Divination Space Station: Tarot of the Vampires

Last updated on: January 30, 2024 at 2:19 pm By Lilith Dorsey

Tarot of the Vampires- Strength card. By Charles Harrington and Craig Maher. All rights reserved.

It was my supreme pleasure to meet Charles Harrington last year at the Endless Night Vampire Ball in New Orleans. Harrington along with Craig Maher is the creator of Tarot of the Vampires published by Llewellyn Publications. The deck is stunning, a veritable must have for every creature of the night. As soon as I saw these cards I knew I wanted to interview Charles Harrington as part of our divination series. Questions are in boldface, and his responses follow.

When did you start divining?

I got my start in high school, purchasing my first deck from a game store in the mall. I was definitely one of the weird kids at that point so I would keep my deck in my backpack every day and give friends readings between (ok during) classes. People were very tolerant of this habit and I had almost no negative experience being the high school’s resident diviner. Looking back at some of those readings I used to give… let’s just say I had a lot to learn.

With what method?

Back when I got my start, I had one book (Tarot for the Apprentice by Eileen Connolly) and of course the Little White Book (I am told young readers today do not know the term “LWB” because guidebooks have improved so much). I only did three card spreads and the Celtic Cross because that’s all I knew and my approach was entirely predictive because, again, that’s all I was aware of. One day I picked up a copy of the Legend Arthurian Tarot by Anna-Marie Ferguson wherein I learned about the “Horseshoe Spread” which was much more straightforward than the Celtic Cross and had greater depth than those three card spreads. It was love at first sight and it became my primary Tarot spread for the next two decades. I wish it had a sexier name (the Arc of Destiny?) but that spread leveled up my practice and I was certain to include it in the guidebook for Tarot of the Vampires for this reason

Which method do you use most often now?

I still lean toward predictive / advice Tarot techniques but in college I became familiar with the works of Mary Greer and Rachel Pollack and began to incorporate Wisdom Readings into my practice. These are a way of asking the divine mind-expanding things like “What is the soul?” “How can I live my life as a reflection of this Goddess?” I also am a big proponent of using the Tarot for Shadow Work, which was an emphasis for the Tarot of the Vampires as vampires have always been a powerful cultural shadow for humanity that has evolved and shifted throughout the decades to continue to hold up a dark mirror to our faces.

How important is the choice/phrasing of the question?

This is going to get me in trouble. I apologize in advance. I feel like today there is too much emphasis on “correcting” the querent’s question. When someone asks us “Will I get this job?” we are supposed to say “Ah, your real question is ‘What do I need to know about prosperity?'” This bothers me. I imagine a person going to the doctor because they have an acute ache that won’t go away and having the doctor say “Ah let me tell you about wellness!” I think readers are often afraid that they won’t be able to make a correct prediction (or they don’t believe Tarot can make accurate predictions) and they sidestep by rephrasing the question to be more general. If this is you, (if you can hear the sound of my voice!) try to first address the question you were asked and then supplement with other advice that the cards offer. For example, with the question above “In terms of this job you are going after, it looks like there will be some challenges. Let’s see what you can do to find what you need…”

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

I do! It’s a little complicated but I enjoy it. Take the Wheel of fortune out of your deck and then shuffle it and draw seven additional cards facedown. Add the Wheel of Fortune to this smaller pile of eight cards and shuffle them together. Lay the cards out in four quadrants with two cards in each quadrant. Turn the pairs of cards over and find the Wheel of Fortune. Now interpret this position (and only this position) with the additional card next to it.

Position 1: Yes, Because.

This is the enthusiastic Yes! The second card points to why the thing will happen

Position 2: Yes, If

This is a pretty good outlook but it will take some extra effort by the querent. The second card says what is needed to bring this over the finish line.

Position 3: No, Unless

This is not looking so good but the accompanying card may give some advice about what to do to bring about a desired change.

Position 4: No, Because

This is the enthusiastic No and the accompanying card can help explain why this won’t happen.

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

There are three things I recommend:

Read the guidebook – A lot of love and hard work goes into that guidebook! Definitely trust your intuition but the guidebook might have some more advice that your intuition missed.

