Safrianna Lughna, the Queer-Spirit Guide. I founded Living LUNA, a brand centered around nurturing authenticity, loving without shame, and “Uplifting the Others” of the world. As a multi-passionate creative, I wear many hats: community mentor, podcast host, author, coach, consultant, and ritual and retreat curator. I specialize in helping people who want to bridge the gap between trauma and triumph through coaching, education, meaningful social engagement, and intentional experiences. My wheelhouse is self-development & self-awareness; I create these opportunities through complimentary workshops, memberships, and community spaces accessible to people all around the world.
What were your initial years of growing up like? Tell us about your life before starting your corporate journey/venture/initiative.
I have always seen the world through my own eyes as a diverse and beautiful place to be celebrated. There has never been a time when I did not believe in the inherent worth of every being on this planet. However, during my childhood, I did not often receive kindness or fair treatment from others. This led me to see myself as less important than everyone else. I grew up skipping meals and wearing clothes several sizes too small. I moved frequently, losing my friends and support in the process each time. By 8 years old, I’d already experienced being groomed, abused, and neglected. All of these factors fed into my being bullied in school, developing a scarcity-based mindset, and a victim mentality. Unfortunately, these formative experiences lead me to fall into overworking myself and a relationship classified as domestic/intimate partner violence. For years of my young adult life, I thought I would be stuck forever barely paying the bills, making little impact in the world, and being mistreated by my partner and family. Yet, a light within me kept burning bright – an undeniable hope that could not be snuffed out no matter my difficulties. As I said, I’ve always seen the world as a place to be celebrated, including the people who took advantage of my kindness. I knew there was better for me and others, though. When I first read “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” I knew I’d found a kindred spirit in Maya Angelou. As early as 13, I looked up to her as a role model and an example of how I wanted to be in the world. She taught me the incredible power of resilience and that even after we believe we’ve lost our voices, we can find ourselves again. Despite surviving many of the same acts of violence as me AND being a Black woman, Maya lived with dignity, proud, and out loud. I aspire daily to be like her. Through my own diligent self-awareness and self-care practices (therapy, mindfulness, journaling, coaching, bodywork), I have found my way through much of that early darkness into a place where I feel free to SHINE! It hasn’t been easy, but I have always maintained my goals to: 1) Leave the world a better place than when I arrived, 2) Share stories and creations to inspire others to heal and love more vibrantly, and 3) Help people bridge the liminal space between living hell and heaven on earth. I find a lot of joy these days in my personal interests and hobbies, though I admit I’m still getting comfortable with putting myself first! Overcoming codependency is hard! Some of my greatest joys are found in gardening, writing, playing roleplaying games, walking in nature, and spending time with my cat children, chosen family, and partners. I’m a super nerd and love fandoms like Zelda, She-Ra, Steven Universe, and Star Wars.
Tell us something about your initiative/business. What is it about and how is it helpful for people?
Our initiative and brand is called Living LUNA, and our motto is “Uplifting the Others.” We are here to nurture and embrace The Others of the world in a Universe where they will feel safe to celebrate their differences. Our social spaces are populated by people who share our values of community, empowerment, growth, and love. We are dismantling codependency and the ideas of “one fits all” in favor of a world filled with self-advocacy, ownership, curiosity, joy, and celebration. We love acronyms, so LUNA stands for many aspects of our mission: L – Love U – Unashamed, Unified, & Unlimited N – Nurturing Nature, Normalizing Differences A – Authentic Alignment The S in our domain represents our social community and support. Together, we are Living LUNAs!
While the global pandemic of COVID-19 is associated primarily with adversities, it has also brought about a true boom in startups, with successful entrepreneurship in many countries. The pandemic has impacted all of us in one way or another. Would you like to share your experience on a personal and professional level?
