We are each born into this world with a purpose, with certain gifts, and a vibrancy and joy about bringing these forward into community. Almost immediately we forget this purpose. Life presents complications, distractions, and wounds. Ancestors and spirits remember. Our inner daemon or spirit double remembers. Through divination we can receive guidance from these sources.
There are many different methods of divination, across various cultures. I use the tools and methods of a Kontomble merged stick diviner and draw on the experience and knowledge I gained in my three year course of study with Malidoma Somé and my travel to Dano, Burkina Faso, Africa. In Dano I stayed in Malidoma’s family compound and worked with the local Shaman. Support and guidance from the invisible world streamed through the ancient gateways still tended with lively dedication. I bring the tools and procedures I learned there, to our work.
It is not necessary for you to subscribe to the particular beliefs of the Dagara people for you to resonate with the information we obtain from the invisible world. Spirituality is a river and there are many wells through which we can tap into this flow and nourish our souls. You are the one that determines what is true and relevant to you.
What we do:
Divination sessions are done in my divination room in my Cincinnati office or by phone. To prepare for a divination, get into a meditative state and hold a coin while you speak your heart, intentions and questions into the coin. Questions can be specific or as general as wanting information to help you on your healing journey. Sleep with the coin under your pillow and note any dreams that come to you. If you do not remember a dream, write down the first thoughts that come to you in the morning or simply draw a picture or design. Then place the coin in an envelope and send it to me. (If we are doing this in person, simply bring the coin with you when we meet.)
The fee for the divination must be paid in advance if by phone or at the time of the session if in person. The concrete energy exchange represented by the coin and the fee is important to the divination process. The coin goes to Kontombili in exchange for their help in the divination, the fee goes to me as the diviner. You are giving and you are receiving from the invisible world. I will contribute a portion of all fees to the Dagara people through Aviela, Inc.
We create sacred space through our intention. I sprinkle ash to mark the boundaries of the space and do an invocation to call helpful spirits and ancestors. I use the bell and rattle given to me in Africa. I then proceed to lay out my spread of objects through which the spirits and ancestors speak. These cowrie shells, bones and other objects have been activated through ritual. They serve as receivers for energy from the invisible world. The spirits, ancestors and Kontombili influence how these objects fall and which objects are to be interpreted. Sometimes information comes directly to you. Through a dialogue with each other and with the invisible world, we weave a story that helps you create balance in your life, heal what needs healing, and bring your gifts forward.
Prescriptions are made. These involve some ritual for you to carry out, some action for you to take. For example, one of my clients who was caught up in the hectic pace of corporate life was asked to go out into the woods and make an offering of honey and sesame seed to the nature spirits, thanking them for their presence and asking for help in coming to his true nature. What emerges as you carry out the ritual cannot be predicted. Creating the sacred space, the intention to pay attention and honor the realm of spirit produces an opening through which guidance, inspiration and comfort can occur. The ritual is derived through dialogue, not simply imposed. You take an active role in deciding what steps will resonate with what you need. Deep inside you is knowledge of your own inner truth. Divination awakens this truth and calls it forward.
I encourage you to make notes after the divination session. I will send you a photo of the spread and notes on the prescription.