Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Bakarich.
Hi Katie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
From the time I was a little girl, I knew I was here to help others. I’ve always been intuitive, empathetic, and deeply attuned to the energy around me. My first brush with the metaphysical world came after the loss of my aunt and stepfather. Seeking peace, I visited a psychic medium—skeptical but curious. What unfolded was a reading so accurate and healing that it sparked a lifelong journey into spirituality, crystals, astrology, and energy work.
Though I didn’t initially envision a career in this space, my fascination grew quietly alongside my professional life. I studied meteorology in college, drawn to the power and mystery of nature. Later, I spent 14 years in traditional healthcare in home health and hospice as a liaison between doctors, hospitals, and patients. I loved helping people, but over time, the system’s constraints made it harder to truly serve. I witnessed families in distress, overworked providers, and patients denied the care they deserved. It was heartbreaking—and it became clear that something deeper was calling me.
I began studying holistic healing, earned my Reiki Master certification, and immersed myself in metaphysical education. I realized that spiritual health is the missing piece in our wellness model. It’s not taught in schools, rarely discussed, and often misunderstood. Yet it’s essential. Crystals, energy work, and conscious practices can transform lives—not just emotionally, but physically.
So I took a leap. In November 2023, I launched Enlightened KC—a metaphysical retail and healing marketplace. It started in my home with Reiki sessions and a website. Today, it’s blossoming into a vibrant retail collective space offering certified crystals, spiritual tools, artisan goods, and educational experiences. My dream is to build a full spiritual wellness center in Kansas City, where people can explore, heal, and grow.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all. Building Enlightened KC as a solo entrepreneur has been one of the most challenging—and rewarding—experiences of my life. I’ve had the unwavering support of my husband, two daughters, and close friends, but the journey has demanded sacrifice. I work full-time during the day and pour myself into Enlightened KC at night and on the weekends. Sleepless nights are common, driven by my high standards and deep commitment to helping others.
Leaving the security of traditional healthcare was emotionally complex. I had to confront societal skepticism around metaphysics and spiritual healing. Many still view these practices as “woo woo,” simply because they fear what they don’t understand. But I’ve learned to stand in my truth and educate with compassion. I hope there are so many more spiritual seekers out there who haven’t yet had the courage to seek out the questions they may have laying dormant inside them. I love having deep inspired discussions, meeting people where they are at and when asked, guiding them towards products, sessions, and daily rituals that are healing and meaningful to them.
There’s still so much to build. My vision includes a full-service spiritual wellness center offering classes, events, intuitive readings, and a place to shop and for holistic healing tools. I’m working toward that every day, fueled by purpose and community support.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work bridges science and spirituality. Having studied meteorology, I took many science courses. I have also always been one to be skeptical and ask questions looking for facts. When I first started studying metaphysics, I came at it from wanting to know the facts and evidence. I found that through not only my studies and personal practices but also from many other’s who experienced healing benefits and enhanced happier lives.
Crystals, for example, aren’t just beautiful—they possess measurable energetic properties. Quartz exhibits piezoelectricity, used in watches, medical devices and much of the technology people use daily and they don’t even know it! These vibrational frequencies interact with our biofields, offering subtle but powerful support for emotional regulation, stress relief, and spiritual focus. There is science behind crystals, universal energies, Reiki, sound healing, aromatherapy and so much more! Each of us have the ability to heal through ourselves and nature. Just recently studies have started to document and publish from a fact based and scientific perspective how these different modalities do and can work. There are still challenges for those who study metaphysics to be able to publish these articles still due to skeptics (and more that I won’t get into), but we are making progress.
I’m passionate about educating others on these principles. Enlightened KC isn’t just a shop—it’s a sanctuary for learning and transformation. We offer ethically sourced crystals, high-quality jewelry, metaphysical tools, and collaborations with local artisans. We host readers, Reiki practitioners, and intuitive guides to support holistic wellness.
Everything we do is rooted in intention. Where attention goes, energy flows. When we align with positivity, abundance follows—in love, joy, and unexpected blessings.
I believe that makes me and Enlightened KC, different. Yes, I want to eventually be wholly financially stable through my company and be able to dedicate my career time to making Enlightened KC successful. But what is different is the WHY and the true passion I have to help others. When you are selling a service or product with meaning that can positively effect lives, that is a blessing. I also love to help others learn through education and offer perspectives that they may not have considered before. Even though these topics are more widely discussed, we still have a long way to go!
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Most people don’t know that my first major in college was meteorology. I’ve always felt a deep connection to the Earth and its rhythms. I’m fascinated by weather patterns and even love storm chasing. That scientific curiosity informs my spiritual practice—I see the universe as a beautifully ordered system, where energy, intention, and nature converge. Nature brings immense peace and so much wonder!
They also probably don’t know that in the rare times I am not working my full-time job, working on growing Enlightened KC, or spending time with family, that my head is in a book, podcast or class trying to broaden my knowledge to be able to help others and my company.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.enlightenedkc.store/
- Instagram: @enlightened_store
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/enlightened-kc-b82517289/
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@EnlightenedKC
