Meet Michelle Watkins | Master Energy Medicine Practitioner, Owner/Founder of Urban Sanctuary

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michelle Watkins and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michelle, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
One of my favorite quotes is by T.S. Eliot:

“We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.”

I love this quote. To me, it perfectly captures the human experience—we come into this life to explore, to feel, to forget who we are… and eventually, if we’re lucky, to remember. To come full circle and realize that everything we were searching for out there was within us all along. It’s about returning to Source, to our own divinity, and seeing it with new eyes.

One thing that might surprise people about energy healing is just how layered and intelligent it is. It’s not just “good vibes” or floating in a spiritual cloud. It’s grounded. It’s structured. It works with the nervous system, the emotional body, the subconscious, even ancestral patterns and quantum fields. It’s incredibly nuanced—and deeply powerful.

I see myself as a bridge: between the seen and unseen, the mystical and the practical. My work is about helping people remember who they are, and that they are already whole.

As for how I want to be remembered—I hope people see me as someone who showed up with kindness, compassion, and presence. A teacher, a guide, a healer who helped others feel safe enough to come home to themselves. Someone who made things just a little lighter, a little more clear, a little more loving.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I like to think of my work as both grounded and deeply connected to something greater—Source, Spirit, Divine Intelligence—whatever language resonates. I help people come home to themselves. Whether it’s through Reiki, hypnotherapy, Shamanic Energy Medicine, intuitive reading, sound healing, or meditation, my role is to create and hold a sacred space where people feel safe, seen, and supported. That’s where real transformation happens.

What sets me apart is that I’m not just trained in one thing—I’ve studied and practiced multiple healing modalities for over two decades, and I’ve learned how to weave them together in a way that’s intuitive, powerful, and personalized. I’m highly organized, compassionate, open-minded, and I bring a calming, grounding presence into every room I walk into. People often tell me they can breathe more deeply when they’re with me—and that’s something I don’t take lightly.

My journey has been anything but easy. Like many healers, I’ve walked through my own dark nights of the soul, faced uncertainty, and questioned everything. But each experience—whether painful or ecstatic—has brought me closer to the truth of who I am and what I’m here to do. I know now that every twist and turn has been divinely guided, even when it didn’t feel that way in the moment.

At the end of the day, I want people to know that they’re not alone. That healing is possible. That it’s okay to explore, to forget, to fall apart—and still find your way back to love, wholeness, and connection. If my path and the work I offer can help even one person find that within themselves, then I’m doing exactly what I came here to do.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend was visiting for a week, we’d definitely start our mornings with coffee on the Malibu Pier, watching the surfers and soaking in the ocean air. We might even end our day there, too! Sunset at Malibu Farm is a must—especially their zucchini crust pizza, which I’m slightly obsessed with.

We’d go hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains, there’s nothing like the views – from the city to the ocean. For a dose of art and inspiration, we’d visit both the Getty Center and Getty Villa, and carve out a day for LACMA too.

No LA trip is complete without a live show, so we’d catch a concert at the Hollywood Bowl or the Greek Theatre. And of course, a Dodger game at Dodger Stadium is non-negotiable—such a classic LA experience.

If it were New Year’s Day, we’d be front row at the Rose Parade and then head to the Rose Bowl for the game. LA truly has it all, nature, art and culture, great dining, so hard to choose!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Absolutely—I wouldn’t be where I am without a whole constellation of support. I want to start by honoring my family—both my family of origin and my ancestors—I truly wouldn’t be who I am today without them! I also want to give love to my chosen family—my dear friends who have been by my side through all the ups and downs, holding space, cheering me on, and reminding me of who I am when I forget. Their presence has meant everything.

Of course, my husband and kids are my anchors. They’ve been incredibly patient, supportive, and understanding as I’ve walked this (very unconventional) path. They keep me grounded, and their love is what I come home to.

I also owe so much to my teachers and mentors—those who’ve guided me through Reiki, Shamanic Energy Medicine, Hypnotherapy, Meditation, intuitive work, sound healing, and so much more. They not only passed along powerful tools and wisdom, but helped me become the kind of practitioner who can hold truly sacred space for others.

And finally, my clients and students—soul family, really. The curiosity, vulnerability, and trust they bring into our shared spaces inspires me every single day.

Website: https://www.urbansanctuaryllc.com

Instagram: @urbansanctuaryla

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-watkins-b160a9290/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Urban-Sanctuary/100026806791859/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSrpeKE8aXX-i6wXtXSfHyw/featured

Image Credits
Stephanie Waisler-Rubin, Anju De Anda