L’ETAGE MAGAZINE INTERVIEW WITH SUSAN KING – INTUITIVE COUNSELOR

by Geneva Bell

 

Susan King is an Intuitive Counselor, with an international following, working at various locations, including London, New York, Miami, Turks & Caicos and Los Angeles. Susan has been a consultant with COMO Shambhala and the holistic wellness side of COMO Hotels and Resorts for more than 12 years.

 

L’Etage Mag: You have been a Brand Ambassador with COMO Shambhala for the past 12 years. What brought about this unique partnership?

SK: COMO Shambhala is an award-winning wellness concept developed as a sister brand to COMO Hotels and Resorts, based in Singapore. Running as a thread through COMO properties worldwide, COMO Shambhala promotes a healthy way of living, learning and eating well. The pursuit of balance is central to the approach, the word Shambhala translates as ‘peace and harmony’ in Sanskrit. The insight I provide encompasses and perfectly complements this philosophy and is seen to embellish the COMO Shambhala mind and body disciplines and treatments offered. While working with COMO Hotels for a number of years as a consultant, I began promoting COMO Shambhala as part of my own wellness philosophy, which is how this relationship originally came about. As an existing brand ambassador, I work in different locations around the world, including at numerous COMO destinations, meeting many different people, and in doing so, this gives me the scope to be able to create awareness, not just about what I do as an Intuitive Counselor, but also about the COMO brand.

L’Etage Mag: I understand that you believe that intuitive power is accessible to everyone. What would you recommend to people in order for them to get in touch with their intuition? In other words, how can we get in touch with this sixth sense? Are there certain practices that we can do?

SK: On this topic, I could discuss this all day, but again, it all boils down to confidence and awareness. You see, most people do not even think they can feel or sense anything that is different, because most are too busy with daily life. But if you stop and think about the senses that mother nature has bestowed on you, and take a moment to appreciate and savor them, then you will quickly observe that by closing your eyes, your ears will work harder and be more acute to “Awareness.” For example, if you meet someone and then later you’re asked what did you think of them, you may not realize but you will have made a subconscious profile which you would be able to voice. Again, this is Awareness. Letting your mind relax will help awareness. When educating people on COMO Shambhala, I always refer back to its original meaning of “Peace and Harmony.” If your mind is at peace and at harmony with the rest of your consciousness, then Awareness will come a lot easier. In 2015, I am planning to introduce a work shop called “Throw a Frisby.” This will be looking at this very subject matter of Awareness, and how to recognize and utilize it.

The waterfront Meditation area at Parrot Cay by COMO, known for its award-winning “Wellness” retreat.

L’Etage Mag: It is said that you can look at someone and see images of events occurring in their lives and flashes of insight about them. Would you consider yourself a psychic of sorts? If not, how are you any different from a psychic?

SK: Well, you can look up many different definitions on this topic and my answer is my own personal interpretation. To most, the word “Psychic” conjures images of magic or special powers. Information received by a Psychic is transmitted through some outside source, and not necessarily from their own senses. To me, Intuition is a sense of knowing without knowing.

I had a conventional college education and I do not possess magical powers. But my intuition, which is that “Sense” we all have, is as fine tuned as the engine of racing car. It is sharp and capable of many tasks. That is my definition and the difference between a Psychic and my ability as I see it.

L’Etage Mag: Do you believe that people have true psychic abilities? Would being in touch with your intuition be considered a form of psychic ability?

SK: It is my belief that all human beings have a very strong Intuition. Some would call psychic abilities “Intuition,” and yes, I am sure there are people who have these abilities. However, being in touch with your own Intuition could most certainly be seen as having psychic ability. Everyone interprets this topic in different ways. Many will tell you they are one of the same, but it is how YOU perceive it. “Forewarned is Forearmed.” Some might even say that gut instinct or intuition is a psychic ability. Fortune magazine did an article some years ago on exploring the common denominator among the top 10 most successful men in the U.S. An advance state of Intuition and Gut Feeling was deemed to be the common thread.

L’Etage Mag: I read that you got more in touch with your intuition after you hit your head in a car accident. After the accident, what was the first occurrence that made you realize you had this gift?

SK: I had this sense long before the car accident when I was 25 years-old. I had a profound intuition as small child. I would often make comments about people whom I had never met or whom I had not seen or known and make observations about them. In my teenage years this Intuitive sense became stronger, and then after the accident instead of a feeling of intuition or sensing it, my intuition became visual – it was raised to a new level. When the accident happened I wasn’t exactly worried about insurance claims or consulting with a car accident attorney Springfield, like I feel most would do in my situation. No, I was thinking “I don’t just sense things now, I can see them”. What I feel the accident did was take away a blind fold. I have always described my intuition like the inside of a golf ball – layers of elastic bands woven together. My accident took a layer away, heightening my ability to see new dimensions.

