Black Girls and Moon Magick: Finding Spiritualism As A Black Woman

In my spiritual space, women are not vilified, blackness is not subjugated, and ideology is not built on the bones of white patriarchy. 

image @blacktarotgirl.

Despite what results may yield from googling alternative spirituality online, the movement toward embracing tarot, spell casting, and non-western practice is not just limited to white girls with dreadlocks and aesthetic Instagram pages. 

Traditional African and non-western practice is on the rise among young black women, with online communities like Black Girl Tarot flourishing, and discussions of crediting African sourced folklore and practice entering the conversation of cultural appropriation. 

But it's no secret that by and large, the Black community primarily identifies as Christian. And though that’s not inherently problematic, both the Christian and Black community have tumultuous relationships with black women, often demonizing our very existence as both a black person and a woman. As a result, the fight to take up space in the black church is a strenuous battle against the prejudices that come with our identities.   

Within my personal journey, exploring alternative spiritual practice has been a healing experience. During a time in my life in which I was beginning to embrace who I am without apologies, I realized that I had to find a practice and space where I could feel whole, uncompromised. For me, exploring a spiritual space that isn’t built on an anti-queer, misogynist institution has been boundlessly empowering.

Not to say Christianity and western belief systems and the people that follow them are inherently evil--- spirituality is a powerful thing, and having faith in something that empowers the best parts of you is beautiful.

But historically speaking, it’s not what Christianity as an institution did. Instead, it was used as a mechanism of power that inflicted horrors on people like me for years utilizing shame and violence, and to this day demonizes both womanhood and queerness. And those things don’t just get to go away because you pray on it. Trust me, I’ve tried. 

So for me, finding my power and faith in something that celebrates the parts of myself I’ve been taught to hate is a different kind of reclamation-- one that’s political and social and personal all at once. In my spiritual space, women are not vilified, blackness is not subjugated, and ideology is not built on the bones of white patriarchy. 

But exploring spiritual practices, even (and perhaps even especially) those having roots in traditional African practice is still stigmatized within the black church and community. I talked to versed tarot practitioner and spiritualist Nodja Johnson (@gypsy_hussle_ ) about the challenges of navigating the spiritual space as a black woman, and her personal experience in finding a practice off the beaten path. 

Tell me about the transformation of your spiritual journey. How has it changed, and how has it remained the same? What influences you spiritually?

I started reading cards back in 2001; I was 20 turning 21 at the time. I was one of the few girls in my city, and probably the youngest doing anything spiritual back during that time. I would read my friends and family for free. I became so good at it, I started scaring myself.  I didn’t have a group of women to talk to about this-- I didn’t have Google or social media to help me with what I was learning or dealing with. I was alone and thrown to the wolves in the world of Tarot. 

Back then, being a black girl reading Tarot, I was immediately judged. Some people were immediately scared and assumed I worshipped the Devil, and some were intrigued.  I had churchgoers telling me all the time that I was conjuring bad spirits, and begged me to walk away. And I did for a while but returned back to the practice I loved eventually.

What has your experience been as a back woman in this spiritual space that is largely non-Christian? Generally, what you say the experience is like for women like you?

I do think church and religion, namely christians, can be toxic for black women because it’s so judgmental. It teaches you to run away and hide from your gifts. I think a lot of women feel safe with spirituality, and free; it feels natural and less judgemental. The church comes with so many rules and so much guilt but the spiritual world doesn’t punish you for your mistakes. I think we just naturally connect more with those traditions, calling on our ancestors rather than reading a rule book and following religion. 

Why do you think so many black women are expanding their spiritual practice and exploring different belief systems right now?

I’ll be honest, I also think it’s becoming trendy -- but again you’re speaking to someone whose been doing it 20 years. I’ve seen social media make it the new it thing. So while some are really discovering their true gifts, I worry for some it’s a trend.

But things have also changed so much. More church women are coming over-- all of my church friends are now burning sage. Overall I’m glad more women are waking up and expanding. We have been threatened by religion our entire lives told we will be punished for things we’ve done.The new awakening feels free -- and all though I’m keeping my eye out for the trend followers -- I’m excited for those that truly want to learn!

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Erin Davis is a writer, filmmaker, and journalist who explores documentary and stylized media through her work. Through this work, Erin strives to uplift the narratives and experiences of marginalized communities and subcultures; her visual and written media explores the intersections of identity, culture, and art, and ties these concepts to youth culture and activism.