From Law Enforcement Crime Analyst to Tarot Reader & Crystal Practitioner with Brandy Rachelle
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Photo credit: Emily Henderson Photography
Brandy Rachelle is a former law enforcement Crime & Intelligence Analyst who left her career behind to become a full-time Professional Tarot Card Reader, Crystal Healing Practitioner and way-shower in order to guide others into finding their power, changing their stars, and transforming their life. She has a compassionate yet no-nonsense approach, and truly believes that you are living a life of purpose and fulfillment is your destiny. She is a Seeker of Wisdom and a Mystic by nature. With a Master of Science degree, she is a mix of spiritual and science and believes that magic is just science that hasn’t been proven yet.
Can you tell our readers about your background?
I’m Brandy, a former law enforcement Crime and Intelligence Analyst who used my intuitive gifts and the guidance of the tarot to work major crimes cases across the country, and the power of crystals to heal myself and fellow first responders from the stress & traumas we encountered. I began reading tarot and providing crystal healing for the public in 2016. Shortly thereafter in late 2017, I left my career in law enforcement to focus on my family and launching my business, though I continue to assist law enforcement agencies on a regular basis. I had identical twin boys on Christmas day 2018 and decided to take a couple of years off to focus on them and my oldest daughter, before relaunching as Brandy Rachelle LLC in the fall of 2020.
What inspired you to start your business?
I am someone that believes that life needs to have a good balance between working on the self and being of service to others. So, after working with tarot cards and then crystals for as long as I did, and in the capacity that I did, to have the ability and knowledge to take it into the civilian world to help those that need it most, that’s a no brainer for me. I truly believe that everyone has a purpose in life, and healing can be achieved by anyone with help from the Divine within and in all things This 100% devoid of any religious alignments or dogmas. It’s about reconnecting with that Divine spark within you and the Universal energy that surrounds and speaks to you daily. When I think about the cases that I have worked or assisted on, I still can’t help but think about the “what ifs”, particularly around what may have played out differently had those involved had the insights or healing they needed before they became a case number. I find that so much of what is “wrong” in the world is a product of people being disconnected from the energy around them. There are those that have lost their way, those that never had a clear insight to begin with, the walking wounded, and the ever present fear based living where people are afraid to take chances.
Where is your business based?
I am physically located in Wimberley, TX, a small tourist town on the outskirts of Austin. However, 95% of my business is via phone and Zoom; I have clients all over the world. With everything opening back up, I will be traveling to various event venues in the central TX area for in-person services.
How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?
When I did it initially in 2016, it was more of testing the waters, and I did it all wrong. I got a DBA, launched a static website, had business cards printed, and just went to metaphysical and holistic fairs hoping I would reach my target audience and gain new clientele. Relaunching as Brandy Rachelle LLC in 2020, I took the time to do my research beforehand on business planning, website design, social media, marketing, and really focusing on genuinely connecting with my audience. Had I done my research the first time, things would have been different. While compiling the search, I focused on the business name, filed for an LLC, got business banking account, filed with my state for paying sales tax, started designing my own website on Wix, started connecting more with my tarot and crystal healing community online, and started working on what I wanted to put out there that people could really take something of value from.
What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?
Word of mouth from satisfied clients and my guest features. There are so many scammers out there, particularly on social media, that a lot of people are rightfully hesitant to invest money on something like tarot readings and crystal healing when you don’t know who is legitimate and who’s not.
What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?
For starters, I had to get the guts to walk away from everything I had built and what made me comfortable, in order to chase my dreams.Had it not been for the guidance of the tarot, I’d still be in law enforcement dealing with the never ending barrage of stress and dissatisfaction.
