Today we’d like to introduce you to Celeste.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My earliest memory is when I was three years old, only knowing Spanish, and navigating transitional housing, violence, and new schools. Before entering middle school, I had moved into 3 different schools and homes. And it catches up with me now, as a peaceful and passionate artist, author, community resource, and earth (and dog) lover.
For a very long time, I viewed school as my lifeline for surviving, because my early stability was my education. Being a traumatized nerd led me to attend college on a full ride, which to me translated into having steady access to food, housing, and life direction until my next transition. I chose to pursue a path preparing me to become a teacher or therapist, because they were the molds of the most prominent and safe people in my life growing up. Subsequently, I worked with communities, especially first-generation folks, sharing everything I knew about how to seamlessly navigate complicated systems.
My life trajectory shifted after I decided to leave graduate school while studying for my Masters in Social Work. It was a decision to create a life that did not revolve around the trauma I experienced, and instead explore joy through art, my culture, and community. My exploration led me to start my now-business, celuna, providing offerings with a community-centered and culturally-relevant approach to wellbeing. Through celuna, I support folks navigating transitionary periods using a trauma-informed lens, such as accessing aligned jobs, higher education, and entrepreneurship opportunities. I do this via writing and career support tools (especially my *resume revamps*), community workshops/retreats, consultations, and art (i.e. my published books, podcast).
My journey of choosing authenticity, time and time again, allows me to first consider my dreams and then my survival. Scarcity is real, but personally I have already lived through, and overcome, my worst case scenario, so I choose to have faith it will always work out. Now, I support others through their journey’s back to themselves, to make more aligned choices. My philosophy is that coping and escapism can only be a tool for so long before the truth reappears. My work offers a diverse box for diverse folks to face reality and choose boldly (with support!).
Lastly, my business is not the center of my life or identity, it is simply a manifestation of tangible skills and service I can offer others (with more flexibility and reciprocity than a job offers). My journey follows and builds on my hearts desire. Currently, one of these dreams is to become a land steward. Building a relationship with my natural environments these last 5 years, through herbalism, gardening, and farming, has helped me deepen my understanding of lots of societal root issues, primarily disconnection from the source of life. Furthering this relationship is leading me to another transitionary point in my journey, asking a very straightforward but spiritually and mentally challenging ask: will you care for what cares for you?
So I may become a farmer next, we shall see!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road has been loopy, with lots of change I did not have time to process until I was stable enough to do so. As a result, I dealt with some undiagnosed mental health challenges from complex childhood trauma. I had high anxiety as a kid, and as an adult began to experience symptoms of depression, panic attacks and ADHD.
These mental and emotional challenges made it hard to keep a job, and I quit many things before I knew I needed to change things up. I took depression as an indication I did not like my path anymore, and took time to explore my dreams. Turns out, I am an artist through and through!
While it was challenging, I have never felt my mental health struggles were a burden because I understood I am fighting against generations of systemic oppression, and I try not to accommodate that. I like to feel discomfort and unease when things are not right. I might just need more support with my livelihood and a community-centered life.
These reframes are directly informed by my deepening connection to generational, spiritual, and ancestral knowledge. Challenging assimilation into a culture that conflicts with my own values and understanding of life, has greatly improved my mental, physical, and spiritual health.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am most known as a writer/poet, artist, wellness advocate, and community resource. I am also known for my creative expression, access and equity work, and community bridging.
In 2023, I launched the Aspiring Authors Apprenticeship to guide local BIPOC authors to become self-published authors. Via self-publishing, my intention is to hold a trauma-informed space using art as the vehicle to process experiences and share knowledge across communities. Based on my own lived experience, one of the most important aspects of mental health recovery is increasing choice, connection, and aligned action, and this experience offers just that.
Since 2023, I have collaborated with various BIPOC aspiring authors to go learn the self publishing process via group workshops and individual coaching. Five have since published their work! What sets me apart is my integrity, authenticity, faith, and lighthearted spirit in heavy work. I am most proud of my first book, Return Home, because I blazed my own path to publish my book, and then shared my knowledge with my community. It not only changed my life to “randomly” publish a book with my pandemic stimulus check, but it was an act of faith (and maybe depression-fueled nonchalance), that changed the course of my life!
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
First off, my sister, my dog Quiko, Cihua Mazatl, Desiree Johnson (CEO of Bizstoop), Flor (creator of Illumin8 Healing), Alex Waters (Business Accelerator Program), and my community! These are all people who saw me as a person before anything else, and live by what they preach. Nothing but respect and love for these human beings and their impactful spirits!
Pricing:
- Resume Revamp $100
- Consultation $100
- Pastelito $20
- Return Home $20
- Individual Coaching $500 (6 sessions)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://celuna.org
- Instagram: IG: celestialcreations_
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/7AvxjH1T9I67pdTMblDfv5?si=ea9f011fa4844a9d
