We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Caline Raab a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Caline , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

I started working fairly young because I liked the idea of making my own money. It made me feel “in control.” I put that in quotes because control is an illusion — but that’s another story for another day. At 13, I was doing data entry for my mom’s company. At 15, I got my worker’s permit and started at The Gap. From then until now, I’ve held over 15 different roles across various organizations and industries, all rooted in (customer) service.

While all that experience definitely led me to where I am today — and therefore was “right” — it also felt like I kept hitting dead ends. The internal monologue was always something like: “I thought this was the direction I was supposed to be going, but I guess not. What next?” I’d find myself in toxic work environments, leave, and then start over again somewhere new…only to find the same problem. Everywhere I go, there I am. And that’s not to say I was toxic — or that they were — it’s to say I wasn’t in alignment.

All my life I’ve known I’m a natural-born leader, but man, sometimes I just want to be a follower. The truth is, I don’t actually want that, because it’s not in alignment. But it can feel so much easier to just be told what to do, complete the task, and be done. The problem is, in the bigger picture, that’s not fulfilling for me.

So there I was at 37, with a successful corporate career in San Francisco. I made it, right? But I was miserable and unsure of what to do next. I made the choice — not for the first time — to invest in myself. I even used my retirement savings to give myself space for clarity, guidance, and next steps. I started working with a holistic life coach, along with a few other practitioners, to get my life “back on track.” (Side note: if only we could see the track ahead the way we can in hindsight. But again — it all led me here. Right on track. 😉)

What I kept hearing from people was: “You’re a healer.” WTF does that even mean? I knew it didn’t mean doctor, and I wasn’t going back to school for that. Maybe a therapist? Still didn’t want to go to school for that either. So I stayed open and curious, following the flow of life, which eventually led me to two big doors.

First, I took a private Reiki I class with Reiki Master Emily Schickli in Redwood City. I left with a certificate that said I was a Reiki Practitioner — like I could set up shop that very day. If only I’d believed in myself that much then. But again, I needed the path I took. That door opened into a much bigger path.

Second, I signed up for a Shamanic Training Program. I was really just looking for a digestible retreat — something that met regularly over the course of a year rather than a one-week immersion. (As if it’s realistic to integrate everything you’ve learned in a week. At least not for me.) I wasn’t sure if I was capable of being a Shaman, but what I discovered was how to be a Shamanic Practitioner — and even more so, that I am capable of being a healer.

So what was missing? Confidence, trust, and maybe a detailed, step-by-step list of “how to make it happen” laid out by the universe. (I keep asking for that list…maybe one day it’ll come. 😉) But in reality, those things came with time: one foot in front of the other, one session after another.

So how did the idea really come together? It wasn’t a single lightbulb moment. It was a slow build of experiences, conversations, doors closing, and doors opening. Following that flow led me here — to a practice rooted in healing.

What I’ve discovered over time is that the healing most people need is actually quite simple: a safe space, a listening ear, and love. Every time I doubt that’s enough, I remember how powerful it truly is. Healing is not meant to be done alone. Connection is key. And in the end, isn’t that what we’re all here for?

Caline , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a Holistic Life Coach, Reiki Master, Shamanic Practitioner, mentor, and teacher. At this stage of my journey, I offer one-on-one sessions that blend coaching, Reiki, and shamanic healing practices. Sometimes that looks like intuitive guidance and deep listening, other times it’s energy work, ritual, or a mix of both. I also teach Reiki classes and co-teach a women’s shamanic training program with its creator, Jane Sanguinetti. Whether in private sessions or group spaces, my work is about meeting people where they are, helping them feel supported, and creating safe, grounded containers for healing and clarity.

I came to this path after a long career in corporate and customer service roles that were “successful” on paper but left me deeply unfulfilled. Investing in my own healing opened doors I didn’t know were there — first through Reiki, then through shamanic training. Throughout my life, I also had to face childhood trauma, depression, addiction, and the survival patterns that came with all of that. The same teachings that helped me heal have become the medicine I now share with others. Not surprisingly, many of the clients who find me are people who have walked similar paths — those navigating recovery, growing up with addiction in the family, or healing old wounds. It gives a sense of purpose to the hardships, and reminds me that none of it was wasted.

What I’ve discovered is that healing doesn’t have to be complicated. Most people simply need a safe space, a listening ear, and love. When people work with me, they often say they feel more like themselves, more relaxed, clearer, deeply rested, and nurtured in a way they didn’t expect. More often than not, the work touches deeper layers — ancestral or generational trauma, even past-life healing — but always it comes back to creating the space for freedom and wholeness to return.

What I’m most proud of is the way I show up for my clients and students. I think of myself less as “the healer” and more as a facilitator — weaving together sacred space, prayer, energy practices, and the guidance of spirits, ancestors, crystals, and instruments into an experience curated for the person in front of me. The real magic happens in the relationships: the trust, the care, the container we build together. That’s what sets my work apart, and that’s what I want people to know — that connection itself is the medicine.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Honestly, my best source of new clients has been referrals, relationships, and word-of-mouth. Most marketing efforts are designed to get you to that place, but I was lucky — I began there. All of it has stemmed from relationship building. People already felt my gifts outside of a formal session, so it was a natural transition when I stepped fully into this work.

I started my business by offering sessions out of my home, where I created a healing space that feels grounding, safe, and supportive. Later, I was given the opportunity to offer my services out of the Creative Healing Center in Livermore by Michelle Walker, the owner of the space. The Center has been established for over ten years and holds a strong community of healers and clients. Being part of that community has opened so many new connections for me. Again, it comes back to relationship building — with the space, with the other healers, and with the clients.

At the heart of it, though, everything circles back to relationships. That’s where my business has always grown.

Have you ever had to pivot?

The biggest pivot I’ve made was leaving my corporate career in the cosmetic industry to step into healing work. Cosmetics can absolutely support people in feeling confident and expressing themselves, but for me, it started to feel too surface-level — like I was skimming over the wounds when what I really wanted was to help people heal them. During the pandemic, when the world felt cracked wide open, I realized I needed to do work that felt deeper and more meaningful to me. That’s when I chose healing.

At the same time, I don’t think of pivoting as just one big moment. Life is full of pivots, and one of my strengths is being flexible with them. Every time I think I’m headed in one direction, I get nudged into another — whether it’s a private Reiki class that suddenly becomes a group of three, or a carefully planned teaching day that shifts based on the questions, energy, and needs in the room. I follow the flow, adjust in the moment, and meet people where they’re at.

Most of the time, I move through pivots with ease. Other times, I’m like a duck — calm on the surface but paddling hard underneath. But every time, I end up reminded that it works out as it’s meant to. Being open to pivots has only borne more fruit, and it keeps me aligned with what really matters.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.calineraab.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caline.raab/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caline-raab-5650002b/

Image Credits

Meli Miller
Gillian Ewing