When reading for yourself, write the reading down – The main reason to do this is that it forces you to give yourself a complete reading instead of looking at the cards and saying “Yep, yep, that makes sense, that’s what I expected.” It will help you fully explore the spread and its possibilities. In the following days/weeks, instead of doing another spread because you are anxious about the question you can return to what you wrote down and continue to explore it in greater depth. It also helps justify the purchase of fancy journals we readers tend to love. If you prefer electronic record keeping, I highly recommend Evernote for storing readings.

Get Liminal – As Tarot reading has become more psychologically influenced and we have worked to do away with some of the unhelpful superstitions, people have sometimes ditched the mystical parts of Tarot reading entirely. Enhance your practice by doing something to enter into sacred space and bring yourself between the worlds. Light some incense, say a prayer, visualize the temple of the High Priestess, whatever it takes and you have the bandwidth for. I find this makes me more receptive to receiving the answers from the Universe (or whomever is on the other side of this operation).

How did you come up with the idea for Tarot of the Vampires?

I have loved vampire stories my whole life and of course I’ve really enjoyed vampire tarot decks (I’ve owned pretty much all of them). I felt that most decks focused entirely on what I think of as the “Carpathian” vampire archetype with crumbling castles, helpless maidens, everybody’s white, etc. This didn’t reflect the modern stories I enjoy so much like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles, True Blood, the Vampire Diaries, Anita Blake, etc. One year the late and very great pagan author Margot Adler gave a talk about vampire novels at a pagan conference . Following the death of her husband, she read hundreds of them and formed her theory of the modern vampire which was that the vampire-as-hero is a powerful, dangerous being, trying desperately to be moral. This is a wonderful reflection of humanity as we are similarly powerful, dangerous beings who want to do good and create beauty but who are aware that they have a destructive nature as well. She wrote about this in her wonderful book Vampires R Us and her ideas really helped inform my approach to the cards, especially the Minor Arcana. This kept the deck from just being the Rider Waite Smith with fangs (though it is absolutely in the RWS School of Tarot).

Lilith Dorsey and Charles Harrington at Endless Night Vampire Ball – New Orleans.

What’s the most interesting thing that happened as a result of working on that project?

Just as divination is a sacred conversation between the diviner and the universe, the creation of a Tarot deck is a sacred conversation between author and illustrator. This project connected me to the incredible artist Craig Maher who partnered with me to bring the deck to life. If the author is the scriptwriter and executive producer, the illustrator is the director, set designer, casting director, costume designer, cinematographer, special effects department and all the other roles you can imagine. I’m a words guy and I am in awe of Craig’s gift for taking those words and communicating them visually. He has a wonderful gift for interpreting mood, lighting, composition, as well as venerable Tarot traditions to create these dynamic, interesting characters filled with depth and mystery. We had a dialog about every card in the deck and he could take a weird prompt that I didn’t even know fully how to begin to depict and turn it into what I feel is one of the most intense and compelling Strength cards in Tarot.

What’s next for you ?

I recently wrote the guidebook for an oracle deck based on Dante’s Inferno to go along with artwork created by the amazing artist Paolo Barbieri. That was a wild project because it required me to shelve my modern pagan sensibilities aside and fully embrace the worldview of Dante. It’s an intense deck with some very confronting imagery and requires a bit of courage to pull a card each day

From the Llewellyn publications website – Charles Harrington has been reading, teaching, and loving tarot for 25 years. He is the author of the guidebooks to the Murder of Crows Tarot, Ferenc Pinter Tarot, and Tarot V from Lo Scarabeo. His love of the cards and connecting with other readers has manifested in co-hosting podcasts, speaking at conferences, and leading meetups in the San Francisco Bay Area. In his free time, he loves to find new and strange ways to use the cards in pursuit of wisdom, fun, and the occasional free cocktail.

Note: This deck is especially precious to me as the Three of Cups card from it graces the cover of my new book Tarot Every Witch Way. Thank you Llewellyn Publications and Charles Harrington for making it possible.

