Today we’d like to introduce you to Rikki Van Brackle.

Hi Rikki, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

My life has been a plot twist wrapped in a revolution, dipped in divine intervention.

Once upon a time, I wore an NYPD badge for 17 years, 2 months, and 25 days. My last role was the Intimate Partner Violence Officer—doing my best to hold space for survivors in a system not built for softness or healing. Then came my unexpected retirement, courtesy of an on-duty injury. One minute, I was in the fight, the next – Spirit was throwing me a cosmic curveball.

Here’s the thing about divine redirection—you can’t argue with it. I took myself on a women’s retreat to Costa Rica, thinking I’d relax. Instead, Spirit kicked down the door with a message: ‘Tie up your loose ends in NYC, and come back here when your lease is up.’ Well, alrighty then! I had sold and donated all of my possessions and two months later, my 2 fur babies Jett & Carmelo and I were back in the jungle, no roadmap, just trust. And then, life delivered another lesson in surrender—my mother passed away only two months after I arrived. That grief, that initiation, reshaped everything, reinforcing my purpose in ways I couldn’t have foreseen.

The first thing Spirit did was sit me down and say, ‘Heal first.’ So, I did. Reiki, yoga, breathwork, tarot, Access Bars, roller skating, movement, grounding at the beach—I immersed myself in the medicine I didn’t even know I needed. And then, the real magic happened—I became the medicine.

Today, I am a traveling Transformation Artist, founder of The Butterfly Hippie, practitioner of all the modalities that helped me heal, guiding others through their own metamorphosis. I founded The Free Woman Project, a nonprofit rooted in liberation. I own Casa Mariposa, a healing sanctuary for seekers, wanderers, and those ready to come home to themselves. And I run The Margarita Room Podcast, where I sip wisdom, spill truth, and shake things up cosmically.

From law enforcement to life force energy. From the badge to the jungle. From surviving to thriving. This is my story, and baby, it’s just getting started.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?

Has it been a smooth road? Absolutely not. However, the most profound journeys rarely are.

Leaving NYC—the only home I had ever known—was like stepping off a cliff into the unknown. The jungle is beautiful, however, it isn’t always easy. I had to figure out a new country, new systems, and a new way of life. The insects were relentless and invited me to live in harmony. The power outages were a test of patience and pushing past being afraid of total darkness. The language barrier was a whole new level of learning. Most of the community embraced me while others were skeptical. And yet, every challenge stretched me, shaped me, and deepened my resilience.

And then, the most personal and heart-wrenching shift—losing my mother. Exactly one month before she passed, we were reunited. That moment was a testimony to the power of forgiveness, of love that transcends time, pain, and misunderstandings. Losing her while navigating a new life felt like the ground was being ripped from under me, however, it also reminded me of the unshakable love we had built in our final days together. That love sustains me.

Beyond the external struggles, I also faced the weight of projections from the people in my life—friends, family, former coworkers. Not all of it was nice. Some people cheered me on, while others judged, doubted, or even resented my path. At times, their words and energy stung. However, I learned something invaluable—I am not here to live according to someone else’s expectations.

I transmute the noise, the doubts, the projections. I alchemize it into something powerful. Every criticism, every misunderstanding, every raised eyebrow—I take it, break it down, and use it as fuel. My wellness, my joy, my transformation is my own, and I protect it fiercely.

Was it a smooth road? No. However it was worth it – without a doubt. The struggles weren’t obstacles; they were initiations, shaping me into the Free Woman I was always meant to be.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?

Through The Butterfly Hippie, my traveling transformation practice, and Casa Mariposa, my transformation sanctuary, I journey across the world working with clients who are ready for radical shifts. I’ve traveled from the jungles of Costa Rica to the mountaintops of Greece, meeting people exactly where they are and guiding them into their next evolution.

I specialize in soul alchemy, using tools like Reiki, Access Bars, dance, sound, breathwork, and intuitive energy healing to guide BIPOC women through deep transformation. This isn’t just about healing—it’s about rewiring, remembering, and reclaiming who you are meant to be.

I am known for my glitter-covered joy, my powerful presence, and my ability to merge movement, ritual, and healing into one transformative experience. Whether I’m leading beachside transformation clinics in Puerto Viejo, hosting deep immersion soul experiences at Casa Mariposa, moving with my Zumba Goddesses, or holding deep healing sessions one-on-one, my work is infused with love, magic, and intention.

Casa Mariposa is where the magic unfolds. This sacred transformation sanctuary is where women come to shed the weight of the world, to remember who they are, and to awaken to new possibilities. Here, I craft experiences that allow for a deep soul reboot, refresh and restart. It’s more than a retreat—it’s a rebirth.

Beyond my private practice, I am also the proud founder of The Free Woman Project, a nonprofit dedicated to BIPOC women and girls who have survived intimate partner violence, sexual abuse, grief, and PTSD—including BIPOC female first responders and social workers.

The Margarita Room Podcast—my YouTube-based, bi-monthly cosmic experience is where we dive deep into rituals, mantras, mudras, and a playlist that aligns with the magic of the moon. I exercise my throat chakra here, speaking on spiritual practices, healing, and self-liberation.

I am most proud of the fearless women I work with, the souls I’ve connected with and the ripple effect of elevation that continues to expand. What sets me apart? I live this work. I embody transformation, and I walk the path I guide others on.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?

Radical authenticity and the ability to tell myself the truth are important in my success.

My journey has been a continuous process of shedding illusions—my own and those placed upon me. Transformation isn’t just something I guide others through, it’s something I live, breathe, and embody. The ability to be completely real with myself, to face my own evolution with clarity and courage, is what allows me to hold space for others to do the same.

I don’t sugarcoat the process. I honor it. I move with deep intuition, unwavering truth, and fearless surrender to Spirit. That authenticity is what makes my work magnetic—it creates a ripple effect, giving others permission to step into their own power, to strip away the masks, and to rise fully into who they are meant to be.

My creative visionary leadership is rooted in truth. I see beyond what’s in front of me and into the infinite possibilities. I create spaces where people can transform in ways they never imagined—whether it’s through energy work, movement, or deep soul-shifting immersion.

Soul immersion is about more than just healing—it’s about completely surrendering to the process of transformation. It’s stepping into a sacred container where old patterns dissolve, truths are unveiled, and the next evolution of self is activated. It requires depth, presence, and trust. In my work, I guide people through these immersive experiences that allow them to embody their healing, not just witness it. True transformation happens when we are willing to go beyond surface-level shifts and immerse ourselves fully into the rebirth process.

I do not walk this path alone. I am deeply supported by my Ancestors, whose wisdom, strength, and guidance infuse every aspect of my work. I honor them through my practice, my offerings, and my commitment to creating spaces of healing and transformation. Their presence reminds me that this work is ancestral, sacred, and woven into the fabric of who I am.

At the end of the day, my success comes down to one thing: I live my truth, and I lead with unwavering conviction and authenticity. That’s why I continue to expand, to evolve, and to guide others into their own rebirths.

Pricing:

• Access Bars & Body Processes $55.00
• AcuDetox $55.00
• Flow Breathwork $65.00
• Reiki $55.00
• Tarot & Oracle $55.00

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.TheButterflyHippie.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.butterfly.hippie
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dutchieee
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikki-van-brackle-985a36298/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@themargaritaroompodcast

Image Credits

Beach photos: Ocean Morisset