We were lucky to catch up with Faviela Parrilla recently and have shared our conversation below.

Faviela , appreciate you joining us today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

The defining moment for me was in 2017, when I came face to face with grief, when I look back at the time frame between 2015 and 2017, is when I can see that every level of my life was being towered at that moment. It’s as if I was frozen, I couldn’t figure out how to move let alone handle anything else that was coming my way. I found myself confused between the dreams I was experiencing and having my visions and my prayers. In 2016, I realized how much my life was going to change, and while sitting in the darkness in 2017, I realized that not only was I losing my father, but I was also grieving different versions of myself. It was during this transformative time that I also started noticing that my gifts started getting stronger. I had encountered some of these gifts as a teenager but I had found ways to disconnect from my spiritual roots, because I didn’t fully understand them at the time, and I wanted to “fit in.” There were times when I would have visions, like when I saw my mother and family members surviving a storm, but could also see other elements of her life being impacted, and changed. They felt so real to me in my dreams and at some point, would be confirmed. The Darkness revealed to me the places and ways I had rejected my true essence. I sat with this rejection, the rejection of self, filled with thoughts, that only got louder and louder. This darkness led me to begin a mindfulness, yoga, and hiking practice to help clear my mind, to give space to all the versions of me, and to release what no longer serves me. While each practice was new to me and each different from the previous version, I felt safe and they helped me create space and come more into alignment with who I am. During this time on my path of acceptance of who I am, I had to look into my childhood and also have some uncomfortable, unpleasant conversations with my mother and family members. While hard, these conversations allowed my mother and I to get closer and deepen our connection. It has also allowed for a lot of generational healing and allowed me to explore various healing and spiritual practices that she cultivated and planted seeds in my childhood. Praying in front of my sacred space also known as my alter(s) allowed for my revelations and acceptance, including the deepening of my channeling practices. Channeling has always been my safe and preferred way to communicate with the spiritual realm. This for me is the best way I know how to integrate, accept, and face myself and my fears. This is where I get to walk between the veils, with paper and pencils. Sitting at my altar, allows me to integrate, accept, see, and face my fears. Integration is part of the process, as I am always shedding and expanding, which has been a learning journey for me, one I am still working on and finding acceptance through. As such, it is through writing, that ultimately led me to take the risk, it became my way of integrating to be open, vulnerable, tender, radical, patient, fearless, sensual, and sacred, and share myself as a diviner through my blog and the birthing of Inner Heart shine.

Faviela , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, with strong roots and connections to my birthplace and home. One thing people are surprised by is that even the I am providing support in various ways to the community, I am a very private person. I am family-orientated, I love to explore and adventure with my family and friends. I have a very small and special tribe that supports me in my work. My tribe loves me as I am, they accept all aspects of me and those include all my rituals. As a child, my family knew I was leaving the island since I vocalized, that basketball was going to allow me to see the world. My grandmother used to tell me “tu no naciste para esconderte del mundo mija.” In my childhood I would hide in books, (I love to read), in my notebook writing, or my garden so I would be safe, my garden and my plants are still as much a part of my life as reading and writing. Yet, it’s basketball that has given me opportunities and chances to expand, explore, travel, and get to know different versions of myself. My time as a basketball player eventually led me to come to Austin on a scholarship for basketball at an HBCU. While sometimes another life ago, it was part of my journey. I have worked for the last 15 years in a non-profit organization, working directly with families, especially team moms providing parenting, case management, and community support. I have also been working for different parts of the state for the last 15 years as a Drug Intervention facilitator. Life has taken me on so many journeys and given me many life lessons. The next chapter is part of the integration of my two worlds and how they overlap, with the Reiki practitioner, medium, herbalist, and intuitive healer who is passionate about Holistic healing, treating the mind, body, and soul, incorporating mindfulness, yoga, breathwork, and meditation. Tarot reading, pendulum reading, collective Ancestral, Akastic, and Quantum Healing are ways I also support others.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

