Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ashley Mangum. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ashley , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What were some of the most unexpected problems you’ve faced in your business and how did you resolve those issues?

The most unexpected problems I was faced with was a lack in sales. You have an idea and you start that business but no one tells you what to do when you don’t have any costumers. Full transparency, I had to shutdown everything and work for someone else during that time. I gave up on myself because I was tying my worth to my business and that was the real issue. I had to learn that just because business isn’t going as well as I’d hope, doesn’t mean it never will and it certainly doesn’t mean that I’m not worthy enough to shop with.

My type of business is very unconventional and complex because it’s heavily rooted in African spirituality and logically people don’t need spiritual products or services everyday but that was the limiting belief I had to reconstruct. I had to reaffirm to myself that I’m worthy with or without this business. I had to reaffirm that my services are needed, my art is needed, and that I am enough.

Having your own business especially in a field that isn’t deemed as normal in patriarcal society can be tough. People are going to judge you and be discriminating against you but it all comes down to your self belief and a belief in a higher power.

You have to have an immense amount of faith in the fact that this is your calling and especially when the work you do sets your soul on fire.

So, after shutting my business down in 2024, I relaunched it back in 2025 with a completely different look and intention. I started over because I remembered that trying again was a possibility and now it’s 2026 and things are still slow but this time I’m not giving up. I’m trusting the process and that’s all you can do sometimes.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

Well, my brand is me and I know that sounds vague but it’s my truth. Everything I’ve built is the result of who I am. As a photographer and filmmaker, I tell the stories of my ancestors and I highlight the beauty in being black and from the south. As a hoodoo practitioner, I serve my community the same way my ancestors did back in there day through spiritual healing, guidance and herbal medicine. I offer psychic readings, herbal baths, cleansing and protection work. This is traditional African American spiritual practices that are really hard to look at through a capitalistic lens. It’s ancestral and culturally potent.

I started hoodoo when I was only 19 years old and it’s been 7 years and I’m still learning new things about myself, my bloodline and my practice. However, I didn’t become a practitioner for the public until I was 22 and I was only offering readings at the time. I became a photographer back in 2024 and I instantly fell in love with the art of visual storytelling. I was never taught either, when your anointed by God and provided the right tools your gifts just take off almost immediately and that’s exactly what happened when I picked up a camera. I knew it was the right path for me when I started getting accepted into arts shows the first year of shooting with no experience whatsoever.

My art speaks to me the same way my ancestors speak to me when I’m providing a service to someone. My heart is engulfed with passion and elation. Neither paths are separate from each other, their both in alignment with who I am.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Authenticity sells! I know alot of people like to think you have to have a specific niche and in some cases they aren’t wrong. HOWEVER, being your most authentic self builds your confidence, your brands unique qualities and therefore attracting your target audience which is people who can relate to you. And just posting consistently works tumultuously. I know specifically for my clients, they enjoy content that informs and inspires them. So, knowing what your tribe needs and being unapologetic with your brand builds!

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to unlearn what success was and figure out what it meant to me personally. I think there was times when I would drive myself mad because the result of my business didn’t look like how I wanted it to and it was mostly because I was comparing it to something else.

When you put your self out there, you’re going to have moments where you feel like you have to compete or defend what you’ve worked so hard on and then I just had to finally take a step back and reflect on what is sustainable and less on what is superficial.

There was a time when I would host events for my community and they would be packed with people and at first I would equate the quantity of people who showed up to my success until it became unfulfilling to experience and that’s when I knew I was unaligned with something.

Success to me now isn’t about how many people show up or how many people buy my products, buy my art, etc .. it’s about the connection, it’s about the quality, it’s about how much of an impact am I making and how much of this am I still enjoying.

If I can’t connect with my clients on a deeper level, then I’ve done something wrong. It’s not about the money or being popular anymore, it’s about real connections and real experiences. That is what success means to me now.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/Pinkauralineage
• Instagram: Thehoodoosiren

Image Credits

Ashley Mangum
H. I. Green
Lillyunna