Gather round the crystal ball because we’re celebrating Psychic Day! Interestingly, the origins of the holiday are a mystery and it’s not known for certain who established it. However, what is agreed upon is that the occasion celebrates individuals who are in tune with their extrasensory perception (ESP), otherwise referred to as the sixth sense. Psychic Day takes place annually on the first Sunday in August and to commemorate it this year, I’m highlighting respected psychic and medium, Richard-Lael Lillard, also known as The Gentleman Psychic.
I first met Richard-Lael a few years ago when he played Willy Wonka and was Master of Ceremonies at Beetle House LA. At the time, I had no idea he was clairvoyant, but I thoroughly enjoyed the exuberant energy he brought to the Tim Burton-themed restaurant. When I learned he was offering Tarot readings at his lovely Victorian home in Pasadena, CA, it felt right to book a session with him.
I paid him a few visits and always walked away feeling more at ease than when I entered. Before I saw Richard-Lael, it had been over a decade since my last Tarot reading. His guidance and insight on the situations I was dealing with at the time were eye-opening and a comfort. And I must mention, his historic residence was absolutely stunning.
Over the years, he’s become renowned as The Gentleman Psychic and has been involved with various projects. He opened up his haunted 19th-century Pasadena residence to Zak Bagans and the crew of Travel Channel’s Ghost Adventures. If you’re interested in watching it (and I recommend you do), it’s season 19, episode seven titled “Pasadena Ritual House.” He also made a major move and relocated to the East Coast where he continues to dedicate his time and efforts to his occult work.
In the following interview, Richard-Lael discusses clairvoyance and his lineage, Satanism, his artwork and much more. It’s time to lift the veil and get to know more about The Gentleman Psychic.
Q: You tapped into your psychic abilities at a very young age, and you mention on your website that clairvoyance is a part of your ancestry. Could you expand a bit on how it’s connected to your heritage? As a child, how did you comprehend and view your abilities?
A: Thank you. That is a great question. My mother was Native American and had dealt with spirits and otherworldly knowledge. My father’s ancestry was French Protestants who married natives. Both my mother and father were clairvoyant. And then I was raised in the Pentecostal movement, now more commonly known to be among the evangelicals. In that tradition, it is common for people to see spirits and even do folk magick (though they would never have called it magick or witchcraft) but it is how I learned.
Early on, I knew when my father would pass away, less so with my mother, probably because I didn’t want to face that. My father came down with Guillian-Barre syndrome and went into a coma. When asked what I wanted for my birthday, I would say, “My father is coming home for my birthday,” but he was pronounced dead. He said he was cognizant throughout the entire endeavor. When he sat up and spoke to the nurse, she immediately fainted on the floor. The doctor said, “If a corpse would raise out of bed and speak to you, you might pass out too.” But my father came home the day and the night before my 5th birthday. My mother asked, “Well honey, aren’t you happy? Your daddy came home?” I responded, “I knew he was going to.” And I recall thinking, “I will have him for 20 more years, a little more… but 20 years.” Twenty years later he passed away the day and the night after my birthday.
Q: At what point did you begin to hone in on and nurture your clairvoyant gifts? And, what inspired you to use your abilities to do Tarot card readings, conduct seances and offer other esoteric services?
A: I was living in San Francisco when my friend Charles said he had tarot cards for me, but before he gave them to me with the stipulation that I must first read for him. I protested that I didn’t know the cards or what they meant, yet he persisted and I yielded to his request. Afterwards, he exclaimed how accurate I was in my reading and thanked me.
For a little while I would read for parties and events on occasion. It was exhausting, but worth it. People would ask about their deceased loved ones and l learned that I could see things and I would tell them what I see.
I didn’t start doing it full time until the event space I emceed for was closed for remodeling. I thought, what service can I provide that would get me through the in-between. I then advertised on Facebook to my friends that I was offering readings. From there I started a podcast with my friend Frankie, where I met my dear friend Patti. From this connection, I was invited onto Ghost Adventures.
Q: What do you find most fulfilling about your work as a psychic and medium? What have been some of your most memorable experiences?
A: I love helping people. I help them make life choices; I give them closure when dealing with loved ones. To me it is so beautiful to see people feel relieved.
One of my favorite experiences was when I conducted a seance and the occultist/rocket scientist Jack Parsons showed up. (He did at one time reside down the street from where I lived in Pasadena). Long story short, Jack gave information that proved it was he we were speaking to, and then pointed me to a book by pen name HH Holmes. The book was called “Rocket to the Morgue” from the mid 1940’s. In the boom he gently jokes about me not completing the book I am supposed to write.
Q: I appreciate that you’re a proud Satanist and that you strive to banish the stereotypes associated with Satanism. Why do you connect with Satanism, and what makes it significant in your life?
A: I am an independent Satanist and not affiliated with The Church of Satan, nor with The Satanic Temple. However, there are aspects of each I do admire.
The mythology behind the serpent, Lucifer, and Satan is incredibly interesting to me. The serpent in the garden was really the ancient symbol for the Mesopotamian deity, EL. EL was the creator god whose form was that of a serpent eating his tail. He encircled the fresh waters that surrounded the earth. He gave birth to many gods, including Yahweh who was the god of thunder and war.
Lucifer is Latin, which means “bringer of light.”
Satan means opponent.
I will say this, in the Abrahamic verses the devil “HaSatan” does not tell a single lie. He is always truthful. He never kills a single person while Yahweh murders millions, sends a lying spirit to deceive Ahab (1st Kings 22:19-23), and says to own slaves and says one can beat them until they cannot get up for two days. Yahweh (though fictional) commands things I cannot espouse.
So, I strive to be like the Serpent, like Lucifer and like Satan. Honest in all things, a bringer of light, and to oppose tyranny and arbitrary rules.
Q: In addition to being a gifted psychic, you’re also a magician with the paintbrush! How did you get into painting and creating artwork?
A: In a funny way actually. When I was a boy growing up in the Midwest, I wanted grand Victorian homes and heavy ornate furniture, but those things were few and far between or way out of price range. So I drew them. I wanted things and I drew what I wanted my life to be like.
Then one day in my mid 20’s, my ballet mistress asked me to help her paint a set. She asked if I could paint a grandfather clock for The Nutcracker. I picked up the paint brush and created an elaborate 3-D clock. She marveled, “Why didn’t you tell me you could paint?!?!?” I responded, “I didn’t know I could. I never picked up a paintbrush in my life.”
Q: Parting is such sweet sorrow, but before we do, what does the future hold for The Gentleman Psychic? Are there any teasers you’d like to share about upcoming endeavors?
A: Thank you, it’s been a real pleasure. I will be hosting The Debauchery Ball with my friend Lord Constantine Latting in Atlanta on the 2nd of September and will be in Youngstown, Ohio, the end of October. Also, you can find me every Wednesday on YouTube for “Movie Witches Coven” where witches talk about witches in movies. And on Friday night “Story Time” on The Gentleman Psychic YouTube. Also, I teach regular classes at University Magickus, where we teach real magick from every tradition. And as always, one can reach me at thegentlemanpsychic.com.
Where to Stalk
The Gentleman Psychic official website
Vamp Jenn's Corner 
You certainly do the most amazing interviews. This was fun and interesting reading. I had to look up Guillian-Barre syndrome. I think Richard-Lael Lillard’s view on Satanism might be a bit unconventional. Interesting but unconventional.
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I’m so glad you enjoy my interviews! Thank you for saying. Richard-Lael certainly is a fascinating individual. Thank you for reading.
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