In The Community
Paulina Aguirre on Using Music as a Healing Outlet and Driving Force for Social Change
Paulina Aguirre is a Latin Grammy winner, voice actress, and founder of Mujer de Fe. She discusses with host Lucy Flores her journey to reaching her artistic goals and helping other women reach theirs.
Video Transcript:
Speaker 1: (00:06)
[opening music]
Speaker 2: (00:06)
I’m Lucy Flores, host of Jefa status where we talk to boss Latinas and dig into what makes them tick, what motivates them, what pisses them off, what drives them forward. Basically the how, the what, the why. The point of Jefa status is to bring to the world all the ways in which Latinas are reaching their own Jefa status and what that means to them. What’s fascinating about all these conversations is how often being a boss Latina includes empowering and helping other Latinas to find their better selves. Our guest this week, Paulina Aguirre is another amazing example of that work in action through her foundation Mujer de Fé. Now Paulina Aguirre is a four time Latin Grammy nominee and one time winner and founder of Mujer de Fé. The foundation’s mission is to empower women dealing with issues such as anxiety, depression and abuse, and the organization also works to help women by assisting in their intellectual and spiritual development and providing them with the necessary tools for personal and professional progress.
Speaker 2: (01:11)
Paulina, thank you so much for joining us. We’re so excited to have you. Thank you so much, Lucy. I’m very happy to be here this morning. Thanks. Yes. So as, as my approach on this show, I like to get into the details of the journey. Um, I think it’s so important to talk about how people got to where they are. It’s, I think it’s something just very human nature to constantly compare ourselves to where people are now and not really think about all of the challenges, the obstacles, the, the time, the effort, right. That it took to get there. So let’s do that first. Tell us about your background. You’re from Ecuador? Yes, I am from a very small country, Ecuador in South America, so people don’t know where Ecuador is, but it’s in South America and I was born in the capital Quito. Oh, okay. Yeah, I come from a family of writers, actually my, my grandfather, he was a journalist.
Speaker 2: (02:03)
He used to work for the editorial department and um, and my other grandfather, he was a, um, a teacher and uh, my great grand-uncle, he is, um, probably the most famous or yeah, songwriter or composer of my country. So I somehow have the blood into, into that and also opinion that my mom used to work for a president in my country and she’s 80 now and she had me in her forties. Wow. So I kind of grew up with all the intellectual and the writing and composition, uh, art side. Right. So you got that influence pretty early on. So how did you then make it to the United States? Well, um, in the beginning when I was 13 years old, um, my uncle, he used to live in Chicago and he said he offered my brother, uh, he told my brother, like, why don’t you come to the, you know, to the States to, you know, maybe you can go to high school. And I said, no, no, no. I mean, he want to, but I want
Speaker 3: (03:00)
to go. And yeah, my brother didn’t want to go. He was very, you know, just a homey boy. Yeah. But, uh, but I, I went to Chicago without my parents when I was 13 and I went to high school and that’s when I just discovered a whole new world about music, about, uh, you know, arts. And I just felt like this is my place, like the United States at the time. And so you came all by yourself? With my uncle and his wife and it was a little hard in the beginning and, but I just felt like this is what I want to do. I mean, what I want to do music. I, I participated in a talent show when I was 13 and I won third place. And uh, that’s when I knew that I wanted to do music and I wanted to be in the arts field for my life.
Speaker 3: (03:44)
And so then tell me about that. So then you ended up doing, you got the bug, but you had that influence already pretty early on in your life and your, you’re living in Chicago. Yeah. At 13. Yeah. So then I went back to Ecuador because of course I was like very young at the time. I was 16 when I went, um, back to Ecuador. And, um, and then I just started, you know, like working in everything that was possible, doing jingles and I work in, in some television and doing everything that was possible to do at the time. But, you know, Ecuador is such a small country and at a time, I mean, you didn’t really have the resources to the music because I mean, that was not a career. So I, um, I started working like in different things. I even worked for the government. I was a teacher.
Speaker 3: (04:26)
I used to choreograph, I did like so many different things to be able to, you know, keep up myself. Um, my parents were going through a rough time in their lives with their finances, so I needed to work. And then, uh, eventually I got the visa back and I was able to come back to the States. But it was like a real dream because I kind of like, um, you know, I had a pray one day and it was like the very first Latin Grammys. And I remember Juan Luis Guerra winning the Latin Grammys that day. And my friends, they told me like, um, you know, Paulina, come and see it, watch it with us. And I said, no, no, no, I’m just going to get depressed because this is like a, that’s a dream that I would love to, I would love not to win a Grammy, but I just would love to the music and really be able to do what I’m good for.
Speaker 3: (05:10)
And it just like seems so impossible because I don’t have the resources. It’s just, it just is just a dream. So I don’t want to watch it. So I remember that I went to my room and I started praying like for two hours and I said like, God, if you think that ever, I’m going to be able to do this. So um just help me and let me go back to the States. If not, let just give me the passion to be a good teacher. Whatever you want me to do. I mean just, but I, if I, if I don’t do it, I’m going to die. Right. And then, well, every, all the pieces move. Finally I was able to come to the States. And then, uh, well I met my husband. Um, he’s from Ecuador, but he was already working with artists such as Luis Miguel, Marco Antonio Solís and different people, but we were friends.
Speaker 3: (05:53)
So that was kind of like the beginning in the route. Yeah and what was that like after you got back? I mean, it’s, you know, it’s always interesting to me. It’s like, you know, we kind of, um, we hear these stories and it’s like, I went from here and then I went to there and then, but you know, when you get here you think about it, you know, you came to LA, you, um, you know, obviously my, your husband, but you know, what were you working, you know, like what does, what does that day to day look like in LA, you know, after being in Ecuador. Really heard. Yeah, I can imagine. Right. So like what, you know, I always think about all these, especially living here in Los Angeles, you have all these aspiring actors and singers and entertainers and they’re all so talented and they’re just kind of like trying to live until they get their big break. So I saved $3,000. That was what the money that I had. Okay. So of course, after four, four months been in Los Angeles, I had no car and it was just every time getting difficult. So, um, I had this offer that, uh, Pablo, my husband was my friend and he said, you know, they’re looking like for, um, kids’ voices and they’re looking for some characters and I said, I know how to do that. Like, please hire me. Yeah. Did you actually or you were just like I’ll figure it out. No no no. I can do a kids voice, old person, adult.
Speaker 3: (07:06)
Whatever i’ll do it. No I did the voices for Los Solecitos, which was a, uh, you know, like, um, product that Univision had, and I did like a, the voices for, uh, the uh, there were five of them and I did the voices for five. One of them was called sole amigo and I used to that “hoy amigos” and not just like different voices. There was a smart one that was like, [inaudible] so i mean always have like, you know, like the gift of doing voices. I mean, and the thing is that I just, you know, and thank God, I mean I send like my demo, like singing and also talking and they hire me for eight albums. Wow. That was like the first album I was able to buy my salvage car. And then, you know, I started to make a living, but it was really hard. I mean, every day I was like praying like please, like, please don’t let me go back and just be ashamed that nothing happened with me.
