9 Things to Know About Eclipse Magic

August 18, 2017 By Lilith Dorsey

Solar Eclipse photo by NASA. Courtesy of Wikimedia commons. Licensed under CC 2.0

Eclipse magic can be a strong and powerful thing. The energy of the sun and moon are condensed for a short period of time and your magickal working will most certainly benefit from this. This is a good time to get a tarot reading, set up an altar or shrine, or perform a ritual.

This year on August 21, 2017 North America will experience a visible solar eclipse. The NASA website tells us “Anyone within the path of totality can see one of nature’s most awe inspiring sights – a total solar eclipse. This path, where the moon will completely cover the sun and the sun’s tenuous atmosphere – the corona – can be seen, will stretch from Salem, Oregon to Charleston, South Carolina. Observers outside this path will still see a partial solar eclipse where the moon covers part of the sun’s disk. ” The site will also be live streaming the eclipse, and providing valuable scientific information for kids and adults alike.

But what about the magic of the Eclipse ?

How do these energies work for or against your spells and rituals? Let’s make a list.

You don’t need to witness the eclipse to harness it’s power. Just like other celestial bodies and events, you are still affected even if you can’t see them.
Many cultures view the Eclipse as an omen. According to Smithsonian Magazine the Chiqutoan Manasi people of eastern Bolivia, “The sun was a resplendent man and the moon was his sister. Eclipses were caused by celestial serpents which attacked these luminaries, threatening mankind with darkness. This catastrophe was to be followed by the transformation of men into hairy animals and by their mutual extermination.” Pay special attention to signs and omens in your own life now, not just the ones involving politics.
Some Jewish folklore says that there was an eclipse when Adam an Eve left the garden of Eden. This makes the eclipse a great time for serpent magic, and for rites and rituals involving the ancient Goddess Lilith. For herbs and other offerings for this Goddess please see my post Lilith Dark Goddess of your Dreams.
Since an eclipse takes place over a condensed period of time you can use this to amplify your magic. Because of the limited time period some have said that eclipse magic is only for advanced practitioners. Personally, I believe if you aren’t capable of raising and harnessing energy in a short period of time, you should be working on that. The eclipse is about focus, and this is a good time to use your focus, along with the energy from above to create positive change.
Both solar and lunar eclipses are a great time for charging your crystals and other ritual items. One of my fellow Patheos bloggers Aliza Einhorn wrote this week “light your candles and kiss your rose quartz and pray for what you want, wish upon a star, and believe.”
In accordance with the nature of an eclipse being about dark and light, this is a great time to perform rituals about getting rid of unwanted energy and influences and bringing positive change. On pangyrea.org High Priestess Dusty Dionne gives instructions for a just such a ritual. “When the entirety of the sun is eclipsed: The God and Goddess will have merged, creating at its center the void, a fertile womb created by the coupling of these two divine energies. The light of our current reality will have disappeared with the rays of the sun. In this moment, we will plant a new “Seed Reality” in the center of that womb-like void. Visualize placing this beautiful celestial seed made of light and love directly into the center of the eclipse to grow in place of the reality that has dissolved with the darkness. Set it here in this window that will close as the eclipse moves on, leaving the Seed Reality safe between the worlds to grow and flourish. “
Expect the unexpected. It has always been part of my personality to help myself and others come to terms with certain life lessons can can be called universals. When I was younger this manifested in my hiding around corners and jumping out at my little sister yelling “expect the unexpected,” sorry sis. During an eclipse things can seem mixed up, jumbled, or backwards. You can use this energy to bring about drastic change and innovation.
The days leading up to, and also following an eclipse are also very powerful. This is a great time to collect rain water, if possible. You can also use this time to carve candles, blend oils, etc.
What many people don’t know is you can also use eclipse magic to charge up ritual items with the energy of the eclipse to save for later. That way you can have the effect of this powerful phenomenon anytime of year.

Enjoy the eclipse magic ! And as always if you have enjoyed what you read here please remember to share, share, share !

Divination Space Station : The Empress + The Emperor

August 9, 2017 By Lilith Dorsey

Emperor Tarot recipe photo by Lilith Dorsey. All rights reserved.

I hope everyone has been watching my Tarot Every Witch Way Food video series. Each week we profile a different card and it’s accompanying recipe. This is part of a workshop that I have been offering for years, the next time will be this Saturday August 12th at Tarot Society in Brooklyn. Please come join us, you can register here.

The most recent videos I filmed focus on The Empress and The Emperor. These are two of the most powerful cards in the deck, and they can symbolize feminine and masculine, or Mother and Father. In many ways they represent a polarity, but also a duality which we will explore here.

