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

Iya Mystique, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

Coming from a balance of being raised by a Caribbean American woman who was born and raised in Harlem, NY and a Black Indigenous, southern Black man gave me the blessing of being raised with “tough skin” but learning how to apply sweetness to my power. My parents made room to allow me to freely express who I am in other ways that were very different from other Black kids growing up (i.e. wearing tie-dye clothes, wild hair, eclectic outfits, heavy interest in nature and animals, etc).

My parents experienced trauma growing up and as adults, which allowed them to teach me the value of loving who I am despite how society may view me or not accept me. My mother always stresses how I’m “definitely my father’s child” as he was a very liberated Black man who was an artist. My dad (when he was alive) would also stress how my radical attitude most definitely came from my mother. Both of my parents have expressed how I’m more so like my abuelita (or “Mother Canada” as everyone use to call her) because of my deep love for African spirituality and ancestral practices in plant medicine, along with being the free spirit, hard-working woman that she was when she was alive.

Iya Mystique, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I consider myself a “unicorn”, Blactinx (Black and Latinx; Caribbean-Indigenous) queer femme as this is my continuous lived experience in this work and in life. I’m a certified full-spectrum doula, lactation educator, childbirth educator, lactation specialist, maternal-child health community worker, and a Reiki I and II practitioner. I have my Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, where my mental health and wellness expertise comes from, being that I have over 10 years of experience in that field. I’m also a trained newborn care specialist and advanced holistic plant medicine practitioner.

I specialize in Caribbean-Indigenous practices in my role as an initiated Ifa priestess and as a full spectrum doula regarding perinatal health, reproductive health and justice, as well as mental health wellness, “Blactation” (Black lactation), healing justice, plant medicine, and advocacy in perinatal mental health care for the Black community, especially for Black LGBTQ+ people and families.

My vision is to one day incorporate my love for community healing justice, birth work, and reproductive education into my future full-spectrum midwifery practice.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

If I could do it all over again (before having my kid), I would start with going to nursing school first which I would transition myself to become a certified nurse midwife (CNM) or go on the medical school path to become an OBGYN.

There is a lack of inclusive and affirmative CNMs and OBGYNs who specialize in the care and support of LGBTQ+ communities, especially for Black communities, through a social justice lens.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Authenticity. There is a lack of it in this work. Many are afraid to be themselves and instead “copy and paste” someone they’re in competition with or see as competition. It seems as if the fear of showing up as your genuine self scares people or allows people to believe that we all have to talk and look the same when it’s our authenticity that could make us successful and thrive collectively.

There’s also the need for connecting and intentionally being connected with community. The community (i.e. clients, kindred, community organizers and activists, etc) provides expert guidance on how to navigate this work and how to support each other when we need to step back or need a boost to feel empowered to continue the work that we do.

Because of recent events, there has been a major divide in birth workers due to ego, discrimination, jealousy, manipulation, harm, and the list goes on and on. I’m a true believer that community helps you to thrive in this work. Without it, people can become lost in harm and chaos without knowing how to take care of themselves while serving others accordingly.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.iyamystique.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/blackbirthhealer
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/theblackbirthhealer
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blackbirthhealer/

Image Credits
Kendra Knight Photography Vetta From Down The Street Photography