About
The Magic Behind Santos & The Crystal Visions
β I love you, I see you, and baby, I am you! π
β I love you, I see you, and baby, I am you! π
Image Credit: Jonathan Morgan
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βThere is no greater magic in life than having the desire to change, to do, or to be something, and then actually doing it. That's what magic is about.β
-Danny Santos on the W.I.T.C.H. podcast.β
The Heavens are my Passion
I often get asked how I became an Astrologerβ¦especially since I graduated from USC with a degree in film! After working in the entertainment industry for years at some of Hollywoodβs most prestigious and acclaimed companies, I never quite felt like I was living my authentic life purpose.
If I'm being honest, I knew that I was a healer from a very young age. I began studying astrology at 11 years old, but like many people, I tried to fit societal norms and work a regular day job. Following in their footsteps, my parents wanted me to be a medical doctor, but Iβve never excelled in math or sciences. Instead, my strengths were always found in emotional intelligence, intuition, writing, music, and communication. Turns out my parents were onto something: my healing abilities!
As a Cuban-Spanish American, I come from a lineage of healers. With two medical doctor parents and a great-grandmother, who lived with me my entire childhood, and was a healer and tarot reader in her local village in Spain during the Spanish Civil War, Iβve been surrounded by the spirit of healing since birth. As I embraced my own natural strengths, my business Santos & the Crystal Visions was born.
While at the Michigan Renaissance Festival at 18, I received my first tarot reading. Shortly after, I began studying at Mystic Mountain Gifts, a small metaphysical shop in Royal Oak, Michigan. While the shop was torn down years ago, my studies there included transcendental meditation, the basics of working with intuition through metaphysical tools, the basics of shamanism and shadow work, how to protect yourself spiritually, how to offer past-life regressions and the basics of exorcism work. I even received my first job reading tarot.
In December 21st of 2020, during the grand conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, or The Transit of the King, I signed a contract with the Universe devoting my life to healing the world and bringing the magic of astrology, shamanism, and plant medicine to the world. Two years later, while walking through my neighborhood in West Hollywood, a raven flew directly in front of me and stopped, holding a stone in its mouth, making an offering.
In shamanism, this initiation is known as Caput Corvi, or "The Raven's Head," when the spirit of the raven chooses you and the work begins. They say once the raven has selected you, the work cannot be undone, much like the pill cannot be unswallowed. It was shortly after this sacred moment that I chose to leave Los Angeles, move back to Detroit, and pursue my dreams of becoming an Ayahuasca shaman in Peru.
Today I am an Astrologer, Spiritual Life Coach, Ayahuasca Shaman, and Integrative Healer. I believe I was put on this planet to help change the world and bring peace and healing to the masses. My intention and mission is to bring spiritual healing to the world through the Medicine of The Cosmos: my approach to healing, which combines the magic of astrology with Ayahuasca shamanism, plant medicine, spiritual life coaching, sound healing, reiki, breathwork, trauma healing, and tarot. My work has been featured in BuzzFeedβs Goodful, with The National Alliance on Mental Illness, and Pineapple Support, to name a few.
Helping People is my Promise
While living in Los Angeles, I began delving into working with clients with trauma, PTSD, grief, and sexual abuse, as well as many other traumatic life events. I began studying breathwork under Kundalini breathwork master and behavioral therapist Lisa Reider from Genius Loci. Lisa began teaching me the basics of being a trauma-informed healer, as well as kundalini breathwork techniques, how to be a better teacher, how to live with integrity in both your career and personal life, and how to hold space for others as a breathwork instructor.
I've also had the honor of studying the Usui Reiki Lineage under chicana Reiki Master Maria Dominique Lopez. Maria has further extended my training and understanding of being a trauma-informed healer, the importance of inclusivity and diversity within spiritual healing, and the power of holding multiple truths at once. I'm currently in the process of getting certified as a Reiki Master under Maria's teachings, which include shadow work techniques, tantric sexuality integration, meditation, and the decolonization of shamanic practices.
It's also been an honor and blessing to study and learn from mentor Dr. Stephanie Hunter-Jones, PhD. As a sex therapist and relationship specialist, Dr. Stephanie not only taught me about human sexuality and how to coach, hold space for, and manage clients, but she also taught me the importance of how to market myself, how to run a business with clients, and the importance of practicing what you preach. My work with human sexuality has taken me on podcasts such as Sluts & Scholars, Broke Girl Therapy, Double Teamed, and Open Late, to name a few.
