We recently connected with Chel Benyair and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Chel, thanks for joining us today. Folks often look at a successful business and imagine it was an overnight success, but from what we’ve seen this is often far from the truth. We’d love to hear your scaling up story – walk us through how you grew over time – what were some of the big things you had to do to grow and what was that scaling up journey like?

Imposter Syndrome: I had it bad. After a full decade of exploring healing modalities and healing myself from multiple traumas, I was aching to move into the healing realm professionally, and begin to help others. I started following all the authors of the books that had helped me along the way and all of the big names in the spiritual movements. And comparison started getting to me. “What do I have to offer that isn’t already out there?,” was a question that I asked myself often. It took me years to answer that question confidently. For what seemed like forever, I stalled out overanalyzing my offering, my company name, etc.

I took a course designed to help “Lightworkers Rise” and it was very impactful. Through very targeted content, each heart-centered participant began to get out of our own way, support each other, and reflect the gifts that we saw in our virtual classmates. We were challenged to try new things, to be bad at them, and to keep trying until we got better.
I then took a Reiki 1 training and it connected so many dots in my healing journey along the way. My gifts and everything that had led me to that moment began to flow in. I guess the Universe decided that I had taken enough steps out of my comfort zone, and all sorts of magic began to appear in my life. Synchronicities abound and I am offered a Reiki job in a spa that requires me to quickly get my Reiki 2 certification. I didn’t have time to hesitate, so I moved forward. Another move was in the cards though, as we moved locations and the spa reiki job fell away. What I didn’t know then was that the Universe was opening up a wider path, one to owning my own business.

I opened my Reiki business on 2/22/22 and had one client for awhile. Eventually, she posted a review that led to another client. Word of mouth began working better for me than all the social media posting I had been doing and within a year, I had a steady client list. There were many moments of doubt along the way, particularly at business networking events where people seemed utterly confused about what I was doing in the world. But I kept at it and found a few local practitioners that resonated with where I was going. Eventually a holistic community was formed in my area and it is amazing how much it continues to grow!

I obtained my Reiki Master certification, and stepped out of my comfort zone once again as I started co-hosting events (because leading them alone brought up the imposter syndrome again). It was uncomfortable and I relied largely on scripts that I wrote in the beginning, rather than going with the flow. I honor that as part of my process. My throat chakra was tender and fragile and needed to be exercised.

I am proud to say that I am now co-leading the first, of what will be many, destination healing retreats. My “Embracing Embodiment” Women’s Wellness Retreat in Charleston, SC, is the perfect marriage of the decade I spent planning high-end events before my healing journey, and the long road into the healing realm I have taken. I came to see that all the roads I have taken along the way have all been leading me here. Nothing was a misstep, they were all threads to the pattern I am weaving. The tapestry may have a few loops and gaps, but it is unique to me.

This is what I offer that no one else does, my own gifts, journey, and soul signature in the healing work that I do. It is what we all offer, the authentic prism of our life’s experiences through the realm of our work. No one can duplicate that.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a highly intuitive Reiki Master, Certified Sound Healer, Root Cause Practitioner, Akashic Record Reader, and Retreat Leader. As a Projector (Human Design), I am gifted at peering deeply into others and seeing their patterns. As an empath and intuitive energy healer, I can feel the energy in a person’s body through my own and can help release any blockages. I have developed a rich relationship with my Higher Guidance and am often gifted insight and messages from other realms. As a Root Cause Practitioner, I have learned the language of the emotional and physical bodies and how they hold memories and beliefs for us until we are ready to process them. All of this together weaves an interesting tapestry that I use to facilitate deep healing for my clients. Together we break patterns and process long-held, and often difficult to find, beliefs that are holding you back from living your best life. I pride myself most on being a compassionate, non-judgmental safe space for vulnerability and healing.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

I am co-hosting wellness retreats with my best friend, and fellow energy and sound healer, Caroline Paradis of Clarity Wellness in Fairhaven, MA. We met 24 years ago at the College of Charleston as seniors. We shared an “Interpersonal Communication” course together as juniors. She and I sat in the same row of that class, she in the front seat and I in the very back row. She was bubbly and blond and I was dark and moody. We were polar opposites in so many ways. We were paired up for a back-to-back communication exercise and without ever having spoken to each other, we nailed it.

And then 6 months later, we ended up working front desk at the same hotel. During our first shift working together, whatever outward differences we had paled in comparison to the (what we would come to later understand was an) undeniable energetic connection we shared. We have been inseparable energetically every since, although that first year was the only year that we have ever lived in the same location. Our friendship has survived a physical distance of 3,700 miles for over seven years, when I was living in France. And yet, every week despite the time differences, we had a catch up phone call.

We have supported each other in our growth journeys, life lessons, and healing. She became a Reiki Master first and was my Reiki teacher. Without her, I would not be who I am today.

I am thrilled to be able to partner with her and share our complementary gifts with others, as well as the shining, supportive example our friendship. I want all women to see how uplifting this type of relationship can be.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Word of mouth. In the healing realm, trust is paramount. It is hard to book a session where you are vulnerable with a stranger. I have been there, I know. More than anything else, having clients speak on my behalf has been the best business generator. When someone you trust recommends someone they trust, it instantly gives you deep credibility. I didn’t ask for reviews, I just gave the best version of myself to each and every client. They could feel that, and they gifted me back with kind words and support. It has been the backbone of my business.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.insightandillumination.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/insight.and.illumination
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chelbenyair
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chel-benyair-1a780a3/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@12thdimensionretreats