Meet Melissa Ketchum

We recently connected with Melissa Ketchum and have shared our conversation below.

Melissa, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

The path to my purpose was a windy road, it was during one of my darkest times, at a rock bottom moment, where I found my purpose. I was navigating some mental health challenges and started self-medicating with substances, specifically alcohol. It was in August of 2016 when I got a DWI and totaled my car. This moment was a massive wakeup call from the Universe. I knew although it was a very unfortunate circumstance, that it was divinely orchestrated. That moment in time allowed me a choice, the choice to be called higher, or to continue on the path of self-destruction. I chose the path of higher calling. I believe all of us have the opportunity to turn our pain into our purpose, to transform suffering into opportunity and new beginnings. I saw this as a necessary ending that was bringing me to a new beginning.

As a part of my healing journey, I was required to do counciling my counselor had recommended that I seek additional support through a weekly support group called ACOA (Adult Children of Alcoholics) This group met at a local establishment called the Hope Interfaith Center in Mankato, MN. This center was a sanctuary that honored all sacred pathways and ancients truths. Their teachings are universal in nature and encompass the energy of Oneness.

When I walked into the sanctuary where the ACOA group met, I remember looking around at the space, there were quartz crystals hanging from the ceiling, and photos on the walls of many influential spiritual teachers and ascended masters like Jesus, Yogananda, Mother Mary, & Shiva. All of the various representations of the Divine. It was in that moment that a fire ignited deep within me, a spark of inspiration to embark on a spiritual quest. I had never seen all of the worlds major religions being represented together in Unity and it broke through many of the constructs I had experienced in my Christian upbringing. It was in that moment I had the realization that we are all one and it it our responsibility and honor to walk one another home to the truth of who were are.

This was a pivotal moment in my spiritual evolution and that rock bottom moment in 2016 created momentum around connecting to my purpose and calling. I decided that I would never touch another drop of alcohol and have been sober since that day. I dove into the exploration of different healing modalities, spiritual practices, and therapeutic techniques that helped me discover the root cause as to why I was self-medicating and I began to heal by understanding my purpose, calling, and spiritual gifts and began assisting others in that process of calling their power back. In 2020, I became an ordained interfaith minister and now work at the Hope Interfaith Center as a teacher, healer, & guide. I’m a certified spiritual life coach specializing in manifestation and sound + energy healing meditations.

I believe that I was able to turn my pain into purpose and manifest a beautiful life. I have a podcast called the Awakening Hour Podcast where I talk about the human experience for spiritual beings. I speak to my journal with sobriety, mental health, and how to navigate this experience through a spiritual lens. I know that my story has helped make an impact on people’s lives and I believe that we all have the ability to make an impact through the stories we tell. We all have a purpose and when we speak authentically to our experience we inspire so many.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m so grateful to be living out my passion of assisting others on their healing journey of calling back their power and reclaiming their spiritual gifts. I’m a certified Spiritual Life Coach, Intuitive, & Reiki Master + Sound Healer with Gilded Heart Coaching. I became an ordained interfaith minister through the Hope Interfaith center in Mankato, MN where I’ve been centrally located for the past several years. I leaned into my curiosity of energy healing as I was beginning my healing journey many years ago and decided to become a Usui Holy Fire Reiki Master Teacher. I believe in the healing potential of sound and energy so I began incorporating quartz crystal bowls into my healing sessions as well as.

I believe in the importance of connecting to creativity as an outlet for healing and creating a beautiful & fulfilling life! I have a bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design from the Art Institute of Colorado and I work as a fashion designer under my brand “Meli Made Artistry” My creative skills cross over into my healing work as I believe creative expression and flow can be deeply healing. In my coaching sessions, I utilize visualization techniques, artistry, manifestation techniques, and intuitive guidance to assist my clients in connecting deeper to their own intuition and discovering their souls true essence through creative expression.

I’m the host of the Awakening Hour, a podcast for spiritual beings navigating the human experience. Within this space I speak openly about my struggles with mental health and substance abuse and how to see these afflictions of the mind from a spiritual lens, I offer insights and perspectives that help us come home to our center point as we navigate these rocky waters. I also offer a monthly Energy Report of the upcoming month that includes relevant astrological events, intuitive guidance, and practical tools that help us see the upcoming month from a higher perspective.

I have a passion and love for facilitating sacred circles, workshops, sound healings meditations, and creative retreats. I have many in-person and virtual events and gatherings in the Midwest.

Feel free to join my virtual Facebook community “Manifesting Miracles” This is a monthly virtual and in-person gathering where we talk about the art of deliberate creation, also known as manifestation. We go over different practices and techniques that help in understanding our responsibilities as co-creators of our reality. I lead the group in a guided visualization process that leads into a manifestation and intention setting ceremony. This group meets on the 1st Monday of the month at 6pmCT.

Facebook Group Link – https://www.facebook.com/groups/391968193803120/

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

1. Develop a beginners mind – Learn to approach all situations with a fresh perspective, curiosity, and openness. Allow yourself to become the teacher and the student.

2. Learn about Manifestation & Mindset – When you understand manifestation and the law of attraction, you begin to understand that you are the creator of your reality. Your inner world is reflected in your outer world. Developing skills around the thoughts you think will allow you to create your ideal inner and outer landscape.

3. Develop a Daily Meditation Practice – This allows you to connect to your inner wisdom and strengthen your intuition and spiritual gifts. Meditation allows you to trust the whisperings of the heart and have the courage to act on these whisperings.

As you build the legacy that is your life, allow yourself to enjoy the process! There will be many things that feel mundane and unexciting but allow yourself to find enjoyment in those tasks. You never know how long it will take to get to where you want to go, be here now in the present moment and enjoy!

How would you describe your ideal client?

My ideal client is someone who is in a season of transformation, change, or rebirth. Those who are curious to explore deeper meaning and connection with Spirit and their intuition. Those who can feel that they are on the brink of a rebirth and they’re looking for guidance on how to develop a deeper understanding of how to navigate this transition. They are a spiritual seeker and someone who feels the calling to create sustainable and lasting change within their lives so that they can manifest a life of their dreams. They come to me with questions, and I guide them to the answers. These answers are always within and brought forth through the practices I provided within my sessions. My ideal clients is heart-centered, open-minded, and guided by Spirit.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Anikka Brynn with Anikka Brynn Photography
Josh Madson with Josh Madson Photography

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