PERSONAL BIO:

Raised in the suburbs just outside of Seattle, WA, Ali Ruff grew up during the 70's and 80's while the 'New Age Movement" and the Occult were a burgeoning phenomenon inundating American pop culture.  As a child, she could often be found firmly planted in front of the television watching Elvira's Movie Macabre, or playing in a pioneer cemetery hidden in the woods near her home. Noting her early attraction to all things "spooky", Ali's parents gave her a Ouija board for Christmas when she was 9 years old.  Ms. Ruff claims this gift is what began her life long preoccupation with the idea of speaking to spirits and consulting with the Divine by means of games and devices.

As a result of her interest in ritualized gaming systems and fortune telling in particular,  Ali has spent the majority of her life researching, and studying the Occult, spiritual belief systems, Folklore, Mythology and History as well as collecting Victorian and Edwardian era talking boards and fortune telling games. Her natural appreciation of art and enjoyment of spirit boards is also what inspired her business,  "Speaking With Spirits" manufacturing and designing her own line of talking boards, which she operated between the years 1999-2007. Ms. Ruff is an experienced lecturer, speaking at conventions and conferences regarding the history and use of talking boards, oracles and divination tools.  She is currently the Owner/Operator of Madam Sheol's Curious Treasures and works with Ouija expert, Robert Murch, as a Director for the Talking Board Historical Society, the mission of which is to research, preserve, and celebrate the history of talking boards, the people who use them, and the men and women behind them.