Following the Drums to Ancestral Guidance and Empowerment
Alicia Pineda-Galvan, owner of La Jefa’s Essence. Photo by Jasmin Adriana González, JEFAS Magazine
By Christina Fernández-Morrow
Alicia Pineda-Galvan felt the weight of sickness and despair pressing in on her. Suddenly, through her tears, she heard clear, steady drumbeats. She stopped crying and looked around, searching for the source of the sound. There was none. “I’ve always been good at not needing physical or scientific proof and trusting what I know. I trusted my inner knowing that something was trying to guide me,” she recalls of that moment.
For nearly a year she meditated and prayed, trying to understand the meaning behind the drums. Gradually, the message became clear: her ancestors were urging her to escape her abusive marriage. It was the first time she felt empowered to take the steps she needed to get back to physical, mental and spiritual health. “I was very isolated as a child growing up Jehovah’s Witness. This felt different, very much aligned with my heart. It felt like I wasn’t alone anymore, so I trusted it.”
From Personal Healing to Helping Others
Pineda-Galvan wasn’t sure where to start. So, she found a therapist who helped her process her trauma and learn techniques to center herself. As she learned to navigate her own heart center, she began noticing others struggling in similar ways. “What I went through alone, I never wanted to see another person experience if I could help it,” she says.
Drawing on the tools she learned in therapy and what she uncovered researching ancestors and spiritual healing; she began creating protection items. She used carefully selected stones in jewelry, and crafted smudge bombs and simmer pots using a combination of plants, fruits and herbs to enhance mood and infuse personal spaces with positive energy.
Pineda-Galvan acknowledges that understanding what you need for spiritual cleansing and ancestral guidance can be tricky. It requires deep self-knowledge and unshakable faith to trust yourself.
“Spirituality is trending, but it’s still taboo,” she warns. “There are several areas you can dive into, but it can be dangerous if you are careless with what you are doing and don’t know yourself deep enough for it to be effective.”
The Power of Limpias and Cultural Healing Rituals
Distinguishing between helpful ancestral guidance and messages rooted in unresolved trauma requires careful attention, she explains. “It can be hard to distinguish their wisdom from their pain,” she notes, comparing the dynamic to navigating advice from living family members. Ultimately, she advises to trust one’s inner-knowing of self while being open to spiritual guidance. She describes a powerful experience that was pivotal in reinforcing these beliefs.
She vividly recalls her first limpia, a cleansing ritual using a raw egg to draw out negative energies, bad luck, and imbalances. “The egg got hot within three minutes,” she says. “That’s how I knew it was absorbing that [negative] energy,” she says. This ancient belief practiced throughout North, Central, South America and parts of Africa helped her better relate to the Salvadoran and Mexican ancestors that were guiding her. It reinforced that she was on the right path, healing through methods used for generations and across cultures. From there, Pineda-Galvan’s healing accelerated, though the road ahead remained challenging.
Leaving her dangerous marriage and facing the world as a single mother was painful and difficult. As she gained her physical and mental strength, her transformation was obvious. Friends wanted to learn from her experience. This inspired Alicia to formalize her healing practices, turning personal advice into workshops that mirrored the rituals that had impacted her own recovery.
Alicia Pineda-Galvan, owner of La Jefa’s Essence. Photo by Jasmin Adriana González, JEFAS Magazine
Radical Inclusivity and Compassion Leads To Business
“I wanted to start a business to show people how to take the reins back of their life.” That idea awakened her dream of entrepreneurship. “I was the root of a lot of dynamics that put everyone else above myself, this business forced me to practice what I preach.”
Pineda-Galvan credits La Jefa’s Essence, the business she started in Council Bluffs where she was raised, with helping her clarify her values around family and community service. She offers services like house blessings, card readings, egg cleanses, and cord cuttings, while also connecting clients to resources, networking opportunities or mentors who can enhance their healing. “I love being an activator in my community, helping connect and empower others to elevate their business and personal development to take the reins of their inner jefa/jefe essence,” she says of the influence that named her business.
This commitment to service is rooted in radical inclusivity inspired by examples of unconditional compassion throughout history, including the Bible. “When you love those who’ve never experienced it before, you leave a ripple effect you can’t even imagine,” she reflects. Though this approach sometimes draws criticism, Pineda-Galvan remains focused. Transforming her own suffering into wisdom has not only been profoundly meaningful, but also deepened her sense of purpose.
Today, the woman who once heard drums in her darkest hour now helps others listen for their own guidance. “I’ve never felt closer to source than overcoming this pain and walking through life everyday embodying the lessons I’ve learned,” she says. For her, and those she inspires, it’s all about embracing the unknown with courage and faith.
