Ayshe-Mira Yashin (she/her) is a lesbian artist and poetess from Istanbul, Turkey and Nicosia, Cyprus. She makes feminist, body-positive and sapphic art revolving around themes of the occult and spirituality. She is currently working on her tarot deck, as well as a series of illustrated poetry zines. She sells original bookmarks, stickers, necklaces and art prints on her independently managed shop at www.ayshemira.com, and is also open for commissions. Instagram: @illustrationwitch

Where do you draw inspiration from?

The imagery and symbolism in my art is largely inspired by a wide range of occultist, spiritual and pagan traditions, including but not limited to Greco-Roman alchemy, Kabbalism, Islamic mysticism and English folk witchcraft. These different traditions inspire me to explore art as a vessel through which to explore that which cannot otherwise be seen or understood in the universe.

Which part of the process do you enjoy most in creating the work?

My favourite stage of creating art is when I enter the "flow" state, when I become fully immersed in my work and feel almost as though I have been transmitted inside my drawings. Art can be very meditative for me, as well as bringing me inner peace, which is why it has become a big part of my healing process from struggles in my personal life.

What card out of the tarot deck do you resonate most with?

The card that I resonate with the most changes very frequently, but the High Priestess tarot card conveys a meaning that I am trying to incorporate into my life. The priestess figure in this card is a mediator of different depths of reality, and a pursuer of knowledge. To me, this card serves as a reminder that life provides continuous opportunities from which to learn and grow, by relating inner knowledge to the outer world, through intellect and also spirituality.

What advice would you give people wanting to get into tarot?

I'm still in the learning stages of tarot myself; it's an incredibly rich and deep tradition with endless ideas to explore. One of the things I love about tarot is the use of art to convey spiritual messages, and I think it's important not to become disconnected from that. It's easy to look up the common interpretations of the cards and apply them to a reading, but it isn't a replacement for the intuitive analysis of the different symbols and signs on each of the cards.

Can you list a couple other creatives/friends/people you look to for inspiration?

Some art accounts on Instagram that really inspire me are @lesbiansaremiracles, @sapphic.art.history, @theartofwitches and @daatdarling (amongst many many others!) Some artists whose work I adore: @aislinn.art, @mystressmycelia, @mollyroberts_herspeak and @bbiayenda. I am also incredibly inspired by my friends and soulmates, and members of my coven on a daily basis.