Speaker 3: (07:56)
I mean, so then when this thing happened, I was like so excited and proud and, and then I started my journey and also doing, you know, uh, I started working, um, I met, um, Kenu Brian, who is, um, he’s a vocal coach for and vocal producer for Celine Dion. So I, he took me to work with Alberto Ortica. I worked with Michael Bublé, Marta Sanchez with all these artists. So it was kind of like, you know, for, so for a newbie in Los Angeles, and when you heard that that was a dream and you know, I mean, it was a dream for me. I was like, so I was just like in this biggest studios and working, I was like, Oh my gosh, I cannot believe that this is happening to me. This is really happening to me. So it happened and, and I started working and then I, you know, I started writing my own material. I mean, I always, uh, you know, I always did it, but this time it was like, ah, I’m going to write something that I’m going to do for myself. That’s incredible. So true story. I don’t really use my, my iPod, like my iTunes on my phone, all that often.
Speaker 2: (08:56)
I use like Spotify or other things, so I just don’t really know how to work it. I don’t have a subscription, it’s whatever. But I have a bunch of songs downloaded and my car, because the phone is on Bluetooth, sometimes it automatically just loads by default the iTunes. And the first song that comes on that I’m just like, and I don’t know how to get rid of it because like I just don’t have the time to figure it out. And I literally just switch it over to, you know, the service that I’m using is, Abrazame by Paulina Aguirre. Aw that’s so nice.
Speaker 2: (09:31)
And no kidding sometimes because it literally plays every single, almost every single time I turn on the damn car and there you go. You’re like, duh, duh, duh, duh, duh, duh. You know, the way it starts i’m like no more Abrazame Paulina. I’m just like, shut it off. So you’re literally play in my car every single time. It defaults to my ITunes. So it was like so excited when I heard that you were going to come on. I was like, Oh my gosh, I’m going to tell her to stop telling me about Abrazame all the time. It’s an amazing, song. You know, obviously, um, that’s such a great trajectory. Just a great story.
Speaker 3: (10:11)
I, I, well, I the, I just think that, um, uh, you know, writing in composing music is such a gift. And as every other gift that people, I mean, we all have a gift and we have to recognize and really be able to, you know, see ourselves through the gift that we have been given. And I think sometimes when you get depressed or frustrated is because you’re not fulfilling your call. Right. I, um, you know, last year I was having a talk with Marco Antonio Solís who’s a good friend, and he was telling me like, uh, Paulina, I need to talk to you and I need to tell you this. And he said, you know, I always tell my daughters that for them not to expect to be like me, but because maybe that can happen that maybe not, but you cannot be, um, uh, you have to be faithful to your call, right?
Speaker 3: (10:54)
You have to fulfill it. So don’t, not thinking what is going to happen. Like you’re going to get all the awards and all the things. So, so, you know, I’ve been trying to do that. As soon as I came to Los Angeles, that’s when I wrote my first album Mujer de Fe which got nominated on 2007. And I did that album out of, uh, you know, my obviously appreciation for, for, for God, for my appreciation of faith. And, uh, knowing that I was coming, uh, you know, to Los Angeles, where you really exercise that faith and that difficult, uh, in a difficult city. Right. You know, so, and then I recorded my second album Esperando Tu Voz. And it was in a time of a, you know, I was living, uh, in a, in a desert time, in a, in a time where I was not seeing it, things happening in.
Speaker 3: (11:37)
I wrote that and then I won the Grammy with that one. And um, and I, and I think, um, w and then the F the third one ne, uh, Rompe el Silencio is an album which I was nominated as well. It gets into more of the social thing because I’ve always, you know, I worked for the government, I was talking to Maria and I told you a little bit about it, the it when you work in the field with people and I have, um, you know, I, I was twenty two and I was working there with, transportation department and I have elders, uh, people, you know, with a lot of needs. So then that, that I think at you exercise like that, the cold that I think when, uh, if you’re not involved somehow with a community, you’re not really exercising your faith. Right. Right. So, um,
Speaker 2: (12:21)
and yeah. And it seems like that’s then where, um, you know, following not only that call to your music, but that desire to give back, that desire to work with the community, maybe because of your experience working in the government, but also just in your community and you know, like following those things that, that fulfill you as you were saying. So is that, what did that, did that prompt you, or in what ways did that prompt you to start the foundation and tell us a little bit about, um, Mujer de Fe. So well what happened is
Speaker 3: (12:51)
when I started with the first album, Mujer de Fe and then all the music that I, I started writing for women. I write for women. And that’s my passion, you know, and I started having, um, you know, emails and uh, you know, just messages from women that were telling me like I was raped and, uh, you know, I come out of our Christian community and I just can’t talk about it because I, it’s shameful. And other people, like, you know, my, I’ve been raped inside, um, since I have memory and I live in Mexico. And, uh, when I heard that song, Abrazame I dunno if I didn’t kill myself because I was afraid or because I’m a coward and I mean, I have this words in my head like, you know, and then I started having this messages and of course I didn’t like have a degree as a psychologist or social worker or anything like that.
Speaker 3: (13:41)
But then you make a field because of the need. And that’s what happened with Mujer de Fe foundation. Um, you know, I am very grateful to from BMI because she helped me to open like, um, you know, uh, you’d be part of it, but also, you know, help me to open somehow, um, you know, the, the field to do or the voice to do with other women. Um, and, uh, this BMI events that we had in Beverly Hills or different places just in the city in Los Angeles to somehow have a, you know, uh, be a voice with other women about what’s happening with abuse and other, uh, you know things..
Speaker 2: (14:17)
Right. And so tell me about that. Like, what kind of, um, work does the foundation do? I know you did recently, I think it was in twenty sixteen you also did some outreach to and, and, um, fundraising for the earthquakes that, that occurred in Ecuador. Um, but you know, what’s the, I guess what’s the thing that you find most common that you end up, um, working with or doing through the foundation? Well, um, basically the way that, how we’re not a center because to have a center you need
Speaker 3: (14:48)
to have like the lobby ability of the people that are working in, you know, I mean for the foundation, right? So we decided to open like a, let’s say like a Facebook or a resource center where a woman can get into, you know, Mujer de Fe foundation. We’re actually working on that this year, so it’s not ready, all the things. But we were like thinking how are we going to make it work because we’re doing different things. But where we helped out on the earthquake, we have done several events, but we didn’t know how to, you know, really be, um, useful. Sure. Yeah. So what we did is like, um, so we, uh, been talking to several, um, professionals in the field of psychology, doctors, attorneys. So they are somehow, um, you know, being part of the foundation, uh, pro bono, let’s say that they have a Wednesday from two to five or two from six they have available.
Speaker 3: (15:42)
So they opened that time to help pro bono other, I mean women. So what they do is like women getting to the page and they say, I need a psychologist and, and their zip code is this. So then they see that this professionals are available on these days. That’s incredible. Is a resource center basically because that was the best way because I had a lot of online though, not in a building, right. So not in a building, because a lot of people were telling me like, you know, I’m a doctor and I want to help and then I am a psychologist. I want to help. I’m an attorney, I want to help. So how do you unite all this professionals in one building when you are in the world? Right. So that where we’re working. Um, you know, we’re trying to be, um, uh, is strategic and everything that we do because it’s a little complicated, but it is not as complicated as to have a center.
