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praise: coaching

Every time I think of Rachel offering herself to others as a coach, my soul smiles. The world has been waiting for her – a coach uniquely qualified to work with people seeking a life that is nourishing. I wouldn’t be surprised if that is exactly why you are here reading this. She just may be the coach you have been waiting for. In addition to her external training and qualifications, Rachel has what I consider the essential interior qualities of a superior coach:

1. a soft, open heart – it is only with a heart like this that one can truly listen without judgment and it is also the only place to access the intuition that guides great coaching;

2. personal experience with profound change – though she is young in years, Rachel has acquired deep wisdom through challenging life experiences;

3. a commitment to and a reverence for the integral beauty that exists in every single human being, no matter what costume it is dressed up in at any given moment.

I am blessed to have Rachel in my life and it deeply satisfies me to think of all the people who will be similarly blessed when they work with her.

Rachel supported me in bringing my darkest secret of a life-long eating disorder into the light. Her unwavering ethic, presence and love offered me a sense of security and support as I embarked on the journey of transformation. She artfully facilitated the creation of a team of experts to assist me in this massive healing process. I am so excited to be able to say that I am over a year into a more complete recovery than I ever imagined possible. I genuinely no longer feel the pendulum swinging between restriction and bingeing. Compulsion is gone; I am in now in a state of deep choice. I feel free, balanced and in authentic alignment with my values. I am deeply grateful to Rachel for holding me through this life changing metamorphosis.

During our first call, something just clicked – our connection was so easy, and I knew I wanted to spend time working with Rachel. I thought that developing a coaching relationship over the phone would be tough, but it wasn’t at all. Every conversation felt like I was sitting across the kitchen table from Rachel. Through our talks, she helped me find clarity in my purpose and urged me on with the kind of cheerleading that can only be given by someone who truly believes in you. I have grown so much in our six months of working together – this time was invaluable.

Rachel was an open well of revelations, wisdom and laser concise advisement during our consultation. She kept me on course with deep yet simple questions that spoke straight to the truth of the quest lurking patiently in my heart. I was comforted by the way she gently but firmly took my by the hand as my wish list of objectives for the session were swiftly but thoroughly met with much clarity and pragmatism leaving us ample time to explore and meander through other components of my puzzle that were waiting to be put together. This was such a wise investment. I’m very proud of myself! And now I’m looking forward to having her as my coach to help me continue to hold this space of bliss so I can spread it along to the rest of the world.

Within the first 20 minutes of talking to Rachel, she had already pinpointed some of my most desire-inhibiting patterns. She pushed me but instead of running in the other direction, I set up a 3 month coaching schedule. Since then, I’ve officially started my own business (yikes!), submitted my first piece of writing to a local magazine and have a website in the works. But more importantly, Rachel has been a voice that gently and firmly negotiates with my own inner critic, helping me to cautiously but courageously move toward what I really want out of life.

Rachel is bright, quick, warm, and “gets it”. She is someone who asks you how you are and really means it, which delights me every time I talk with her. She is totally dialed in, curious, connected, and wildly creative. I leave our conversations feeling empowered and understood. Rachel challenges while she supports and grounds while she encourages shooting for the moon. It’s a wonderful combination. I respect Rachel’s opinion, admire her values, and I’m inspired by the way that she moves through the world. I have gotten great value out of her coaching and would recommend it to anyone. She is a natural.

I met Rachel when I went to one of her Retreatshops, it was amazing, gathering in a circle like that, sitting with Rachel – I knew that I wanted to work with her one-on-one. She has this beautiful, warm energy, it envelopes you so that you feel safe, cared for, protected. I leave each call with her feeling completely supported and loved.

As a coach, Rachel Cole is not only devilishly imaginative and eerily intuitive, but she’s got the balls to tell you exactly the way she sees it and she’s absolutely on target. Thank god for Rachel because I wouldn’t even consider working on the project I’m building now without her invaluable input. She is a treasured guide on the path of life; full of heart, humor and spirit. She’s the first coach I would recommend to anyone looking for one.

