My Path

Helen Michaels is based in St. Paul, MN, but I grew up in the sunny, coastal landscape of North Carolina. There I nurtured my soul with art, nature, and animals, especially horses. Determined to be an artist, I earned my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at East Carolina University. I moved to Saint Paul shortly afterwards to work as a graphic designer and art director.

Experiencing a dark night of the soul in my late twenties, I used art to communicate my emotional and spiritual pain so effectively that I decided to assist others by becoming an art therapist. After earning my master’s degree at St. Mary’s University, I began what turned out to be a 20+ year career working with adults experiencing mental illness. During these years, I studied energy healing (including Reiki), intuitive development, and reclaimed my passion for horses by riding once again.

How I Got Here

At genuine crossroads in 2012, facing financial despair and a soul’s call I wasn’t sure I could answer, I sought guidance through horse coaching. What I found reshaped everything: horses could speak, quite literally, offering a spiritual solution where logic alone had failed me. I learned to listen and trust my body and soul instead of just my mind, and that realignment changed the course of my life. When the horse farm owner invited me to visit anytime, I accepted, visiting weekly on Sunday afternoons. Eventually, Spirit guided me to study Holy Fire® Reiki and animal communication with Canadian Reiki Master Pam Allen-LeBlanc, who has a herd of Reiki horses, enhancing my connection with the herd.

As I developed an intrinsic relationship with the herd, I began collaborating with them, offering “equine encounters” to people called to receive guidance from the healing horses. Through my Reiki training, I started feeling in tune with their healing powers and wanted to share their energy through my artwork. These desires led me to seek out Canadian equine artist Diane Williams, who taught me the plein air techniques of focusing on light, using a limited palette, and layering paint to emphasize the healing spirit of the horse. 

Inspired by Williams’ approach to painting and by the French impressionists, I honed my artistic style. While maintaining and honoring the physical form of the horse, I leaned into a “contemporary impressionism” style. To channel both my and the animal’s spiritual energies through my art, I imbue each horse’s portrait with Holy Fire® Reiki and paint healing Reiki symbols on the back of each piece to amplify their healing presence.  

Besides my painting collaborations with the “healing herd,” I have also published my artwork on multiple platforms, including book covers, in-book illustrations, puzzles, gift bags, and even a complete set of oracle cards, entitled “Audacious Action Angels Oracle Deck.”

I currently work from my studio in St. Paul, Minnesota. Through my art and energy work, I endeavor to “create pieces that make the healing spirit of horses available.

Ready to Begin?

Asking someone to guide and companion you when you know an unexplored vulnerability is calling isn’t easy. But if a part-horse woman and her mystical herd feel like the companions you need, here’s how to begin.

How Sessions Work

1. Reach Out- Email to schedule, or request a free 20-minute phone consultation if you’d like to talk it through first.

2. Prepare- Your first session runs about 2 hours, including time to complete simple intake forms, talk through what’s bringing you in, and answer any questions about Reiki, plus your session and a closing conversation afterward. Please note that reaching my home Reiki space requires climbing stairs. If you have accessibility needs, we’ll find what works best for you, whether that’s a home visit, a video call, or another arrangement.

   For long-distance sessions, I’ll send you forms to complete and return before we begin, along with payment. We’ll talk by phone about what’s bringing you in, then you’ll settle into a comfortable space and stay on the line while I offer Reiki, followed by a conversation about your experience.

3. Experience- In-person sessions include time on the Reiki table, followed by a closing conversation. Distance sessions follow the same rhythm, just at a distance. Most clients find once a month is a good pace.

Art Commissions & Prints

Please contact me directly for painting commissions or to inquire about purchasing print(s) of the “The Healing Herd” paintings.

helenmichaelsart@gmail.com