Speaker 3: (16:29)
Right. It’s is a little easier. So mainly that’s our goal in 2019 to really be able to have a very, um, um, just clear and objective resource center so women can really be helped and find the professionals they need. And is there a certain need that you see more than others? Yeah, well, um, I think, uh, well domestic violence definitely is a, is a problem. I was doing a project with the UN and uh, reading about the statistics in the, and especially in Latin America, so Mexico, Argentina, Ecuador, definitely we had a lot of uh, um, uh, situations on 2018 women that were murdered you know by their husbands who are partners. So, uh, definitely domestic violence is a, is a, is a problem but we’re doing, um, you know, we’re working also through music. So one of the projects that we have with jails that I would like to share some time with you and maybe we can do something. Absolutely. But is like to really, um, you know, women cannot go out of jail, but we can build a booth, you know, movable, you know, portable move, booth where we record, uh, women and we do like a music project where they are, you know, singer songwriters and they do that.
Speaker 3: (17:44)
Yeah. That’s incredible. Actually in Ecuador, there is, um, radio station that is a built in jail. Wow. So women, they have a podcast and they have a program, I don’t remember the name, but I cried with them. I went to visit, visit this women in a, in Quito, eh, and um, and they loved my music and they said like, you know, we have this program and we are reaching so many people, so many women outside and we’re just telling them
Speaker 2: (18:11)
their stories. Yeah. And it’s just such an incredible outlet, you know, I mean, we, we know that when people are incarcerated that there’s so many different things that we could do to help them better themselves because eventually you’re going to get out. Right? I mean, I think like, you know, there’s people don’t really think about the fact that if you incarcerate someone for two years, five years, ten years, fifteen years, even thirty years, they’re eventually going to get out. And when they get out, we want them to be not worse, but we want them to be better. We want them to be healed. We want them to be, you know, just a better people with job skills and all the other things so that they can actually be productive when they get out. And, you know, it’s so mind boggling to me when I find out how little resources, um, incarcerated people, especially incarcerated women because incarcerated women, people also don’t recognize that women, the population of inmates has been growing faster than any population.
Speaker 2: (19:07)
Right? So we’re incarcerating women at a much faster rate than we’re incarcerating everybody else and you know, and, and they have such distinct needs when it comes to, you know, their families and maybe they have children and women tend to be, you know, the, the center of these, of households, especially Latinas, you know, and, and so I just, your idea’s amazing. I’m, I would say I’m surprised that there isn’t already something there, but I’m not, you know, if nothing like that exists, I know that I’ve, I’ve definitely heard of, um, uh, like video production and, uh, video storytelling and those types of programs within California. I’m not, I’m not sure about the rest of the country, but there’s a few of those types of programs. I think they’re focused on men’s facilities. Um, but it’s pretty surprising that we haven’t thought about expanding that into music, given that it’s just such an incredible healing outlet
Speaker 3: (20:01)
for people. Yeah. I mean, if you, I think if you go into, you know, um, a facility, you’re going to find many talents, you know, and I have a friend that she works with, um, prostitutes, you know, and we call them the street workers over there. And, um, when, let’s say that they want to, many of them want to quit their job, obviously. Right? But when they, uh, how do they apply to a job? What is their resume? Right? So we don’t do something as a community, you know, like, um, really, uh, train them or teach them to do something or, uh, I know that there is programs,
Speaker 2: (20:48)
obviously there should be some, yeah. You know, I haven’t been able to go to a facility here, but if we don’t do something as a community in which is let them be, I mean, we’re not doing, you know, part of our call as, as, as human beings. That’s exactly right. We do have to be involved in community. When I think when you’re involved, you know, in the community, you’re less sick, you’re less, your ego is, uh, you know, disappears or is less and, and you really feel that you’re doing something for, for, you know, uh, for your genera as, as you know, women and also as a human being. Yeah, absolutely. Well, that being said, let me switch gears just a little bit. You were recently an international judge on the talent show, The World’s Best with James Corden, RuPaul and Drew Barrymore, and you were representing Ecuador. And you know, one of the other issues that we have when it comes to Latina in our community is that there’s just so little representation in mainstream media.
Speaker 2: (21:47)
So, you know, the fact that you were included on this really incredible mainstream show, um, that is super entertaining and reaches probably millions of households in the country. What is your approach to appearances like this? I mean, you’re already incredibly talented and musician, artist, Grammy winner, you know, so you already have your platform. It’s expanded even further when you get to be on a show like this. How do you feel in terms of, um, you know, your obligation to kind of be the representation for Latinas given that there’s, there’s just so little of it, you know, we don’t see ourselves reflected in much of anything, you know, and then when we do, it’s in all of these really terrible stereotypical ways, you know, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with being a housekeeper or being, you know, it’s all honorable work, but that’s not all we are.
Speaker 2: (22:44)
We’re so much more. Right. So how do you feel when you, you know, kind of like, what’s your approach is it’s super high pressure. Do you feel like you’re the ambassador for all Latinas ever? You know, so what, well, I, um, you know, I always, uh, somehow, um, you know, when I worked for television and radio, I was always like a production or I was an anchor. But are you on radio? You, you’re not really being seen. Right. You know, so, so, well, you found all these people that they had all this amazing costumes and I was like, just like somehow a regular normal person. And, um, and I was bringing basically my talent and my criteria about real work, so, and that feel, I felt like I really had something to say about music and about talent, uh, because, uh, you know, I’m a singer songwriter. Um, uh, for me it’s not like, uh, uh, actually when I won the Grammy, I was overweight. Like, I’m still a little bit though,
Speaker 3: (23:46)
but, but at the time, you know, I was a, you know, not with a best dress. I was, you know, overweight. That was when they asked me on the red carpet. So who’s the designer? And I said, Neiman Marcus, I mean, that was the name of the store so I was not trained, like all the people that were in that place because they are used to television. You know, in my case, I knew that what I had, it was based on a lot of work. My criteria was based on effort and talent. So when I had to speak, I spoke out of the abundance of my heart, which was real work. And I think that, um, a lot of women, they have to some somehow, you know, break that silence and fear and be able to, you know, experience and experiment on. Um, sometimes he didn’t tell us that they, they, uh, they just are afraid of trying because they been in the house for so long that I have a friend, she is from Korea. Uh, her name is Kathy, Kai or khacki or something
Speaker 3: (24:48)
her talent name. So she was my, um, you, you were, um, you know, dancing tap, you know, in the same class and one day I told her, you know, I’m doing, this Broadway thing. Why don’t you try, you told me that you were an actress and I was like nah that’s been too long. I’m too old. So, well, she’d try it out and she got into the, now she’s doing a lot of Broadway things. So I think you have to give it a try. You know, you have to give it a try. If you have a talent, don’t be afraid. Don’t be scared. Really give it a try and try to do the best out of you. And I know we live in a difficult city. Sometimes finances might be a problem, but I think dreams are never impossible for the people that have faith and really work, you know, as strongly and they’re, you know, in their capacities and everything is possible.