Tarot of the Vampires- 3 of Cups. All rights reserved.

As always if you have enjoyed what you find here please remember to like, comment, and share !

Best Tarot And Oracle Decks To Ring In The New Year

Last updated on: December 14, 2023 at 10:59 am By Lilith Dorsey

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Tarot and Oracle Decks photo by Lilith Dorsey. All rights reserved.

The end of the year is an auspicious time for psychics readings and divination of all kinds. As always there are a multitude of new tarot and oracle decks on the market and this is a great time to check them out. Some people believe you only need one tarot deck, madness I say. Different decks provide a different outlook on a situation. A reader may choose to use one deck for personal readings, and another for readings done for others. Alternatively they may change decks based on the season, or the situation. Ultimately it’s up to you. Here are some recent best and brightest decks for you to consider getting for yourself, or as a gift for that special someone. Just let me start by saying that these are in no particular order, I honestly recommend each and every one of them.

The Green Witch’s Oracle Deck by Arin Murphy-Hiscock and Sara Richard. Photo by Lilith Dorsey. All rights reserved.

The Green Witch’s Oracle Deck by Arin Murphy-Hiscock – This deck is for Earth Witches, Garden Witches, and everyone in-between. The art on these cards is phenomenal, depicting the delightful bounty of nature. There are cards for celestial beings like the moon, and cards for very specific instances of the earth’s bounty- like the cards for Thyme or Broom. What I especially appreciate is that the book in addition to giving you a clear meaning for each card also gives a reflection. A few year’s ago we also reviewed this author’s book Protection Spells. If you like this deck from Adams Media maybe check that out too.

Turning Terrestrial Tides Tarot by Sara Calvarese – There are many different traditional tarot decks out there. I’m glad to say this isn’t one of them. Basic variations on a classic theme can get tiresome. However, the images featured here are new and innovative. This deck is all about shifting the world around you to maximize the best outcomes. This deck is published by PM Press, a powerful company releasing some great titles.

Santa Muerte Tarot Mini Cards – The popularity of Santa Muerte continues to grow exponentially. This mini deck makes it easy to take this “bony lady” everywhere you go. Each card, including the lesser arcana, is colorfully presented and tells it’s own unique story.

Tarot of the Vampires by Charles Harrington and Craig Maher – Vampires love tarot too, and this deck features all the delightful darkness you would expect. The exquisitely illustrated deck and book do their best to remind us that “(Un)life can be so sweet…,” and how sweet it is. Each card shows us a different aspect of the unholy creatures of the night. I had the most fortunate pleasure to meet the author Charles Harrington at this year’s Endless Night Vampire Ball here in New Orleans. I’m also proud to announce that an image from this deck graces the cover of my soon to be released Tarot Every Witch Way.

The Queen Mab Oracle– This anxiously awaited oracle was released by Llewellyn Publications earlier this year. I’m a huge fan of Tess Whitehurst’s work and when I heard this was coming out I couldn’t wait to see it. The cover image for this deck, depicted above, is the card named Proud and Pitiless, it urges the seeker to speak their truth and stand up for themselves. This like so many other messages in this deck are powerful and profound. Another plus is that this deck features a wide range of multi-cultural images, making this more inclusive than several of the decks on the market today. I can’t recommend it enough.

Witch Sister Tarot by Julia Jeffrey – At first glance this deck just looks intense. Published by Llewellyn Books, it has been described as “hauntingly beautiful,” and it is indeed that and so much more. Several of the cards feature animals, familiars if you like taking the form of both birds and beasts.

The Beloved Dead: An Oracle for Divining Ancestral Wisdom– I truly appreciate a deck that features photos or photo collages. This deck does just that with powerful images of those long past, of the “beloved dead” who we both long for and look to for guidance. The creators of this work, Carrie Paris and Tina Hardt, do a fantastic job with this oracle designed to help people access knowledge which may have been lost. Published by Weiser Books this makes an important addition to the library of anyone serious about ancestor working.

Hopefully you will find inspiration and answers in these cards. In the past this blog has featured posts about Crappy Yule Gifts, so if you’re looking for those click here. Have a great holidaze season and as always if you have enjoyed what you find here please remember to like, comment, and share !