Navigating the holistic realms can be very uncertain and certain all at once. Quibilah and I first developed our friendship. One year as her birthday was approaching, she had this amazing idea for a party and wanted to have a Tarot reader at her event, and well to my surprise, she asked me to come share my gift with her friends. She gave me the push I needed and because the universe is always aligning, my soul sister happened to be in town and another close friend had also given me my very first tarot reading the weekend. That weekend while I was excited and yet so many of my fears and worries were front and center leading up to the event, and it was the unconditional love that I was surrounded by, the realization that I had my tribe with me that led me to take a risk. Yet, once I took that seat that night at the table, at my sacred space for the evening, my gift just opened up, and I was able to not only bring others joy but also find the harmony within myself, within my skill, my craft, well in me. It also gave me some initial feedback, as to how many clients feel manageable in one session, and what gifts might support me in my journey. That night as I was on my expansion, I was blessed with being surrounded by many other healers that evening with their own unique and needed gifts. I was amazed. Months later, Quibilah asked me to partner with her again to facilitate a shadow work guided meditation and cord-cutting ceremony. It was after that workshop, I stepped into my vortex, with my collaborator and tribe member. It was one of the most rewarding and amazing moments of my journey to share with this collective. It was here that I stood in my light and claimed my birthright. There I was fearless channeling and guiding in the safety of the quantum field. That’s when I knew a new timeline had opened up for me and new healing versions of us would journey together. We hosted sound healing and guided meditations together, perinatal loss workshops, Spring Equinox, and Lion’s Gate Portal meditations. My energy sits on the waves of gratitude to have her as a collaborator, friend, and member of my tribe. As I walk into the collective healing, I have crossed paths with many amazing facilitators who provide support and love to the community. Doing this work, you need support, you need your tribe.
Something that this journey taught me and is continuing to teach me is the beauty that comes when you trust those around you. The people who stay open and curious with you, and hold space for the unfolding with you. Being able to collaborate and connect with others on this journey has been key for me, though it hasn’t always been the easiest of processes, yet the mutual respect, the love, and the connection allow for the work to flow. It’s sometimes in those moments when I take a step back I get to admire the beautiful gifts of my community, and the uniqueness of each gift as they take form and shape, just like when there able to see me and reflect on me the things I have yet to discover for myself.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I am at this transitional moment in my life right now, once you discover what brings you happiness, that’s the first step in a whole bunch of next steps and it’s not an easy process. The process has been slow, first with the blog, but as my gifts became more pronounced, discipline and consistency followed. Expanding Inner Heart Shine has come with many changes, especially in my lifestyle. I have also had to determine which gifts I share with the world, which gifts are meant for those in my tribe, and which are especially just for me. I am learning about time management and where my strengths and areas for growth are. I have tried various approaches to service, online, in-person, in my home, at their home, and in community spaces, all to try out my ideal and preferred method of service delivery. While hard sometimes I also create space for my creativity to flow, which over time has led to the creation of: medicine water, tea blends, vaginal steaming, candles, and oils. This has been a slow blossoming but a blossoming nonetheless. I have provided my body with a lot of nurturing and self-care to be able to be a healthy vessel. Most importantly I have to be comfortable with being seen and taking up space This pivot has impacted every area of my life, personal, professional, and holistic. Right now it brings up the awareness of resistance from old narratives and fears regarding financial stability and how to receive and recognize abundance in all its ways while also valuing rest and ease. It reminds me how much grey area there is, and how hard it can be to navigate uncertainty. It has also shown me where I need additional support to organize myself as an entrepreneur and business owner.
One thing that’s also hard is other people’s reaction when you’re not following the “traditional path.” Which I guess brings me to The Fool” and “ Chariot “cards. The Fool moves with his heart open and his skillset, ready to adventure and jump off the edge. The Fools is a risktaker and he follows his intuition without any doubt that everything will be provided as he is moving into action. The Chariot moves with his foundation and belief. Carrying his philosophy with him, but always open to learning and accepting the duality of life. The Chariot moves with the determination that the path is for his higher good and alignment. Asee

Contact Info:

• Website: www.innerheartshine.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/inner_heart_shine/
• Other: https://ko-fi.com/innerheartshine