Who Should You Trust? Spiritual Leadership & the Integrity Crisis

Can you trust your spiritual leader with your spirit? A title may confer authority. Lineage may establish knowledge. But neither automatically guarantees integrity. In this episode of Soul Aligned Living, I’m joined by Chief Iya Funlayo E. Wood, PhD, founder of Ase Ire, for a candid conversation about spiritual leadership, sacred titles, accountability, community, and discernment. We’ll explore what qualifies someone to lead, how to distinguish spiritual authority from personal character, what accountability should look like when leaders cause harm, and how to honor elders, lineage, and tradition without surrendering personal sovereignty. Together, we’ll discuss what leaders owe the people who trust them, the warning signs of unhealthy spiritual leadership, what healthy spiritual community can look like, and how spiritual spaces can cultivate greater accountability without losing respect for tradition. Because ultimately, the question isn’t simply: Who has the title? It’s: Who should you trust with your spirit? Join us for a necessary conversation about spiritual authority, integrity, community, discernment, and personal sovereignty. About our guest: Iya Funlayo E. Wood, PhD is an initiated priestess, scholar, meditation teacher, and founder of Ase Ire. She earned her PhD in African and African American Studies and Religion from Harvard University, with scholarship focused on Ifá-Òrìsà traditions in Nigeria and the Americas. Her work bridges scholarship, service, and spiritual practice. Learn more about Iya Funlayo and Ase Ire at https://aseire.com/ 🔔 Subscribe for weekly spiritual clarity breakdowns, and comment below with the biggest challenge you face when connecting with your intuition. ______________________________________________________________________ Join my mailing list to get weekly soul-aligned guidance, resources, and tools to help you break cycles, trust your intuition, and live in your truth. You’ll also get early access and special invitations to offerings. → https://chihealinginstitute.com/subscribe _______________________________________________________________________ For On-Demand Courses (Akashic Records, Ancestors, Spirit Guides, Spiritual Growth) → https://www.chihealinginstitute.com/courses _______________________________________________________________________ For Books by Dr. La Toya Davis https://amzn.to/4pxiR4o #SpiritualLeadership #SpiritualIntegrity #Ifa #Orisa #SpiritualCommunity #PersonalSovereignty #SoulAlignedLiving