Johanny OrtegaDay 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. A space where I can write, read, rest, and breathe.
A space that feels like a bruja cottage with modern Latina flavor.
Because the truth is, I don’t have a physical cozy corner at the moment. Moving has thrown everything into boxes and suitcases, and until I settle back into my home, I am floating between spaces. But even without the physical nook, the vision is alive. It’s detailed. It’s intentional. It’s waiting for me.
And envisioning it feels like its own kind of magic.
The Vision: A Sanctuary of Softness & Strength
When I imagine my nook, the first thing that appears in my mind is warmth. Not temperature warmth, but emotional warmth. A place where my nervous system relaxes the second I sit down. A place that feels protective, intimate, and deeply personal.
I see:
- A comfortable chair or chaise that my body can melt into
- A throw blanket that matches my bruja aesthetic — maybe deep plum, forest green, or warm brown
- Soft lighting from a salt lamp or a golden-glow floor lamp
- A small altar or corner shelf with crystals, candles, and talismans
- A stack of books within arm’s reach — fiction, magical realism, witchy texts, and my notebooks
- A side table for my Girl Boss mug or a warm cup of chai
- A window nearby, allowing natural light to spill in during the day
- Plants that soften the edges of the room and breathe life into it
It is a place for rituals. A place for creativity. A place for grounding. A place where my inner world feels supported by the outer world. And even though it doesn’t exist physically right now, imagining it helps me stay connected to the softer version of myself I’m building through this challenge.
Why Cozy Nooks Matter So Much to Me
Growing up in a Dominican household, space wasn’t always about aesthetics. It was about practicality. There wasn’t always an invitation to create corners dedicated to emotional comfort or creative freedom. There was no “reading nook.” There was the living room, the kitchen, the bedroom, and that was that.
So as an adult, carving out a nook of my own feels like reclaiming something I didn’t know I needed: A place where I can decompress, create, or simply exist without being productive.
A cozy nook is like a soft exhale.
A place where healing can happen without effort.
A place where I can be all versions of myself:
The writer.
The bruja.
The mother.
The woman.
The dreamer.
The girl who survived.
The one who is still healing.
It is the space where I reconnect to everything that makes me feel grounded.
The Bruja Aesthetic
Let’s be honest: the nook will have bruja vibes. Soft, witchy, Dominican-coded bruja vibes.
I see candlelight flickering against walls.
I see crystals that remind me of my intuition.
I see herb bundles hung or placed carefully nearby.
I see a little dish for essential oils — mostly lavender, of course.
I see art that inspires me, maybe something featuring a kapok tree or a bruja silhouette.
I see a space where ancestors feel welcome and creativity feels at home.
A cozy nook is a bruja portal; a place where the spiritual and the practical meet. A place where rituals can happen effortlessly. A place where I can honor the parts of me that live in both worlds.
The Creative Corner
As an indie author, this nook is also going to be where I write. And writing requires a certain energy. A certain atmosphere. A certain closeness to myself.
This nook will hold:
- My manuscript pages
- My character notes
- My tarot deck for quick clarity pulls
- My laptop
- My favorite pens
- A corkboard or inspiration board
- Music playlists for each book
It is where Marisol lives when I write her.
Where Isadora breathes when I craft her story.
Where Josefina whispers her truths for Book 3.
Where my own memories uncoil so I can weave them into fiction.
A nook is not just a physical space.
It is a partnership between energy and creativity.
The Joy of Creating From Scratch
Not having the nook right now might sound disappointing, but the truth is, I’m excited. Creating a nook from scratch means I get to choose everything intentionally. Nothing will be accidental or leftover. Everything will be curated, chosen with care, and aligned with the softness I’m cultivating.
It will be a space built from healing, not survival.
From abundance, not scarcity.
From intention, not necessity.
There is something deeply symbolic about creating a physical sanctuary while I’m also creating an internal one throughout this challenge.
When I finally settle in El Paso and start decorating, I know the nook will feel like a manifestation of everything I’ve been working toward — peace, clarity, magic, joy, creativity, and emotional grounding.
A space that reflects who I am becoming.
A space where I can grow new roots.
A space that feels like home.
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