We caught up with the brilliant and insightful David J Wallace a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi David J, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a time you helped a customer really get an amazing result through their work with you.
Energy is divine, and when we slow down to observe the flow of energy, we start to realize that the universe is working on our behalf by presenting experiences and opportunities for us to be in alignment with our path. This reflection is a result of a success story I’m excited to share. A tale of two success stories, is what I tell myself when I think about this customer. For the sake of privacy, we’ll refer to him as Light.
One day after our wellness programming, Wellness Wednesday, Light approached me and inquired about whether or not I do spiritual consultations for people. I still remember him saying “I don’t know why but I get this feeling that there’s more to you, like you have some abilities that you don’t talk about.” Light was right, up until that point, I was well aware of my abilities (mediumship) and did do spiritual consultations, but it was only for referrals. With the amount of spiritual malpractice that happens in our world, I had chosen to take a backseat and only help those that sought out my services.
I agreed to provide a spiritual consultation for Light. The consultation jump started a spiritual journey of ascension that I’m still in awe of. Light came to the consultation with two pages of questions, and was surprised that every questions was answered without him even asking. He wanted to experience liberation, and needed the confirmation from the universe that it was possible. Light had struggled with mental health in the past, and was committed to take the holistic healing route to facilitate his healing.
Light has become an active member in our spiritual wellness community. Every time I see him, he seems lighter, and not weighed down by the problems of the world. Light has also fully committed to showing up as his authentic self with family, friends, and in social spaces. He’s also committed to growing in his spiritual journey by learning about his ancestors, learning about ways to honor them, and has even begin studying the Orishas. Light is someone that was looking for community and connection, and has found his spiritual home.
One day, Light said, “I wish more people knew about you and your abilities.” What he didn’t know was that his words impacted me in a way that pushed me to reflect on why I didn’t share with more people about my ability to facilitate healing using energy. The truth is, I’ve never felt connected to the terms medium, clairvoyant, and psychic, but I know that my divine purpose on Earth is to facilitate healing through energy work. Thanks to Light, I’ve been able to conduct hundreds of spiritual consultations because he saw my light.
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?
Dr. David J. Wallace stands as a beacon of inspiration, a conscious culture curator whose unwavering commitment to fostering Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion has become a transformative force in the pursuit of racial and social justice. As the Founder and Principal Consultant of Awakening Minds Consulting, Dr. Wallace’s journey began in the classrooms of Brooklyn, New York, where he molded young minds as an elementary school teacher. Through the corridors of education, he ascended to roles of instructional leadership in Miami and eventually became a Campus Dean at Relay Graduate School of Education.
With a passion for understanding and improving the human experience, Dr. Wallace delves into the realms of teacher self-efficacy, the experiences of male educators of color, and mental health. His research, notably on the experiences of Male Teachers of Color, has graced the pages of the Peabody Journal of Education. Beyond academia, he penned the empowering self-help guide, “Awakening Minds – 10 Life Lessons for a Conscious Culture,” a testament to his dedication to enlightenment and personal growth, published by Quarto Publishing Group on April 12th, 2022.
In a bold leap beyond traditional education, Dr. Wallace ventured into the business world, recognizing the potential to leverage Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for social experiences. Thus, Dream House Lounge emerged in the heart of the Central Business District of New Orleans, a sanctuary for mental and spiritual wellness. Dr. Wallace’s deep-rooted concern for community amplification and wellness led to the creation of a space that transcends the ordinary – where mental health intersects with spiritual well-being.
At Dream House Lounge, the Conscious Culture Wellness Program (CCWP) is not just a weekly wellness series; it’s a movement. It explores the intersection of Mental Health and Complementary and Alternative Medicine, addressing the growing challenges that impact communities negatively. Dr. Wallace envisions a liberated future, where the beauty, power, and unexplored potential within cultures are no longer masked by violence but celebrated through understanding and healing.
Rooted in frameworks such as the Cycle of Socialization, Cycle of Liberation, Liberatory Design, and Five Essentials for Workplace Mental Health & Well-Being, the CCWP seeks to bridge the gap between expertise and experience. Dr. Wallace and his team, composed of mental health professionals, medical experts, and community leaders, create a culture of learning and understanding. It’s not merely about survival; it’s about soul-care – meditation, yoga, mindfulness, alternative healing, and community healing conversations, all paving the way for future generations to thrive.
With a bold call for liberation, Dream House Lounge has already touched the lives of over 5,400 community members through its Conscious Culture Wellness Program. Beyond the program, the lounge offers an array of energy and healing products, from traditional cleansing materials like sage and Palo Santo to handcrafted SpiRitual Energy Sprays and Orisha candles. Spiritual consultations, including ancestral readings and past-life regression hypnotherapy, further demonstrate Dr. Wallace’s holistic approach to well-being.