Review : Cosmic C*nt Tarot by Samantha Rook

Last updated on: October 2, 2022 at 3:52 pm By Lilith Dorsey

Cosmic C*nt-The Devil by Samantha West published by Rockpool publishing. All rights reserved.

So what exactly is a cosmic c*nt? Samantha West, the designer of this deck, defines her/it as someone/something who is “ capable of abducting farmers from their land.”

If the absurdity of this definition appeals to you, then you want to know that this deck is printed on sturdy card stock in black and green and is 3-3/4”x2-1/2.” It is small enough to fit comfortably in your hand. The deck comes packaged in a heavy cardboard box with a well written 98 page guidebook. The Cosmic C*nt deck follows the customary Smith-Rider-Waite tradition having 22 major arcana cards and 56 minor arcana cards.

The suit names, however, have been changed: the pentacles become discs; the wands, anal probes(which look very phallic I might add); the swords, ray guns; and the cups, specimens. The images on the cards appear to be amusingly drawn cartoon characters most of whom resemble aliens sporting Spock-like ears and two small antennae.

The handy booklet accompanying these cards is written in a tongue-in-cheek manner with twenty-first century Interpretations and language. For example the major arcana card ”Devil” (XV) is referred to as a “little a**hole” who stands for everything awful we chain ourselves to in life such as addictions, bad practices, and toxic relationships. I believe these cartoons are using the mediums of science fiction and intergalactic travel to reassess the world that we find ourselves in. Ultimately I feel that every tarot deck is only as successful as the person using it. And I believe this tarot deck is not really for beginners, but rather for someone who knows their way around the various tarot decks and his knowledge of symbolism and sense of intuition has been developed with regard to divining. But if you’re looking for a fun addition to your tarot deck collection you might want to take a look at the Cosmic C*nt tarot.

The deck is published by Rockpool publishing. Their website talks about Samantha Rook saying she ” is an artist, designer, tarot deck creator and owner of Marble Moon Studio. With a Master’s degree from Drexel University, Philadelphia, Sam explores her artwork through a three dimensional lens. She has been a tarot reader for the past 10 years and is passionate about exploring the human experience through the cards and creating card decks that are accessible to readers of all backgrounds.”

The above is a guest review from Jane Steele, a writer who is committed to promoting the honoring of the foremothers with her life and work.

As always if you have enjoyed what you read here please remember to like, comment, and share !

Review: 78 Tarot Astral

Last updated on: November 4, 2021 at 10:18 am By Guest Contributor

78 Tarot Astral photo by Little Luna. All rights reserved.

This is a review of The 78 Tarot Project’s deck Astral Tarot. The 78 Tarot Project states as it’s mission ” to create beautiful, meaningful decks. We work with some of the best artists in the community and strive to invite diverse artists and produce decks that do not show cultural appropriation, only appreciation. We vow to continue improving, to continue listening to our fans and critics and to include diverse races, religions, sexual identities and ages, so that every user can connect to our decks.” The following is a guest post by professional tarot reader Little Luna.

Recently, my good friend and Godmother Lilith Dorsey gave me 78 Tarot’s Global Art Collaboration: Astral Tarot in Space and offered me the opportunity to review it here, which I’m more than pleased to do.

Every year the 78 Tarot Project chooses a theme and collaborates with 78 artists who each create one of the 78 cards of the Tarot. This limited edition deck contains 3 wild cards, which offer added insight.

I wanted to test the deck out to see how it read both privately and in party situations, so I took these cards with me to an event for students at Dillard University recently and used them with clients for a week. The first thing that stands out of course is the lusciously ethereal artwork — which is a pleasure for both reader and client and immediately sparks conversation. Many times, the imagery of the Tarot can incite fear in our clients which can prevent them from really listening to the message of their reading. To be clear, I’m not saying that won’t happen with this deck, which contains astral visions of alien occultists, robot battles and spaced out cats, but for me, each vivid illustration brings about a sense of wonder more than fear, without losing the Tarot’s challenge and mystery.

