Meet Rylee Axner | Reiki Practitioner, Writer/Director, Post Producer

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

Hi Rylee, where are you from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I grew up in Cleveland & Columbus Ohio. For me, religion was at the forefront of my life. I really didn’t mind going to church when I was younger. I was a pretty obedient and well behaved kid. Believe it or not, religion was one of my favorite subjects because it answered a lot of the whys I was asking about reality. It wasn’t until I got older that I began to realize how drastically my true beliefs differed from those in which I was told to believe. I’m grateful for the fundamentals that religion has taught me–to this day I know there are lots of stories that are worth reading and learning about. However, once I started to think critically and use my own intuition, rather then simply listen to what someone else was telling me, life really began. I realized I had control over my life and my decisions and I’ve felt inspired and free to create ever since. It’s kind of ironic that my breakaway from the church was my “spiritual awakening” and ever since leaving, I’ve been absolutely intrigued by the universe and this planet. There’s a lot of healing necessary that comes with religious trauma and I know that I wouldn’t be a healer today if it wasn’t for my upbringing. The truly unconditional love that I have found and felt working with Reiki is like nothing else I’ve experienced before.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I work on various projects as a Post Producer at a Production and Post studio called ArtClass Content. After working in TV/Film for 5 years, and working 10 – 12 hour days, it was time for a lifestyle change. When the pandemic happened, I reevaluated what I really wanted, and started to work on scripts with the intention of actually directing them, instead of trying to sell a story to some abstract far off studio sometime in the future. Making this mental shift has been huge for really enjoying the creative process. I took some time off to write and along the way got certified in Reiki. Suddenly I was loving my day to day life and found a job at ArtClass right when I needed it. It wasn’t easy to get where I am today, but the truth is I was making it harder on myself than I needed to. When I started telling stories that I wanted to tell, rather than what I think people want to hear, everything started falling into place. I’m currently working on a short film called “Driver” about a lesbian coming out to her parents and it not going well. From what I’ve seen in the movies and on TV, it seems things usually “get better” and the parents always “come around”. For me, that hasn’t been the case. It’s been years of tears and longing, and hoping for something that might never be. There’s no rule book or instructions on what steps to take and that has made me realize how crucial it is to feel represented on screen. I thought, if I haven’t seen this movie yet, maybe I’m the one who’s supposed to make it. The least I can do is help someone not feel so alone, and remember to always choose themselves. My friend Eliza told me something that I’ll never forget, “The truth is, it’s not about you.” She went on to say there is a reason that we want things, and if we don’t go after them, we’re holding everyone else back from receiving what they need to move forward. This has really helped me because a lot of times I have felt guilty or shameful for going after what I want, or being my authentic self, when really, that’s the best thing we can do for others. Being a Reiki Practitioner has been both healing and fulfilling work. I picked the name “Heal Good Feel Good” because that has been my experience. Once I began my healing journey, I started to feel good. I love helping people through energy work and consultations. Currently, I’m working out of my home, but I would love to eventually own my own studio and teach others the how to heal themselves, and how to work with Reiki healing themselves. I feel my art is all connected. Whether it’s my films, my job, or my business, I love what I’ve created and I can’t wait to see what’s next.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
First, we would drive over to Undergrind cafe and pick up breakfast and an iced Green Dragon drink. Then we would head up the PCH and hike on one of the trails with an ocean view. After that, we’d head over to Leo Carillo State beach to jump in the ocean and explore the tide pools. On our way back into town we’d pick up some Chinese Food from Miss Chi’s Cafe. On another day we might start off with a walk to Sideshow books. I truly believe this bookstore holds magic. We’d get lunch at The South Philly Experience, grab a Matcha from Cha Cha Matcha, rollerblade at Venice beach, and watch the sunset. On our last day we might check out Silverlake Flea Market, see if there’s a comedy show we could go to, and have dinner at Dama downtown. I won’t let you leave town before you try a burger from LA Burg. It’s the best burger in LA, hands down.

 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?
First, I would like to thank the LGBTQ+ Community. They are a huge part of what has helped me feel comfortable in my own skin. Just knowing that there are others out there who are going through similar struggles has been huge to help me not feel so alone. I want to thank my partner Amanda, who has been with me through many ups and downs over the past 3 years of our relationship and has always supported me no matter what, I love you. I want to thank my best friend Caitlin Foley, who since college, always reads my rough drafts of my scripts and encourages me to keep going. Lastly, reading the Abraham Hicks books by Jerry & Esther Hicks changed my life and how I see the world forever.

Website: https://www.healgood-feelgood.com

Instagram: @raxxner @healgoodfeelgood

Image Credits
Manny Zepeda
Amanda Magill
Ben Kramer