We were lucky to catch up with Destiny/bitten Miranda recently and have shared our conversation below.
Destiny/Bitten, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. One of the most important things we can do as business owners is ensure that our customers feel appreciated. What’s something you’ve done or seen a business owner do to help a customer feel valued?
With the level of trust my clients give me, I like to show appreciation back where I can. When you order with me, especially custom workings, I almost always include SOMETHING extra to boost up the love and care put into the magic. For all orders that I can, whether its stickers, or small crystals that compliment the work, or some other small token of offering there is something I feel pulled to include for you! Some of my clients are very personal and close to me or started off as friends years ago, and when they support and trust me with this kind of inner work, I try to give back in both quality of service and finishing touches. I think the best thing I have ever done for someone purchasing from me was the time at a market where someone was building a gift bag for their partner and expressed they had a budget and could only pick up the main item despite a few smaller ones being something the recipient would fawn over too, so I made them a deal and also added in a crystal tumble so they could get the main item, which was a necklace I believe, and the jewelry cleansing salt to go along with it. I chose a crystal that matched the intention the were building for their partners gift and they seemed to be soo grateful for the blessing. They came by to chat some more before leaving and expressed how tight things are and how special it was to them that I was generous in that moment.
Additionally, I am working the numbers to offer free shipping for online orders over a specific dollar amount, but right now that number is $75.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Of course! I am Destiny, or Bitten, whichever feels comfortable to you. I identify as a plural spirit, operating under She/They pronouns. We are a practicing Chaos Witch, working with several Clair-Senses, but mostly claircognizant & clairsentience (Divine knowing & feeling). We are located in Sunrise, servicing at vendor markets across South Florida, but frequently Coral Springs & Davie. I have been in the metaphysical business officially for just about 5 years, originally crystals and jewelry/tools like pendulums. I even worked in someone else’s crystal store for a couple years! I started online, with Instagram live sales being my main things, fulfilling orders via PayPal invoices. Back then I had a small community of people who would hang out, shop, and chat about different things like the astrology, spirits, and of course crystals and their healing! I have evolved away from that now, thriving mostly in vendor markets and local events though my website rolls out soon. Through the years, I have changed and upgraded so many things (like packaging and craftsman skills) to better suit me, and create an image for my magic that reflects my energy in a way. My clients know that my magic is a luxury, an addition or supplement unto theirs. I am very proud of myself for addressing the deep “witch wound” (though its an ongoing thing) and facing the imposter syndrome that comes with putting yourself out there and at the forefront of vulnerable world views. Operating outside of the accepted social norms has helped me find true community and strengthens connection to what’s important; what’s at the roots. In my work, during down time, we are working on the expansion, such as the website & non magic offerings like our journals and notebooks!
Since my start, I have grown my strengths as a witch, finding deep control and freedom in Chaos Magic, and have dived into the world of divination. Through my spiritual practice and many real world awakening moments, I found my purpose: Awaken The Collective, and help them reintegrate into the Divine Receptive Energy (Divine Feminine). This gift and knowing had to be shared with my community, with the world, so I was instructed to build my brand from the ground up, which felt really natural (terrifying nonetheless!) but seeing as I had guidance from the Universe & an intuitive knowing that I AM the niche, we worked one step at a time. Being trusting and firm in your intuition is integral to making life changing decisions, and I help people learn to trust theirs, often by giving permission to be a little illogical & unexplainable. I help slow them down enough to become the observer which takes time and commitment to the practice. I read the signs & energy, pick up on messages and suggestions for them and validate those unexplainable spirit encounters while also offering grounded explanation of earthly possibilities.
I aim to find solutions for everyone where I can, and there is always support for any of my offerings if you feel it is needed. The types of problems I have helped with include money blockages, or calling in new business, altar creation & offerings, spiritual hygiene like attachments and cleansing, and SHADOW WORK! With an education in psychology & social understanding, we weave together the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual to create a more fulfilling human experience. Bitten’s Crafty provides an array of spell candles, from chime candles to 7 day candles, sachets & charms, divination tools & cleansing items, aura care products & more! All of my offerings are made in a ritual setting, some of them made in the presence of relevant entities/deities. My craft works to pull energy from the past & present, and clear the way for the future to be remade into the desired reality. My craft reclaims stolen or lost energy and creates psychic defenses. We do not shy away from destructive magic and believe a strong foundation of protection must come first. Witchcraft is highly personal and Chaos magic even more so, as it depends on the practitioners beliefs and intentions. We are, all of us, creators of our lives and our reality, and creation IS Chaos.
Have you ever had to pivot?
I am actually currently going through a pivot. I have ALWAYS been able to cover myself with rolling expenses, as well as supplement from my own personal side gigs, such as tarot reading or other things, but this year I have done more shows than ever compared to previous years, yet have not been able to sustain that rolling savings for future shows, being in the negative. Show fees have gone up a lot, nearly double what I am used to seeing personally. Combined with the fact that a lot of people have had one of the hardest years for themselves financially and many aren’t prioritizing supporting small. Many luxuries are out of range, and when you are feeling stuck in scarcity mindset, a candle spell or floor wash simply isn’t enough to help. I have been working to shift into educational blog style content and ecommerce for my upcoming website. I have been working through a lot of perfectionism that has held me back from being able to release the site, as well as life changes that have slowed me down.
Pivoting gives us a chance to have check ins, reworks, and cleanse. I am working to stop watering down my image to make others feel like I am acceptable or less intimidating. I am working on sharing more processes and behind the scenes of what I do and how I give back, as well as prioritizing community action within my personal life. Bitten’s is very fluid and changes/adapts with me, and now we are working to lay the ground work for my dream: a witchy store with branded offerings and consistent collections! Before, we were very based on astrology and channeled before craft to see what needed to be made, and after a couple years of that, I want to be able to consistently offer some of the those things and have the more specialized items be made to order. I will still be attending vendor markets and shows but maybe less often or with more discernment until I can build and uplevel. Not having a consistent audience to engage with has been a huge set back to my growth and outreach. Filing away some of the excess will free up energy to make higher quality offerings and draw in more of the clients meant for me, as well as empower my community to reclaim their own power. It’s all about recentering and redirecting purpose right now.
We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.
Socials, like Instagram & Threads help create an air of comfort by being less formal and more personal, reminding them you are a human and not just a brand or business! I have recently joined BlueSky as well, to create a new behind the scenes and art style environment for myself. I think that having a specific use for each social media is important and adds a layer of cyber organization that may help prevent content overlap. My Instagram is for aesthetic pictures and updates about my where abouts as a business and a means of sharing values and networking. Threads feeds on that and provides a place of discussion and sharing intellect and advice/conversation about a topic. BlueSky is for more creative showcasing that is messy and authentic and isn’t JUST what I am making for the brand, but for myself too! This creates a more “show and tell” space, focused on connection. My emails are for opportunities, bookkeeping, and consultations or initial outreach!
Being able to have strong boundaries and not give all your time to socials, while still remaining open and accessible is a balance that may look different for everyone. I will often reach out and follow up or ask for feedback from people about what they purchased or created after we discuss. As the website rolls out, rewards programs or points system will be introduced as well!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bittenscrafty/profilecard/?igsh=MThzNzlkemtjdWZmbg==
- Other: https://linktr.ee/bittenscrafty?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=b7b574cb-b1a3-4d9c-bf3c-110c8a8b1622
Image Credits
Destiny Miranda