We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Marta Wilson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Marta, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you come up with the idea for your business?
The idea of combining my reiki practice with herbalism came to me while I was in a 6 month shamanic reiki course with Moon Rising Institute (formally Reiki Cafe University) I was looking to expand my knowledge of all things mystical to enhance not only my personal spiritual practice, but to incorporate that knowledge into my reiki sessions.
When practicing shamanism you do what’s called a journey. It’s a bit like meditation and astral travel combined, to put it very simply. In multiple journeys I was shown the practice of herbalism, potion making so to speak. Working with plants and herbs is a very shamanic practice. Many, included myself didn’t even think of that, in my mind it was all about working with chakras, energy, healing, non-ordinary reality and journey’s. My eyes were opened to what was a natural interest of mine anyway, and shown that in many ways it was quite magical.
In the 80’s when I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome I became an avid researcher of all things natural health. It was at that time I began gardening and making my own herbal remedies. Fast forward to 2004, I had my son and I was still doing the same, making tinctures, teas and salves for my family and friends, because I enjoyed helping people and seeing them get well.
In 2018 I started my reiki journey, I saw it as another beautiful way to help heal myself and others.
After my shamanic reiki course I knew!! It was so obvious that herbalism and reiki go hand in hand. Not only traditional herbalism, but more spiritual herbalism also.
My first reiki infused offering was Flower Essences. A vibrational flower therapy that goes back centuries. In fact Saint Hildegard of Bingham wrote a book about flower essences, crystal and herbal healing back in the 1200’s. Within months a local metaphysical store where I was doing in person reiki on the weekends started carrying my essences. This gave me the confidence to carry on with my vision.
Because of my interest and research in ancestral and folklore use of herbs also I found that people were coming to me for spiritually based oils and incenses also. Items they could use in their own magical and spiritual based practice.
Adding the ancestral herbalism along with traditional wellness herbalism into my reiki practice has been a great joy!
I found working from home and doing distance reiki worked better for where I am right now in my life so I switched to online distance reiki sessions only along with local pop up shops for my botanical products. Its a hybrid business model that is working very well for me now as I have no rent overhead.
I knew right away that the combination of spiritual and wholistic wellness was a great match! Mind, body and spirit….when they are all feeling good we function so much better.
Marta, 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?
When I was hitting middle age I, like a lot of women started having an awakening. An awakening to myself, my spirituality and the desire to work on me. I had spent my life caring for others either at work or at home. Not that I minded, I am a healer and teacher in my soul, but it was time for ME.
During this time of change I started to explore what made me happy as a child. I took up photography again, I started collecting rocks. Only this time it was crystals and I loved learning all about them.
Then I started hearing about reiki. It peaked my curiosity so I took a reiki 1 course locally and I was hooked! I found it to be an amazing modality for peace, self healing, strength and confidence.
I wanted to keep learning so I could give reiki to others so I carried on and by the end of 2019 I had earned my Masters in Usui Shiki Ryoho.
In 2021 I got my master certificate in Holy-fire reiki. I started an in-person practice here in San Antonio. Then I enrolled in the 6 month shamanic program to become a certified shamanic reiki practitioner in January of 2023. Of course thats where I got the idea for my now business. I named it New Life Reiki and Botanicals because It was my new life. My hope for the future is that my work can open doors and bring in feelings of a new wonderful life for other women.
My customers love that all my botanical products are hand crafted, and a majority of the herbs and flowers I work with I grow and forge myself.
The herbalism side of my business is really two fold. One side is very traditional with wellness tinctures like Dandelion, Oregano and Echinacea. Healing salves like lavender, calendula a muscle therapy blend, lip balm and Oil of Oregano. My best sellers are my flower infused body and bath oils, they are luxurious and smell amazing with minimal organic ingredients.
Flower essences fall in the middle, many traditional herbalist craft them, but I see them as very spiritual as they are a subtle vibrational healing that work with you for deep healing.
Then there is the truly fun side, my ancestral herbalism. I call on my Irish and Swedish ancestry in the shamanic work I do. Shamanism is rich in Celtic culture and I’ve embraced that fully.
I make loose incense for clients to use for the sabots or for manifestation or cleansing rituals. For example.
I make custom oils for people to use on their altar, in ritual or their magical practice. I have many clients, reiki practitioners to ladies who practice witchcraft, and just your average spiritual person who wants a blessing oil. The possibilities are endless.
Then there’s custom flower essences for those who need something more than the single flower essences I offer.
With these custom items is where I get to use my shamanic practice. I journey to their needs, to the plants and flowers so I can craft the best possible product for them. All my ancestral herbalism items are imbued with reiki energy.
*I ship throughout the US.
My first love is giving a reiki session. I was hesitant at first to offer distance reiki, but I found it to be so powerful and lovely! I give my sessions through zoom, I use crystals, sound therapy and at times gentle guided meditations. The response has been overwhelmingly positive! The clients actually really enjoy being in the comfort of their own home. And it gives me the ability to reach out all over the world. I have had clients as far as Korea and Australia!
Since I’m always asked if I teach, I am working on it!
In the coming year I plan on offering in person and online classes so others can learn about and become attuned to reiki also! I look forward to sharing all I’ve learned and helping others get started on their reiki and self healing journeys.
This work fulfills me. It’s “work” I will be doing until I’m 100!
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
I had to pivot my reiki practice from in person to online. First because rent is high pretty much everywhere these days, and I only wanted to do reiki 2 days a week. Add to that it was a shared space, so the decor and energy was not all mine.
I also did not want to leave my dogs alone all day. My son had left for college at this point.
So I switched to distance reiki sessions. I work from home now, I can offer more times for my clients, it gives me flexibility and it is actually really nice to not have to pack up my stuff and drive.
It was a scary switch, and it took me 5 months to get a distance client. But now I am very happy with the change.
Maybe some year, when my income allows I would love to have my own little brick and mortar. Just mine, not a shared space. I can bring my little dogs and work when I want. I did enjoy in-person sessions
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
SO, funny story. I did not have any capitol or a big savings account or anything that would be considered real money. lol
I just went for it. I was 60 when I started this business a year ago and I just followed my dreams. Thats the kind of person I am.
I was working 2 days a week as a personal trainer, working myself into retirement with the last hanging on clients that wouldn’t leave. Along with some reiki sessions here and there, so I had a bit of an income.
I spent all my money at the dollar store and thrift shops on jars, baskets, and other supplies.
Whenever I had excess money I purchased oils, and bottles and labels etc.
I had a little credit and I used up that. I booked myself at a metaphysical fair hoping for the best and I sold out of my product! That was my green light.
To this day I am working to get deep in the black, building a savings, when I do I have bigger plans for my business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://newlifereiki.com
- Instagram: new_life_reiki
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newlifereikiwithmarta?mibextid=LQQJ4d
Image Credits
Marta Wilson