Story & Lesson Highlights with Karola Raimond

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Karola Raimond. Check out our conversation below.

Good morning Karola, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Astrology. When life gets too noisy and overwhelming I retreat to the stars. Astrology is a sacred language and communing with it always rebalances me. Especially in these tumultuous times we are living in going into stillness and sitting with the current energies is very comforting. Often in those moments powerful realizations come through. I do believe that we are deeply intertwined with the cosmos. And that the planets are consciousnesses that communicate with us individually and collectively. After all we are made of the stars <3

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Well I always find it hard to define myself through one lens. I think of us all as a sum total of many different parts. But yes before I get to philosophical here let me answer your question. I”ve always been a storyteller. I create and express. I write, act and make films. I grew up bilingual between Germany and the US. After graduating with a Master of Arts in Social Psychology from Frankfurt University I relocated to Los Angeles and began appearing in national television commercials and films. Simultaneously I began my spiritual studies becoming a Kundalini Yoga teacher and Astrologer.
My first film, The Cuddler, a rom-com that I wrote, produced and starred in won multiple awards at international film festivals with a highlight screening in Cannes. Shortly after I was offered a distribution deal and The Cuddler was released on Amazon Prime.
Currently my writing/producing partner and I are working on our fourth project together, Chrysalis. It’s a female driven psychological thriller in the vein of Black Swan and Single White Female. It deals with grief, identity loss, erotic obsession and ultimately transformation. It’s set in a world rich with symbolism and magical realism. We incorporate the Doppelgänger theme and the Dark Feminine Archetype. We are launching our Seed & Spark crowdfunding campaign in the next couple days. Find the campaign link at the end of this interview. Please check it out and consider supporting our feature film project.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Trust. Trust is always at its core. No bond can genuinely exist without deep trust. But I think something that is not mentioned often enough is giving each other space to grow. We are always changing and becoming. It never stops. And sometimes we need to pull inwards to go through a process alone. But often the other person, partner, beloved, friend etc doesn’t understand, takes it personal or even as a thread. I believe the remedy lies in holding space for the other, since unraveling of who you’ve been and sitting in the empty void before discovering who you are becoming next is a very intimate and often a painful experience. And then when emerging from the transformation, the bond can be restored and most likely it is even stronger than before.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
“You are doing amazing. Don’t be so damn hard on yourself.” We are all students in this school called earth trying to figure things out. It’s ok to mess up and slip and fall over and over again. Don’t take life too serious. And most importantly don’t let anything or anyone on the outside dictate your self worth. There is not one way to do it, only your way. Trust the process. Keep your heart open. Laugh things off. Enjoy the ride. Hahaha well that’s more than one thing.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
I used to believe that there is always a right and a wrong way with everything. And that I just need to do enough research, ask enough people or sit with it long enough to figure it out. I would often drive myself crazy in that process. Because I truly believed that the decision I will make be literally everything. The truth is that there is no universal answer. No one is you, has lived your life, had your experiences etc. This means no scholar, monk or psychologist can give you the right answer. You need to tune out the noise outside and come sit with yourself, and truly get to know yourself. And the better you get to know yourself the easier it will become to find the answers within. I like to say: Everything is an inside job <3
Also, as I said earlier even, if you end up making a bad choice or mess up it’s ok, it will be another piece in the mosaic of your life journey. And honestly many times the “wrong decision/choice’ ends up being a great soul lesson.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
Oh wow this is a good one. Of course I hope I will be remembered as a kind, loving and caring human being who touched many hearts and lived a full life. Besides that I hope people will feel inspired by my authentic life journey and all the creative projects that I brought to life. I would love to have made a difference in bringing bold, boundary pushing stories to the screen. And being seen in retrospective as a new voice, mystic and consciousness-lifter who assisted in ushering in a new paradigm. Also, having had influence in supporting young girls feeling more empowered, believing in themselves and striving for their dreams with confidence. But I think at the end this Ralph Waldo Emerson’ quote sums up what truly matters:
“To know even one live has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.karolaraimond.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karolaraimond/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karolaraimond
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/karolaraimond/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karolaraimond/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_h4PCUVBuRU
• Email: karola.raimond@gmail.com
• Seed & Spark Campaign link: https://seedandspark.com/fund/chrysalis-feature#story

Image Credits
Steph Girard Photography
MR Pix Melanie Reisert
Serena Duffin Photography