Mariana Gordon

Mariana Gordon is a passionate visionary in mindfulness and holistic healing, devoted to helping children and adults find inner peace. As a Certified Crystal Energy Healer, Reiki Master, Breathwork and Meditation Practitioner, and Sound Healer, she empowers others to cultivate calm, resilience, and emotional awareness.

With a background as a school psychologist, Mariana spent years supporting children through emotional challenges, but felt there was more she could offer—tools that would stay with them for life. Her journey led her to energy healing, sound therapy, and breathwork, witnessing how these practices help children release stress, connect with their emotions, and return to a place of peace.

Her debut book, The Meditating Mantis, was born from this mission, to give children simple, magical tools to regulate emotions, trust their hearts, and discover the power of mindfulness.Through storytelling, healing sessions, and empowering resources, Mariana helps children calm their minds and step into their full potential, one breath at a time.

Sondra Bakinde is a writer, artist, interior designer, and mother who merges creativity, mindfulness, and ancient wisdom to inspire children and families. With a background in visual communication, fine arts, and design, her work reflects a multidimensional approach influenced by surrealism, spirituality, and holistic living.

Deeply inspired by her own childhood filled with nature, wonder, and poetry, Sondra co-created The Meditating Mantis as a way to share meaningful life tools with children. Integrating elements from Buddhism, Stoicism, and metaphysics, along with themes of gratitude, prayer, and emotional balance, her storytelling invites young readers to trust their hearts, calm their minds, and reconnect with their inner world.

Influenced by artists like Magritte and Dali, and teachers like Dr. Joe Dispenza and Marcus Aurelius, her creative process blends the whimsy of rhyming poetry with deeper messages about self-awareness, health, and resilience. Sondra’s mission is to empower children to thrive—spiritually, emotionally, and creatively—by offering stories that spark imagination and encourage mindful living in a fast-paced world.