Struggling with your MFA application? Learn how a multi-disciplinary artist went from repeated rejections to a fully-funded Berkeley MFA. Plus: see the actual portfolio that worked.
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Queer Conjure: An Interview with Jasper Joy, the Genderqueer Witch Redefining Magic and Empathy /
A photo of Jasper Joy from their website Queer Conjure. Can be found here.
Hello Jasper, I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to chat with you today and delve deeper into your world and the work you do with Queer Conjure. Before we begin, would you kindly introduce yourself and share a few key aspects of your journey that have led you to where you are today? I'm eager to learn more about your unique path.
Yes, thank you! Your work has been quite the inspiration for me! I first learned about you through Ylva Mara a couple of years ago and I’ve been listening to your Mutant Musings on Youtube ever since, as well as some of your other videos and I just appreciate them so much.
My name is Jasper Joy, my pronouns are they/them, and I am a white genderqueer witch, tarot scholar, writer, and spiritual support specialist. I have a small professional practice called queerconjure.org where I teach tarot and witchcraft in a way that centers queer experiences, trans experiences, and neurodivergent experiences. Because those are the communities I belong to. As a child, I was raised by gay new-agers and sober lesbian Buddhists. I was an initiate and acolyte of a Wiccan temple for all of my twenties. I am always investigating ways to honor what my elders taught me in a way that makes more room for anti-racist work and resists all concepts of hierarchy.
Could you share a memorable experience or transformational moment you've had while supporting individuals through your offerings and practices at Queer Conjure?
I have a client that comes to me twice a year for tarot readings and she spends most of our time together telling me hilarious stories. I don’t say much except to reflect back to her what I’m hearing as the thread that connects those stories together. At first, I wasn’t sure what she was getting out of our sessions. Through working with her I learned a lesson that changed my practice completely. Tarot, as well as other forms of divination, is primarily a tool to facilitate active and empathetic listening. For me, it is more important to shine a light on what the client already knows and feels than to try to wow them with what I know (or think I know). I have to set my ego aside and become a reflective reader rather than a projective reader. What’s more, I work with marginalized communities that often have to work really hard just to be taken seriously. Putting their needs to be seen, heard, validated, and accepted ahead of everything else is a very powerful healing magic.
How do you approach failure and what have you learned from your past setbacks?
I’m not sure that I believe in failure. Within every experience is an opportunity to learn and open. Failure suggests shame or blame, a perspective rather than a reality. My mama used to say “well, I just paid some tuition to the college of life” whenever something went horribly wrong. I mean, accidentally setting the lawn on fire wrong. Literally shooting oneself in the leg wrong. It was her way of saying that, even amidst the most fucked up chaos, there is something to learn and grow from. Setbacks are real and they can bring a lot of grief with them. They bring up a sense of loss. Most of my recent setbacks have come from chronic illness and therefore less work. It’s been a big cosmic neon sign that says “slow down or else”. The more I resist the more the universe puts obstacles in my way. So I finally had to let go and slow down. And it’s allowed me to open more.
Could you share some insights into the rituals or practices that are particularly meaningful or powerful to you?
Journaling will always be my true love. I have ADHD and a memory disorder, so writing things down is essential. But it’s more than just a way to recall events. Writing creates change, which is also what magic does. It’s a sacred tool that reorients the writer back to their true path. Back to their dreams. In the mornings, as often as possible, I light a birthday candle on my altar and journal for as long as the candle burns. Which is only a few minutes. But it’s not the length of time that’s important, it’s the attention that’s given to the ritual that makes it powerful.
Can you share any advice or guidance for others who may be exploring their own gender identity or considering incorporating witchcraft into their lives?