The Empress Tarot Card

The Empress is numbered 3 in a standard tarot deck. The crystals associated with this card are Rose Quartz, Peridot, Turquoise, and Emerald. She is a card of love, harmony, creativity and nurturing. In her Goddess form she manifests as Venus, Isis, Demeter, Ishtar, Aphrodite, Cybele, and Lilith. This card represents a Mother’s love, kind ,gentle, and truly uplifting. This recipe is designed to give you a deeper understanding of the card. Please enjoy !

Foxy Ladies Recipe (formerly Foxy Cleopatras)

3 Tbs. Oil

1/2 cup diced onion

2 Tbs. minced garlic

3 tbs chopped fresh sage

3/4 cup mashed pumpkin

3/4 cup breadcrumbs

1 egg

salt and pepper.

Fry onions, garlic and sage in Olive oil til browned. Add this to the rest of ingredients, mix well. Form into balls approximately 1 inch in diameter. Place on lightly greased baking sheet and cook at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

The Emperor Tarot Card

This card is numbered 4 in a standard tarot deck. He is power and ultimate possibility. Associated with Shiva, Osiris, Poseidon, Neptune, and Pluto he takes command in many different realms. Here is authority, permission, creativity, gain, and careful plans. When I was deciding which recipe to make for this video I thought hard, but not long. Bacon, yes bacon was going to be the main ingredient to illustrate the Emperor’s power and command.

Maple Bacon Delight Recipe

1 lb. Bacon, cooked

1/4 cup Maple syrup

1/4 cup Brown Sugar

1 package Crescent rolls

Form crescent rolls into a large triangle on a baking sheet. Drizzle with the Maple syrup. Crumble bacon into pieces and sprinkle over the top, do the same with the brown sugar. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 15-20 minutes until it begins to brown. Enjoy.

As always if you have enjoyed what you find here please do us a favor and share, share, share !

Divination Space Station: Fontaine Foxworth + Melanade Stand Tarot

June 29, 2017 By Lilith Dorsey

The Empress card from the Brown Girl Tarot™. All rights reserved.

Divination Space Station is proud today to feature Melanade Stand Tarot , the world’s first real life non-illustrated Tarot Card Deck, that exclusively features 78 photographs of Women of Color and one adorable brown baby girl! Melanade Stand Tarot deck is set to include 78, 3.5 X 5″ artfully designed photographed, 350 GSM, Satin finish cards, including all suits of the Major and Minor Arcana. Created by Fontaine Foxworth, “MST celebrates and embraces the beauty and diversity of brown and black women, as every card is art directed to emphasize the core, sacred messages of tarot- with a modern brown girl spin. MST aims to Uplift, Empower, & Unite WOC, Whilst Redefining Black Spirituality Through Tarot Cards.” I’m honored to reveal that I will be included in this deck too, as the Hierophant card. It was my pleasure to sit down with Foxworth recently and ask her some questions about tarot and this exciting new deck.

When did you start divining? With what method?

About 3 years ago, I found my first deck of tarot cards in the empty apartment above mine. My sister and I were only snooping around up there to use the gas stove to make some ginger tea. I had just moved in and the gas was not on in my apartment and I was feeling sick. The deck was in a velvet pouch in an otherwise empty kitchen cabinet. I have fallen in love with tarot and it’s divine power ever since.

The Strength Card courtesy of Brown Girl Tarot™. All rights reserved.

What method do you use most often now?

I most often use tarot as my main source of divinatory meditation, however I have included the use of crystals, blessing oils, incense, and have even dabbled in spell work via Wiccan magical practices and evoking Orishas. I have been also grounding and molding my spirit to channel directly from source.

How important is the choice/phrasing of the question?

I think the choice and phrasing of the question is really important. I like to hone my energy and spirit onto very specific queries to the universe. I feel like if you are confused or unclear about the questions you need answers too, you should meditate and get as clear about what you are asking spirit to help you with. It’s easy to get mixed messages from the universe, if you were not clear about your problem in the first place.

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

I don’t really have a yes/no method. I’m pretty open to trying new things because I have a adventurous spirit. I think its about whatever you are most comfortable with, and whatever seems most natural to you. Some people like to practice divination using mirrors as oracles, but I personally haven’t ever had great success with that method. I guess some things take time and practice.

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

I would say take it one step at a time. Opening your heart and spirit to this kind of work takes a lot of courage, focus, and will power. It’s a sacred space that opens your spirituality up to a higher realm of consciousness – definitely something that can’t be rushed or forged. Be patient with yourself, and spirit also.

How did you come up with the idea for the Melanade Stand Tarot Deck?

Melanade Stand Tarot™ came by way of divine inspiration. I don’t remember the date, nor the moment the thought came in my head. It was like one day it didn’t exist, and the next day it did. In my imagination, it feels like the idea was implanted in my head by something not of this world when I was sleeping, and I have no recollection of how it was done. I just remember one night, whilst laying in bed thinking about it, I felt compelled by spirit to raise my hand and reach toward the ceiling. All I could say out loud, repeatedly was, “thank you…thank you.” I’m divinely grateful for Melanade Stand Tarot.

