Can you tell us a little bit about your background?
I was born in Quindío, Colombia and raised in South Florida until 17, when I moved away to London for a year, then returned home to my beloved Colombia. Here I was able to delve deep and reconnect with the ancestral wisdom and undeniable magic I carry, influenced heavily by the nature that surrounds me in my tiny corner of the world. I am now based in NYC where I work as a yoga instructor, reiki practitioner, and spiritual mentor, feeling blessed to find and provide a much-needed breath in the midst of the chaos.
What three words would you use to describe yourself?
Intuitive, adaptable, and metamorphic.
What activities do you enjoy doing in your free time?
One thing about me: I am exceptionally good at finding random patches of grass to lie down in. I also enjoy aimlessly exploring, cooking Mediterranean food, and am always looking for a good laugh.
Can you describe your journey into modern magic/witchcraft? What initially drew you to this path?
Magic is innately a part of life, it’s what I attribute to having created life in the first place. Getting into modern magic is simply never losing the thread that connects us to our nature. In my life, this was reminded to me through people such as my parents who always encouraged me to embrace life’s enchantment, my best friend Manuela who happens to see life with the same tinted goggles as me, and other perfectly placed masters who shared just the right amount of information to put me exactly where I need to be.
Can you talk more about your work as a yoga instructor/ Reiki and your methods and practices?
I began practicing reiki at 19 and teaching yoga when I was 21, I got an early start! Yoga taught me simultaneously how to gain control over my mind and body while delegating control over the rest– the 99%. Allowing yoga to guide me has been the foundation of my relationship with life. It’s allowed me to prioritize balance, gratitude, and devotion in a coherent way with everything I do and don’t do. When I teach a yoga class, I invite the students to get to know themselves deeper; to observe the breath, sensations, emotions, thoughts, and patterns that arise. Becoming aware of what your mind and body provide for you is the first step to living in accordance with your true purpose. This is what yoga is all about.
Similarly to this, reiki taught me the importance of the subtle, everything that exists beyond the visible, alluding back to the 99%. Reiki is merely another language to be learned; A form of communicating with the invisible that proves to manifest in the physical. As a complement to yoga, reiki is one of the many ways we can arrange things in our lives to allow for a healthy flow of energy.
How do you define modern witchcraft, and how does it differ from traditional or historical practices?
Essentially witchcraft is the way we relate to our surroundings, it’s the direction we allow our lives to go in. Only the language and perceptions have changed from what is considered traditional witchcraft to what is practiced today but it ends up all being rooted in the same foundation of altering our reality to make it serve our higher purpose.
What are some of the main principles or beliefs that guide your practices?
In this practice, we are all fragments of a divine source. Some will call it God, some will say universe– to get caught up in the naming of this source is to limit it to human terms, and through this, we will never fully comprehend its vastness. It does not matter what we call it as long as we acknowledge that it makes up everything that is around us. In my practice, I differentiate between this natural state of connection to source vs. the mind, otherwise known as the ego. Our ego is what conditions us to suffer, to feel anger, jealousy, fear, insecurity, and so on. Our ego is the part responsible for detaching us to our limitless and most expansive version. The main principle that guides my practice is to limit the ego in all that I do to hold space for my essence.
How do you incorporate what you may consider witchcraft or magic into your daily life? Are there specific rituals or routines you follow?
I am a big fan of simplicity.
With magic, I want to create a welcoming space for it to expand within me (remembering we’ve been coexisting with magic throughout our whole lives, it already exists within us). Regarding physical space, this is our body: I fuel it with clean, mostly plant-based ingredients, healthy fibers, proteins, fats, and carbs, avoid ultra-processed foods, and eat in moderation. I move my body mindfully, with intention. Scrape my tongue, brush my teeth, file my nails, use clean products, brush my hair, and wear clean clothes– good hygiene is very important. I check in with myself constantly, always coming into a state of self-observation to ask myself, what emotions do I feel? What thoughts are arising? What sensations can I perceive? How is my breath? I prioritize listening to myself and becoming sensitive to my energy, this is our life force. I listen to my intuition to know when to engage in conversations and activities, and when to refrain. I prioritize love to know who to surround myself with, what words to use, what times of day work best for which activities, and always give myself the freedom to change things that no longer benefit me. I speak to nature and express gratitude for how it takes care of me. I write love letters to the universe. I lead with my heart. I communicate with every living thing. I work with the lunar phases to know when to act and when to simply be. I always seek to live in accordance with the magic I have within.
The moment we limit our experience of magic to a ritual at a specific time and date is the moment we see it as something external to us. Live magic in every single thing that you do– that is the most important ritual!
In what ways do you connect with nature and the elements as part of your practice?
Nature and elements are VERY important in my practice! We have all the elements within us, as well as around us, and should be conscious of how and why we use them.
Air is freedom, movement, the changes in our lives, our sense of weightlessness. Fire is our passion, our ability to transform, to see clearly, our drive, our actions. Earth is our groundedness, our stability, security, our foundation, our ability to rest. Water is our fluidity, our emotions, our ability to trust, our imagination, our dreams, our ability to release. Ether is the space where all these elements are held.
