We recently connected with Jen Kay and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Jen thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights 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.
My life experiences with abuse were the catalyst for the creation of my Finally Free Mentoring business. I often found myself in abusive situations throughout my life. I would somehow find a way to let go of a toxic abusive situation and then soon find myself in yet another one. I could never seem to break free for good. A few of my relationships were unsafe and even life-threatening and I couldn’t seem to escape that pattern. From the outside, I appeared to be full of love and happiness and was praised for what a strong empowered woman I was. The reality of my life that I hid was quite grim, so much so that I will spare you all the disturbing details. I was living a fake life, far from one of my core values of being authentic.
In 2020 I managed to escape another abusive relationship and was really struggling to stay free. I attended a healing conference and met a few mentors who I decided to start working with. Something had to drastically change because I didn’t want to repeat the same mistakes again.
I attended a retreat where I did an Arrow Break Ceremony and walked on fire! The idea behind an Arrow Break is that you write on the arrow what you want to break free from, essentially the arrow represents the weapon you are using against yourself, then you stand with the arrow pointing at your throat with a facilitator holding the other end. You speak what you claim to embrace going forward while stepping courageously into the arrow, which then breaks, symbolically breaking free from what’s holding you back.
I was certain I was going to write my ex’s name on my first arrow. After all, that was the most dangerous, toxic relationship I couldn’t seem to break free from, or so I thought. Instead what came out on my arrow was a statement about my religion. I didn’t realize one of the most damaging relationships I had was the experiences and beliefs I had developed practicing my religion.
I will never forget that experience, the first time I had an arrow pressed up against my throat, speaking an empowered statement and walking into the arrow, shattering it into pieces. That ceremony helped me break free from a lifelong block that I didn’t even know was in my way. It was POWERFUL!! It changed my life and I knew at that moment I would be facilitating the same kind of empowering events for others struggling to break free and stay free. When I posted the pictures and video of the event on social media I said “You watch, I’ll be offering these events myself one day”. I knew I wanted to offer others the same breakthrough experiences, thus the birthing of my mentoring business. Sure enough, now I’ve taken over 100 individuals through Arrow Break Ceremonies and even hosted a couple of fire walk ceremonies. It’s one of the main things I offer with my mentoring
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m Jen Kay, a bold and beautiful work in progress. I’m just a human appreciating life on this planet for over half of a century now.
For my day job, I get to do the fulfilling and rewarding work of advocating for residents in long-term care nursing homes and assisted living facilities. I am the Long-Term Care Ombudsman for Davis County, Utah. I’m a passionate mama bear, helping residents, who can’t always help themselves, get the quality of life they deserve and desire.
I also am growing my business, Finally Free Mentoring. Because I have walked the walk, I have been successful in creating experiences that help people let go, break free, and stay free from toxic relationships of all kinds. As mentioned above, I host Arrow Break Ceremonies and firewalks. I also connect people to each other through support circles, and facilitate sacred travel, as well as collaborate with other amazing leaders to provide life-changing moments for others.
I teach others that they have everything they need already inside of them and that they are their own best authority. The most powerful, impactful path of healing I’ve experienced is to get in tune with my own body. Listening to myself and my body is key to everything I do now, and I’m on a mission to help others do the same. I lead somatic practices like mindful dancing and movement. I love connecting to Mother Nature and can be found sun-gazing, hugging trees, putting my feet in the stream, or standing barefoot on the earth (even in the snow). 🙂
Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?
In 2023, I voyaged to Egypt with many women in a Queen’s Court cohort. We went to a local shop and were taught the ancient properties of sacred oils by a fifth-generation alchemist, Gamal Abul. There were Goddess oils that I felt called to bring back to share with people in Utah. I created roller bottles for each Goddess oil and made a special blend of Divine Masculine and Divine Feminine, which I call Sacred Union. I also make bath salts with the oils added. I discovered it’s a very time-consuming process, as I prepare the product by myself. I would not want to mass-produce, and it’s not my favorite part of my business. While I sell the oils and bath salts, the ultimate experience is receiving an oil anointing. I have the person speak an affirmation while anointing and activating the chakras on their body with the oils. Empowering others to connect to the divine through the oils is the part I enjoy. I have learned that creating products is a side of my business that I can let go of.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Besides having the strength to leave multiple toxic, abusive relationships and situations, my biggest life pivot was leaving my religion. I’ve had to unravel my whole identity and beliefs about everything in life. I was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as a Mormon or LDS). Well into my 40’s I faithfully practiced living by church doctrine and following the prophet and my local church leaders. It took me a long time to realize my relationship with the church was so damaging for me personally. My heart and core values were different than the church’s teachings but I had to excuse and try to push the nudges of my own intuition and answers away for years, especially in relation to teachings about self-sovereignty, women, LGBTQ, healthy sexuality, tithes/offerings, and inconsistencies with church history. The hardest part has been the strain and changes it’s put on my family and friendships, as well as the loss of some of my community. I have many people I love dearly who are still believers in a church that I find is harmful with many of its practices. I acknowledge that the church does many good things but can no longer subscribe and excuse the harm I feel they are causing. That’s really hard to explain to loved ones and it has been difficult to change beliefs that seem permanently etched in my brain. Despite this challenge, I’ve learned to embrace the wonderful adventures this life has to offer and I’ve discovered my life’s purpose is to provide experiences that will help others do the same.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jenkay.my.canva.site/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finallyfreejen/#
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenniferkay1745 or my Facebook group Finally Free Empowered Women
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenkay1
- Other: Email: [email protected]
Image Credits
Faleshia Mary Photography, Beth Riley, Melissa Lee, Tiffany Naccarato, Jennifer Kay, Kara Yeates