Today we’d like to introduce you to Sophia Knapp.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Sophia. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I have had an interest in the mystic arts for as long as I can remember. When I was a little girl, instead of dressing up like a princess, I chose to be a dragon or wizard. I remember reading up on astrology in the library during lunch when I was in middle school, teaching myself how to draw the symbols of the zodiac.
Clairvoyance – the ability to ‘see’ beyond the normal time/space continuum, runs in my family. My great aunt Cele could remote view to describe people’s homes she had never before seen in person. My mom has prophetic dreams, is claircognizant (just ‘knows’ things), and has studied yoga extensively. She’s a very magical lady and has been supportive of my work.
I had my first Tarot reading at The Scarlet Sage in 2008. I was so taken with the cards that I felt inspired to learn. I was attending art school at the time at The Cooper Union in New York and was also playing in a psych rock band called Lights. I’m primarily self-taught as a reader, and my friends were my guinea pigs. I was frequently on tour with my band, and always brought my deck with me. My connection with the Tarot crystallized on the road: in green rooms, hotel bathrooms, and in the band van. I had a vision early on at the foot of a waterfall in Brazil that my biggest contributions in life were to be my music and my mystical work. The second piece was puzzling because I was an art major at the time and saw my readings as more of a hobby than a vocation, but now it all makes sense.
Demand for my readings grew by word of mouth, and I started charging for sessions. It was a natural thing. I eventually moved to LA from New York. My client base has grown organically through the years, and it seems now more than ever that people are interested in spiritual exploration. It has been mind-blowing to witness the rise of wellness culture and new age ideas coming into the mainstream consciousness. I’m grateful to be living here and now, where I’m celebrated instead of persecuted for my abilities.
Musically speaking, I have released four full-length albums on Drag City Records – three with my band Lights (later changed to Cliffie Swan), and one as a solo artist under my given name. I have toured all over the US and Europe and played in Brazil. I’ve had the good fortune to tour, share the stage with, and collaborate with Dungen, Bill Callahan, Marissa Nadler, Destroyer, Jim Jarmusch, Entrance Band, and Juana Molina among others. I’m actively making music under my given name, and look forward to sharing new material later this year and into 2020. I have an LA-based live band and a couple top-secret Transatlantic collaborations in the works. Stay tuned!
Both my music and spiritual work give me the opportunity to profoundly connect with others. I love how the Tarot is a shortcut to real talk. And how impactful music is like the weather – you just can’t deny it. What’s interesting is that my natal chart says my destiny is to heal the world with my voice (for Astro-nerds, I have Chiron conjunct my Midheaven in Gemini, and Taurus North Node in the ninth house). I do feel very much aligned with that; I want to do my part to bring poetry, empathy, and levity to the world.
Has it been a smooth road?
It certainly has not been a smooth road, but I have been bolstered by the love of people who believe in me. Wanting to show up for others helps keep the momentum going when I feel frustrated and tired. My clients, fans, and peers are truly awesome and generous, and I want to keep the quality of what I do high for them.
One of the biggest challenges I have run into with my business is time management (a.k.a. mismanagement) since I’m my own boss and work from home. I have also built everything from scratch and learned on the fly, so the process has been experimental to say the least. It’s simultaneously thrilling and unnerving to not have anyone telling me what to do. I’m constantly facing the void. I wouldn’t have it any other way, though, because I cherish my agency.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I’m a musician, songwriter, and clairvoyant. My main instrument is my voice. I also play acoustic and electric guitar.
In the spiritual realm, I specialize in Tarot. I channel when I read, so most of the information I share isn’t literally in the cards. They’re a jumping-off point. I read at gatherings and events for clients such as Instagram, Urban Decay, P.F. Candle Co., Hulu, and Soho House. My background in the arts informs my sessions, and apart from the sincerity and honesty of my readings no matter what the setting, my sense of humor and aesthetic sense are my calling cards.
I’m currently gearing up to release new music made with some dream collaborators. I have been primarily writing and recording since I moved to LA, and am so excited to set these songs free. It has been valuable to have extended time off from touring to build a solid home base, but now I’m ready to get back to it. I especially love playing in Europe.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Yes. LA is full of life, and it’s an inspiring place to be an artist. Anything can happen here. I appreciate our city’s diversity, cultural offerings, and surrounding nature. I go to the ocean at least once a week, and make trips out to the desert regularly. LA is and has always been a good place to be a weirdo, so I fit right in here.
Pricing:
- 15 minute Clairvoyant Tarot reading – $40
- 30 minute Clairvoyant Tarot reading – $80
- 1 hour Clairvoyant Tarot reading – $150
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.tarotbysophia.com
- Email: hello@tarotbysophia.com
- Instagram: @tarotbysophia + @sophiaknapp
- Facebook: Facebook.com/sophiaxknapp
- Twitter: Twitter.com/sophiaxknapp
- Spotify: https://bit.ly/
sophiaknappspotify - Label site: https://www.dragcity.com/
artists/sophia-knapp
Image Credit:
Personal photo: © Candice Lawler, Hands with Tarot cards: © Brittany Kalaj Margulieux / BKM Photography, Portraits of me reading cards + crystal over eye headshot: © Shane McCauley, Into the Waves cover art by Kara Joslyn
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
