Authentic Soul, South End, Port Elizabeth (2026)

We exists to help people reconnect with their inner wisdom, cultivate emotional and spiritual alignment, and live intentionally.

08/10/2026

🌿 Our 4th Authentic Soul Supper — A New Circle 🌿

There is something really special happening around the Authentic Soul Supper Club.
Our 4th supper brought together Bianca and my mom returning, with Barbara, Sharoy and Gemma joining us for the first time — and something struck me during the evening:
We had ages ranging from 14 to 74 in the room… and it simply didn't matter. ❤️
Different generations. Different stories. Different journeys.
But around the table, we laughed, listened, shared, reflected and connected.

By popular request, we returned to our Sacred Contracts & Archetypal Wheel workshop, creating space for self-discovery, mindfulness and exploring our purpose.
One of the strongest themes of the evening was how much external noise we are all navigating today. Perhaps now more than ever, we need to go within — to become clearer about our inner world, our choices and the future we want to consciously create.

There was also Reiki, reflexology, an 18-minute meditation and, of course, lots of good food! 🌱
We started with our famous fresh spring rolls, followed by a traditional Gujarati vegetarian meal of: ✨ Dhal, ✨ Basmati rice, ✨ Bombay potatoes, ✨ Green bean curry, ✨ Raita and a homemade pecan, nut & yogurt cake that Gemma REALLY loved! 😋

My mom also gave Bianca Reiki and reflexology after Bianca had experienced Reiki for the first time earlier that week. Bianca isn't usually comfortable with foot massage, but my mom's healing touch completely changed her mind.

Being a healer is part of our ancestral lineage — and moments like this remind me why Authentic Soul exists. We entered as strangers and left as more enlightened friends.

And now... BIG NEWS! 🌿
Our next Authentic Soul Supper is:
Thursday, 5 November 2026
Jess will be joining us from the UK 🇬🇧 and Nosi +1 from East London, Eastern Cape 🇿🇦
There is room for more around the table, reach out if you are interested.

Different journeys.
Different generations.
One table.

I truly believe there is a universal need for safe spaces where we can slow down, connect and have the conversations we don't always have anywhere else.

Come for the food.
Stay for the connection.
Leave with a clearer path. ❤️

06/10/2026

✨ Reiki has been part of my life for more than 20 years…and one of my greatest joys is having a booked Reiki client. There is something very special about the moment before a session begins.

I prepare myself.
I become quiet.
I clear my energy.
I ground myself.
I connect with my guides, masters, angels and archangels.
And most importantly, I become receptive.
Over the years, I have learnt that I am not the healer. I am the conduit.

Reiki moves through me, and my role is to create a safe, peaceful space where a person can slow down, receive and reconnect with themselves. The more I have practiced Reiki, the more conscious I have become of my own energy — what I eat, how I think, how I move, spending time in nature, yoga, meditation, grounding and taking care of my own energetic well-being.
Because presence matters.

And when I am truly present, I can listen more deeply.
Sometimes I receive sensations, emotions, images or thoughts. Sometimes there is simply stillness. And sometimes I feel guided to share a message afterwards, which is why I love closing my sessions with angel cards.

One of my clients recently described her Authentic Soul experience as her “saving grace”, saying the sessions had brought her revelations, energy release, mental and spiritual clarity and guidance through some of her darkest times. And yes… she also got to enjoy a cuddle with Jacky, my ginger cat. 🐈❤️

I don't take testimonials like that lightly.

They remind me why I do this work. And now I feel a new calling.
After 20+ years of Reiki, I feel ready to share this work beyond the treatment room.
I feel drawn towards distance Reiki, online workshops, guided practices and intimate healing spaces where people from anywhere in the world can slow down, reconnect and receive.

But I can feel the calling.
And I've learnt over 20 years of Reiki to trust what I feel.
I am ready.
I am open.
I am willing.
And I have faith. ✨

If Reiki has ever called to you, I'd love to hear from you.
❤️ Authentic Soul
Creating spaces for Body • Mind • Heart • Soul

28/09/2026

🌿 DISCOVER THE AUTHENTICITY OF YOUR SOUL

Our 7 Steps to Come Back to Your Body:
Cultivate Self-Awareness
Regulate Your Nervous System
Be Proactive About Your Well-being
Heal Naturally
Live Authentically

Whether you’re looking for active support through naturopath coaching or the gentle, restorative experience of Reiki healing, I will meet you where you are — so you can Spiral Up. ✨

I work with men and women who may be living with pain, chronic illness, inflammation, fatigue, stress or simply feeling disconnected from their bodies.

