Day 21 — My Soft Confession: The Fear Behind “The Other Shoe Will Drop” Soft confessions are not easy to share, even when you’ve done enough healing work to name them out loud. They come from tender places. They come from the versions of us we protect the most. They come from wounds that no longer bleed but still ache when touched. Today’s prompt moves straight into that tender place. My soft confession is this:

My soft confession: when I’m most anxious, I brace for bad things to happen. But healing has taught me to interrupt that fear gently and trust joy a little more each day.

#30daysoft #softbrujachallenge #TheOrdinaryBruja

Day 20 — My Cozy Nook: Imagining the Sanctuary I Will Build Right now, my cozy nook exists only in my mind. And honestly? There is something magical about that. I am in a season of transition — physically, emotionally, and creatively — and while transitions can be stressful, the part I always look forward to is the moment when I get to rebuild a space that feels like me. A space that holds my softness and my power.

My cozy nook doesn’t exist yet, but the vision is clear. It will be warm, witchy, empowering, and built from scratch with intention. I can’t wait to create a bruja cottage corner that feels like home.

#30daysoft #softbrujachallenge #TheOrdinaryBruja

Day 19 — The Hobbies That Fill My Love Bucket: Tarot & Honoring the Moon There are hobbies that pass the time, and then there are hobbies that pour something back into you. Hobbies that refill what the world drains out. Hobbies that feel like coming home to yourself. For me, the two practices that fill my love bucket, emotionally, spiritually, and intuitively, are reading tarot and honoring the moon. These two rituals sit at the center of my soft bruja practice.

Tarot and the moon are my love bucket fillers. Tarot gives me clarity; the moon gives me rhythm. Together, they ground me, guide me, and help me honor my intuition.

#30daysoft #softbrujachallenge #TheOrdinaryBruja

Day 17 — My Nighttime Routine: Breathing, Releasing, and Making Room for Rest Nighttime has always carried a specific energy for me. It is the in-between space. The place where the day’s noise begins to fade and my inner world becomes louder, clearer, more present. For many people, nighttime is a moment of relaxation. For me, it has become a sanctuary of intentional release, but it wasn’t always that way. There was a time when nights were the hardest part of my day.

My nighttime ritual is simple: breathe, drink water, take my meds, and write out everything I don’t want to carry into tomorrow. Digital journaling helps me release the day and make space for rest.

#30daysoft #softbrujachallenge #TheOrdinaryBruja

Day 16 — My Favorite Mug: The Girl Boss Mug That Reminds Me Who I Am There are objects we own because they are practical, and then there are objects we keep because they hold something deeper. Something emotional. Something spiritual. Something that reminds us of the version of ourselves we are constantly becoming. For me, that object is a mug.A white and pink mug with bold gold lettering that says: Girl Boss. It was my husband who spotted it first.

My Girl Boss mug is my nightly reminder of strength. I drink from it before bed, read the words, and remember who I am — even on my weakest days. A simple ritual that empowers my spirit.

#30daysoft #softbrujachallenge #TheOrdinaryBruja

DAY 15 — My Favorite Tree: The Kapok Tree There are trees that simply exist in the background of our lives, and then there are trees that hold stories. Trees that feel ancestral. Trees that remind us of who we are and who we come from. For me, that tree is the kapok tree, known as the ceiba in the Dominican Republic and across much of the Caribbean and Latin America.

The kapok tree is more than my favorite tree. It is an immigrant story. Rooted in the DR yet thriving in new soil, it mirrors the magic, resilience, and world of The Ordinary Bruja. A symbol of belonging across borders. 🌳

#30daysoft #softbrujachallenge #TheOrdinaryBruja

Day 14: A Cozy Read — The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches Some books feel like curling up under a warm blanket.Some books feel like a cup of chai on a cold afternoon.Some books feel like softness when the world is too loud. The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna was exactly that for me — a cozy, magical, uplifting story that wrapped itself around my heart in the gentlest way.

This cozy read felt like a warm chai on a cold day. The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is soft magic, found family, and heart-healing vibes all in one. A perfect comfort book for tender brujas.

#30daysoft #softbrujachallenge #TheOrdinaryBruja

Day 13: My Favorite Witchy Song — “Brujas” by Princess Nokia When I think about music that makes my spirit sit up straighter, music that taps into my bruja energy, music that feels like both a spell and a declaration… there is only one song that hits every time: “Brujas” by Princess Nokia. The first time I heard this song, I felt it in my bones.Not just in the lyrics, but in the energy.

My favorite witchy song is “Brujas” by Princess Nokia. The energy, the pride, the reclamation. It mirrors Marisol’s entire arc in The Ordinary Bruja, beautifully. This song is an anthem for every bruja remembering her power.

