finding purpose
Teachers, mentors, friends, and community constantly remind me that we are here to live a human experience. And in this journey, I deeply know that each of us carries multiple purposes in this lifetime—one of the most sacred being the act of remembering who we are.
In 2022, I was granted the gift of returning to the motherland for two months—a time of powerful confirmations. In a tender moment with my mother, I found myself reminiscing over childhood photos I hadn’t seen in nearly 17 years. As I looked at that young girl, I realized something profound—my spirit had never changed. I was still that vibrant niña, little girl, who loved performing in front of others (a true estrella like Selena) while holding deep care for the well-being of those around me.
Now, as I step into a new phase of purpose, guided by my ancestors, I am honored to walk this path alongside you. From a place of humility and deep love, my journey in community healing is evolving—calling me to share my experiences, the sacred rituals passed down from my guides, teachers, and mentors, and the self-taught practices that sustain me daily.
Thank you for simply existing. You are seen, you are held, and you are loved.
Con mucho amor,
Esperanza 🪶
coming home
The Great Tenochtitlan, Summer of 1996
I was born in the Great Tenochtitlan, Mexico City, and spent part of my early childhood in a small ranch called San Agustín Potejé Norte. The name Potejé comes from Otomí, meaning “where water extends” or “big water.” As I continue to uncover the legacy of my ancestors, I am affirmed in knowing that I am a child of the waters.
Potejé is a portal—one of the few places in the region blessed with an ojo de agua, a natural spring flowing endlessly from the stratovolcano Nevado de Toluca. My lineage is one of resilience, of generations who survived the arrival of Spanish, German, and French colonizers, yet fiercely preserved our ancestral and cultural traditions through our food, agricultural practices, and ways of healing. My abuelito, Calixto Arriaga, was a firm believer in ancestral medicine and a devoted patient of our local sobadora, La Morena. I still dream of the small, dimly lit room by the hills where I watched him receive her painful yet relieving massages—his faith in traditional medicine, alongside my mother’s devotion to natural remedies, has deeply shaped my own love for our medicine.
During my college years, my dream of becoming an OB-GYN gradually transformed into a journey of remembering—the journey back to the medicine that has existed in my family for generations.
Since the age of 15, I have been on a path to connect with my paternal lineage, only to be reminded that I come from generations of healers and hardworking people. My grandfather, a pediatrician, dedicated his life to serving children and families in Morelos. My great-great-grandfather, Salvador Neme, originally from Syria/Lebanon, was forced to migrate to Veracruz, Mexico, where he built the largest business in town. A respected entrepreneur and community leader, he dedicated himself to the well-being of both Lebanese and Mexican families.
Humility and hard work are values deeply rooted in both sides of my family. Yet, as a new generation, I stand with many others in breaking cycles—healing wounds of machismo and unlearning behaviors shaped by patriarchy.
With love, compassion, and understanding, I am constantly reminded that healing—both individual and collective—happens in the embrace of community.
It is within our human nature to create, to love, and to imagine a world of peace. And it all begins with one simple act of gratitude. I give thanks to the Creator, to my Ancestors, and to our sacred Mother Earth, Tonantzin, for the gift of life.
undocumented
“I am free”
Puerto Rico, Summer of 2021
Growing up undocumented meant constantly living in hiding or in a state of fear. On a large scale, it was the looming threat of deportation; on a smaller scale, it was the everyday worry of getting pulled over and arrested simply for driving. Traveling out of state was never an option for my family or me. Over time, I realized that while my reality was not unique, it was also not a common experience for everyone around me. But the moment that truly shifted my understanding of myself happened thousands of feet in the air—on a flight from Puerto Rico to San Francisco.
At twenty-four, my spirit longed to travel for the first time, and I made a choice that would redefine the way I saw myself. For years, I carried the identity of undocumented without fully realizing the weight it held—the way it shaped my beliefs, my limitations, and my fears. As I planned my trip, fear surrounded me—both my own and that of those around me. I was warned that no matter the circumstances, I faced the risk of deportation. But in the midst of it all, a single question echoed in my mind: How much longer am I going to live in fear?
For so long, my life had revolved around this identity, one rooted in restriction. A difficult truth settled within me, but I knew what I had to do—I booked the flight and took the risk. In that moment, this journey became bigger than me.
Puerto Rico nourished every part of my being. I watched my inner child play freely in the sand, and as I stood before the waves, I felt them whisper: You no longer need to live with limitations. The ocean carried my fears away, inviting me into a deeper exploration of self. And as my awareness expanded, so did my questions: If I am not undocumented, then who am I? How do I want to live? What are my dreams? My purpose?
Traveling has since become essential to my evolution—both as a person and as a healer. I often think of my abuelito Calixto, whose dream was to see the ocean in his lifetime, yet never had the chance. Every place I visit is in honor of him and my beloved ancestors. My expansion is their expansion. Choosing joy, love, and freedom over fear is a daily practice.
I am endlessly grateful to the land, the Taíno people, and the sacred portal that Puerto Rico—Borikén—became for me in 2021. I hold it dearly in my heart, con mucho amor.