We recently connected with Dana Whitby and have shared our conversation below.
Dana, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Before we talk about all of your success, let’s start with a story of failure. Can you open up about a time when you’ve failed?
I’ve loved oracle and tarot cards for as long as I can remember, and publishing my own deck has been lifelong aspiration. In 2020, I decided to finally make this dream become a reality. I determined a theme, began writing card descriptions, and commissioned an artist to create 4 pieces of card artwork as samples for publishing companies. I eagerly sent out submissions, but the subsequent 6-9 months of waiting for responses felt painfully long. With each email or mailed letter, I received some variation of, “After careful consideration, we have determined your submission is not a fit for us. This decision is based on our own editorial needs and is not a reflection of your work’s merit. We wish you the best!” I was easily able to roll the first few off of my back, but once I reached a total of 10 “no’s”, I absolutely felt defeated. I spent some time pondering whether this project of mine was even worthwhile if no one was interested in it. Yet, amidst the setbacks, a flicker of determination ignited within me. I decided to continue on my path and research self-publishing, although I had no idea how I would be able to fund such an expensive endeavor. Tragically, my grandfather passed away in 2021. However, his unexpected inheritance gift coincided with my readiness to pursue self-publishing. It felt like a cosmic nudge, urging me to continue on. My deck is now published and available on Etsy! I am forever grateful to my grandfather for his assistance from beyond and proud of my own tenacity and determination to see the project through.
Dana, 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 call myself a Divine Messenger because I am able to bring messages from the other side and share them with my clients in order to facilitate healing and personal evolution. However, I started out as a traditional therapist after earning my M.A.Ed in School Counseling. I realized that traditional therapy was only able to serve people to a certain extent, and I knew there were modalities that could bring deeper healing to my clients. I obtained certifications in Regression Therapy, Meditation, and Holy Fire Reiki. I am different from those in the traditional mental health field because I utilize these spiritual modalities to find deeper self-awareness for my clients. But I am also different from those in the spiritual field because I have a traditional background and am able to utilize those formal skills that I possess. I love to find the axis point between the mainstream and the mystical.
Getting to this place in my business has not been easy at all. I had to address quite a bit of fear around how I would be perceived by others who didn’t agree with my work. I can’t say these fears are completely gone, but each time they arise, I remind myself of the higher purpose of my work. I want to be a safe place for people to express their emotions, to feel seen, and to find real results from the modalities I offer. That is truly what keeps me going!
How did you build your audience on social media?
I view social media as a platform for genuine connections, where I can engage with people in a heart-focused way. To establish my presence, I leaned into live videos early on. This allowed me to engage in conversations with followers, sharing insights about myself and showcasing my skills while responding to their comments in real time. Rather than viewing followers solely as potential clients, I see them as potential friends and allies. My goal is to speak to them through the lens of human experience and connect there first. On social media, I like showing my playful and lighthearted side, while also showcasing my unique brand of magic.
Have you ever had to pivot?
I’ve had to adapt quite a bit in my short time as an entrepreneur! With a diverse range of skills and a tendency to prioritize others’ needs over my own, I often struggled to focus on what truly excited me to offer my clients. Initially, I offered a wide array of services—like Holy Fire Reiki, card readings, regressions, and meditations—thinking I had to cover all bases. It took years to realize what I genuinely enjoyed doing. As I streamlined my offerings, I discovered that attracting clients became much easier when I focused on what ignited my own passion, rather than trying to predict what others might want. I’ve learned that when we center our business around our passions, marketing becomes more natural, and our work becomes more meaningful and fulfilling for both ourselves and our clients.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.danawhitby.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danasoulrises/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesoulrisingpodcast
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/danasoulrises
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/HA8TOBkAzKI
- Other: Insight Timer: https://insighttimer.com/soulrisingpodcast
Image Credits
Jennifer Ann of Coral Antler