Like astrology? Like tarot? You’ll love this...

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You’ll notice when reading my interview with Lily Ashwell, author/illustrator of the “Heavenly Bodies” astrology guidebook and card deck, I tend to ask people what their sign is right off the bat.

Whether it’s a smart or silly move, it’s my go-to; first, as an icebreaker (and hopefully not taken in a creepy date kind of way), and secondly, to give my mind a few milliseconds to process what the person in front of me might be all about:

“Ok, this person is a Capricorn sun -- are we really going to get this project finished in time?” Or, “they’re a Cancer sun like me -- no doubt we’ll be best friends and crying in our teas in five minutes.” (I kid...or do I?)

Truth is, I know Cancers quite well. Because I, myself, am a nurturing yet moody-as-all-get-out Crab. But the rest of the signs? Well, I know the stereotypes, but I’ve always told myself that people deserve a little more if there’s any chance of us truly connecting. So…where to begin when seeking out such a trusted source?

Enter “Heavenly Bodies.” an otherworldly -- and very trustworthy -- blend of all things astrology, universe, connection.

Your sign:

Aries Sun, Virgo Moon, Virgo Rising

The first time you dabbled in astrology? What did that entail?

As a kid, when I’d visit my Nana Shirley in London, she’d take me to a shop of “spiritual oddities” in Covent Garden called “The Astrology Shop.” I loved these visits. They felt like windows into an alternate universe. In college, my art school was around the corner from this same shop and it’s where I bought my first astrology book. Over the span of 6 or 7 years, I revisited that book (and others) and enrolled in many courses – always feeling both drawn to and overwhelmed by the material. I never finished any book or course yet, somehow, created my own astrological education. In hindsight, I realize what I’ve always loved about astrology is the otherworldly magic it infuses into Earthly life and thousands of tiny black words on stacks of white paper (i.e., a traditional textbook) doesn’t capture its essence (or my attention). “Heavenly Bodies” is the study tool I always wanted but could never find.

Is it fair to call this a mash-up of astrology and tarot?

Yes. You may use the deck as a tool to learn astrology (if you’re just starting out) or to create visual spreads of any astrological placement (if you’re practicing the art of chart reading). I lead a monthly program called Heavenly Doorways Membership for anyone (beginners-advanced) wanting my guidance on how to use the deck to explore the current cosmic climate.

The cards can also be used as an oracle deck, which means used to connect with your angels, spirit guides or your own intuition, for clarity and life direction -- this is how they’re similar to Tarot. Both “Heavenly Bodies” and The Tarot speak in the language of symbol, so the cards become symbols themselves to communicate messages from the unseen realms.

Can you walk us through 2 sample “readings” – one simple (daily oracle) vs a more complex/detailed one?

The simplest way to use the cards is as a daily oracle, which means picking “A Card of the Day” and honoring its message as a sign from your spirit guides as something to carry with you throughout the day.

If you need clarity on a specific situation, you could do something like a “Spiritual Growth Spread,” which is a three-card reading -- where you hold a particular question in mind and receive clarity on what you’re learning, how you’re learning it and where the wisdom will take you (I break this spread down in the Little Guidebook). For those wanting to go even deeper, in my Heavenly Doorways Membership program, I provide spreads throughout the month which show you how to intuitively explore your unique relationship to the current cosmic climate.

One memorable experience you can share about a personal reading? something that truly surprised/enlightened you?

I had a clothing line for all of my twenties and, in 2015, when I was opening my shop, an astrologer told me “this work is good for now, it’s teaching you some things you need to know, but it’s not who you really are. Your third eye is opening and you’ll become an intuitive painter.” On one hand, it resonated – I felt so drawn to spirituality and art -- but I never imagined how these passions could somehow become a career path. Little did I know, six years later…

You also illustrated (beautifully) both the deck and guidebook. From where did you draw your inspiration for this imagery?

I tapped into the energy of whatever I was drawing and allowed it to come through my paintbrush. I was diligent in showing up to my desk and working, but the inspiration came effortlessly. I always say it has its own consciousness and a heartbeat all its own. I’m amazed the artwork came together as a cohesive body of work because I didn’t plan anything. I’ve heard from many people that the artwork depicts a place that feels familiar — I believe it portrays the land of our spirit, somewhere we all know deep within our bones.

Favorite constellation:

Virgo is my favorite constellation, simply because it’s the energy I most identify with (it’s both my Moon and Ascendant). Creating “Heavenly Bodies” was extremely Virgo of me -- it was driven by my reverence for the natural world and the project itself is a reflection of my highest self and very best work (the organization and attention to detail!).

Insider tip for anyone using the “Heavenly Bodies” deck for the first time?

If you’re new to astrology, don’t put pressure on yourself to study or learn in any particular way. The entire system of astrology is woven into the deck, so however you choose to use the cards, even if you’re just creating decorative spreads on your coffee table at first – you will begin “accidentally” learning astrology.

For anyone practicing the art of chart reading, pick a handful of key astrological placements from the chart and create visual spreads of those placements using the deck. This brings structure and beauty to my readings, as the cards keep me organized and inspired in weaving my narrative.

And if there’s anything else you’d like to add, please feel free to! Lastly, I’d just like to say astrology and spirituality are a journey and a life’s work. There is no end point or state of mastery. “Heavenly Bodies” is designed to make this process beautiful and inspiring, no matter your level of previous experience. It’s designed to grow with you as your knowledge and intuition expand and will make your life richer and more magical along the way.