Rebirth & Transformation: Mind, Body, Spirit

Written by Karina Pacific

A Journey of Rebirth

I’m often asked, “What tools have you used, and which are you using now?” After taking a full inventory of the mind, body, and spirit practices I’ve explored over the years, I realized the question is broad, yet enlightening. Each tool marks a stage of a specific journey, beginning in my motherland.

I was born into a non-traditional Mexican family. No father, an emotionally absent mother, and raised by whoever could step in, often left alone to learn how to care for myself. What I did have was Mexico itself: its silent richness, culture, food, and the raw lessons of my people’s grit. I absorbed everything by simply watching families scraping by in dirt-poor living, middle class that no longer exists, and others floating in high-class privilege.

What ultimately saved me was FAITH. In Mexico, Catholicism is as essential as rice and beans. Catholic school, the presence of a loving nun, and the guidance of a strict priest gave me structure, discipline, and an anchor in the unknown my mother offered. More on this in my book, Choosing Magic!

Then came my uncle, who would pick me up on weekends to jog at the beach. What 10-year-old wants to wake before sunrise to run? Yet that discipline of lacing my sneakers and chasing the rhythm of the waves became the first thread of resilience woven into me. Looking back, that was my first rebirth: realizing that survival could be softened by faith and strengthened by structure.

The Second Rebirth: Self-Development in My Early 20s

After a parentless childhood, moving to America with a language barrier, cultural shock, socioeconomic challenges, and surviving three toxic relationships — all of which left me 25 pounds heavier, bloated, and battling severe cystic acne, my body finally forced me to literally stop.

One sunny day during a jog, I collapsed to the ground, sobbing, “God, I’m tired. I am lost. HELP.”

More on this journey in my book, Choosing Magic!

The Books That Changed Me

My 20s were my self-development era, and also THE self-development boom, a time I used wisely!

Books, biographies, and memoirs became my mentors:

Marianne Williamson’s A Woman’s Worth made me feel deeply seen and reminded me that my value was never negotiable.
Dr. Christiane Northrup’s Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom showed me how the body holds emotions like stories and that good health is within.
Louise Hay taught me that affirmations aren’t fluff — they’re medicine.
Dale Carnegie & Jim Rohn gave me grounded, practical common-sense wisdom.

The takeaway? I had no choice but to go inward. I began to learn about food choices, supplemented with vitamins, and actually cared for my mind, body, and spirit. It wasn’t overnight; it was layer by layer, peeling back the onion and deciding I wasn’t going to live the same story anymore. Surely little by little, my skin cleared up, I lost 25 pounds, and I found myself surrounded by better friends and better choices.

I felt lighter inside and out!

Early Wellness Practices

At first, my wellness practices were vanity-driven: workouts, therapy sessions, hiking trails. Over time, they became essential rituals for mind-body-spirit wellness:

Nature as my therapist.
Talking it out with a trusted someone who could reflect me back to myself.
Moving my body not for looks, but for release and health.
Talk therapy.
Church, lots of church.
Reflectiveness + accountability + journaling.
Music. Thank God for Alanis Morissette and Natalie Merchant.
Romantic old classic movies soothed the heart.

That’s the gift of a second rebirth: choosing self consciously.

The Third Rebirth: Healing After Divorce

Getting Curious About Patterns

People-watching deeply is something I learned growing up with strangers. That’s where I first noticed patterns and habits. I often say: patterns and habits matter, they tell us who we are. They can be changed, but only if we take a hard look at ourselves and make the choice to do something to change. Self audit can reveal the little habits that keep us small, or the ones that help us grow.

I did this work while healing from a broken heart after leaving my marriage. I often asked myself: What patterns no longer serve me? What feels heavy? What do I need to change? Who do I need to gentlly remove? And oh, there was a lot. Grief to sit with, sadness to sit in, things to purge, clean out, and release.

When you decide to do this, PLEASE be gentle with yourself. Self compassion is key!

The Practices That Carried Me

Nature grounding: barefoot on sand or grass, letting silence hold me, really feeling the earth feed me.
Yoga: hot yoga feels like a baptism, a fiery energy cleanse through lengthening, focus, and whole-body detox.
Dance & affirmations: whispering “I love you” to myself while moving in my living room. Louise Hay affirmations are the very best! Be your own cheerleader.
EMDR therapy: to process old trauma lodged in my nervous system.
Poetry therapy: a monthly women’s group where words unlock what needs release.
Plant + earth medicine: earth’s wisdom during my first six months of transition. (Consult with a trusted doctor)
To Be Magnetic workshops: method backed by neuroscience, psychology, EMDR, epigenetics and energetics.
Daily Meditations: Dr. Claudia’s quantum meditation community and platform is a game-changer.
Quality friendships — as opposed to quantity.

Every ritual rewired not just my habits, but my nervous system. That’s when healing became embodied.

My Daily & Ongoing Rituals

Even now, these small practices keep me rooted in mind-body-spirit wellness:

10 minutes+ of daily meditation. Journaling. Read.
Hertz music while I work.
Self-nurture — intentional self-care.
Workout- (Yoga, weights, stretch, hike or long walks)
Women communities — because healing isn’t meant to be solitary.

Each is a love letter to myself, a reminder that rebirth doesn’t happen once; it happens again and again.

FAQs

Q: How do I know if I’m ready for a rebirth?
A: When old patterns feel too heavy, something continuously feels off — like you’re not honoring yourself. It’s your soul’s whisper for change.

Q: Do rituals really help with healing?
A: Yes. Rituals anchor you and give the nervous system a safe rhythm so your spirit can expand.

Q: What’s the simplest practice to start with?
A: Nature. Step outside, touch the earth, and let silence reset you.
B: Hold your heart and tummy. Breathe. Offer yourself compassion.

Final Thoughts: Rebirth Is an Ongoing Ritual

I’ve lived through three rebirths so far, and I know there are more to come. Each one taught me that healing isn’t a destination, but a rhythm. Whether it’s faith, books, or barefoot walks, what matters is listening to your body and spirit whisper. That whisper is always speaking; we just need to get quiet and listen.

Here for you!