Welcome to this week’s stop at Divination Space Station with Voodoo Universe’s creatrix Lilith Dorsey. I realized after the really adept and informative guest blog interviews with Dorothy Morrison and Awo Robert Ogbe Di, I should probably submit my own experience as well. I’ve been reading cards professionally for over twenty-five years, and have done psychic readings everywhere from the parking lot at a Grateful Dead show to Snake and Jakes Christmas Club Lounge in New Orleans to a corporate wellness event for Bloomberg. I can honestly say, “ What a long strange trip it’s been.”

When did you start divining? With what method of divination?

I started divining when I was 13. I got my first Ryder Waite Tarot Deck then, and was also studying numerology and astrology.

What method do you use most often now?

I use different methods for different purposes. I still consult the tarot, cocos, divining rods, astrological influences almost daily. I feel that’s it’s similar to checking the weather, although I realize this may sound reductionist. I am not diminishing the power of divination, I am just making an analogy about taking one’s spiritual umbrella when needed. In my personal experience it seems that tarot is able to give a more specific answer, and direct guidance on the matter at hand.

Most often I use the New Orleans Voodoo Tarot, but I have been known to also read with Tarot of the Boroughs ( which features me as the High Priestess card) and also the deck I developed myself based on

the work of Antonin Artaud, Charles Baudelaire, Edgar Allan Poe and Arthur Rimbaud, called the Tarot of Cruelty.

How important is the choice of question?

I believe the question and it’s phrasing are crucial to receiving an accurate answer. The response I get when I ask about outcome or influences can often be very different. Influence either visible or invisible does not always shape outcome, nor does intent or feeling.

Do you have a yes/no method of divining you recommend?

Dowsing rods are my preferred choice, but I know people who have success with pendulums, coins, cocos, and other methods. Ask each time you use them ask for what a specific yes outcome will look like, what a specific no outcome will look like, and if a reading with this method is possible right now.

Is there any advice you have for newcomers when using divination?

My advice is to know your cards. I don’t necessarily advocate throwing away the book like my friend Dorothy Morrision does, but develop your own relationship with them. Test out their messages on simple quantifiable things like: the weather, messages, time, etc. Sleep with your cards or your pendulum under your pillow. Record your dreams afterwards.

Is a reading’s outcome set in stone?

In my experience most thing can be gently nudged or turned to a different direction. If we look specifically at something like palm reading, people’s palm continually changes throughout their lives. Things are constantly changing and twisting, sometimes on the edge of a butterfly effect’s wings. Open yourself up the the joy and possibility of the universe and more will be revealed.

The Personal Journey of Lilith Dorsey

Lilith Dorsey’s personal spiritual journey includes numerous initiations in Haitian Vodou, New Orleans Voodoo, and Santeria. In 1995 she became editor and publisher of the Oshun newsletter, providing accurate and respectful information about Afro-Diasporan Pagan religions. She holds an undergraduate degree in anthropology and her graduate degree comes from a inter-disciplinary program in cinema/television studies and anthropology. Training is vital in any discipline, but takes on special significance in a spiritual context. Voodoo, Vodou, Santeria, Candomble, Ifa, Obeah, Hoodoo, and for that matter any other African based religion survives on it’s lineage, history, and training of it’s devotees.

Lilith Dorsey had her first initiation from Mambo Bonnie Devlin, more widely known for her phenomenal drumming and musicianship. Her music is available on iTunes, and she highly recommends it to anyone interested in connecting with spirit. She then went on to join Priestess Miriam Chamani at the Voodoo Spiritual Temple in New Orleans. The temple does an immense amount of good works and is located at 1428 N. Rampart Street across from Congo Square, both locales a must see for anyone visiting New Orleans. While her Santeria house was led by Ochun Olukari Al’aye and based in Florida. She is continually amazed and inspired by her spiritual family there, who most recently gave her the opportunity to watch a ritual drum being crafted with a chainsaw.

Lilith Dorsey’s academic career focused most specifically on ritual dance and possession on film. Informed by phenomenal women like Maya Deren and Zora Neale Hurston who were filmmakers, ritualists and anthropologists, she went on to create an experimental documentary Bodies of Water, focusing on Voodoo identity and “tranceformation.” It has been shown everywhere from Harvard University to the living room of the Royal Street Courtyard bed and breakfast. Her favorite compliment on the work, which was designed to be a synestetic foray into cinematic experience, came from a devoutly Catholic friend who said “Your film scares me; I feel like I am changing.”

Since 1991, Lilith Dorsey has been doing successful magick for patrons of her business. She is editor/publisher of Oshun-African Magickal Quarterly, and filmmaker of the experimental documentary Bodies of Water:Voodoo Identity and Tranceformation. Lilith Dorsey is also author of Voodoo and Afro-Caribbean Paganism and The African-American Ritual Cookbook, and choreographer for jazz legend Dr. John’s “Night Tripper” Voodoo Show. In July 2013, she led her first ever Voodoo Zombie Silent Rave, complete with very confused Thriller flash mob. Please contact her at voodoouniverse@yahoo.com for information about psychic readings and services. Lastly, don’t forget to check out her brand new book Love Magic .  Many Blessings!

As always if you have enjoyed what you read here please remember to share, share, share ! And if you would like to book a reading or learn more about my classes, publications and events, see my website lilithdorsey.com