How staying in touch with our inner magic keeps our eyes open to it everywhere else, too.
– KEYS SOULCARE
In her own words, yogi and multi-layered creative Kathryn Budig “strives to create magic.” And, if her resume is any indication, mission accomplished. She’s a yogi, author of two books (with a third on the way), founder of a self-love platform Haus of Phoenix and a podcast alongside her partner, Kate. It’s clear that Budig not only talks a dreamy talk, but she also walks the walk of a person with self-trust, humility, and a divine — almost playful — sense of purpose at her side.
We recently caught up with Budig to see how she does it all — and keeps her inner magic intact. (Spoiler alert: Be prepared to be inspired.)
You’ve been an advocate for a more holistic, spirit-led view of wellness before so many other voices entered the conversation. How did your point of view change over time?
I still advocate for it, but it is tricky in a world that has become so oversaturated with products and options. I’m more conscious about accessible ways to [tap into] “wellness,” and that it’s subjective according to each individual. This mentality helps my writing and teaching as well — there is no “one size fits all”, but language and presentation counts.
What does yoga teach you about yourself?
That I am not my body or mind. It’s a bit esoteric, but yoga has taught me not to linger in the pitfalls that society sets up. The practice reminds me to focus on the aspects of my life that bring me true happiness, which ultimately translates to success. It took me a while to flip that equation, and moving my body and quieting my mind has been the key to hearing that true voice buried underneath it all.
What does teaching yoga continue to teach you about others and the world that we share?
That everyone wants to and has the right to feel safe, understood, and good. I have learned (and am learning, daily) how to speak from an inclusive space, knowing the goal of being a teacher is to empower my students to be who THEY are and uncover the leader within themselves.
How can connecting with others keep us connected to ourselves?
I truly believe we are meant to be with our community! “It takes a village,” as they say, and sharing food, movement, laughter, frustrations — all of it! — with our community helps us feel seen and understood.
We love that you share your rituals with the world so freely, from time with your dog to oat milk lattes and crosswords. What others do you lean into for connecting with those you love, especially lately?
Cooking! Shopping for food, preparing it, spicing it, serving it, watching how it makes my wife, family and friends feel… it’s cathartic and my absolute love language.
You launched your podcast alongside your partner, [writer and media personality Kate Fagan]. What’s it like to team up with your soulmate in both work and life? Do you all have any rituals that you share to stay in sync on and off the clock?
I’m incredibly lucky as she’s the smartest person I know. We bang heads from time to time, but it’s also taught us how to bounce back quickly and not take things so seriously.
And yes! COVID-19 taught us to stop our day around 5 p.m. Work is done, we start cooking, walk our dogs, enjoy a meal, and curl up to watch shows. It has done wonders for our anxiety.
We hear you started a self-care book club! What inspired it? What are three reads that you’d recommend to anyone?
The Inky Phoenix (@theinkyphoenix on Instagram) is my love! I’ve always been a voracious consumer of fiction. I named the club after the mythological bird because each month we read a book, it burns bright, only for us to finish it and be reborn again with the next book and adventure.
This club has brought so many like-minded people together. I focus on titles with a pinch or dollop of magic, because we need [the] constant reminder [that] magic is still alive and brewing within us.
My top three picks right now are The House in The Cerulean Sea, The Book of Longings, and Ring Shout.
What other connectors and teachers continue to inspire your journey?
[Yogi, speaker, and activist] Seane Corn will forever be the woman to whom I owe so much. She taught me to use my voice for good, [and] how to eat humble pie and come back smarter and better. Maty Ezraty, my late [yoga] mentor, is always in my heart — and the inspiration behind one of my main characters in the novel I’m editing. Asha Patel of Asha Patel Designs is a sparkly human both in craft and spirit, and my wife, Kate Fagan, inspires me to do better and laugh everyday.
What’s your highest vision for the work that you do in the world?
I hope to help people feel comfortable in their own skin; encouraging them to look inward instead of seeking validation from the expectations of others. I hope to be a magic worker, stirring up the good stuff, remembering we’re all in a cycle of growth, [and] giving ourselves permission to come alive with each new chapter.
How can you cultivate a sense of magic and possibility in your life — no matter how packed it feels — in moments to come?
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