We were lucky to catch up with Malika Pistolese of Nature’s Way Reiki recently and have shared our conversation below.
Malika, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I found my purpose through some unexpected medical challenges that came up during the pandemic. I have anxiety and for some people it can come up in many ways. Some people may get hives, others may hide from the world, and some may get sick. For me it showed up in my heart.
I work in a support staff role in a hospital so during the pandemic I was worried about getting my family sick. I then developed palpitations that soon turned into AFIB or Atrial Fibrillation. I went to a cardiologist, and they told me that I had to have a cardiac catheter ablation procedure to fix my abnormal rhythm. The thought of having a diagnosis of AFIB and to have a procedure on my heart was terrifying.
After my procedure, I woke up with a new outlook on life and I wanted to make a difference in this world somehow and I knew that having my own business that could bring some sort of comfort to others was something that I had to do. I was already a certified Reiki master since 2018 so when the pandemic hit I wanted to find a way to send energy healing to the world. “But how?” I thought. So with the help of a childhood friend who is a graphic designer and my loving husband, we came up with our logo. And then I made Reiki infused soap, and candles and opened up an online shop.
But I wanted to do MORE. On April 25 2021 I posted my first soap slicing video. But I really wanted to post a Reiki video so my first video was February 2, 2022 and it was titled Reiki for Heart Chakra Healing (pre heart surgery). And I have been posting Reiki videos ever since. As I write this, I now have over 500 followers on YouTube and counting. And there are Reiki videos on many topics that are available to soothe and comfort those that may need it.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My name is Malika and I am a Reiki Master. I came upon Reiki through divine guidance I would say. I have Tarot cards, but I have always had difficulty connecting with them so I found a deck of angel oracle cards and I loved them. I decided to shuffle the deck and every time I would pull a card it would be the “energy work” card without fail. So I decided to look into that and Reiki was something that I had heard about. I went to a workshop to see if I liked it and of course I did so I ended up taking Reiki level 1, 2, and then the Master course. After being certified I often wondered where Reiki will take me and my brand was then created.
I love to travel when I can, and I love nature. So when I was creating my brand I had to call it Nature’s Way Reiki. I do my energy healing “nature’s way” outside. I may be in my backyard, or out in the middle of nowhere in the desert on a rock with my camera filming my videos. Nature is powerful, yet calm and serene so that is where you will find me and my crystals that I incorporate into my sessions. I do my own voiceovers in my videos and my opening tag line is “Me, you, and my Subaru, doing Reiki sessions in the middle of nowhere. Come along and join me, as I do Reiki, nature’s way.” My Subaru Outback Wilderness helps me get to some of those hard to reach filming locations.
On my website you can book a long distance session with me. Either 30 or 60 min. At this time I have tee shirts and mugs that can be purchased, as well as candles. More soap will be coming soon, as well as sage, and incense.
My dream is to open a brick and mortar store so I can do energy healing in person. I would love to also do Reiki sessions on location out in nature too!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
On my journey I felt that I had to keep going, to keep pushing for what I wanted and it takes a lot of hard work, trial and error to run a business. Tenacity is a quality that will take you far. Don’t give up! I don’t like disappointing my customers or followers so I keep showing up every day for them.
Patience is another quality that I needed to get to where I am now. Everything takes time. Everyone starts from square one and it takes a lot of time to build an audience, following, and customers.
A desire for personal growth is important. Learning is important for growth. Keep reading, take that class, meditate, and remember that self care is important. In order for me to be where I am now I had to to have an open mind and a desire to learn a new skill. Knowledge is power!
My advice to anyone who is just starting out is that it will take time to get to that sweet spot in your business. Just keep going and don’t be afraid to ask for help.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I feel overwhelmed I take a step back from the task and come back to it later when I don’t feel stressed. Sometimes taking a walk, having something to eat, or taking a shower can help you to overcome your frustrations so you can get back to it. When I come back to it I will break the task down into manageable pieces and work on those one by one which keeps me organized. Making a list of the breakdown is extremely helpful. Don’t be afraid to delegate tasks to someone else especially if its something that you are not good at but you know someone else who is. Ask for help when ever its necessary.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.natureswayreiki.com
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@natureswayreiki6894
Image Credits
I own the copyright for all photos used. They were taken either by me or my husband.