Dr. Wallace’s academic journey, with a bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College, a Master’s in the Art of Teaching from Relay GSE, and an Educational Doctorate from St. Thomas University, reflects his dedication to continuous learning. His story is one of resilience, compassion, and a relentless pursuit of peace, love, and liberation. Driven by imagination and a commitment to dreaming big, Dr. David J. Wallace embodies the transformative power of holistic wellness, leaving an indelible mark on the path to a brighter, more liberated future.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
In the scorching heat of a challenging summer, when New Orleans felt the weight of closed bars, shuttered restaurants, and a tourism industry at an all-time low, Dr. David J. Wallace faced a personal and professional trial. The vibrant Dream House Lounge, his haven for mental and spiritual wellness, found itself grappling with financial challenges that mirrored the struggles of the broader community.
As the summer unfolded, the struggle became palpable. Tourism, the lifeblood of the city, had dwindled, leaving bars and restaurants empty. Dream House Lounge, designed to be a sanctuary, was now confronted with the harsh reality of economic downturn. The financial tide was against them, and Dr. Wallace found himself in the challenging position of not having all the funds for August rent.
In a vulnerable moment, Dr. Wallace sat down to compose an email to the landlord, admitting his financial constraints. Tears streamed down his face as he typed, overcome with a sense of embarrassment. This wasn’t just a struggle for a business; it was a personal battle against the very forces he sought to alleviate through the Conscious Culture Wellness Program.
The email, a cry for understanding, was met with unexpected grace. The landlord, recognizing the shared struggle of a tough New Orleans summer, responded with empathy. He assured Dr. Wallace that the rent could be managed without penalty, understanding the unique challenges the season brought to the city. In that moment of vulnerability, a thread of solidarity was woven, demonstrating the strength found in acknowledging and sharing our challenges.
Yet, this pivotal moment didn’t merely mark a temporary reprieve. It became the catalyst for transformation. Driven by a desire to diversify offerings and guided by a profound faith in the divine and ancestral wisdom, Dr. Wallace turned adversity into an opportunity for growth. Despite wrestling with his own mental health challenges, he channeled his energy into prayers to God, the ancestors, and the Orishas, seeking strength and inspiration.
Out of this crucible emerged the Wellness Studio, a testament to resilience and creativity. Dr. Wallace, determined to continue providing spaces for people to tend to their mental health, forged partnerships with holistic healers in the city. The result was a series of donation-based wellness classes, an invitation for the community to come together and heal collectively.
As the studio doors opened to a diverse array of healing practices, foot traffic increased, breathing new life into Dream House Lounge. The struggle that initially threatened its existence ultimately fueled its evolution. Dr. Wallace’s journey, marked by vulnerability, strength, and divine guidance, illustrates the transformative power of resilience. In the face of financial storms and personal challenges, he not only weathered the difficulties but emerged with a revitalized vision, firmly rooted in the belief that even in the toughest times, growth and abundance are possible.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
Dr. David J. Wallace’s journey is not just a tale of success but a narrative of profound lessons unlearned and embraced. A pivotal lesson emerged as he confronted the financial challenges that loomed over Dream House Lounge during a trying summer, forcing him to reevaluate deeply ingrained beliefs.
One significant realization was that success doesn’t adhere to a rigid, predetermined mold. Dr. Wallace had to unlearn the notion that success had a singular appearance or pathway. Instead, he embraced the wisdom that success is multifaceted and can take various forms. It’s not solely about reaching a predefined destination but encompasses the richness of the journey itself. This perspective shift encouraged him to be flexible, adapt to circumstances, and find success in unexpected places.
The financial hardships of the summer served as a crucible for this lesson. Faced with the challenge of making ends meet, Dr. Wallace understood that success wasn’t a linear progression but a dynamic, ever-evolving process. It required him to dream bigger, expanding offerings and modifying operating hours to align with the changing landscape. This adaptive mindset became a cornerstone of resilience, teaching him that innovation isn’t a one-time event but a continuous process essential for relevance.
The challenging times prompted a deep reflection on the nature of hard work and success. Dr. Wallace recognized the need to work not just hard but smart. The traditional belief that unwavering effort guarantees success was reshaped into a nuanced understanding that success requires strategic thinking and aligning actions with one’s passion. Operating in one’s passion, he discovered, is the key to sustainable and fulfilling success.
Another societal expectation that Dr. Wallace had to unlearn was the conventional narrative of the American dream – the trajectory of going to college, getting a job, and climbing the corporate ladder. The financial hurdles forced him to question these norms and paved the way for him to dream the dream of entrepreneurship. This shift challenged the traditional narrative and allowed him to forge his path, demonstrating that success is not confined to a predetermined script.
In the crucible of challenges, Dr. Wallace discovered the importance of speaking one’s truth. The moments of stress and adversity became the building blocks of resilience. Each challenge was an opportunity to not only survive but to thrive by staying true to one’s beliefs and values.
In the end, Dr. Wallace’s journey unfolds as a testament to the transformative power of unlearning. The financial challenges became not just obstacles but stepping stones to a more profound understanding of success, innovation, and the true essence of the American dream. Through these lessons, he emerged not only as a conscious culture curator but as a resilient entrepreneur who understands that the journey itself is a tapestry of growth, adaptation, and continuous evolution.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dhlounge.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dhlounge/reels/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-j-wallace-ed-d-b5608580/
Image Credits
The headshot was taken by JC Talk Media