Meet Devin Petersen | Creative & Reiki Master

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

Hi Devin, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I’ve always been a free spirit and have had an entrepreneurship mindset. I am an artist, and a deep thinker. When I was 25 I created my own clothing line called Astrae Apparel, screen printing my watercolor illustrations onto organic cotton and silk garments. This evolved into creating a line of printed bohemian pants and dresses. I had a dream to create “wearable art”, and pieces that evoked spiritual meanings. The tank tops would be mantras like “trust the universe” with the moon phase down the spine. I was so proud to see women and men sporting these sayings and my wearable art pieces from all over the country. This truly would light me up. I eventually had to close the business because it became to expensive to produce, and I’ll never forget that day I had to put this passion to rest. It was truly an identity shift and chapter closing to the next. Responsibilities came knocking and it was time to get a “real job”. I started searching through fashion newspapers in LA looking for the next “graphic design” role at an established company. I came across an article eventually that read “NEED JUNIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER” at Paige Denim. It was too good to be true, needless to say I went in for the interview and landed the job with almost zero experience as a graphic designer after going back to school. I picked up all the design programs very naturally fully put my heart into this role. A couple years down the road, I remember sitting at this 9-5 office job and thinking, “Why am I using all of my creative energy for someone else’s dream and not mine”? I would always get these creative downloads that would come in like a lightning bolt and all the sudden that would be the next spring campaign concept that would make these people thousands of dollars and of course my paycheck was pennies in exchange. Eventually, it took a big leap of faith to leave the corporate life. I felt too contained, too constricted and uninspired. My soul was meant to be free and expansive. Eventually, I started freelancing and built my dream client list. I hustled to find the perfect energetic match for the businesses I wanted to create for, while on the side creating large scale abstract landscape paintings that emulated Agnes Martin, along with earth tone watercolor illustrations. I was truly living my passions as an artist. But for some reason there was still a vast void that I could not put my finger on. Something was missing from my life still. I would not realize what this was until years to come, after my sister passed away and everything fell apart in my life. My design business completely dried up I had no creative spark left, or motivation for that matter. I was a shell. Jillian and I always had the most incredible sister bond. When people talk about “twin flames” I laugh because it’s such an overused buzzword and sounds so cliche, but she really was my energetic other half. I ended up finding myself at a reiki appointment one day with a free credit someone gave me for this healing center downtown San Diego. It’s hard to explain into words what happened that day in this hour session with this woman who channelled my sister’s spirit, delivered messages from the other side and started chanting ancient aboriginal songs from her ancestors that also awakened something inside of me. I decided I needed to learn this energetic healing method “reiki”. I wanted to heal myself from my sister’s passing but also learn how to heal others in this miraculous way. I ended up going through years of reiki trainings and eventually becoming a Master. This was the missing piece, a new part of my soul was rediscovered through this healing process and it ignited something within me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I didn’t always know this, but I’ve learned that sharing art is like a window into the soul. Like I said, when creative ideas hit me it feels like a lightning bolt. I get chills all over my body and my heart just fires up. I get so excited to share this energy with the world. I was channeling from my intuition and was so in touch with this sacred energy. Back when I was designing my clothing line for Astrae Apparel, these ideas would flood in and I channeled my mantras and visions into these T-shirt designs. Then it was my artwork and creating these abstract pieces that would set my soul on fire. I would often lose myself for hours in the secluded backroom of my Dad’s house on Martha’s Vineyard, immersed in painting and seeking to capture the profound connection between earth and soul expansion that I experienced while strolling along the beach, enveloped by towering red and amber clay cliffs, with the ocean waters shimmering like diamonds under the warm embrace of a brisk autumn sun.

However with all that said, I haven’t always believed in myself all the way to success. I’ve learned some hard lessons in between of rejection and not always having the “dream job” that I’ve been working toward. There have been many ego hits and creative blocks that have been difficult to recover from. The problem was, I often relied on others to validate my gifts and successes. I was truly looking in all the wrong places to prove I was successful. I believed that landing a job at a renowned brand like Apple would be the defining moment of my career, where my hard work would finally be recognized and praised. However, this expectation quickly turned into a double-edged sword, leaving me questioning whether I would ever truly measure up. Do they genuinely appreciate my designs? How can I prove that my work truly is the best?

