Meet Andrea Solanki | Energy Healer and Reiki Master

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

Hi Andrea, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I’m from a small village in North Wales called Gresford which dates back to the 7th century. Growing up surrounded by Celtic history, folklores and an abundance of nature definitely shaped how I view the world. From an early age, I was fascinated by the beautiful myths of the Fae and naturally inquisitive, would often while-away afternoons looking for fairies. The neighboring Fairy Glen is like something that belongs in Tolkien’s Legendarium! It was a magical place to grow up and is the root of my love of nature, herbs, animals, fairies, crystals and forests.

As an energy healer and Aromatherapist, I look back on that time with immense fondness as I remember making tinctures with herbs. It was definitely where my journey began. Even though I haven’t lived in Wales for a long time now, I make sure to take my son back every year, exploring my old haunts with him.

I moved to Santa Monica 10 years ago and it is where my healing practice is based. I’ve recently joined a wonderful group of like-minded therapists and practitioners at Healista on Main Street, Santa Monica. It’s such a peaceful, beautiful space; my window looks out on beautiful, aged trees. I’m so thankful for the journey so far; it’s a reminder that anything is possible.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
As a Reiki Master, Intuitive and Energy Healer I have been working with clients for over 20 years, helping them to clear spiritual, emotional and physical blockages, healing past wounds and facilitating their own bodies to heal themselves. My calling in life has been to use my healing gifts to help others, channelling healing energy through my body and out of my hands, healing the mind, body and spirit.

In the mid 1990’s, I fell ill with severe Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and determined to prove wrong doctors who had said I would be wheelchair-bound, I began my healing journey. After being offered anti-depressants and with a lack of real medical support, my mother – who was so supportive throughout this whole process – and I, began researching alternatives to anti-depressants and thus started my holistic journey.

From there my re-birth really began. I threw myself into self-help and healing and with the help of some amazing alternative therapists I met along the way, I completely healed. The doctors were astounded and told me it wasn’t possible. Yet there I was healed and better than ever and from that moment on there was no looking back.

I was so intrigued by essential oils, their healing powers and their positive effect on me that I studied to be an Aromatherapist at The British School of Complementary Therapy on Harley Street in London. Whilst doing my Aromatherapy training my teacher and I both realized I was working with energies and was clairaudient so I began working with a Reiki Master/Intuitive and studied energy healing over the course of the next few years. This naturally led me into crystal healing, sound healing and completely opened up my world.
Moving to LA and starting a family 10 years ago is something I am very proud of and it still blows my mind that I live here, have a family and get to do what I love every day.
As a Reiki Master, Energetic Healer, Crystal Healer, Aromatherapist and La Stone Therapist I often use a combination of these disciplines to create a unique, personalized energetic experience for my clients, working with Spirit Guides, to detect the location of blockages within the body’s energy field and to re-balance them with positive healing energy.

I also run Reiki workshops and events and I am finding more and more that parents are reaching out to me as their children have suffered anxiety, fatigue or depression during this pandemic.

In attuning children to the Reiki energy and teaching them Reiki and techniques to help them heal themselves, I have found it has helped them work through grief, severe anxiety, depression, sleep disorders and muscle fatigue amongst many other post viral/pandemic symptoms.

Equipping children with the tools to help them navigate life is such a gift and watching them flourish afterwards is beyond rewarding.

‘A healer does not heal you. A healer is someone who holds space for you whilst you awaken your inner healer. So that you may heal yourself’ – Maryam Hasnaa

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Big Sur is one of my favorite places to visit and that stretch of the coastline, with its ragged cliffs, green hills and deep blue water never ceases to make me smile. I would definitely recommend a three or four day road trip heading North on PCH. The first stop would be Santa Barbara – lunch in the Funk Zone and a punnet of Harry’s Berries from the farmers market, followed by a visit to Ojai. Next, a beach walk in Cambria and the Seals in San Simeon. Nepanthe in Big Sur is a must for lunch and then staying the night either at Deetjens Inn in Big Sur or glamping at Ventana.
In LA, I always take visitors to the Self Realization Fellowship, Lake Shrine. It’s a wonderful place to walk around and the energy there is so peaceful.
Malibu Pier Farm Cafe is another go-to for breakfast and I love taking friends to The Inn of the Seventh Ray in Topanga for Sunday Brunch followed by the beach in Malibu for the rest of the afternoon.
You can’t beat the garden terrace at Chateau Marmont for old Hollywood charm, definitely one or two hikes, Santa Monica’s farmer’s market and as I’ve recently discovered Drive-in movies, I’d add that to the list also.

Alright, so let’s jump right in! 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 a person, group, organization, book, etc. that you want to dedicate your shoutout to? Who else deserves a little credit and recognition in your story?  
One of the books that changed the course of my life was ‘Feel the fear and do it anyway’ by Susan Jeffers. I read that book, whilst on vacation in Mallorca for some self-healing time. After reading it, I went traveling around the world. Whilst on the Yasawa Islands in Fiji, I met a woman who had just qualified as an Aromatherapist in London. She gave me the details of the school she had studied at and as soon as I returned to the UK I phoned up and got the last place on the next course. There have been so many healers and teachers in the UK who have helped me on my journey. Here in LA, Elena Gonzalez, the creator of Healista has been an amazing supporter since we worked together a few years ago.

Instagram: @andreasolanki

Other: andreasolanki@me.com

Image Credits
Bex Hartman