Know Your VALUE and WORTH!!!

Rennetta L Mulkey
Aug 16, 2016
4 min read

Since fall of 2012, I have been a 'star' student of the university of YouTube. I was in a direct entry midwifery masters program and everything in my spirit said, "this is not it." We had a guest lecturer in one of our courses and because she was an African American Certified Professional Midwife, I wanted to know and learn more about how to navigate the out of hospital midwifery community as a Woman of Color. What I learned from that conversation was, Black/African American women would not beat down my door, the majority of my clients would not be from marginalized communities, I would not make enough to buy a house in the city, and my work would be more effective if I became Certified Nurse Midwife/Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant. After this conversation I began to become sad and disappointed and continued to get confirmation that as a single woman home birth midwife I will not be paid for all the value I bring.

At night and around 2 or 3 in the morning I started watching different inspirational and wellness YouTube channels such as Nubia I Sutton and China Mae Brooks. Two years later I joined Nubia I Sutton's Raw Food Bridges group. I went on a 3 week summer vacation, carrying my Nurtri Bullet and taking daily baths with essential oils and salts. The day before I was to fly back to school, I had a panic attack (the first one ever in my life). After talking to my older cousin, I decided to leave my program, move home and figure out what is the best way to achieve my ultimate goals.

Even though I learned spiritual skills for healing and accessing my own knowledge, I went straight to survival mode in order to cover the shame of "giving up". Everyone wanted to know why I left so I made up a narrative so that I did not have to share my truth. After 53 job applications and 4-1/2 months, I got A job. In the interview, the manager offered me $3 less than the national starting salary of the position, although I had 3 years experience in another state with national certification. My face was giving the WTF look and the manager asked me what wage did I expect. When I told her she responded that she had to ask her supervisor and she may not approve it and offered $1 more and after I got state certification I would get a 6% raise. Instead of say "Hell No!" and walk out, I agreed. In the meantime, my cousin gave me the money to take my state massage license exam. I passed the exam and could not afford to pay for the actual license. The part time hours and below living wage equaled no real money and exhausted body, mind and spirit.

So once again I was sad and disappointed and began watching SGI USA Media on YouTube channel and was inspired to use my faith practice to live my life's highest potential. I started visited sisters in faith and chanting/praying for myself, family and community. A month later I got the money together to get my massage license. After receiving my license I made a website (www.sista4peacewellness.com), purchased business cards, found a shared office space in a wellness center to rent and advertised on a spa directory. Two months later I was also hired at a spa around the corner from me.

During one of my early morning chanting sessions, it came to me to quit my hourly wage job and focus on my business and allow the spa to supplement earnings. I gave my notice and went on a two week vacation with my family. While on vacation I watched a YouTube video about value, worth and business. I knew my massage, body work and energy work prices were lower than what I was comfortable with, but I was told by a family member the prices should be low until I started getting consistent business. It took me 1 year, 8 months in a Black Women's Support Group, and reviewing the value that I bring to my services to realize I must put my value in the equation of figuring out prices and recognizing my worth to self and the global community at large.

So what value to I bring to my wellness practice?:

*Consistent daily Buddhist practice

*Self use of yoni eggs and different crystals

*Vaginal steams

*Practice of intermittent fasting

*Journal work

*Daily work on healing

*Hydrotherapy self practices (epsom salt/sea salt/herbal/essential oil baths, enemas, sacred foot baths, sarced showers, water and herbal infusion fasting)

*Active in a Black Women's Support Group

*~1 year Raw Food Restaurant Experience

*Food preparation for new mothers, children and elderly

*Birth Doula apprenticeship and workshop, Postpartum Doula and Labor Massage (starting from the age of 16 at a hospital)

*A Diploma from a one year massage program that included Neuromuscular Therapy

*10 years in massage therapy and reflexology

*8 years of service and learning in medical and chiropractic rehab centers

*Continuing Education courses including Pre- and Perinatal Massage, Infant Massage, Arvigo Mayan Abdominal Massage

*Reiki I & II atunement and 8 years of practice

*Womb Detox Wrap certification from YONI STEAM Institute

*Studying Herbalism

*Perinatal Nutrition course