Divination Performance and Ritual Encounter
In A New World, Stephanie Smit invites participants into an immersive symbolic environment where tarot, astrology, intuitive inquiry, ritual, and performative interaction merge into a living artistic encounter.
Within the “A New World Tent” visitors are guided through personal readings exploring karmic patterns, emotional structures, life purpose, recurring symbolic themes, and spiritual transformation. Combining astrological analysis with intuitive interpretation and symbolic storytelling, the work investigates how internal patterns shape individual experience within larger collective and cultural transitions.
The performance approaches divination as a reflective and transformative artistic process capable of revealing hidden emotional, spiritual, and archetypal dynamics.
Consciousness, Soul Memory, and Artistic Reincarnation Research
A New World forms part of Stephanie Smit’s broader Reality Cult artistic reincarnation research practice exploring soul continuity, symbolic identity, mythology, consciousness, and recurring emotional or archetypal patterns across time.
The work examines how trauma, memory, desire, creativity, and symbolic structures may continue to echo throughout human experience beyond conventional ideas of linear identity. Through ritualized interaction, participants are invited to reflect on inherited emotional patterns, unresolved dynamics, and deeper aspects of selfhood connected to both personal and collective memory.
Tarot and astrology are approached as symbolic languages capable of revealing psychological, spiritual, and archetypal structures operating beneath everyday reality.
Transformation, Ritual, and the New World
At the center of A New World lies the idea that spiritual transformation begins through radical self-recognition and conscious confrontation with internal fragmentation, illusion, and separation.
The performance explores themes of death and rebirth, catharsis, shadow integration, spiritual awakening, ecological crisis, digital alienation, and humanity’s search for meaning within rapidly shifting social and technological realities.
Blurring the boundaries between installation art, ritual space, mystical performance, symbolic theatre, and participatory encounter, the work creates an atmosphere suspended between contemplation, dream, healing, and transformation.
A New World invites participants into an open symbolic process exploring how consciousness, mythology, spirituality, and identity continue to evolve within contemporary culture.
Museums, Festivals, and Presentations
A New World was presented during A Digital Nature at Design Museum Den Bosch, where Stephanie Smit engaged visitors in conversations surrounding transformation, spirituality, ecological crisis, digitalization, and symbolic consciousness through tarot-based performative interaction.
The work was also presented during Museumnacht Leiden, where visitors participated in intuitive tarot sessions exploring soul connection, symbolic identity, and personal transformation.
Additional presentations include Occulture Conference 2023 (2023) and Manifestations Dutch Design Week Eindhoven (2023).
Audience and Institutional Responses
“Looking ahead to the new year, designer and artist Giek spoke to visitors of the museum using tarot. They talked about personal transformation but above all the state of the world; in particular, the state of our nature in times of climate change and increasing digitalization.”
— Design Museum Den Bosch, A Digital Nature
“During this Museum Night, she will take you intuitively through her tarot cards. Individually or in a group session, you will receive interpretation about your soul’s connection to everything.”
Expanded Installation: Transcending Time and Space
A New World later evolved into the immersive installation and performative divination environment A New World – Transcending Time and Space, presented during Manifestations at Dutch Design Week.
The expanded iteration further explored ritual space, symbolic identity, consciousness, tarot, astrology, and artistic reincarnation research through participatory installation art and immersive performative encounters.
Learn more about the project here: A New World – Transcending Time and Space.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is A New World?
A New World is a divination performance and ritual installation by Stephanie Smit (Giek), combining tarot, astrology, symbolism, ritual, and artistic reincarnation research through immersive interdisciplinary art.
Is the work spiritual, artistic, or therapeutic?
The project exists between performance art, symbolic ritual, consciousness studies, spirituality, participatory installation, and artistic research.
What role do tarot and astrology play in the work?
Tarot and astrology function as symbolic systems for exploring emotional structures, karmic themes, archetypal identity, transformation, and spiritual development.
What is artistic reincarnation research?
Artistic reincarnation research is Stephanie Smit’s interdisciplinary artistic practice exploring reincarnation, soul continuity, mythology, symbolic identity, and recurring archetypal patterns through art, performance, astrology, symbolism, and historical analysis.
Where has A New World been presented?
The work has been presented at Design Museum Den Bosch, Museumnacht Leiden, Occulture Conference Berlin, and Manifestations during Dutch Design Week Eindhoven.
What is Reality Cult?
Reality Cult is an artistic research platform founded by Stephanie Smit (Giek), exploring reincarnation, symbolic identity, mythology, spirituality, consciousness, cultural continuity, and soul lineage research through performance, visual art, writing, astrology, audiovisual work, and interdisciplinary artistic practice.
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