Resources for artists

Have you ever wondered why I collect herbs from my garden, use rainwater, prepare cacao before painting, lay out oracle cards, or celebrate the full moon? 
What do these rituals have to do with being an artist?

For me, they are tools that help me ground, become more present, and even see more clearly what I want to express through my art.

Preparing cacao with cinnamon and rose petals for a ceremony.	Smudging my studio with palo santo, London 2018.

A little about me

I always dreamed of being an artist. But like many creatives, I was told to choose something more "practical" and keep art as a hobby. So I studied Information Design and later earned a Master’s in Book Publishing. I started working, moved from Mexico to Barcelona, and for years, I forgot about my art. Office life left me drained, physically and emotionally.

Eventually, I became so disconnected that I fell into a deep depression, which even showed up in my body. I knew something had to change. I began crocheting, and having danced ballet for 15 years as a child, I reconnected with my body through yoga. In 2011, I completed my Yoga Teacher Training and realized how much joy I found in moving my body and working with my hands.

A few years later, while living in London, I worked as a brand manager for a yoga center. It was there that I first encountered ceremonial cacao through a beautiful practitioner I still share cups of cacao with now and then.

Plant medicine and my Mexican roots

I was born and raised in Mexico until I was 24, and that heritage is still alive and vibrant within me. When art returned to my life, it came back fiercely, and with it, a deep pull toward the earth, to my roots, to Mother Earth.

I began reading, studying, and asking questions about the traditions I came from. I used to believe there were no artists in my family, but I know there are medicine women. I remember my great-aunt planting seeds and healing others with herbs and prayers. My grandmother, who is now 95 and full of life, is the strongest woman I’ve ever known. I wanted to learn more from that strength, from that earth.

Making smudge sticks with chamomile and lavender from my garden.	Smudging 'La Casita', my garden studio with copal.

Cacao and creativity

For most Mexicans, plants like chamomile, cinnamon, or corn are everyday medicine. And while hot chocolate is a beloved comfort shared with family, we also learn from a young age that cacao is sacred. Its name means "food of the gods." The Maya used it in rituals, as currency, and as medicine.

Ceremonial cacao circles may be a modern concept, but a beautiful one. Cacao contains theobromine, which gently stimulates the heart and increases blood flow by 30–40%. It can uplift your mood, ground your energy, and boost serotonin levels. Many people feel lighter, more inspired, and open after drinking it. For me, it’s a creative ally.

Creating my own magic

In my search for the medicine woman within me, I also discovered practices like shamanic drumming, but that’s a story for another time. (If you follow me on social media, you’ll often see my drum nearby.)

Cacao, though, became a core part of my creative process. Even before I ever picked up a paintbrush, I would begin with long meditations. Over time, those meditations evolved. Now, cacao, drumming, and quiet ritual are essential to how I create. They make me feel connected and joyful, and when that happens, the creative flow just... flows.

Creative Summer Circle, London 2024.	Ceremonial Cacao and rose petals.

An invitation

I hope this post inspires you to find your own magic, to reconnect with whatever brings you closer to yourself and your roots. And if you ever find yourself in London, I would love to welcome you to one of my cacao & creativity circles.

I host a Solstice Ceremony that includes cacao, drumming, intention-setting, and painting. I also hold smaller circles twice a month, around the new and full moon. These gatherings are more informal, spaces to share joy, gifts, and creativity in sisterhood, you can find more information and book HERE.

You're always welcome. 

Find my art workshops and cacao circle offerings here!