Hi everybody, before we dive in, thank you for being here and thank you Marina Lukoschatfor sharing your view on beauty, travel and interconnectedness with us. I can’t wait to have Marina on Volume 4 of venusianpleasures_ bookclub meets dinner party, where she will be leading one of our 4 Zoom sessions. Use code MARINA10 in the online shop for 10€ off your bundle. Now, let’s enjoy!photocredit: Isabel Hayn

P.S. Know someone who should be on The Venus Guide? let me know!

Ray: Hi Marina, how are you?

Marina: Very good, in the sunny place of Cape Town.

Ray: Nice, yeah, thank you so much for supporting me on this new project, The Venus Guide. It’s an interview magazine where we explore different destinations around pleasure and beauty through the eyes of the community. And as a Sagittarius moon, it feels very natural to start the official first edition of The Venus Guide with you. So thank you and yeah, feel free, you’re my friend next to being a Sagittarius moon and feel free to introduce yourself a little.

Marina: Yes, my moon is in Sagittarius, this is why I felt the need to travel. And so yeah, thank you for having me. Yeah, my name is Marina. I’m usually based in Berlin, but I also love to travel and always traveled most of my life. I’m a yoga teacher, I do modeling, I love to write, especially poetry. And yeah, anything creative at the moment, I’m just using the time a little bit to pause and to really reconnect to my creative side, to take a different pace than in a big city like Berlin. And yeah.

Ray: Thank you. And yeah, as you already mentioned, you have always traveled a lot all your life, also through your profession as a model. And I’m sure that also informed your creative process. And I was wondering what your travel essentials are.

Marina: Travel essentials. Well, nowadays, usually a yoga mat for sure. Plenty of books. I think that’s always the problem because I love to bring all of my books. I have a good selection that I could choose. a little. Yeah, a little trick for that is also bringing books, but also having a few books on my iPad. Then I love to bring essential oils, then just some basic beauty essentials, some clothes. But I think the most important, to be honest, is books and my yoga mat.

Ray: Yeah. And what books did you bring to Cape Town with you?

Marina: I’m currently reading a really beautiful book. It’s called The Wild Edge of Sorrow. And it’s quite poetically written. It’s actually on grief and rituals of grief. And it’s a very beautiful book. I think it’s one of the best books that I’ve read in a long time. I brought a financial planner, actually, because I’m currently also up leveling my finance game. I did brought tarot cards, which is not a book, but I did bring them. I brought a journal, a moon journal to write daily. And I brought another book. Ah, yes, I brought the TCM book, basically, about Chinese medicine.

Ray: The one about nutrition?

Marina: Yes. So for all kinds of difference, why do we have imbalances in the body and what could help? And I really like to read about alternative medicine.

Ray: Amazing. That’s so nice. And for the grief book you mentioned, what fascinates you the most about it?

Marina: I think what is really beautiful, what he mentions a lot is that grief and sadness and all of us, it’s basic human emotions that we all have and that we all experience. And it’s not just about grief if someone is dying, but it can be also sometimes being grief of letting go of relationships, old versions of ourselves, also the grief of the world. So how do we really navigate to see what is going on in the world? And yeah, how can we transform that and feel that within ourselves? And he said that it’s so important to do it in a community and that we’re not meant to work through grief alone. One part of it is definitely to do the work by yourself, but then also really being held in a community. And this is why he also talks again about the importance or power of rituals, which is so indigenous to us, that we can really have a ritual that we really transform grief or whatever into something very potent.

And I love that he mentions if we allow ourself to completely feel the emotions that we usually suppress, that kind of like alchemize and allows us to, in a form to rebirth, so that we actually feel more alive and that we can feel even joy and happiness much more. So if we really allow ourself to embrace all spectrum of our emotions.

Ray: Amazing. Thank you. Yeah, you already mentioned a few things that go really well with my next question. So in the beginning, you spoke about the beauty of exploring grief within that book. And actually, my next question is what beauty means to you and how you define beauty.

Marina: I think beauty, the first thing that comes to my mind, I wouldn’t necessarily tie it to the physical. Maybe that’s definitely part of it, but I find it’s just more, there can be beauty in so many things and really just observing nature, observing other people, having the beauty of beautiful connections and the joy that it brings us.

And overall, really the beauty of life. And then one thing, obviously, when I’m traveling, especially now being here, and that was something that I was kind of missing to be in South Africa really observing the nature. And just so many, like the tiniest thing that we sometimes oversee, but the more we’re present, we actually take notice of them, beautiful flowers that are here and different birds, different animals.

