What happens when a career that looks like success on paper leaves your soul running on empty? For Marda Hull, the answer came at the end of 2008 in the form of burnout. She had spent most of her working life in financial services. The numbers added up, but something inside her did not. Three years later, while she was still putting her life back together, she received a Life Activation, and it changed the direction of her life.
Today Marda is a Life Activation Practitioner, Ensofic Reiki Practitioner, Meditation Teacher and Spiritual Guide with 15 years of experience. She runs Marda Hull Healing Practice & Meditation Centre in Durbanville, Cape Town. Her own healing became the doorway to helping others heal, and she will be the first to tell you that in serving others, she has kept on healing too.
Perhaps you have felt a nudge towards this kind of work and wondered if it could be more than a calling. Can it pay the bills? What training do you need? And how do you tell a trained practitioner from someone who simply uses the title? In this interview, Marda answers these questions and more.
She talks about her training, the reality of building a practice, the misconceptions she still meets, and the advice she would give anyone who feels drawn to this path.
Marda’s story
Let’s start at the beginning. What were you doing before you entered the world of healing and spiritual work?
I come from a financial background. I worked in the financial services industry for most of my life.
What first sparked your interest in this field?
It happened by chance. I always wanted to support and empower people, and that didn’t really happen in the industry I was in. I was successful on the surface, but in hindsight I realise what I was doing was soul destroying. It led to burnout at the end of 2008.
While trying to put my life back together, I stumbled across the Life Activation in 2011. It made such a difference in my recovery, and in finding joy and peace, that I felt others needed to know about it too. An opportunity came up to learn how to do the Life Activation for others, and I was curious, so I went for the training. I had no understanding of healing or energy work at the time. The training was excellent. I left able to do the Life Activation and some other healing modalities for others, and I had started to understand what energy work is and how to work with energy.
Was there a particular moment when you knew you were on the right path?
Yes and no. I can’t pinpoint the date. It was a knowing in my heart that this is what I wanted to do, and it grew stronger over time as I saw people’s lives move forward, people healing and finding joy, all because of a Life Activation they received from me.
Did the people around you understand what you were doing when you first started?
No, it was very new. But the need for what the Life Activation can bring is often not something to be understood intellectually. It’s an understanding on a soul level that this is what is needed.
When I had my own Life Activation in 2011, I didn’t understand what it was about either. It just felt right, and only much later, looking back, did I understand the incredible gift it brought to my life.
Training and education
What is your professional title?
I am a professional Spiritual Guide, Life Activation Practitioner, Healer and Ensofic Reiki Practitioner.
Where did you study, and what training did you complete before working with clients?
I am trained and certified by the Modern Mystery School in the Lineage of King Salomon. Every healing modality and class I offer is part of this lineage, which is over 3000 years old. My training has been extensive over the last 15 years, and it is ongoing.
The steps that got me to the point of offering Life Activations and teaching meditation were a Life Activation (a 90-minute session), the Empower Thyself Class and Initiation (2 days), and Healers Academy 1, offered by the Modern Mystery School (a 5-day intensive programme).
Are there different levels or areas to specialise in?
Yes. In the Modern Mystery School framework, in Healers Academy 1 you learn to do Life Activations and Aura Healing, and to teach the Max Meditation System™. In Healers Academy 2 you learn 10 additional healing modalities, including the Full Spirit Activation.
The school also offers training in more specialised modalities, and having completed Healers Academy 1 and 2 is generally a prerequisite. You can also train as a Spiritual Guide, Ritual Master, Teacher or Ensofic Reiki Practitioner.
What did you find most challenging about your own training?
In the beginning, trusting the work and the energy I was working with. That’s a normal part of the process. The confidence comes from seeing how people heal and move forward. It still takes me by surprise how much people shift, and some of the most profound changes happen within days of starting to work with me.
Was there anything about the profession that surprised you once you started practising?
Yes. As I supported others with healing, I received healing too. In serving others I healed so many aspects of my own life. That is the magick that happens with the work coming from King Salomon.
Do you continue studying after qualifying?
Yes. The Modern Mystery School has an annual certification, and the King Salomon Lineage offers a path of continued learning and growth.
Who is this career for?
It’s not a straightforward answer. I have seen people from all walks of life feel called to this work: CEOs, asset managers, medical doctors, attorneys, chefs, fashion designers, waitresses. What they all share is a desire to make the world a better place.
