We recently connected with Rachel Barnes and have shared our conversation below.

Rachel, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

The risk that I took was leaving my 9-5 job:

Leaving my 9–5 wasn’t just a career move—it was a risk that forced me to choose myself.

On paper, my job made sense. I was good at it, stable, consistent. But deep down, I knew I was meant for more. I’ve always been a healer—being a Reiki Master Teacher, energy alchemist, and holistic health practitioner just gave language to what I already carried.

The risk wasn’t walking away from a paycheck… it was trusting that my gifts were enough to build something real.

There were doubts—especially around turning something so natural to me into something I could charge for. But I had to shift my mindset. If I can help people reset their energy, regulate their nervous system, and support healing for both people and animals, then that work has value.

So I went all in on Rae of Light Wellness.

No backup plan. Just belief, alignment, and action.

It’s still a journey—but betting on myself was the most powerful risk I’ve ever taken.

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’m Rachel Barnes, the heart behind Rae of Light Wellness. I’m a Reiki Master Teacher, energy alchemist, and holistic health practitioner with over two decades of experience in energy work, healing, and intuitive development. My path into this work wasn’t something I “chose” overnight—it’s something I’ve always carried. Over time, I refined it through training, certifications, and real-life experience, including working with people from all walks of life—and even animals—who needed energetic support and balance.

Like many, I started in a traditional 9–5 world, building skills in customer service, communication, and leadership. But I reached a point where I knew I was meant to do more than just meet metrics—I was meant to help people transform. Taking the leap into my own business was a defining moment. I chose to fully step into my purpose and create something that aligns with who I am at my core.

Through Rae of Light Wellness, I offer services like energy healing sessions, nervous system resets, spiritual guidance, and intuitive support. My work is designed to help people release stress, clear energetic blockages, reconnect with themselves, and move forward with clarity and confidence. I also extend my work to animals, supporting their emotional and energetic well-being, which is something I’m deeply passionate about.

What sets me apart is how I blend grounded, real-life understanding with spiritual and energetic practices. I’m not here to “fix” anyone—I’m here to empower people. My approach is authentic, intuitive, and deeply personalized. I meet people where they are, without judgment, and help them shift their energy in a way that creates real, lasting change.

I’m most proud of the fact that I’ve had the courage to fully own who I am and build a business around it. That hasn’t always been easy, especially in a space where people sometimes question the value of this kind of work. But I’ve seen firsthand the impact it has—people feeling lighter, more aligned, more themselves—and that’s everything to me.

What I want people to know is this: my work is about real transformation. It’s about helping you come back to yourself, regulate your energy, and step into your power. Whether you’re just starting your journey or deep into your healing process, I’m here to support, guide, and co-create that next level with you.

This isn’t just what I do—it’s who I am.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Resilience isn’t something I learned from a book—it’s something life asked me to become after losing my husband in a tragic accident.

Losing my husband changed everything. It wasn’t just grief… it was like the ground disappeared beneath me. There were moments I didn’t know how I was going to get through the day, let alone keep moving forward. And at the same time, life didn’t pause. I still had responsibilities, people who needed me, and a version of myself I knew I couldn’t abandon.

I had a choice in those moments—stay stuck in the weight of it all, or find a way to keep going, one step at a time.

So I leaned into what I knew. I leaned into my healing work—not just for others, but for myself. I allowed myself to feel the pain, but I also chose not to let it define me. I showed up, even on the hard days. Especially on the hard days.

That experience deepened everything—my compassion, my strength, my purpose. It’s one thing to guide others through healing, but it’s another to walk through that fire yourself and come out still open, still willing to love, still committed to helping others.

I didn’t just survive that chapter—I transformed through it.

And that’s what resilience looks like to me. Not pretending everything is okay, but choosing to rise anyway.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

If I’m being honest—no, I wouldn’t choose a different path.

Every challenge, every loss, every moment that tested me has shaped who I am today. It’s what deepened my compassion, strengthened my resilience, and brought me fully into alignment with my purpose.

Being in the wellness industry, sharing my gifts, holding space for others, and helping people reconnect with themselves—this is what I was built for. This work isn’t something I fell into… it’s something I’ve grown into, through real life, real healing, and real transformation.

So no, I wouldn’t go back and change anything—because every step led me exactly where I’m meant to be.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://rachelbarnes.net
• Instagram: @iamrachelbarnes
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachelhousebarnes
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-barnes-004639305/
• Twitter: @RACHELBARNES333
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@raeoflightwellnessdallas3333
• Other: TikTok @iamrachelbarnes

Image Credits

All photos were either taking by me or created in AI. I couldn’t share client photos so I created pics showing my animal reiki healing, group healing, individual healing, and class sessions for meditation and other wellness group activities.