Satia Herrera shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Satia, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
As I enter my senior year of undergraduate studies in psychology, I’m celebrating this accomplishment a bit more loudly as I get closer to graduation. I have juggled many lives in the past seven years as a full-time student. I have built Satya Skin Studio into a multidimensional wellness space, worked multiple humbling side hustles, got married, became a mother, navigated a divorce, and found myself along the way. Every step on my path has been intentional and has also grounded my core sense of self as my life has evolved. I’m not one to congratulate myself often. As my sights are always set on the next milestone, this year I have truly allowed myself to feel grace and gratitude for all that my life has become.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am an esthetician of 6 years and own and operate Satya Skin Studio, which offers holistic and esthetic services. My holistic work is rooted in spiritual practice, intentional guidance toward wholeness, and energetic healing, while my esthetic services reflect my skilled trade certifications and a long-time love for empowering people to feel their best. I’m also the general manager of Alchemy Ritual Goods located in Denver. As I’ve grounded myself in both of these spaces, I’m finding that as my spiritual wellness aligns, my vision for the future becomes centered. In time, Satya Skin Studio will focus solely on holistic services, while community offerings and new services are already being integrated at Alchemy Ritual Goods for victim advocacy as a part of my degree.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
The simplest answer is ego. Oftentimes, we are too prideful to admit hurt or wrongdoing, and avoid confrontation. In allowing ourselves to be wrong, hurt, and angry, we open the pathway to the emotional intelligence it requires to build depth within our connections. We need each other to build businesses, communities, homes, families– to build ourselves. We are the sum of all those we meet, and these lived experiences are what restore connections and humanity. Accountability is the best companion ego can have. Be honest with yourself, and the rest tends to follow.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Breaking every bone in your body hurts less than breaking your soul. When in a place of struggle, I remain there as long as it takes to truly learn the lesson. This is not in an attempt to become a martyr, but with the intention of self-reflection and self-actualization. Suffering can teach you to meet yourself at your core, beyond any validation success may reward you. In this process, I’ve learned to grieve deeply and to hold space for myself and others in the presence of hardship. Success has never allowed me to accept the rawness that suffering has.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I have challenged my belief systems as they relate to psychology, victim advocacy, and human relationships for many years. Through this study, I recognize that the human condition is not entirely psychological, analytical, or logical, but an emotional rite of passage. As I’ve spent many years writing, reading, and understanding the diagnosis of our mental and physical fields, I believe we label these behaviors to be comforted in the discomfort to an extent. In this awareness, I have started planning a monthly session for survivors of sexual violence and abuse at Alchemy Ritual Goods to be able to honor the atypical healing path, and to begin reclaiming voices lost within judgment, shame, and fear. The healing process of a survivor isn’t linear and carries emotional weight that deserves to be held, not labeled. I’m committed to holding a community space that is nurturing, sacred, and collective in its healing.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
If you had asked me this question five years ago, I probably would’ve given the most pessimistic answer. Something along the lines of, “nothing… nobody,” and that I’d likely be obsolete without all the attachments to the titles I carried because they meant that much to me. Now, having been stripped of those material things since then, I’ve found that I’ve been allowed to start over without the roles and possessions that defined my previous life. I’d like to think that without all the identities I currently carry, at my core, I am imperfect, eager to live life, and leave an impression in every interaction I have.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.satyaskinstudio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/satyaskinstudio
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/satyaskinstudio
Image Credits
URBN Brands, Itana Wynter, Alchemy Ritual Goods
