We were lucky to catch up with Jackie Rose Wuest recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jackie Rose, thanks for joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

My parents, Dave & Gloria Tafoya, were incredibly driven and hard working. Their dedication to each other and our family has inspired my strong work ethic and my own devotion to my family. My Dad met my Mom in El Paso, Texas. They fell in love and started a family. They eventually moved to Denver.
My Dad was a sign maker since the age of 16. Back then signs were hand painted. When computers, plotters and printers became the widely used in the sign making industry during the 90’s, he put himself through night school to learn to type and use the latest technology in sign making. My dad, an optimist by nature, understood that he had to learn and grow if he wanted to continue making signs for a living. So, he did. He happily worked in his chosen field until he retired last year.
My Mom left the ghettos of Juarz, Mexico when she was just a teenager. My Mom overcame her extremely impoverished living situation with sheer determination and pure-hearted bravery. She swam across the Rio Grande and found work in Texas waiting tables and eventually became a bartender. She built a new life her herself and invited her parents and siblings to join her. She has always helped her family of origin. fi they needed help with finances, housing, finding work or just needed a shoulder to cry on, my Mom was always there for them, she still is.
I am forever grateful that I came from such committed, hardworking parents.
I love you Mom and Dad!!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I have always wanted to be a revolutionary. When I was a kid, I felt somehow deeply connected to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his mission to create equality in the world through non-violent civil disobedience. Then as a teenager I was awed and inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and his devotion to free his nation through non-violent resistance. Fast forward a few decades and I am still in love with the revolutionary spirit! After facing my own struggles for equality in the workplace I have come to the conclusion that we literally must follow the wisdom of Gandhi and BECOME the change we wish to see in the world. This idea has taken root in my consciousness and has guided me to build my own healing practice, where all are welcome and treated with respect.

I offer Reiki healing and training. Reiki is a very gentle yet extremely effective healing modality that helps us overcome illness and trauma. It is my number one favorite way to help others as it induces very deep relaxation, activating the parasympathetic nervous system, allowing you to rest, digest, and heal. Reiki helps us access the subconscious mind so lasting positive changes can occur. I offer one-on-one Reiki healing sessions for people and pets. I offer Reiki classes and certification for those who are called to learn this sacred practice.

I also provide Light Therapy, using harmonic frequencies and LED lights in a variety of colors including near infrared. Light therapy, also known as photobiomodulation, offers specific wavelengths of light pulsed at harmonic resonant frequencies, relieving stress & inducing deep relaxation, bringing you into your parasympathetic nervous system. Light Therapy increases oxygenation, increasing energy (ATP), enhancing nitric oxide induction, enhancing cell regeneration, increasing collagen production, increasing and balancing alkalinity in the body. These light pads are medically approved & FDA OTC cleared to increase circulation & relieve pain associated with repetitive use, injury & wounds, neuropathy, muscle spasms & strains, arthritis, tendonitis, muscle & joint stiffness & aches. These light pads are also cleared by the FDA to reduce fine lines & wrinkles.

As an ordained minister of love and light, I offer spiritual coaching and guidance, serving as your guide to your higher self & inner knowing. We are pure spirit, encased in beautiful human form. Our spirit soul is known as sat, chit, ananda , which means eternal, full of knowledge & bliss. It is my honor and joy to help people access that eternal knowledge & bliss by reconnecting to their divine nature with loving practices that prime body, mind, & spirit for deeper connections with Great Spirit and inner wisdom & peace.

I also handcraft organic herbal body care products that are infused with Reiki’s healing energy. I make my own herbal extractions without the use of chemical solvents. I use only the finest organic ingredients. I mainly use recyclable and sustainable packaging, like glass containers and biodegradable shrink wrap.

I have a lot of different interests and passions, but helping others will always be my favorite. I am your friendly Colorado Medicine Woman

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I have built my business mainly by word-of-mouth. My customers and clients tell their friends, coworkers and family about their experiences with me or my products and I find myself with new clients and customers! I simply do my thing and the results create ripples in the community.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

My journey has had some bumpy roads and I have had to pivot several times since starting out back in 2019. The most recent pivot was the decision to discontinue manufacturing hemp products. This was a painful decision to make as I am super attached to healing with cannabis! Back in 2018 I pivoted away from opening a medical marijuana dispensary after my business partner’s mother (she was the main investor) rejected me as the head grower when I suggested we grow high CBD strains. Back then CBD was not so well known, and she told me “my head was not in the game!” That was a painful blow that led me to open my own hemp manufacturing company. Now, nearly five years later I feel I am being pushed off the playing field by all the red tape the government has laid down. The ever-increasing fees and constant changes to the regulations has led me and others in the hemp industry to believe that they are purposefully pushing small businesses like mine to abandon our dreams by extorting our profit margins. What to speak of the increase in cost of goods due to inflation, no thanks to the Federal Reserve (the institution responsible for inflation). This latest pivot has really sent me on an inward journey. I had to ask myself very tough questions and have come to conclusion that I am a healer no matter if I am manufacturing hemp products or not. Helping others is my goal. Thankfully I am flexible and am able to carry on as a Medicine Woman despite this sizable setback.

Contact Info:

• Website: coloradomedicinewoman.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colorado.medicine.woman/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ColoradoMedicineWoman
• Twitter: @COmedicineWoman
• Youtube: @coloradomedicinewoman
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/colorado-medicine-woman-aurora