Bard of the Month: Magaly the Dragonfly

Welcome to Bard of the Month! In Druidic tradition, some of the deepest truths are found through the art of the arts. To celebrate this ancient means of enlightenment and it's continued importance to the human spirit in the modern world, we will be meeting one esoteric artist each month on the 19th.

This month's artist is Magaly, from a beautiful and bubbly soul who moved from Puerto Rico to Florida as a young woman to seek her dreams of an artistically motivated life and her higher education. She is a professional behavior therapist who works with autistic children, and who has also recently been certified in tarot! She has lived a truly motivational and beautiful life so far, and I can't wait to see what else she creates with her inspirational life spark.

If you enjoy Magaly's energy and interview, don't forget to check her out on social media! All the links are included in the interview here.

If you are interested in becoming a part of this project, and are an artist attempting to make a name for yourself with your artistic creations and discoveries, please email me: rabbitandwolfdivination@gmail.com with the subject "Bard of the Month Submission." Include a brief synopsis of your art, and how you use it to deepen your connect to and understanding of spirit, as well as any relevant links you may have in relation to your work, such as social media accounts or articles.

An interview with...

Name: Magaly

@pr_dragonflyaposento on Instagram

Age: Stopped counting at 25!

Location: I currently live in Orlando, FL, but I am from Guaynabo, PR.

Profession: I’m a registered behavior therapist, and just became certified as a tarot reader.

Spiritual Practice: I grew up in a house where there were different beliefs and ideologies. I was raised into the Catholic beliefs and practices, but one of my parents believed in Spiritism, while the other practiced yoga, reiki, chakra healing , etc. I say I have my own religion and beliefs that are a fusion of this base, and a strong angelic connection. Everything I practice or believe is based on personal and physical experience.

Type of Art Made: I have knowledge of all the visual arts, from drawing, graphic arts, computer design, [to] painting, but my specialty is in sculpture.

Years of Bardic Experience: Ufff! When I was 11, I won two different drawing challenges in my elementary, basic art school, and after that it was a done deal, never stopped. Asked my mom to enroll me in art classes, and never stopped. Went to a High school that specializes in visual arts, and then joined college to start computer and design, which it was switched to Sculpture after discovering which one was my real passion. I graduated Cum Laude, with a Major in Sculpture, and a Minor in Art Education.

1. First off, tell us all a little bit about yourself, where you're from and who you are, and your day to day life!

Hi ! Or should I say HOLA and WEPA! I am from Puerto Rico. I am single mother of one adult now, and a beautiful and very spiritual one year old that is like a teddy bear, and taller than me now. Lol. I am also mother to a Boston Terrier and a Sun Conure! I have a Bachelors with a Major in Sculpture, and a Minor in Art Education.

Looking for a better education and life quality, I moved to Orlando with my older one with the intention of pursuing my masters, but life got in the middle with different difficulties and contradictions (like Amy Winehouse says in one of her songs, I'm “still standing!”). Looking for jobs [led me to] working as a substitute teacher, and that lead me to different assignments that always had relation with special needs education. That took me to my certification as a Registered Behavior Therapist, which is what I am currently do.

Because of Covid-19, I’m currently offering in-home therapy to my clients. I started a masters in Mental Health Counseling, with certification in art therapy. Because of life, I had to pause, but am currently taking all the steps to finish my masters in Expressive Art therapy.

2. What sort of art do you make, how long have you done it, and why or how did you get into it?

Well, I learned the basics when I was in college - the first years is pretty much all the basics - then you move on to pick your elective, and create your schedule based on your concentration. My specialty is in Sculpture, but I learned painting, photography, computer design and more.

3. Have art and spirituality always been interconnected to you? If not, when and why did they become a mutual process?

Oh definitely, 'specially because I consider myself not a regular artist. The point of the artist is to expose their art, and for some reason a minimum amount of my work was exposed, and was more used as a form of catalyst and therapy.

One time, I was discussing that with my mom, and she pulled out a painting I did long ago of angels that I barely remembered I did.