The pandemic taught me that connection and community is the most important thing when it comes to being successful. In March 2020, I was in the midst of trying to make ends meet as a therapist. I’d just been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and realized I was hitting the edges of how far I could push myself without actually taking care of my body. When everything shut down, however, my workload did not decrease. Instead, COVID-19 highlighted just how codependent I was with society. Despite being completely burnt out by that point, having had no vacation or time more than 4 or 5 days off since summer as a kid, I pushed on. The pandemic highlighted what a critical state our world was in with regard to health and wellness, and I knew I could do something to help. My caseload of 20 mental health therapy clients quickly shot to nearly 40. While I was making “good money,” better than ever, I was soul-level tired. I dreaded waking up every day. I was just as scared and overwhelmed as my clients, but I was putting on a brave face to try and re-establish our societal “normal.” There was nothing normal though. COVID showcased that above all else. By year two of the pandemic, I deeply accepted that my impact was not nearly what it could be because of my codependency. It was not possible to serve my ultimate purpose of inspiring others to love and care for themselves when I was not walking in full alignment with that teaching myself. I realized that my business was stretching me past any useful growth into overwork. How could I reach the masses when reaching only 25 people a week was leaving me completely drained? I decided I wanted to create something for myself and my family that would allow me to shine my light and inspire others while filling my own cup first. This meant working way less than I was, delegating more, and creating more streamlined plans. Recognizing that I could not do it all alone, I invested in business training, marketing mentors, coaches, and other support that could help me and my vision expand. In the last year, the Living LUNA team of two has grown to five, with intentions to expand with more coaches, assistants, moderators, and community curators coming on board in the next several years.
What has been the response of the users/consumers towards your venture?
While Living LUNA is still small and growing, everyone we’ve shared our vision and mission with believes in it! Our clients and community members often express how much they appreciate how nonjudgmental we are. We routinely hear that what we have to offer is important, timely, and very much needed in the world. Sometimes people seem shocked at how inclusive we can be and how we can celebrate so many differences. We are a safe space for many LGBTQIA+ people, neurodivergent folks, and those who have been spiritually marginalized. I am proud to be both a locally recognized consultant on diversity issues and well as an international best-selling author. When I put content into the world, it is always with the aim to promote a more inclusive, authenticity-centered approach to life. I’ve worked with for-profit and non-profit businesses, churches, and communities to offer inclusivity training so that their organizations can be more welcoming to LGBTQIA+ people and their families. I find teaching more neutral language, promoting curiosity, and helping people learn how to ask questions ends up having a ripple effect of better communication towards other oppressed and misunderstood groups of people.
How has your life changed because of your initiative/venture?
I have met so many incredible people through this business and social venture! Through desiring advanced education, I’ve met incredible coaches, fellow entrepreneurs, and other professionals paving the way for a better world for all. I have an incredible support network now. Through all that I’ve done building up my business, I’ve had to come to terms with my codependency and “shadow stuff,” healing in the moment to fully step into my dreams. Without the Living LUNA team and mission, I might still be staying small and silent!
Do you have anyone who is the biggest support system in your life? Please let us know.
My biggest support system is my “polycule” and chosen family! I am a proud and out polyamorous person, which means I have more than one love in my life. My polycule consists of my wife and co-founder of Living LUNA, Ikenna (they/them), my boyfriend, Justin (he/him), and my metamour, Kristen (she/her). Ikenna and I collaborate in our podcast, create music and content, and birthed this mission of uplifting others together. Justin is my personal assistant, or as we like to joke around here, my butler. He takes care of the little details so I can maintain my big vision. Kristen is a networking powerhouse, no-nonsense go-getter, and team player. I love how well we get along with each other. Living LUNA’s other coach Leora (they/them) is amongst my chosen family, too. They provide me with so much structure and motivational support!
Would you like to share with our young budding women entrepreneurs the change you would like to see in the world if given an opportunity? OR Share a motivational message for the audience/women who are reading this.
I believe all of us deserve to live a life of authentic alignment. This means a life where we are free to choose who we BE in the world and what we DO, without trauma, fear, or social manipulation getting in the way. I support a world where all of us get to live a life full of joy, unlimited possibility, and self-love.
