Meet Andrea Kartika Deierlein | Chief Energy Officer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Andrea Kartika Deierlein and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrea Kartika, what’s one piece of conventional advice that you disagree with?
The advice to hustle… especially when you’re starting your own business and when working on and in your business.

Even before I started my own business, I realized that the greatest source of stress is when people work against themselves, instead of with themselves.

This was my very own personal and painful experience… which I’d like to share with you, as it sets the background for how I work now:

For many years, I was one of those walking zombies on Metro North going into New York City at 7 a.m., returning 12 or more hours later. I was exhausted, drained, and nasty. To get through the days of my job in German government relations I fueled myself with caffeine and sugar. To deal with the physical pain of all this tension and stress, I popped pain killers like candy.

No wonder that I couldn’t sleep and developed a chronically inflamed esophagus, grinding my teeth until some of them broke. My body was talking to me, screaming at me. But back then I didn’t know how to listen. I ignored my inner GPS and went against myself, forcing myself through the days, pushing myself to keep moving forward, because that’s what everybody does, right? And to hustle is just part of working your way to success. So I was told.

In 2013, I moved to Jakarta, Indonesia, where I have always wanted to live. But despite the change of scenery and lifestyle, I was still so much in my head that I continued to repeat my same patterns of perfectionism and pushing myself too hard in my job as Director of Marketing & Communications.

Thanks to a friend, I learned to slow down. To pause. To breathe. I joined a meditation group and was introduced to Reiki. I signed up for a session and experienced the relaxation and relief I so desperately needed. It took several sessions, but once my body could recover from all the tension and pain, my mind became clearer, and I realized that all this time I had been working against myself, instead of with myself.

I am now realizing every day that (self) compassion and being at peace with myself are more important than functioning and impressing with achievements. ​

I’ve learned to listen to myself, to my body, to my inner GPS – and by doing so, I’m getting closer to being true to my way and my being.

Today, based on my experience and having worked with hundreds of clients, I can truly say that I help reset tense Human Doings into authentic Human Beings… and guide people to work with themselves, so they can be in alignment and life can flow again for them.

What should our readers know about your business?
Thrive Reiki was founded in 2016 – and THRIVE stands as an acronym for Transformation – Healing – Relaxation – Integrity – Values – Empowerment.

There are a lot of myths and unrealistic expectations about Reiki practice when it comes to “healing.”

This makes it confusing to know what’s right for people when they’re stressed out, overwhelmed with anxiety, in physical and emotional pain, feel like they’re stuck or in the grip of a life crisis or challenge.

That’s why I like to make it clear from the start: I’m not a healer. That’s why I won’t lay crystals on people or unblock chakras. My approach is much more straightforward. Simply consider me a healing facilitator, guide or mentor, rather than a healer, as it’s not ME fixing people… I’m here to support people on their journey to heal (which means to become whole) and come back to their true self.

I’ve learned that the body talks, sometimes screams even, and that symptoms indicate when we’re off track and something needs to change within. I’ve experienced, personally and very painfully, that the greatest source of stress is when we’re working against ourselves, instead of with ourselves. That’s why my work focuses on creating and empowering a lasting change from within.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in White Plains, Westchester County, New York – an area with access to beautiful nature and the Hudson Valley as well as the Long Island Sound.

We’d do a lot of walking and exploring different trails. On a Saturday, we’d shop at the Farmer’s Market in Hastings-on-Hudson, enjoy the local produce and the view of the Hudson River and Palisades, followed by a walk on the Aequeduct Trail.

On Sunday, we’d go to RYE beach for sunrise and then head to breakfast at Le Pain Quotidien.

We’d explore the Rockefeller State Preserve and Park as well as stop by little eateries in the Rivertowns.

During the week, we’d take the train to New York City where we’d walk from Grand Central to Chinatown on one day and explore the Upper West Side on another day.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’ve been very blessed with having great support in my life and in my business. But, who played a big role in helping me understand the soul and real meaning of Reiki and spiritual practice in daily life is my teacher, Frans Stiene from the International House of Reiki.

Disillusioned and lost after I completed my Reiki training in the Western tradition, I needed answers. I wanted to know why I was doing, what I was doing. So I looked for the teacher and of the teachers. First I read his books, then I trained with him. I was introduced to the foundation that Reiki guides us, teaches us, shows us, directs us to be true to our way and our being. Authenticity has always been one of my core values and in Frans I found a teacher who’s living authentically and in his truth – and for this I’m deeply grateful.

Website: https://www.energyresets.com/reset-your-energy

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreadeierlein/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreadeierlein/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThriveReiki

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtCXZWrWoq6HCkoUoQTS3gQ

Image Credits
For all pictures of me – Photographer: Mike Shyne, Shyne Media Productions