We recently connected with Aviana Vonnette and have shared our conversation below.
Aviana, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.
I’m a big believer of our soul choosing certain people and events to come into our lives to help us evolve. My soul definitely chose my mom to help me grow and I’m extremely grateful. My mom and I have been through some real growing pains in our relationship. The first incident was when she kicked me out at 19. Her and I did not see eye to eye, as most parents with their teens. She felt the best solution was for us to no longer live together. At first, this was devastating for me. It brought on a battle with mental illness that I did not think I was equipped for. During this battle with depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation I found my spiritual self. Because I was so hopeless I welcomed anything that reignited the spark within my soul. That started with tarot readings and yoga, then it progressed into meditations, affirmations, crystal healing. Without my mom kicking me out, I would have never went down this path. I needed something to pull me out of the trenches and my spiritual practices did exactly that. I tell my mom to this day I am grateful she kicked me out and I wouldn’t change that situation for anything.
My mom and I’s relationship is a big reflection of my healing journey. My mom really helped me understand that our outer world reflects our inner world. The more work I did on myself, the healthier and closer my mom and I have gotten. At this point in our relationship, we’re able to have an open dialogue and be honest with one another. We can set boundaries and see how we trigger the other and learn how to be better. I never thought this type of relationship with my mom was possible.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I started doing tarot readings in 2018 when I was 20 years old. I found astrologers/tarot readers on Twitter and I eventually started watching the full-length readings on YouTube. These readings provided me with so much insight and hope, I fell in love instantly. At this time in my life, I was going through a lot of struggles mentally and emotionally and tarot really helped me through it. Eventually, I got the confidence to get my own deck and began practicing on myself and loved ones. I realized pretty quickly that I had something significant here and I loved helping others. So, I took the tarot to YouTube and started Aviana’s Tarot. When I began my YouTube channel, it was only about tarot readings. I reflected on my healing journey and realized that so much more went into my transformation: meditations, sound healing, crystal healing, yoga. So, I went back to the drawing board and came up with Aviana’s Ascension – an all-inclusive spiritual experience. I did not want to limit myself to just tarot, because that’s not all that I used to help myself heal. I wanted to help people really transform themselves and reclaim their power, so I started slowly expanding my skillset and therefore my services.
The services I provide my clients are a reflection of the tools and rituals I used to ascend myself, hence the name! I provide tarot readings, spiritual sessions, and spiritual ceremonies. I love doing tarot readings because they are how all of this started. Tarot will always have a special place in my heart. I start my readings by cleansing my tools, self, and space. Then, I say a prayer and shuffle the cards to set the intention for the reading (who it’s for and what they need guidance on.) After that I get my sound bowl and do a meditation on the person to see what spirit would like to start with, this is where I get visions or phrases/a story spirit wants to tell about/for the person. Finally, I start pulling cards. I use a variety of tarot and oracle decks for my readings. I’m very nosy and I don’t want any loose ends so I tend to be very thorough.
My spiritual sessions are kind of like therapy sessions. It’s a one-hour session where we work towards whatever goal the client has for themselves. I start this out with a call/email/zoom so the client and I can set an intention/goal they want to achieve for the sessions. This could be anything: inner child healing, attracting something to you, releasing something, material goals, letting go of doubt – literally anything you can imagine. Then, I will gather different spiritual tools/rituals that will help my client move towards their goal. This can include sound therapy, a reading, crystal healing, cleansing ritual, affirmations, etc. I usually like to discuss things with my client during these sessions. Talk therapy is really significant in releasing things and realizing what is keeping you from obtaining your goals.
The spiritual ceremonies are just like the spiritual sessions, except all encompassing. The ceremonies are longer than the sessions because they have more going on. Instead of choosing a few practices that will help you move towards your goal, we’ll do all of them! Just like the sessions, I will contact the client so we can establish what they want to work towards.
I am currently working on getting my yoga certification and strengthening my mediumship, so these will be other services I can provide in the future!
The problems I solve for my clients are the same problems I solved for myself with these services, and I think that’s what sets me apart from others. I have an undeniable passion for what I do because I know it works. I know the transformation I can provide for others because I provided it for myself first. That’s why I believe in my work so much and that’s why I know it’s my purpose. I had to do it for myself before I could do it for others. I was living in a reality where I was succumbed by anxiety, depression, hopelessness, despair, sadness, anger at the world and the past. I eventually freed myself from all of that. It’s not to say I don’t have bad days or experience emotions outside of happiness and joy – I do! It’s just that I know how to process things now and I know how to live in my truth and not give my power away so easily. I believe we all have the power within to find inner peace, happiness, and live our dreams come true. Sometimes we go through experiences where we forget this: bad connections (friendship/relationship/family/coworkers), traumatic childhoods, financial despair, societal norms, not knowing our true self and worth. Whatever situation you gave your power to and forgot who you are, it doesn’t matter. I know everyone has the power to rebuild and transform their life into a dream come true – turn your pain into power. I can help people do that because I did it for myself. It took a lot of work and dedication but I wouldn’t change it for anything and that’s what I’m most proud of.
With Aviana’s Ascension, I turned pain into power. What was supposed to take me out, transformed me into the lightworker I am today. I am beyond grateful for all of the trauma and pain I went through because it taught me so much and, without it, I wouldn’t be who I am today. I want that for everyone. I want everyone to truly know that there are no mistakes, everything happens for a reason. When you stand in your power, you are able to see those reasons and jump for joy. It is the most freeing, powerful, beautiful thing I have ever been able to experience. I cry with gratitude to see the person I am today and how far she has come. That is what I want for the whole world. It is my purpose to help everyone turn their pain into power.
Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?
Having boundaries is definitely the most helpful for being successful in this sort of work. When I first started doing tarot readings, people would want free readings all the time or try to get me to provide their friends with free readings. Sometimes it still feels awkward to tell people they have to pay upfront, my prices for my readings, but at the end of the day I run a business and my skills/energy are very important to me and I’m not just giving it away. You also need boundaries when you have an online presence. People will try to argue with you or get free readings and you need to have that boundary with yourself to not engage.
You also need to have boundaries so you don’t exert too much of your energy. It takes a lot to do this sort of work so it’s important to establish an understanding with your inner world so you know when it’s time to pull back.
You also need to establish boundaries with the spiritual realm. A lot of people ask me about “negative energy/evil spirits” and worrying about connecting with them. The spirits know I am in control, I’m not scared, and we work on my terms. That’s the end of that. And if a spirit tries it, they immediately get the sage and I let them know what’s up and who’s in charge.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
Understanding that no one else is me and that is all I need to stand out. There are thousands of tarot readers on YouTube and millions of people making the same content as me on all the other platforms. You know what makes me stand out? None of them are me. The more you allow your true self to shine, the more people will resonate with you. I used to force myself to post ‘cards of the day,’ do love readings, and come up with click-bait titles for my readings. It didn’t work because it wasn’t me. When you force content out of yourself it will lead to burnout and resentment. Not only that, your audience will be able to tell the passion isn’t there. When I allow myself to have fun, I am always inspired and coming up with fun ways to execute my vision. Allowing myself to think outside of the box and really listen to my heart led me to expand my business.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.avianasascension.squarespace.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avianas.ascension/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AvianasAscension
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWNfvIKFcP3jrHhQZJXWnCg
Image Credits
Kathryn Carterez (photo) Patrick Bender (photo) Macey DeGraw (logo)