Art and the Tarot go hand in hand and I appreciate that each participant studies their card extensively so that the esoteric language remains intact and recognizable, while providing modern visions of these archetypes. The one criticism I’ve heard about collaborative decks like this one is that they can lack cohesiveness because of the difference in artistic style. However, The Astral Tarot, is thoughtfully curated both visually and thematically. This deck has something for everyone. The images range from adorably weird to a little scary, which is all right up my alley. My favorite cards so far are the Pages, The Fool and The Magician. For me It’s so enjoyable to be able to look through the eyes of these various creators whose different visions expand my own understanding and bring to life the greater story of the Tarot. The accompanying booklet also contains a statement by each artist as well as each card’s overall message written by Trish Sullivan.

Overall I’m really enjoying the Astral Tarot both visually and psychically. This unique deck would make a great gift for any psychedelic space loving Tarot enthusiast in your life.

Little Luna is a hairdresser, former burlesque entertainer/producer and professional Tarot reader in New Orleans, LA. She’s is a Native New Mexican, whose spiritual inspirations are heavily influenced by her Southwestern Spanish and Pueblo ancestry. Also inspired by Folk Magic, Eastern mythologies, and shadow transformation using art, performance & music, she holds a Bachelor’s in Religious Studies from Towson University. From 2014-2019 she hosted a Tarot inspired radio show called “The Major Arcana Music Show” on NOLA’s public justice radio station, WHIV FM. Luna has been professionally divining cards for over a decade specializing in Tarot, Mah Jongg, and playing cards. She has read for a wide variety of large scale events and professional venues including Voodoo Fest, House Of Blues New Orleans, LSU Championship Pre-game, The Creole Queen, Mardi Gras World, Dillard University and many more. You may contact her via her website snakeoiltarot.com

Tarot Tools For Transformation: Mind, Body, & Soul

Last updated on: July 26, 2021 at 12:03 pm By Lilith Dorsey

Many people realize that tarot is primarily used for divination. Through it we can find out about what may be hidden or unknown to us, and also find out what the future may hold. Ways to use Tarot as a Transformational Tool

Tarot can be used a a tool for meditation. You can meditate on a card you are getting repeatedly in your readings, or on one you choose to focus on as a quality you wish to see in your life. Use your best meditation practices- this could involve sitting quietly with the card, lighting a candle or some incense, and deeply exploring the meaning and imagery of your favorite deck.

Dreams can be full of messages and inspiration themselves. However sometimes their meaning can be hard to decipher. Tarot can help you explore these symbols, either through a reading about especially meaningful dreams, or by using the symbols in the cards and seeing how they may correspond to some of the recurring elements in your dreams.
Journaling and Magickal record keeping can also help your understanding or the cards and of yourself. You can use the cards as a journal prompt, and/or also keep records of your readings. It’s a great practice to develop and you will thank yourself later down the road.
Ancestral veneration is experiencing a renaissance and it’s high time it did. Frequently clients come to me for readings to discover the messages and lessons from their ancestors that may have been lost. Most people are only familiar with the names and stories of their immediate family, but tarot can help us to unlock so much more. Consider doing a reading about ancestral names and qualities that may be helpful to you.
Part of divination, and probably life itself, is dependent on telling a story. This is how humans make meaning and how they learn. I’m not just saying this because I’ve written 6 books. There’s a reason we tell stories to our youngsters, and continue to enjoy them throughout our lives. One popular spread for the cards that I have seen is shuffling then laying out the entire major arcana to tell a story about the situation or individual at hand. It isn’t necessarily the best choice for every situation, but if you aren’t used to this spread I suggest you try it once or twice, just to help get a better understanding of the relationship between the forces of the universe.

This list is just a starting place, there are many more ways to use the tarot to transform your own life, and that of those who come to your for a reading ! For more information on divination and Tarot please check out the other posts here on Voodoo Universe ! If you would like to book a reading you can contact me at [email protected] ! As always if you have enjoyed what you read here please do us a favor and like, comment, and share !

