Meet Maila Nurmi
The Owner of Witchy Apothecary

My witchy name is Maila, and I come from a long lineage of Brujas, Curanderas, Santeras, Santeros, Paleras, and Paleros whose practices and traditions have been passed down through my family for over 150 years.

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I was born and raised in these traditions, learning from my elders from the time I could walk and talk. One of my greatest teachers was my abuelita, a knowledgeable and highly respected Taíno Bruja who was well known in Puerto Rico. People turned to her for spiritual help, healing, protection, and guidance.

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I will always be grateful for her love, patience, and everything she taught me. What I treasure most is having been taught traditional brujería directly by my elders. These weren’t things I learned from books or the internet. They were lessons passed down through generations, taught through everyday life, observation, and hands-on experience.

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I remember helping my abuelita around the house with what I thought were ordinary chores. Cooking, tending to her garden, putting things into little sacks, sweeping in certain ways, going to el cruce (the crossroads), and using particular herbs and spices when preparing food.

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What I didn’t realize at the time was that she was teaching me spellwork.

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Her garden wasn’t simply a garden. She grew herbs for spiritual workings, healing, and protection. Even the things she buried in her flowerpots had a purpose. She taught me early on that protection was essential and one of the first things a Bruja needed to understand.

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Those memories mean more to me today than I could ever explain. I didn’t realize how much I was learning until I was older and began to understand the significance of everything she had shown me.

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I am an empath, clairvoyant, clairaudient, psychic, medium, Curandera, herbalist, necromancer, Hoodoo practitioner, and Daemonologist. I was raised with extensive knowledge of Espiritismo and Santería, and I am an Aborisha. My spiritual background also includes Palo Mayombe and other traditions that have been part of my life for many years.

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I have over 43 years of experience in spiritual practice and divination. My divination tools include bones, tarot cards, traditional playing cards, Spanish playing cards (baraja española), pendulums, fire, tabacomancia, and water.

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My practice is not limited to one tradition or one form of spiritual work. I have worked with different spiritual systems throughout my life, and I approach each one with the knowledge, respect, and understanding passed down to me through my elders and personal experience.

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I have also practiced Daemonology for many years. What others may refer to as daemons, I understand and work with as jinn or spirits. Over time, I have developed longstanding relationships with the spirits I work with.

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There are also spirits I work with whose identities I choose not to disclose. Not everything about a spiritual practice needs to be made public, and I believe some things are meant to remain between the practitioner and the spirits.

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My relationship with La Santísima Muerte is especially personal and sacred to me.

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She is my beloved Madrecita, and I have dedicated my life to her. Although many refer to themselves as devotees, I personally identify as hija de La Santísima, her daughter. That is how I understand and honor my relationship with her.

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My teachings regarding La Santísima came through traditional mentorship, particularly from my uncle’s wife, a traditional Mexican Bruja. I place great importance on the knowledge passed down to me personally through my elders.

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There is a great deal of information circulating about La Santísima today, but I remain faithful to the teachings I received rather than following everything written in books or shared online.

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I do not automatically call upon La Santísima when performing work for clients. My relationship with her is sacred, and I respect that relationship. I work with different spirits depending on the situation, the nature of the work, and the spiritual guidance I receive.

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My spiritual work is something I take very seriously. Every situation is different, which is why I take the time to understand each client’s circumstances before recommending any spiritual work. Through a reading and spiritual consultation, I can gain a better understanding of what’s happening, what may be needed, and the most appropriate way to proceed. My goal is to provide honest guidance and approach every case with the care, knowledge, and respect it deserves.

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I believe in practicing responsibly, respecting the spirits I work with, and approaching every spiritual working with care, knowledge, and intention.

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I didn’t discover brujería later in life. I was born into it, raised in it, and taught by my elders from the time I could walk and talk. This has never been a trend, a phase, or something I decided to pursue.

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My practice is my lifestyle. I live and breathe it.