Speaker 3: (25:28)
Everything is possible. And you’re going to break down those impossibilities when you do have faith. Yeah and you feel like when you have the opportunity to be included in a platform that reaches so many people, that all you can do is just, just be your authentic self. Just be you. And, and by virtue of you of people seeing you, especially if Latinas seeing you, you know, kind of gives them that extra effort. Like she did it, I can do it too. We were just very few there. I mean, yeah, we’re like, I think two Latinas and um, and a friend from Mexico, Alberto Vellie and a guy from Panama and a guy from Columbia came for a little bit from Broadway. So yeah, we were just not very many Latinos and especially Latinas. But yeah, it was a, you know, I think, uh, we all did a good job and I, I’m very proud that I was taken into consideration. And what’s your experience been like in terms of, you know, you mentioned, you know, Hollywood is not an easy place, but what’s your experience been like in terms of being a Latina and, um, you know, most of your music is in Spanish, right? Um, and like, you know, right now we are having such a, we kind of had a little bit of a increase, like a a boom cycle for Latino music, maybe like, you know, ten, ten or so years, ten, fifteen
Speaker 2: (26:43)
years ago, and now we’re experiencing another one and all of a sudden, you know, Latino is popular again, you know, although obviously we think it’s always been popular. Um, and we all, we have been popular even if we haven’t been acknowledged. Right. But how do you feel in terms of just the experiences that you’ve had, you know, is it, has it been tougher because you knew you were like Spanish language first or you know, what’s that been like in terms of just, um, you know, trying to fit in? If you will.
Speaker 3: (27:11)
Well, I think as sometimes you’re going to be a stereotype in, um, uh, maybe in any job, but I think talent always speaks out. So, um, I’m not, uh, the type of person to be, you know, uh, I’m not fearful. I’m never afraid. And I work, uh, you know, that’s kind of like my flag. I know where I come from. You’d have to know where you come from. Right. Because that’s your strength. Right. And I’m proud that I come from a family that, uh, they’re writers, they’re composers. And when I try to, you know, I’m in a place, I know what I’m bringing. And I think you have to be proud of who you are. I mean, like people that come from, uh, different parts of Latin America, they have to be proud of, uh, what they’re bringing, that we’re not coming to take, uh, from the scenes by we’re coming to bring in and build and, uh, you know, and give to the community. So, uh, I think we have to be clear about who we are, what we’re bringing.
Speaker 2: (28:08)
Yeah, absolutely. One thousand percent. Okay. So we’re getting towards the end. So one of the things that we do, um, is we do quick fire questions and they’re the same. So we ask everybody the same questions. Um, so no right or wrong answer, just whatever comes to mind. Okay. And whatever it means to you. So your thoughts on being a boss, Latina. So name a boss Latina, who recently inspired you? Uh, Ana Navarro. Okay. All right. Any particular reason why? Well, because,
Speaker 3: (28:43)
um, I mean she is, she’s not afraid of about her comments maybe. Um, a lot of people can think that. She can go out of line sometimes, but she, uh, I think she has been setting a, I mean she’s a Republican supposedly somehow, but she’s a Democrat as well, so somehow I feel like that as well. It too. And I like the way that, uh, you know, she confronts people and that she’s funny authentic, apologetic, just says what’s on her mind. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Okay. That’s the way I write music too.
Speaker 2: (29:12)
Yeah there you go. You have to. Um, what do you think is a signature trait of a Jefa?
Speaker 3: (29:20)
Um, someone who know when someone who wa, uh, sees herself in the mirror and know who she is.
Speaker 2: (29:28)
I love it. Absolutely. Um, all right, a little on the, on the flip side here. Who deserves a mal ojo this week? Oh my gosh, there might be too many. Oh my gosh. Donald Trump. You know, I feel like that I’m going to get that answer a lot. He definitely deserves a mal ojo pretty much every single day, multiple times a day. So I agree. Um, awesome. Well, Paulina, it’s been an absolute pleasure having you. Thank you so much. Um, just for some followup information, how can people find you? Are you on social media, Instagram, Twitter, or where, where are you, how can they find you? Instagram Paulina Aguirre Music. I’m also on Facebook Paulina Aguirre Music on Twitter. Paulina Aguirre 7. Okay. And your website for or information on the foundation. Mujerdefe.com
Speaker 2: (30:21)
And where can we download your music? Well, if you go to Spotify and put Paulina Aguirre, Paulina, like a Russian name somehow. Yeah, you’ll, you’ll, you’ll find Spotify. And other, yeah. And note to the listeners. If you put her on your iTunes, and it’s the first Abrazame because it’s an a, you will get Paulina every single time you turn on your car and your iTunes. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. And, and unless you figured out how to mix it up do not do the alphabetized list. Let’s take the mal de ojo, I mean, I want to give out buen ojo to everybody. There you go. That’s right. Yeah. You know, maybe we will start with mal de ojo first. That way we can end on a, on a positive note. And even Donald Trump needs a buen ojo you know why because he needs to take lot of decisions he needs buen ojos, I’m going to give him a buen ojo. Agreed ok.
Speaker 1: (31:12)
[closing music]
First of her family to graduate from college, Dr. Nikki Starr found stability in her life while at school. Now, she brings her alternative healing methods to bring that same stability and happiness to others. Listen to her insightful journey on Jefa Status.
Video Transcript:
Speaker 1: (00:00)
I’m Lucy Flores, host of Jefa status where we talk to boss Latinas and dig into what makes them tick, what motivates them, what pisses them off, what drives them forward. Basically the how, the what the why. My guest, Dr. Nikki Starr helps people optimize your mind, body and spirit. A few highlights are of course the obvious. She’s a doctor with a medical degree from NYU school of medicine. She’s an author, a life coach, a Reiki energy healer, and a business owner plus a list of accomplishments so long you have to scroll down the webpage to read them all. Thank you so much for being with us. We’re so excited to have you. I feel calm already and you know,
Speaker 1: (00:46)
she did also give us an essential oils before we started. So it could be that or it might be just kind of your presence, but we’re just like super excited to have you. And wellness is just such an important physical, mental, et cetera. Like every aspect of your being is just so important nowadays. We have so much like toxicity and stressors and you know, and, and I think, um, being able to have this conversation is so important. You know, like the title of the show of course is jefa status, right? And being a jefa kind of inevitably brings with it stress. And you’re a leader and you’re a caregiver and you’re taking care of, you know, like the whole world and when you take care of yourself. So anyway, we have so much to talk about, but let’s start at the beginning. Tell us about yourself. Okay.
Speaker 2: (01:36)
So I’d like to thank you for inviting me to be on here and to share myself, my journey and some tips and ways that I can support women on their journey. So thank you so much. And so starting from the beginning, I feel let’s start from my grandparents who are all immigrants and they came to this country all with nothing, you know, so I’m not someone who comes from a privileged background. And, and then with that they worked really hard to give the American dream, not to my parents because my parents actually had me when they were 18. So my grandparents of course were upset and they were like my daughter a teen having a baby, you know, it just like the statistics a lot in the Latino community and they’re from where Queens, New York. So my parents came from, from Columbia, and um, so my mother’s parents came from Columbia and they, my parents decided, you know, I know we want to have her.
