The Biz Bruja Podcast

Dancer, Dreamer and Wanderer: Jannelle Cortes Founder of GrooveTrips and GrooveFit

Dancer, Dreamer and a Wanderer: Jannelle Cortes Founder of GrooveTrips and GrooveFit

I can barely sit still as I listen to this episode! BEYOND excited to share someone that I personally know and love very much!  Please welcome, a multi-passionate, multi-talented entrepreneur, dancer, creative and leader, Jannelle Cortes. I’ve known this creative powerhouse since 2005, have studied various styles of dance with her and have traveled with her to Egypt and the Dominican Republic!

We met in 2005, when I was manifesting the best belly dance teacher at New York Sports Club in NYC and we (all the shimmy sisters) followed her everywhere, borough to borough just to dance with her! We’ve traveled from borough to borough and country to country as she expanded GrooveFit to GrooveTrips guiding people to trips such as Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ghana, Egypt and more! Many of us, including yours truly, were in her Middle Eastern cardio dance workout video, “ The Belly Dance Workout for Every Body!” She's a passionate, generous and beautiful being whose soul has guided to so many spaces, places and countries to support community, create community and share the magic of dance, culture and connection. 

 

• Early beginnings, from Baile del Perrito to Ballet, she shares “Ballet was my Yoga.”

 

• Dance was not something anyone thought she would pursue full-time and she entered her Fordham University Masters program.

 

• Grad school/Corporate World to Full-time dancer and teacher: The moment she realized that The Universe was opening a door to living a life with more passion.

 

• Her first belly dance class with Amira Mor filled her with joy and admiration, “I don’t know that I have ever felt that kind of exuberance and joy.”

 

• The term, “crazy belly dancer” and what it means- I went through that as a student!

 

• How Jannelle began taking belly dance students to Turkey, Egypt and Morocco so her students could learn from the land and the people where the music and dance was born.

 

• Jannelle shares how creating space for folks to express themselves makes her joyful because she recognizes it may be the only place where we can be other aspects of ourselves.

 

• “It provided all types of women, all ages, all bodies to come into class and be celebrated, Jannelle on her dance class teaching.

 

• Teaching dance class for Eddie Palmieri at the Savannah Hotel

 

• “When you’re born with something, you have to feed it. It’s you, this is a part of you,” Jannelle Cortes

 

• Supporting local artists and small businesses when she travels and why it’s important.

 

• How Cuba gave her the opportunity to meet organizations and people and feel called to give back through each trip. 

 

• Exploring her identity as a Dominican woman who comes from an island that has been impacted by colonization, oppression and colorism. How do I heal myself and help others heal? How have my people come about? 

 

• Her experience of coming home to Ghana and a sense of completion.

 

• Ancestral patterns and ancestral gifts that Jannelle has tapped into.

 

• Shout out to Ivonne Velasquez and to my Mom and Johanna Olivas and Vanessa Villaverde- same message, “ It is our responsibility to seek happiness for ourselves.”

 

• Jannelle closes with some advice for creative entrepreneurs:

There is no blueprint for entrepreneurship, most Latinx didn’t grow up talking about money so much of the business acumen we have, we’ve had to earn and learn.

You’re allowed to recreate yourself, over and over and over again.”

BIO:

 

Jannelle Cortes is a choreographer, travel professional, and entrepreneur that grew up in the Maryland area and now resides in New York City and Havana, Cuba. She is the Founder of  the Groovefit Dance Company and Groove Trips LLC, both intergenerational companies that  promote community, accessibility, and sustainability.  

Find Jannelle Cortes for updated info on her upcoming trips and masterminds: https://groove-trips.com/

Follow on IG: GROOVETRIPS

Summer Solstice: Connecting with & Shining the Luz Within

Hola! We back! It's been a minute! We'll talk Summer Solstice and explore some meanings and the Inti Raymi festival in Peru, June 24th and how the symbolism of the Outer Sun or Tayta Inti can light up and remind us who we are!

 

* Society and how the exterior rules that may have kept our Ancestors safe, may need to shift or go completely go!

* How we are all going through it and going through it differently in our systemically racist society.

