Today we’d like to introduce you to Felicia “Onyi” Richards.
Onyi, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My story at this moment is one of peace, joy, gratitude, connection, and constant transformation. I have come to understand and experience that if you follow your highest excitement to the best of your ability, taking it as far as you can, with no insistence on the outcome, Life will unfold in a truly magical and beautiful way (from the teaching of Bashar). And you will be guided along the path of least resistance to the people, places, circumstances, and things that help you become more of who you truly are.
I trust–my ancestors, my higher self, my other guidance…Life. I trusted in 2018 after the end of an almost 15-year career in financial services that I would be ok. Almost immediately afterward, the doors to the spiritual and creative work I came here to do were blasted open in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I trusted in 2015 that shaving my head was a step I needed to take to literally and symbolically clear old energy I had been holding onto. Over the years, I would realize that being bald helped me to see myself and step into my power in new ways. I trusted in 2009 that ending an engagement to someone I loved was something that I needed to do. Years later, I would come to discover why something just hadn’t felt right during the later half of our relationship. I trusted in 2000 that attending a university that my mind considered my second choice was where I needed to be.
What I learned there specifically about Ifa, Orisa, and Afro-Diasporic arts opened Pandora’s Box and shifted the course of my life spiritually and professionally. I trusted from 1996 (give or take a few years) that I would someday breakthrough the pain and turmoil caused by the emotional and psychological unrest of a family member. More than two decades later, I would be re-establishing my relationship with that person, both of us from new and healed perspectives. My soul trusted in 1982 to incarnate onto this version of Earth, given everything happening and all that would happen. It is having and co-creating (past, present, and future) whatever experiences it needs to help it remember its connection TO and AS Source. I have always had a great deal of trust, even when my mind perceived doing so to be difficult. It has taken me some time to come to this recognition.
Looking back on my life up to this point, I’ve always had what I needed. Everything–from the laughter, joy, and celebration when things were flowing harmoniously, to the tears, tumultuousness, confusion, and ideas of hopelessness when things were not–has been a blessing. Life wasn’t always easy. But it was always there and always provided a way and a lesson, regardless of whether or not I saw it in the moment. And the person I am today is able to neutrally witness the lives and stories of past versions of myself, in their varying stages, and see why it was all necessary.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
My work is healing. It is delving into the realms of spirituality. I am known for understanding, working with, and shifting energy utilizing sound, my hands, and my words.
I am a vocalist and sing for individual and group healing events and sacred gatherings (i.e., sound baths, rituals, and ceremonies), and also sing in conventional performances as a solo artist, as support for others such as Grammy-nominated Ghanaian artist Rocky Dawuni, and as a member of ensembles such as Viver Brasil, an LA-based Afro-Brazilian dance company.
I am also a certified PureBioenergy therapist. PureBioenergy is a gentle, non-invasive, safe and proven method of healing that effectively addresses a wide range of mental, emotional and physical conditions in adults, children and even animals. I am fortunate to be under the tutelage of Zoran Hochstatter, the official teacher of this powerful modality; and to have received a wonderful foundation in doing laying of hands energy work through my studies with Elizabeth de Vries, who taught and attuned me as a Reiki Master years ago.
Additionally, I am an intuitive reader and holistic spiritual life consultant. Having had an extensive background in Corporate America, while simultaneously cultivating a strong understanding of various spiritual/metaphysical concepts and transformation work techniques, I am able to provide in-depth multidimensional insight and guidance for topics ranging from personal power to professional projects. While my primary spiritual practice is Ifa, a traditional system created by the Yoruba people of West Africa, I am drawn to and incorporate knowledge and information from various systems. To me, “God” is all of it.
Through these tools and through the sharing of my own life experiences, I provide a reflection to others that reminds them that they have the ability to heal themselves. I serve as an example of the abundance of joy, synchronicity, and so much more that is availability to us once we just open our eyes. Once we maintain our awareness. Once we remember who we are. We are spirits having a physical experience. We are each unique expressions of the All that Is–puzzle pieces that are all necessary to complete the beautiful whole.
ONYI (pronounced like own-yee) is an abridged version of my longer Igbo name, Onyinyechi, which translates to God’s gift. I think it’s fitting as the name of my company because the overarching intent of everything that I do is to help us all remember that we are gifts from God and that this Life is a precious gift.
All of my healing services are conducted either within The Healing Collective, Manhattan Beach office, at a separate designated location if required, or remotely.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I work to not look at things through the lens of good and bad. I think that anywhere people choose to be for business or personal reasons is a “good” place. If the choice to be somewhere is made out of excitement, then the people will operate at a frequency that allows them to attract what they need, grow, be at peace, flow with synchronicity, and be of service to those in that place who require their gifts (regardless of what the area needs to improve upon). If the choice to be somewhere is made out of fear or anxiety, then there will be resistance, disharmony, stagnation, dis-ease, and other things (regardless of what the area has to offer). However, I consider those “negative” states to be helpful indicators to assist people in shifting course and moving somewhere more in alignment with where they prefer to be.
Los Angeles is a massive city, with so much to offer and multiple realities for people to tap into and align with. The sheer number of people living here (and the population continues to increase exponentially) naturally creates a high demand for all types of services. Given all of the ways through which we as humans can put ourselves out of balance (stressful lifestyle, environmental pollutants, poor diet, etc.) and experience a gap in health, there is no shortage of people in need of wellness practitioners and energy workers.
If there is a will, there is a way. If you are looking to do this work and Los Angeles is calling you, come (or stay if you are already here). Allow what you need/abundance to find you by taking actions towards your preference, staying in a positive state, and always being grateful no matter what shows up.
Contact Info:
- Address: 500 S. Sepulveda Blvd. Ste. 215
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 - Website: www.onyi.love
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onyi.love/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onyiloveone/
- Other: https://www.thehealingcollectivela.com/
Image Credit:
Matt Polizi, Kwithy Kat, Mike Wallz, Katya Quinonez, Tribal Markers/Amir Magal, Jorge Vismara
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