In a world where creativity meets entrepreneurship, Paulette Rees-Denis stands as a beacon for those seeking to transform their passion into prosperity. As a Lifestyle and Business Coach for Creatives, Paulette is not just a mentor but a movement motivator and passion instigator. Her journey from dancer and author to a global leader in feminine celebration is a testament to her commitment to empowering others. In her latest book, From Soulless Job to Creative Abundance: Find Fulfillment and Prosperity with Your Art, Paulette provides a roadmap for creatives to break free from unfulfilling careers and step into their creative zones of genius. Whether she’s teaching and speaking around the globe, or writing from her Palm Springs sanctuary, Paulette’s influence is felt far and wide. As the Tribal Hostess, she gathers creatives through her video podcast, Heart and Hustle: Visionary Healers, Movers, and Shakers, and weekly Facebook Live sessions filled with inspiration, poetry, and lively conversation. Through her publishing company, Cultivator Media Group, she continues to inspire and cultivate creativity worldwide, training and certifying dancers and leaders in her internationally recognized style. Paulette’s work is a celebration of life, art, and the power of creative expression. Join Mystic Mag and read more.
How did your journey from being a Tribal Bellydance innovator evolve into becoming a lifestyle and business coach for creatives?
I’ve always been a dancer and a writer. Thirty-five years ago, I created the particular style of dance that I now teach. Initially, it was just about dancing—I simply wanted to dance. My lifelong dream was to be a dancer, and I wanted to bring people together. This dance was never meant to be a solo act; it was about connection, community, support, and empowerment.
As I continued teaching, the dance evolved. It became more spiritual, deeper. It was no longer just a physical practice; it became an emotional experience and a spiritual journey. I realized that while I was teaching, I was also coaching. I was helping women start their own businesses, fall in love with themselves, love their bodies, and discover passions they didn’t know they had. I helped them find creative outlets, as well as community and connection with other women.
This was, of course, before the prevalence of computers and platforms like Zoom—everything was done in person. Over time, people began asking me to teach in Australia, Italy, England, and other places. As I continued teaching, the dance increasingly became a form of coaching and empowerment. That’s when I realized my true passion: inspiring others. I love seeing women step into their power, embrace their beauty, and explore their possibilities.
To deepen my skills, I began studying coaching more seriously. Although I was already coaching based on my own experiences, I wanted to learn more about the business, practical, strategic, and spiritual aspects of coaching. I studied with Tony Robbins, Marie Forleo, and several other teachers to become a better coach and to integrate all these elements into my work.
In your book From Soulless Job to Creative Abundance, you talk about transforming one’s life through creativity. Can you share a pivotal moment in your own life when you made that transformation?
There have been many moments. I think one of the most significant was realizing that the dance was more than just a dance. It became a lifestyle, and it made me see that we are all creative beings. Often, as we grow older—especially as women—we tend to cut off our creative aspirations. We become more practical, focusing on going to school, attending college, and becoming “something.” In the process, we lose sight of our own creative inspirations and ideas.
I’ve always been a creative person, always walking a different path, my own path. Through the dance, through my writing, and by sharing my words and books, I’ve come to understand that if we’re not in touch with our creative selves, we’re missing something essential. Everyone is creative, everyone has something unique to share. It’s sad when people think, “Oh, I’m not creative at all.” But yes, you are! Simply living life every day is an act of creativity. We tend to forget that, right? We forget the little details of living life.
So many times, I’ve had to step back and ask myself, “What’s my creative path now?” I’ve been a dancer, a writer, a coach, and I still have the desire to create. It never stops.
What type of services do you offer?
As a lifestyle coach, I offer one-on-one coaching, typically as a three-month package, though many clients choose to extend it for a year or two. It’s all about empowerment and the accountability that comes from working with someone who truly hears and sees you, someone who can support you and provide the tools to move forward. I love helping women in this way.
In addition to one-on-one coaching, I also offer a mastermind program, usually once a year, which includes group coaching. I also host retreats, and I’m thrilled to announce that I have a retreat in Costa Rica coming up in November. This will be my first retreat since the COVID pandemic, and I couldn’t be more excited. I’ve been leading retreats for 30 years, and when everything came to a stop, it was challenging. But now, we’re getting back into it, and there’s nothing quite like being in a circle with women in person.
While I still offer many virtual events, which are fantastic and provide a beautiful way to connect—like meeting you on Zoom—there’s something truly special about gathering in person. Stepping outside of your home and daily life, into a space of exploration, adventure, wildness, and magic, all while being in a circle with other women, is an experience like no other.
And of course, I still manage my global dance company, Global Caravan Tribal Bellydance, with certified teachers, Master Teachers, and Master Leaders around the globe. They are carrying on the legacy of the dance, empowering people with the dance and the lifestyle, the community and the self-awareness, the creative passion. Over 33 years, this style of dance continues to grow and evolve, and I couldn’t be prouder of creating this dance entity for all to learn and grow and live from!
How do you integrate the practical skills you’ve learned from mentors like Tony Robbins with your more spiritual practices such as Holy Fire Reiki in your coaching sessions?
I’ve done many different types of energy work. I’ve been a massage therapist and worked extensively with energy through crystals, reading tarot cards, and energy cards. I’ve explored various modalities and techniques, and I also teach a journaling class because words are magic too. We’re not just physical beings, nor are we just mental or emotional beings. It’s so important for us as women to connect with every aspect of our being and to listen to our intuitive guidance.
We need to pay attention to what our brain is saying, but also clarify and visualize our thoughts. I incorporate a lot of meditation and journaling into my practice. I’m a big advocate for journaling—I’m a self-proclaimed “journaling queen” with plenty of prompts, and I encourage people to write because thoughts become words, and words become things. That’s my mantra: thoughts become words become things.
If you can’t clarify what you’re thinking, what you’re wanting, or what you’re asking for, and if you don’t detail it out, then it’s not going to happen. Simply thinking about something is lovely, but that’s just daydreaming—it doesn’t manifest or bring your desires into physical reality. You have to add action, strategy, and a plan. I call it my “magic action plan” because it’s about creating your magic. You need to know the action steps, the desired outcome, and, most importantly, why you want those things. Without knowing the “why,” it won’t come to fruition.
Many creatives struggle with self-doubt and creative blocks. What advice would you give to someone who is stuck in their creative process?
Self-care at its highest level is about truly taking care of yourself. To overcome creative blocks, there are several things you can do on a personal level. This ties back to what I mentioned earlier—there’s meditation, journaling, and writing to release those blocks. Then, there’s taking action, which often involves movement. To change your state, you need to change your story, and that starts with moving your body. You can either sit on the couch and wallow in self-pity, or you can change your state and make a move. It’s really that simple, though I understand that when you’re feeling overwhelmed and stuck, it can feel impossible. I’ve been there, and I’m sure we all have.
In those moments, just change your state. Take a walk around the block, dance around your kitchen, go to a dance class, hit the gym, sweat it out, groove, ride your bicycle—anything that moves your physical energy will also move your spiritual energy and open you up. And don’t forget to breathe deeply.
I have my morning practices, which include journaling, meditation, and movement. These are simple routines, but doing them every day will create passion in your life, in your body, and in your mind. Another key practice is stepping into gratitude. When you focus on what you have and what you’re thankful for, it opens up a world of opportunities, allowing you to become even more grateful and attracting what you want into your life.