When I overwork myself, feel rage, frustration, or irritation, I know my fire is overworking and I must incorporate more water into everything I do to balance this out. This looks like crying, free writing, not making decisions from the mind, and allowing signs to guide me. It shows up in my dreams and I allow myself to play more in this time.
When I feel stagnant, I ask air to provide freedom.
When I feel lost, earth provides stability.
And so on, always listening and integrating the elements that will provide balance.
This is alchemy.
Witchcraft often involves working with energy and intention. Could you explain how you harness these forces in spellwork, practices or rituals?
I set an intention with everything that I do. The time I spend on activities, the food I eat, the hobbies I practice, the words I utilize, the plans I make, the people I invite into my life. Because the ego can be tricky to decipher at times, it’s important to always check in with your intentions for doing something– oftentimes we don’t recognize the real reasoning for our actions which can be based on fear, stubbornness, or jealousy. If the intention is based on love, it will always work out. This is foolproof. In this way, I am meticulously directing my energy to things that serve my ulterior purpose.
Modern witchcraft places emphasis on self-care and personal empowerment. How do these concepts play a role in your practice?
We are souls that were given a body and a mind to navigate this world with. Self-care is the habit of demonstrating the level of respect the body and mind both deserve. These are our homes, they require maintenance to function properly. The way we take care of our bodies and minds is a clear indication of how we expect others to treat us. Moreover, because love is infinite, the more love we show to ourselves, the more love we will experience in every aspect of our lives. It grows stronger, like a wildfire, spreading to every corner and becoming impossible to ignore. Naturally, you will feel your power when you choose to embrace your love. As your self-care improves, your self-love develops and your personal empowerment becomes all-encompassing.
The use of tools such as crystals, herbs, and tarot cards is common in witchcraft. How do these tools contribute to your practice, and what significance do they hold for you?
I like to see these tools as simply that: Tools. With the right intentions, they can help us in times of confusion, but I do not depend on them to practice. I believe intuition is the strongest factor here; if something resonates with you, let it serve you, if it feels forced, let it go.
Witchcraft can be a solitary practice or involve group activities. Do you typically practice alone, or do you engage with a community of like-minded individuals?
Whether you’re conscious of it or not, every intention is a spell, every conversation a manifestation, every relationship a bond, and every space a coven. My most profound practice is when I am alone, deep into meditation to come into my soul, my higher being, my limitlessness… in my meditation, and this is exemplified through my external reality in which I practice with everyone and everything around me.
In what ways have you faced misconceptions or stereotypes about witchcraft/your practices, and how do you address these misunderstandings?
The biggest misconception about this practice is that it’s exclusive and can’t be included with other theories, philosophies, or religions. The whole purpose of the practice is unity. There is not one strict way in which to practice, while there are general principles, there are many ways these can be manifested. Everyone is able to give it their own focus. Creativity plays a very important role in this.
It does not matter if you speak to angels, or fairies, or Jesus, or elephant gods… It all coexists. The end goal is the same and it is up to every person to choose how they get there. I recommend people not get lost in the path, keep going, keep walking, and allow yourself to learn from other belief systems and perspectives to bring you even closer to this oneness.
A lot of misconceptions come from negative connotations, and a lot of these connotations come from fear. The ego is good at limiting our realities and making it seem that things happen TO us instead of BECAUSE of us. It’s been said many times before, we are the creators of our own realities. This can be the most liberating truth or the most stressful, depending on your interpretation, and this is where the fear lies. For many people, it’s easier to accept that they’re powerless when faced with situations as it gets rid of the accountability factor. This leads them to reject their powers and those who are able to use them in their favor.
In this current climate, how do you live a life that is healthy and well-balanced?
The simplest way to live a healthy and well-balanced life is by prioritizing my relationship with myself, becoming sensitive to what my mind and body are telling me, and consistently honoring these wants and needs, consciously and guilt-free.
In short, how would you describe a modern-day witch?
In short, a modern-day witch is you 🙂
And me 🙂
It’s all of us, whether we choose to accept it or not.
And lastly, describe yourself as if you were explaining your current life to a complete stranger, what would you want them to know about you?
Hi, I’m Sara.
Creator, admirer, dancer, writer, explorer, yogi, lover.
I teach yoga, reiki, and offer spiritual mentorship.
I like to question, laugh, move, change, rest, move more, express… and enjoy while doing so.
I choose a direction and use self-discovery as my vehicle to get there.
I use conscious exploration as my fuel to navigate my whole self.
I work with energy, elements, people, and spaces to transform different versions of reality.
I prioritize feeling first and thinking second.
I believe in magic (and you do too).
I like to see my life in terms of themes, processes, patterns, lessons.
I live comfortably in the middle of black and white, left and right, here and there, always reverting to my center.
I learn and teach, teach and learn.
I am another you.
