or philosophy of the I ching is taught; the actual break down of the system. And, the third section is a re-write of the first section, yet with explanations on the meaning behind the translations. Along with the I Ching book of Changes, I had acquired "The Way of Life, Lao Tzu". The Tao Te Ching, Classic translation by R.B. Blakney. This book became my prayer book, for calling on the holy sages or Chinese ancestors of the past. For some reason, I believed that incorporating the verses of these poems in my prayer ritual. I would connect to the divine wisdom of the Chinese holy sages, their form of thinking and expression. By doing this, I was able to understand the interpretations, and translation of the I Ching. I strongly believe, that anyone needing to be any good at casting the I ching coins, and interpreting Chinese thought, would definitely need to get into Lao Tzu. His poems reflect the knowledge that he acquired through study of I Ching. The book of changes must have been his inspiration for writing and teaching as expressed by this example.
"The Valley spirit is not dead:
They say it is the mystic female,
Her gateway is, they further say,
The Base of earth and heaven.
Constantly, and so forever
use her."

Earth is a receiver, devoted, receptive, a die-hard battery following the instructions of heaven. Earth's mystic female energy is the base for communication between heaven and man. It is open to transmissions by way of the spirit world. Orisha knowledge teaches that the female is the conduit, by which spiritual energy flows. This is why women are so naturally and intuitively spiritually gifted.  In essence, woman is earth. Hence, earth represents the mother, receptive to the instructions of heaven, gives birth to all things, and all things return to it..i.e also the land of the dead. This poem is a direct link to the knowledge of the very first two hexagrams that one learns ( Hex 1 Heaven/Father and Hex 2 Earth/Mother), when studying the I Ching.

My bi-weekly prayer ritual began with 3 our fathers, 3 hail Mary, psalm 18, 19, 24, 26, 27, 29, & 32; with an our father and hail Mary in between. Then, I incorporated at least 3 poems from the book on Lao Tzu, in order to honor my Chinese ancestry and lineage or link. I also brought in a Hymn from a book on the Dead Sea Scrolls, to be used as my invocation prayer prior to
casting of the coins and it goes like this:
"I thank Thee , O lord; and nothing exists except by thy will;
none can consider thy deep secrets or contemplate thy mysteries.

What then is man that is earth, that is shaped from clay and returns
to the dust, that thou shouldst give him to understand such marvels
and make known to him the counsel of thy truth?

Clay and dust that I am, what can I devise unless that wish it,
and what can I contrive unless thou desire it?
What strength shall I have unless thou keep me upright;
and how shall I understand unless by the spirit which thou
hast shaped for me?
What can I say unless thou open my mouth and how can I
answer unless thou enlighten me?

Behold, thou art Prince of gods and King of majesties,
lord of all spirits, and Ruler of all creatures;
nothing is done without thee, and nothing is known without
thy will. Beside thee there is nothing, and nothing can compare
with thee in strength; in the presence of thy glory there is nothing,
and thy might is without price.

Who among thy great and marvelous creatures can stand in the presence of the glory?

How can he who returns to his dust? For thy glory's sake alone hast thou made all these things."

October thru December 1984, was my practice and training period. And I set as a goal the beginning of January 1985 to kick off the year with a new years reading. I saw it as a way, of my spirit guides informing me on what to expect for the coming year. What advices? what changes I'd see or need to make, for a better living?

Soon January 1985 came to be. And, this meant, my first beginning of Year reading. How can I ever forget this. It served to be my first lesson or message from the holy sages & spirit guides. It was Hexagram 20 Kuan - Contemplation/View. This Hexagram teaches that we must be devoted and dedicated to our spirituality, spirit guides, and ancestors. This Hexagram represents giving offerings to our ancestors & heaven, one must give to receive. One must contemplate on the divine, give reverence and acknowledgement to our spirituality. Gain the trust of our spirit guides or deities in order to have their support. Our home is to become a temple and serve as an example or land mark for future generations to follow. Are you worthy? Are you a spectator? Or, active participant in bringing out the manifestation of spirit? "So we are tested, watched, and measured", I said. Since, I had developed a system of obtaining a yes or no response by two tosses of the coins. I asked "does this mean that I must prove myself to be worthy of obtaining the holy sages and ancestors support; for correct & accurate communication and interpretation?" The answer was "Yes". Then, I said to myself, "I better give myself a task I can do, yet not too hard or too easy, to prove my worth." I proposed to change from a bi-weeky to a weekly prayer dedication, every Tuesdays for 52 weeks? The answer was "yes", approved. I also stated that I would cast the coins for communication, spiritual development, wisdom, and situation solution advice, every two weeks.

Casting the I Ching every two weeks in my first year proved to be a good decision. This is because during my study and training period, I noticed that tossing the I Ching ones a week required experience in interpretation, and quickness in problem solving and application of a solution. This experience could only be acquired through time and dedication. Once every two weeks would give me enough time to reflect on the messages, study the hexagram, and give me time to react. When there is a negative omen, we need to apply some form of spiritual therapy to overt or subdue the negativity. When it is good omen, we need to apply a spiritual therapy solution in order to secure the blessing, or positive change. There were times, where I was shown the future. Other times, I was made to look into my own inequities. And, of course the acquired wisdom for positive thinking and proper decision making. I learned, how to obtain answers to question. It felt so comfortable and understanding came natural to me. It opened up my inner most thoughts; fed positive re-enforcement to my subconscious through what my consciousness was learning. I had found what I was searching for.

Then came January 1996, so anxiously did I await this year for my new beginning of year reading. That, after all my hype in thinking I had completed the task. The same sign came out 20 Kuan - Contemplation could you believe this. Needless to say, it was obvious that my penitence was to easy. I had to give in to my spirituality another 52 weeks of dedication. Yet, this time I was a little bit more experienced. And, I took on the challenge of casting I ching once a week after my prayer ritual. By now, I was fast enough in the understanding, and interpreting the I Ching. I was able to make the necessary weekly adjustments; in character, activities, and spiritual healing therapy applications; to secure a positive week.

I thank the holy sages in heaven for the knowledge acquired through study and practice of the I Ching, since 1984. It has and continues serving as a strong knowledge base for what came next in 1997. My initiation into Yoruba Lucumi IFA. The sacred rites of Orunmila, the path of a Babalawo.