Together, we explore the physical, emotional and energetic patterns that may be influencing how you feel — helping you develop greater self-awareness, regulate your nervous system and learn to listen to what your body is communicating.

My approach is grounded in 22 years of Reiki practice and my own 16-year journey with Rheumatoid Arthritis, including 16 years on chronic medication.

You can choose the path that feels right for you:
🌸 Reiki Healing
🌸 Distance Reiki
🌿 Naturopath Coaching — personalized to your needs and goals
In person or online. Active or passive. Start where you are.

Your body has a voice.
Your soul has a story.
Maybe it’s time to listen. 💜

DISCOVER THE AUTHENTICITY OF YOUR SOUL.
Book your session today.

📲 Message me “AUTHENTIC SOUL” to enquire or book.

Reiki InstituteConnection of the Soul Reiki & Holistic ServicesReiki PartnersReiki and Beyond, LLC: Jon Pickell, Reiki Master & Teacher

25/09/2026

🌿🥗 FRESH FROM THE GARDEN, ROASTED IN THE OVEN — FUEL FOR A BUSY WEEK

This week's Authentic Soul Kitchen recipe comes with a little story...

A few years ago, I was renting the sweetest little garden cottage in Perridgevale, Port Elizabeth.

It had a tiny oven with a two-plate stove, a beautiful little garden and, for a while, my very own mini veggie patch. 🌱

I was growing yellow peppers, herbs and little tomatoes — and I LOVED walking outside, picking something fresh and then bringing it straight into the kitchen.

This was also a chapter of my life when I was training HARD.

Some days it was twice a day — cardio and weights in the morning, sometimes in the garden while the sun was coming up, and kickboxing and other fun sessions with my trainer in the afternoon. 🥊😂

I was finally in remission from rheumatoid arthritis and had the courage to really challenge my body again.

Naturally, my food changed too.

More protein. More whole foods. Less bread. And lots of experimenting in my little kitchen.

And somewhere along the way...

I discovered this chickpea salad. 🥗

Roasted chickpeas, sautéed corn, fresh tomatoes, peppers, herbs, zucchini, nuts and feta.

Nothing complicated.

Just good ingredients, roasted and tossed together into one beautiful bowl.

And you know what?

It's still one of my favourites.

I think there's something really beautiful about simple food.

You don't need a complicated recipe.

You don't need a perfectly stocked kitchen.

You just need a few good ingredients, a little creativity and the willingness to play.

And now I make a big bowl so that when the week gets crazy, future me has something delicious waiting in the fridge. 😂❤️

So here's your weekend challenge:

🎵 Put on some music.
🌱 Open the fridge.
🥗 Grab some vegetables.
🔥 Get those chickpeas roasting.
🧀 Add some feta.
🌿 Throw in some herbs.
❤️ Make something delicious.

Don't follow my recipe exactly.

Make it yours.

Because sometimes wellness is as simple as making yourself something nourishing before you're too busy to think about it.

And honestly...

Past Taej looking after Future Taej?

That's a pretty good system. 😂❤️

Welcome to Authentic Soul Kitchen — Episode 3.

Come into my kitchen, let's make some magic. 🌿

22/09/2026

🕊️ THE ONLY WAY OUT IS IN

World Peace Day | Brahma Kumaris 90th Anniversary | 21 September 2026

Some evenings feel ordinary when you leave home, and somehow become sacred by the time you return.
Monday evening was one of those nights.

I joined the Brahma Kumaris Centre in Gqeberha for World Peace Day and their beautiful 90-year celebration. Sister Belinda hosted the evening, welcoming guests who had rushed straight from a busy day at work with warm Indian chai, delicious cake and savoury treats.

Before the programme even began, there was already a sense of connection. Like-minded souls gathering with one simple intention:

PEACE.

The evening became a beautiful reminder of something I have been learning through the Soul Consciousness classes I recently started attending:

I AM THE SOUL.

Not my problems.
Not my circumstances.
Not my achievements.
Not the roles I play.

I am the soul — and the soul is a place of peace.

During the meditation, I could genuinely feel the energy in the room shift. There was a stillness and softness that felt different from everyday life. So many people, putting down their individual stories for a moment and connecting to something greater.

It made me think about the battlefield within.

We spend so much time trying to change what is happening outside of us, but what happens inside us when we are triggered? What thoughts are we creating? What energy are we bringing into our families, relationships and communities?

Because it is one thing to sit in a peaceful room.

It is another thing to carry that peace into Monday morning.

