We had the good fortune of connecting with Tory Saks and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tory, we’d love to start by asking you about lessons learned. Is there a lesson you can share with us?

This might be a little cliché but don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Being someone that has a tendency to want to wait until something is perfect or not make a mistake because its not “perfect”, this is a constant learning lesson for me. Throughout having not one but two businesses – I have come to the realization that it is ok to make mistakes because in those moments I was able to learn and grow for the better. The mistakes I made in my olive oil business (Aqua et Oleum) actually helped things come easier to me when I started my Reiki business (Tory Saks). My dad always reminds me that at least I tried if I’m hung up on what to do and either way it will be a learning lesson that will give me experience for what I need to tackle and move through next.

This isn’t to say that the growth process, isn’t filled with twists and turns, long nights, and moments when you just want to cry. I am someone that identifies and relates a lot to the phoenix rising from the ashes – transformation, rebirth and from a lot of these moments – both big and small it has helped shaped me into the businesswoman I am today and challenges me everyday to be and bring my best. I invite you to lean into what may be coming up for you – resistance wise and see what it is trying to tell you for you to evolve either your business or career. You may be surprised once you put yourself out there and move away from the fear into surrendering what is for you and what will come into your life. I know it has for me.

What should our readers know about your business?

I actually have two businesses! Tory Saks is my Reiki, energy work and lifestyle brand and products. The other is my olive oil company, Aqua et Oleum (meaning water and oil in Latin), where we import premium Spanish extra virgin olive oil from Extremadura, Spain and a portion of our sales goes to an Orphanage in Mexico.

Tory Saks originally started as blog, where I could teach people about ways to cook with Aqua et Oleum – my Spanish olive oil. I wanted people to know that it’s more than just dipping bread in olive – which is also fabulous – I’m not the food police over here! While I was creating the blog and website, I had gotten Reiki certified (I’ll come back to educating you on Reiki in a minute), and through practicing on friends and family I realized that this was something I was meant to help people with besides just putting this awesome healing power in the olive oil I import. It’s always funny because I remember telling my friends from Reiki Training that I decided to be a practitioner and they always laugh and say “well, yeah we already knew that you would Tory – you were the only one who didn’t see that at the time.” During my journey as a Reiki practitioner (and still now) I’m constantly listening to my friends and family about what their needs are and how I can help them which lead me to creating my guiding/consulting services and my products like my Reiki cards and collaborating on some of our kits like the space clearing one, etc. just to name a few products I have.

Reiki is considered alternative medicine that originally came from Japan and from Japan to Hawaii and then to the mainland United States. Reiki works in concert with conventional/traditional medicine as well. What I love is that there is no right or wrong way to work with the Reiki energy and it will not harm others. It is a type of energy work, I am working with someone’s energy to remove and release what is no longer serving them. I’m biased because I think everyone needs Reiki and could benefit from a Reiki session especially as our energy is always changing – meaning I am not the same person that I was five minutes ago, yesterday, last week, last month, etc.

Everything has energy and holds energy. This includes plants, people, crystals, food, cars, spaces, animals, etc. Energy is what supports life. High and/or low vibrations, positive and/or negative energy can easily become attracted to people, objects, and spaces; basically, anything that holds energy can become enhanced or inhibited depending on the energy that it encounters. At the end of the day we are all composed of energy and it is so easy for our energy to change based on our everyday lives and something as simple as running to the grocery store, which is why our space clearing kits are so powerful and it’s important to come in and get a Reiki session. I could talk about this all day!

If you enter a space or room and notice that you need to immediately get out or feel heaviness, confusion, get a pain in the body – that’s a sign that the energy there is not in alignment with you and a space clearing kit would really benefit you. If you are noticing this about yourself as you go through your day, then a Reiki session would be very beneficial. I do energy work and I still get my selfcare which includes Reiki once a month! I am passionate about educating people that they need to put their selfcare first and I firmly believe Reiki should be part of that conversation as you will see lasting benefits in other areas of your life.

The space clearing kits and other kits were created to help others create a welcoming environment for themselves in their everyday life and between sessions. I also realized that a lot of my friends and family had a lot of questions and needed their spaced cleansed because the energy wasn’t helping them. I didn’t realize how much information I had accumulated over the years. For example, our space clearing kits – have sage and palo santo, a selenite crystal, my space clearing Reiki card, Yvonne’s energy cleansing and raise the root energy sprays, and instructions to help you every step of the way. It’s amazing that you can purchase sage and/or palo santo but they don’t tell you how to use it! We also have a calming kit to help with anxiety, depression, and bring balance back into your life and our abundance manifestation kit.

