Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Vining
Hi Melissa, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Growing up, struggled with my mental health at an extremely young age. I experienced anxiety, anger and self worth issues which I now know was due to ADHD. However, like many girls in my generation, it was missed as long as we were quiet and well behaved. The crippling desire to fit in and shame of everything about myself made the concept of expressing myself nonexistent. I truly never knew what happiness was.
I continued that way through college and grad school. I exercised or studied to keep my attention and emotions regulated. I never had hobbies, I just stayed goal focused. I commited to a life of supporting the first man who was nice to me. I assumed this was an achievement and as good as it was going to get. I had never experienced anything better.
I was always interested in metaphysical topics like tarot, psycics and witches. I was lucky enough to be raised around these things and acknowledgment of my gifts to see spirit sometimes. However,I was not a “real” psycic or medium, that was nowhere near what I was capable of. If anything, spirit attempting to communicate with me was a distraction and I learned to block them out.
After I graduated and started to have time to
explore my own interests I felt called back, well, my guides called me back. Witchy podcasts started popping up on my Spotify and I started exploring metaphysical shops.
My own oracle reader always spoke to me as if she was teaching me how to perform readings and healings. I’d laugh as it never occurred to me that I could ever do that. With exploring all things witchy I learned that intuitive skills are grown, not gifted. On my journey to myself, I realized how little I was cared for. I had sacrificed every part of me for people who would have never done the same. I had gone from a strong woman supporting my family, to a doormat. So I decided to surrender to my intuition and started over. I ended my relationship, sold my home, changed jobs, started my business, dove into my relationship with my son as a solo parent. I learned how absolutely amazing and empowered I had become.
I started doing intuitive readings with the goals of adding life coaching, reiki, and yoga therapy (still my current dreams). Spirit rapidly brought people into my life who taught me exactly what I needed at every stage: business owners, other single parents, artists, readers, and so many genuine friends. I have created a life I never imagined possible. When I work on healing my childhood I see every instance where I pushed down my own dreams to fit in. Now I see that I am living dreams I never thought I was worthy enough to imagine.
In my journey of honoring my instincts and desires I started to make crystal jewelry and spell jars. I had started booking events as a reader and gradually added events as a vendor to sell jewelry as well. I have found my natural attraction to combining crafts with intuition; and intuition with life coaching. I find deep connections with customers and clients which empower my continued success.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The challenges have not stopped, but that is healing. All of your flaws and mistakes become more visible than ever. To have money, you need to overcome not having any. To know love, you have to understand heartbreak. To succeed you need you need to know failure. To love yourself, you have to love your shaddows.
Especially when I was tearing down my old life and creating a completely new one. It’s amazing how much loss and failure is needed to make room for the newn and beautiful.
I am a full time solo parent and work full time in a career I love. Balancing time and success in these areas combined with continuing my own self care and development has been extremely difficult. I am still learning this balance and know it will be an ongoing challenge
However these are mundane/ societal struggles. Finding my talents, purpose, and goals have come naturally. When I do have the time to commit and find my flow, it is truly magical!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Studded Garnet ?
Although I love working with all people my greatest passion is working to empower women. We were raised in a society that conditioned us to base our worth and decisions on the wellbeing of others. To settle for what we are handed and tolerate disrespect and violence. Society and patriarchal religion have instilled fear of intuition and spirituality, further stifling femenine power and causing our subconscious to limit full transformation.
The beautiful thing about spirituality and Witchcraft is it inheritly reprograms these limitations. In these practices, the epitomy of beauty and power is the divine feminine. Achieving this empowered state opens up limitless possibilities and beliefs in ourselves.
I aim to facilitate this transformation through educattion and guidence in all of my services. I provide Intuitive oracle and mediumship readings, custom spell work and spell jars, crystal intention jewelry, workshops on spellwork and spiritual development, and in 2025 I will be launching my spiritual life coaching program for one on one guided development.
What makes you happy?
Now that I have found happiness and my true self, it is an amazing place to be. I find it spending time on myself and my son. Having quality time together, being outside, making art, spending time with genuine friendships, helping others. My business allows me to do all of these in ways that don’t sacrifice my wellbeing, and actually recharge my soul.
Contact Info:
- Website: New website is coming but currently have my linktree https://linktr.ee/thestuddedgarnet
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestuddedgarnet/profilecard/?igsh=MXM0NWF0cGhvdzl6aQ==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DcdswyHgk/
Image Credits
Stephanie White
Melanie Gallon
