Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Celinda De La Fuente. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Celinda, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?
Yes, there was a defining moment—a pivotal shift in my journey, like the moment a seed breaks through the soil and begins to stretch toward the light. It came when I had to walk away from my teaching career, a path I had walked for many years. The decision wasn’t easy, and it wasn’t made overnight. My body, worn from chronic pain, could no longer keep up with the demands of the job. I felt like I was moving against the current of my own life, constantly exhausted, unable to fully show up for myself, let alone others.
But the Universe has a way of calling us when we need it the most. And that call came in the form of energy healing. It found me like an old friend I had forgotten, and as I learned to awaken the healer within myself, I knew—without a doubt—that I was meant to share this gift with the world. It was the moment I realized that my purpose was not to heal others for them, but to help them remember that they are their own healers.
Leaving teaching was a surrender to something greater than myself. It was stepping into the unknown, trusting that there was a path laid out for me that I couldn’t yet see. Like the phoenix rising from the ashes, I was being reborn, shedding the old layers to reveal something new and true. And in that surrender, I found freedom. I found my voice. And I found my mission, my purpose—one that continues to unfold with each person I have the honor of working with.
I’m incredibly grateful for my experience as an educator because I didn’t stop teaching. The world of self-healing became my new classroom, and I became both the student and the teacher in the same breath. I took what I had learned in the classroom—guiding, nurturing, and empowering—and channeled it into this new journey of healing and transformation.
From that moment on, everything changed. I knew that the work I do now—Energy Healing, teaching, guiding others—was what I was always meant to do. It was a moment that shifted everything in me and opened the door to the life I live now. And the lesson? When you’re ready to let go of what no longer serves you, the Universe will always offer you something greater. Trust the journey. Trust the process. And most of all, trust yourself.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am Celinda, the founder of Ashes To Phoenix LLC, a name that reflects both my journey and the work I do. Like the phoenix, I have walked through fire—through pain, through loss, through moments that threatened to consume me—and yet, I have risen. And now, I help others do the same.
My path into Energy Healing wasn’t something I sought—it was something that found me. For years, I was an educator, guiding young minds in a traditional classroom. I loved teaching, but my body was screaming for rest. The pace was relentless, and I could no longer push through the exhaustion. When the world paused during the pandemic, I had no choice but to slow down and listen—to my body, to my soul, to the undeniable truth that I couldn’t continue on the same path. That was the moment my life took a new trajectory. The classroom shifted, but I never stopped teaching. The world of self-healing became the lesson, and I became both the student and the teacher.
But no journey of transformation happens in isolation. Healing and growth are woven through the connections we build, the people who uplift us, and the wisdom shared along the way. Thankfully, small business mentorships like the one I found with Alexander Mesquiti of the American Indians in Texas Economic Justice Program exist. His guidance was life-changing, helping me navigate the unknown with advice, resources, and encouragement when I needed it most. Master Healer Mariia Tsegelnyk of The Light of Healing was also instrumental, with her Business Program lighting the way. The Masters, Teachers, Trainers, and Instructors of Spring Forest Qigong have been pivotal in this journey as well. Connecting with other like-minded professionals has been invaluable—building meaningful relationships that uplift us all.
Now, through Ashes To Phoenix, I offer energy healing sessions that go beyond surface-level relief—I hold space for people to find their way back to their own power, their own light. My services include Reiki, Violet Flame Healing, Metatron Healing, Akashic Records Healing, Ancestral Healing, Past Life Healing, Qigong Healing, and more. Healing is not only about Energy Work—it’s also about the mind, the beliefs we carry, and the stories we tell ourselves. That’s why I integrate NLP, EFT, and CBT into my approach, helping people shift their subconscious patterns as they heal. My work is rooted in transformation, which is why I am currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Consciousness, Psychology, and Transformation with a specialization in Consciousness and Healing at National University—continuing to deepen my knowledge so I can better serve others.
I also train others to step into their own healing gifts through Energy Healing Certification Courses in Reiki, Metatron Healing, Violet Flame Healing, and Akashic Records Healing, all accredited by the Complementary Therapists Accredited Association. My mission is about empowering others to become the healers of their own lives. Through self-healing, we become the change we want to see in our families, in our communities, in our society.
But beyond the one-on-one sessions and courses, I believe healing belongs to the community. I offer donation-based practices because healing should never be a privilege—it is a birthright. I work alongside a collective of holistic healers and wellness practitioners, bringing donation-based practices to Celebrate Tu Cuerpo, an event created by Alyssa Lopez of Knee N’ Nalgas Body Therapeutics (@knee_n_nalgas) and hosted by Bexar Collective (@bexar.collective) every other month. I also hold space for transformation at Abundant Universe, a sacred space for healing created by Angela Alonzo (@abundant.universe), whose unwavering support has played a pivotal role in my journey. Currently, I offer a free Qigong Group session the last Wednesday of every month at Confluence Park in collaboration with the San Antonio River Authority. Furthermore, I have been blessed and honored to work with incredible individuals whose work and presence continue to inspire me: Claudia Solitaire of Moon Soul Yoga (@moon_soulyoga), Vic Janitzi of Late Bloomer (@victoriajanitzi), David Williams of Bexar Collective (@yoga.dave.sa), Xylia Garcia of Sanadora (@xylialarissa), Rebecca Steele of The Well at Tecolote (@thewellattecolote), Gabriella Tijerina and Lana Hernandez of Street 2 Feet (@street2feet), Tia Sanderson of Transcendental Creative (@transcendental.creative), and so many other amazing souls. Each of them is part of a greater collective of healers, visionaries, and space-holders, and their work reminds me daily that healing is not meant to be a solitary path—it is a community effort.