#30daysoft #softbrujachallenge #TheOrdinaryBruja

Day 12: An Empowering Mantra — You Are Power Incarnate There are moments in life when strength does not feel like strength.Moments when your spirit feels tired.Moments when the weight of everything you carry makes your chest tight.Moments when you feel trapped in a situation with no clear exit.Moments when you question yourself more than you trust yourself. And in those moments, I remind myself: You are power incarnate.

My mantra is “You are power incarnate.” It’s the reminder I need when life hits hard. I’ve survived too much to doubt my strength now. This affirmation brings me back to myself every time.

#30daysoft #softbrujachallenge #TheOrdinaryBruja

Day 11: My One-Word Spell — Clarify Some spells don’t need candles, herbs, or long incantations.Some spells are simple. Soft. Direct.Some spells are just a single word spoken with intention. For me, that word is clarify. I am the type of person who sometimes moves faster than she should. My mind tries to solve everything at once. My anxiety wants answers before I even finish asking the questions.

My one-word spell is “clarify.” It slows me down, opens my intuition, and brings me the answers I miss when I move too fast. I whisper it before sleep and wake with the clarity I asked for.

#30daysoft #softbrujachallenge #TheOrdinaryBruja

Day 10: My Go-To Crystal — Citrine, The Light I Chose on Purpose For a long time, I didn’t understand crystals beyond “oh, that’s pretty.” But then I discovered citrine — the bright, warm, sun-kissed stone known as the “happy” crystal — and something clicked. The moment I learned what it represented, I said, “Give me. I need that. Immediately.” Citrine is all about joy, positivity, abundance, and shifting energy. It is the crystal of choosing light.

Citrine is my “happy” crystal. As a recovering pessimist, its warmth reminds me to choose joy, trust good days, and stop waiting for the other shoe to drop. Healing is a mindset shift, and this crystal helps me make it.

#30daysoft #softbrujachallenge #TheOrdinaryBruja

Day 9: My Favorite Tea — Chai, The Cup That Holds My Spirit There are certain drinks that feel less like beverages and more like anchors. For me, that is chai.Chai is one of the few things that can bring me back into my body instantly. The moment the scent hits me — that warm mix of cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger, and black tea — my spirit settles. My shoulders relax. My mind slows.

Chai is my grounding magic. The warmth, the spices, the history. It brings me back into my body and softens my spirit every single time. A healing cup with ancient roots. ☕

#30daysoft #softbrujachallenge #TheOrdinaryBruja

Day 8: My Go-To Herb — Lavender, My Softest Companion If there is one herb that has followed me quietly throughout my life, it is lavender. I do not even remember the first time I smelled it. I just know that every time I catch its scent, something inside me exhales. Lavender makes my shoulders drop. My breath deepens. My spirit softens. It is the closest thing I have to an immediate grounding switch.

Lavender has always been my softest companion. The scent, the calm, the magic. It aligns with my spirit and my sign in a way that feels fated. Lavender soothes me, grounds me, and reminds me to breathe.

#30daysoft #softbrujachallenge #TheOrdinaryBruja

Day 7: My Favorite Superstition Protecting My Money and My Magic Superstitions are funny because half the time we do not even realize how deeply they’ve rooted themselves into our lives. They show up in the small things we do without thinking. The little actions we take “just in case.” The tiny rituals we adopt because someone, somewhere, passed it down with enough conviction that our spirit said, “Okay, noted.”

I never put my purse on the floor and I press my itchy palm straight into my pocket. Abundance is energy and I’m calling it in with intention. Let’s be rich brujas who honor our superstitions and our worth. 👜
#30daysoft #softbrujachallenge #TheOrdinaryBruja

Day 6: Favorite Witchy Book(s) Books have always been one of my portals. Not just for escape, but for understanding myself, my identity, my spirituality, and the parts of me I never had language for growing up. When I started walking a more intentional spiritual path, I didn’t have a mentor. I didn’t have a coven. I didn’t have someone guiding me step by step. What I…

Sharing the witchy books that shaped my spiritual path, from herbal magic to Santa Muerte to the fiction that keeps my bruja heart inspired. These reads opened doors for me and deepened my practice.
#30daysoft #softbrujachallenge #TheOrdinaryBruja

Day 5: My Familiar — Dila, The Little Warrior Who Mirrors Me If you have ever rescued an animal, you know it is never really you doing the rescuing. Somehow, without warning, they end up rescuing parts of you too. That is exactly what happened with Dila, my little feral kitten with the wounded eye, the fragile body, and the spirit of someone who has already lived a thousand lives. Dila came into my life through my son.

