Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Scolnick
Hi Rebecca , so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
As a kid, I was always writing, creating, singing in choirs and musical theatre productions, and otherwise making art, so I knew that I wanted to bring all of those passions with me into my work and my future. I ended up at New York University, where I got my BFA in Drama, and even though I haven’t pursued a career as an actor, it absolutely laid the foundation for all that’s come after. Shortly after graduating, I produced, wrote directed, and acted in multiple short films with my first production company, Primordial Jam Productions. Two of our shorts had festival runs in New York City, and even screened at the Short Film Corner at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival. I also directed my first full-length play, David Auburn’s Proof, which went up at The Producer’s Club in NYC.
From there, I went on to write, direct and edit video content for W Magazine (Condé Nast), working with incredible talents like Margot Robbie, Greta Gerwig, Nick Jonas, Sadie Sink, and others. I did freelance production work for clients like Nike, American Heritage Chocolate (Mars Confectionery), Scary Mommy, and Healthline Media, as well as dozens of short films, digital projects, non-profits and independent artists. I also worked for TodayTix for a few years, creating editorial videos for various Broadway stars and productions, as well as press day and red carpet coverage at the Tony Awards. Most recently, I produced and edited promotional materials for both animated and live-action properties at Nickelodeon (Paramount).
When the pandemic shut everything down in 2020, my production work ended up taking a backseat to other creative aspirations. After reading tarot and studying numerology for over a decade, I began sharing my spiritual and philosophical findings through writings, client work, and a podcast called Discourse of the Stranger with the now defunct Divine Spark Media. This work culminated in my first traditionally published book, The Witch’s Book of Numbers: Enhance Your Magic with Numerology, which came out in 2022 and is available wherever books are sold.
Currently, I work with clients through one-on-one tarot and numerology readings, and teach workshops on Pythagorean numerology and its many techniques and practices. I also write a publication called swimming in the soup on Substack, and I am one-third of Call Your Coven: Practical Advice for Nonsensical Times, a new podcast for the spiritually-attuned that blends together numerology (me), astrology (Jeanna Kadlec), and the tarot (Meg Jones Wall). You can listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch on YouTube.
My next book, Marriage by the Numbers: Planning Your Wedding Using Numerology, will be published in December 2024 by American Marriage Ministries, a non-profit that ordains interfaith and inclusive officiants. I’m also working on another book about numbers, as well writing contemporary, queer fiction. A piece of my flash fiction was recently published in The Star Issue of The Rebis, a print publication celebrating tarot, art & creative writing, and an essay of mine will appear in Tarot in Other Words, An Essential Anthology by Leading Queer Tarot Writers, which is edited by Cassandra Snow and forthcoming from Weiser Books in May 2025.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oof, is it ever a smooth road for an independent creator? The short answer is no, it hasn’t always been a straightforward or easy road. Because I can’t seem to pick a lane and dabble in many mediums and industries, I’ve spent a great deal of time and energy doubting myself and my path. Often, it feels like my work isn’t amounting to much, and I have to go back to my own biography to see just how much I do and have offered over the years. I am very ambitious and have many creative desires, and sometimes this gets in my way, especially since much of the creative path is unknown and uncertain. And of course, we live in a capitalist society, and the work that I do both in art and spiritual spaces, isn’t always valued and therefore doesn’t pay a living wage.
I truly have embraced the art of the pivot, whether that’s been building a freelance business after getting laid-off from more steady, corporate jobs, moving from production work to publishing, and even topically, as my work swings back and forth between creative non-fiction and fiction. It can also be extremely hard to stay motivated, or to always have to be thinking about that next or new idea, so I’ve been enjoying working on collaborative projects with other creators. While it’s true that creative work can be an individual experience, sharing the load and the wealth with others can a great way to bring ease and energy back into the work.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a true multi-hyphenate creator and have worked as an actor, a writer, a filmmaker, an editor, a producer, a script supervisor, a podcast host, and more! While it hasn’t exactly left me with a specialty, it has allowed me to collaborate with incredible artists across various projects, fields, and industries. And I think my flexibility and enthusiasm for learning new skills and growing in my artistry absolutely sets me apart from others. I’m the type that says YES and then figures out how to do it, and I think that willingness makes me a valuable addition to any team.
What I’m most known for right now is my writing in the spiritual and philosophical space, specifically sharing the practices and insights of numerology. Numerology is the study of the language of numbers, as well as the application of their energies to people, places, and events. It’s a tool that can help folks orient themselves in the larger journey of their lives, gain insights into personal characteristics and qualities, and break out of outdated cycles or patterns of behavior.
I like to say that my work seeks to make meaning out of mess. Whether it’s through my films, writing, podcast projects, or client work, I love to explore this thing we call Life through questions and the pursuit of understanding. I think my audience is drawn to the ways in which I am able to make philosophical or esoteric ideas accessible, while maintaining a warm sense of humor and an affinity for practical application. I’m most proud of my versatility as an artist, and I’m always open to using my skills in new and different ways!
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
To be honest, my definition of success is shifting. I used to think that success meant financial stability and reaching career goals, and to some extent I still agree. But the more time I spend on the road of creative living, the more I’ve realized that there is no finish line or moment where you’re successful forever. The dangling carrot keeps moving and I keep trotting along after it. One of my biggest goals as a kid was to be a published author, and now I am! That’s a success! However, that’s not the end of the road for me, so now my plans need to grow and expand to allow for new dreams to take root.
Success to me is being proud of all that I’ve accomplished, while continuing to put forth new and different efforts. It’s not giving up when the going gets tough–which it will! It’s not allowing money or status to be more important than the act and art of creating. And it’s being gentle with myself when I feel like I haven’t done enough or am not doing enough, and interrogating those critical voices in my head.
Pricing:
- NUMEROLOGY FOR WITCHES: a mini-course — $44 (Buy on Website)
- 1-on-1 Numerology Readings — From $222 (Book on Website)
- Live or Recorded Tarot Readings — From $75 (Book on Moonlight)
- The Witch’s Book of Numbers — Buy on Bookshop.org, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rebeccascolnick.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beescolnick
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@callyourcoven
- Other: https://bookshop.org/a/89680/9781950253272
Image Credits
Allexa Crosson Photography