I think you have gathered that I’m a little Reiki obsessed…(pretty much when I give a gift I’ve infused it with Reiki energy) so all of our products that we sell in the space/shop have been infused with Reiki goodness like our gemstone bracelets and massage oil. I have six (6) different Reiki cards that have the healing power of Reiki in them. This is a great way to get an energy boost or clear what is no longer is serving you. I love giving cards to others, so these are a great way to always have the healing power of Reiki on you. You can put these in your purse, car, house, etc. I have programmed the cards with Reiki for the life of the card, so you could use it once a day, week, hour, or month. As long as the card isn’t destroyed the healing power of Reiki will be unlocked. Be open and notice what comes into your life! My Reiki Cards include the Cord Cutting Card, Law of Attraction Card, Space Clearing, Love & Light Card, Human Body Clearing Card, and the Healing Card.

Each person has a different experience with Reiki as we are all unique individuals. Some of the benefits of Reiki include improved sleep, increased blood circulation/flow, improved mental clarity, decreased stress/anxiety/depression (overall low feelings and emotions), Reiki assists with pain relief and release; it also assists the recovery and healing process after a surgery. I am not a scientists, however, researchers have shown that Reiki treatments and sessions have helped other working with PTSD. I have found that after Reiki treatments and sessions people are able to make those necessary (potentially difficult) shifts in their life and flow. People have told me that their headaches have gone away. My tagline after all is “Clear your path to new beginnings!” and that is what I hope you achieve after a session with me. I can’t tell you specifically how this will manifest for you – I ask that you be open to receive and be open to the possibilities!

I also want to dispel a couple of myths. Myth #1 – Your chakras aren’t blocked! If they did you wouldn’t be alive – not to be morbid here but you just have debris on your chakras. Think of me like the pool cleaner/pool guy. I come in a clear out the debris over your chakras. Myth #2 Similar theme as Myth #1 – You don’t have energy! Again when you say I have no energy what you are really saying is that you have low energy. If you had no energy you wouldn’t be with us. You have low energy or your energy has been depleted and needs to be replenished! That’s my job – to be the conduit of the Reiki energy to help replenish and balance your energy and chakras back out so that you can lead a high vibrational life and be the awesome you that you are!

My Reiki sessions always include saging and palo santoing the auric and human body, cutting any cords, aligning the major and minor chakras and ultimately clearing what no longer serves you. As I mentioned I bring in a lot of tools to help me like crystals, essential oils, and flower essences. Each session like the person is different. I never know what I am going to do in a session – as a conduit, the Reiki energy tells me what I need to do or where I need to go to help a person. It’s become a very intuitive process and I just go with what comes up because that is what is ready to be released. The beauty of the evolution of technology is that the sessions can be administered in person or virtually via Zoom.

I’m also super excited to announce that in the future I will be expanding my services to include crystal healings as well – where the crystalline energy is unlocked to help an individual and the natural properties of that crystal or collection of crystals is evoked by utilizing the ancient technique of laying the stones on the body. I’ve been attracted to crystals for awhile – I remember when I was younger I would carry Tiger’s Eye and some other crystals around with me in a little pouch. Crystals are very powerful and have the power to help us along our path.

I’d also like to have a podcast in the future to educate and help others too!

My space where I give Reiki sessions also has a shop component and we offer other products to help people in their everyday life like our Reiki infused gemstone bracelets, candles with crystals, mala necklaces. I invite you to stop by or reach out for more information.

Besides partnering with my friend Yvonne Futch on some of Reiki products we also opened our space in April of this year where we wanted a space to help other build community and create lasting connections. We also wanted selfcare to be approachable. The 203 Uptown is an intimate space in a Victorian house. 203 is an Angel number that adds up to 5 for experiences – which we are all about and the numbers 20 and 3 are very powerful in numerology and The Law of Attraction. I work and help my clients work with the Law of Attraction to help them manifest and visualize the life they want and deserve. We are located in Uptown and we wanted people to know what area of town we are in.

The 203 Uptown is where I hold my crystal and Reiki services and sessions, sell my olive oil, and also sell my Reiki/energy products like my Reiki cards and space clearing kits. We also offer small, intimate classes from meditations, sound baths, and other offerings in between like Reiki Certifications, Breathwork, Tarot + Meditation, Yoga Nidra, and much more. I invite you to follow and check us out to see what we have going on that week or month from our very talented and approachable teachers.

My other business Aqua et Oleum which lead to the Tory Saks brand started as I was helping my business partner Joseph Shortell as he was talking about importing extra virgin olive oil from Spain as at that time he was in the process of converting an old olive oil mill into a boutique hotel and art gallery and event space. I was living in Spain at the time and with my marketing experience I was able to help him through the process. We used to joke that you can’t have an old olive oil mill and not import olive oil to the States.

