Ariel Neidermeier is a writer, astrologer and — sometimes — model. A true California girl, she was born in southern California but spent most of her childhood outside of San Francisco in Lafayette, Calif where her family moved when she was 7. She credits her dark-eyed beauty to her Filipina-American roots. Her mother was born in Manila and her father was born in Michigan. We sat down with her to discuss life, career, astrology and feminism.
Tell us about yourself.
I’m 31 and I live in San Francisco. I write a lot. I read a lot. And, I do a lot of yoga.
How did you get into modeling?
It was really random. I started freelancing for a brand marketing agency called WeSparq and they had just onboarded a jewelry designer as one of their clients: Barbara Lee Jewelry. One of my first projects with the agency was helping out on an editorial photoshoot for the brand’s first collection. A couple weeks before the shoot, WeSparq’s founder and CEO, Keesa Ocampo, asked me to model for it. The rest, as they say, is history.
What else do you do for work?
For the most part, I’m a copywriter and I specifically write content in the app and technology space. I also have contracts with brand marketing agencies like WeSparq, along with ongoing contracts writing for tech firms in the app, advertising technology and venture capital spaces.
How did you get into that?
I got my first job out of graduate school at an app marketing agency in the tech space. I worked that job for about 2 years and then I rage quit. I got another job working in events, organizing conferences in the app space and rage quit that one soon after. I realized I have problems with authority… or maybe I just don’t like working for men. Either way, I went freelance and now I work for myself and with powerful women who I have so much respect for. I even incorporated my own business to run all my copywriting and content work through so technically I’m a CEO.
What did you study in school?
I studied journalism at Emerson College for my undergraduate degree which is how I really got my start in writing. I used to want to be a public radio reporter for NPR. But, after I graduated, I realized how tough working in the news can be. After a couple years, I decided to go back to get my master’s degree in international business at UC San Diego. I got my first job in tech after that and quickly learned the ropes in the app growth space. I like to think I’ve blended my writing skills with my ability to understand data to adapt highly technical subjects into entertaining and accessible content that anyone can understand.
You’re also an astrologer?
I am! My grandmother loved astrology and exposed me to it very early in my life. I’ve always been obsessed with the stars and any tool that activates your intuition. I actually used to read tarot cards professionally during graduate school to make money on the side. I formalized my love of astrology a couple years ago and went to school for astrological studies at Kepler College. I launched my astrology business and began reading people’s charts professionally about 2.5 years.
What’s your sign?
I’m a Taurus but I’m also a lot of other things. Something to know is that your natal chart is so much more than your sun sign. If you only know your sun sign, then you’re missing out on a treasure trove of insightful, archetypal information about yourself that can help you heal, find meaning, fall in love. Carl Jung created a framework for using archetypes to help people find purpose in life. He ripped that from astrology.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever gotten?
Figure out a way to get paid to be yourself.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
I think the most important quality for cisgender men to cultivate in today’s world is divine masculinity. The true meaning of ‘masculinity’ has been so abused that it’s lost its sacredness. To me divine masculinity is a man who is honorable, egoless and reverent to the creators on this planet, whether that be the earth itself or women and female-identifying individuals.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
There’s nothing more divine than seeing a woman with the self love, confidence and freedom to truly be herself.
What would be your idea of a perfect romantic night?
I like a pretty standard, low-lit, luxurious dinner. Also, there’s really nothing more swag than a man who takes you out to an elegant dinner on your first date, especially in today’s hookup culture. It’s always more of a casual hang these days. I only want a man to ask me out if he’s confident enough in himself and his attraction for me to take me to a sumptuous meal. It doesn’t need to be expensive, but it needs to have soul and romance.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“Activate,” “magic” and … “I feel that.”
What do you splurge on?
Good wine, decadent food. Time with myself. Travel.
Which living person do you most despise?
Putin, Trump, Bolsonaro, Duterte, and any man who uses force and extractive power to overcompensate for the fact that he can’t create life.
How do you like to spend your time?
When I have a whole day to do whatever I want, it usually includes yoga, cooking, reading, writing, a long walk and a drink, in no particular order.
What are we drinking?
Depends. Usually a fruity, summertime pinot noir. If I need something stronger than a very clean, very cold vodka martini with olives. Don’t even think of splashing any olive juice into it. I don’t do dirty martinis.
Who do you love?
I’ve been single for a long time and, I’m grateful to say, that somewhere in that walk of independence, my family has become the big love of my life. My parents are the pillars of support that have allowed me the space to become as willful and unapologetic as I am. My brother and my sister-in-law are sweet vibrations of positivity in my life. I also have friends that are more like family. They drive me crazy but I never laugh as hard as I do with them. In today’s world, joy is necessary to survival. I’m really lucky.
Who are your heroes?
All my ancestors who crossed oceans or did what they wanted to despite the odds and current norms. Any trailblazer is my hero. There are a lot of women writers that carry that mastery to me: Audre Lorde, Zadie Smith, Joan Didion, Eve Babitz, Joy Harjo, Nora Ephron. There are so many more. But, beyond women, there are also men. Mystical men of soul. James Baldwin and Joseph Campbell are the first that come to mind.
Do you consider yourself a feminist?
… And, then some. Also, I have the luxury as a single, childfree woman to have — what would be considered — radical ideas about feminism and the pursuit of gender equity in a brutally binary world. I think women, like all people, have to make sacrifices in relationships, but I think to overcompensate for the systemic patriarchy we live in, women should make less sacrifices than most. Don’t get married, don’t have kids, don’t give a shit about your appearance, don’t be polite. As women, not doing “what we’re supposed to” — in other words — what we’re embarrassed not to do, is the greatest revolution. To any woman or female-identifying individual reading this: keep doing what you’re not supposed to. To men and male-identifying people reading this: go out and protect — no, actually, fight for — womens’ safe ability to live like that. I swear that will heal our world.
Where would you most like to live?
I’m actually thinking about moving to Lisbon. I’m not kidding.
For an astrology reading with Ariel, visit her website www.spotthewitch.com or her instagram @spot_the_witch.
ARIEL NEIDERMEIER for Stare Magazine
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Head to the links for full articles and exclusive images:
https://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/2240149?__r=928185
https://www.zinio.com/stare-magazine-m40061
https://pasalapagina.com/publicacion/stare-magazine/599.html
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