Downward Dog Wellness Victoria

02/27/2026

As I continue deepening my studies in curanderismo and weaving it into my work through The Embodied Mariposa, I’ve been reflecting on something I’d really love to open up for conversation.

If you grew up in South Texas, especially in a Mexican household, what were you taught about curanderas?

Recently, an older friend of mine, Mexican, in his late 70s, learned more about my journey studying curanderismo. When I walked into dinner, he jokingly made a cross with his fingers at me and whispered “curandera” like someone warding off a vampire in an old movie.

We both laughed. He lovingly listened as I shared what I’ve been learning.

But that moment stayed with me.

Because many of us were taught that curanderas were something to fear. That they were brujas in a dark sense. That ancestral healing practices were suspicious, dangerous, or sinful.

Historically, colonization did more than take land. It reshaped spiritual narratives. Indigenous and Mexican healing traditions that did not conform to European religious systems were often labeled superstition or evil. Healing women were cast as threatening. Ritual became something to hide.

The same is true with brujería. For many families, that word carries fear. But historically, brujería often referred to folk magic, herbal knowledge, protection work, prayer, and spiritual agency. Over time, misunderstanding and cultural suppression distorted how many of us came to view it.

For me, studying curanderismo has not pulled me away from faith. It has deepened my relationship with the sacred. It has brought me back to figures I grew up with in Catholicism, but through a more embodied and ancestral lens. It feels less like rebellion and more like remembrance.

Through The Embodied Mariposa, my intention is to approach these traditions with reverence, study, and respect.

I would genuinely love to hear your experience.

What did you grow up hearing about curanderas?
What did the word bruja mean in your home?
Has your perspective shifted over time?

Let’s keep this rooted in respect and lived experience.

02/26/2026

Take a moment to give yourself a break, slow down, and breathe. 🦋🔥💨

02/26/2026

It’s finally here! Esmeralda Salinas and I have been preparing for the Self Love Yoga Retreat 🌹💕 and it’s almost time! We’re putting together all of the final details and can’t wait to welcome our guests. It’s going to be a beautiful day filled with community, healing, and ceremony. I can’t wait!

Puppy Mariposa has involved herself in blessing the gifts I have made for the guests as well as the consecration of our new sahumerio that made it in just in time from Mexico! 🦋🔥💨

We do have one DAY ONLY spot left for this retreat. Feel free to message for info! We’d love to share this space with you.

02/26/2026

🪶🧿🛡️

✨ Velvet Shield Protection Oil – Preorder Reminder ✨

Preorders for Velvet Shield are officially open and I wanted to gently remind you before I close this round 🌿

This is my protection-forward ritual oil created to support energetic boundaries, emotional safety, and spiritual armor without feeling harsh or overwhelming. It’s rooted in nervous system awareness and crafted with intention, prayer, and care.

Each bottle is being consecrated and prayed over for 3 full weeks before it’s ready. That infusion time matters. The herbs, oils, and intentions are allowed to settle, strengthen, and align before coming to you.

🌿 Protection + Spiritual Armor Herbs:
• Rosemary – clarity and boundaries
• Bay Leaf – warding and amplified intention
• Basil – spiritual protection with prosperity balance
• Calendula – gentle emotional safety
• Agrimony – shielding and release of hidden burdens
• Juniper Berry – cleansing and energetic defense

🌬️ Blessed with Agua Bendita
🌺 Frankincense + Myrrh for grounding and ancestral protection
🍯 Cocoa Butter Cashmere + Agave Musk for a soft, comforting shield

This blend is strong but not sharp. Protective but comforting. A velvet layer of spiritual armor.

✨ $30 Preorder

To reserve:
Comment “Velvet Shield” or DM me
Send via Venmo or CashApp
Or order directly on the website

If you’ve been feeling energetically sensitive, needing stronger boundaries, or just wanting that extra layer of spiritual support, this one is for you.

Preorders will close soon so I can focus fully on consecration and preparation 🤍✨

02/26/2026

Hi, my loves! We have had one spot for DAY only open up! If you’re interested in joining us this Saturday, message me for the link! We’d love to have you! 💕

02/24/2026

Hi, my loves! I have gotten more interest in the Rooted Rituals Collection, so I wanted to introduce you to them one by one all in one easy to find post! On here, you'll find a picture of each item, what it contains, and how it can be used. Just click on the one you are interested in and learn more about it! You can DM, comment, text, or visit the website to order. All are available for local pick up, delivery, or shipping!

The Rooted Rituals Collection was created from my work as a therapist, yoga instructor, and student of Mexican folk healing.

Each oil and baño is made through a trauma-conscious, nervous-system-centered lens.

These blends are designed to support regulation, rest, grounding, and emotional balance through intentional ritual.

