Hi, I’m Ayu.
I’m an Indonesian-American tarot reader, astrologer, and fellow messy human. I’ve studied both tarot and astrology for over five years, via formal and informal teachings, savoring every moment of deepening into both of these magical tools. It hadn’t really crossed my mind to do readings for other people with this knowledge, but in 2023, friends and neighbors suddenly started asking me to. After consistent “that reading changed my life!” comments and several referrals, I realized that reading for people fills me with deep and giddy excitement. When I’m in a reading with someone, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.
How I got here
From having psychic dreams as a child—Mom, what’s going on?!—to spending my tween free time writing about magic, death, and transformation, I have always been fascinated by the mystical. Considering my family lineage, this isn’t a surprise.
Many years ago in Lombok, Indonesia, a young Hindu boy (my dad) would wake up in the middle of the night to pray in the river, training to become the village priest. Meanwhile, somewhere in New York City, a young girl (my mom) poured herself into books, searching for meaning and magic and spiritual connection, a quest that has become her life’s work. Basically, I come from mystical magical weirdos—so of course I’m one too.
In 2016, I graduated from Macalester College. I majored in (surprise!) Religious Studies with a special focus on mysticism. During my senior year, I conducted an ethnographic research project where I interviewed current and former students of a polarizing spiritual teacher. My biggest takeaway? Humans are messy, even (maybe especially) spiritual teachers, in their pursuit of connection and meaning.
After a brief, post-college existential crisis (who am I and how the eff do I fit into this weird world), I worked as a magazine editor for six years. Although I never felt like this was my true calling, I loved working with writers. It’s a magical, collaborative exchange, and it made me realize that working 1:1 with people *sparks joy* for me. My biggest takeaway? How to find the story within the mess.
In 2022, I gave birth to my first baby. He’s a curious, loving, smart little human who reminds me every day that the magic is in the mundane, and that messy👏 is👏 not👏 a👏 bad👏 thing👏 Messy is what happens when we’re living in the present moment instead of constantly worrying about the clean up. Messy is how we experience, learn, and integrate everything this fantastical life has to offer.
Now, I find fulfillment in helping people connect to their own sense of agency and magic. When I’m not working, I spend my time making a mess with my toddler, going for a run in my neighborhood, cooking for people I love… and also: crying because I’m an overstimulated mom, escaping into fantasy/romance novels, and worrying about the same things you do.