I officially launched the Astro Daddy Podcast on October 25th, 2022 on the New Moon Eclipse in Scorpio. I've since featured a number of other close friends and mentors such as sex therapist Dr. Stephanie Hunter-Jones, PhD, hypnotherapist and intuitive Dr. Tammy Hunter, entertainment industry executive Wendy Miller, and dating coach and media personality Damona Hoffman. Damona's mentorship has been integral to the forward motion of success of Astro Daddy, as well as so much of my business' development.
Healing is my offering
With The Pleasure Positive Project, I've also had the blessing of leading numerous erotic workshops. Alongside Lisa Reider from Genius Loci and Nadège from Pleasure Science, we've hosted popular Los Angeles events such as The Erotic Rose Rebirth, The Erotic Shadow, and The Erotic Cosmos, to name a few. In these workshops, I've educated groups about boundaries and sexuality, intimacy, shamanism and plant medicine, breathwork, and shadow work. Lisa and I are preparing to work with veterans with PTSD and victims of human trafficking together, while Nadege and I continue to educate about sex and teach classes and workshops, such as our Sex & Anger class.
I also began my studies with plant medicine and Ayahuasca under a Shipiba shaman and Maestra Northern California, who shall remain unnamed for the sake of anonymity. I studied under her for four years and continued my education on shamanism and shadow work as well as deep interpersonal spiritual work. My maestra is and always will be my greatest teacher and I'm forever grateful for the beautiful healing community she has created. I would not be on this plant medicine path that I am had I not found her and am grateful for the five plant dietas I've completed under her guidance.
In the summer of 2023, I embarked into the heart of the Amazon jungle in Peru to study with the Shipibo Tribe through the Lopez/Mahua lineage. I studied under the elder of the tribe, Don Enrique Lopez-Fasanando, and learned advanced techniques of shamanism and plant medicine, the Shipibo icaros (medicine songs), working with plant spirits, learning the customs and traditions of the Shipibo tribe (especially as they pertain to shamanism and spirituality), and refining my work with exorcism.
After my time in the Curandero Training Program, I've received the "don" or the blessing to officially begin serving Ayahuasca after completing 44 days of fasting and two plant dietas, working with the Shipibo plant medicines of the bioluminescent tree of enlightenment, known as Noya Rao, The Tree of Light and the enigmatic trickster medicine of the Chullachaqui Tree.
It Takes a Village
While studying at Mystic Mountain Gifts in Royal Oak, Michigan, I studied under some of Michigan's finest: My mentors were Michigan's own psychic mediums, Candace Isaacson, and Patti Gignac, as well as the store owner, the late Sandy Stevens - a Wiccan shaman with an incredible spirit and the matriarch of our spiritual community. (The exorcism work came in handy, as I performed my first full-fledged exorcism years later in Berkeley, California. You can hear that story here).
After three years of study at Mystic Mountain Gifts, I transferred out of Oakland University's Cinema Studies program in Auburn Hills, Michigan, and was accepted into USC's Critical Studies in Cinema & Media program. After graduation, I worked as an Uber Driver for nine months where I had a chance encounter with The Drew Barrymore Show's very own dating coach, Damona Hoffman. Damona and I instantly hit it off and she quickly became a friend and mentor.
I also worked at companies such as Breakwater Studios and Encompass Music Partners, as well as Darren Criss' Executive Producer's Assistant for his Roku Original program, "Royalties." Once filming for that project was over, Darren invited me to be his personal assistant for him and his wife, Mia. They're two of the kindest people I've ever had the honor of saying I've worked for and the two years that I worked for them was a dream.
While transitioning from the entertainment industry into Santos & The Crystal Visions full-time, I was also the monthly resident astrologer for the W.I.T.C.H Podcast with Krystal Kennedy-Heckathorn. Krystal and I would discuss the upcoming astrological transits for the month, as well as discuss the shamanic and Wiccan traditions associated with each month.
I also have to thank my mentor Robert Segarra for helping propel my business forward in so many capacities. Robert has worked as a project manager for companies such as Nestle, Purina, and L'Oreal, and has taught me the basics of project management, how to create a business plan, prioritize your time, and truly get the mechanics of a business down. Robert and I continue to work together to this day and I am blessed for his mentorship and friendship.
And without a doubt, I have to thank my closest confidant, my own personal astrologer, and web developer Amy Angelo for creating this website. Not only is Amy an incredible collaborator, but she's one of the dearest and truest friends I've ever had, and her knowledge of astrology never ceases to amaze me!
Thank you so much for taking the time to get to know me a little better.
Always remember: I love you, I see you, and baby, I am you!
Danny Santos :)
Santos & The Crystal Visions
β I see you, I love you, and baby, I am you! π
β I see you, I love you, and baby, I am you! π