Today we’d like to introduce you to Angelia Santiago.
Hi Angelia, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started my healing journey in 2013 and enlisted in as many classes and certifications as I possibly could, but it always felt like there was missing. In the summer before the pandemic, I went through some intense personal experiences that led me to my own personal journey with ancestral and generational healing. Finally, all the pieces to the puzzle seemed to fit perfectly, as I had found the missing piece to not only my own healing journey but in my healing work with others.
As a BIPOC woman myself, I felt the call and need to gear more of my work for the BIOC community. I noticed how many spiritual teachings didn’t merge the missing link of colonialism and specific hardships for those who have generationally gone through intense pain and trauma. This is when my work started to flourish, as I understood my calling to giving back in this way. Not only was I paving the way for future generations as a cycle breaker, but healing the past as well; altering the ways we have always done things just out of sheer survival.
This type of inner work has gone deeper than any other healing I have ever experienced before, calling back our true sovereignty with profound integrative work. It is deeper than any shadow work or inner child healing. It is for those who are ready to get to the real roots of many of our blocks and self-sabotaging cycles. Much of what I have discovered, the narrative seemed to always be about the self and merely “fixing” our mindset.
Through this work of ancestral and generational healing, there becomes a deeper meaning to everything in not only just doing it for yourself. As deep and intense this healing may be, I have also found how profound and intimate my relationship with my ancestors has become. There are no words that can genuinely express the beauty and strength when connecting with our ancestors, and because of this, it has become my life’s passion and work!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Ancestral healing and healing generational wounds is never an easy process. There have been gut-wrenching moments in feeling like an imposter because I had so much to heal on my own journey. Many times, those that are cycle breakers are very much so the black sheep of the family. There are moments of betrayal and isolation. When you break away from the old toxic ways of doing things, it is never easy for others to see differently, especially when that’s all we have known. The silver lining in it is the deeper connections you gain along the way, specifically with your ancestors! There is no love and protection like that. The best part though in this release of so many heavy burdens, is to see how it’s not all up to me! I teach my clients as I have learned, that healing is not solely an individual journey. Through my new love affair of decolonization work, I am able to see the many layers of connections in how these cycles came to be in the first place. This type of healing work is at first a hard pill to swallow because it asks us to question EVERYTHING… but I wouldn’t change it for the world!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an Ancestral Healing coach, energy healer and curandera/bruja. What this means is I take my clients on this very deep yet beautifully profound journey of healing generational trauma/ cycles and re-connecting with their beloved ancestors. Much of my work is intuitively and energetically helping my soul clients to break generational wounds that been repeated many times through their lineage. In connection to my love and respect for decolonization work, we break away any beliefs of self-guilt and responsibility to these blocks and struggles. This is why this goes deeper than shadow work or any other new age spiritual techniques because it’s a merging and integration of everything and the root causes of it all. This type of work is not for the faint of heart, but seeing the change in my clients who almost transform immediately is why I do what I do.
I have been initiated so many times through my own experiences, but it has given me such a personal compassion I wouldn’t have otherwise. What makes my work particularly different and what makes me the most proud is that this healing is specifically geared towards BIWOCs. Most of what I have learned has been given to me from my ancestors in reconnecting with my Afro-Indigenous roots. Learning about my Taino ancestors and decolonizing my relationship with my culture has enabled me with so much confidence and pride in sharing this type of medicine.
I am but a small example of what type of healing and truly integrative work can really do!
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
You can find a lot of my channeled healing products such as oils and baths on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AncestorsMama I have many of my healing sessions on there as well, as my website is transitioning at the moment.
You can also follow me on Instagram and Twitter at ancestors_mama to support my work. There is an Ancestors Mama podcast and a new YouTube channel where I go deep into taboo spiritual and cultural topics regarding decolonization and generational healing.
If you have any other questions about my work or would like to collaborate you can reach me at ancestors.mama@gmail.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AncestorsMama
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ancestors_mama/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ancestors_mama
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9c662kOwVz6IChqWPau-Yw
