Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with JUDIE BURROUGHS of Fort Myers

We’re looking forward to introducing you to JUDIE BURROUGHS. Check out our conversation below.

JUDIE, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day always set the tone for everything that follows. I like to start my mornings in peace — before the messages, before the candles, before the chaos. I wake up, say my prayers, give gratitude, and take a few moments to ground myself. Coffee usually comes next (that part’s non-negotiable, lol). Once I feel centered, I head straight into my office to get things moving.

The first thing I do when I sit down is check our wholesale site. That’s where a big part of our business flows, and I like to make sure all orders and inventory are running smooth. After that, I move over to our regular Etsy shop to see what came in overnight — new orders, customer messages, any special requests that need attention. That’s about when Miss Nisha usually walks in.

Once Nisha gets here, the energy shifts — the whole space starts buzzing. She jumps right into preparing the candles and oils, restocking what sold out, and blessing new batches. That’s also when she starts going live for our followers across all our social media platforms. The lives bring so much life into the shop — people commenting, laughing, asking questions, placing orders in real time.

While she’s handling that side, I’m managing the business, double-checking details, and making sure everything’s flowing spiritually and professionally. Those first 90 minutes are always a mix of calm, chaos, and creation — just how I like it.

That’s just the start of my day, but it’s the part that keeps me grounded and grateful. Every morning reminds me why I do what I do — because this work isn’t just a job, it’s my calling. 🕯️💫

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi everyone — I’m Mrs. Judie Burroughs, founder and co-owner of Readings by Judie Team , a spiritual brand and team based right here in Fort Myers, Florida. I’m a third-generation Rootworker and spiritual advisor, and I’ve been doing this work my entire life. Everything I create — from our candles and oils to our bracelets, powders, and custom rituals — is blessed, dressed, and charged with purpose.

What makes my brand special is that it’s authentic. We don’t just sell spiritual products — we live this lifestyle, we teach it, and we honor the spirits behind it. Every product is prayed over, every candle carries intention, and every reading is done with real connection and care. Folks come to us for guidance, clarity, or help shifting their energy, and they leave with results and understanding — not just hope.

Our business has grown into a full-team operation, and together we serve people all over the world. We’ve got a wholesale line, our Etsy shop, and a beautiful community of loyal clients who have turned into family.

Right now, I’m working on a few exciting things — including new product lines, our Rooted autobiography project, and expanding our spiritual education series so more people can learn how to work with energy responsibly. At the end of the day, everything I do is about helping people heal, protect, manifest, and reconnect with Spirit — because when you move with faith and intention, miracles start showing up everywhere. 🕯️✨

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Honestly, my grandmother. She saw me long before I ever understood myself. I was just a little girl playing with herbs and candles.

Back then I thought she was just being sweet, but she saw the spirit in me — the calling — before I could even name it. She watched how energy moved around me, how people would open up in my presence, and she knew what that meant.

It took me years to grow into the woman she already believed I’d become, but she never doubted it. So when I finally stepped into my purpose and built Readings by Judie Team, I felt like I was just walking in her footsteps — continuing what she started, but in my own way. She saw me before I even realized who “me” was. 🕯️💫

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me humility, patience, and discernment — things success could never teach. When everything’s going right, it’s easy to believe you’re in control. But when life breaks you down, that’s when Spirit steps in and shows you who’s really guiding the wheel.

My hardest seasons stripped away everything that wasn’t real — fake friends, false confidence, even my own illusions about strength. Suffering forced me to depend on faith, not comfort. It taught me to listen to my ancestors, to move in silence, and to protect my peace like it’s gold.

Success feels good, don’t get me wrong — but it doesn’t test your soul the way pain does. Pain is where I found purpose. It made me sharper, more compassionate, and more grounded in Spirit. Every scar I carry came with a lesson — and I wouldn’t trade any of them, because they made me who I am today. 🕯️✨

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The biggest lie my industry tells itself is that spirituality has to look perfect — polished, pretty, and marketable — when in reality, this work is messy, raw, and deeply human. People see the candles and oils, the crystals and rituals, but they don’t always see the tears, the prayers, the sleepless nights, or the spiritual warfare that comes with truly walking in this calling.

Another lie is that everybody doing this work is called to it. Some people are just copying what they see, chasing a trend instead of honoring the spirits behind it. You can’t fake this path. Real spiritual work takes sacrifice, discipline, and humility. It’s not about aesthetics — it’s about alignment.

And the last big lie? That it’s all love and light. It’s not. There’s shadow in everything — even in healing. You have to know how to face the darkness, not run from it. That’s where the real transformation happens. Anyone telling you otherwise is selling fantasy, not faith. 🕯️✨

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
I think what people might misunderstand about my legacy is that this was never just about candles, oils, or readings. It was never just business — it’s ministry. It’s healing work. Every product, every service, every word spoken over someone came from prayer, not profit.

Some folks will look at the success — the brand, the reach, the following — and think it came easy. But what they won’t see are the nights I cried over altars, the sacrifices I made, or the energy it takes to stand between the living and the spirit world every single day.

I didn’t build this for fame; I built it for continuance — so the work my grandmother started and my ancestors guided wouldn’t die with me. My legacy isn’t just Readings by Judie Team. My legacy is proof that you can live your calling, help your people, and still prosper while honoring Spirit.

If there’s any misunderstanding, it’ll be that they saw the shine — but not the shadow it took to earn it. 🕯️

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