Do you have to be spiritually minded before entering the field?
No. Spiritual awareness, connection and understanding develop through the training in the lineage of King Salomon. What matters more is an open mind.
Which personal qualities matter most?
Compassion, patience, integrity, the ability to relate and speak to people, and a desire to support others.
What would you say to someone who feels drawn to this work but isn’t sure it could be a career?
Come for a Life Activation. Sense the energy, then listen to your heart and find a path that resonates with you.
The reality of making a living
Can someone realistically make a living as a healer?
Yes. But like any business, it’s constant work and takes time, focus and effort to establish a practice. Being trained by the Modern Mystery School, you receive energetic support to anchor your practice, plus mentorship and guidance if you want it.
How did you find your first clients?
It was a long time ago, and social media was very different. I wrote on Facebook about what had changed in my life after the Life Activation, and people were curious.
Today social media has its place, as do a Google profile and a website. But the most effective way to connect with clients is still to talk to people. That means finding opportunities to meet new people: networking, the school run, around the braai. The message is always that there is hope, and life can become better.
How important are marketing and social media?
Like any business, marketing is essential, and that includes social media. Many people come to me because they saw a social media post about my services.
What does a typical working week look like?
It varies. My days start with one to two hours of personal energy work and meditation. Most weeks include a networking meeting and discovery consultations with prospective clients. Then there’s the core work: healing sessions, and weekly guided meditation sessions, in person or online. I also teach classes, in the evenings or on weekends, so most of my weekends are busy. In between, I fit in client admin, other admin and social media.
What costs should someone consider before starting a practice?
The upfront cost of training, and of setting up a space for sessions (furniture and so on). Then the rent for that space. If you outsource services like social media or a website, those are upfront and monthly costs too.
How long before your practice became a reliable income?
At least three years.
Working with clients
Who typically comes to you?
People from all walks of life. Some have had exposure to energy healing and meditation, others haven’t. Often they don’t know what they need. They just have a sense that there is something more to life, or they wonder about their purpose.
I have worked with business people, doctors, engineers, teachers, students, scholars, artists, authors, and people who are unemployed and looking for support to change their lives. The youngest person to receive a Life Activation from me was 6 years old. I often work with children, and I see them doing much better at school afterwards.
Is there a point where you would refer someone to another type of professional?
Yes. My work complements other disciplines. Medical treatment, mental health treatment and physical work such as exercise or physiotherapy still have their place in supporting a client. In my experience, once a client has had a Life Activation, whatever else they add becomes much more effective.
What boundaries matter when working so closely with people’s personal lives?
Boundaries are very important, and it took me time to understand that. A lack of boundaries is detrimental to long-term relationships and to effective client support.
What have clients taught you about people?
Most people carry a weight that is unique to them. We all do our best to make the most of life, provide for our loved ones, and find joy and peace regardless of our struggles. Everyone can do with healing, love, kindness and support. My aim is to create and hold that space for people.
Misconceptions about healers
What is the biggest misconception about healers?
That we’re hippies doing weird things, or that we bring the drama that’s often showcased on social media. In the Modern Mystery School tradition we approach healing as professionals. We show up and conduct ourselves that way, and we work with precision and intent. There is no weird drama.
What do people think you do all day that isn’t what you actually do?
Let me giggle about that. I’m not sure what people think, I haven’t asked them! But there is a misconception that sitting in meditation all day is all that’s needed for things to move forward. Meditation has its place, but we live in a physical world, and action is an important part of creation. To make a healing practice successful, you have to take action.
Read more about the Benefits of Meditation
Do you still meet sceptics?
All the time. Most people don’t even realise they are more than the physical, and that’s okay. Part of my role is to make people aware that there is more than what we perceive.
How do you respond when someone says, “I don’t believe in this”?
Sometimes the best response is none at all. People need space to figure things out. I often have people come to me years after our first conversation. It took time for them to get ready for the work I do.
The industry
How has the industry changed since you started in 2011?
Human consciousness has shifted a lot since 2011. People are searching for more and are more ready to explore energy healing and spirituality.
My work is anchored in the ancient Lineage of King Salomon, handed down over thousands of years to support true spirituality and the long-term healing and growth of people.
Are more people interested in healing and meditation?