As far as building the business, I would have to say the biggest challenge has been getting in front of the right people. Word of mouth builds the business, but with services like mine, it’s not something that word of mouth alone can sustain. Let’s be honest, despite growing popularity again, tarot readings and crystal healing are still very foreign and taboo to so many. This is an ongoing process, and the guest features and endorsements by big names in the industry is helping substantially. Despite law enforcement and government agencies utilizing my services, I do not charge for assisting an agency, and the use of my services is under strict confidentiality agreements.
How do you stay focused?
I live on calendars, checklists, and planning well in advance. It’s a matter of prioritizing and sticking to a schedule that works. I am and have always been a workaholic, so I have to set times and limits in order to get done what I need to get done in the timeframe I need it done without burnout. This includes taking the time for self-care and my own studies so that I am adequately energized.
How do you differentiate your business from the competition?
Aside from the educational and career background including the capacity in which I have used tarot, as a tarot reader, crystal healing practitioner and way-shower, I have a no nonsense approach and I’m about practicality. If someone is looking for a tarot reader complete with Hollywood theatrics,“reading their mind” or laying out their entire life in a card spread, I’m not the reader for them. I am about insight, clarity and guidance for the client to make a well informed, conscientious decision while maintaining their free will. Instead of focusing on “what will happen”, I focus on desired outcomes, paths and possibilities. However, I do work on future prediction or “fortune telling”, which so many modern tarot readers have gotten away from. I also have this unique approach where I have the clients hold their questions, I just read what comes through in the cards, and then jump into a client’s questions if they still have any at that point. It is the more difficult way of reading, and most tarot readers either can’t or won’t read that way.
With crystal healing, I focus on the ancient wisdom and modern science behind how and why crystals work rather than the ‘new age” phenomenon that seems to be sweeping across the country. I only use and recommend non-toxic natural stones of high quality in ways that are practical and supported by both thousands of years of ancestral experience and the scientific laws of nature. So much of what is hot in the crystal healing scope, is nothing more than layered paint, glass, fancy trademark names for common crystals or stones, and artificial lab creations.
When it comes to practicality, I’m about ease of use without disrupting someone’s busy schedule or breaking the bank. You won’t find me telling someone that they need to go through some secret and complex series of steps during a Full Moon on the 8th day of the 8th month to unlock the magic of a crystal, that they are a magical pill that will instantly fix everything, or that a session will shift you into permanent alignment and your work is done. None of that is sensible or realistic.
What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business? Definitely guest features.
What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?
Take your time to do the research for your industry, niche, competitors, and once you have a good idea of what you do and don’t want, then start doing. Make your checklists, take it one step at a time, and don’t rush to “just get something out there”. Also, review, review, review, and be willing to toss what isn’t working.
What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?
My favorite app is Time Passages because I love to know what is going on in the cosmos and what to expect or watch out for each day. Yes, I used astrology, particularly the moon cycle and signs when working in law enforcement crime analysis.
My favorite blog is Theresa Reed, the Tarot Lady, because she has such wonderful insights into tarot and business after 30 years of reading.
My favorite book is “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankle because it embodies the human spirit’s ability to persevere through adversity, and to learn and grow from our experiences.
What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?
Hands down, it’s Acuity because of the ease of use for my clients booking appointment times that work best for them, accepting payments, managing clients, and keeping my schedule organized.
Who is your business role model? Why?
Theresa Reed. She’s been in this industry for decades, she understands not only reading tarot, but also what it takes to build a business like this and make it successful.
How do you balance work and life?
It goes back to the schedules and being very strict with my time.
What’s your favorite way to decompress?
Sounds cliche, but reading tarot. I also love to stick my nose in a good book, I’m always learning something new.
What do you have planned for the next six months?
I am focusing on my writing, particularly on my blog and guest features, as well as expanding my brand awareness and working with clients that genuinely want to unleash their power, potential and live their purpose.
How can our readers connect with you?
You can find me online at BrandyRachelle.com, as well as my Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter where I love sharing deep, meaningful and helpful knowledge to assist you in your spiritual journey, as well as random bits of humor to liven the spirit.