Speaker 2: (02:32)
And then they also had my sister a year and a half later. So they were young and, and busy, but they were children. So I really grew up fast and I excelled in school. I loved school and I became a doctor because I was naturally drawn to healing. It kind of made sense. I was kind of that person that everyone always came to to share their problems. So it was just my natural way of being. And so I went through medical, I went through NYU for undergrad. Well. So I was the first in my family to graduate college. And then of course it was such a big deal to my family to become a doctor. You know, even now when I go visit, my grandparents moved back to Columbia and I go visit them. They’re like, this is our doctor, our grand-daughter, is a doctor, you know? And then I’m like, wait, I don’t practice Western medicines anymore. So it’s funny.
Speaker 2: (03:20)
Exactly. And so I guess what started the whole thing was I started doing yoga and traveling and that took me out of the New York city. This is the center of the world bubble. And when I, I even did missions in third world countries in Honduras and Ecuador. And when I was there, I got to see how people live with nature. And there were old ladies with wrinkles on their face and smiles barefoot wearing their skirts, the traditional dress of the Ande, like the Andean mountains and, but with big barrels of corn. And you look at the 90 year old ladies here and they’re in the nursing homes, you know, barely able to take care of themselves. And here are these elderly that are healthy. And so I started to notice that, Hmm, maybe the way we’re doing things isn’t the right way or the best way. And this was kind of started the awakening that I like to call it .
Speaker 1: (04:14)
Having been the first in your family to go to NYU and then also medical school. What was that like?
Speaker 2: (04:20)
So it’s interesting, I recently just presented a thesis on discipline and how it’s so important for our healing and spiritual journey. And my mentor said to me, well, where did this discipline come from? Why are you so disciplined? And then I realized it was because I was born into chaos. So part of also I didn’t go as deep, but I feel it’s important to share. Um, so my parents, like as I mentioned, my parents were 18 and for money, my dad decided to start selling drugs. And so they, you know, he ended up selling to hell’s angels that were undercover cops and he went away to jail for four or five years. They didn’t really tell us, but I’ve always been intuitive. So I knew. Yeah. And as a psychology major in college, I studied that. When children come from dysfunctional families, usually the first one is like the type a perfectionist overachiever and becomes a white colored worker.
Speaker 2: (05:15)
And so I was like, Oh, it makes sense. I fit the bill, check out. (I was like oh yeah wow! That just totally fits my bill too. Okay.) And it’s like we’re making up for the family’s dysfunction. So we somehow grow up and we get these super powers because when there’s all this mayhem around us, we know that somehow in school that’s where we can shine. That’s where we know we’re cared for. And of course our teachers always love us because we love school and I think it gives us some kind of stability. And so I always loved school and my parents were never one like, did you do your homework? They weren’t like that. I just somehow naturally was born this way. Yeah,
Speaker 1: (05:54)
I mean you’re, you’re literally telling my story. I mean, I did the exact same thing for me. It was a little different in that I did get in trouble and I did, you know, like get into the school to prison pipeline. And eventually ended up on juvenile parole and all kinds of terrible things. But I eventually got the external, like that factor that I needed, you know, like that person who took interest in me and um, and just helped me, you know, helped me recognize that there was a different way. Um, you were able to kind of keep yourself disciplined even though I’m sure there was a lot of chaos even in school and probably crime and other things, you know, going on. Um, how did you manage to kind of not get caught up in some of these other things?
Speaker 2: (06:38)
I think that I’ve always had that healer aspect within me and I also, we were involved in a lot of extra school curricular things. And so I do find that with children it’s important to keep them busy in a sense. And so I had afterschool programs, I did gymnastics and cheerleading and softball and, you know, and all these different things. I did dancing school at one point, we did so many things on top and I was, and then of course when I got into high school, actually in in middle school too, I remember I was like president of different clubs. I was on the debate team, I played the saxophone. So I just was even from a young child, a little bit of an overachiever, I wanted to be involved in everything. So that kept me really busy. I would also say that my grandmother lived with us for a lot of our life and so we always had someone at home. We never really were alone and we had a home cooked meal every night. So there was still stability in the home. And my mother did get remarried when I was seven and so my stepfather has been like my biological, you know, he’s been like my father really treated us like his daughters. And so we did at one point, eventually when I was around seven, that’s when we had the stability kind of kicked in a bit more.
Speaker 1: (07:52)
Right. So tell me now kind of where, where that then takes you. How do you go from learning the traditional Western practice of medicine, which, you know, it’s also very interesting. Um, the more that you learn about, uh, pharmaceuticals and the way in which we treat disease, it’s, it’s so, um, fascinating and, and disheartening also in the way that our approaches, when we treat disease, it’s almost like you’re treating it with another problem. You’re treating it with another disease, you know, like you’re treating your blood pressure or you’re treating cancer, you’re treating whatever is wrong with you, but then the side effects of that, right? And so just kind of making you even more sick or sick in other ways because now you’re dealing with like all these side effects, you know? And yet that, I guess that’s the best approach to medicine according to the Western tradition. Right. So, so, yeah. So tell me, you just kind of how that awakening, if you will, or you know, like opening your perspective to other ways kind of happen for you.
Speaker 2: (08:57)
So it, it happened, it started when I was at working in the hospital in the sense that I would notice, Hmm, I don’t, and you know, from an intuitive standpoint I didn’t feel like the treatment plan we were creating was going to be effective or help people. And I even remember the specific patient with gout and I was thinking, why aren’t we telling him more about diet? I don’t understand this. We’re just giving med- pills. And he kept coming back and coming back and I just, I really vividly remember that point and, and really feeling a disagreement with things. And when I was traveling around the world and I had, first I was going more to just see different places, but then I started really noticing the culture and even the medicine of different places. And as I mentioned when I did my medical missions and I didn’t really open to alternative healing, such as working with medicine men and medicine women until I had already departed, but it was through yoga and meditation and having oness experiences with nature.
Speaker 2: (09:59)
This started to create questions of, well, is life really just about being healthy or is it about being happy too? And then after working in the clinics, when I’d hand over a stack of prescriptions and I’m like, okay, this is not like I could see it’s their relationship. I can see it’s how they’re spending their time. I was able to see other things that my colleagues weren’t seeing. And this is where my natural gifts were like present, but they weren’t using that model. They were using a different model of, okay, you have this pain, you take this pill where I’m like, wait a second. Like look, we can just shift this and then it’ll be fine. So that’s where I started noticing like, okay, there’s something else. Yeah. There’s something else to look at. I’m not looking at.
Speaker 1: (10:42)
Right. Yeah, absolutely. Well that being said, um, you know, today there’s just so much emphasis on self care and at the same time there’s just so much out there. You know, there is, um, choosing between, okay, do I go to the doctor today for this particular thing or, and not even necessarily an or, right. It’s oftentimes and, and, and, right. Um, it’s like, you know, I sh I believe in vaccinations, vaccinations. I, you know, like that’s, we won’t go into that just in case we disagree. I don’t want to get into a vaccination conversation, but you know, you get your vaccination and then you also do other types of wellness and healing. And, and again, it’s not just about things you’re ingesting, but it’s things that you’re doing with your mind. And you know, I think we’re gonna we’re definitely gonna get into that here in a second, but I just find the process so confusing, you know, for like everyday people and especially for Latinas because I think in our culture also, there’s that added, that added layer of us not focusing on ourselves at all.