Yes. When I started 15 years ago, the word “meditation” was taboo in most circles. There was so much misconception and fear around it. Today meditation is so mainstream that it is included in many corporate staff wellness programmes.
Has social media helped the industry, or created problems?
Both. There is a lot of energy healing drama on social media creating distortions about what energy healing is about. That gives the industry a bad reputation. On the other hand, people no longer read magazines or actual newspapers, and social media is the most effective way to reach them.
How can someone tell a properly trained practitioner from someone who simply calls themselves a healer?
Would you go to a doctor who is self-trained? Most likely not. If we understand that the human spirit, soul and energy structure are as important and as fragile as our physical bodies, then we should ask why we would go to someone who is self-trained. Many people present themselves as healers because they are intuitive. But do their sessions support long-term healing and growth, or are they entertainment and whatever everyone happens to be doing?
When choosing a practitioner, I suggest asking these questions. Who is the healer, teacher or guide? What are their qualifications, and how long have they been doing this? Where does the modality come from? Has it been handed down through a lineage that is in integrity? Has it stood the test of time? What does a session actually give you?
What do you want from this session? Be clear on this first. Does the practice honour sacred traditions? Are there any risks, and how could they affect your energy structure, aura, soul, spirit and mind?
Is this entertainment, the latest new age trend, or something that will bring real change into your life? Don’t get caught up in the hype. Just because everyone is doing it doesn’t mean it’s right for you. What is the space like? Does the energy feel clean and high vibration? Is the space protected?
Your energy is sacred. Choose with care.
Advice for someone entering the field
If someone reading this thinks, “I want to do what Marda does,” what should they do first?
Start with a Life Activation and the Empower Thyself Initiation. The Life Activation opens the potential to work with energy, and the Empower Thyself Initiation gives the energetic support and structure to anchor a healing practice in the physical. Without it, nothing really sticks. Even people who offer modalities outside the King Salomon Lineage find that the foundation of activation and initiation supports their success.
How should they choose a school or training programme?
Consider these questions. What is the history or lineage behind the modalities you want to study? Is the institution established, or did it pop up overnight? Is there an international certification, annual recertification and ongoing support? Does the person teaching have the authority from the institution to present the course, or were they trained and now teach without the backing of the school that first offered it?
There is a lot of fly-by-night training in this industry: people making up their own courses, plagiarism, overnight schools, and modalities someone “cooked up” with no history or understanding of what they do for people. Also, receive the modality you’d like to offer first, and see whether it makes a difference in your own life in the long term, beyond feeling better only for a day or two.
What should they expect to invest?
It’s not a straightforward answer. Spiritual and energy healing training can cost anything from R2 900 to R100 000 or more. A reminder: money is energy. The energetic exchange, and the amount, shapes the energy you receive and how it integrates and supports you in starting a practice.
How long does the process take?
It depends where you study. Some training takes years before you can start practising. With the energetic support behind the King Salomon Lineage, and provided the classes are on the schedule, training as a Life Activation practitioner, including all the prerequisite classes, can happen within a couple of months.
Should they start practising while training, or wait until fully qualified?
Again, it depends on the school. With the Modern Mystery School, training happens linked to levels of Initiation. Once an Initiation is complete, the student has the ability and authority to offer the modalities they are certified in, and can start working immediately. Other schools may require a period of case studies before you can start to practise.
What mistakes do you see new practitioners make?
Waiting months to apply the course they qualified in. The energetic connection to the modalities can fade in that time, and it takes a lot of effort to pick it up again.
What is one thing you wish someone had told you at the start?
Even if it begins as a side gig until you can do it full time, run it as a business from the start. Keep records and have a way to manage your client base. Don’t work for free. Own the investment and energy you put into your training and charge accordingly. People don’t heal or move forward as they should when they don’t own the energy of the session, and they don’t appreciate what they get for free. You can run small promotions to get known, but insist on payment for sessions from the start.
If you could go back to 2011 and speak to yourself before you began, what would you say?
Absolutely, yes, go for it. It was the best choice I made for my life, and this work brings me constant joy.
Take the First Step
Has Marda’s story stirred something in you?
Her advice to anyone who feels the pull is to start with a Life Activation, sense the energy, and then listen to your heart. You can book a session, find out about her classes, or join one of her weekly guided meditation sessions in Durbanville or online through her website.
