Today we’d like to introduce you to Christalene Karaiskakis.
Hi Christalene, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a Greek Cypriot, born in South Africa, raised in Melbourne, Australia, and I’ve called Annapolis, Maryland home for the past 20 years.
I’ve always been creative. In Australia, I studied child development, dance and drama, and eventually decided I wanted to somehow combine everything I loved into one business. That became Crystalooney’s Creative Arts. When I moved to the United States, I brought that part of myself with me and rebuilt the business here in Annapolis.
Crystalooney’s grew beyond anything I had imagined and was eventually voted Best in Annapolis five years in a row. Somewhere along the way, I had quietly made a pact with myself: if I won five years in a row, I would take it as my sign that I had done what I came to do with that chapter, take the risk and end my business on top! It was time to give more of my attention to the intuitive and spiritual gifts that had been developing alongside it.
Those gifts had actually begun showing themselves years earlier. My husband’s experience with Crohn’s disease led me to Reiki, and in 2009 I became an Usui Reiki and Kundalini Reiki Master. I don’t practice Reiki anymore. I did for 8 years ( half of those years were free of charge). It was an important part of my path, but it isn’t my passion today. What it did do was teach me to listen in a completely different way.
During sessions, intuitive information began coming through naturally, and in 2014, while doing intuitive henna on a client, I experienced my first evidential connection with Spirit. That was a defining moment for me. I realized there was something here that I needed to understand, so I spent years studying, practicing, working with mentors and developing my mediumship and intuition.
Today, my work is a mixture of all the things that have always made me: I get to help people connect with their intuition, creativity, art, teaching, mediumship, workshops, retreats, intuitive artwork and my handcrafted recycled jewelry.
I take what I do very seriously, but I don’t believe that means I have to take myself seriously all the time. Humor and joy are a huge part of who I am and how I work. There’s no head spinning, levitating or projectile vomiting involved! What you see is what you get. I think sometimes people can be a little intimidated by intuition ,mediumship, attending a retreat or workshop because they don’t know what to expect. We can talk about something incredibly meaningful and still laugh five minutes later. In fact, I think sometimes that’s exactly what we need.
It’s important for people to connect with my clients. I want them to know they can show up exactly as they are, without having to believe what I believe or speak some special spiritual language. (I can’t stand buzz words). My job isn’t to tell someone who they are, predict every move they should make or convince them that I have answers they don’t. It’s to offer what comes through, create space for what unfolds, and hopefully help them recognize their own intuition a little more clearly.
If someone leaves me feeling lighter, clearer, more hopeful, or simply trusting themselves a little more, then I feel like I’ve done what I’m here to do. I promise I will always be authentic and real no matter who crosses my path. If we are meant to meet or you are suppose to attend one of my retreats, workshops or one on one sessions then you will.
I love what I do and you can tell.. my wish for you is to find yourself if you are lost, and perhaps get back to who you were always meant to be.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of my biggest challenges was stepping away from a successful creative arts business that I had spent 14 years building. Crystalooney’s wasn’t just my work; it had become a huge part of my identity. I had worked incredibly hard to make it successful, and then I found myself starting again in a completely different direction. That was exciting, but also scary.
At the same time, I was raising two young children, running a business with a crew of 14, and navigating family life while the love of my life, my husband, was dealing with Crohn’s disease. I also had no family of my own in this country and no built-in family network to lean on. Over time, something beautiful came from that. I formed friendships that became family. They became my support system, my chosen family, and many remain some of the most important relationships in my life.
I also couldn’t tell this story without acknowledging my husband. His love and support gave me the freedom to explore where this new path was taking me, even when neither of us knew exactly what it would become.
Starting over also meant moving into work that was much less conventional. There wasn’t a blueprint for combining intuition, mediumship, art, creativity, teaching and retreats, so I stopped looking for one. I trusted myself and allowed the work to evolve. I take great pride in creating workshops, retreats and one-on-one experiences that aren’t cookie-cutter, but are created around the people I work with.
I’ve always believed that what is meant for me won’t pass me by. That doesn’t mean everything works out the way I want it to. I’ve had disappointments, changed direction and certainly had moments when I wondered what on earth I was doing. But I’ve never really believed in failure. If something doesn’t work, there is something to learn from it.
Looking back, some of the things that felt like detours were actually leading me exactly where I needed to go.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
At the heart of my work is helping people awaken their intuition and creativity through retreats, workshops, one-on-one intuitive sessions, mediumship and, always, art.
My greatest focus moving forward is retreats—from local day experiences to three-to-five-day and international retreats like Costa Rica. Each has its own personality and theme, from Ignite Your Intuition and Art & Soul to Revive Your Soul. Some are deep and transformational, while others are intentionally lighter and playful. I don’t believe personal growth always has to feel heavy. There’s plenty of insight to be found while laughing, creating, playing and simply enjoying yourself.
My workshops are just as varied, incorporating mandalas, neurographic art, driftwood creations and other forms of intuitive creativity. I love creating experiences people haven’t done before and keeping things fresh, unexpected and inspiring.
I also offer virtual intuitive sessions for people who feel stuck, are questioning what’s next, or know they’re ready for change but need a little guidance taking that first step. Through group mediumship demonstrations and intimate gatherings, I create space for meaningful and often surprisingly funny connections.
Community and healing art are also a huge part of my work. For 13 years, I’ve volunteered with Wellness House of Annapolis, creating healing art and henna crowns for people affected by cancer. I also create coloring experiences for retirement communities, rehabilitation centers and hospice programs, along with my own oracle cards, coloring books, journals, artwork and recycled jewelry.
I don’t fit neatly into one box , nor do I try to. Creativity, intuition, mediumship, humor and human connection all belong together in my world. Whatever form the experience takes, my hope is that people leave feeling lighter, inspired and a little more willing to trust what they already know within themselves.
How do you think about happiness?
What makes me happy? Creating, connecting and having fun.
I’m happiest when I’m creating something every day whether it’s art, cooking, a silly reel or some completely random idea that popped into my head. Love watching reality T.V and pajama days. I love connecting with people, laughing until my stomach hurts, and those little moments of kindness that remind me how good people can be.
I love getaways and adventures with family and friends, quiet time with my hubby, playing hide-and-seek like I’m still eight years old, and doing ridiculous things with friends just because we can.
At the end of the day, it’s really the simple things that make me happiest: creativity, connection, laughter, kindness, playfulness and being surrounded by people I love.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Christalene.com
- Instagram: ChristalenevisionaryIntuitive
- Facebook: Christalene- Visionary Intuitive