And at the core of it all, I am an ordained minister, a witness to the transformations that unfold before me.
What sets Ashes To Phoenix apart? It’s not about rituals or techniques—it’s about real soul work. It’s about seeing people, holding them in their rawest moments, and helping them remember that they were never broken to begin with. It’s about transformation, about shedding the layers of pain, fear, and limitation so the soul can rise—free, unburdened, and fully aligned. I do not act as if I am the one healing you—I simply set the space, tuned to a high healing frequency, so that you can rise into your own self-healing.
To those reading this: If you feel lost, weighed down by the past, unsure of your next step—know that transformation is always possible. The fire that once burned you can also be the fire that sets you free. You are not broken. You are becoming. And I would be honored to walk beside you on that journey.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was that my reality was not a fixed truth—it was a reflection of my own projections and limiting beliefs.
For so long, I thought life was happening to me. I believed my struggles, my pain, and even my relationships were a result of external forces outside my control. But what I didn’t realize was that I was unconsciously shaping my reality through the lens of old wounds, conditioning, and fears. I projected my insecurities onto situations and people, assuming they saw me the way I secretly saw myself—unworthy, not enough, or undeserving of ease and love.
The backstory goes deep into childhood. Like many of us, I grew up absorbing unspoken beliefs from my parents, my environment, and a society built upon outdated belief systems rooted in separation, hierarchy, and division. I learned that hard work equaled worth, that rest was laziness, that struggle was noble. I didn’t even question these things because they felt like ultimate truths. But they weren’t. They were inherited patterns, running on autopilot, dictating my choices and experiences.
It wasn’t until I truly slowed down—until my body forced me to listen—that I started to recognize the power of my own mind. The moment I became aware of my projections, everything shifted. I saw how my expectations shaped my experiences. I saw how my beliefs about relationships, abundance, and healing were actually creating resistance. And most importantly, I realized I could choose differently.
That’s when energy healing, NLP, and other transformative practices changed everything for me. They gave me the tools to rewrite the stories I had been carrying for years. Instead of seeing life as something I had to fight against, I started aligning with the flow of it. Instead of seeking validation externally, I started cultivating self-trust. Instead of pushing through exhaustion, I started listening to my body with love.
Unlearning those limiting beliefs didn’t happen overnight, but with every breakthrough, I reclaimed a piece of myself. And now, this is the work I help others do—because transformation isn’t about becoming someone new. It’s about peeling back the layers of fear and remembering who you’ve been all along.
This is why I emphasize mindset in my sessions. As an Energy Healing Practitioner, I set up the space at a high frequency for my clients to reconnect with their Higher Self. For it is not the Self that needs healing—it is the layers of fear, doubt, and conditioning that have obscured the truth of who we are. I do not heal my clients; I witness their transformation. I hold space for them to remember their own power, to shed the stories that no longer serve them, and to step into alignment with their truest essence.
Reality is shaped by what we believe. If we want to change our lives, we must start by changing the stories we tell ourselves.
Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?
Beyond training and knowledge, I believe the most powerful forces for success in this field are compassion, empathy, presence, emotional intelligence, social intelligence, and a deep commitment to service.
Technique is not the focus of Energy Work—connection is. It’s about feeling into the unspoken, sensing the energy behind words, and holding space for transformation. To do this work well, we must cultivate empathy, intuition, and presence. We must learn to listen—not just with our ears, but with our entire being. To notice the subtle shifts, the pauses between words, the way energy moves when someone feels safe enough to release.
Compassion is at the heart of it all. Healing requires more than knowledge—it requires the ability to see people in their rawest, most vulnerable state and meet them with love instead of judgment. True healing happens when people feel safe, seen, and understood. That safety is built through deep empathy and an open heart. But as practitioners, we must also remember that we cannot pour from an empty cup. We, too, must do the inner work. We, too, must tend to our own needs and emotions. We, too, must practice self-compassion, self-empathy, and self-love. For if we do not cultivate these qualities within ourselves, we are less likely to extend them to others in a way that is truly authentic and sustainable.
And above all, we must remember why we do this. Healing work is not about titles, status, or career advancement—it’s a calling. If the motivation is solely to “make money,” the energy behind it feels hollow. But when we pour our hearts into our work, when we show up with genuine love and purpose, when we do this because it fills our soul—that’s what we give to the Universe, and that’s the energy the Universe returns to us.
It’s a dance of reciprocity. When we align our work with our values, when we serve with compassion and authenticity, we don’t have to chase abundance—it flows. Clients feel the difference. The right opportunities open up. And success, in its truest form, becomes a natural byproduct of doing what we love.
So whatever path you are walking—pour your heart into it. Love what you do. Serve with devotion. Lead with empathy. And most importantly, extend that same love and compassion to yourself. Trust that when you give from a place of love and purpose, the Universe will always meet you there.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ashestophoenix.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashes_to_phoenix_satx/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092862290081
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ashestophoenix-celinda
- Other: https://linktr.ee/ashestophoenixsatx?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=51304e16-cf01-4a10-b948-3db0ad216a75
Image Credits
Park photos by Vic Estrada
Pride photo by Mikey Ledezma