Today we’d like to introduce you to Candace Blair.
Hi Candace, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
My name is Candace Blair, and I returned home to America in 2017 after working 20 years as a finance executive on trading floors in Zurich & London. My spiritual journey started in 2012 when after years of suffering chronic back pain and exhausting the resources of western medicine, I decided to pursue my options for alternative care and was guided to the amazing energetic healer, Sam Kankanamage from Sen Wellness in London. He let me know that there was nothing structurally “wrong” with my body but after years of excess, living the mantra: “Work hard, play hard” I was both physically & energetically out of balance and my “dis-ease” was starting to manifest itself through physical pain.
He prescribed Kundalini, the “yoga of awareness” which uses breathwork, movement meditation, and sound healing to re-ignite the mind, body, spirit connection. I was hooked at the first class and within 2-3 months, my back felt significantly better, stress and anxiety were at a minimum and my thoughts were clearer. I saw a marked improvement in my productivity at work and so did my bosses! My body was also getting stronger, and I began making small but impactful, positive choices around my own health & wellness. I was taking time to step “off the bus”, to tune into my own needs and awareness and it was empowering!
This opened up a whole new world for me, and within a year I was using my weekends for teacher training, exploring vibrational sound healing, and spending time with a local shaman, exploring the benefits of cacao as a plant medicine for heart opening and releasing negativity. I was blown away by the myriad of ancient healing tools available and I experienced the benefits first hand. That’s when I decided I wanted to be a teacher. I simply had to share this wisdom with the rest of the world.
So, in 2017, at 45 years old and at the peak of my career, I made the bold decision to step away and focus all of my attention on sharing these transformational practices. I packed my bags, spent a month in Sri Lanka teaching at an Ayurvedic center, partook in 10 days silent Buddhist “Vipassina” retreat in the jungle, worked with the ‘Chocolate Shaman” in Guatemala, and then landed home, on Hilton Head Island, ready to pursue my dream of creating Soul Fire Social.
It is a great honor and true pleasure to now focus my full-time energies on sharing the transformative power of Kundalini Yoga & Meditation, Sound Healing, Shamanic Reiki, and Sacred Cacao Ceremonies. These practices have altered the course of my life, helping me to find my purpose & my passion. They have opened my heart to more love, an elevated mind, body & spirit and raised my conscious awareness. I look forward to sharing these inspiring healing modalities that I have allowed to transform my life with like-minded people like you!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Making such a significant life change is never without its challenges. To be honest, my first concern (typical stockbroker) was how will I survive financially! Any spiritual teacher will tell you, you have to trust that the universe will provide for you, but that’s is not an easy transition to make, especially in a capitalist society, where it has been ingrained that money makes the world go ’round. I have had to dig deep to discover my new definition of prosperity and what it means to thrive as a human and I now spend a lot of time with my students helping them to establish their definition and find a more joyful balance of career, family, fun and personal time.
Additionally, I had to open myself up to being a student again and to a multitude of new experiences that weren’t always comfortable or easy. My teachers asked me to dig deep, to do the personal work necessary to get rid of any trapped negative emotions or energetic blockages so I could step into my sovereignty and better serve my students and the community. It was a long and sometimes painful look in the mirror but it was necessary for my own personal growth. I had to figure out how to define myself. Who was I if not a stockbroker with great heels and a fancy flat in London? How would it feel to be identified as a yogi or a healer? What would my parents & friends think of this dramatic change?
Luckily, what I realized is that this “stuff” was all tied up in my fear of not being enough and not being respected for my choices. The people who truly love me, supported my decision because it made me happy and vibrant. It was only me who needed to accept the new role and identity! It was a major shift to simply be Candace, to let people simply get to know me without the titles or outward signs of success.
So, yes, there have been challenges but overall, it has been an amazing journey with all of the ups & downs & challenges simply adding to the lessons and experience. I am thrilled that I made the change and I would never look back.
As you know, we’re big fans of Soul Fire Social. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
My business, Soul Fire Social, is a platform to share the ancient techniques of Kundalini Yoga, Sound Healing, Shamanic Journeying & Reiki, and the Alchemy of Becoming. I create opportunities for us to join together in practice, as a community, or privately as needed. By increasing our awareness, improving our physical & emotional health, and living more consciously, we can improve the quality of our own lives and those around us. Together, we can help raise the vibration across this beautiful planet and be a positive part of the ongoing dimensional transition.
As for my credentials, I am KRI Kundalini Yoga certified by Karam Kriya in England/Portugal, I trained as a “Cacaoista” with Rebekah Shaman in Ibiza, Spain & London, and then furthered my Shamanic studies with Mally Paquette, a modern medicine woman from Awakenings in Sedona. I am level 1&2 certified in Shamanic Reiki and a trained sound healer using ancient gongs & crystal singing bowls.
I am trained in the “Alchemy of Becoming” methodology, helping clients to raise their level of consciousness by releasing trapped emotions from the body, the aura, & the energetic systems.
I offer virtual and live experiences which can be tailor-made to suit your needs, as an individual or group. My background in finance means I understand the demands of the “real world” ad can help you to incorporate these teachings into your daily life, career, as a parent, or a caregiver.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
To be honest, Covid was a game-changer for my business in a positive way. When I arrived at Hilton Head, I was only doing live interactions locally but when we went into lockdown, and everyone went virtual, the world opened up into one great big global classroom. I was able to reach my students in Europe and beyond, and attract a whole host of new clients in the Low Country as I am one of few people offering Kundalini, Sound Healing, and Cacao Ceremonies in the area.
I realized that it doesn’t matter where you are living, you can still come together, in a community to share sacred space and practice. I also learned a LOT about technology to make sure people were getting optimum sound & video in their living rooms! Today, even though I am back teaching in studios and sharing my offerings across the USA on my Summer tours, I still offer live, weekly virtual Kundalini and monthly Sacred Cacao Ceremonies with Sound Healing.
I also created a virtual library so people from all over the world have access to the teaching, at their place, at their pace! Many of my offerings are donation-based or on a sliding scale to work with every budget. If you want to do the work and raise your vibration, there is always a way!
Pricing:
- Virtual Yoga M/W/F 8:30-10am: $10-20 Sliding Scale
- Live Monthly Full Moon Sound & Cacao Ceremony: $40
- Virtual Monthly Sacred Cacao & Sound Ceremony: $35-55 Sliding Scale
- Private Sound Healing 90mins: Starts $150
- Private Cacao & Sound Ceremony (2-3hrs): Starts $250
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.soulfiresocial.com, www.soulfirecacao.com
- Instagram: @candacekundalini
- Facebook: @soulfiresocial
- Youtube: @soulfiresocial
Image Credits
Lisa Staff and Ian Santiago
