<h1 id="463d50ad-c2fe-42e2-bfa8-f364370e6c9f" data-toc-id="463d50ad-c2fe-42e2-bfa8-f364370e6c9f" style="font-size: 32px; line-height: 1.2;">My Spiritual Journey: How I Turned Reiki, Intuition, and Yoga Into a Spiritual Business</h1>Many people think spiritual journeys begin with a single dramatic awakening.But most spiritual paths unfold quietly over time.They appear through curiosity, small steps, unexpected setbacks, and a calling that continues returning until we finally listen.My spiritual journey has been exactly like that.Today I teach Reiki, meditation, intuitive development, somatic yoga, and Divine Feminine spirituality. I host a podcast, write books, and guide others on their spiritual paths.But this life did not appear overnight.It was built slowly through years of exploration, uncertainty, and a deep inner voice that refused to go away.Recently, while preparing to teach a class on creating a spiritual business, I realized how important it was to share that journey.So I recorded Podcast Episode 94, where I tell the full story.But first, I want to share part of that story here.<hr><h1 id="b8638724-c508-4d58-bb83-bc1796b85ef7" data-toc-id="b8638724-c508-4d58-bb83-bc1796b85ef7" style="font-size: 32px; line-height: 1.2;">The Beginning of My Spiritual Path</h1>My deeper spiritual journey truly began around 2011, when I opened a small meditation and Reiki center in Bowling Green, Kentucky.It was a place where people could explore spirituality without judgment.Students came to learn meditation.Clients came for Reiki energy healing.Others simply came because they felt curious about intuitive and metaphysical practices.At that time spirituality was not nearly as visible online as it is today. Most spiritual learning happened in small local communities.And creating that space taught me something powerful:People are deeply hungry for meaning, healing, and connection.But running a spiritual center also comes with real-world challenges.Financial stress.Scheduling.Emotional labor.Eventually that chapter of my life closed, and I stepped into a different professional role.<hr><h1 id="ff40b128-f9f2-42ea-bad5-69d5a9ba478e" data-toc-id="ff40b128-f9f2-42ea-bad5-69d5a9ba478e" style="font-size: 32px; line-height: 1.2;">Balancing Academia and Spiritual Work</h1>Around the same time, I accepted a position as a program coordinator and assistant professor at a community college.My days became filled with teaching, administration, and academic responsibilities.Yet the spiritual path never completely disappeared.Instead, it moved into the background.During those years I continued exploring spiritual work in other ways.<hr><h1 id="92ee5bc4-1b7e-4d1b-a888-67eacb447eee" data-toc-id="92ee5bc4-1b7e-4d1b-a888-67eacb447eee" style="font-size: 32px; line-height: 1.2;">The Years of Psychic and Metaphysical Fairs</h1>One of the ways I stayed connected to spirituality was by participating in psychic and metaphysical fairs across Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee.If you’ve ever attended one of these events, you know they are fascinating places.Tarot readers.Mediums.Reiki practitioners.Astrologers.Intuitive artists.Every booth offers a different doorway into spiritual exploration.Sitting at my table and speaking with people from all walks of life taught me something that still shapes my work today:Spiritual guidance is not about having all the answers.It is about helping others reconnect with their own inner wisdom.<hr><h1 id="821c5c9a-f69f-464d-8d11-9f89c4bd5e59" data-toc-id="821c5c9a-f69f-464d-8d11-9f89c4bd5e59" style="font-size: 32px; line-height: 1.2;">Teaching Yoga and Meditation From My Home</h1>Years later, in 2019, my spiritual work evolved again.I began teaching yoga and meditation classes from my home.It was simple and intimate.Just a small group of people gathering together to breathe, stretch, meditate, and reconnect with themselves.Those gatherings reminded me why I loved teaching spiritual practices in the first place.Then, like so many others, everything changed.<hr><h1 id="9e7291a6-3936-445e-9e34-bb26c241f1e0" data-toc-id="9e7291a6-3936-445e-9e34-bb26c241f1e0" style="font-size: 32px; line-height: 1.2;">When COVID Changed Everything</h1>When the pandemic arrived, the world seemed to pause.Yoga studios closed.Spiritual gatherings stopped.Events disappeared overnight.At the same time, I was working with Cosmic Connections in Nashville, sharing spiritual classes and readings.Then suddenly the doors closed there too.And during that same time, I lost my assistant professor position.It was a moment filled with uncertainty.Losing a job forces you to question everything.Your direction.Your identity.Your purpose.Eventually I found another position teaching at Western Kentucky University, and while I love my students, something inside me knew that this was not my final destination.<hr><h1 id="6246832f-a50b-4371-b3aa-60a20ef1e674" data-toc-id="6246832f-a50b-4371-b3aa-60a20ef1e674" style="font-size: 32px; line-height: 1.2;">The Calling That Kept Returning</h1>One of the most interesting things about spiritual callings is that they rarely disappear.They might quiet down for a while.They might wait patiently in the background.But they return.Again and again.And the thing that kept returning for me was spiritual teaching.Writing.Podcasting.Guiding others.Helping people reconnect with their intuition and spiritual wisdom.Slowly what started as a hobby began growing into something much larger.