My familiar is Dila, the little feral kitten who mirrors me more than I expected. Her strength, her wounds, her fight to belong… all of it feels like home. Healing her is healing a part of me too. 🐾

#30daysoft #softbrujachallenge #TheOrdinaryBruja

Day 4: My Walking Path — Finding Clarity Between Grass and Desert Walking has always been one of the softest ways I return to myself. I do not need a perfect trail or a stunning view. I just need movement. I need the sound of my feet on the ground. I need air touching my skin. I need the reminder that I exist in a body that wants to keep going. Right now, in San Antonio, my walking path is the stretch around my house.

Walking always brings me clarity. Whether it’s the lush grass in San Antonio or the hard desert in El Paso, nature reminds me that even the toughest landscapes hold softness inside. Just like me. 🌵🌙

#30daysoft #softbrujachallenge #TheOrdinaryBruja

Day 3: My Favorite Protective Charm — The Evil Eye Bracelet I Never Take Off Some people wake up and choose jewelry based on the outfit they’re wearing. I’m not one of those people. There is one piece I wear every single day, no matter what. One thing I never take off. One thing that has become so much a part of me that my wrist feels strange without it. My evil eye bracelet. I have always believed in…

I never take off my evil eye bracelet. I believe in mal de ojo and the way people can send negativity without meaning to. Life is too heavy to carry other people’s energy, so I protect mine with intention. 🌙🧿✨
#30daysoft #softbrujachallenge #TheOrdinaryBruja

Before the Spark: Planning My Creative Phase The Book Project Management Series Every book begins with a whisper. The Ordinary Bruja started with a question that refused to leave me alone: What happens when the thing you have been running from is the very thing that could save you? I didn’t sit down with a fully formed plot. I sat down with a feeling that lived somewhere between longing and fear, the kind of feeling that makes you stare at a blank screen and think, this is too big for me.

The Ordinary Bruja began as an Instagram story during lockdown and became a deep dive into identity, heritage, and self-acceptance. In my latest blog, I share how I planned and shaped it from spark to story. Read now!
#WritingCommunity #IndieAuthor #TheOrdinaryBruja #AmWriting #CreativeProcess

The 30-Day Soft Bruja Challenge: A Cozy Ritual for Anyone Reclaiming Their Magic Every season brings its own kind of energy, and lately I’ve been craving softness. Not the kind of softness that means weakness or fragility, but the kind that feels like a warm cup of tea in your hands, or the quiet moment before a candle’s flame settles. The kind of softness that lets you breathe deeper, listen closer, and find a little magic inside the ordinary parts of your day.

The 30-Day Soft Bruja Challenge is live. A cozy, grounding ritual series for anyone craving softness, magic, and a return to themselves. If you’ve been overwhelmed or disconnected, this challenge is your quiet doorway back. 🌙✨
#MagicalRealism #LatineReads #TheOrdinaryBruja #haveacupofjohanny

Why We Need Softness in Horror When most people think of horror, they imagine blood, jump scares, and the kind of fear that makes you want to sleep with the lights on. But the horror that stays with me isn’t about monsters hiding in the closet. It’s about the quiet kind, the dread that lives in memories, the ghosts that wear our mother’s voice, the grief that lingers long after the screams fade.

Real courage isn’t about being unafraid. It’s about walking through the dark with your heart open. That’s why we need softness in horror.

#TheOrdinaryBruja #EmotionalHorror #LatineReads #HealingThroughStory #haveacupofjohanny

Lessons in Letting Go: Guilt Isn’t Guidance Guilt is sneaky. It disguises itself as responsibility, love, duty, and “being a good person.” But for years, guilt ran my life—and I didn’t even realize it. From the guilt of my childhood to mom guilt, military guilt, and creative guilt, I carried weight that was never mine to begin with. In this episode of Have a Cup of Johanny…

Guilt isn’t guidance. It’s fear in disguise. 💭 In this week’s Have a Cup of Johanny, I share how I’m learning to release mom guilt, creative guilt, and the weight I was never meant to carry.

#TheOrdinaryBruja
#HaveACupOfJohanny
#LatinaAuthor
#CreativeJourney
#EmotionalHealing
#LettingGo

Taking Away the Monster’s Power There was a Threads post I read last night that stayed with me long after I closed the app. It was about sexual-abuse survivors and how, for many, the deepest wound isn’t only what happened. It’s how their families respond after. One comment read something like, “Parents feel shame because they failed to do the one thing they were supposed to do: protect their child.

Some monsters aren’t born in nightmares. They’re born in silence. Writing The Ordinary Bruja became my way to strip power from the unspoken and reclaim my story.

#HealingThroughStory #TheOrdinaryBruja #MagicalRealism #TraumaRecovery #haveacupofjohanny

Lessons in Letting Go: Control Isn’t Clarity There’s this thing I’ve carried with me my whole life—control.It’s not always obvious. Sometimes it hides under words like discipline or structure. Sometimes it sounds noble: “I just like things done right.” But if I’m being honest, most of my control has always come from fear. The Comfort of Control The military taught me that structure saves lives.That being prepared, anticipating what could go wrong, and having a backup plan isn’t just smart—it’s survival.