I highly suggest shedding all concepts of “feminine” energies and “masculine” energies when it comes to witchcraft. No matter how you identify. Just take them off and throw them in the bin! Replace them with a word that resonates more with who you are deep down (because that’s where divinity is). Maybe “cloudy” or “creature”, “dandy” or “mossy”. The social construct of a gender binary serves as a tool of societal oppression and does not add value to intuition or magic- in fact it degrades our connection to the universe. Aside from that, I will say what I wish my first teacher had said to me: be gentle with yourself. You’re going to make mistakes- sometimes huge mistakes- and your magic isn’t going to look like a tiktok video. (Though tiktok wasn’t a thing when I started!) No matter how long you practice magic, or how many gender workbooks you complete, you will always be at the beginning of figuring it out. Never at the end. So always treat yourself with the patience and care you would give to a child who is just learning to tie their shoelaces.
Are there any specific deities, spirits, or elements that you feel particularly connected to, and if so, how do you honor and work with them?
I like to work with queer ancestors and ancestral chosen family. For example, if I have writer’s block, I’ll build an altar with pictures of Hans Christian Anderson and Leslie Feinberg. I have a couple personal deities that I “made up” because there just aren’t any I fully connect with. I’m an animist so I spend time intentionally and silently connecting with the spirits of “things” that might otherwise be undervalued- the overzealous multiflora rose behind my house or the tea kettle that I use every morning. The couch where my family crowds in for movie night. The broom I use to sweep the patio. All of these things contain the elements, contain divinity, and offer opportunities for reverence. I’m grateful for that.
Are there any misconceptions or stereotypes about being a genderqueer witch that you would like to address or debunk?
I protect my energy by not getting into Gender 101 discussions unless I’m being paid to do so. I’m genderqueer because queer is my gender, which means I can’t explain it in a succinct way. I don’t have to explain it to anyone’s satisfaction in order for it to be valid and valued. My genderqueerness is part of the mystery that fuels my witchcraft. To separate my queerness and witchcraft would be impossible for me at this point.
Click here to request to book a tarot reading with Jasper Joy of Queer Conjure.
What other hobbies or interests do you enjoy outside of witchcraft that bring you joy or inspiration?
I’m a very family-oriented person. Not in a nuclear-hetero way, but in a way that requires a deeply intentional cultivation of relationships. I love my friends so much my heart feels like a bird. I enjoy the hell out of them. I love spending time with my nesting partner and children. I build my life with them in mind. I’m a book nerd, for sure. I’m also just a geek for whatever is considered “weird”. I listen to a lot of podcasts and read a lot. I get very enthusiastic about new-to-me information and trying new-to-me things.
Are there any books, resources, or mentors that have significantly influenced your journey?
Cassandra Snow was my first portal into queerness as an essential part of tarot and magic. Before them, I was juggling those pieces of myself as separate rather than embodying them as a whole. I’ll be forever grateful to them. I have a booklist here of forty-plus books that I hold in high regard. The In Search Of Tarot podcast and the Missing Witches podcast routinely blow my mind. My conversations with Ylva Mara are deeply influential as well. I highly recommend her book A Practical Guide For Witches.
What are some of your favorite magical tools or ingredients to work with, and why?
Invasive plants! Anything that’s considered a nuisance but holds powerful medicine within. Their tenacity feels inherently queer to me. I have a small cauldron that I ritually work with several times a month that often holds plant friends and scraps of paper with scribbled wishes or thanks written on them. The cauldron is sacred for many reasons, but to be honest I love it because it’s iconic. Tarot cards are an obvious answer for me, because that’s what most of my work revolves around. For me, tarot is just as enigmatic as queerness and offers millions of lifetimes worth of lessons.
In what ways do you use platforms like Instagram and TikTok to amplify your message and connect with a broader audience? How has social media impacted your spiritual practice and community-building efforts? Any messages you feel called to share around social media?
