We recently connected with Linda Spellman and have shared our conversation below.

Linda, appreciate you joining us today. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.

Eight years ago, I was a successful Marketing executive for a multi-billion-dollar organization. My family lived nearby and my life was just as I thought I wanted it to be. That life was permanently disrupted when I went out one night and was drugged and assaulted. I went to work the next day, trying to pretend it didn’t happen, I didn’t have time for distractions. But that didn’t work. My life felt like nothing was the same. After months of pushing through and ignoring my rapidly declining mental health, I had to admit I needed help. I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and made the most difficult decision I have ever had to make and took a leave from my job to seek treatment.

While I was in treatment, a truly remarkable ability began to show itself. I began to see and communicate with the spirits of those who have crossed over. As a former data geek with an MBA, being a spiritual medium is the LAST thing I thought I would be doing. But I believe when God has a plan for you, you embrace it and trust that it’s right. My PTSD kept me from being able to function in the corporate world as I used to, but I believe that was purposeful. With the new gifts I have been given I can heal people in an incredibly humbling and meaningful way. As a result, I started my business and named it Light of the Phoenix after my journey and my purpose. My life burned down around me, but I was able to rise from the ashes like a Phoenix and every day I try to be a Light for others so they can do the same.
I wanted to do more to help other trauma survivors, and I was curious if developing spiritual gifts after a traumatic experience happened to other people. For my book Trauma-Inspired, I interviewed 50 other people of all ages, genders and trauma history who also developed gifts after trauma. Not only, that, but we all followed/are following a very similar path to healing. Thanks to all the brave survivors who shared their stories with me, I was able to develop a detailed path to healing for other trauma survivors with tips from those who have been through it. In addition, Trauma-Inspired includes guidance for loved ones of trauma survivors on how they can help.
My life is unrecognizable from what it used to be, but I have learned and grown so much and I have a much better sense of myself and what really matters. Now I know that my purpose is to give people hope.

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 background and context?

I am an author, speaker, spiritual medium, mentor and energy cleansing specialist. All of these really came as a result of the sexual assault that completely changed my life. My spiritual medium services grew from my new ability to communicate with the other side. As I mentioned, this began when I left my corporate job to go into treatment after my latest sexual assault. An interesting career switch for a Christian! I consider myself as much a spiritual mentor as a spiritual medium. All the reviews on my website lightofthephoenix.com will tell you that I’m very good at the psychic medium aspect of my job, but it’s more than that. I really care about my clients, and they can sense that. I’m here for them and I’m going to do the very best I can to help. The most humbling experience in the world is when someone tells you that they chose to stay alive because of their time with you. That makes everything worth it.
I think of my spiritual energy cleansings as soul transfusions. Whether it’s the soul of a person, a house, or a business. We pick up and carry the echoes of old disappointments, betrayals, and trauma as we walk through life. When a home is for sale, realtors hire me so that all the old, stale energy is removed and their prospective buyers can see themselves in the home. New homeowners want to start their new lives with fresh energy as well. I help businesses remove obstacles and stagnancy. My personal energy cleansings usually focus on removing old feelings, patterns, relationships, and struggles so people can get a new lease on life. My cleansings are done remotely and the change is palpable as soon as I’m done.
One of my favorite things to do is to teach my workshops. Everyone has the ability to tap into their spiritual gifts, and I love showing people how to do just that. They are fun and filled with hands on exercises.
I wrote my first book, Trauma-Inspired, to help other trauma survivors and to help the people who love them. As a survivor, I read and watched many success stories about recovering from trauma but I couldn’t apply them to my life. That’s why I wanted my book to be different. Trauma-Inspired isn’t just about me, it’s about 50 other trauma survivors from all backgrounds whose experiences, feelings, struggles and successes are combined into a book in which other people can see themselves. I wanted to let survivors know they are not alone.
It’s also important to realize that trauma survivors aren’t the only people affected by trauma. It was really important to me to help people help their loved ones by giving them tips from other trauma survivors and real and raw insights into what the aftermath of trauma can look like and how it can feel.
Speaking on trauma recovery is important to me because I know what it’s like to be there. I have a special place in my heart for kids and teens especially. I have done thousands of readings in over 10 countries and many of my clients have been trauma survivors. Between what I have learned from them and what I learned from writing my book, I have a well-rounded perspective on trauma healing. I like to share what I have learned to help others.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I think you can build a reputation in various ways, but I think a reputation will be built for you if you are honest, genuine and compassionate. Particularly in any field where you are working with people who have suffered any sort of trauma or loss. In my work I interact with people in some of their most vulnerable moments. The most important thing I can do is to be honest, treat them with respect and compassion, and stand by the services they have paid to receive. People who have survived trauma often become more clairsentient or in tune with picking up on other people’s feelings. They will know if you are phoning it in, or saying something you don’t mean or don’t believe in. Be real and be honest. If they are having a bad day or a rough time, don’t throw your policies out the window, but try to work with them. When you treat people with honesty and compassion, they will build your reputation for you. They will share about their experience because it is too rare in this world to be seen as a person not a number or a “like”.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

As a recovering Type A personality, one of the most important things I had to unlearn was the goal to get as much done as quickly as possible at all costs. When my life shifted and I had to focus on my mental health and healing instead of my job, I was at a complete loss. My focus had always been on achievement. I never checked in with myself to see how I was doing, was I happy, did I need a break, etc. I had one speed and that was full out. As I’ve spent these last few years healing and exploring new paths, I’ve realized something very important. If whatever I was working towards was meant to happen, it was going to happen, whether I made myself sick with stress or not. And, in reverse, if it wasn’t going to happen, my continuing to put all my effort into making it work, wasn’t going to make a difference. I’ve learned that “push harder” isn’t always the answer. Sometimes the answer is “look elsewhere.”

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lightofthephoenix.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/light_of_the_phoenix
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/LightofthePhoenix1
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/linda-spellman-0a50a62
• Other: www.lindaspellman.com