Nostalgic aesthetic is all in the rage these days, and believe it or not, Y2K is now considered vintage—yes, the same era that had us fearing computer meltdowns is now inspiring fashion trends and Instagram aesthetics. One creator stands out for her unique perspective, dedication to representation and bringing Y2K back again. Monica Anne, the creator of Kilig Oracle, has brought together her experiences as a Filipino-American, her love of early 2000s culture, and her personal journey through love and relationships to craft a deck that speaks to both the heart and mind. In this interview, she shares insights into her creative process, the significance of kilig, and her exciting plans for the future.
1. Can you share a bit about your journey as a creator? How did you first get into making oracle decks?
When I first started working with tarot and oracle cards, I only had a handful of mass-produced decks, and sometimes it was difficult to connect with them because I didn’t really see people who looked like me depicted in the artwork. Plus-sized characters were absent and Asian representation was few and far between, which made some of these beautiful decks feel a bit distant and alienating.
In 2020, we were all on lockdown and I felt a lot of fear and uncertainty during this time because my workplace was shut down for a long time and my livelihood was at risk, which I know many other people experienced too. I didn’t really know what to do with myself and sank back into depression, but with all my free time, I rediscovered my love for creating art on Photoshop and started making oracle cards using my own photos. It sort of became this comfort deck, born out of fear of the unknown and the longing for a sense of belonging and connection.
What started off as a personal passion project for myself in the beginning, grew into something a little bigger when I asked my friends, family, and followers of my plus sized fashion account if they wanted to send me some of their photos to be characters for my cards. This oracle deck became Soft Cosmic Concepts and it was about being connected to the universe by these very human experiences such as love, loss, and loneliness even when you feel alone. I haven’t talked about this deck much, but most characters are depicted as these aliens who are just trying to find a place in the world–which reflected how I was feeling at the time. Completing Soft Cosmic Concepts really ignited a creative spark in me and I was able to create the first edition of Kilig almost immediately afterwards.
2. Growing up as a Filipino-American in San Francisco, how did your cultural background influence your artistic vision and creative process?
I actually lived right on the border of San Francisco and a little suburb called Daly City. The majority of the population in Daly City are Filipino, even back in the 90s, so I was very lucky that my culture was represented pretty much everywhere as a child and a lot of my friends and classmates were also children of first generation immigrants. I think I am extremely lucky to have been raised in a predominately Filipino-American community and have had the culturally rich city of San Francisco just a BART stop away. It made embracing my roots at such a young age feel very natural.
Tarot and oracle decks can be powerful tools for self-connection, and sometimes seeing people who reflect your background in the cards can feel validating and empowering. Growing up surrounded by so many different cultures made accepting and celebrating diversity just the norm for me and that experience influences my work. A lot of mass-produced decks have mainly Eurocentric imagery, which I’m not hating on at all, but it just doesn’t reflect my own view of the world. I want to create artwork inspired by my own experiences through my eyes and I hope to continue doing just that.
3. The concept of kilig is so central to your deck. How would you describe this feeling to someone unfamiliar with the term, and why was it important for you to capture it in your work?
Kilig is the feeling of butterflies in your stomach when something romantic happens. It is the giddiness you feel when your crush texts you back. It is the feeling of floating home after the first date. It is pure romantic excitement!
I’ve always been fascinated by words in other languages that don’t have a direct English translation, and kilig holds a special place in my heart. The feeling reminds me of such a wholesome time—like when I was twelve, having a sleepover with my best friends, squealing while watching a romcom together. It’s deeply nostalgic, and I wanted to capture that energy in my work.
To me, kilig and nostalgia are at the core of this deck—both are feelings that make more sense when experienced than when explained. It’s about those cherished moments that bring a sense of joy, warmth, and excitement, no matter how fleeting they may be.
4. What inspired the Kilig Oracle deck, particularly its nostalgic 2000s aesthetic and references to your youth?
I absolutely loved flipping through my sister’s teen magazines as a kid–Teen Beat, Tiger-Beat, YM, Seventeen–I tore out the posters and hung them on our wall and enthusiastically filled out all those personality quizzes…that was peak girlhood for me! Looking back at it now, I think my love for creating started when I would cut photos out of the magazines and piece together my own magazines from them with my fake articles–handwritten with sparkly gel pen, of course!
