Who Am I?
Maggie Lynn Negrete (she/they) is a Pittsburgh-based illustrator, educator and mother who is launching her profession as an Astrologer and card reader.
Illustrator
I specialize in line art portraits and editorial illustrations, zines, and hand-lettering. As an illustrator, my work has been seen internationally through projects like Women in Sound, throughout my city for clients such as the City of Pittsburgh, the Carnegie Museum of Art and the Pittsburgh City Paper. As an artist, I am affiliated with the Pittsburgh Zine Fair, the NotWhite Collective and Boom Concepts. To view more of my freelance work, visit my portfolio site.
Educator
I’m an award winning educator that focuses on elevating youth voices and promoting civic engagement through zines, storytelling, and typography. I have run afterschool programs for MGR Youth Empowerment and the Brashear Association focusing on project based learning across artistic mediums, technology and environmental learning, including gardening. I have a certificate in Early Education and Child Development from NAEYC.
Astrologer & witch
I was raised in a Presbyterian and Catholic family but discovered Astrology, witchcraft and Buddhism at an early age. I had my first “religious experience” watching Sri Sri Ravi Shankar chant when I was 8. As I explored my Mexican, Italian and Irish heritage, I became more committed to an earth-based transcendental spirituality whose foundation is built on Western Astrology as a tool to describe the rhythms of nature and karma. My beliefs manifest in green and kitchen witchery and divination through cards.
I work with the energies of all the planetary bodies, the elements, plant/animal spirits, ancestral spirits and the goddesses Tlazolteotl (Aztec) and Reitia (Venetian) specifically.
Mother
For me, no label is as important as Mother. I have been “Mama Maggie” for a long time, nurturing the people around me and manifesting creative projects, but a surprise pregnancy changed everything — I left my job to raise my child and became intensely aware of the limitations of my body, time and focus. Committing to being the best role model for my daughter means honoring my native gifts and living fully within my values. That’s why I started La Mama Magia.