And maybe also coming back to kind of the beauty of being alive and to reminding ourself of that, because sometimes we can be so focused on the things that are missing or negative things, but we can really find beauty in each moment. And also coming back to the book that there’s also a lot of beauty, for example, in grief, on being sad or beauty when you’re going through a hard time and then someone’s next to you really supporting you. And I think that has so many different aspects and layers to it.

Ray: Yes. Thank you. That was really beautiful as well.

And yeah, you also mentioned rituals for transformation and spoke a lot about community as well. And I think it’s a good time to pepper in that we also met through a community space of Kundalini Yoga, the Muses by Amanda. I hope she listens to this. So shout out to her. And yeah, we basically met through this online space of Kundalini Yoga, which is a very transformative practice in itself as well. And it’s also the birthplace, like within my own meditation practice of Venusian Pleasures, and then essentially how I came to this idea with The Venus Guide.

So I can really relate to what you’re saying, how ritual is transformation and how we transform within ritual. And it basically inspired me to build a community with Venusian Pleasures. So yeah, I would really like to know how you bring your essentials of beauty and ritual into your community as a yoga teacher and a writer.

And also, what are your own rituals of transformation? Maybe like small daily rituals that you like to do?

Marina: I mean, yeah, for example, this morning, small daily rituals, definitely like in the morning, taking it slow, waking up, doing my meditation, enjoying my coffee and starting slower to really just first wake up and be present. And I’ve noticed for myself that I don’t really, even though I do love practicing yoga, I don’t enjoy immediately in the morning, wake up and rush to the yoga studio. So I really like to be in my own energy and just really take that.

And yeah, some rituals, definitely coffee, good coffee, writing and then meditation. And then sometimes it depends on how much time do I have on the day, the way I feel, but I would say these are definitely my daily essentials. And in terms of community, bringing ritual, I think when I’m holding space, I’m really inspired or my main intention is that people can reconnect to themselves or actually feel themselves.

And this is why I personally think any sort of practice or ritual that really helps you to feel your own energy and feeling yourself is so essential. And oftentimes, yes, you’re in a group together and you do practice, but everyone as well is on their own journey. And then sometimes in retreats or workshops, I think one of the potent places, there were always these ceremonies, basically.

Oftentimes they’re like an opening or closing ceremony. And it’s so beautiful to see when you share and you do a certain ritual or you initiate a question. And then if one person opens up, the other person opens up.

And because the other person opens up, people really dare to really share their own things and that every person really gets the full presence and people are really listening. And I think this is also beautiful or important about ritual because sometimes in daily life, even if we’re in a group setting, we’re for dinner, then sometimes everything is so fast. And then the one person talks, the other person talks, but when you create it more or bring it more into a container, where each person really has the space to speak.

So no one interrupts, everyone really gives them this full presence. I think that can be very healing.

Ray: Yeah.

Beautiful. Thank you. I agree for sure.

And it’s also what I intended with Venusian Pleasures. And that’s why we have the opening and the closing dinner and the meeting in between. So people can actually evolve with each other over time, instead of just reading by themselves without really connecting about it to anyone else.

Of course, that’s always also possible. Everyone can move in their own pace, like you also described in your yoga classes, right? Everybody’s there with their own process. Of course, it’s always inevitable, and that’s fine.

But I also see this beauty in bringing people together to kind of expand their experience into a community experience as well. So that’s really beautiful. Thank you.

And where do you like to get your morning coffee at the moment? Is there a special place you already discovered in Cape Town?

Marina: Actually, I do live right, like I can actually from my window look at it, it’s called Nourished. And I have all healthy smoothies and juices and really nice coffee. In the beginning, I bought their coffee every day.

But now I actually switched to I bought the same beans that they have. And I have a filter here in the apartment. So I do that.

But I do buy their everyday freshly pressed juices, which I don’t do at home. Smoothie bowl. And I mean, there’s so many coffee places in Cape Town that I haven’t really yet explored just a few. Yeah, I’m really happy about the food here in Cape Town. Yesterday, I went to a really nice place. It’s called, I think, LA Farms. And they have everything from farm to table. So you can buy from the farm all the ingredients or all the things that they produce. If you eat meat, you can also have the meat or something else. They also have vegan burgers. Basically, in the shop itself, you could eat. And it’s all grass fed and organic.

Ray: Nice, amazing. And I mean, I know this about you, but maybe you can say, say something about do you like to go to the same places over and over again? Or do you like to explore different kinds of places every day?

Marina: I do like to go to the same places. I don’t really have a list of all the things that I need to explore the restaurants I need to go to. And I’m usually happy. If I like something, I’m quite a loyal customer. Buy new things.

But I’m, I don’t know, in terms of food and coffee, if I find something with I, for me, the most important is quality. I would rather than, you know, not eat somewhere or skip it, if I don’t feel it has a good quality. But if I think, if you go to a place where you know, okay, even how’s the work environment, how are the people, and if you feel they’re joyful, the ingredients are great, then it’s much more pleasurable and enjoyable to eat it as well and to enjoy it.

