Today we’d like to introduce you to Pharess Marie.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Well, I guess I got my start on the journey to Self at Winsor, an all-girls’ school here in Boston. I went from the shy girl in middle school with pretty low self-esteem to a young woman who successfully ran for class president my senior year. I was fortunate to work with astounding teachers, some of whom I still talk to today, who were able to see and encourage my potential even when I was determined to stay hidden in my little Scorpio shell.
Having trained at such a rigorous school, I was (and still am) very confident in the foundation that was given to me. I attended Northeastern for a short time before I realized that I felt as if I were losing myself. The transition from a small, intimate school of just over 400 students to a university with thousands of people made me feel lost in the current. So, naturally, I decided to break out into open waters.
I spent much of my free time making music from scratch with some friends from Berklee and around Boston. We made some pretty incredible songs and I even started performing around the city, but I definitely let my perfectionism get in the way of putting my all into it. Around that time, I officially decided to leave college and wasn’t too sure of the path that lay before me. All I knew was that college was not for me, and I had to find a fulfilling alternative. As I opened myself up to my own power and all of the possibilities and opportunities that I could create, my life has since taken form.
In making the decision to carve out my own path, I’ve met my partner and best friend, Mfalme Kenyatta who is also a very unorthodox and bold individual. I’ve gained the guidance and support from several mentors such as Rev. Andrea Payne who is building a non-denominational spiritual ministry of her own and Mama J, a former arts and business teacher. My father has also been an important part of this journey as he’s shown interest in the crystals and other esoteric concepts that we discuss pretty regularly. It’s heartwarming to say the least, as we are all growing and expanding together, which has shown me this is very much an exchange of support and encouragement.
Since then, I have continued to develop my confidence and willpower by working on my networking and business skills, studying different modes and methods of holistic healing as well as continuing to develop my creative talents from writing to occasionally getting behind the lens for photoshoots when I can.
My goal overall is to show others that we can create our own avenues for success and fulfillment. I hope to be an inspiration and guide to my Little One (soon to make a much anticipated debut next month!!) and to young creatives, particularly my sistas here in Boston and beyond.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I guess when you choose to take the cynic route, a bumpy road is inevitable. But ultimately, I would say that my journey thus far has been beautiful as I have been fortunate enough to cross paths with some very supportive, dedicated and authentic individuals.
In determining which way to go, I’ve had countless moments of fear, doubt, and depression. But no matter how hopeless or “wrong” I’ve felt for doing what is right for me, there has always been someone or something to remind me of my purpose and my destination.
I tend to mention Jimi Hendrix as my biggest inspiration for being so dedicated to self education. Since I got more involved with music at Winsor, I really took his story to heart. He taught himself how to play the guitar upside down, never learned how to read or write music, followed his passions and has been known as the greatest guitarist of all time for the past 50+ years. I really resonated with him and figured, why can’t I apply that same sense of dedication and confidence to my own life? So here I am.
This has very much been a journey into deep self-awareness and development, enabling me to fulfill my potential as I’m sure I would have at any accredited institution — if not more so. It has required a lot of inner work, patience and flexibility. As I use this space and time to constructively evaluate rather than belittle myself, I am effortlessly improving and it propels me further to create tangible results.
As challenging as things can be sometimes, I wouldn’t say that I’m particularly struggling so much as I’m co-creating an empire from the ground up. Needless to say, it takes time, patience, perseverance and compassion, but I’m excited to see where this road takes me.
Please tell us about Healing You.
This business has filled up several pages in many journals of mine. I have so many future plans for the growth of “Healing You.” However, in refining and defining my business, I have learned that it is best not to spread oneself too thin (i.e. having several unrelated ventures all taking off at once), specifically in the early stages. I was overwhelming myself and honestly, trying to prove that I wasn’t a failure for leaving college by having so many things going on at once. By taking a much needed step back, I’ve mainly been focused on developing “Healing You” as a brand, dubbing myself as “Ya Local Crystal Deala”.
As a whole, “Healing You” serves as a way to remind clients of their innate ability to heal themselves. I aim to introduce them to as much information as I can, even beyond the crystals. The business thus far mainly focuses on crystal healing & jewelry as well as consultations that include recommendations on other modes of holistic healing from nutrition to sound therapy.
Healing work became more of a prominent notion when I met Kenyatta. Though I have been drawn to universal and esoteric topics since high school, going so far as to incorporate these topics in my writing, our shared sense of purpose inspired me to dive deeper. Once I realized I could build a business out of educating, uplifting and helping others heal themselves, I was all in. I felt so much more empowered by this pursuit than anything I’ve attempted thus far and so, I ran with it.
Since then, I have been studying crystals and the endless world of holistic healing for the past two years. Not only have I been working to heal my own psyche, body, and spirit, but I have also started a workshop regarding the many techniques and practices used to facilitate wellness in my community here in Dorchester. I just wrapped up a 5-week session this past summer in which I hosted my first intergenerational workshop where I presented different holistic topics as attendees discussed their related experiences and questions.
I’m looking forward to growing “Healing You” as a resource for community members to learn from and support each other on the path to wellness.
I am most proud that I can share my passions with my clients and friends, providing them with genuine and loving service.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I have recently accepted that I am still a child, despite the whole “old-soul” vibe people say I have. But I think my favorite memories thus far consist of making up outlandish songs with my “little big” brother, Mason and my classmates from middle school. I’m also grateful for the time and efforts put in with my musical peers, Caiana Nyrie, Tabitha Wilson, JD Black, and Brian Lee (to name a few) who continued to encourage me with my lyricism when I got down on myself at times. I still have a few of our earlier tracks and some new ideas brewing so I’m thinking I might just have to pull a Frank Ocean on y’all and drop a whole bunch of music unexpectedly. We’ll see what the future holds.
Pricing:
- Crystals and consultation are based on a sliding scale as is the photography.
Contact Info:
- Email: love.healingyou@gmail.com
- Instagram: @love.healingyou and @wyldwombyn
- Other: https://soundcloud.com/pharess
Image Credit:
Mfalme Kenyatta, Pharess Marie, Tabitha Wilson, Rah
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