Divination Space Station: Leticia Ferrer-Rivera & Secrets of Paradise Tarot

Last updated on: June 20, 2021 at 9:57 am By Lilith Dorsey

It’s been awhile since we have featured a new installment of Divination Space Station, but when I saw the new Secrets of Paradise Tarot by Leticia, The Witchy Dancer I knew I had to find out more. Leticia Ferrer-Rivera, The Witchy Dancer! is the owner of Dancing Crowns. She is Certified as Tarot and Crystal Healer. She does divination and Psychic Readings using the Pendulum, Tarot, and Crystals. Leticia is also a Wicca High Priestess and comes from a long generation of Witchcraft and Mediums on both sides of her family, especially from the Ferrer side from Barcelona, Spain. Here’s what she had to say (all responses come directly from her):

When did you start divining?

When I was 7 years of age I started to have clairvoyant dreams showing me the related person in the event that was going to happen very soon. For example, I remember dreaming that my mother was going to have her car stolen from one of the big shopping malls in Puerto Rico, and actually it was my aunt (her sister) who had her car stolen from the mall parking lot. As an adult, around 2004, I started learning Tarot and Pendulum on my own. That was the start of a big spiritual change in my life and was about a year before getting initiated as a High Priestess in a very intimate Coven in Puerto Rico. I loved both methods from the get-go.

With what method?

Tarot and Pendulum were my first methods of divination. It is ironic because I played Briscas (Spanish Cards) all my life and saw them as fun, instead of as a divination tool. So I kept using Tarot and Pendulum, and I incorporated Crystals Casting and Oracles back in 2017.

Which method do you use most often now?

I use Tarot, Pendulum, and Crystals more often, but I can also pull out an Oracle Card at the end of a reading sometimes for extra insight.

How important is the choice/phrasing of the question?

It is important to ask the right question and to be specific. The question must not just be about another person alone, but your situation, your relationship, you must be included in the question. This way the outcome has a message for you directly on how this is impacting you, and also guidance on how to proceed.
It is also super important to choose the correct method of divination when you know what type of reading the querent is looking for. It has higher probabilities for me as a Reader and Psychic to deliver the appropriate message throughout and at the end of the reading. It is important to know which method can be used for what type of reading, but also, within the method which card deck or which pendulum to use as well. I have Tarot Decks that are perfect for business readings, others for love readings, others for any kind of readings, and the same with the pendulums based on the type of crystal they are made, wooden pendulums, metal, etc. It takes not only your intuition and skills for choosing the right tool, but also studying each method and crystal is important.

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

I love Pendulum for a Yes or No answer. However, I also use it for multiple-choice, dates, and confirming time frames. I use it for Crystal Healing too.

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

– To study each method from trusted and reliable sources.
– To not learn more than two methods at the same time.
– To understand if you want to be a Tarot Reader or if you want to work with intuition, spirit, and the Divine for developing your Psychic or Mediumship abilities. This is a big decision to make.
– Do not choose an easy method you are not tuning with just because it is easier, push yourself to study and connect with the method you really like.
– Buy your decks from trusted sources and support authors, Tarot and Oracle creators, and trusted businesses online and locally. Do not buy counterfeit decks from Wish! This type of practice hurt us all and believe me, your counterfeit deck will not work with you with the same energy as the one bought from their creator or publisher.

Leticia, The Witchy Dancer. All photo rights reserved.

I’m absolutely in awe of your Secrets of Paradise Tarot? What was your inspiration for the deck, and how do people get one?