Ray: Yeah, I totally agree. I also feel like, I also feel like it’s sometimes a little bit of stressful for the body as well to have like such different things every single day. So for me, it’s the same.

I would usually go to the same place when I like it and when the vibe is right. And yeah, what else did you say? I have to think about it for a moment. I lost track of what I wanted to ask you next.

Marina: Hungry?

Ray: No, no, I’m not hungry. I actually had some snacks before. Because I’m all right now very much about trying to balance my cortisol or like hormones in general.

But I’m being very mindful about my cortisol levels throughout the day and not having coffee on an empty stomach anymore and trying to have like a protein rich breakfast before to just make it easier on the whole organism. So that’s where I am in my journey right now with coffee. I’m also such a coffee lover.

When I go to bed at night, I’m already excited about my coffee. Now I remember what I wanted to say, what you said about the pace of traveling. And I think it’s so interesting. Because when I was younger, and I went on my first solo trip to Barcelona, and I had like all these plans, and I was only there for four days. And like on the second day, I was like, I just discarded the plans and decided to not see everything because it’s not possible, but instead to enjoy what’s like, what I’m feeling like doing that day. And it really changing that pace and that perception really changed the whole experience and of pleasure of the trip.

And it got way nicer. So I totally agree on that. And I was wondering if maybe you can reflect a little bit upon your process of being a traveler, like you’ve also been traveling, since you were quite young, and what what has changed throughout the years for you?

Marina: Yeah, I mean, I started to travel quite early because of modeling.

And then obviously, when you’re 16, in a city alone, and I sometimes was checking some, some places that I found, but it was also, the thing is, because it was mostly work related, I already had a lot of things to do. If I went to a lot of castings, so like that, I actually explored the city quite much. And then sometimes I just took note of the places that I liked or the areas that I liked.

One travel hack that I do most of the time is that when I arrive to a new place, I’m just gonna go for a run. I’m just gonna go for a run in the neighborhood. So like this, I can really see what is actually around me and I can get a sense for the for the place.

And then I love to just check on Google. And I have like my things, my Google search of like coffee, vegan, Lebanese most of the time, because I do love Lebanese food. And I find doesn’t matter where you are, you could usually find really good fresh foods as an option.

But yeah, I think now if I think about it, obviously, the older you get, the more you also are grounded in yourself. And now if I look back, also even being quite young, also even in Australia for a long time, nowadays, I would just rent a car and explore the country. Obviously, when I was younger, and there I was just, it was a great opportunity to be there.

But it was also everything so new and so big. So I would most likely not really rent a car and go somewhere. So I think this can really evolve.

And then obviously, since yoga came into my life, I’m super grateful about it, because it can really doesn’t matter where, where I am in the world, I can always find a good studio. And I usually know, okay, they’re like minded people, also community to connect to. So in that sense, it really can give you another source of safety and grounding.

And yeah, sometimes if you just know some people in the town, or, but I’m similar, I wouldn’t necessarily, for example, even now going to Cape Town, I didn’t really had the urge to make a list and places to go to, because I know for now, at least my main intention is to really just slow things down, be in nature, going for a hike, having good food, I found a beautiful yoga studio here, it’s called the Shala. If anyone’s ever in Cape Town, it’s really quite a traditional studio. The owner was so friendly, he wrote things down on paper, which places to go.

So I think, yeah, just talking also to locals and really seeing where it leads you. Because for me, at least, there’s not really, it doesn’t make me feel good. If I know there, I have all of these plans.

And another to do list, wait. Sorry, *incoming call* –

Ray: That’s okay. You don’t like to have a long to-do list?

Marina: Yeah, I don’t like to have a long to-do list, because I really find it’s restricting me a little bit.

But it’s also good to have a few intentions. Because otherwise, you’re just starting your day, and you start to flow in all areas. And then sometimes at this moment, I’m like, what am I doing now? But maybe it’s also good sometimes to be bored.

I don’t know.

Ray: I think so!

Marina:I think it really depends also on the, in which moment or how you’re feeling at the moment. And maybe also for a woman where you’re on your cycle, quite close to my period.

So I really don’t feel like being super social. And that’s fine. Yeah.

Ray: For sure. Thank you. Yeah, I really love this explorative approach of kind of just going a little bit step by step and seeing what you can find along the way, like you described about speaking to a local and then seeing what they’re suggesting, and then maybe checking if that’s something you want to do. And yeah, it’s…

Marina: If I can interrupt, that comes to my mind. So maybe not for everyone, depending on the place where you are. But I do like to take the public transportation when I’m somewhere.

