Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Merloni.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Maria. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started my journey to my life purpose, helping others learn that God/dess is pro-sex, quite unexpectedly. I mean, I guess I should have known when I started leading classmates in mediation groups at age 11, and became the confidante friends came to about their sexual questions as a teen…
But then as a depressed, newly divorced thirty-something, literally contemplating suicide, I suddenly knew that my path was to become a life coach. I applied and got admitted to the program of my choice- even though I hadn’t the foggiest idea of how I was going to pay for the training. A new friend suggested I try exotic dancing. She said it was really easy and I could make a lot of money. I had never been shy about my body, always very sexual, and so it wasn’t a big leap for me to say yes.
I thought I was moonlighting for the money. Little did I know, I was taking the next stepping stone that Source was giving me. I became a (very successful) stripper! After a while, I realized that I was effortlessly doing sacred work with the men at these clubs, helping them heal their guilt and shame about their own sexuality, helping them grieve losses of the women in their lives, and all around giving them “happiness therapy”, as one customer of mine termed it. This seemed a lot more fun and useful than doing the talk therapy I’d been doing in my career for the past 10 years.
And, becoming a life coach, starting on my personal journey to wholeness and self-love, that didn’t suck either!
Eventually, I left my job as a therapist at a community mental health center and opened my own practice as a psychotherapist and life coach. Little by little, I kept following the clues that Goddess gave me and soon I realized that the more I followed my heart the more I was able to be of service to my clients. Now, being a sex and relationship coach is the only work I do, and I couldn’t be happier about it.
Only in the last couple of years did I meet and get into a relationship with my forever partner. Our relationship is unlike any I’ve ever experienced. My beloved meets me on all levels. It is the most joyful and terrifying thing I’ve ever embarked on. That’s what self-love does.
I never know what’s going to come next and I trust myself and the Universe enough to say I know that my work and a life full of love – AT THE INTERSECTION OF HOT AND HOLY – will just keep getting better!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road. I believe that the path to things that we are truly called to do is rarely if ever a road that does not have its challenges.
While launching my new career and business, I was still on (and forever will be) my own journey into deeperself-lovee. I got into abusive relationships, financial hot water, and sometimes lapsed back into depression- all while being a single parent, managing a household, and nurturing my biz. I’m not going to say it was easy.
I AM going to say that spirituality, having something you believe in that’s bigger than you is key. And that having a supportive network of friends is huge. Taking the best care of your body that you possibly can is essential. Find yourself a daily, spiritual practice that grounds you and gives you direction. Go to meetup groups and other events where you can find your people. It’s so important to be understood and have a place where you can bring all your crap and know you are safe and loved. Eat healthy, delicious, satisfying food. Drink plenty of water. Get enough sleep. In short, and I know this may sound ‘selfish’ (I prefer to say self-loving): Make your self-care your #1 priority.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Synergistic Energy eXchange – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
As I just kept following my light, I got into many healing modalities first personally and then professionally. In fact, I don’t recommend my clients do anything that I haven’t proven worthy of engaging in myself. Among these are meditation and breathing techniques, Tantra, hands-on healing, polyamory, non-monogamy, bisexuality, a type of trauma work called Gentle Reprocessing, and kink. I work with singles and couples who may be sexual minorities (polyamorous, non-monogamous, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and kinky), and customize my work with them using many different healing modalities. My aim is ultimately to hold the space and provide the guidance needed so that my clients can fall more deeply in love with themselves, their beloved(s), and spirit.
I’ve seen incredible transformation in my own life and in the lives of my clients. And I DO believe in magic.
There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
Get out of the house once in a while. Go to meetup groups that are of interest to you. Go to networking groups. Connect with old and new friends on social media. Let the world see who you are and the right people will show up for you.
Contact Info:
- Website: mariamerloni.com
- Phone: 774-289-4134
- Email: maria@mariamerloni.com
- Instagram: maria-merloni
- Facebook: Maria Merloni and Synergistic Energy Exchange
- Other: I write a blog which is featured on my website.
Image Credit:
Lauren Tebbetts Bodwell
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