I definitely channeled that part of me while creating Kilig. I wanted to create something fun and reminiscent of those vibrant early 2000s magazines that I loved so much. There’s some tributes to the MVPs of my youth such as the game MASH, cootie catchers, Mean Girls, The Sims, AIM, and MySpace!
5. You mentioned that some of the artwork was inspired by your parents’ old photos. Can you tell us more about how these personal elements are woven into the deck?
I’ve always loved going through old family photographs and watching our VHS tapes. Even as a preteen in middle school, I would often rewatch my baby videos. When I started working on Kilig in 2020, I brought home my father’s army scrapbook from the late ’70s and instantly fell in love with it. That led me to dig up even more old photo albums, including some of my mother’s, and I absolutely adored her style back then! In fact, she’s featured in Kilig’s Nostalgia card, which was the second card I created and the one that really shaped the deck’s overall vision.
I also included some of our family photographs in the Family card. To me, the dinner table symbolizes family perfectly—it’s a place where multiple generations come together in one space, sharing moments and memories. One of the photos in the card is of my mother and grandmother together. That particular grandmother passed away just a couple of months ago at the age of 100, the last of her generation in our family. I’m grateful that she’s memorialized in this deck in such a meaningful way.
6. How did your vision of love and relationships evolve from childhood to adulthood, and how does that journey reflect in the deck’s cards and themes?
As a child, my vision of love and relationships was very much shaped by the love songs I listened to and romcoms I grew up watching—full of idealized, magical moments where love seemed effortless and always led to a happy ending. It was lighthearted, exciting, and simple in its purity, much like the giddiness of kilig. I thought love was all about the butterflies and the romantic gestures, where everything would just fall into perfect place.
But as I grew older, my understanding of love became more layered and complex. I realized that while those magical moments are real and beautiful, love also requires vulnerability, growth, and sometimes navigating through tough challenges. It’s about the quieter moments, the effort you put in to truly understand someone, and the balance of supporting one another through life’s ups and downs. This evolution from childhood innocence to a more mature, realistic understanding of love is woven into the themes of my deck.
In the cards, you’ll find the excitement and lightness of early love, those heart-fluttering moments, but also cards that reflect the deeper, sometimes bittersweet aspects of relationships. The deck mirrors the journey from the idealized view of love that we have when we’re young, to the fuller, more nuanced experience of love as we grow older. Both the thrill of kilig and the introspective reflection of love’s complexities are central to the deck’s themes, allowing people to explore both sides of this emotional journey.
7. Can you explain the balance of head and heart that you hope users will find in the Kilig Oracle?
Through this deck, I hope people will find guidance that encourages them to honor both their rational thoughts and deep feelings. It’s about finding harmony—using your intellect and intuition to approach situations wisely, while also allowing yourself to feel fully and authentically. The cards may challenge you to reflect on what feels right in your heart but also ask you to consider the broader, practical implications.
Ultimately, the balance I envision is not about choosing one over the other, but integrating both in a way that brings clarity and peace.
8. Looking back at your creative journey, what has been the most rewarding part of creating Kilig Oracle?
I am a one-woman show, handling everything from promotions and artwork to designing every aspect of the deck and writing the guidebook. I’ll even be packing everything myself with love! It’s incredibly rewarding to see the second edition come together just as I always envisioned it, and I cherish the complete control I have over how it will be shared with the world!
9. Do you have any advice for aspiring creators who want to launch their own Kickstarter projects?
Do not undervalue your work! Be prepared to put in some hard work and always prepare for bumps along the way. Remember to not be discouraged if you do not reach your goal the first time!
10. What’s next for you? Do you have plans for more projects beyond this deck?
I have been very slowly working on a Taylor Swift inspired oracle deck. I have been a shameless Swiftie since 2007 and her music has inspired a lot of my work in many different ways. I love the pictures she paints in her songs and the masterful way she is able to weave her stories in her lyrics to sound like poetry. I hope to have a Kickstarter for it in 2025!
To keep up with Monica Anne, follow her Instagram at @softbabebloom.
Leave a Reply