Ever walked into the wrong class on the first day of school? This is what my life felt like for a while before working with Rachel. I felt confused, anxious, misfitted and insecure about how I should act, live and be. She helped me access ease, a sense of purpose and the ability to “just be.” I felt securely wrapped in love because Rachel poured it into our consult. Rachel’s playfulness, intense wisdom and uplifting spirit lifted me into a place I had never been and was beyond grateful to reach.

I am always struck by Rachel’s wisdom and perspective, by how she is able to cut through clutter and make clear something I haven’t been able to see properly. Our conversations leave me with insights that resonate weeks and months later. There is no judgement, no bad feelings, just the comfort that someone else knows my hopes and goals and wants to help me get where I’m going.

Working with Rachel has been a game changer. She is inspirational, wise beyond her years, compassionate and the most loving person I know. With her help I have learned to love myself. The critical voices have softened. I have become more authentic. Rachel has been gently leading me down a path of acceptance, loving kindness and mindfulness that has restored my faith in others … and myself.

Rachel Cole is a powerhouse. A burst of bright, wise and soulful energy that can help any individual or business blossom. She is just the right combination of energetic, whip smart and highly creative– just the person you want as your ally.

In an incredibly short amount of time, Rachel was able to slice right to the heart of the issues I brought to the call together, and to provide me with some very concrete steps to take to begin resolving them and making some proactive decisions for moving forward. While there are never easy choices, Rachel helped me sort what’s in front of me into logical and manageable choices–it was an incredibly valuable experience and service she provided me. I would highly recommend her to anyone who is looking for concrete solutions to the problem of fulfilling one’s deepest hungers.

Rachel is someone who, upon meeting, makes you want to know both yourself and her better. She carries a quiet and steady confidence that pervades everything she does and it’s truly contagious. She has the ability to offer wisdom that will surprise you in exciting ways. When you’re in Rachel’s presence you feel encouraged to be authentic to yourself and passionate toward your vision. She is amazingly balanced and giving and I am blessed to know her.

Spending time working with Rachel is like spending time with an old friend. I knew from our initial coaching conversation that she was someone I could connect with. During our time working together Rachel listened intently, provided clarity (always with an added dose of kindness and understanding) and pushed me gently towards living a more fulfilled life. I was always impressed by her wisdom and creativity and the ability to guide me in the right direction. I am so thankful that our paths crossed and we had the opportunity to work together. I am forever changed because of it. Thank you Rachel, thank you.

Rachel is a powerhouse of creativity, insight and understanding. She has an incredible capacity for following her internal compass and I have watched her build amazing projects both personally and professionally. She is driven and compassionate, wise and insightful. I have no doubt that as a coach, her capacity to both empathize and meet people where they are and also challenge them to investigate more expansive visions for their lives will create profound growth experiences for her clients.

Rachel Cole is a kind, passionate human being full of wisdom beyond her years. When working with people, she has a special talent for listening, cutting through the clutter, and zeroing in on the absolute essence of what’s most important about your unique situation. And she won’t be afraid to lovingly and gently help you figure out what you need to do about it.

Rachel is uber-sharp and has an inner strength rare in women of her generation. I have to constantly remind myself that Rachel is young enough to be my daughter, because she is wise beyond her years. Add to this her steady integrity, brilliant sense of humor, and her unfaltering perseverance, and you have one amazing coach. If you are looking for someone to hold you on course, champion the greatest you, brainstorm remarkable solutions and do it all with an unusual combination of seriousness and fun, Rachel is your woman. Buckle your seatbelt!

Rachel’s insight and humor help cut through the excuses I tend to make to myself. She has a pointed yet gentle way of getting me to figure out what I need to do, and is always full of thought-provoking ideas and creative techniques to get me to see things a bit differently and move towards my goals more directly.

