#ReadingNook

Day 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.

#authorLife #brujaCottageAesthetic #cozyNookIdeas #creativeSanctuary #homeDecorInspiration #IntentionalLiving #LatinaSpirituality #readingNook #softBrujaChallenge #TheOrdinaryBruja #writingNook

2025-09-29

I have so many cushions from an old couch, and my small apartment couldn't accommodate them. So I made a rolling seat cushion cart. A reading nook wherever you'd want it! #Cushions #Apartment #ReadingNook #Cart #carpentry #diy #DecorIdeas
Watch how I made it:
loops.video/v/b2z2-zRIm3

2025-05-22
I don't know why I thought putting in grass WOULDN'T be tedious drudgery.. I was very much mistaken. It should gain some depth when I add some taller beach grass and lighten the cliff's edge, but first I have to paint 12 feet of background turf.
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#art #QueerArtist #painting #mural #FantasyMural #RobinHobb #Paragon #ReadingNook
2025-05-21
The #mural I've been working on for the last couple years got some #Lupine flowers the other day. (All the small details are taking forever)
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#art #QueerArtist #painting #FantasyMural #TraditionalArt #ReadingNook
G, PonyhounD 🐕🐎ponyhound.link@bsky.brid.gy
2025-03-24

Rainy day? Perfect for some cozy indoor pup time! 📚🐾 Curled up with a thought-provoking read in a vintage-inspired nook. #Puphood #VintageDecor #GreenBook #readingnook #retroaesthetic #ChicagoGay #cozyinteriors #HumanDog #HumanPup #GayPup #GayPuppy #PupLife #PupPlay #PuppyPlay #photography #travel

A striking visual contrast unfolds in this richly textured scene, capturing a leather-clad figure immersed in domestic serenity. 

The subject wears a form-fitting black leather puppy hood with glossy detailing, its structured snout and perked ears creating a bold silhouette against the warm interior. They recline in a plush crimson velvet armchair featuring ornate carved wooden arms and cabriole legs, fingers delicately cradling a moss-green paperback. The outfit juxtaposes rugged aesthetics with cozy casualwear—a blue-and-red buffalo plaid flannel shirt tucked into faded Levi's-style jeans, completed by sturdy black engineer boots.
The room radiates mid-century nostalgia with cream wallpaper blooming with hand-painted florals: blush peonies, butter-yellow daffodils, and emerald vines twining around ceramic hummingbirds. A vintage walnut side table displays a 1940s Zenith console radio with honey-toned woodgrain, its woven wicker speaker cover intact. Above this, a gallery wall showcases sepia-toned family photographs in simple oak frames alongside an abstract cyanotype print. Golden light spills from a brass floor lamp with a pleated parchment shade, casting patterns across the wide-plank oak flooring. A Persian-inspired rug in sapphire and terracotta tones anchors the space, its geometric patterns softened by wear. The scene masterfully balances fetishwear's edge with grandmotherly comfort—steam-punk meets Better Homes & Gardens circa 1965.

#PupHood #VintageReadingNook #K
My E-Book Shelfmyebookshelf
2025-03-19

Create your perfect reading nook with these simple tips! 📚✨🔗 Find more tips on our website—check the link in bio!

Two individuals sitting together, reading the Bible, engaged in discussion and sharing insights
Susan Villevillebooks
2025-03-14

📚

The Gaza Strip is among the most densely populated places in the world. More than two-thirds of its inhabitants are refugees. Since 2004, Israel has launched eight devastating "operations" against Gaza's largely defenseless population. Thousands have perished, tens of thousands have been left homeless. In the meantime, Israel has subjected to a merciless illegal blockade.

By Norman Finkelstein

Publ. University of California Press
ISBN 978-0-520-29571-1 (English)

Susan Villevillebooks
2025-03-01

📌 Suhad Khatib, founder of Studio Om Jeneen in Amman, is a Palestinian multimedia artist and painter. She says, she uses water (for life) and black ink (for the message) to combine both in resistance of occupation and tyranny.

Check out her awe-inspiring homepage and her work (as an arts-activist), including her new book w/writings and illustrations titled "Study on Truth" (limited edition) 👇🏽

suhadkhatib.com/book-preorders

ᴛʜᴇ ᴠɪʙᴇꜱ ɪ’ᴍ ʙʀɪɴɢɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴇᴇᴋᴇɴᴅ - ʜᴇʟʟᴏ ᴍᴀʀᴄʜ

January felt long and February flew by with speed. It is the start of a new month. And a new season: spring.

The beginning of 2025 has been hard on me. I’ve not even read as much as I’d have liked, which has left me with strong feelings of inadequacy. So I’m welcoming this new month with some books and lots of cozy vibes.

Will you join me? Grab a book and a cup of coffee (or a drink of your choice) and cuddle in your book nook. Be gentle with yourself. You got this.

#hellomarch #readingnook #booksandcoffee #cozyvibes #weekendvibes #bookish
Another Fauxtographer 🇨🇦another@eh.fauxtographer.ca
2025-02-23
The image depicts a cozy reading nook in a black and white format. It features a small, cozy sofa adorned with a cushion that reads "THIS IS MY HAPPY PLACE" and a patterned throw blanket. Next to the sofa, there is a small table with a few books stacked on it, suggesting it is used for reading. Behind the sofa is a built-in bookshelf filled with numerous books, creating a backdrop that emphasizes a love for reading. The area is illuminated by two stylish table lamps with distinctive round, ringed shades, adding a soft and inviting ambiance to the space. The overall setting suggests a tranquil and intimate space perfect for relaxation and reading.
WhimsySparkCreationsWhimsySpark@pixelfed.social
2025-01-21
Escape reality one page at a time. 📚✨ For the bookworms, the dreamers, and anyone who knows that a good story can take you anywhere but here. 🖤 Add a little literary magic to your space! #BookLovers #ReadingNook #BookishDecor
#HandmadeSigns #QuirkyHomeDecor
2024-07-20

1965 Office Library Interior

"This image captures the interior of an office library, featuring shelves filled with books and various objects such as a vase and figurine on a desk.
The room has a warm ambiance created by the red carpet and matching chairs, which are part of a cozy seating area.
The overall atmosphere suggests a professional yet inviting space for reading or work."
Tags: "office library, bookshelf, books, reading nook, office interior, professional setting, comfortable chairs, decorative objects, red carpet, desk with figurine, workspace"

nocontext.loener.nl/fullpage/0

#photography #illustration #madman #nocontext #sfw #officelibrary #bookshelf #books #readingnook #officeinterior #professionalsetting #comfortablechairs #decorativeobjects #redcarpet #deskwithfigurine #workspace

1965 Office Library Interior

"This image captures the interior of an office library, featuring shelves filled with books and various objects such as a vase and figurine on a desk.
The room has a warm ambiance created by the red carpet and matching chairs, which are part of a cozy seating area.
The overall atmosphere suggests a professional yet inviting space for reading or work."
Tags: "office library, bookshelf, books, reading nook, office interior, professional setting, comfortable chairs, decorative objects, red carpet, desk with figurine, workspace"
2024-07-04

Reading tip: Create a cozy reading nook with good lighting and comfy seating. It can make all the difference in your reading experience. 🌟 #ReadingNook #Bookworm #BookLovers

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