Meet Chelsea Palermo | Transformational Writing Guide, Usui Reiki Master & Somatic Attachment Therapist
We had the good fortune of connecting with Chelsea Palermo and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Chelsea, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
When I began this journey, I did not know or expect the work to grow into what it has become today. The seeds of what would become the work I do were planted when I was 9 years, and wrote my first journal entry. In time, I knew writing was holding, then healing the hardest parts of my life. In my early 20s, I lost someone significant in my life in a tragic way. This person did not have access to healing on any level, not formally in a therapeutic setting, nor through any other means. Often in healing this loss, I thought of those who have been lost. This is really where the work began. Not only did I have to heal my traumatic grief, and did so through writing and spirituality, but it was at this point that I was aware of my call to help others in the same way, that is through writing.
Writing, poetry, my connection and spirituality were the pillars of my ability to navigate. I continued to hold how limited our awareness of healing appeared, and how some people did not have access to mental health care, therapy, or have the support or resources to navigate the unhealed parts of themselves. This was the motivation. I was in study for many years before I began to go into the world with the work.
To understand, to heal, and hold what else could be present for others along the pathways of clearing wounds was the intention of what is now a business. I had been carrying the heart of the healing writing workshops within my body for years. When the first workshops funneled out onto the page, I began to teach them in the world. I understood that it was time to move this work into the world.
Prior to teaching, while I was transcribing what I was holding and living through in my healing writing, I knew this was what I would be bringing into the world. While I was developing the backend of the business, I was tuning into truly embodying the work. So, in essence, the business was born from the intention to teach, and to teach authentically from an embodied space so that I would be able to enter deeply into the practices, to hold space for others as they cleared what was asking to be healing through writing.
The process of developing the business has evolved into a way to continue to unfold myself, as I create intentional healing courses, and products that can help move us towards wholeness, and healing. Through my own healing and discoveries, further intuitive gifts opened that wanted to be incorporated into the writing work. I began to fold this into the work, and continue to study these arts and pathways. I’ve had many teachers along the way, spiritually speaking, as I earnestly dove forward into understanding how the intersections of energy and writing were interwoven, that is in developing a true spiritual writing practice.
Through listening and showing up to my path, it became more clear that this was my life’s work, I began to look at how this could be moved into a business format, so that I could continue to work, and bring these teachings to others, while further developing the tools to help others heal. It is a journey.
What is most beautiful at this point, is that following this lead, that is the creative self, the spiritual self, the self seeking to be healed and to heal, I have been able to create a business that I know is my true path. The journey itself has allowed me to create in a connected way, tapping into the whole of who I am spiritually, energetically, and creatively. I allow this to lead the choices I make daily in the business. When you are working in this way, connecting in deeply to your truth, as you develop a business and develop as a creator, you continue to show up to the table ready to begin again and again.
What should our readers know about your business?
As a Transformative Writing Guide, an intuitive and spiritual guide, I implement a multi-modal approach to the healing work that blends the craft of writing, with energy work, and somatic wisdom, while tapping into intuitive awareness and discovery. From the onset of what I teach and facilitate, in working with clients, we enter into a spiritually healing writing practice. To write from this space, is an entirely different intention than to write for others means, such as publication or performance. This sets the work apart.
I think what makes me different is that I live from within this place. Everything I teach, I practice, and have practiced deeply. I suppose the intuitive and energetic work is also another layer of what sets this apart. As a Reiki Master, an intuitive, and an energy practitioner, I am able to see further into the work, and what is being held in the field of the writing presented, in the energetic field. I also hold an MFA in Poetry. The knowledge of craft allows me to take the healing writing, into the art of writing, and to teach from both views.
I am excited about teaching and creating, always. Witnessing the progress of those I work with is a gift. This journey keeps unfolding, and I continue to go deeper into that work. This brings joy and curiosity. Creating transformational products to supplement and support the writing and healing work also ignites me. I create from an intentionally held space. This is something I am proud of, and that I honor. I hold this in gratitude.
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Being a performing poet allows me to get in front of an audience, and share what healing writing looks like, the end product, the poems, the artistry. The poet voicing her truth. I can also connect with those who show up, and share the work with them. This is an enriching part of my work.
In the past few years, I began infusing the healing writing more directly and deeply with the energy work. At first, I did not want anyone to know I was doing this. I was self-conscious about it. I did not want to have to say: This is who I am. I had kept my spiritual life quite private for so long. I had to allow both to merge in order to move forward. I resisted at first. I think this was the most challenging part of the journey. I tried to keep this part of myself hidden from my peers, my colleagues, my friends, my clients. Clearly, that was not going to work! Moving through this piece was also healing for me. I was in a process of uncovering, and more holistically allowing myself to show up as the truth of who I am.
I am where I am today in the business, in my art, in my writing, by listening and trusting, even in the face of uncertainty. The thread of healing writing, creating, and energy work was always present in my life. I did not always see the path clearly, but I stayed on the path. It was not always easy. You have to keep revealing yourself to others, to yourself along the way. This can be unsteady. I am at the point where I know who I am. I know my work. And I am grateful for all of it.
The lessons were many. The whole path was a series of lessons, and continues to be. However, for those who are holding onto fear around who they are, what their truth is, those who are hiding – whether it be their art, their work, their dream, their truth, their gifts— I say let go and trust. Surrender. Allow. You will be held. Believe in your vision. Listen to your soul. You know the way. Stay on the path.
I want the world to know that I am here. I am ready to serve. That healing is real. That art is the way. Writing holds so much more than you know. Trust it. Flow…
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live in a pretty great area. There are so many poetry, and music events within a 30 min radius. We would not be short of amazing things to do. We’d have to run through the open mic circuit in the area.
We’d grab some coffee at First Cup Coffee in Atlantic Highlands, maybe check out the open mic on Saturday. Selfless Love Yoga would be the yoga spot. Flour on First for some treats. Kunya Siam has amazing Thai Food.
We’d have to spend a day in Asbury Park, NJ. So many choices there for food, music and art. The Stone Pony, The Asbury Hotel Soundbooth Open Mic, Twisted Tree Cafe. A Year & A Day Mystic Shoppe. Russo Music. So much more.
We’d need an afternoon at the Zen Den Center in Ocean for some acupuncture. A beach day at Sandy Hook. Hiking at Hartshorne Woods.
The White Chapel Projects and 10 PRL are two amazing venues in West Long Branch. Then, there’s Red Bank. The River Read Reading Series is great there. Green Street thrift shoppe would be a stop. New Corner has the best pizza.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shamanic healer, Carey Selk, has been foremost in light guiding my spiritual path the past few years. I am dearly grateful for her wisdom, friendship and laughter. The wonderful poet, Jesse Burns, has been another phenomenon in my life, and a brilliant encouraging force. My husband, Gregory DeCellio, has seen me through it all, that is – all the transformations of becoming. His love and patience is mighty, and strengthening.
Website: www.chelseapalermo.
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Other: Facebook Group: Write to Heal: A Transformational Writing Community https://www.
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