Navigating high school was like tackling an obstacle course for me. As a teenager, I was painfully shy, with only a handful of friends who often felt more like bullies than buddies. I let them walk all over me, desperate for acceptance and belonging, especially since home lacked the emotional support I craved.

In those adolescent years, I became a keen observer of human behavior. Quiet and watchful, I learned to read people’s energies and reactions like an open book, thanks in part to my ever-changing mother, whose moods set the tone for our household. Her influence made me hyper-aware of the emotional atmosphere around me, turning me into the empath I am today.

Yet, despite my heightened sensitivity, I struggled to find my voice in high school. I longed for acceptance and validation, which I found in unexpected places: my two close friends, Clarissa and Jimena. Both popular and confident, embraced me despite my shyness, introducing me to the world of Wicca.

Our fascination with Wicca blossomed from a shared love of the movie “The Craft,” leading us to enroll in a Wicca class together. Those three months were transformative, deepening my connection to spirituality and nature. It was a journey of discovery and self-realization, where I felt my true magic come alive.

However, as Latinas in a space dominated by different cultural norms, we felt a bit out of place. Though our teacher and classmates never made us feel unwelcome, there was a subtle sense of being different, of not quite fitting in. Despite our enthusiasm for learning about potions and rituals, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t entirely my space to inhabit. It was the first time I grappled with the struggle of spiritual belonging.