We recently connected with Keana Marie and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Keana, thanks for joining us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

I can’t see a life without art.

From the beginning, I would pick up my dad’s video camera and go around being a documentarian. I’d make films about the town I grew up in, which then quickly escalated to narrative pieces. Granted they weren’t all that good, but the sparkle in my eye only grew brighter as I discovered the world of cinema.

Art truly is in the eye of the beholder and in my world I see it everywhere. On the sidewalks after the rain has left leaf stains. When the steam from a hot cup of tea forms images as it dances. When light decorates any surface it touches. You get the point.

I am insufferable at drawing, but I love mixed media collages. Gathering materials, paint, littles pieces of culture and experience and slapping it onto a canvas. That is what drove me to creating a mixed media collage tarot deck. My love of collage and tarot bound into one. Retro Witch Tarot was born.

What I love about art is that there is no right or wrong. There is no art that is greater than the other because ultimately it is your own. If it makes you happy that’s all that matters.

So yes I am infinitely happy as an artist and I would be completely lost without art.

Is it difficult? Yes. Would I trade it for anything else in this world? No.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi! I’m Keana. I’m an actor, writer, filmmaker and entrepreneur. I was born in Nice, France to a Brazilian mother and a French father. I moved to Miami, Fl at the age of 8 and attended Academy of Arts and Minds, a charter art high school where I majored in theater and minored in film and photography. When I graduated I went to film school and studied cinematography. You may recognize me from Netflix’s ‘Dash & Lily’ created by Shawn Levy (‘Stranger Things’) and Nick Jonas, as well as other film and television projects. My directorial debut ‘As The Tide Comes in’ premiered at the LA Shorts Film Festival and I am in the midst of editing my second film ‘Wendy’, as well as writing my first feature. I believe story telling is one of the main threads that holds humanity together. We can laugh together, cry together, learn together. Connection is everything and story telling does exactly that — connect.

As a highly spiritual being, tarot has been a strong confidante, guide, and passion of mine. I have been crowned as the witch of my friend group and I beam whenever I’m asked to do a reading for someone.

The idea of Retro Witch Tarot came to me after an epiphany I experienced through my own personal reading. I wanted to merge my love of collage art with my passion of healing people with the help of divination tools.

I launched the brand at The Other Art Fair where I had my own artist booth.

In the deck you will find answers to your questions, direction, and reconnection with your deepest desires. As you tune into the Universe’s energy, the cards in turn will gift you perception. Remember, the cards will always know you better than you know yourself. For my tarot newbies, there is nothing to fear, the cards illuminate things that are already in your subconscious and they do so in a very loving way. They help guide you and bring messages to light that are trying to reach you. Do your best to listen wholeheartedly. The spirits always have your back and are working for you. Trust in that.

Each traditional tarot deck contains 78 cards; I have added a few additional cards I felt were important in making Retro Witch Tarot extra special.

An introductory card: “Drop Into Your Adventure” to signify the beginning of your reading and set the tone that life is an adventure. Embrace what life is giving you, choose-your-own-adventure and immerse yourself fully.
I created The Universe Card because all sentient beings have the ability to manifest and to work with the Universe. Relieve yourself of pressure, the Universe is grander than us all and holds the bigger picture that we can’t always see. It’s got you. Keep visualizing and manifesting.

I am delighted and filled to the brim with gratitude to finally be able to share Retro Witch Tarot with the world!
ps: I am working on a Retro Witch subscription box filled with all of your witchy needs :)

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

The number of stories I could tell that has tested my resilience is too high but I can say this: you need to become best friends with rejection.

Take rejection out on dates. Buy it dinner. Get really comfy with it, cause I’m sure it will never stop to make an appearance from time to time.

Yes, every career deals with rejection but double that for the life of an artist. Resilience and full hearted determination is necessary. Set backs, failures — they are going to happen. It’s just a matter of continuing to strive forward. You will get there. We all will. I promise.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Yes.

Asking for help. We can’t do it all on our own. There is no shame is asking for help. Every great idea most likely came to life with a lent hand.

If you’re met with a resounding no, that’s okay. Why? Because rejection is our bestie now. There are others eager to be of assistance to bring your wild imagination to life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://retrowitchtarot.com/
• Instagram: @keanamarie_
• Twitter: @keanamarie

Image Credits
David Higgs (on the headshot photo)