* Personal stories of holding back and why staying small doesn't serve us in the long-run

* Following our passion and joy to greater expansion!

* Why I love improv and how I broke through societal imitations.

* Quick Visualization to reclaim our brightest and most expansive expression!

 

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Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio: Alchemizing The Change That Is Required Now

Hola mi gente! It's been a couple of weeks! I've been in Miami, teaching "Tapping Into Your Magic: Unlock Your Intuition, Unblock Your Biz" in person and a part of my beautiful amiga's Book Launch- Mood Ring Journal Celebration! I'm back at home and couldn't let this astrological biggie pass me by in terms of the podcast!

 

Lunar Eclipse Full Moon in Scorpio:

 

* What are the new moon and full moon cycles about 

* What does it mean that this is occurring in Scorpio 

* Scorpio is about our power within and the intersection of other people's power and resources

* How we have learned o hand over our power to "sobrevivir"/survive

* The more we reclaim our inner power we reclaim our authentic selves

* Grounding in this Taurus Season

* Dealing with the fear in the environment over finances

* Mercury in Reggaeton ( Retrograde) and how to lean into our faith and creativity

* Creativity beyond being a painter, becoming creative in our lives and in our work

* The Myth of the Super Woman- the one who does it all

* The Super human is a LIE

* Managing the duality of being a magnificent soul that we are and the human existence that requires sleep and rest

* What is your Soul telling you?

* How do we come into more peace while taking action on our priorities

* Where were you six months ago? What is coming to a close?

* Where are you holding on to old ways of being?

* The gift of taking time off and retreating

* Making the most of this phase

 

Mucho amor,

V

 

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Stop Outsourcing Your Spiritual Evolution: Dethroning the ”Power Over” System

Warning for anyone who has experienced sexual abuse. I don’t discuss it in great detail but it is discussed. 

 

We are all reeling from the video that showed the Dalai Lama transgressing boundaries and being sexually abusive to a child. It’s making us question ourselves, our system and for many, we are pointing to our eyes like our Abuelas, “Mira, Ojo! Ojo!” We’ve had the #MEtoo movement, #TimesUp, victims of Church and cult abuse and more celebrities and communities are discussing all sorts of abuses seeking greater visibility. 

 

What is at the heart of powerful people and those in authority at all levels of society feeling that they can do whatever they want?

 

Colonization brought more than smallpox to our people, it ended a way of life and created a hierarchical structure that carries “Power Over” patterns into all walks of society and all spaces rather than “Power from within.” Giving credit to witch, author and magical activist, Starhawk for writing about this since the 70s.

 

How does “Power over” affect us? One of the ways is that we’ve been taught to outsource our spiritual health, growth and evolution to others. How do we reclaim our inner power during this time of great transformation? 

 

In this episode you’ll find a couple of tips on how to know if  you’re working with a good healer with integrity. I share about Saturn in Pisces and Pluto in Aquarius cycles that are affecting us personally and collectively. 

 

• What makes a good healer?
• Are we afraid of our own power and leadership?
• How do we embrace our power and natural leading ability?
• What is Saturn in Pisces and Pluto in Aquarius and how are these energies impacting the collective?
• Exploring what it means when we say, “ the heart wants what it wants”
• Making decisions from our inner knowing
• Noticing how we ask our intuition questions
• What does fake “Inner Power” sound like?
• What does it mean to trust ourselves?
• What does it mean to hold values that are good for us personally and for the collective
• Doing the inner work creates less wobble in our energetic fields
• What does it mean to not doubt your intuition? Please don’t compare, do the work.
• Recap
• A guided experience to ask our inner intuition how we can become clearer and how do we connect more?
• A card Pick for us all from The Modern Spiritual Latina Oracle- Saturn, Ancestral healing for us all 

Seguimos adelante! Mucho amor, Vanessa 

 

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Saturn in Pisces: The Duality of Go with the Flow and No means No

Hola mi gente bella! Took a tiny two week break as I did a keynote for an incredible Latina organization, workshops and a panel discussion and then went into my Spring Equinox Retreat: Thriving in Our Sacred Medicine! I am creating more retreats as folks have been in the DMS and emails. I hope to meet you all in a sacred space to deepen and grow our Medicina in the world!

