{"id":26750,"date":"2022-08-01T01:10:08","date_gmt":"2022-08-01T05:10:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/?p=26750"},"modified":"2022-07-23T01:53:25","modified_gmt":"2022-07-23T05:53:25","slug":"interview-with-natalie-meraki-of-laughing-cat-publishing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/2022\/08\/01\/interview-with-natalie-meraki-of-laughing-cat-publishing\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview with Natalie Meraki of Laughing Cat Publishing"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Natalie Meraki<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Natalie Meraki is an artist, mother, deck creator, author, business owner, and all-around wonderful weirdo! Natalie is also the brains behind the infectiously funny Tarot Mood <\/i>group on Facebook, a place which accepts all manner of occult delinquents, and where I first met her. I got to interview her this month for our cover feature, and I decided to find out what makes this weirdo tick\u2026<\/p>\n

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You\u2019re so prolific, it\u2019s hard to know where to start. As a deck creator, you\u2019ve made <\/span><\/em>The Mood Tarot<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>The Love Light & Go F*%k Yourself<\/span><\/a> deck, the <\/span><\/em>Mood Oracle<\/span><\/a>, and you collaborated with Bob Smithies to create the CARTA Award-winning <\/span><\/em>Young Witch Tarot<\/span><\/a>. <\/span>You\u2019ve also published my deck, <\/span><\/em>The Entanglement Tarot<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>and more recently, your son Maxwell\u2019s beautiful <\/span><\/em>Rainbow Tarot <\/span><\/a>under the <\/span>Laughing Cat Publishing <\/span>name. And on top of that, you have a brick and mortar store in Casper, Wyoming called <\/span><\/em>Meraki Metaphysical<\/span><\/a>, you sell your wares online, and now you\u2019re writing for us here at <\/span><\/em>PaganPages.org<\/span>… did I miss anything?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Yes, Sarah, thank you so much! You listed all the decks correctly! Besides deck creating, publishing, running a metaphysical shop and writing for PaganPages.org<\/em> (my favorite!) I have written and illustrated two children\u2019s books that I still sell: The Shiny Bee<\/em><\/a>, which is auto-written, a message from the universe and my best seller! And Chehalem Valley Children\u2019s Play<\/em><\/a>, a book about kindness. <\/span><\/p>\n

I also offer psychic tarot readings. I\u2019ve been reading tarot for 10 years and am very excited to have recently upped my game by offering messages from beyond! I am a level two reiki practitioner and believe that everything in the universe is energy, and we have full power to control that energy. I also love karaoke. Teehee.<\/span><\/p>\n

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One of my favorite things about your work is your sense of humor. What do you think is the role of humor in spiritual practice?\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

The healing power of laughter is scientifically proven! I see humor in all aspects of life, even tragedy. Though that is controversial, humor is most important to have around in tough times. Laughter improves depression (obviously,) physical ailments, stress issues, even sleep! It just feels good! It feels right. It\u2019s the highest vibration.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, I upset some folks with my irreverent nature towards serious topics, but really I\u2019m on their side. They are serious topics, I agree. It\u2019s just that I\u2019m out here manifesting happiness with humor and laughter. If someone is determined to be negative and controlled by ideology, well, that\u2019s no fun for anyone, so I leave them with loving energy and hope I\u2019ve made more people\u2019s days then I have upset people. That\u2019s not what you asked me, but I felt compelled to write it!
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Let\u2019s talk about Max\u2019s deck, <\/span><\/em>The Rainbow Tarot.<\/span> It\u2019s such a bright, joyful deck! How did it come about?\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Maxwell started drawing tarot cards on his own! He\u2019s seen me do it and wanted to be like mommy. Awwww! He draws at least 20 works of art every day after school, so I figured he could definitely draw 3-5 tarot cards a day. I offered the idea to him to draw his own deck and he was so excited! He immediately knew he wanted it to be Maxwell\u2019s Rainbow Tarot. This kid loves rainbows. All his stuff is rainbow themed and he had a rainbow birthday last year! So kewt.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I sat with him for about an hour a day and pointed out the important symbolism he needed to include, but he definitely took some adorable creative freedoms. Everyone\u2019s favorite thing is that all the characters are smiling, even in The Tower.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He had a successful Kickstarter at something like 250% funded! We ordered 2,000 decks and all of the pre-orders and Kickstarter orders went out on June 26, right on time. People have received them and absolutely love them! Max is so excited every time he makes a sale and always asks me how much money he made that day! Haha! He is ready to make his next deck! I love that he is enjoying creating, Magick and entrepreneurship! Very proud of my boy and his Maxwell\u2019s Rainbow Tarot.\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