Speaker 1: (11:50)
We’re always the caregiver. We’re always the head household. We’re always the one that is just taking care of everybody else and ourselves or last. And then also in terms of mental health, you know like that’s just not something that we talk about very often within our culture. You know, like we don’t, we’re not kind of saying, Hey, maybe we should see a therapist or maybe we should try meditation or you know, there’s these other things because it’s just like, Oh no, you’re fine. Deal with it. Right. And we do in many ways we do and we don’t consider that there could be a better way, I think.
Speaker 2: (12:24)
I like to tell people do what is pleasurable for you even if it’s dancing. Yeah. One of my favorite physical practices that I do twice a week is dancing. I go to a specific kind of dance class that I like and that’s fun. So it doesn’t have to be this horrible thing that you go to the gym and you’re like snoring on the treadmill, you know, it’s like go do something you like, run in nature, whatever that is. Yoga of course I love and or Pilates anything. But you don’t even need to spend money. You can just put on the music in your house and dance as well, but make sure you sweat and you work up your heart rate. And that’s the first thing. So for physical, for mental, of course I like to recommend meditation and for some people going to be like, Oh, but I don’t know what to do.
Speaker 2: (13:08)
It’s so hard. Of course my mind doesn’t shut off. And it’s like, of course that’s the point of meditation for no, that’s the virus of the mind. It never shuts up. However, we sit still and have just even a few glimpses of stillness. This adds up and it even helps with our memory. It helps us be more efficient. We actually get super power. So even as women who are holding so much, you can do even more. You can multitask even better with meditation. So not only is it calming the anxiety with so many studies have shown that it actually does work just as well as medication. So if you are on any kind of mental disease medication, try meditating as well. This can help to really bring you into a centered place and heal. Some of this. And let’s say if you’re like, I don’t know what to do, you can even listen to a guided meditation and you can find free ones on YouTube and we can include a link where if you sign up for, if you put your um, email, you can receive a free meditation from your website.
Speaker 2: (14:11)
Yeah. And we can include the direct link for that in the, in the notes of this. And it’s a 20, I think it’s a little bit less than 20 minutes. And so if you don’t want to do it yourself, you can just follow what I guide you. But another way is just to sit and be still and listen to yourself and even observe those thoughts passing by or focus on your breath. And it’s true, you’re going to focus on your breath for like a minute, a second, and then your mind’s gonna wander, but then you just bring it back and then it’s going to wonder again and then you bring it back. And that’s all, that’s what meditation is. It’s training the mind. So instead of it having to (It’s a lot of practice.) Exactly. So it’s like going be at the gym exactly. Like some days might be terrible and some days you might be, Oh my gosh, I reached that point of quiet. My mind was quiet for a minute. And then you just keep doing it. And the studies have also shown that even by sitting there for 20 minutes, even if your mind is racing all over the place, that they still see enhancement in the brain imaging. So it’s still creating a positive effect.
Speaker 1: (15:08)
Yeah. Yeah. I, I definitely, I, I wish that I were more, um, more, um, consistent with it. Um, I feel like some, I don’t know what it is. I, I, I just feel like, you know, I, I definitely recognize the benefits of it for sure, but even when you recognize the benefits, it’s still so hard to, and it doesn’t seem like it’s a long time, but for whatever reason at the moment it does. You know, like I, I was doing really great at doing mainly guided meditation because I still wasn’t good enough to like do it on my own. Um, but, you know, just for like three to five minutes and it doesn’t seem that long, but it’s just you wake up and maybe you’re running late or you just have so much to do and you’re just like, I don’t have time for it.
Speaker 1: (15:54)
You know? And it’s so easy to not do it one day and then that turns into two and then it turns into five. And, and even though like for me personally, I’ve definitely seen the benefits of when I do it consistently, that still isn’t enough. It’s like that you have to do it for like the 21 days for it to be a habit or whatever, you know? And so it is pretty difficult. Um, but I think that it’s also, it’s so worthwhile to not feel like a failure, you know? And, and to be like, okay, I kind of fell off the wagon here, I’ll go back, you know, and you can just kind of start it at any moment. And, and frankly, if you don’t try it, you’re never going to, you know, figure out if, if it actually, if you’re seeing any benefits. And then of course, you know, like you can’t meditate one day for two minutes and then be like, why isn’t my life better?
Speaker 2: (16:41)
Right. And I want to add two things. You mentioned about time. Meditation actually gives you time. So you actually develop this really internally interesting relationship with time. When you meditate, where you start to know when it’s time that you need to leave. And I like to call it bending time somehow. You know you need to leave in like five minutes, but you somehow get everything done in that five minutes, whether your brain becomes more efficient. So every movement and choice is really precise. But like I said, a really gives you super powers. I really feel it does. And then the other thing I wanted to point out that you shared in connection to consistency is sometimes it’s a good idea to say, okay, I’m going to just do it every day for 21 days. And what does it matter? And it doesn’t, you don’t even need to be in anywhere special, you know? And 10 minutes is better than 22. I don’t really know what you’re going to get from two, but maybe even five. But even if you’re stuffing, even if part of your lunch break, right, you eat, you do, your thing of your lunch break is an hour. That’s 20 minutes of the whole hour. Whether you go sit in your car or you are at your desk and you close the door. Even if people are around, you put headphones on, close your eyes, you know, you might even be inspiring other people.
Speaker 1: (17:57)
Yeah, no, absolutely. Well, um, Oh my gosh, I feel like we’re bending time because it’s going so fast.
Speaker 2: (18:05)
Yes. I mentioned one thing for the energy please. So one thing to take care of our energy. Um, so it’s really important just like we brush our teeth to take care of our energy hygiene. So things like taking a salt bath or spending time in nature with the specific intention to clear your energy and also even sagging or smudging yourself. So that’s, or even incense. So using the energy of plants and if you have a feather, you can actually have some of that here where I have my, my smudge feather and essentially it would support you. So I had this instrument hold, I don’t expect anyone to go and buy something like this, but like this is odd. I use in my healing work when someone comes to me for an energy healing session, I cleanse their energy first. So if you are in nature and you find a beautiful feather, you can use that. You know, you can kind of Sage it to clear it and, and use this to clean not only only yourself but cleaning your house. If you feel a little off. It really brightens things up. And the studies have shown that the smoke from burning plants, whether it’s Sage or incense, kills bacteria in the air. So we are seeing a physical change.
Speaker 1: (19:15)
Yeah. So for, so folks listening, um, Dr star just started kind of waving around a very large feather, but you don’t have to get your own very large feather. But that’s actually, you know, I love that though, because you were saying a salt bath that’s really inexpensive. You know, cause again, we’re thinking about like access, right? And I’m thinking about the busy mom with the two kids or, or the or the college student, you know, that first gen college student, um, who oftentimes is still taking care of her family. I mean that was my situation, you know, um, again, always taking care of others, you know, and, and being able to think about the ways in which you can focus on yourself and focus on your energy and your, and your mind and your body, um, in ways that either are very low cost or don’t cost you anything at all. So I would love to find a really big feather and sage is super cheap. You can basically get that anywhere and um, and you can, so you burn it. It’s so the smudging is by burning the tip and like kind of the smoke, right? That’s what that is. Um, and so like, what do you think the cost of some Sage is?
