Meet Jo-Anne Suriel | Intuitive Energy Healer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jo-Anne Suriel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jo-Anne, do you disagree with some advice that is more or less universally accepted?
I have to say, I disagree with the advice to “Never give up.” As human beings, we’re constantly changing and evolving. Something that really interested you in your 20’s may not feel the same to you in your 30’s and 40’s. I started working in finance in my 20’s and, at the time, it felt really exciting and promising. I enjoyed learning about the different aspects of investing in businesses and interacting with founders. I really dove into the field and even got an Ivy League MBA on the side—while working full time and having my daughter.

But after a decade in the industry, it became very clear to me that this livelihood was not aligned with my life purpose. I’d begun receiving Reiki regularly and getting more in tune with my intuition. However, for years, I was hesitant to leave my job because I felt I’d invested so much time and energy into a career in financial services. But then I started studying Reiki and learning about the Akashic Records and my inner voice got louder and louder telling me that it was time to make a major change.

When I finally took the leap to pursue a more creative and entrepreneurial path in wellness, it felt like a homecoming in many ways. I eventually found my true calling after I released the job I thought I “should” be doing. I actually think it can take a lot of courage to give up.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I was born a multifaceted person. My mom is an immigrant from Asia and my dad is an immigrant from the Caribbean. In college, I majored in Chinese, took all the pre-med classes, and won the dance award. Before becoming an energy healer, I worked at an internet start-up, at a non-profit arts organization, and finally, as a business analyst for private equity firms. A recruiter once advised me to say that, “I have a diverse set of interests.” This is a true statement because I dive very deeply and wholeheartedly into the many things that I’m passionate about.

As a healer, this hyper-nerdy, Sagittarian zeal for learning has shaped my offerings and how I’m able to hold space for diverse groups as well as individual clients. I practice three core healing modalities—Akashic Records, which facilitates a connection to your soul’s journey, Reiki, which is a gentle-yet-powerful Japanese energy healing technique, and Sound Healing, which uses specific frequencies to help you return to a more harmonious state.

I combine all three modalities in my group ceremonies and often make cross-connections in my 1-on-1 sessions. In my offerings, I also incorporate my studies in African Traditional Religion and indigenous and nature-based spirituality. I don’t know of anyone else who facilitates in this way—I’m a bit of a melting pot, I guess you could say.

After working with me, my clients are often able to find courage, renewed vitality, and inspiration within themselves that they didn’t realize they had access to. I think this is because I’m able to take myself out of the equation—I’m simply a vessel helping to create space for the healing ability that you already hold within you to emerge. That’s why I named my business Energetic Well—we all have profound wells of energetic healing within us. But we sometimes need a bit of guidance to reconnect to that well within.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Living in the most diverse borough of one of the most multicultural cities in the world is such a gift. Queens in New York City is overflowing with culinary and cultural delights and the neighborhoods of Astoria and Long Island City are real treasures.

You could start off your day at neighborhood favorite Might Oak Roasters for wood roasted coffee sourced from ethical and environmentally sustainable growers. I would then head next door to shop at Anoria Boutique, which has unique, high-quality-yet-affordable womenswear. The owner, Vanessa Gonzalez, also sells beautiful hand-embroidered pieces made by her grandmother from Mexico. This place is an absolute jewel. For vintage shopping, I highly recommend Pimbeche, which has a stylish and well-curated selection of clothing and accessories handpicked by owner Lisa Ferrari-Sullivan. I love supporting local, independently-owned shops and buying vintage helps to heal the planet.

It’s so important to take care of your mind, body, and spirit, whether travelling or at home. The yoga classes and workshops at Form + Flow are amazing. I actually lead a monthly Reiki Sound Sanctuary at their Queensbridge location and know that the studio owner, Shelly Yang, is very conscientious about the teachers and facilitators that work with her community. For the ultimate self-care treat, book an appointment in advance at Rejuvenate Face & Body for a facial with Evelyn Gatzonis. She is a true skincare sorceress.

After all that, you’ll probably be hungry, so I would go to Chela & Garnacha for some authentic Mexico City-style tacos. This place is no-frills but the food is delightful. Another tasty option in Astoria is Macoletta—their brick-oven pizza is mouth-watering and they have a great gluten-free option, too.

To take in some art and culture, you could go to the Museum of the Moving Image, which has independent movie screenings and a wide range of fascinating exhibits dedicated to movie-making. Another great neighborhood institution is The Noguchi Museum, founded and designed by Japanese American sculptor Isamu Noguchi. They have a really beautiful sculpture garden that makes you feel like you’re in a hidden oasis in the city.

Connecting to nature is incredibly healing, so after Noguchi, you could walk across the street to Socrates Sculpture Park, which has rotating exhibits of large-scale outdoor art. You should also walk up to Astoria Park—it’s a gorgeous green space with clear views of Manhattan, Randall’s Island, the Hellgate Bridge, and the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge. It also has the largest swimming pool in New York City.

Afterwards, I would have dinner at Agnanti Meze, which serves classic Greek food. The seafood is particularly outstanding and dessert is always on the house.

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?
Being an energy healer is not for the faint of heart. It takes a tremendous amount of bravery and perseverance to dedicate oneself to the healing arts. So, I would love to shoutout two of my beloved mentors, Jissel Ravelo and Deborah Hanekamp.

Jissel, a Reiki Master Teacher and founder of Upsoul, a holistic health and wellness center in NYC, guided both of my Reiki Master trainings (Usui Holy Fire and Karuna Reiki Master). She’s lovingly cultivated a broad and diverse family of Reiki practitioners and has been an overflowing fountain of knowledge, support, and encouragement since launching my business, Energetic Well, years ago. Jissel has been a role model for me in so many ways and is amazingly down-to-earth while also being highly intuitive and full of spiritual wisdom.

Deborah, also known as Mama Medicine, has taught me so much about tapping into and reclaiming my own unique healing gifts. She’s shown me the profound power of nature, which exists within all of us, and the clarity that comes when you recognize the unity of all beings. Deborah’s teachings on how to work with and honor the elements of nature—air, fire, water, and earth—have been foundational in my own healing work with groups and with 1-on-1 clients. I went on her annual Element Retreat in Italy last summer and it was a profoundly transformational rebirth experience. She’s one of the kindest and most generous humans I’ve ever met. Deborah truly embodies all that she teaches and has been an awe-inspiring model of a high-integrity spiritual healer while also being a dynamic and bold business-owner.

Website: https://www.energeticwell.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nrgwell/

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Image Credits
Hannah Cohen, Andrew Godreaux, and Jo-Anne Suriel