I did it in Istanbul, just taking the metro and the buses going to a place where I wanted to go. I did it in Mexico City. In the front they also have like, in the metro, just a part for women and children.

Now in Cape Town, I don’t think it’s so safe. So it really depends. But I think, maybe not always there, but it’s quite …I like to do normal things in places I’ve never been. So you can really actually be there and live a normal life and maybe connect to locals and get experience for this sense. So not being there as a tourist, in a sense.

Ray: Yes, I totally agree. And I remember when back when I was living in Munich, and I would always take the metro, but at some point I got a bike and it was the first time I was actually doing everything on the streets. And it really shifted my perspective of the city because suddenly you see, oh, there’s this shop there.

Marina: Yeah.

Ray: So what you said about walking around, I can really relate to that. And I was wondering, what was your first solo trip when you started traveling? Do you remember?

Marina: Modeling?

Ray: Yeah. Where did you go?

Marina: Well, the first first first with 15 was Berlin and taking a train.

But then the bigger one overseas was Paris with 16.

Ray: Yeah. Nice.

Yeah. Amazing. And yeah, you mentioned this yoga studio.

Is this also the one where you taught the class on Sunday? Because I know you had the pleasure of teaching a class in Cape Town as well.

Marina: No, this is another beautiful place called Wonderland Cape Town. It’s a little bit outside of Cape Town.

And it’s a very beautiful place. It’s really like the name Wonderland because each.. also the story of the initial owner, now they sold it. But he was a filmmaker and he was like completely like it took ages to do that. Each room has so many little details. And it’s like it’s like a movie, basically, this house. But yeah, there we did like a Sunday yoga session outside, which was really nice to share some yoga here in Cape Town.

Ray: Amazing. That sounds really, really cool. Yeah.

And you also mentioned the community aspect of teaching or like also not only teaching but also being a yoga student. And I was wondering, is there anything specific that’s next for your community? Any projects coming up?

Marina: I’m currently actually working on a retreat end of September and the Aeolian Islands where under that point, I didn’t really know where that was, but a beautiful friend of mine where we were thinking to do a retreat together for a long time. And it’s basically it’s in Sicily and it’s a volcano island.

So we’re just currently planning that because she’s living there half time. And I’m super excited. I always used to do that in Ibiza, but I think it’s really beautiful to have a powerful place.

And it will be also really in terms of connection to the element and the earth, because also the nature is just so rich. And then I’m currently a little bit, I have my obviously my weekly classes in Berlin and I’m also starting to share more online Kundalini yoga classes. And yeah, there are a few ideas and visions that I do have in mind.

And that’s also my intention here in Cape Town to really feed these visions with attention and letting new creativity spark in order to create. Because I noticed for myself, having your daily routine in the place where you live, sometimes good to get yourself out of it. And I’m really taking this moment of pausing and really being reconnecting to your creativity and really being like, OK, what needs my attention and what do I really want to devote my time and energy to? So I’m currently in that process.

Ray: Amazing. Thank you so much for sharing. And yeah, what you mentioned about, yeah, I mean, first of all, your retreat plan sounds really amazing. So keep me posted. And also the location sounds super, super nice. I’m looking forward to interview you on that as well.

And yeah, some elements that you mentioned about like connecting to the earth and also coming back to nature to inform a creative process and kind of like settle deeper into the self and what needs your attention at the moment really resonated regarding the visions that I have for my future. Also that we have together, going into Volume 4 of Venusian Pleasures. I’m really excited to have you on that in April slash May. APR 9 – MAY 14

We’re figuring out the dates right now. So I’m really looking forward for your energy on the program as well. And yeah, that’s also really my intention with Venusian Pleasures.

And that’s also why we have the name because Venus is letzendlich I wanted to say she’s the goddess of the earth. Right. So being connected to that and like to nature and coming … because we all have it in us.

And that’s really kind of my intention with what I want to connect others with as well in the community of Venusian Pleasures.

So yeah, thank you so, so much for your time and for sharing your wisdom with us today. And is there any final piece of wisdom that you want to share with us today?

Marina: I would say just finally to really give your whatever you’re feeling or sensing within yourself to really give it space and attention.

And to follow that may be a place that inspires you or maybe sometimes you see a picture and you’re like maybe even regards to traveling or would love to experience that and really just follow these impulses. Because I think that can really … it’s a good roadmap. And it doesn’t always need to make sense logically.

Ray: Thank you so much. I will leave it at that.

Marina: Thank you for having me on your beautiful Venus Guide.

Ray: Thank you. Yeah, it was my pleasure. And yeah, that was a beautiful last word.

So I’m looking forward to speak to you soon again. Thank you.

Marina: Byyeeeee.

If the vibe’s not right — it’s not in The Venus Guide.

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