Sometimes control isn’t clarity. You know what it is? It’s fear in disguise.

In my latest blog, I share how printer fails, tech chaos, and a little surrender taught me to let life flow.

The Ordinary Bruja is out now → haveacupofjohanny.com

#TheOrdinaryBruja #CreativeJourney #LatinaAuthor

Sisterhood, Self-Discovery, and the Power of Misunderstood Women: What Wicked and The Ordinary Bruja Have in Common When people think of Wicked, they often picture Elphaba—the “wicked witch” who was never truly wicked, just misunderstood. But peel back the layers of glitter and green skin, and you’ll find a story about identity, belonging, and what happens when society punishes women for being powerful. That’s the same heartbeat pulsing through The Ordinary Bruja. Both stories take the archetype of the “witch” and strip it bare to reveal something deeper: how women—especially those who are different—are often vilified for simply existing outside the norm.

Two witches. Two worlds. One truth: being “different” isn’t wicked—it’s powerful. 💚✨ Check out my latest blog on how Wicked and The Ordinary Bruja reclaim womanhood, identity, and magic through misunderstood heroines.

#WickedMovie #TheOrdinaryBruja #WitchyReads #MagicalRealism #haveacupofjohanny

Lessons in Letting Go: Perfectionism Isn’t Protection Perfectionism loves to lie to us—it says, “If it’s flawless, you’ll finally be safe from criticism.” But the truth is, perfectionism doesn’t protect you—it prevents you. In this episode of Have a Cup of Johanny, I share what letting go of perfectionism has taught me as a writer, soldier, and creative woman. From the late-night rewrites that nearly drained the joy out of…

Perfection doesn’t protect you. It prevents you. 💫 In this week’s Have a Cup of Johanny Podcast, I share how letting go of perfectionism helped me find freedom in flaws.

✨ The Ordinary Bruja is out now → haveacupofjohanny.com

#TheOrdinaryBruja #CreativeJourney #LatinaAuthor

Why Harsh Reviews Stung—And Why They Didn’t Break Me I want to talk about something a lot of creators (especially writers) feel but don’t always talk about: getting hard reviews, how they hit, how I see them, and how I survive (and even benefit from) them. My Experience With Reviews I’ve been seeing videos on YouTube about harsh reviews (you know, the kind that feel personal or raw) after I started getting my own set of tough feedback.

Just got a low rating and it hit hard—but here’s why that review might be exactly what I (and you) need. Honest, helpful, and real talk on critique as a creator. 🎬📚

#theordinarybruja #learningfromreviews #growingasanartist #theordinarybruja

How Grief Became My Constant Companion — and Why It Writes Its Way Through My Stories Readers always mention in reviews of my writing: that sense of grief, the atmosphere of loss, the feeling that life is subtly cracking beneath the surface of everyday moments. And yes… I’ve known grief for as long as I can remember. That’s not a dramatic reveal — it’s just my truth, and I think it explains why I write the way I do.

Ever wonder why some stories feel grief in the bones? I break down how a lifetime of loss — early funerals, heavy emotions, surviving waves of mourning shaped the way I write. It’s raw. It’s real. And you’re invited in.

#theordinarybruja #storiesaboutgrief #indieauthor #ownvoices #latinxstories

Tiny Wins That Keep Authors Going There are days when being an author feels like climbing a mountain with no summit in sight. Between writing, editing, marketing, recording, designing, and somehow maintaining a life outside of the words, it’s easy to get caught in that loop of “I’m not doing enough.” But lately, I’ve been reminding myself: tiny wins count too. Because when you’re an indie author, the journey is long and winding.

Tiny wins matter. Today, mine was recording four chapters for The Ordinary Bruja audiobook because every small step brings the story closer to more readers (and listeners). Read the full post on my blog for a dose of encouragement to celebrate your small wins too.

#IndieAuthor #TheOrdinaryBruja

A cozy flat-lay featuring a latte topped with cinnamon foam in a patterned ceramic mug beside a silver spoon and a paperback copy of The Ordinary Bruja by Johanny Ortega. The book’s dark, moody cover shows a woman’s face partially shadowed by branches with the tagline “Something in the dark knows her name.” Behind them, there’s a white sugar canister and a wooden cigar box labeled “Granadina’s Farm Special Selection,” creating a warm, inviting aesthetic perfect for a quiet reading moment.

Cafecito time with The Ordinary Bruja 🖤

There’s nothing like a slow morning with cafecito and a haunting story that feels a little too real. ☕️📖

#TheOrdinaryBruja #MagicalRealism #PsychologicalHorror #LatineReads #HaveACupOfJohanny