🌿 For anxiety and grounding
🌙 For sleep and nervous system repair
💗 For heart healing and self-love
✨ For confidence and visibility
🛡️ For protection and boundaries
💰 For abundance and release
🛁 For energetic cleansing and emotional reset

The bath soaks come with a muslin bag so they can be used in a bathtub or hung in the shower.

Velvet Shield is currently available for preorder. Each bottle is consecrated for 3 weeks before release.

Made slowly. Made intentionally. Made with love.

Comment the one you feel most drawn to or visit the 🔗 in bio to explore.

👇🏽If you have any of the items from this collection, I'd love for you to comment about how you use them and how they have helped! 🥰

02/23/2026

✨ Velvet Shield Protection Oil – Preorder Reminder ✨

Preorders for Velvet Shield are officially open and I wanted to gently remind you before I close this round 🌿

This is my protection-forward ritual oil created to support energetic boundaries, emotional safety, and spiritual armor without feeling harsh or overwhelming. It’s rooted in nervous system awareness and crafted with intention, prayer, and care.

Each bottle is being consecrated and prayed over for 3 full weeks before it’s ready. That infusion time matters. The herbs, oils, and intentions are allowed to settle, strengthen, and align before coming to you.

🌿 Protection + Spiritual Armor Herbs:
• Rosemary – clarity and boundaries
• Bay Leaf – warding and amplified intention
• Basil – spiritual protection with prosperity balance
• Calendula – gentle emotional safety
• Agrimony – shielding and release of hidden burdens
• Juniper Berry – cleansing and energetic defense

🌬️ Blessed with Agua Bendita
🌺 Frankincense + Myrrh for grounding and ancestral protection
🍯 Cocoa Butter Cashmere + Agave Musk for a soft, comforting shield

This blend is strong but not sharp. Protective but comforting. A velvet layer of spiritual armor.

✨ $30 Preorder

To reserve:
Comment “Velvet Shield” or DM me
Send via Venmo or CashApp
Or order directly on the website

If you’ve been feeling energetically sensitive, needing stronger boundaries, or just wanting that extra layer of spiritual support, this one is for you.

Preorders will close soon so I can focus fully on consecration and preparation 🤍✨

02/23/2026

Embers & Ease was created as a warm exhale for the nervous system. A soft place to land. A reminder that you are allowed to rest, soften, and be held.

This blend was intentionally crafted for our Self Love Yoga Retreat 🌹💕 as we gather around firelight, share stories, and reconnect with ourselves. It carries the energy of glowing embers, steady warmth, and deep emotional comfort.

The scent is smoky and golden with a subtle sweetness. It evokes sitting by a fireplace wrapped in a blanket, with hints of spiced warmth and aged richness. It feels grounding, intimate, and deeply soothing.

The Herbal Allies

Rosebud
Spiritually, rose opens the heart and supports self compassion. It softens emotional armor and invites tenderness toward yourself.
Holistically, rose is calming to the nervous system and supportive for skin health, helping reduce inflammation and encourage a natural glow.

Chamomile
Spiritually, chamomile is gentle protection and peace. It soothes anxiety and supports emotional regulation, especially for those who tend to overgive or overthink.
Physically, chamomile is known for its anti inflammatory and calming properties, often used to ease tension, stress, and skin irritation.

Damiana
Spiritually, damiana awakens sensuality and joy. It reconnects you to pleasure, creativity, and embodied confidence. It reminds you that aliveness is sacred.
Traditionally, damiana has been used to support mood balance and vitality, and is associated with gentle nervous system support.

Lavender
Spiritually, lavender clears energetic heaviness and invites tranquility. It supports restful states and helps release lingering stress.
Physically, lavender is widely known for its calming properties, helping to ease headaches, muscle tension, and promote deeper sleep.

Cinnamon
Spiritually, cinnamon carries fire energy. It activates warmth, protection, and personal power. It brings passion into spaces that have felt stagnant.
Holistically, cinnamon is stimulating and circulation supporting. It brings warmth to the body and enhances the overall potency of the blend.

⸻

Why This Blend for the Retreat

Self love is not just bubble baths and affirmations. It is tending to your nervous system. It is warming the parts of you that have felt cold. It is sitting with yourself long enough to feel your own heartbeat again.

The smoky warmth symbolizes transformation. Fire does not just destroy. It refines. It clarifies. It leaves behind glowing embers that continue to give heat long after the flames settle.

The soft florals and calming herbs balance the fire energy, reminding you that strength and softness can coexist.

Use Embers & Ease after your evening shower, before journaling, during meditation, or as you sit by candlelight. Anoint your wrists, heart space, or the soles of your feet. Breathe deeply. Let your body register safety.

This oil is an invitation to slow down.
To soften.
To come home to yourself.