Meet Maria Muñoz, spiritual healer, Usui Reiki master, and owner of Light Owl Shop in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood. Light Owl Shop is a wellness space where you can book mindfulness workshops and energy healing sessions curated by Maria herself as well as peruse their array of crystals, journals, and art. In this week’s Q&A, Maria discusses how she consciously spends like it matters, the importance of reinvesting in her community, and some of the businesses on her InTENtional list.
The interview has been edited for clarity and length.
What’s your favorite way to #SpendLikeItMatters?
Just being intentional and having that consciousness when I’m purchasing. Feeling that relationship — I think that’s really important for me. I love buying from makers directly. I love supporting local businesses directly. It brings me back to growing up going back and forth to family in Mexico. And there’s just a different exchange when you’re working with someone that’s passionate about what they’re selling or making at their business. Even if it’s, gosh, maybe a gas station. But it’s a local owner and they’re part of the community, whether it’s where I live or work.
Why is it important to you and your business that people #SpendLikeItMatters?
For me, it’s really important that my money is reinvested in the community. I sound like a broken record to my friends and family, but we vote everyday. We vote with our dollar. If you’re voting with how you spend and you associate that ability to help transform the community by doing that, it’s always in the back of my mind.
Who is on your InTENtional List right now?
Frelard Tamales! I love them so much, and they’re a wonderful family business and LGBTQI Mexican immigrant story. Also Resistencia Coffee! And Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery. Oh my gosh, I love their stuff because I feel like I’m going into a little store in LA somewhere and I can get all of my goods.