We had the good fortune of connecting with Raygrid Calderon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Raygrid, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
When I started on this Spiritually Sparkled journey, I had no real plan other than showing up for our community—the Bronx. I looked around and saw that our people were looking for something that would feed their spirits. As a Bronx-born Latina, mother and entrepreneur, I knew we deserved more and better. We deserved a place where no matter your religion, your practices or beliefs, you could show up as you; a place where all genders, identities, races and ages were welcome. I knew I wanted to assist others through their journeys. I knew that our hearts, minds and spirits matter. I knew that through practices like yoga, meditation, reiki and educating our community, I could help like minded individuals connect, build community, and maybe build their own sub communities. I knew that through providing a safe space close to home and using different sources that everyone could learn from we could bring the community closer to freedom, to love, to an openness that could help us all shift through trauma, through grief, and through the energies all sitting within us. We knew our co creating spaces, the utilization of practices and new age techniques, workshops and various programming would help to foster an intimate environment that would help break the stigmas of self exploration and spirituality. I was simply on a mission of purpose but did not and could not structure without the community. So what I did was create a beautiful space and welcomed the community and slowly opened up and began programs. I was able to organically grow by starting the business plan with just community events and welcoming new ideas.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I explored many job titles and ventured into many careers including tech, art, medicine, entrepreneurship and social services. The common denominator of all was my acts of service. No matter what job or career I took it always led me to acts of service and to help more than whatever skill I was actively using. After years of trying to figure out my purpose and where I really belonged – I realized Iv’e been living my purpose all along. With Spiritually Sparkled I can harvest and offer all my gifts, skills and power.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
If a best friend was visiting for a week I would definitely have an itinerary of all outdoor activities. NYC is very popular for our city attractions and tourism but what people don’t realize that the energy comes from the people and what better way to experience the energy live, at one of our beautiful parks to people watch, an rooftop eatery for the view and have drinks at a local bar.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Women from the Bronx. Our space welcomes everyone but the people who took a chance on us, explored our services and shared and lit our center was the women of the Bronx. We couldn’t have sprouted and flourished without them. They are the ones who invited their mothers, fathers, partners, children. they were the strong foundation and invitation to the community.

Website: www.spirituallysparkled.com
Instagram: @spirituallysparkled
Facebook: Spiritually Sparkled
Other: www.gofundme.com/spiritually-sparkled