I stumbled upon Rachel’s work in a cosmic way and from that moment on it has been beautiful and stirring. I hadn’t worked with a coach before and wasn’t exactly sure what to expect in working with Rachel. She made me feel comfortable and heard from the very beginning. There was never an awkward “get to know you” stage, we fell into a beautiful groove and I am so extremely thankful for that. Rachel has a beautiful depth to her. She senses things that I don’t have to say. She isn’t afraid to ask me hard questions and still I know that she is rooting for my deeper truth because it’s her helping me to excavate it. Rachel shines through every call that I have with her. I get off the phone feeling as if I can take on the world and the beautiful thing is that she stirs me to carry that with me into every day. The assignments that she gives me are always right on and help me to continue in my truth seeking. I feel like I got lucky in finding her. Like she is one of the world’s best kept secrets. And I have a feeling that one day not too long from now I’ll be saying that I knew her when she was just beginning her coaching path. I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t benefit from working with Rachel, however if you are in a shifting period and sense yourself being called to something more and you have a longing for someone to cheer you on in that path, then Rachel is your girl.

Rachel is a remarkably insightful person, like she has an X-ray into your deep thoughts. But really, it’s because she’s a good listener. She’s intuitive. And she’s done THE WORK, so she usually has a very good idea where you head and heart are. And best of all, she’s a passionate visionary, and calls it like she sees it. She wants everyone to shine, and get out of their own ways, so listen to her wise words.

Every session I have had with Rachel is life shifting. I have gone from feeling like a stressed out basket case to grounded, centered and rebalanced. She always affirms and honors my feelings and helps me to discover my own truth about every situation. Rachel helps me to truly feel into my power and leaves me with hope that I can have the life of my dreams…simply by changing my outlook. Her wisdom and patience and listening leave me feeling truly heard and seen and met. I thank Rachel and her profound depth for changing my life.

The time I spent talking to Rachel got me started on the new business path that I’m on now, and led to several epiphanies both during & after our session. She’s totally effing brilliant, knows how to ask great questions, and is a great brainstorming partner to boot – highly recommended.

There are few people in this world who you will have the distinct privilege of meeting and who will impact you and your outlook on life in a deep and transformative way. This is Rachel Cole. It was almost a year ago where I had a one-hour heart-jamming session, and I can, to this day (and for many days to come), speak of the impact this meeting had on me. She talked about her inspiring career trajectory and the valuable life lessons learned along the way. One in particular that stuck for me was her take on choosing between paths that provided greater job security vs. personal fulfillment. With her think-outside-the-box approach, I left our session feeling so empowered and confident in my process of finding what it was I was truly hungry for. She is truly passionate with her work, and that passion is infectious and will melt into your heart like butter getting you all fired up and ready to go!

praise: events + creative projects

I love being in Rachel’s presence. She is wise, curious and, most of all, present. I always learn something from a conversation, video or live event with her – something valuable and beautiful. I would highly recommend learning with her – and I say “with her” because she is always open and learning herself – which is one reason she is wise!

The Retreatshop was a long overdue gift to myself. I ate up every last crumb, and left both satiated and wanting more. Rachel wove story with teaching in a loving and seamless container that enabled us to turn inward, and to work more deeply with our hungers. I loved the invitation to be in relationship with my hunger right now, whether or not I know how exactly to feed it. I left with a profound sense of self-trust that continues to deepen this new relationship I am in.

Rachel’s retreatshop was a sanctuary for my soul. A short but powerful time to be renewed and inspired. She is a wise woman who asks the questions your heart wants to answer.

Rachel has so many gifts she readily shared with group: she’s warm and welcoming and fantastically wise; she creates such a safe space in her retreatshops and gives us the space to really delve into the question “What are you TRULY hungry for?” And it’s not just that Rachel asks this question, in the Retreatshop you will learn tools to discovers your answer and a path to becoming a Well-Fed Woman!

Rachel rocked my world! I went in thinking “I already know all this stuff.” But she just dropped one awesome a-ha bomb after another. Her tender and honest insights are still fresh in my mind and it’s safe to say I’m a Rachel Cole lifer!

I was awakened by my experience at the Retreatshop. Rachel helped me discover hungers I didn’t know I had and that really was an eye opening experience. She has an amazing way of taking what you thought was your hunger and really boiling it down. With her calm demeanor and truly caring soul, the few hours that I spent at the Retreatshop will be something I’ll never forget. I am excited to take what I learned and feed all of my hungers.

