We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kayla Adreene Widdes a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kayla Adreene, thanks for joining us today. Looking back on your career, have you ever worked with a great leader or boss? We’d love to hear about the experience and what you think made them such a great leader.

My very first mentor in 2016, Kimberly will forever have a place in my heart, held in gratitude. I met Kimberly when I was first getting sober and trying to reconnect with my spirituality while working through deep religious resentment.

There she was, this middle aged woman with Firey Red Hair, driving a Lexus with “AA Woman” plates, top down, just a f*cking powerhouse living her best life.

To this day I believe she was a Saint of sorts, an archangel that walked among us, in completely unexpected form.

Kimberly was agnostic, cursed every other word and disliked what she disliked as well as loved what she loved. She lived out loud without concern for others approval or acceptance of her.

She said things like

“Nothing changes if nothing changes” “That sounds like it’s not your circus, not your monkeys”
“Time to put your big girl panties on”

But never with a tough love undertone, rather it seemed to come with a knowing of your worth. She perpetuated a courage that I forgot I too had within me. She helped me remember to prioritize myself, because if I can’t show up for myself I have no place showing up for others. To walk the walk, not just on the runway, but when no one is looking.

And most importantly she taught me the Power and Magic of Love.

You see, while Kimberly was agnostic I have never met a more spiritual person. Because she was real. She embodied light AND shadow. She was open minded and hearted. She didn’t claim to know anything “absolutely” in regard to spiritual beliefs. And at the same time she knew what worked for her and resonated with her without needing to have others approve or agree.

For her, Love was her Higher Power. A Power beyond understanding, bigger than just the individual, that has always has existed and always will exist (as far as we know), a Power that can enable miraculous things. For example when she was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and given 3 months to live (by multiple doctors), she ended up saying “f*ck that” and living over 10 years.

Obviously there was much action taken to support her will to live, but it is no doubt the real fuel was the Love for her children. There was no one else to raise them. Dying simply was not an option for her in her mind. She defied the odds, she was a miracle.

Then when she saw both kids leave home, proud of who they were and where they were going she stopped fighting. She was exhausted. She inspired, loved, supported and created all that she was meant to in this lifetime. Selfishly there are times I wish she was still physically here. But I know that she is free from her body, and her energy lives on through me and the many, many people whos hearts she touched.

Even on days the “God” word just isn’t vibing with me, I always have a connection to a Higher Power.

Because of Kimberly I know that Higher Power to be Love.

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

At around age 8 or 9 I became very aware of my innate clairvoyant abilities. I would say this connection is what truly got me “into the industry”. I grew up from age 8 to 13 in an old mining house that was very alive. I constantly heard the spirits and saw shapes and shadows moving in the house. My Mom told me to ignore it. At Baptist Church and Awana Club I learned I may be a witch (on top of being Queer), and I was “playing with hellfire”. I quickly looked for ways to drown out my natural clairvoyant abilities and avoid loving and accepting myself. A decade long journey with drugs and alcohol began. At the end of this journey I discovered the one person you cannot hide from or avoid: Yourself.
I perpetually felt like I didnt want to live with myself, but I also couldn’t get rid of myself. So I chose to look myself in the mirror, accept myself, get sober and begin to take action to do the inner work and truly learn what it meant to Love and celebrate my Queer, Witchy, self.

I worked on myself, attended therapy, experimented with different spiritual practices, went to school for Integrated Psychology, and began mentoring/sponsoring others.

As I did this a method for Healing and Empowerment developed.

What came to fruition was the 5 Pillar Method of DFL Intuitive Guidance (Aura, Breath, Emotions, Intuition, Chakras)
This method is wrapped into hour long, transformative, spiritual experiences or “Sessions” that create container for healing and empowerment.
Over time these sessions lead one to align with their Soul Purpose, and design a SP-DFL blueprint for a spiritual practice that works for them.

DFL Intuitive Guidance Sessions awaken and empower the healer, the mystic, the psychic, in you and provide grounding and straight forward blueprints that will keep you in alignment with your ideal joy.

I am proud of the fact that in 2020 I took the leap and left my steady full time job to focus of my business and DFL Intuitive Guidance. I am also very proud to be in the process of certifying others in the DFL Intuitive Guidance Method.

What I would like others to know about me is I’m not special. All of the ideal joy, the magic and the purpose I get to live aligned with YOU CAN TOO. It takes investment, intention, dedication, compassion and acceptance. And it is 1000% worth it.

There are plenty of paths, people, and methods out there for healing and empowerment. If my message and vibe resonates with you here’s what you need to know:

I work with Goddesses, Gays and They’s.

I offer both virtual and in person services based on client location and preference.

I offer 1 Free Question for first time clients

I do $22 “Just the Cards” Readings

I offer hour long DFL Intuitive Guidance Sessions.

(You can do 1 session on a focused topic, but creating a package/program that supports your personal goals is highly recommended for the most long term, results.)

I practice spiritual consent so I will not do a reading or spiritual work for someone else for you.

For those looking to dive deep, I hold H.E.R. Spiritual Wellness Retreats and Events.

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

I would absolutely, without a doubt, choose exactly what I am doing today. I would take every step and misstep, experience all the trauma, and all of the beautiful, powerful, ugly and painful, so I could get where I am today. I would LOVE to tell past me that I get to be an “Intuitive Guide and Mystic Mentor”; that I would design a method for Healing and Empowerment and watch it work for countless people and the magic of witnessing and supporting these transformations would lead to me living in my Ideal Joy. I can just imagine my face. #mindblown

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I used to believe I was meant to be a High School Psychologist. I felt I was called to help “troubled teens”. I remember when I interviewed for the position as a High School Academic Coach, I told my boss this goal, and she said

” Welp, this job will certainly help you decide if thats what you want to do!”

I was so offended. I thought I already KNEW that was what I wanted to do.
Turns out she was right. About three years in I realized two things.

One, that I felt sharing my story, my experiences, strength and hope was crucial in helping others, but it would not appropriate to do this as a therapist/psychologist.

And two, that the “troubled teen” I needed to help heal was actually my own inner teen. I experienced a personification of being able to be there for myself in various ways mirrored in others. I learned to be the support person my inner teen needed.

With my truth and clarity I chose to pivot, away from my family amd societies expectations of me. I got to look at what I REALLY felt my soul called to, and ultimately that lead me to manifest a life more magical than my wildest dreams.

Contact Info:

• Website: Linktr.ee/designsforloving
• Instagram: @designsforloving
• Facebook: Facebook.com/designsforloving
• Other: Retreats/Events Instagram : @herdesertretretreats

Image Credits
@rawimages photography Daria Van Nice