We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dorian Serrano-Barron, M.S.. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dorian below.
Hi Dorian, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
Leaning into my authenticity organically and without judgment for myself was my leading energy as I ventured into being comfortable with me. When I accepted myself 110% no matter what the circumstance was, I felt confident and excited to do what I do best, which was simply to live as real as me. This was taught by my parents at a very young age, to be me no matter what the backlash or what others say about me. As Rupaul said and still is a daily mantra for me, “ What others think of me is none of my business.” In the 5th grade this took flight for me through my music taste. It always veered from mainstream and that gave classmates ammo to say how they felt about it to me and their opinions. They would speak their “truth” or their false projection of me and it would slide off my back because of what my parents taught me and I also had Freddie Mercury (lead singer of rock band Queen) to be an example of standing in one’s own authentic pizzazz, flamboyantly and unapologetically. Observing him made me think, I too must possess this within me, the same magic must exist within me. My classmates kept saying what they wanted to say and I simply turned my favorite album even louder. They left me alone eventually and even started to be interested in what I was listening to, I just kept grooving since then. I felt free to be me, even at a very young age I knew I was meant to be no one else but me. And that was okay, it is apart of the human experience. Why would I want to fit myself into a mold that’s already been done? That didn’t sound liberating and not what I wanted for my life. I wanted to lean into what I found beautiful or fantastic and I never stopped.
It continued through high school and college but my desire to be me dwindled in my adulthood. I felt yet another shift of change wave through me and it finally began to unravel into my power as a spiritual self, this was the most potent magic I have known yet. My passions and paths toward my version of success looks and feels different than many, and this is apart of my magic. I knew that what the universe has for my soul mission may be different than others and going after it even when others want to share their opposing thoughts. Knowing what feels right as my truth and sticking to my truth, especially during the vague moments is where I find my resilience. It was always my truth to dance to the rhythm of my own beat and I knew it was going to be my north star.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My name is Dorian Serrano-Barron, M.S and I am a spiritual counselor, Queer bruja and artist. My birthplace was South Central L.A and have traveled the world to simply feel the air. I have my Counseling Master’s Degree as well as years of studying my spiritual craft alongside. Music, curiosity of spirituality and helping the community has been my fire igniting me and my career. Another place that I find home and I will always love is the kitchen, this is another passion that I crave when I am not creating a divinely aligned playlist or meditating with my community.
It all roots back to my days in grad school, I had my first self aware spiritual enlightenment and it was life altering. My whole life and where I wanted to go dawned on me suddenly, walking the path of a bruja (Spanish – witch) and a counselor was something that I knew wasn’t the easiest route but it ignited me with passion and heard the call. The birth of my business came from the need of wanting to help those who were on their own spiritual paths and needed someone to talk to whether this was tapping into their own gifts or someone in their dark night of the soul. Alas, my spiritual counseling business, Blue Dream Bruja was born and was ready to be presented to the world. As a spiritual counselor, I help those who need more assistance, guidance or even advice for their moments of transformation. Guidance can look like my one on one counseling meetings, offering tarot/oracle readings, or what rituals one can do to harness an energy. It is a passion and desire of mine to help those who are in need of insight or feel as if they are alone on such a powerful path. A way I share wisdom is through teaching workshops that offer guidance when someone is on their own journey such as Creating a sacred space for meditation, prayer or veneration in Sacred Space Workshop, how to utilize the power of clothing to manifest and enhance your own magic in my Occult Clothing Workshop or even how to smudge yourself and your home. Curiosity in life especially during one’s spiritual moments is a natural thing is something I often teach in my workshops and my social media feed.
As previously mentioned, music has always been a driving force of inspiration and energy source for me. It has always been a cornerstone of my life and has been there for me even before I even was born. I like to say that because my parents played The Doors for me while in my mom’s tummy, music is a part of my DNA. This transpired naturally in my business as well by creating zodiac and planetary playlists to coordinate with the energy, or by making musical oracle decks with original art to help gain even more clarity in readings. Music can become an ally for spiritual enlightenment and a way to communicate with the world and energies around us. Divinely aligned playlist are available for listening pleasure on my Patreon membership- The Cosmic Cositas.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Be adaptable- I believe this is one of the most powerful and valuable skill that I have come to love. As I continue on my journey of a small business owner and failing many times at “what I wanted to be ” when I grew up, life was never going to stop revolving and unfolding in the way it’s supposed to. When things don’t go according to plan or even setting up unreasonable expectations for myself is unfair. Accepting things as they are and how to navigate through it. Understanding and moving forward mindfully can help, being flexible and surrender into the flow, accepting what is to simply be can be incredibly peaceful and powerful.
Trust your intuition and yourself- There were so many times when I would get so upset at myself because I didn’t follow the “gut feeling” I had originally had. Ignoring my energetic pulls and instincts was not something that I was proud of, if anything I felt shame and anger. I’m no expert, I still have those moments now of disappointment. Now, having the power to not accept that as my reality I lean in on what I intuitively feels good naturally and follow what would benefit my mind, body, and soul. I understand there is a time and a place for advice from others, this is when I tap into discernment. I do not deny that part of me anymore it always did more unease than peace. Trust your gut and yourself, period.
Life long learner- The evolution of self is the greatest masterpiece we were gifted. We are never not growing and won’t ever stop thus we are never really being complete. As Socrates said, “ The unexamined life is not worth living” and this is an element of never stopping learning even when we aren’t in school. When we learn to live in a space where we want to keep learning about ourselves and our own patterns, is how the evolution of self continues. May we continue feeding and expressing the curiosities and intrinsic thoughts about us, each other and the world and everything in it.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
I jokingly always say this book is my bible, I always find myself reading it several times a year. Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel has been a book I often quote in my everyday life and when life is not so easy. It is a tale of my heart and soul, its warmth is comfort for me.
Love, first and foremost, is the leading life force and vitality in everything I do, even the hard parts of life. Making decisions based on no one else but myself is my truth, this book is a reminder of trusting and leaning on myself no matter what. It continues to teach me the wisdom that lives in ancestors and within me. This book also taught me the importance of speaking your mind and following your soul, yes, the heart will never fail but to follow one’s soul takes immense courage and stamina. When hand in hand with following the heart, we become radiant and brilliant.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bluedreambruja.space
- Instagram: @Blue Dream Bruja
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorian-serrano-barron-m-s-017a84188/
- Other: SPOTIFY- @blue dream bruja PATREON- https://www.patreon.com/bluedream_bruja
Image Credits
PHOTO CREDIT: DORIAN SERRANO BLUE DREAM BRUJA