When I turned inward and started my path towards becoming a reiki master, my world simultaneously collapsed and came together. During those 3 years I totally lost my old self and realized that the only person that truly had all the power, and answers was me. That by seeking all this outside validation, I was giving away my true sovereignty and divine feminine expression. This has always been one of my massive “life lessons”, the universe is always testing me on this. I would keep trying to apply to fancy graphic design roles and would be rejected over and over again.

Until about a year and a half ago, I decided to fully let go of my identity as a “graphic designer” and fully step into my calling of being of service to others and start using my gifts as a healer. At this juncture, Solas Wellness emerged—a business born from resilience and genuine growth. Within it, I provided Reiki healing sessions, sound healing, and womb healing activations.

This work is truly my passion, it’s from the soul and always guided by intuition and source energy. It has expanded me in ways that I never even knew were possible. It’s important to also know, that I am not this guru or “healer”, I am simply holding space for others to heal and creating this container for them to remember who they are. Witnessing such transformations in others serves as a powerful reminder of the abundant support and divine guidance that continuously surrounds us. My true purpose lies in expanding the realm of possibilities and creating an environment where magic and ascension can unfold effortlessly.

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?
I LOVE creating these experiences for people. I also have a deep passion for traveling and exploring the world. With that said, I am not much of a homebody but I do know how to show people a good time. Santa Barbara is known for the vast mountains that meet the sea. It is an anomaly how the mountains run from east to west. I love to wake up and have a slow morning drinking coffee and eating almond crossants at Handlebar Cafe. Then go on a long hike up to Inspiration point to overlook the city. Right now the entire country side is magic carpet green and the earth is in total bloom. Then continue our way up north to Santa Ynez wine country and have the full wine tasting experience at Demetria, a french like -chateau vineyard. All the staff are fully decked out like “cowboys” in their levi jeans and flannels. After I would hit Stolpman or Carhartt winery in the town of Los Olivos, and then check out Nella’s for dinner at the bar. My favorite place to watch the sunset here is at Hendry’s beach, just sitting there by the rocks in the sand is simple enough for me or head to Boathouse to have a bite. If you’re feeling more adventurous you could head to lizards mouth to have a panoramic view of the entire city and watch the sun set into the ocean from up in the mountains. If some of my more spiritual friends were in town I would take them to meditation mount in Ojai for a sunrise yoga session on the hillside, then a group led soundbath session at Palma Colectiva (where I practice).

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?
I owe my journey to numerous influential individuals who have greatly enriched my experience; without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I believe life is a series of synchronicities – meaningful coincidences that align with our path and purpose.

In my initial years of discovering my artistic value I met my professor Greg Zuyen at Santa Monica College. He opened up my perception of being an artist and helped me to translate my wildly unorganized creative ideas into a more refined graphic approach. While also telling me to reach for the freaking stars, because anything is possible.

My mentor and one of my best friend’s Delaney Maher for paving the way as a badass graphic designer who truly understands her worth. Monica and Darlene Challingsworth, the amazing mother daughter duo who took me on to their woman biz empire to create amazing design concepts and taught me how to be empowered in the workplace.

Tiffany Shrade, my amazing Reiki teacher, mentor, and source of inspiration for helping me discover my purpose and spreading my healing abilities to the world. My amazingly gifted friend, Jennifer Adishian for opening up the world of magic and aligned sisterhood. All my girls “cheeks” Tanya, Bri, Stephanie, Caroline, Jenn for cheering me on and with love and support. My parents for believing in my wild ideas, and to Dad for gifting me my first sound bowl without knowing the weight of it’s meaning yet. My husband Boyd for being my grounding force. And, of course, my sister Jillian, who from the other side, consistently paves the way for magic to unfold and showers me with an indescribable amount of support and love.

This team of incredible people have taught me to embrace the idea that nothing happens by chance and any conversation can open the door to a world of possibilities. Pay attention to the subtle signs, chance encounters, and unexpected events in your life.

Website: solas-wellness.com

Instagram: @solas__wellness

Other: design website: devinslatas.com personal instagram: devin__petersen

Image Credits
Chandler Cook Casi McCarthy Leila Brewster