05 Oct Four Questions About Adrienne Stratton
How did you come up with the idea for your business?
The truth be said, I didn’t come up with the idea. This path of helping and healing was my destiny, and my life’s purpose. This all began at age 6 or so, when I experienced seeing a spirit from the “other side”. Of course as a child, when I spoke to my parents about it, they were quick to let me know that I must have been dreaming. Unfortunately, it was not talked about ever again. As I grew up in the late 60’s, and as a teenager, I was always drawn towards the mystical side of life, and nature and animals made more sense to me than most adults. I started studying Astrology and Meditation, and became fascinated with life after death stories, and the super natural. Friends and acquaintances would always talk to me about their problems and would often say how much they valued my help. I actually always loved talking to people and trying to help them. Helping people was the driving energy behind everything I have accomplished in my working careers. I also turned a 20 year drinking and drug use history into a career of helping addicts find recovery/sobriety.
I believe that I have always felt a spiritual connection and calling in my life. While I was raised with a great emphasis of developing my intellect , intellectual analysis never felt totally fulfilling. It was like a yearning for having a deeper understanding of life and it’s meaning that was more important. So, yes this path found me…
Can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today?
My studies of Clairvoyance and Mediumship took a long time, and many teachers in mostly informal ways. In addition, my studies of Alcohol and Drug Counseling happened at a Community College in the late 80’s, early 90’s. Then later ongoing studies at a local university. Again, it was a natural fit. I loved helping people overcome the horror’s of addiction. I worked as a counselor for many years in many different settings such as residential and out-patient. This part of my story is very near and dear to my heart. While I no longer work as an Addiction Counselor, I continue to work in the Behavioral Health field, helping people and families find ethical and professional help/treatment facilities to check into. This work is now in it’s 36th year and counting. It is something that brings me great joy and something that i am still very passionate about. My work as a Clairvoyant and Medium happened just as naturally. As stated earlier. I had many opportunities to learn and develop from an eclectic group of teachers over most of my life. I knew what i was, but needed to learn more. I needed professional training, which I eventually found close to home, and jumped in without hesitation or looking back. My abilities to use my spiritual senses and communicate with the loved ones on the other side continued grow, and soon I was providing readings to many people.
What I am most proud of are my strengths that I bring to a session. My passion, humor, and joy. My clarity that I share, and wisdom that is given to me during a session. I am also proud to be fully present and offer authenticity as a healer/helper. My business name for spiritual consultation is Raven Messages.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
To this date, it has been a combination of maintaining personal integrity, ethics, and professionalism. I revere my spiritual consulting as one of my true joys in life, and I believe that it attracts the clients that I am suppose to connect with, and build relationships with. Being present, being authentic, and “serving others” have always been my strongest assets. While I have enjoyed and appreciated the material successes , it has not been the driving influence in my working career. I have also learned how to say “Yes” when varies opportunities present themselves, like this fabulous interview!
So, building clientele through relationships, and word of mouth have always worked for me in all of my business endeavors. Additionally, there is social media, and one cannot survive without a presence, or at least a great website that is SEO friendly, and people who can maintain it for you. I would be lost without the help that I have, and the encouragement that I receive.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
I had to learn to ask for help, to say “No”, and become accepting of my intuition as truthful. To answer this question would require a long story, so I’ll keep it short. I grew up to become self reliant, and in doing so I also kept my worries to myself and tried to maintain a facade of knowing what I was doing, and who I could trust. Needless to say, I was quite vulnerable and took several unnecessary risk. What I eventually learned was that it was okay to “Not have all the answers” and to make mistakes a long the way. I also had to learn that most of my best decisions were made by how my gut felt.