Today we’d like to introduce you to Marsha N. Wilson.
Hi Marsha, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am and have always expressed myself through art, including photography, fashion design, graphic design, writing, music and dance, to name a few crafts. It was and is an innate outlet where I can create the ideas that come to me in dreams, visions and seemingly out of thin air. My creative exploration feels like a natural portal to my intuitive healing practices through tarot readings. Aside from my crafts, I am very family-oriented, protective and passionate, optimistic and the ultimate daydreamer. I grew up in southern California (a true Valley Girl), the youngest of three daughters, where I tapped into my many artistic passions + intuitive gifts at a young age.
Fashion Design and photography were two of my earlier studies. I received my Associate of Arts degree in Fashion Design at FIDM in L.A. and took a couple of photography courses throughout my college career, including at Howard University, where I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Fashion Merchandising. In 2013, I studied abroad in Lacoste, France through Savannah College of Art and Design as a graduate student in Fashion, taking an Improv acting course and an amazing photography course, as well as debuting my first photography exhibit. I started a freelance photography business, Marsha N. Wilson Photography, in 2009/2010 and paused it around 2017.
I am currently a Costumer in the film + television industry. I got into the industry six years ago through an adult training program that IATSE 479 and the unemployment office were collaborating on. I started in the production office as a PA (Production Assistant), a Locations PA and eventually, began in Costumes, journeying through different positions, including Set Costumer, Truck Costumer, Key Costumer, Supervisor, Designer, etc. My most recent film was “The Color Purple: Musical” as the Truck Costumer.
In my metaphysical business as an intuitive tarot reader, I began reading for other people around 2018. My interest and curiosity for tarot and other deeply spiritual practices began when I was a child, watching cult classics like “The Craft” and “Eve’s Bayou.” Social and religious constructs discouraged me from venturing to dig much deeper into the spiritual realm by way of astrology and other metaphysical avenues for fear of “demonic forces.” Throughout the years, I have integrated my upbringing in Christianity with my interest in the African traditional practice of Ifa, fused with my overall expansive spirituality, and deeply enjoy bringing clarity, healing and optimism to others through intuitive tarot readings.
At this time, I am turning over a new leaf and venturing into my deepest love of music through Music Supervision in the film industry. Stay tuned…
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
My freelance photography work became a struggle because it was becoming more about making me money to make ends meet and less enjoyable. I decided to give it a break for a while so that I could maintain the love of the craft before it turned into resentment and complete detachment from it.
Now, the film industry is definitely a beautiful struggle. From working 19-hour days and having to drive home after long shifts to preparing for a much-anticipated protest against major film industry employers due to what was union-widely agreed upon as unjust working conditions, my experience in the industry has brought me moments of re-evaluating my decision to be in this industry. Ultimately, I love connecting with other brilliant creators in this industry and meeting new people in general. I also love the work it takes for all of the crew members, actors, producers, directors, writers, etc. to come together and make a vision come to fruition, utilizing all of our essential skill sets. It is gratifying and truly rewarding. It’s also gratifying to speak up and stand together with my fellow union members of IATSE 479/IATSE nationwide, along with other film unions, to require our employers to consider and listen to our concerns and take steps towards meeting our very valid needs.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a film industry Costumer, freelance photographer, graphic designer, connoisseur of music/music curator and intuitive reader.
Film Industry: As a Set Costumer, I help maintain continuity for each actor I am responsible for watching on set by taking very detailed photographs of the change they wore for each scene (i.e. earrings, the way a necktie was tied, documenting whether the shirt was tucked or untucked, etc). As Key Costumer, I am the liaison between the Costumes department in many ways by making sure the actor’s clothing is sent to the Costumes truck after an actor’s fitting is complete, has been altered and has been approved by the designer, producers, directors and writers. I also maintain organization and order in the warehouse/workspace where our principal actors’ and background actors’ clothing, accessories and shoes are kept for efficient flow. When I am a Truck Costumer, I prep the clothing by steaming, cutting off tags, and making sure every single piece the actors will wear are in camera-ready condition before I set their trailers with their changes. I make sure the Set Costumers have everything they’d need for the actors on set for the scenes working that day, whether it is sweat pads, hats, neckties, ponchos if it’s raining to protect the character clothing, insoles, top stick in case something needs to be concealed on the actor’s/character’s outfit, etc. In all of these job positions, I am known as the resident DJ, playing one of my many 200+ playlists that sets the vibe for mine and my colleague’s workflow for each given day. (Music really is the centripetal force for all things!)
As an intuitive tarot reader, I have my clients visit my website (mellowneptunewaters.com), view which services and packages resonate for what they’re looking for (a 30-minute tarot reading, a clarity reading, a custom affirmation video, etc.), and book their preference via the website. They will send any questions/inquiries that they’d like spiritual insight into IF they have specific questions. I also provide the option for a “Freestyle” reading, where my client can opt to let Spirit flow and reveal whatever They feel my client needs to know for that time.
How do you think about luck?
Luck. My experience in business has been an amalgamation of favor, miracles, law of attraction, Divine ordination and alignment. My oldest sister, Jayde, who passed away over a year ago, used to call me Forrest Gump because I “happened” upon the most unusual of opportunities with ease. It looked easy on the outside and there have been many instances where things did come together with minimal struggle. Because I am sensitive and deeply connected and in tune with Spirit, it can sometimes look like I am gliding. I suppose I am, in many situations. Throughout a life of serious challenges, struggles and deep hardships, I have had favor and Divine guidance directing my path. For me, listening to those still small voices and feeling those eminent nudges towards a specific direction is how I have always moved and the only true option for how I choose to live my life. Spirit, or as many refer to as God, has given me the gift of intuition, so I’d say THAT has served as my lucky charm in my childhood, schooling, career, my social life and every other facet of my life.
I’ve always been a quirky person and my “lucky charm” kept me safe, secure, creative, clear, and distinctive. It led me to the film industry “by accident” on a random weekday when Spirit nudged my mother and me to walk to the unemployment office to apply for unemployment. My mother, ’til this day, laughs and remarks that she never did receive a call back from the unemployment office. Yet, I received very quick responses and placement in an industry that I did not seek out but that sought me out and is an incredible fit for me: Forrest Gump. What are the odds that this adult training program would JUST be starting up when I go to apply for unemployment, which I always thought was for general industry placement in corporate or retail job positions, not artistic/creative industries?
Pricing:
- $65 for 3 card tarot reading, which includes 3 clarity cards + an intuitive download
- $95 for 6 card tarot reading, which includes 6 clarity cards + an intuitive download
- $115 for 9 card tarot reading, which includes 9 clarity cards + an intuitive download
- $150 for 12 card tarot reading, which includes 12 clarity cards + an intuitive download
- $145 for “A Year Ahead” tarot card reading (a card pulled for all 12 months), which includes 12 clarity cards + an intuitive download
Contact Info:
- Website: mellowneptunewaters.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mellowneptunewaters and https://www.instagram.com/genres_of_art
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mellowneptunewaters
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/mellowneptunewaters
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/user/122808125?si=726f7bbc45814cc1
Image Credits
Marsha N. Wilson Photography Icy White J. Faye Manselle