Speaker 2: (20:26)
I mean you can maybe find some for like $5 and then it lasts you for a long time. And then the other thing if someone, I know some people don’t have a bath, actually some people just have a shower. So if you just stay, and I always like to say use sea salt or Himalayan salt, but sea salt is cheap, you know, so sea salt, not manmade salt. So make sure it just says Seesalt and you can actually just scrub that on your body like a salt scrub and then just scrub all the parts and with the intention that you’re clearing your energy fields. Right.
Speaker 1: (20:59)
And so, so tell me a little bit that I feel like this is kind of one Oh one you know, I want, what I want people to walk away with after listening to this is to be very clear about how to do it. You know, I think we often say like, Oh you just smudge or you know, clear your energy, but it’s really important that you are intentional and that you are thinking about what you’re trying to achieve. So walk me through that. Like, what do you, what do you, is it a mantra? What are you saying?
Speaker 2: (21:27)
Sure. So just some an energy education one on one so the way we move energy is with our intention. So saying, okay, now I’m clearing my energy field. For example. The other thing to note is if, just like we know where our mind is any more or less point to our brain and we know where our body is, it’s this physical thing. When we think of our energy field, it’s a gold, it’s like an egg that’s all around us with the skinny part of the egg down where our feed feed is, and it’s greater than arms distance in all directions. So it’s like this bubble that’s around you. Some people can see energy fields, most people can’t. So when you’re imagining that you’re clearing your energy field, it’s like you wave, whether you’re, you just have the, the Sage or whether you have a feather helping you, you just wave it so that you make sure the smoke covers all around you, above you, below your feet underneath. So it’s like you’re taking a shower or, and you want to make sure you get all the parts of your energy field. So make sure you get your back, make sure you get your bottom, make sure you get the bottom of your feet and you can really feel a difference. You feel lighter after.
Speaker 1: (22:30)
Yeah. That’s incredible. And the entire time you’re kind of saying, I’m clearing my energy.
Speaker 2: (22:34)
Yes. You can say, I’m clearing and cleansing my energy of all that’s not mine. All that’s not serving, allowing my light to shine brightly. You can even say like what you want to feel after.
Speaker 1: (22:47)
Yeah. I love that. Um, let’s get a little bit into some of the more, um, uh, some of the more, some of the details about the types of work that you do. I am going to read a list. It’s kind of long, so bear with me. You’re just amazing. You do like all kinds of amazing, awesome stuff. Um, intuitive life coaching, health and wellness consulting, mental health counseling, relationship counseling, meditation and yoga instruction, nutrition advice, mentoring on your spiritual path, conscious living, guidance, energy healing. Okay. Let’s talk about some of that. They kind of seemed pretty straightforward, but I think they’re all very unique and distinct. Um, so tell me a little bit of like what’s the difference between maybe like health and wellness consulting versus conscious living guidance? Like how would you approach those two things differently in your practice?
Speaker 2: (23:43)
Sure. So health and wellness would more about what we talked about. Like what are you putting into your body? How are you spending your time? Like how are you feeling you as the person, how is your health and wellness? Whereas conscious living is everything outside of you and around you in your environment. So is it organic, is it nontoxic? How is the, how is, how is your house set up, right? What are your relationships? So it’s basically conscious living is everything you’re in relationship with. Whereas health and wellness is a you as the person and it does. So your health and wellness is effected by how conscious you live or not. But generally we can look at just what are the practices in daily habits that you are doing personally. And then also with companies, I do that as well. (I see.)So some brands want to be really conscious and healthy and then it’s like, no, you’re not.
Speaker 2: (24:36)
That’s not raw. It’s not organic. What are you doing? There’s toxins in it. We can’t even understand what this chemical is. So then it’s also working with companies and brands to really support them in creating a healthy menu when they think, Oh, that cheese might be, and it’s like, no, you can also go do a complete protein this way and not have such a high saturated fat. Right.
Speaker 1: (24:59)
And so you know, ultimately, where do you think you spend most of the time? Or where do you, I guess, let me frame it this way, where do you see the most need, if you will? Like if you’re just kind of interacting with people every day, what do you find is their biggest need?
Speaker 2: (25:27)
I do really feel that everyone’s different and some people, you know, some people have it with food, right? Food addiction’s a really big thing because when we think of food science, they made that potato chips so crispy.You can’t just have one. You know, it’s like they actually looked at how the brain craves things and then they designed food to meet those cravings where you literally can’t feel full. (Right?) So it’s also not the fault of most people. It’s just this is the world that has been created and companies want money. And so then they create products like that that then don’t allow for the best health. But then I have other people who are totally fine, totally healthy and completely unhappy. They feel stuck. They have no idea where to go next in their life. They have a lot of anxiety. And so these people, I work more in intuitive coaching to really get them out of the rut and really get them into what’s your purpose? What’s your passion, what have you could spend the rest of your life doing? Whatever makes you happy and money wasn’t even an issue.
Speaker 2: (26:17)
What would you be doing? And so really having them dream and connect to their soul to move them forward. And it’s incredible. Even this one woman I started working with recently, she came to me, she was feeling so terrible. She was even like, I hope this can work, you know, kind of a little pessimistic, but something called her to me. And literally by the end of the session, she has a different person. By the end of the month, she had already left her first and her last month’s deposit to start her own private practice as a therapist. And she gave her notice at her current job like boom, boom, boom. Like just banged it all out. All the things that she was wanting to do but didn’t have that courage.
Speaker 1: (26:55)
That’s incredible. Um, we are running out of time, but I did, you brought some other items that I wanted to, um, just kind of look at very quickly cause I also think, uh, some of these oils, you know that again, something very simple, um, pretty accessible, pretty low cost. So what are some of the oils that you brought with us or with you today? Um, and like what’s the purpose?
Speaker 2: (27:18)
Sure. So, um, so here we have oils as you mentioned. And the one that I gave everyone a little sample of is this peppermint. And that can really help to clear your sinuses, but I find it just like a great way to pick you up if you don’t want to drink another coffee. (That might be why I was so excited because I’m like, you know, I’m like, I feel like I should be. It’s not a con, but I have a lot of energies like let’s talk about this. Yeah. Where this peppermint that you put in my hands.) Yeah, and actually it can be for any sent. It’s like the moment, right? You come into feeling different. Anything that chain that changes your senses, like going for a walk, changes your mood, smelling something changes your brain, how your brains firing its neurochemicals so you instantly can shift mood. I’m wild orange. I like it’s, I kind of find it’s an abundance smell. You know, in citrus really helps for happiness. Any of the citrus, I really like bergamot, orange grapefruit and they also, the citrus tend to help with happiness and really I always tell people, go with what you’re drawn to at different points in your life. Different parts of the day. You might like some sense better than others and so just whatever feels good to you,
Speaker 1: (28:31)
And it can be like at any moment of the day you just put a little bit in the middle of your hand.
Speaker 2: (28:36)
And so you can also put it in on your temples, behind your ears, your throat, even your heart center if your, your heart’s feeling a little sad, you know, it’s this great way to just pick you up and help to shift things.
