Divination Cards: A Sacred Tool for Ancestral Guidance
The cards never lie. That’s what Big Mama always said as she shuffled her old, tattered deck, the edges soft from years of use. She never called it tarot, never needed fancy names for what she did. “I just listen,” she’d say. “The old folks still talk if you know how to hear ‘em.”
For generations, Black folks have turned to divination—be it bones, shells, playing cards, or specially crafted oracle decks—to make sense of the unseen. We have always known that there is more to this world than what meets the eye. Our grandmothers had dreams that warned them of trouble. Our uncles played the numbers from visions whispered in the night. And those of us who know better never ignore the feeling that tells us to turn left instead of right.
What Are Divination Cards?
Divination cards are a spiritual tool used to gain insight, clarity, and direction. They don’t predict the future in a fixed way, but rather reveal patterns, offer wisdom, and remind us that we are never alone in our journey. They are a bridge between our world and the one our ancestors now walk.
Many of us come from traditions where spirituality isn’t just practiced—it’s lived. Hoodoo rootworkers in the Deep South used playing cards when access to traditional African divination tools was lost. Yoruba Ifá priests in Nigeria and the diaspora cast sacred divination trays to seek guidance from the Orishas. And let’s not forget the whispers of elders who, without a single card or shell, could tell you what was coming just by the way the wind blew through the trees.
Why We Seek Guidance Beyond Logic
In a world that often tells us to rely only on what we can see and prove, divination reminds us that our deepest knowing comes from within. Our ancestors didn’t always have maps, yet they found their way. They didn’t always have books, but they held stories rich with knowledge. Their guidance was not based on logic alone but on spirit, intuition, and the kind of wisdom that comes from listening—really listening.
Ask any Black elder about a dream that came true, a sign they followed, or a gut feeling they trusted, and you’ll hear the same thing: we have always been guided.
The Street Priestess Ancestors Oracle Deck
One modern-day deck that embodies the essence of ancestral guidance is the Street Priestess Ancestors Oracle Deck. This deck was created to honor the spirits of family, community, and lineage—reminding us that our ancestors are not distant, nameless figures, but the very people who loved, struggled, and thrived before us.
The cards in this deck echo the voices of the past, offering messages rooted in resilience, protection, and the everyday wisdom that guided our people through hardships and triumphs. It doesn’t just tell you about the past—it shows you how to carry ancestral knowledge forward in a way that strengthens you today. Whether you need encouragement, a reality check, or a push toward your highest purpose, this deck ensures that your ancestors’ voices remain alive and active in your life.
How to Use Divination Cards for Ancestral Connection
Using divination cards to connect with your ancestors isn’t complicated, but it does require reverence and intention.
- Set the Mood – Light a candle. Pour a glass of water. Call on your ancestors by name. They need to know you’re serious.
- Ask with Respect – Instead of “Will I be rich?” try “What do my ancestors want me to focus on for my prosperity?”
- Pay Attention to Patterns – If the same card keeps appearing, don’t ignore it. Messages are rarely random.
- Write It Down – Keep a journal of your readings. What doesn’t make sense today might be clear in a month.
- Act on the Wisdom – Guidance without action is wasted knowledge. If you’re told to move, move. If you’re warned, listen.
Black Folklore and Divination: Stories We Carry
Every Black family has stories of signs and omens.
- The Dream That Warned – Many Southern grandmothers swore that if you dream of fish, someone’s pregnant. Science might scoff, but those dreams rarely lie.
- The Bird at the Window – An elder in the neighborhood used to say, “If a bird taps at your window, pay attention. Somebody’s tryna tell you something.” In Hoodoo, birds are often seen as messengers between worlds.
- The Lottery Numbers in a Dream – There’s a well-known tale about a woman in Harlem who played the numbers her late mother gave her in a dream—and hit big. Whether luck or ancestral intervention, who’s to say?
Divination, in all its forms, has always been part of our lineage. Whether through dreams, signs, or cards, our ancestors continue to speak. The question is—are we listening?
Reclaiming Our Spiritual Heritage
For too long, Black spirituality has been dismissed, demonized, or watered down. But divination is not the work of the devil—it is the work of remembering. It is the practice of sitting at the feet of our ancestors and saying, I am ready to listen.
So the next time you shuffle your deck, hold it with the same reverence as Big Mama did. Because these aren’t just cards—they’re conversation pieces with the past, roadmaps for the present, and love letters from those who walked before us.
And if you listen closely, you just might hear them whisper back.