 

This week's is SUPER cortito as I hope don before a session and let Spirit guide me LOL I wanted to talk about boundaries but suddenly I'm talking about not boxing ourselves in, blaming the moon and stars for our issues and limiting our perception of ourselves and our lives...guiding me to Saturn in Pisces!

Saturn will be in Pisces from March 7 to May 24, 2025, then after a brief retrograde into Aquarius, from August 31, 2025 to February 13, 2026.

We touch upon it's essence and ho won't to be afraid of this archetypal energy that is bringing structure to support our spiritual growth and evolution!

From not boxing ourselves in, I then talk about duality and the essence of our existence being simultaneously eternal, multi-dimensional souls and spirits in a time-challenged vessel with an expiration date. What helps our Spirits soar on this earthly Planeta is creating an energetic structure that supports our healing, our creation and our thriving.

I believe that Saturn is Pisces is inviting is into releasing/healing addictions and escapism and showing up to create the physical container for our spirit to soar: better health, career and work on purpose and attracting the divine love and opportunities we desire because we are willing to do the work on ourselves that will make the difference!

One of the ways we do this work is by establishing and creating boundaries!

What are they and how do we keep them when there are folks who will trample all over them? Why do we let folks cross our boundaries? 

Let me know what you think! and if you are interested in joining me for a retreat or class- make sure to join the list at: https://thebizbruja.com

 

Mucho amor,

Vanessa

Follow me on IG : @thebizbruja no underscore or double letters- watch out for scammers- gracias :)

 

Afro-futuristic Spiritual Activism: Walking Into the Unknown with Faith with Kat Niambi

In October 2022, I held my first solo summit, The Soul of Business Summit and rebranded it to Ancestrally Rooted Business Summit. When I sat down to create my summit, The Hungry Medium was a dream guest in her grounded, sassy and wise magic- and I am so grateful she said YES!. She dives deep on how she grew through Christianity into her African traditions. I am beyond honored to share this powerful conversation with Kat Niambi, the Hungry Medium. Tune in to hear the ancestral patterns she transformed and the ones she leaned into to awaken and reclaim her magic and medicine.

 

• Kat shares her ancestral journey that brought her to her current work and path. 

 

• How disbelief in the form of life in the church shaped her current spiritual path. 

 

• How ancestors who didn’t agree in life may support you in bigger ways when on the other side.

 

• Kat shares the white table misa messages she received from trusted spiritualists that kept asking, “ why aren’t you doing this for people?” 

 

• Kat shares how her challenges are viewed as a series of events that had to occur so Kat could be who she is now.

 

• She goes deeply into the question, “Is it Spirit or is it God?”

 

• Christianity as a tool of the colonizer to strip Africans from their faith and identity as a historical fact.

 

•  Explains why Christianity and Black Nationalism don't align.

 

• Why Kat calls herself a spiritual activist in her work and how grateful she is to be awake. 

 

• Her journey on social media during Covid and post-pandemic and trusting Spirit with your marketing.

 

• What is the metaverse? The journey from the old days when spiritualists didn’t even read on the phone.

 

• Saying yes to opportunities that are in alignment can be stepping stones for more connection, relationships and expansion.

 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/thehungrymedium

Website: https://www.thehungrymedium.com

 

Bio

Kat Niambi, aka The Hungry Medium’s practice is rooted in an African spiritual tradition for which she is grateful. Without this tradition, she wouldn’t be where she is right now. For many, the “gift” of hearing Spirit doesn’t present itself in a way that’s easily

 recognizable. “I was either lucky or my soul has been around the block a few times and has navigated this mind-body iteration (aka me) to where I am today; a clairsentient spiritualist who’s able to make connections between spirit and the physical world.” 

 

She likes to think of herself as a “spiritual activist”; using her mediumship to help others find direction, clarity and focus in their lives. The goal is to help YOU help yourself. By tapping into your own power to problem solve and to work towards achieving actionable goals, you’ll feel more empowered to design a life shaped by you and endorsed by the Soul.