Speaker 1: (28:49)
One smell that I’m really, really drawn to is um, uh, lemon grass. (Yeah.) What’s that one for?
Speaker 2: (28:53)
I have it on. Actually I don’t know all the properties off hand, but I find it to be very cleansing. (Yeah, definitely feels it feels light. It feels yes definitely) cleansing and uplifting. Yeah, for sure. And so (I’m getting the right feelings then?)Yeah, I definitely and. The way I work with them with my clients is I generally just feel into like, what does this person need? You know, even without even knowing, it’s more like feeling their energy and feeling the energy of the oils and then knowing what to use. (Okay. And what else do you have?) And so the same with crystals. These are great that you can just keep in your purse. These are bigger ones, but they smell, they sell smaller ones. You can also even keep them in your pocket. They’re great to use when you want to meditate, but at the same time, just to have them around brings a peaceful energy because, crystals to have a healing presence. And if you ever you like, don’t believe me, you can go to a crystal shop or somewhere that sells personal and just put one on your forehead. You can even hold it there and notice if you like feel something. Any crystal. Yeah, any crystal. And usually people pick the crystals that they’re energetically drawn to. So everything is energy. People, everything
Speaker 1: (30:04)
feel like you maybe get judged sometimes. You know, I I’ve definitely heard the stereotype, you know, like, I’ve, I’ve, I’ve not, I’ve, I do have some crystals in my house, but I lived in Santa Monica when I first moved to LA and I wanted to go to this crystal workshop and I told a friend of mine, um, that I couldn’t meet him, you know, for whatever he wanted to do. I was like, no, I’m going to this crystal workshop. And he like, his first response was like, Oh my God, you’re so West side, just because, you know, I want to get more in tune with me, you know? And, and I do think there’s a little bit of people refer to it very negatively, like, you know, the Wu Wu and just kind of these, you know, negative connotations about spirituality in general. Um, do you find that that’s like something, I mean, again, going back to the Latina culture, right? Like our culture and you know, we definitely have the aspect of like Curandero and, um, you know, kind of, uh, non traditional Western medicine, right? Like the egg and (Yes, yes, yes, yes) getting your whatever out through this egg. And I dunno, like all kinds of other stuff (limpesa) limpesa all that. um, so in many ways I feel like we shouldn’t judge each other, but yet we do simply because, I don’t know, maybe it’s considered something upper class or like something that only like rich white people do. You know what I mean? Like there just is that negative connotation to it. So you know what or have you had any experience with that?
Speaker 2: (31:39)
yeah, a few different things. When I first left Western medicine, I did feel like I was coming out of the closet and I was scared to share a lot of this because everyone around me was not doing this. But now I’m so steeped in it and the fact that people are coming to me for advice on it and I even shift and have the skeptics believe like even I had two people come to my meditation class this past weekend and they’re like, you, you changed our minds. We came in completely skeptical and now we’re flying out of here. Like they had a complete shift in consciousness. So I’m so secure in it and I know it works and I see people, I’m quote unquote converting every day. But what I actually explained in my meditation classes or any of my classes is I’m bringing ancient ways back to modern day. So actually when you go to different regions, they’re using crystals and feathers and Sage and Palo Santo and Coppola and all these different things to do exactly what we’re doing here. So unfortunately, like what happened when my grandmother moved to this country is so many people, especially in the Latino community, are, are lost. They’re not connected to their roots. This is actually the healing where we came from. So I’m bringing it back.
Speaker 2: (32:57)
And so I, and I just talk about it from a science perspective about the smoke with the Sage. And also I’m very much like, try it. I don’t have to believe anything. I say, just try it, see what happens. And they try it and then they’re like, I do feel different. And that’s really what makes them a believer.
Speaker 1: (33:13)
Yeah. Fantastic. Okay. Well. Um, we are going to do two rapid fire questions and, and then we’re going to have to say goodbye, which I’m really bummed about. Um, I’m not going to ask you the third one because I, you probably just like don’t even believe in this. I always ask people who deserves a maldeojo, this week. And I feel like that’s like antithetical to what you do. You’re probably not out like, you know, giving the evil eye on people is not allowed. (That is black magic that is not allowed.) I know people were just like, you don’t actually want a maldeojo more like who deserves it, you know, kind of like a bow. Like, Oh it’s more send them love. Yeah. Cause nobody likes it. Nobody. I’m like, come on people, it’s maldeojo, but yeah, apparently that’s like very negative and nobody’s into it. So, you know, (I agree take it out) Okay.
(34:13)
Who would you send extra love to that? You feel that needs an extra love? All right. I feel like we might have to change it now like audience, you know, feedback is very good. It’s very good. Helps us be better. All right. Name a boss Latina who recently inspired you?
Speaker 2: (34:26)
Hmm.
Speaker 2: (34:26)
Well, it’s interesting actually, I just saw someone post on their Instagram a picture with Maria Munos and I feel like she’s reaching so like millions of people, like as a media person. And I do feel that it’s like I was actually on a Fox reality show and you know, I get so many interview or class and so I do feel like I will be getting back into media because I feel like it’s such an important platform to awaken consciousness and humanity. And I just saw like her Instagram page and everything and I was like, Oh you, and she’s super sexy and you know, and so I was thinking like, yeah, I need to get back more into media.
Speaker 1: (35:02)
See. And it’s like that, that cycle, you know, she inspires one person, then you do it and you inspire others and it just builds and it grows. Amazing. Okay. Second question. What do you think is a signature trait of a Jefa.
Speaker 2: (35:19)
I would say, I would say so independent that like you don’t need anyone or anything. Not even a man
Speaker 1: (35:27)
done. All right, cool. No more needs to be said because that’s it. That’s exactly.
Speaker 3: (35:34)
It’s like they’re a plus, they’re coming in and making life better and like adding something then you’re allowed but otherwise,.
Speaker 1: (35:40)
Yeah, exactly. No, totally. So, you know, there’s this, there’s thing where it’s like, you know, finding love or finding that soul partner that’s, you know, soulmate that it was like this whole idea of being completed by someone and that’s like entirely wrong, right? Because it’s like, no, no, no. You’re, your whole self. Does this person add, do they, do they augment? Do they expand? You know, because you’re already whole and so it is about addition. So I think you’re completely right and, and yeah, it’s not about like, Oh, I don’t need anybody else. No, no, no. It’s about that your, your whole and your, and your well and your, your, you know, human and everything else is just enhancement. (Exactly.) Yeah. All right. Well thank you so much. This has been so amazing. Where can people find you? Um, what’s your website? Um, let’s make sure that people can, if they want to get more information or even if they want to contact you, like how do they go about doing all that?
Speaker 2: (36:44)
Yes. So my website is drnikkistarr.com two K’s, two I’s, two R, dr for doctor. And then my Instagram is @drnikkistarr. I posted all kinds of inspirational quotes and images and it’s kind of like a mini blog. And then you can email me at nikkistarr@drnikkistarr.com and I’d love to hear from anyone who’s inspired to reach out to me.
Speaker 1: (37:07)
Fantastic. Great. Thank you so much.
Speaker 2: (37:09)
Thank you.