If you are fortunate enough to be able to attend one of Rachel’s Retreatshops, don’t miss the opportunity! I found Rachel to have an ocean’s worth of hard-won experience on how to live a fully nourishing life in all types of our experiences. And, she exhibits the courage to walk the talk of that wisdom by her presence. Getting in touch with your unique inner wisdom of what you are truly hungry for can help steer you beyond confusion and indecision and into peace and confidence. What amazing compassion and insight can be found in sharing with a group of women ready to honor their true hungers!

Rachel has so much strength and wisdom and so generously brings this to her Retreatshop. So many of us have no idea what we’re truly hungry for and she helps us to tap this well easily and with grace and tenderness. The world needs more of this kind of work! It’s what we are hungry for!

I left the retreatshop in awe. What an experience to be in a relationship with my hungers. I’ll say it again: my hungers. It feels powerful to say that phrase because I had a chance to really connect with a group of amazing, brave, real women led by the graceful hunger-whisperer Rachel W. Cole herself. Rachel creates an experience that is pure magic and I am still quaking from the after effects.

Rachel Cole is an artist. In her Retreatshops, she creates a warm, safe, and inspiring space to explore your real hungers and share your authentic self. Her touch is expert, loving, and so keyed into just what is happening in that moment that little insights bloom into real revelations.

The Retreatshop is an open invitation to meet one of your hungers face-to-face. Rachel’s approach is kind, gentle-hearted and inquisitive. Her passion for her work and for women oozes out of her and it’s contagious! Never before I have felt so comfortable in a group of women I did not know and yet we shared the same curious heart. I am deeply grateful for this sweet time of reflection and connection.

Rachel quickly, kindly, and creepy-accurately helped me find the language and imagery for an inarticulate longing that’s been brewing for months. Who knew I needed a piggy-back from bear named Marge by the river? Days after the retreat-shop, I’m still frequently pausing to ask myself, “What am I truly hungry for?” It’s a gentle but powerful guide, just like Rachel.

Rachel created a bridge for me from a nebulous, semi-conscious hunger that I have to a visceral knowing of it. She gave me wonderful tools for honoring and feeding it, but more importantly, a framework for identifying and honoring my hungers in an ongoing way. Parts of me that have felt ignored or just plan unseen are feeling loved and hopeful and meaningfully connected to me because of Rachel’s work, and for that I’m deeply grateful.

Rachel Cole is nothing short of amazing. She is consistently the most inspiring person I know. despite her youthful appearance, she is something like 100 in soul years. Her loving advice and wild ideas have meant more to my life then I can possibly say in a paragraph. She also simply knows how to make things happen. Sometimes those things are organizing a fabulous event and sometimes those things are the dreams you have for yourself that need a gentle (or not so gentle) push to come true. I am amazed at how it all seems to come so naturally to her. It’s like breathing. No doubt, whomever gets to know Rachel or work with her benefits greatly.

Rachel’s efforts to bridge the chasm that separates food from community, art, and culture are noteworthy. She has inspired thousands of people throughout northern California with her forward-thinking, mindful, and impassioned projects, and I look forward to seeing the national impact of her innovative ideas.

Rachel Cole is one of those rare, tough women who knows what she wants and goes after it with tenacity, but never loses her heart in the process. She has a gift for putting shape and action around otherwise imperceptible notions and inarticulate ideas. She’s one of the most creative people I’ve ever met and also one of the most compassionate. In her presence you feel at-ease and comfortable while being inspired and energized at the same time.

At a ‘Rachel Cole Event’ you enter a space infused with intention, community and handcrafted style. The smallest details are given scrupulous attention so guests can ease into full participation. Rachel has the vision and organization to plan impeccable, original and inspiring events.

If you’re looking for someone who can take an idea and execute it, she’s top flight in this regard. I’ll also mention Rachel is a never-ending fountain of ideas, a truly great brain-stormer. She has an extensive network of contacts she could call upon, savviness in the online realm, and a genuine interest exploring the ways food can intersect community in a positive way.

After talking to Rachel about her creative projects, several things were evident to me:
: She gets an incredible amount of joy out of each
: Each one is the fruit of her own unique vision and creative inspiration
: She gets the ideas and then moves forward in making them a reality
: I could learn a thing or two from all this