ABOUT

Hola. Mayi Carles here!

I’m an artist, ceremonialist, and keeper of magic from Panamá. My path has always been soul-led, guided by intuition, shaped by heritage, and fueled by a deep reverence for beauty that heals.

I studied fine arts and communication, but my real education came in dreams, visions, and ancestral whispers — especially after my abuelita Nany passed. Her departure cracked something open in me. A portal. A remembering. That moment changed everything.

Since then, I’ve been walking with the grandmothers — reclaiming the spiritual languages of my lineage, listening between the lines, and honoring the sacred ways that live beneath the surface.

Today, I craft and hold sacred spaces — part circle, part coven, part creative sanctuary — for women navigating their own crossings. Women who feel the call to remember what was forgotten. To mend what was silenced. To stitch back together the fabric between the visible and the invisible.

My work is rooted in soulcraft, expression, and kinship. I’m known for my intuitive fire, my neurodivergent brilliance, my playful irreverence, and the fierce tenderness I bring to everything I touch.

Right now, I’m calling in women ready to root deeper — to find home within themselves and each other. If that’s you, welcome. Let’s walk together.


CREDENTIALS & SACRED TRAINING

I began my studies at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, where I earned a dual Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies and Art Theory & Practice, with a minor in Art History. Midway through my undergraduate journey, I studied abroad in Florence, Italy at Scuola Lorenzo de Medici, where I immersed myself in classical art techniques, the timeless magic of the Renaissance — and where I first fell in love with the alchemy of beauty.

Later, I went on to complete a Master’s degree in Visual and Critical Studies at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago — a rigorous, and deeply conceptual program that sharped my voice as both an artist and cultural thinker.

And then, as I’ve always done, I followed the breadcrumbs.

The quiet ones. The glowing ones. The ones that led me beyond the gallery walls and academic halls, into temples, circles, covens, ceremony.

I am now a certified Ceremonialist, and a Ritual Priestess in advanced training within Priestess Presence, a Mystery School of the Sacred Arts. This is not a weekend certification. It is a devoted, initiatory path rooted in ancient feminine wisdom, archetypal embodiment, and sacred service. A living lineage. A temple path. A remembrance. One I have chosen to walk with reverence and responsibility.

And for the record? I’ve never submitted a résumé in my life — because I’ve always let my soul’s work speak for itself.

 

MEDIA & BRAND COLLABS

My work and creative journey have been featured in HOLA Magazine (cover story), U.S. News, The Huffington Post, CreativeLive, and Artful Blogging, along with nearly every leading Panamanian publication.

As a multi-passionate, I’ve also had the joy of collaborating with global brands like Polo Ralph Lauren, Adidas, Roxy, Kiehl’s, and Kate Spade New York — infusing heart, heritage, and soul into every project.

Closer to home, I’ve partnered with beloved local brands to bring magic to life in playful, tangible ways — from whimsical set designs for Steps, to designing Panamanian-inspired motifs for Beezu’s Pima cotton pajama collections, to creating custom rain boots and a unicorn stuffed animal for Undercover.

Each collaboration is a spell — an invitation into a world where art meets storytelling, and everyday things become sacred.

 

HOME IS WHERE MY MAGIC LIVES

I live in tropical paradise with the loves of my life — David, and our radiant daughters, Olivia and Emilia. Home, for me, isn’t just a place. It’s wherever we are together.

My studio isn’t bound by four walls — it moves with me. Sometimes it’s a cozy nook in our city apartment, sometimes it’s a weathered desk in a mountain chateau, a beachside escape, or even a speakeasy hideout in my husband’s office. Wherever I land, I make space for beauty, ritual, and creativity.

One of my deepest daydreams is to build a world-class sanctuary here in Panamá — a sacred space where magic and psychology, ritual and therapy, ceremony and collective healing all weave into an immersive, living experience. A place for deep remembering. A portal home.

 

 

21 FUN FACTS ABOUT ME YOU WON'T FIND ON GOOGLE

  1. My real name is Maria Alejandra Carles Ferrer — but please, call me Mayi.
  2. As a kid, I dreamed of becoming an immigration officer because I was obsessed with stamps. But once I realized I couldn’t wear pajamas to work? Dream over.
  3. I grew up thinking I was unsmart. At 37, I was diagnosed with dyslexia — and suddenly, everything made sense.
  4. I’m terrified of lizards. Like, paralyzed with fear terrified.
  5. I win hypothetical arguments in the shower. Every. Time.
  6. I was basically raised by Pinky and the Brain, which explains my world domination aspirations… and my love for elaborate plans.
  7. Ever met an extrovert with social anxiety? Hi. That’s me. After big events, I need to hibernate for at least three days.
  8. I’m fucktose intolerant — a rare condition that prevents me from digesting other people’s nonsense.
  9. My car is my concert hall. I sing lead and backup vocals, shred air guitar, and drum on the steering wheel like I’m headlining Coachella. Don’t you dare turn off the engine before the song ends.
  10. My Patronus is a unicorn. Obviously.
  11. When someone’s being mean, I fantasize about throwing glitter in the air above their head as a spontaneous baptism of kindness.
  12. I once crossed the Canadian border inside a trash bucket. Ask me. It’s one of my best stories.
  13. I have zero patience for critics who don’t create. If you think you can do it better, go for it. Otherwise? Ssshh.
  14. Elevator doors freak me out. Just… no.
  15. I carry a San Benito medal on me at all times. Protection game: strong.
  16. One of my weirdest pet peeves? Eating the last bite of something without realizing it. No closure = existential crisis.
  17. I’m a compulsive list-maker. Sometimes I write down things I’ve already done just so I can cross them off. You too? Let’s be friends.
  18. I can see color without my using my physical eyes. Yes, blindfolded. It’s a rare ability only 6% of adults can access, but once you dissolve the mental block? You realize: Magic is real.  
  19. I’m currently co-creating my first oracle deck. (!!!)
  20. I’m exponentially nicer when I love my outfit.
  21. Ultimately, I just want to create beautiful things — even if no one notices. Especially then.