Being a right handed person, I feel that art is what allows me to ignite that left side of my brain, and keep it in motion. Who knows, maybe I was born to be left handed, but [got crossed] with a right handed teacher! Even though sculpture enforces the uses of both hands.

4. How has your art added depth to your spiritual practice?

I think it made me more intuitive. It gave power to my imagination. I have all the clair's, I surely can have so much mystical experiences, that there’s no other explanation.

'Specially having a professor like Charles Juhasz, that guy blows your mind with projects. You really needed to sit back and think [things like], "How in the hell I am gonna create a sculpture that is a hiding spot??" Lol... I did it though. I created this single black leather couch, and I sat inside of it. You would never guess I was sitting inside the couch, lol!

5. How would you describe your personal connection to spirit, and how do you translate that connection into your art? Does it always translate the way you want?

Well, I think personal connection to spirit, after you are completely aware of that gift and power, it [touches] you all the way around, not just in art. I believe everything I do or create is art. To explain myself: when I am cooking, I feel very connected, I receive messages, I connect puzzles of information. While I am creating, it is like a full experience, like meditation. So it is for every single thing I do.

Spiritual consultation and tarot reading is art. You choose to know which vibration and frequency you keep, and allow the connection to flow, where there’s moments that it’s [stronger than others].

Life is art. Your kids are the best master piece!

6. What has been your most spiritual experience while creating art?

Oh my! I won't be able to finish, if I am going to talk about experiences. Uff, they are so much!

But for the most, creating art put me in a very deep meditation stage, and at times I even experienced trans-mediumship.

A very, very powerful experience was creating a piece that was for a challenge at the university I started for my masters. I don’t remember well the title, but it was related to cancer. And I created a piece that I called "Honoring My Parents." I definitely connected with them while doing this painting, I felt them vividly. My dear father passed over leukemia, and my dear mother lung cancer.

7. You’re making a tarot deck! Tell us a bit about it?

Oh yeah, and I am super excited. The deck, it's going to have the same flying wings of a dragonfly. Won't have all the numbers of the deck. It would have all the Major Arcana representations, and some words and phrases. It would be created in Spanish and English, with a little of Puerto Rican flavor. Everything related to dragonflies, since that's my spiritual totem animal, and it should be [used] more as a clarifier than for a complete tarot reading!

The deck is created with watercolors, very colorful and vibrant.

Depending on how things goes with this one, I would consider creating a complete one.

In addition to that, I am creating smudges, natural and homemade sprays, and natural homemade soaps for spiritual cleansing.

8. What insights have you gained as an educator and RBT that you have brought into your artistic and/or spiritual practice?

Compassion. People's dignity. The respect for human nature. A more complex, deeper, and in-depth understanding of life.

It’s funny because... it made me more quiet, it made me distance myself from people, regarding their energies. I'm very social, and I can connect with everybody. However, my spirits and guides gave me this sense of feeling what distance I [should] keep from certain people. It allows me to read energies. It allows me to recognize the different behaviors, not talking just the kids I work with, but in general - teachers, coworkers... It allowed me understand how different people may perceive and [interpret] things based on their perspective and frequency level.

9. What do you think you are able to bring to education and RBT that other professionals with a less spiritual and/or artistic personal path are not able to?

Before I get to any of my workplace, I connect and invoke Archangel Chamuel. I ask Archangel Chamuel to cover me with the rose light, and to allow me be a tool of healing, peace, love, understanding, and compassion to my clients or anybody else. I ask GOD, or the Universe, to make me a better person, and make me a resource and a tool that promotes peace. I request from the universe that as soon as I get in contact with my clients, I can provide all that. There were days where I had students or clients that, because of neurological issues, I'd be like Chamuel? Where are you? Lmao. There's always some days that are hectic, and you deal with them, then sit and laugh because nevertheless, I love my clients and every single kid or client I had or will get in contact.

10. Are there any art styles or spiritual studies that you hope to be able to work with in the future?

I hope get to work more with clay. I am hoping have my own space, and the resources to work with bigger projects. And before I moved to Florida, my mom wanted me to work with Reiki.

See more of Magaly's art and living craft by visiting her on Facebook: Libelula Aposento or by following her @pr_dragonflyaposento at Instagram!