This is Five and Nine, a podcast and newsletter at the crossroads of magic, work and economic justice. Welcome to Season 3, Episode 2.
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Summary
Five years ago, technologist, artist and financial analyst Victoria Ku suffered a period of burnout that left her medicated and emotionless. By finding rest and setting new boundaries, she started building a life for herself that’s both nourished her creative spirit and enabled her financial security—summoning magic through the combination of both logic and emotion. Victoria shares her perspectives on how to prepare for the inevitable ups and downs of the economy, and we conduct a tarot reading to help her determine how to foster the artist within. Also: why Star Trek’s Spock is such a dream dude.
Season 3 is all about rest. In a time of extended crisis, permacrisis and polycrisis, taking time to decompress is not just a benefit but a necessity. Learning to slow down, reflect and make space for expansive thinking is part of what makes rest so sweet but also so elusive. Grab a blanket, turn down the lights, and turn up Five and Nine this season to hear new perspectives on the age old practice of reflection, rejuvenation and recovery.
Resources
About Our Guest
Tarot Cards Discussed
Music
Episode: Money Blues, composed by Hugo Frey and performed by Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra, 1916.
Outro: A rag-time episode, composed by Paul Eno and performed by Fred Van Eps, 1911.
Starting Wednesday! Tarot for Writers: Unlocking Creative Pathways Through Intuitive Tools
A new Five and Nine class series starting at $100.00. Listeners can use code TAROT for a 10% discount on the full course.
Did you know that the Rider Waite Smith deck, one of the most popular tarot decks in the world, was designed by a struggling artist, editor and writer, Pamela Colman Smith? Tarot has been a guide and tool for creatives for hundreds of years to help unlock new pathways of thinking and making.
In this 4-part class, we'll look at the history of tarot; workshop how to use tarot for creative production, from exploring the history of characters to identifying the best way forward in one's writing career; and do a few practice readings with each other.
This course is meant to be practical, and participants should bring a chapter- or article-length work that they can hone in on for the course. Participants will come out of the course with a beginner’s writing practice and finessed piece, along with a tarot writing toolkit that includes a series of monthly and daily spreads they can use, a short overview of tarot, and readings for future self-guided study.
Join An Xiao (Ana) Mina, Xiaowei R. Wang and Dorothy R. Santos of Five and Nine, a podcast and media production collective operating at the intersection of magic, work and economic justice for this class designed to help you unlock creative pathways. We’re proud to be working with The Shipman Agency, a full service literary agency for writers.
If you are unable to attend the course live, a recording will be made available to you afterward. All participants who sign up for the full four-course class (including those who are only able to view the recordings) get:
A sticker for Five and Nine, a podcast about magic, work and economic justice produced by the course teachers
A printed Five and Nine moon calendar for 2023
PSST Quaranzine, artist Helen Shewolfe Tseng's participatory workbook zine of prompts, rituals and tarot exercises
A complimentary subscription to Five and Nine
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Five and Nine is a podcast and newsletter at the crossroads of magic, work and economic justice. We publish “moonthly” — every new moon 🌚 and full moon 🌝 — , and we provide an ongoing critical discussion through readings, reflections and debate.
In this new world, we’re all rethinking the meaning of work and justice in our lives. Our lives and livelihoods are more essential than ever in identifying ways forward for society that can be grounded in care, compassion and sustainability.
Directors of Magic. Dorothy R. Santos and Xiaowei R. Wang
Creative Director. Xiaowei R. Wang
Lead Producer. AX Mina (Ana)
