Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Gates.
Maria, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’m from the Atlanta area and moved to Los Angeles in October 2018. I touched down right in South LA and fell in love with the area. I had been visiting Los Angeles and Leimert for years before I moved, but once I actually started hanging in the area as an LA resident, it opened my eyes to the movement that is going on here. It’s entrepreneurial, it’s cultural, and it’s community-based as well as spiritual. I knew that I wanted to work, play, and serve in THIS area. And that’s what I aim to do.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Moving Los Angeles easily tops the list of the hardest things I have ever done. My best friend and I packed my car with most of my belongings, and drove out of Atlanta at 5am on a new moon…and about 32 hours later made it to Los Angeles. I had zero idea what I was in for, but spiritually I knew that it was the right decision. I have encountered the usual “new girl in town” things, understanding the housing crisis and cost of living adjustments, learning the politics of why things are the way they are, homesickness, making friends, and finding my soul family, sometimes encountering people with not-so-cool intentions and lack of follow through…thats stuff we always deal with because we are humans, feel me? But I trust my mission more than anything else. Sticking to that and making my actions with respect to that has spared me from a lot of unnecessary bs.
Please tell us about Spiritual Homegirl.
Spiritual Homegirl is a platform about bettering self and spirit, from a “Homegirl, just like you” perspective. I have a podcast and do events (whether paid or no-cost) to help sow seeds of empowerment in the community. Now that I have an official homebase, I am ready to do in Los Angeles what I did back home in Atlanta. The “spiritual” journey is a day by day process, and because of that, I do events about any topic about the journey. I’m known for creating products related to this as well. I study aromatherapy and am about to launch my pop-up store in the next 30 days. I am a meditation teacher and also have another brand “Make Peace With the Day”. I created a workbook for that, and am currently in the process of writing a second one, as well as my first book.
I’m also known for being the voice of reason and helping others find the confidence to find what works on their journey. I’m proud to know that I wasn’t the guru for other people to better themselves, but the one who helped them become their own.
Recently, I created the Nipsey Hussle Book Club with my friend Joe Gardina. I love South LA so much and I knew that our community is grieving. So I wanted to find a productive and empowering way to channel that pain, as well as pay my respects to the area as a new transplant. We pride ourselves on being community-based, clout-free, and not for profit. It brings me joy for people to better themselves through reading, nothing but progress can come from that.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
As cliche as it sounds, I believe that everything happens the way it is supposed to. I’m so grateful and happy to be here. I refuse to take even one day for granted.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.spiritualhomegirl.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: Spiritualhomegirl
- Facebook: Spiritualhomegirl
Image Credit:
Renee Lopez
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