Melanade Stand Tarot™ is still raising funds for this project please donate to the fundraiser here, and tell them Lilith Dorsey sent you. If you would like to preorder the deck you can do that too here. As always if you have enjoyed what you find here on Voodoo Universe please do us a favor and share, share, share !

Herbal Magick: Lily of the Valley

May 27, 2017 By Lilith Dorsey

Lily of the Valley is a tiny, delicate flower that is full of magick. Ruled by the element of air, this botanical is said to foster communication, improve memory, mental stability, purity, and peace.

Lily of the Valley photo by Lilith Dorsey. All rights reserved.

May lily, Lily constancy, and ladder to heaven, are some of the other names for this plant. According to the herbalist Culpeper “there is an old English legend from Sussex that St. Leonard fought against a great dragon in the woods near Horham and wherever his blood fell lilies of the valley sprang up to commemorate the desperate fight. The woods still bear the name of St Leonard and the forest floor is still covered in lilies of the valley. ” Blooming this time of year it makes a traditional appearance on Beltane altars and as offerings.

Lily of the Valley is believed to magickally connect the head and the heart. It opens the pathways in our mind to allow access to higher spheres of consciousness. Spiritually it pairs well with crystals like amethyst, quartz, and amber. You can use the flowers, leaves, or the powdered root in your spellwork.

According to the legendary Victorian language of flowers if you received this bloom it meant happiness was to return to you. Partially for this reason people use it in workings to return a lost love, or heal a divided relationship.

Both the gods Apollo and Mercury rule over this plant. It can clearly help with communication and messages from this world and other realms as well. You can combine Lily of the Valley with some of the other plants from the list below to create your own fairy garden.

Plants for your Fairy Garden

Lily of the Valley

Primrose

Irish Moss

Ferns

Violets

Oxalis

Lavender

Like many botanicals, parts of Lily of the Valley can be toxic. Special care is to be taken with the berries of this plant. Please proceed with caution and good judgement.

As always if you have enjoyed what your read here please check out the rest of the helpful posts in our Herbal Magick series, and share, share, share !

Protection Spells For Protesters

January 20, 2017 By Lilith Dorsey

Zora Neale Hurston photo courtesy of wikimedia commons.

There is a song in the air. People have been buzzing about it for weeks. It’s a song of angry women. Really it’s not just angry women, it’s an angry society that feels unheard and afraid. As I write this there are upwards of a million women and their allies preparing for the Women’s March on Washington this weekend for unity, protection, power, and progress . Speaking at the march are feminist icons Gloria Steinem and Angela Davis. The other notables set to appear include Scarlett Johansson, Michael Moore, Gwen Carr, Uzo Aduba, Cher, and many, many more. Sister marches have rose up here in my hometown of NYC, and all across the world really including India and New Zealand. In the words of Zora Neale Hurston ” If you are silent about your pain, they’ll kill you and say you enjoyed it.” The people rising up are proud and courageous, but in my sincerest heart of hearts I also hope they are protected.

There are many protection spells people can do to prepare themselves, and one is to carry rocks. No, I don’t mean for throwing but crystals for safety and protection. Some good crystals to carry in these protest situations would be clear quartz ( for blessings and clarity,) black tourmaline ( for protection and to transform negativity into positive change,) obsidian, carnelian, and turquoise.

Another good idea is to make a gris gris bag, or mojo bag, for protection. You can include your favorite power herbs and stones and whatever else you need. If you would like more information on making one of these, please see my video for Maman Brigitte.

Maman Brigitte is a loa of the Vodou and Voodoo pantheon who is seen as a wise and powerful grandmother to all mankind. Her sacred domain is justice. It is obvious why this is a particularly good protection spell to make up for marches. You can carry this bag with you, or even tie it to your protest sign. Luck and blessings to all who will be protesting, I hope to see you there !

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

10 Vital Voodoo Supplies You Can’t Live Without

January 12, 2016 By Lilith Dorsey

10 Voodoo Supplies you can't live without photo by Lilith Dorsey. All rights reserved — 10 Voodoo Supplies you can’t live without photo by Lilith Dorsey. All rights reserved

Spirituality can be a complicated business. The religion of New Orleans Voodoo is no exception. In my workshops I like to remind people that the Voodoo tradition became so strong because of it’s need to fight adversity and oppression. While the evil institutions of slavery and colonialism are mostly a thing of the past, there are still new dangers and challenges that we must face everyday in the modern world. This list will help you be prepared for most things that come your way. I have included links so that you may find these voodoo supplies if they aren’t readily available in stores near you.

