Living Arcana

In Living Arcana, I explore the relationship between my body, gender identity, and childhood sexual assault. By tapping into my inner child, I remove the obligation to "perform" gender, embracing an expression that is inherently playful and allowing myself to share my story unfiltered.

Throughout this process, I uncover what it feels like to view my body as art, rather than as a place of danger. I have found that my gender identity is directly correlated to the trauma I have survived; by working through the coinciding shame, I am able to slowly acknowledge and gently release it.

Ultimately, this body of work has taught me gratitude for my story and for this vessel that is mine, reaffirming that living unashamedly is my god-given right.

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Tarot to me is a direct conversation with the Universe — the major and minor arcana are reflections of my life path — my experiences from within and how I process them reflect outwardly.

As above, so below.

Ivy Starz

Ivy stands outside in a cemetery wearing a backwards hat, graphic tee underneath a button-up, cutoff shorts and slide sandals.
Ivy stands outside in a cemetery wearing a backwards hat, graphic tee underneath a button-up, cutoff shorts and slide sandals.

Ivy in Cemetery. Collaborative Portrait.

Ivy stands outside in a cemetery wearing a backwards hat, graphic tee underneath a button-up, cutoff shorts and slide sandals.

Bio: I’m a Mobile Crisis Counselor by day, mixed media artist & poet by night! I’m a Spiritual Practitioner who enjoys the outdoors, mediumship, & leading with kindness. My dream is to travel the country in a Skoolie before settling down in the PNW as a full time writer & artist.

Instagram:_brothbrain

Ace of Cups
A low-angle, high-contrast photograph showing the silhouette of a person standing outside. A massive, dark storm cloud dominates the upper half of the frame, with patches of bright light breaking through smaller clouds in the background.

A low-angle, high-contrast photograph showing the silhouette of a person standing outside. A massive, dark storm cloud dominates the upper half of the frame, with patches of bright light breaking through smaller clouds in the background.
A lower half of a person’s naked body faces the lens. Their body is digitally wrapped in red tulle. They are inside; a mirror is seen to the left of the frame and a doorframe is witnessed in front of the person

Judgement XX
A lower half of a person’s naked body faces the lens. Their body is digitally wrapped in red tulle. They are inside; a mirror is seen to the left of the frame and a doorframe is witnessed in front of the person

A person crouches in a cemetery beneath a large branching tree, framed by two trees on either side.

Death XIII
A person is outside in a cemetery, crouched with one arm bent at the elbow, hand touching the temple, the other extended with the hand nearly touching the ground. The person is in the middle of the frame. In the background is a large tree with winding branches. Bordering the frame is two trees.

Ivy lay on the floor in a dress with a tulle canopy covering the lower half of their body extending outward onto the floor in front of them. Around them are high heeled shoes, a mask, and a mirror.

Six of Cups
Ivy lay on the floor in a dress with a tulle canopy covering the lower half of their body extending outward onto the floor in front of them. Around them are high heeled shoes, a mask, and a mirror.

Two images show a person with a smiley-face bag over their head outdoors, and lying on concrete holding the bag beside a stool and stacked shoes.

Nine of Swords
A composite of two images: (left) A person stands outside in the shade of an unseen tree with a bag over their head. A smiley face is on the bag. There are buildings on both sides of the person. (right) A person lay on a concrete with their legs extended and crossed over one another. Their face is away from the lens and they’re holding a yellow bag with a smiley face on it. To the left of the frame is a barstool with a pair of shoes stacked atop one another.

A composite of two images: a black and white photo of decorative sparkly stars and large stringed lights behind a double exposure of Ivy without a shirt, wearing lipstick, looking upward and away from the lens.

Seven of Wands
A composite of two images: a black and white photo of decorative sparkly stars and large stringed lights behind a double exposure of Ivy without a shirt, wearing lipstick, looking upward and away from the lens.

Ivy lay unclothed on bed with their neck hanging over the edge and their arm raised above their shoulder, cradling their head. The bed is covered in an Ed Hardy comforter.

King of Wands
Ivy lay unclothed on bed with their neck hanging over the edge and their arm raised above their shoulder, cradling their head. The bed is covered in an Ed Hardy comforter.

Ivy sits outside on a wooden porch in a chair with their legs crossed and their right arm bent at the elbow cradling their head to the left. They’re looking to the left. Their left arm is relaxed and hand is extended and relaxed.

The High Priestess
Ivy sits outside on a wooden porch in a chair with their legs crossed and their right arm bent at the elbow cradling their head to the left. They’re looking to the left. Their left arm is relaxed and hand is extended and relaxed.

A person in a playground on a swing. There is iridescent cellophane overlay over the scene.

The Fool
A person in a playground on a swing. There is iridescent cellophane overlay over the scene.

A black and white image of a person in a car from the view of a passenger seat. The person in the image is not fully visible. In the sun visor mirror is a rainbow glitch artifact.
A black and white image of a person in a car from the view of a passenger seat. The person in the image is not fully visible. In the sun visor mirror is a rainbow glitch artifact.

Eight of Cups
A black and white image of a person in a car from the view of a passenger seat. The person in the image is not fully visible. In the sun visor mirror is a rainbow glitch artifact.

The Star XVII
A person indoors looking up toward the ceiling without a shirt on. Only their shoulders to their elbows are visible. There is a heart shaped light above the person to the left of the frame. The image is blue and red in color.

A person indoors looking up toward the ceiling without a shirt on. Only their shoulders to their elbows are visible. There is a heart shaped light above the person to the left of the frame. The image is blue and red in color.