This Journal is Your Mood Ring Creator Ilona Pamplona

Thrilled to share a loving and talented amiga, Ilona Pamplona the week of her book release! I met Ilona online in 2020 and we’ve been cheering each other on ever since. We met briefly as I made my way to the WEALLGROWLATINA conference at the airport in Fort Lauderdale in 2022- and she’s as wonderful in person as she is online! I wanted to take a moment and have this conversation on the eve of her first book release to share her magic and wisdom con ustedes!

 

• Ilona shares her love of music, travel and spirituality and how each has shaped her life’s journey.

 

• How Ilona’s  Saturn return supported her through a tough time as she experienced workplace stress and mistreatment.

 

• How her father’s passing inspired Ilona to take a leap to help others.

 

• A chance meeting with a holistic doctor who validated her experience, therapy and leaning into her tools.

 

• How her North Node in Virgo inspired her focus on her own healing.

 

• Her journey through a three year Masters in Coaching and how that focus on meditation has served her during her grieving process.

 

• How Ilona started her business with color oracle readings.

 

• How her Libra stellium influenced her networking gifts and her experiences with memberships like Manifest House and Las Comadres who are now The Anima Collective.

 

•  How astrology can maximize the energies of our birth chart to thrive in our lives and business

 

• Ilona shares about This Journal is Your Mood Ring and how it came to be birthed. 

 

• How Las Comadres became The Anima Collective and how Ilona became the Chief Community Officer.

 

• Where Ilona sees 2023 going astrologically.

 

• The Ancestral patterns of lack that she’s needed to transform.

 

Check out Ilona’s  Book and follow her for Astrology based coaching! 

 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/ilonapamplona

 

Website:  https://www.ilonapamplona.com

BIO: 

Ilona Pamplona is an Astrology informed life coach and author of This Journal Is Your Mood Ring: Deepen Your Self-Understanding Using Color as Your Guide, who is committed to showing you how to love your life through the To amplify the reconnection with our most magical self, she explores the spirit of words, interprets the complexities of our astrological charts, and uses chakra cards to balance the wisdom of our body’s energy centers. All of this to create a sacred container for her clients to reveal themselves and develop their self-compassion muscle.magic of the stars! She has helped hundreds of women reconnect with their inner world, harness the magic of their emotions, and transform their most important relationship: the one they have with themselves.

Healing the Four Bodies with Iris Mendez

Excited to connect with Iris, a talented healer in her own right that I met through the School of the Healing Artes.  Iris shares about her healing journey and her becoming the psychotherapist, healing coach, author and speaker that she is today.  She speaks about her humble beginnings, ancestral pattern challenges and the desire to support others in ways that she may not have had access to as a child. Iris also shares how she moved through, began her healing journey and now supports other’s to transform mindsets and honor their mind, body and soul.

 

• She let her desire to help people guide her to be a social worker and psychotherapist
• Top block for BIPOC and Latinx to reach out for help and therapy
• How we are taught to be strong in our Latinx Culture 
• We are not taught to work with energy and honor our boundaries 
• Signs we should be working with a therapist
• A sliding scale platform that Iris shares with us
• Iris shares how she balances her work and her business
• How she has been reclaiming her Taino roots 
• Supporting the next generation to heal
• Writing her book, “ Healing Our Four Bodies.”
• Iris shares stories and inspiration on the spiritual journey

BIO:

Iris L. Mendez, LSW, RYT, Reiki II;  is a psychotherapist and social worker turned Healing Coach.  As the owner of ILM Healing Solutions, LLC. where she aligns with her clients to co-facilitate healing in the 4 bodies (mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual) through alternative healing practices yoga, mindfulness, reiki, SOULution-Focused Self Inquiry Coaching, and spiritual and intuitive guidance. 

Iris recently self-published her first book Healing My Four Bodies: An Interactive Guide to Self-Inquiry and Solutions for the Soul.  She also hosts The IM Healing Podcast and is a student of  The School of Healing Artes where she received guidance in Reiki I and II and Spirit Messenger.

Www.ilmhealingSoulutions.com

Www.healingmyfourbodiesbook.com