He is inspiration for anyone to create a deck. He is 6 years old and he just put out his best work and people love it! So if you\u2019ve ever wanted to create a deck, just go for it! Have one printed at makeplayingcards.com and just use it for yourself, or if people show interest, sell it! I have a class all about it that comes with mentorship, if you like!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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What\u2019s your artistic background? What did you do before you started making decks?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

My artistic background is long and self-led. My mom framed my artwork starting at three years old because she was so proud of it. It looks ok to me, haha, but she instilled a notion in me that I am an artist!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

My Great Grandma, Esther Lee, was a fantastic artist and they say I got it from her. My grandpa, Esther\u2019s son, used to spend hours with me drawing princesses and trees.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I never had any formal schooling, but I have won several awards from the fair and such, and was once featured on a public access television program about my talents.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s really as far as my history with art goes. I\u2019ve never been a professional artist or had any exciting training. Just created for myself and friends. I do not consider myself to be an amazing artist, but my creations make me happy and please my eyes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

My favorite artist is Polish creator Jaycek Yerka, and I am also quite inspired by Hayao Miyazaki. I love bright colors and fantasy. Oh, who am I kidding? Lisa Frank is my inspiration!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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So what\u2019s next? Do you have any upcoming projects or big goals you\u2019re planning right now?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Always! #AriesLyfe!! I am working with a very talented artist on a new deck to come out next year, Tsukiko! Maxwell has expressed interest in creating another deck and I would love to do a Mood 2.0 that\u2019s more artistic and even funnier!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Also, just working on getting the decks I do represent seen by more peepers. It is tempting to always be moving on to something new, especially when a Kickstarter is so rewarding, but there is definitely room for me to do better with what I have.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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If I asked you to define your magical identity, would you say you\u2019re a Pagan, a Wiccan, a witch, or something else?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Well, I have shied away from the label of witch, because I don\u2019t consider myself knowledgeable enough to call myself a practicing witch, I don\u2019t even know the definitions of Wiccan and Pagan. I don\u2019t know the Sabbat dates. I never do magick on a full moon. I am not a fan of religion in any form, I will say that. I now think that we\u2019re all witches. We all do witchy shit every day like rituals or prayers. Sometimes some of the stuff my Evangelical mother says to me sounds a lot like witchcraft.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I believe everything is energy and information and that I am in control of it. We all are. I also love simulated reality theories! It is a truly magical belief as magic is considered by some to be science we do not yet understand.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So I call myself an energy witch! Yai!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Besides cartomancy, are there other magical practices that interest you, or that you work with?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

I am Udemy certified in psychic mediumship, seance holding and remote viewing! Those are my current metaphysical treats I\u2019m diving into.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I use a pendulum that is great and always accurate, I\u2019m reiki level two certified, and I do a lot of research on the nature of our reality. My next interest is probably runes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Right now I\u2019m focusing on being the go-to seance person in town! We don\u2019t have one.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sun sign, moon sign, rising sign: what are your big three?\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Aries\/Gemini\/Sagittarius! FIRE!!<\/span><\/p>\n

You work really hard. What do you like to do when you\u2019re not working?\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

I don\u2019t work as hard as people think I do. I get a lot done in short spurts. I\u2019m just productive.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Right now I\u2019m on a Udemy learning kick, so that takes up a lot of my time. I\u2019ve done a little traveling this summer! Taking my six year old son to Vegas for a little mommy\/son vacation next week!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I don\u2019t do ANY outdoorsy stuff! I used to love it, but now I\u2019m old and enjoy comfort.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Where can our readers find you and your magical arts and wares online?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Website: Nataliemeraki.com<\/a>
\n<\/span>Etsy: MerakiMetaphysicalGS<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Please follow me on<\/span><\/p>\n

IG: @tarotmood<\/a> @youngwitchdeck<\/a>
\n<\/span>FB: @tarotmooddeck<\/a> @merakimetaphysical<\/a>
\n<\/span>TikTok: @nataliemeraki<\/a> @merakimetaphysical<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

My email is natalie@tarotmood.com for inquiries on readings and wholesale orders. You can always friend request and message me on my socials!<\/span><\/p>\n

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About the author:<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Sarah McMenomy <\/b><\/span><\/span>is a visionary artist, author, and witch. <\/span><\/span>Pulling inspiration from trance states, dreams, auras, psychedelia, and the natural world, she weaves together themes of nature\u00a0and the occult in her artwork and writing. She has created art and written for books, magazines, games, and more, as well as producing digital fine art prints and acrylic paintings.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>
\nShe is the creator of\u00a0The Entanglement Tarot<\/a>, a hex-shaped occult Tarot deck designed for spell-craft.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>
\nShe is co-runner of\u00a0Pagan Pages, for which she also writes articles and book reviews, and she also publishes art on her Portfolio site<\/a> and other work on her Tumblr<\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n