One day I asked my husband to take a picture of me in front of one of our Lilacs from our backyard. I placed a chair in front, grabbed one of the branches that needed to be cut, and sat on the chair. When I saw the picture I said… This is the Queen of Wands! It was not intended to look like a Tarot card, but it did. That was the first card I created, but from there I created the rest of the cards combining my expertise from the performing arts and the culture with my knowledge from the Tarot. In 600 years of Tarot History, there are several Hispanic Tarot Creators and several Tarot Decks with names related to the Spanish language, but none of them has illustrations, deities, and symbolism from the Caribbean and Latin America. That was the main reason I created it, I love that this deck is going to make history once is published. From the Taínos to our African Heritage, as well as our music, dances, food, and historical places, this deck includes new symbols that have never been on a divination card deck before, as well as some traditional symbols that are based on the Waite-Coleman Smith Tarot. Secrets of Paradise Tarot: A Caribbean and Latin American Approach to Symbolism and Divination is right now submitted as traditional publishing proposals to my two favorite big traditional publishers. One will be answering sometime soon and the other I am not sure how long they take for the response, but hopefully soon. (Update: During the writing of the post word arrived that the deck will be published by Hay House ! Congratulations and more updates to follow!) I want to take this opportunity to invite everyone to sign up for the newsletter at www.dancingcrownspsychic.com so you can all get invited to the themed Launch Party I am planning to do once it is available for purchase.

Are there any new projects you are developing?

Yes, I am always creating. Besides everything I do I am currently teaching to a group of women a pilot course called Sacred Geometry in Dance that I designed myself. I am also working already on my Mysteries of the Spanish Fan Oracle. That is my next big project. I will be opening two new courses in Crystals and Tarot so stay tuned! Sign up for the newsletter to receive all this information via email and before anyone else!

As always if you have enjoyed what you read here please remember to like, comment, and share !

Talking Tarot and Black People Magick With BLewisArts

Last updated on: January 21, 2021 at 8:11 am By Lilith Dorsey

Guardians Tarot image by BLewisArts. All rights reserved.

I’ve been a tarot reader and divination enthusiast since I was a child, but back then there weren’t any decks or images that represented me and other BIPOC. So the minute I saw Brittany Lewis’ new tarot deck I knew I had to get an interview about it for the blog. Lewis’ website tells us ” when creating artwork outside of commissions, my focus is to develop spiritually charged imagery of the African Diaspora in futuristic settings.” But I had more questions, so here they are in the interview below.

Did you always want to be an artist?

Art and creating in general has been something I’ve done my entire life. I did it when I was bored, sad, happy, excited. I would draw so much that I thought it was something everyone did. It became second nature to me. I didn’t think much of it until I was about 16 when I had an art teacher – Mrs. Owens – who took me under her wing and saw something in me that she fostered and nurtured. She was my first Black art teacher and she gave me the confidence to move forward as a creative. From that point on, I decided that I would be an artist professionally.

When did you decide to fuse your art with spirituality?

As an artist, especially once I began to freelance – I found that I was creating work that wasn’t necessarily what I wanted to create. It didn’t fulfill me and I found myself creating more and more to meet the expectations of others rather than being authentic to who I am. I remember one day, honestly reflecting on what I was doing versus what I wanted to do and what I wanted to see. I was really going through it at this time because to be an artist – in my opinion is much more than creating pretty pictures but giving a voice to the voiceless, even if that voiceless person is you.

Recognizing the power of being an artist, I had to decide how I wanted to use this expression. I no longer desired to create images from pop culture – which was more about recreating other people’s ideas and visions. I wanted to express myself in the most truthful way I could. Shortly after going through that thought process, I was asked in an interview with Blaque Canvas Magazine, what I thought people would say when they saw my art. I remember being completely dumbfounded and speechless. I didn’t answer. But what that question did, was give me the boost I needed to move forward creating more for myself and whatever was to come from it would come. I set out on a mission to be purposefully introspective throughout my artistic and spiritual journeys.

One of the biggest things that I was lacking was visual representation of my own spiritual journey. What I noticed was that worldwide – in almost every culture, there were very few – if any – depictions of the African Diaspora – or any darker people – as Gods and Goddesses, witches, mythical characters, etc. Much like the old Hollywood troupe, darker beings were often seen as negative beings. There’s a HUGE lack of balance and void in that space. One of the biggest arenas for this lack of representation is in the realm of Tarot and Oracle decks.

Artist Brittany Lewis. All rights reserved.

Do you read cards? How did you get started?

