Meet Mystiika Jae Carter | | MA- AMFT, Executive Director, Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mystiika Jae Carter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mystiika Jae, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My thought process behind starting my own business was rooted in one word: freedom.

I started working for others at 13, navigating systems that were never designed to nurture me. As a systems-dependent youth, I watched my peers—those with backgrounds like mine—face oppression without even realizing it. There was no language for it, just a heavy, quiet sadness that made hopelessness feel inevitable.

So many of us never receive the support we need, never feel truly seen, and never experience a higher quality of life because we’ve been conditioned to believe that there aren’t enough resources to go around. I’ve seen youth grow into hurting adults, elders carry their pain to the grave, and all of it imprinted in my own body. Yet, I know now that many of us are much closer to freedom than we’ve been led to believe. Too many walk through life carrying the weight of trauma and systemic oppression until it consumes them.

But as I climbed this fictitious social ladder, I saw the truth—there are enough resources. What’s missing is access, connection, and the intentional bridging of gaps. I realized that so many organizations and leaders were doing similar work, yet we remained isolated. That awareness led me to ask: What is within my power? How can I help bridge the gap to healing for our communities?

Healing is freedom. Healing is love. Healing is connection. Healing is peace. Healing is joy, acceptance, and self-expression. These aren’t privileges; they’re our birthright. The world already holds plenty of suffering—we need more healing to balance it out.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am a California native, born and raised in the greater Los Angeles area—but more specifically, in the foster care system. From two months old until I transitioned out at 21, I moved through institutions meant to hold me, yet never truly designed to see me. I have witnessed more of humanity’s darkness than I have words for, yet I stand firm in my joy. That’s what sets me apart—not that I’ve faced adversity, but that I refuse to let it define or diminish my capacity for love, creation, and healing.

Nothing about this journey has been easy. I’ve had to navigate survival in ways I don’t need to explain for those who understand what it means to exist as a Black, femme-figured, gender-expansive being in this world. I’ve learned to discern who aligns with my mission, to advocate for myself, to accept help, and to embrace mistakes as part of the path rather than proof of failure.

Spiritual Wellfare Inc. was born from these experiences—not just mine, but those of the ancestors, elders, and communities who have shaped me. It exists for the many versions of me out there, for those seeking healing that is not just about surviving but about thriving. I believe we meet ourselves through others, that we are interconnected, and that true healing happens when we choose to co-regulate rather than resist and repeat cycles of harm.

At its core, my work is about reclaiming wellness as a birthright—rooted in joy, freedom, and love—as an antidote to the spiritual warfare we navigate daily. This is what I want the world to know: healing is possible, and it begins with us, together.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend were visiting in the summer, I’d make sure they experienced the magic of San Diego in all its depth. I’d pick them up from the airport just before sunset and take them on a scenic drive along the harbor—letting the ocean breeze and golden skies set the tone for the week. First stop: Donna Jean, my favorite plant-based restaurant, where we’d fill our bellies with heartening food and laughter.

The week would be a blend of adventure, movement, culture, and deep nourishment. Rises would start with sunrise walks along Balboa Park’s scenic trails, followed by a grounding Pilates session at Movement Matters Collective. On one of those rises, we’d stop by The People’s Produce Market, hosted by Project New Village, to pick up fresh, locally grown produce for a home-cooked meal. Afternoons would be for reconnecting with nature—frolicking (literally) naked in the ocean at Black’s Beach, feeling the sun on our skin and the water washing away what no longer serves us. To wind down, we’d stop by Church of Herbalism or Creations by Florea to pick up herbal goodies to nourish our bodies and spirits.

One of the days would be a cultural deep dive, starting with brunch at World Beat Center in Balboa Park for soul food and community vibes. From there, we’d explore Balboa Park’s museums—maybe the Museum of Us for a decolonial perspective or the Japanese Friendship Garden for a peaceful reset. Dinner that evening would be at Mama G’s Kitchen and Sauces for some Peruvian flavors.

Throughout the week, we’d eat our way through San Diego’s diverse food scene:

Pupusas at El Salvadoreno
Mexican food at Ranchos Cocina in North Park
Injera-filled plates at Blue Nile Ethiopian in University Heights
On slower days, we’d relax at Golden Hill Park, journaling or basking in the sun, before catching a poetry night or live music event somewhere in the city.

The trip would be a balance of nature, movement, culture, and deep nourishment—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Because what’s a visit without a little soul restoration?

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to first and foremost thank my parents and ancestors. For so long, I resisted my background out of anger, but the truth is—you gave me life. And while there has been pain, there has also been joy, and I am grateful for the fullness of that experience.

To my beautiful and loving partner—you have seen me, encouraged me, and held space for me at every version of myself, even when I struggled to believe in my own worth. Your love has been a haven, a place where I have learned to trust myself, especially as an entrepreneur.

To my inner community of loved ones—your unwavering love, trust, and witnessing of my evolution has been the greatest gift to my soul. I would not be here without you—without the phone calls, the hard truths, and the quiet presence through every transformation. Your willingness to allow me to witness you in return, even when our truths were difficult, has been a profound healing in itself.

And to the many mentors, social workers, therapists, teachers, child advocates, career counselors, former friends, colleagues, bosses, nurses, doctors, practitioners, ancestors, herbalists, and even the strangers who have crossed my path—thank you. Your work often goes unseen, unappreciated, and unnoticed, but I see you. I honor you. And I carry forward the lessons and love you have poured into me.

Instagram: @eyemmystiika @spiritualwellfareinc

Linkedin: Mystiika Jae Carter- MA AMFT | Spiritual Wellfare Inc.

Facebook: Spiritual Wellfare Inc.

Image Credits
Images with the white headwrap: Tamiel McKee Bey