Meet Khaatia Vantiger

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Khaatia Vantiger. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Khaatia below.

Khaatia, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

My resilience begins with faith. At 18, during one of the quietest and hardest moments of my life, I heard God speak to me clearly: “You can live.” I didn’t fully understand what that meant then, but it gave me hope. It reminded me that my life was still unfolding and that something meaningful awaited me beyond that moment.

Life itself has shaped my resilience. It taught me how to keep going even when I had to walk alone, how to stay humble, and how to care for myself with intention. I learned the importance of boundaries, how to hold love while also protecting my peace. Over time, resilience became less about fighting and more about choosing myself consistently and quickly adapting to change.

I draw strength from where I come from and from honoring the freedom I have today. As a woman of color, I carry deep respect for my ancestors and their stories. I see my life as an opportunity to live fully, to explore what is possible, and to create a path that reflects both courage and care.

Curiosity has always been a guide for me. I’ve always loved learning about cultures, people, and ideas since I was young. Allowing myself to explore, connect, and grow keeps me resilient. It reminds me that life is expansive and that there is always more to understand. As a mentor, I will also always be a mentee and that grounds me everyday.

I’m also motivated by the future I’m building. I’m intentional about creating something different, something aligned, and what feels true to me and my family. I’ve found my own rhythm by observing the world, listening inward, and choosing a life that the creator wants me to live in this life during this time.

At the heart of it all is legacy. I dream of a life filled with creativity, movement, and beauty—a family shaped by love and deep intention. My resilience comes from knowing that being different is a gift, and that living softly and boldly can coexist.

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?

I’m currently expanding my practice and stepping more fully into my role as a Creative Wellness Artist. I created the Lotus Bloom Circle Series and I’m currently offering this four-part creative wellness experience through the Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara starting January 2026 – April 2026. The series is guided by my Blooming Philosophy, integrating movement, reflection, botanical aesthetics, and sensory experiences to support clarity, balance, creativity, and community connection.

This moment feels especially aligned as I embrace my birth name, Khaatia, which reflects my lineage and refined creative vision. My work centers softness as strength, creating spaces where people can slow down, reconnect with themselves, and experience creativity as a living, embodied practice. Gentle souls find a sense of home through my work because they are seen and heard, while those who are strong and resilient feel safe enough to soften, rest, and be vulnerable. All are welcome to bloom together.

Alongside this work, I continue to build Petals & Water, an artistic sanctuary that invites creativity to bloom, welcoming slowness and ease as a way to cultivate wholeness in self and community. My work lives across a few intentional spaces: Petals & Water on YouTube offers short, nature-based yoga flows and visual guides to balance out the day; Patreon provides a deeper space for longer sessions and community integration; and petalsandwater.com serves as a central hub for this evolving world. I’m currently completing my yoga certification, drawing from both yoga and my professional dance background to guide accessible movement that supports mind–body–spirit connection.

This season of my life is about sharing slowly, building with care, and inviting community into a practice rooted in beauty, presence, and intentional living. I’ve strengthened my practice over the years, and now I have greater clarity around what I’m meant to share. I’m genuinely excited for this phase of my journey. As you watch me build this in real time, I ask for a little patience—trust me, it will be worth it.

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?

Curiosity and connection.

Asking questions and building genuine relationships has been essential in my journey. I learned early that if you are the smartest person in the room, it is time to find a new one. I seek out people who are already doing what I want to learn, show up to spaces that align with my interests, and stay open to guidance. Those connections have consistently helped me take the next best step. This belief even led me to co-create a social club in Chicago years ago that grew into businesses, international travel, lasting friendships, and a marriage!

Creating what does not yet exist.

When something I needed was not available, I learned to create it. Having a “can do” mindset has opened doors and attracted others who were looking for the same thing but did not have the courage to bring it to life. Initiative creates momentum and builds community.

Courage.

Courage is a muscle that strengthens with use and takes time. Stepping into the unknown can be uncomfortable, but courage allows ideas to move from vision into reality. Even when no one else is around, choosing to stand up for yourself and keep going makes all the difference, it’s rewarding.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Yes. Petals & Water is an artistic sanctuary rooted in creativity, slowness, and intentional living. I’m open to collaborating with individuals, brands, and institutions who resonate with that ethos and value thoughtful, nourishing work.

I’m especially drawn to partnerships grounded in alignment, reciprocity, and shared curiosity, whether through creative direction, wellness experiences, or cultural storytelling. Those interested can connect with me through my website or social platforms, where I share ongoing work and reflections.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://petalsandwater.com
• Instagram: @petals.and.water
• Linkedin: Khaatia Vantiger
• Youtube: Petals & Water
• Other: Patreon: Petals & Water

Image Credits

Sher Rachman