I do! The same year that I decided to be an artist – I decided that I wanted to learn to read tarot. I’m not sure what lead that desire but I knew I wanted to learn. I was always reading about and researching different spiritual systems – even at that young age. I also had plenty of metaphysical experiences – often seeing apparitions and so much more. So wanting to read tarot I think was just a natural calling.

During this time the only deck that I could get readily available was the Rider-Waite Smith Deck. I remember not being able to connect with the images – as a 16 year old there was something about it that I just didn’t vibe with. There wasn’t very much information for beginners to learn to read with them, so I gave up on it. Fast-forward 13 years from then, I get the itch to learn again. This time with many more decks and information available, and having grown significantly in my own journey, I began to read and I’ve been doing it every since.

You are working on a tarot deck yes? How did you get the idea to do this?

Yes. Once I decided that I would learn tarot again, I had to find a deck. I knew from my past experience that I didn’t want to start with the traditional Rider-Waite deck but I also recognized that there was a vast amount of information about learning from that particular system. So my search began. I was set on finding a deck that I connected with and instantly ran into the hurdle of not finding one that I felt represented me. This was around the same time I was having my artistic epiphanies. Being from a very ingenious lineage, I decided that I would use my own abilities to create what I wanted to see, rather than wait on the world to do it for me. At that point, I decided that creating a tarot deck would be a dream project of mine – It took me 5 years or so to finally start that project.

What’s your favorite card so far? I’m particularly fond of your Lovers card? Why did you choose this direction for the card?

The Lovers card is my favorite card as well. One thing about my deck is that it’s a self-portrait of my own spiritual journey and understanding. The Lovers card is a representation of something I experienced – so it holds a super special place in my heart. Just prior to creating that card, I was going through a major shift spiritually and I was exploring the duality of the mundane and higher selves – thus the Lovers card was born.

The Lovers Tarot Card by BLewisArts. All rights reserved.

It seems like much of your work is rooted in Afro-futurism? Do you agree? Why do you think this is especially important now?

Yes, I totally agree. Afro-futurism is one of the things that I wanted to showcase in my artwork and especially in my tarot deck. I’m a huge science fiction fan – from Television to literature and beyond. One of the things that I’ve noticed in sci-fi – as with many things, is the lack in representation and presence of the African Diaspora – as if we don’t exist in the future. And though there are black creators of this genre, they often don’t get the recognition I feel they should. Writers like NK Jemisin and Tananarive Due are brilliant – but they are often overlooked. Nonetheless, in popular science fiction, there’s plenty of dystopian doom and gloom.

One of my goals artistically is to showcase a different viewpoint: a much more magical viewpoint. Someone who has struggled will continue to struggle – vying for acceptance from others if that person cannot imagine themselves as something more – more magical, more powerful, more godly even. If I’ve never seen myself as a Goddess, how can I act as a Goddess? Just as when I was younger, before I had my first black art teacher, doing anything art related as a profession was outside of my purview. I didn’t even consider it – nor did I think it to be possible for someone like me. It is my desire to showcase infinite possibilities.

Do you have any advice for young Black witches just starting out?

To young black witches I would first say: No one can tell you how to do your magic. Trust in your own intuition and your own abilities. Heal those past traumas in order to move forward. That means confronting the darkest, deepest secrets and showing those parts of yourself love. Love every part of who you are. Seek help if you need it – whether that is through counseling or confiding in unbiased elders. Love yourself and be yourself.

What are you working on now?

Currently I’m creating the Queens in my tarot deck. I’m so excited to be working on this deck. The response has been wonderful and so humbling. I’m just happy to be able to share this part of myself.

How can people get in touch and buy your amazing work?

I’m currently on Instagram and Facebook as @BLewisArts and @BLewLotus.Tarot. I post lots of behind the scenes looks into the creation of my deck and I also do daily readings. Prints and t-shirts of my art can be found at: www.blewisarts.com. There you can also sign up to join the Tarot waitlist. Wait-listers will have first dibs on Pre-orders and will find out before it goes public. If you sign up for the monthly newsletter you get a coupon for Free shipping off your first order.

For more posts about Tarot please check out the Divination Space Station series on this blog. As always if you have enjoyed what you read here please remember to like, comment and share !