We had the good fortune of connecting with Rafaella Angelica and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rafaella, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I’ve started various businesses such as tarot reading, boudoir photography, animation, and event organizing. I’d love to highlight my event organizing for the queer community in Los Angeles. When I started @VenusInAquariusEvents on instagram, it was 2022 and we all were isolating and starting to go out and socialize a bit more. It was hard to reconnect, it was strange also fully embracing my queerness in my 30s and I found that the scene of being indoors at bars with loud music and alcohol centered spaces was a turn off to how I actually wanted to connect. I wanted to meet people in a way that allowed us to be light hearted, playful, breathe fresh air, and do some fun games that encouraged laughter and vulnerability. That’s when I decided to create a slow speed dating event at a park where I would hosts games like practicing compliments, sorting people by their zodiac element signs, and more. I also wanted it to be community led so a vegan potluck was encouraged. I wanted my events to be accessible so the first event was free and then I started having it be donation/exchange based.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I studied from a for profit art school (that doesn’t exist anymore because it was a scam). I majored in Animation and did a lot of freelance gigs in my 20s. I didn’t really have a 9-5 job, I think I’ve lived a pretty interesting and exciting life due to most of my gigs being from Craigslist. I was even a professional character mascot that was promoting an anime and that paid my rent, just by being a giant cat in public. I’ve had to learn a lot on my own for my animation. Throughout the times of my life where I wasn’t staring at a computer for hours, I would find myself at festivals, meditations, healing circles where I was amazed by the connections and inspiring art at those spaces. But a lot of those spaces still lacked a space for queer folks. I think all my life experiences led me to Venus in Aquarius events, and I know there’s still an exciting story for me to come.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would take them to third spaces that center community connecting and great vibes such as Tea At Shiloh, “h e r e” in Koreatown.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d love to shoutout the community of everyone who comes and creates community at Venus in Aquarius Events. I truly couldn’t do this without any of you. You all bring the most amazing vibes and I see how you are so sweet and vulnerable with each other.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/venusinaquariusevents/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RafaellaAngelica

Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1gKDz1a1q8NDwsHB76Tknt

Image Credits
Most photos taken by Kish @kishdaiko on Instagram

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