When I began my witchy studies, there was this thing called Witchvox. It was an online social network for witches and pagans before social media was even a thing. It’s where I found my first teacher. My first ritual, my first spell. It’s how I got my start. These days, my witch-community is a quilt of queers I stumbled upon thanks to some algorithm on Instagram and sometimes dating apps. I am grateful for that. I don’t know if it’s “amplified my message” exactly. I have a business partner that makes beautiful posts that keep us in the feed. I try not to think about the fact that I have an audience, though. I’m just doing my little turn on the catwalk, checking in with my loves, and looking at reels of cute animals. If I start paying attention to likes or followers or traffic reports, then social media begins to feed on my sense of self-worth. I think it’s important to hold boundaries that prevent that.
What are some ways that folks can connect with you and do you have any exciting things coming up you’d like to share?
All of my work can be found at queerconjure.org and I love getting emails from new folks. I also have a Patreon and a podcast, both called Queer Conjure. Right now my partner and I are creating the second issue of our downloadable tarot workbook and I’m very excited to share that once it feels complete.
Please feel free to share any additional insights or stories or anything else you feel is important to share with our readers.
Thank you so much for these lovely questions! It was a wonderfully creative and introspective experience to answer them!
Click the image above to listen to the Mutating with Edgar episode on the Queer Conjure Podcast
As an added bonus, I recently had the privilege of being a guest on the Queer Conjure Podcast where we delve into the intersections of queerness and spirituality.
I'm hosting a Performance Workshop at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art! (LACMA) /
Photo of Edgar Fabián Frías, courtesy of the artist; Agnes Pelton, Winter, 1933, Crocker Art Museum Purchase; Paul LeBaron Thiebaud, George and Bea Gibson Fund, Denise and Donald C. Timmons, Melza and Ted Barr, Sandra Jones, Linda M. Lawrence, Nancy Lawrence and Gordon Klein, Nancy S. and Dennis N. Marks, William L. Snider and Brian Cameron, Stephenson Foundation, Alan Templeton, A.J. and Susana Mollinet Watson, and other donors
Standing on the Ground with Your Body in the Sky: Performance Workshop with Edgar Fabián Frías
In conjunction with the exhibition Another World: The Transcendental Painting Group, 1938–1945, join artist Edgar Fabián Frías for a performance workshop exploring ways art can be used in individual and collective journeys to connect mind, body, spirit and creativity.
Taking place at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art LACMA on:
Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at 6 P.M.
Please RSVP by click on the link below:
https://www.lacma.org/event/standing-ground-your-body-sky
Embracing My Multi-Hyphenate Career Path: Balancing Art, Mental Health Care, Religion & Spirituality /
Memoria Sonora, 2018 with artist Alexia Miranda at El Pueblo Historical Monument as part of Pacific Standard Time:Live Art LA/LA in Los Angeles, California.
Throughout my life, I have been constantly reminded of the conventional and traditional way of selecting and following a career. However, despite these societal and familial pressures to do so, I have always been determined to avoid the constraints of conventionality. As a result, I am now living where I can delve into all facets of my being and explore different paths without limitation or stagnancy. My pursuit of a non-traditional approach has allowed me to experience life in a genuinely unique manner that is not available to those who follow typical routes.
As an individual with many interests and proficiencies, my schedule is replete with diverse engagements. Throughout one day of every week, I discharge the role of a mental health counselor, offering counsel and succor to those grappling with sundry issues related to psychological well-being. Apart from this, a considerable fraction of my time is invested in artistic pursuits. My creations have been showcased in numerous galleries and exhibitions. Furthermore, I have developed expertise in crafting and vending editions of my digitally native work as crypto art.
To expand my knowledge base and share my ideas with others, I visit universities where I engage with students on creativity, magic, divination, mental health, and other similar concepts. Furthermore, I conduct workshops on these topics and teach classes and offer artist talks to those who wish to learn more about me and my diverse practices.
As someone passionate about spirituality, I provide spiritual services through Our Sacred Web. In this donation-based practice, individuals can receive tarot readings or have me officiate their weddings or host ceremonies. My tarot reading skills were even sought after by the LA Times when they commissioned me to perform readings for the city of Los Angeles.
My varied interests enable me to frequently appear worldwide, where I am invited to speak about topics such as witchcraft and creativity.
