About Me — Andrea Furtick
My grandmother was Mary. My mother was Mary, but I am Mary Andrea.
To consider all the most traditional names in the world, I’m pretty sure that “Mary” is at the top of the list. Everyone knows a Mary. So common. So trusted are Marys, with their abilities to blend in (even though the name “Mary” literally means rebellion) and so well known is the aura of the name. Mary is safe in just about any room these days, as well as on any application or piece of paper…especially for a black girl.
I’d like to think of myself as a “rooted” person, so please believe the baseline of rebellion was exactly what I inherited from the name Mary because what I am NOT is common; and even though my entire world revolves around what I put on paper, know the full version of me, the less filtered version, shall never fit just on a single sheet of any sized page.
However, that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy the challenge of trying… so this is the story of Mary Andrea.
I am Andrea.
Where Mary is “rebellious,” Andrea meets her with the efforts to be a “courageous warrior.” Therefore as the “rebellious, courageous warrior,” I, Mary Andrea, was divinely born into this dimension on March 6th.
Uninfluenced. Innocent. A Pisces (sun AND moon, so I’m a Pisces PISCES).
If you know nothing of Astrology, do know that those of a Piscean nature are notorious for their sensitive abilities to feel on an emotional level while simultaneously creating creative, or artistic, expressions of such to explain. A need to be, a need to teach, and a need to be understood; that is the beautiful chaos that I am. A rebel. A warrior. A non-starving, artist with a “life’s work,” that’s who I continuously aspire to be.
“To have a life’s work, one must work for a life…”
This is quite possibly one of my most favorite lines that I’ve ever written. To be willing to spend your entire life dedicated to a cause… as I am and have always been is quite rare…and quite honestly, ideas as such must run much deeper than the blood…for this type of desire could stem from no place other than a soul.
At the age of four, I confidently told everyone at my kindergarten graduation that I’d be an “art-tiste,” and yes, it was just that cute…I did say “-tiste” and my mom has it on video. I was then met with a room full of giggles, warm with the idea of my childhood dreams; but as the years progressed forward — those same faces, of joyous admiration, noticeably transformed into the opposing effects of grim confusion.
Having grown up in South Carolina, no one expected me to really want to pursue a career in the arts; and it was a foreign language to my family every time I said no to jobs and yes to everything that appeared “unsafe,”… because that’s just not what Marys were supposed to do….but again, Mary is a rebel and Andrea is a courageous warrior…
The Courage to Be
After leaving my parents' home, I quickly found out the warzone life could truly be; and believe me — I’ve lost a few battles in my days, but at no point did I ever feel the option was ever available to give up.
So daily, I simply just find the courage to “be” — to be an author, an artist, a visionary, a business owner (yep, for every no I gave to a job, the Universe simultaneously set me up with giant yeses towards my own venture) mother, and wife…these are the things that I am.
Internally, I carry my battles of life (a college dropout, a young mother, and a lost soul constantly struggling to exist in this world) now well at the age of 31 with the strength that I’ve acquired over time; and share my experiences, both light and dark, with my mystic seeking audience through my self produced, indie art and literature.
Logged into the Library of Cambridge is, and I am the creator of, a remarkable divination deck system called The Afro Goddess Tarot Arcanas & The Afro Goddess Oracle. To have been able to create such powerful representations of black culture has been one of the most fulfilling accomplishments. So much so, that the message in those decks has literally become “my life’s work.”
To expand upon the vision, I wrote a beautifully poetic storybook. Oh, how I love poetry! If you can remember back when we were children, there were storybooks and fables that rhythmed beautifully and carried a “moral of the story.” With that principle in mind, The Fool’s Journey & the 56 Movements of Minor Explorations was born.
“All is Connected. All is YOU.”
So from a divination deck to a storybook (and eventually one day a visual), I created an energy, as a representation of my own energy, to add to the tarot: The Supreme.
The Supreme is about me, but in essence — it’s about ALL of us. Each and every one of us wants the same thing out of life. We all want to create the best life experience we can for ourselves and the ones we love; and we all want to reign supreme over our own existence. So as I attempt to do that for myself, it is my deepest desire to inspire others to do the same.
And meanwhile, as I walk this earthly plane as a living breathing Goddess, I am cognizant of the fact that I must die a thousand times…to continuously be reborn into better versions of myself. Pain, joy, chaos, and peace — I take it all in stride. Know it is possible to reign over your own existence, and I honor and march alongside every living Goddess that does.
However, it is easy? Hell no.
I probably enjoy alone-time more than most, and do a lot of things outdoors my neighbors don’t understand. I may smoke way too much weed and have created a mixed drink from champagne I probably should literally copyright the recipe for.
I’m so very shy, but still loud as hell — however that’s possible.
I whisper to myself often, “I’m a genius.” Kanye West screamed it proudly, why the hell am I whispering? Well, one day I might scream it too, with good reason, of course. Maybe that time is now? Stay tuned…and we shall see…