Florida Water – Florida Water is used for just about everything in the religions of La Regla Lucumi (Santeria) and New Orleans Voodoo. This little bit of heaven in a bottle smells divine, and can be added to all types of rituals and spells.
Red Brick Dust – Red brick dust, preferably made from old bricks, serves to create a protective barrier between you and the outside world. In my post about Black Salt, White Salt, and Red Brick Dust All Over, I talk about how the best results from this can be obtained by laying a complete line across all your thresholds and windowsills on the eve of the full moon.
Black Salt – Black salt can be used like Sea salt and spread around the home, or simply carried in your pocket.
Sea Salt – This salt, a common kitchen witch standby, can protect and cleanse almost everything in your home. Try using it to cleanse your tarot cards or crystals.
Hi John Root – Also known as Johnny Conquer root, High John is one of the most powerful and popular items in New Orleans Voodoo. It works in spells of justice and power.
Rose of Jericho – This miraculous plant is used for healing in all areas, mind, body, soul, home, finances, etc. For a long time this plant was only available
Rose of Jericho, New Orleans. Photo by Lilith Dorsey. All rights reserved.

online or from your local Pagan store, fortunately I discovered that now they are even being sold in my local Trader Joe’s supermarket. Here is a link if you can’t find them there.
Grains of Paradise – Like all good magickal spices Grains of Paradise can be used for blessing and removal of curses and hexes.
May Rain Water – Rain water collected during the month of May serves to bring great blessings and joy into your life. This water can be added to other magickal water formulas, or simply spread about the home to bring successful energy to your space and workings.
Graveyard dirt – Graveyard dirt sounds like a spooky ingredient in a horror movie formula. In reality it can be used to strengthen your connection with the ancestors, and the dead, and also receive their protection.
Holy Water – It is hard to say whether this ingredient found it’s way onto most peoples protective supply list by accidental necessity, or design. Holy water is very protective when sprinkled around your home, windowsills, doorways, and even on yourself. You can get it yourself from your local church or you can even order Holy Water online from the sacred site of Lourdes.

Thanks for reading, and I would love to hear what’s in your own magickal first aid kit, please leave your recommendations in the comments below. If you have enjoyed what your read here please remember to do us a favor and share, share, share!

5 Creative Ways to Recharge Your Tarot Cards

February 6, 2015 By Lilith Dorsey

Creative Ways to Recharge your tarot cards photo by Lilith Dorsey, all rights reserved.

Tarot cards are magickal tools, and they are ones that by their nature frequently get touched and used by others. This means the need to cleanse them occasionally is great. I’ve been reading Tarot cards professionally for over two decades and I still make a point to cleanse my cards and my ritual reading space daily. The following is a list of creative and easy methods you can use to accomplish this.

Knock 3 times– You may have seen your Tarot reader do this before they start. Most people tap the deck twice on top, then once on the bottom. In a way this is representative of asking to enter the psychic world, the knocking serves as a petition for insight and guidance.
Put the cards back in numerical order– Reorganize the cards so that the go from 0-21 in the Major Arcana, and then follow with the individual suits. Fire, Water, Air and Earth is usually the way people order these, but feel free to organize it differently if you so desire. This step is very important to some readers, and others could care less. As always, see what works best for you and your cards.
Bury the Cards. This is easier said then done if you have a yard or other area to bury them. Apartment or Boat dwellers do not fear however, the same earthy cleansing can performed with a little creativity and a few materials. Get a large pot, wrap your cards in a clean natural fabric like cotton, and then place into a ziplock bag. Put the cards in the bottom of the pot and cover them with dirt. Leave outside overnight. Dig up your new and improved deck the next morning.
Salt the Cards– Sea Salt, Black Salt, Pink Salt… most salts are great for removing negativity, getting rid of
Salted Tarot photo by Lilith Dorsey, all rights reserved.

unwanted energy and grounding. One idea is to wrap your cards in cloth and a bag, like the dirt instructions in number 3 and then cover the entire thing with salt. Another idea would be to put salt water in a spray bottle and spray around the outside of the cards in a counterclockwise circle. You could also simply make a circle of salt around the cards (see photo.) A pinch of salt in your tarot bag would also accomplish the same results.
Sleep with your cards under your pillow – This is a two part process. Before taking the cards to bed, cleanse them with salt, Florida water, Palo Santo smoke or other magickal process. Then wrap then in a natural fabric white cloth and place them under your pillow. This will help to re-attune your energies to the cards. People have accused me of being a little bizarre ( just a little) when offering this suggestion, but it can be a very effective way of connecting with your Tarot deck. Try it, you might like it !

There are many other ways of cleansing your cards, crystals, altars, smoke and more. I would love to hear your favorites in the comments below. For those who would like more information about a Tarot reading from me please message me at voodoouniverse@yahoo.com and New Yorkers please check out my tarot workshop Sunday Feb 8 at Esoterico Brooklyn. Happy Blessings !