Despite my passion for this multi-hyphenate career path, I often must classify my practices and separate myself. But I'm taking a stand and refusing to do so. Instead, I want to build a world where having multiple passions and interests is encouraged and supported.
As a contemporary artist in Los Angeles, my work is informed by indigenous futurism, a style that reflects my deep interest in healing and spirituality. As a somatic psychotherapist, I use interdisciplinary education and holistic therapies like mindfulness-based therapy, Hakomi, somatic psychology, and internal family systems to help people heal.
My dream job allows me to integrate my diverse interests and skills rather than forcing me to choose just one. And I'm not alone in this desire. Others like me refuse to "niche down" and instead embrace multidisciplinary career paths.
I've found balance and fulfillment in my work by embracing a multi-hyphenate career path. It can be challenging to juggle multiple roles, but the rewards are worth it. I can pursue my passions, help others, and live a life that feels true to who I am.
Embracing a multi-hyphenate career path is the key to finding balance and fulfillment in work and life. We don't have to choose just one passion or career path - instead, we can embrace our diverse interests and skills to create a career that reflects who we are. Let's build a world where multi-hyphenate career paths are encouraged and celebrated.
Beyond the Classroom: Creating Informal & Ad-Hoc Educational Spaces for Community Building and Resilience /
At my core, I strongly believe in the power of creating communal spaces that allow for personal and societal growth. As an individual and an organization, being adaptable and open to new perspectives is critical in establishing these spaces that promote learning, idea-sharing, and community-building. This belief is the driving force behind my work in creating workshops, ceremonies, artist residencies, and events in a wide range of settings.
One of the most significant benefits of creating educational and communal spaces outside of academic institutions is that it allows for a more diverse range of voices to be heard. In my experience, when people from different backgrounds and experiences come together, new ideas are formed, and we can learn from one another in ways that are impossible in a traditional classroom setting. This leads to a more inclusive and comprehensive understanding of complex issues and can result in more effective problem-solving, community-building, and cross-pollination.
To me, creating these informal and ad-hoc communal spaces is not just about providing an alternative to academic institutions but rather about expanding our understanding of how knowledge and wisdom can be acquired. We must break free from the idea that formalized spaces are the only places where learning and growth can occur. Instead, we need to cultivate spaces that exist both within and outside of formal structures to create a healthy and resilient community that values the diversity of voices and experiences.
In addition to creating spaces outside of formalized institutions, I believe it's equally important to establish these types of educational and communal spaces within them. By creating spaces within academic institutions that are open to the wider community, we can bridge the gap between academia and the broader community while also providing access to the resources and knowledge available within the institution.
Throughout my career, I have organized events in a variety of settings, including galleries, museums, healing spaces, therapy centers, nonprofits, businesses, music festivals, and more. Each space presents unique challenges and opportunities, but they all serve to create a sense of belonging and connection. Time and time again, I've witnessed people showing up and offering care for each other, finding solutions for others where they previously felt stuck or alone, and even sharing messages gleaned from personal journeys with others that leave a deep impact on them. These types of group experiences can be profound, moving, emotional, and uncanny, and they illustrate the power of community building.
As someone who has earned two Master's degrees, I recognize the value of formal education, but I also see the limitations of traditional academic institutions. That's why I am passionate about creating non-formal educational opportunities that promote a sense of community and foster learning beyond the classroom. By cultivating educational and communal spaces both within and outside of formalized institutions, we can create a more inclusive and comprehensive understanding of complex issues, while also connecting with others outside of it. Weaving webs within the interstices of institutional and relational systems.
Take a look at some of the past workshops I’ve been able to offer. I’d love to encourage you to check out my upcoming events section to keep up to date with different opportunities to connect within and outside of these spaces and invite you to join my newsletter to be the first to know when these opportunities arise. Also, if you’re interested in inviting me to organize a workshop at your institutions and/or do an artist talk or presentation on my work, please feel free to reach out and contact me.