About Mariela

Mariela Andersen, a Colombian adoptee raised in the United States, shares her heartfelt journey of reuniting with her biological family in Home Sweet Casa: A Journey to the Universal Heart. Through the twists and turns of exploring her birth country and connecting with those who share her DNA, Mariela uncovered profound revelations about identity, love, and belonging. She now finds joy in sharing her story to shed light on the adoptee experience and inspire others to challenge their perceptions, embrace their truth, and embark on their own journeys of self-discovery.

For over a decade, Mariela has worked with children through education, mindfulness, and creativity — interpreting for Deaf students, teaching yoga, and facilitating art and movement sessions in shelters and community spaces. She is a certified children’s yoga instructor and author of Squirrel’s Big Question, a story that mirrors her own path of adoption and self-discovery, encouraging young readers to explore identity, belonging, and the courage to be themselves.

Through her volunteer work with drawchange — a nonprofit providing art therapy for impoverished and unhoused children — Mariela served in Ethiopia and along the border, supporting programs that use creative expression as a tool for emotional healing and empowerment.

Today, she channels all of these experiences into guiding others — both children and adults — back to their center. Combining mindfulness, presence, and spiritual insight, she helps people reconnect with their inner wisdom and remember the wholeness that has always been within them.