L’Etage Mag: What occurrence or event transpired that made you realize you wanted to help people with your gift?

SK: I do not think one event or occurrence happened, it is who I am as person. From a young child, I have always possessed a deep sense of knowing, of kindness and fairness, and with years clarity I am none judgmental. When traveling to see people in different towns or cities, or when I have appointments at COMO’s wellness destinations around the world, my ability helps me to help those who temporarily don’t see clearly. I feel I am doing something that contributes emotional healing to those whom I touch. A large part of what I do is heal emotions, give clarity, hope and a new perspective. My clients come away with a new form of awareness and options, whereby a new direction is apparent. When I take appointments with regular guests at London’s Metropolitan by COMO hotel or at Parrot Cay by COMO in Turks and Caicos for example, some of these guests are also long-standing clients of mine with whom I have a history and know well. If you can understand a person’s behavioral pattern, the reason for it and where it came from, you can understand them or see them differently. Knowledge is power.

L’Etage Mag: What can one expect during a typical session with you?

SK: You can expect someone who can share and look into your deepest worries, problems or choices that are in front of you. You can expect a new perspective on whatever is troubling or confusing to you, and you can expect your emotions to have some form of healing. A typical example is when a significant other is behaving oddly or perhaps acting in a confusing manner. A session will provide more inner guidance on what is making them tick, and why they are in the mode or mood they are in? This can apply to business and personal situations. One of my strengths is looking into the inner psyche of people and helping them to see what is not on the surface or obvious to them. I provide guidance, reassurance, emotional healing, awareness, options and clarity – as though a weight has been lifted. The most important thing is that whatever issue is presented to me, the “problem” is what will be tuned-in to. I deal with the reality in people’s lives and although I may often not know them, being able to see in to their world gives my clients confidence that will enhance the experience.

L’Etage Mag: I understand that you also offer full day sessions. What would that entail?

SK: I often do full day sessions in a corporate environment or sometimes for a group of guests staying at COMO Hotels and Resorts, for example. There are a number of different scenarios for a full day of activity.

• A group of women may hire me for the day before or after therapeutic treatments at the spa
• A client may want a day-long session, not just for me to see them, but to provide some insight on friends or relatives who are pictured in their photos for example. A series of questions about family members for instance may take three hours in morning and three hours in the afternoon
• A group of people, traveling as friends for example, may want me to spend time doing short sessions with each of them
• I am often utilized to appear and speak at a venue being used for a press event
• Companies undertaking product launches also hire me

 

L’Etage Mag: Are there any particular instructions that you give new clients before their first session with you?

SK: Not really. If someone wants to see me in-person or spend time on the telephone, I always like to see photo of the client prior to the session. Sometimes I ask clients to bring photos of people around them, which are often stored on their mobile phone.

 

L’Etage Mag: Is there anything you would like people to know about you or your gift that we have not yet discussed?

SK: When a person consults with me they are opening up the very inner most part of themselves – their heart and emotions. This is a huge thing to do and it exposes their vulnerabilities and makes them feel emotionally naked. They need to know they are safe. Their inner most thoughts and feelings are nurtured and cared for. Sessions with all my clients are private and confidential, whether it is someone from an impoverished environment or a high profile celebrity. My ability speaks for itself, not my client portfolio. I have been doing this for many years – progressing from strength to strength because I am who I am. The pain that clients may experience, whatever it may be, is safe in my hands. Help, guidance and emotional healing are given freely, openly and in abundance – whether you’re a Hollywood actor or someone who drives an ice cream van for a living. A consultation is tailor-made for the individual and specific to each person’s life. The accurate detail and insight I provide, I feel gives me notoriety for what I do. During my consultations on behalf of COMO Shambhala, whether it be at a wellness retreat or hotel, it often helps if a client has undergone a therapeutic treatment before I see them. A signature COMO Shambhala Massage, Dr. Hauschka Facial or even just a relaxing period in the steam room, is often able to relax the mind, body and spirit so they have a “COMO” sense of wellbeing – in peace and harmony with themselves.

My final thought, and above all else, I feel very blessed to be given the privilege to work in the way I do!

For more information, or to arrange an appointment with Susan King, contact the COMO Shambhala Urban Escape at Metropolitan by COMO, Miami Beach on 305-695-3600 or by emailing [email protected]