That, for me, is where the real spiritual practice begins.

After the meditation, we received a blessing and a beautiful Brahma Kumaris mug, along with a personal message.

Mine said:

YOUR MIND AT PEACE.

"There is a quiet benevolence in you that allows others to feel accepted without needing to earn their worth, creating a gentle atmosphere of peace."

It felt like exactly the message I needed.

And it reminded me of why Authentic Soul exists — to create safe spaces for self-discovery, inner work and healing.

Perhaps we don't need to wait for the world to become peaceful.

Perhaps we start by becoming more peaceful within ourselves.

Our thoughts become our feelings.
Our feelings influence our words.
Our words influence our actions.
And our actions ripple into the world around us.

Peace is not something we need to find.
Peace is already within us.
Peace is our true nature.

So on World Peace Day, my invitation is simple:

🕊️ Be the peace.
🕊️ Share the peace.
🕊️ Start within.

Because the only way OUT…

is IN.

Om Shanti. Om Shanti. Om Shanti. 🤍

19/09/2026

🍍✨ THE GOLDEN SMOOTHIE — A LITTLE SUNSHINE IN A GLASS

Happy Saturday and welcome back to the Authentic Soul Kitchen! 🌿

If you joined me for my first video, you’ll know that I’m inviting you into a very personal part of my life — my kitchen, my food and my wellness journey.

I cook almost every day, I LOVE experimenting with ingredients, and there is nothing I enjoy more than having friends and family around my table.

So for Episode 2, we’re making one of my favourites:

🍍 Pineapple, Chia, Ginger & Turmeric Smoothie. Bright. Golden. Fresh. A little zingy. And packed with some beautiful ingredients. But I also want to share why I love putting these ingredients together.

🍍 PINEAPPLE
Living in the Eastern Cape, we are incredibly lucky to have beautiful pineapples growing right here on our doorstep.
The Bathurst area has a fascinating history with pineapple farming, and the iconic Giant Pineapple is a reminder of just how important this fruit has become to the region. Pineapples were so prestigious that the wealthy rented Pineapples for decoration at dinner parties, isn't that insane? Luckily, it grows plentiful here for us all to enjoy. Pineapple is naturally rich in vitamin C, fibre and manganese, and contains bromelain, an enzyme that has been studied for its potential health benefits.

🌱 CHIA

These tiny seeds are nutritional little powerhouses! Chia gives us plant-based protein, fibre and omega-3 fatty acids in the form of ALA, along with minerals such as calcium, phosphorus and zinc. And that fibre is one of the reasons I love adding chia to smoothies — our gut health is such an important part of our overall wellbeing.

🌿 GINGER

Fresh ginger gives this smoothie its beautiful warming kick. Ginger has traditionally been used for digestive discomfort and nausea, and it has also been researched for its potential anti-inflammatory properties.

💛 TURMERIC

And then we bring in that gorgeous golden colour! Turmeric contains curcumin and other curcuminoids that have been studied for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

One of my favourite little tricks? 🖤 A pinch of black pepper.

Black pepper contains piperine, which can increase the bio-availability of curcumin — meaning it can help the body absorb more of it. I love these little kitchen discoveries! But here's something I've learned through my own journey: There is no single smoothie, herb, spice or food that is going to "fix" your health.

For me, wellness is about the bigger picture.
It's what we eat regularly.
It's how we sleep.
It's movement.
It's managing stress.
It's rest.
It's relationships.
It's learning to listen to our bodies.
And it's finding ways to nourish ourselves that are sustainable, delicious and joyful.

After years of living with an autoimmune condition, navigating inflammation and eventually reaching remission, my relationship with food has changed.

I've become much more curious about what I put into my body — but I've also learned that healthy living doesn't have to mean boring food or endless restriction.

I LOVE food.
I LOVE cooking.
I LOVE feeding people.
And I want to show you that nourishing yourself can be:

✨ Colourful
✨ Flavourful
✨ Simple
✨ Social
✨ Joyful

So pull up a chair, come into my kitchen and let's make some magic. ❤️

🎥 Watch Episode 2 — Pineapple, Chia, Ginger & Turmeric Smoothie

And if you'd like to read the full story behind the ingredients, I've written about it on Substack:

https://authenticsoulstories.substack.com/p/the-golden-smoothie-a-little-sunshine?r=6er6oj&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

This is just the beginning of the Authentic Soul Kitchen. 🌿

Enjoy!
Taej
Authentic Soul

Address

South End
Port Elizabeth
6001

Telephone

+27720323525

Website

https://authenticsoul.co.za/

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