<hr><h1 id="feae9066-fcd7-4de2-ba4a-cc6302ef7fc9" data-toc-id="feae9066-fcd7-4de2-ba4a-cc6302ef7fc9" style="font-size: 32px; line-height: 1.2;">Why Spiritual People Struggle With Business</h1>Many healers and intuitive practitioners experience something called imposter syndrome.They wonder if they are qualified enough.If they know enough.If they should even be charging for their work.Many spiritual communities also carry money wounds, believing that helping others should always be free.But energy exchange is part of balance.When someone invests in a class, reading, or healing session, they are honoring the value of that work.Understanding this was an important step in building my own spiritual business.<hr><h1 id="96ba982b-357e-4ccb-9e56-a8e1c5b4c6cf" data-toc-id="96ba982b-357e-4ccb-9e56-a8e1c5b4c6cf" style="font-size: 32px; line-height: 1.2;">Finding Purpose Later in Life</h1>Another important lesson from my journey is that purpose does not always appear early in life.Many women step fully into their calling in midlife.In spiritual traditions this stage is associated with the Crone archetype, representing wisdom, clarity, and leadership.It is a time when we stop asking for permission and begin trusting our intuition.For many women, their 40s and 50s become the time when they finally begin sharing the gifts they have developed over decades.<hr><h1 id="567f9bc2-e63f-4171-9d3e-f7f87c0ab136" data-toc-id="567f9bc2-e63f-4171-9d3e-f7f87c0ab136" style="font-size: 32px; line-height: 1.2;">The Story Behind Podcast Episode 94</h1>Recently, as I prepared to teach my Sacred Business Creation workshop, I realized that the real lesson was not just about building a business.It was about listening to the voice inside that keeps calling you toward your purpose.So I recorded Podcast Episode 94 to share the full story.In this episode, I talk about:<ul><li>The moment I realized I could no longer ignore my spiritual calling</li><li>The challenges of imposter syndrome and money wounds</li><li>What it is like building a spiritual business later in life</li><li>How spiritual paths unfold over time</li></ul>🎧 Listen to Podcast Episode 94 here: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bertena.org/en/podcast">https://www.bertena.org/en/podcast</a><hr><h1 id="15df50ce-0a82-48d4-bde9-7f23f89dca58" data-toc-id="15df50ce-0a82-48d4-bde9-7f23f89dca58" style="font-size: 32px; line-height: 1.2;">Your Spiritual Path Is Still Unfolding</h1>If there is one thing I have learned from this journey, it is this:Spiritual callings do not disappear.They simply wait until we are ready.If you feel a quiet voice inside you saying there is something more you are meant to explore—whether it is healing, teaching, writing, or guiding others—trust that voice.Your path is still unfolding.And sometimes the most powerful step is simply saying yes.<hr><h1 id="3a89a1a6-8e1b-4fa7-903f-8dcbdd343d75" data-toc-id="3a89a1a6-8e1b-4fa7-903f-8dcbdd343d75" style="font-size: 32px; line-height: 1.2;">Frequently Asked Questions About Spiritual Journeys</h1><h3 id="202e1582-34cf-4e51-bfe2-5400586c7e97" data-toc-id="202e1582-34cf-4e51-bfe2-5400586c7e97" style="font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.2;">What is a spiritual journey?</h3>A spiritual journey is the process of exploring deeper meaning, intuition, and personal growth through practices such as meditation, energy healing, yoga, or spiritual study.<hr><h3 id="b0e52bc7-0c86-42c8-a86c-e93f3aa1f803" data-toc-id="b0e52bc7-0c86-42c8-a86c-e93f3aa1f803" style="font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.2;">Can you turn spiritual gifts into a career?</h3>Yes. Many people build careers offering Reiki, intuitive readings, spiritual coaching, yoga instruction, or spiritual education. However, it often begins as a passion or side practice before becoming a full-time path.<hr><h3 id="02c284c3-e63f-4743-bca5-40b7e21c95a3" data-toc-id="02c284c3-e63f-4743-bca5-40b7e21c95a3" style="font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.2;">Why do many spiritual teachers start later in life?</h3>Spiritual wisdom often deepens through life experience. Many teachers discover their calling in their 40s, 50s, or later, when they feel more confident sharing their knowledge and guidance.<hr>

Discover the heartfelt story of Bertena Varney’s spiritual journey—from opening a Reiki and meditation center to teaching yoga, navigating job loss, and building a spiritual business.

My Spiritual Journey: From Reiki, Yoga, and Intuition to Building a Spiritual Business (And Why I Almost Quit Many Times)

My Spiritual Journey: How I Turned Reiki, Intuition, and Yoga Into a Spiritual Business

The Years of Psychic and Metaphysical Fairs

Teaching Yoga and Meditation From My Home

Why Spiritual People Struggle With Business

Frequently Asked Questions About Spiritual Journeys

Can you turn spiritual gifts into a career?

Why do many spiritual teachers start later in life?

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My Spiritual Journey: From Reiki, Yoga, and Intuition to Building a Spiritual Business (And Why I Almost Quit Many Times)

My Spiritual Journey: From Reiki, Yoga, and Intuition to Building a Spiritual Business (And Why I Almost Quit Many Times)

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