When I moved back to Dallas, Texas in December 2020 after living in Spain for 15 months, we started Aqua et Oleum and the olive oil arrived soon after in January 2021. I like using car analogies – this is the Mercedes of olive oil. This extra virgin olive oil doesn’t come from where you would think in Spain like Barcelona (Cataluña) or Andalusia but Extremadura from Sierra de Gata only 30 minutes from the Portuguese border. This olive oil comes from 100% Manzanilla Cacerena olives that have come from the first cold press. This is not a blended olive oil and it is 100% extra virgin. I have literally seen them sort and then press the olive oil and that’s what’s in our bottles. Other olive oils (and I invite you to do a side by side comparison and blind taste test) may not be one pure olive in the bottle, may not be 100% extra virgin olive oil, may not be cold pressed (meaning no heat was used in the productions of the olive oil), and may not come from the first press – a lot of times the olive could go through additional presses to squeeze out every drop of olive oil or use the leftovers to create the olive oil you are ingesting.

I am one of those people that does view their body as a temple and your body does know the difference between a high quality product like our olive oil and something that has not been cared for and treated with respect. As I mentioned, I also believe that food can help heal your body, mind, and soul if you listen to it. I went holistic back in 2016 and I’ve never looked back. Don’t tell me that you haven’t noticed the difference when you have had a meal that was cooked with love and premium ingredients versus a meal where the ingredients were less than first rate and someone was in a bad mood cooking with them and slopped something together. There have been times where I have literally felt the emotions and feeling of the cook – just read about my food experience article!

Americans are just now experiencing and realizing the benefits of ingesting extra virgin olive oil. When I do a sampling a lot of times I have people take a shot of our olive oil. It’s recommended to take a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil once a day. I invite you to try it and notice the difference. Some of the amazing benefits that the Spanish has been benefiting from for hundreds of years include reducing high blood pressure, helps lower bad cholesterol, protects against diabetes, boosts your metabolism, boosts your hair and skin health, supports the healthy gut microbiome, it helps to support your liver function, it assists with balancing your blood sugar, it supports healthy brain and memory function, it is seen as an anti-inflammatory, and studies have shown that a high diet in quality extra virgin olive oil can reduce Alzheimer’s. Disclaimer here – I am not a doctor, scientist, etc., so I ask that you do your own research and if you have questions talk to a doctor, however, if you do a simple web search you will find what I just mentioned and more! And don’t forget I’ve added the powerful healing benefits of Reiki into too – because well I couldn’t resist.

I love drizzling it over meat and fish, making marinades and salad dressings with it. My mom makes her famous Rosemary olive oil sourdough bread with it, we’ve made delicious olive oil cakes (that you can also turn the batter into pancakes), salsa, socca, and everything in between. I invite you to have fun with it and create lasting connections and memories with family and friends because that’s not only the Spanish way but what I hope for all of you while enjoying our deliciously yummy olive oil.

If that wasn’t enough to entice you a portion of every purchase goes back to La Providencia Orphanage in Mexico helping the children there as Joseph and myself believe in giving back to others and this is just one way we can help. We also import a line of woodwork and ceramic handmade products from our artisans in Mexico. These products are handmade, unique, and one-of-a-kind. We are very global and love helping others! These products which make great gifts for yourself and family and friends can also be customized, personalized, and we also offer private labeling. I invite you to check out our website to learn more – shop.aquaetoleum.com.

Our mission is a threefold approach, bringing quality olive oil to the people of the United States so that they can feed their bodies with only the best, helping the people of Extremadura, Spain, a truly hidden gem of the country, and finally helping La Providencia Orphanage giving these children the resources, skills, and safety they otherwise wouldn’t have.

Life is a journey, filled with a lot of twists and turns. I have come to realize and this is what I firmly believe – that nothing is an accident and everything happens for a reason. My life has been very transformational and through my businesses I am constantly growing, evolving, and learning. I always have to remind myself that we don’t embark on a linear path (because I’m always looking at the fastest way to get to point B), however, it’s in the adventure from one place in our life to others that we learn, meet new people, and grow. Some of these stops along the way can actually take us towards a new goal and trajectory and that’s beautiful at the end of the day. I know it has been for me. The journey hasn’t always been easy or fun, however, it has never been boring. I always remember what someone once told me – the only way through is through and you won’t get to the other side if you don’t only have the experience but the knowledge and wisdom that keeps building to help you progress to the next adventure and challenge/obstacle.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

What a fun question!

I’m not sure this would be the exact order that we would do things – but here are so of the places that I would take them while visiting.

The Dallas Arboretum – for me this is a very healing and peaceful place – I go there at least once a week, mostly by myself, sometimes with family and friends. I love to go in the mornings and see all of the changes in the gardens and the hustle and bustle. Nature is very important and connecting with Mother Nature, especially at the Arboretum is really beautiful. I’m always saying I would spend a full day there and just be, read, walk around, etc.

Walking in Dallas – White Rock Lake and the Katy Trail – I love going on walks and looking around – these are just some of the places that I walk in Dallas – I love the different people you see when walking at both places and the change in scenery. At White Rock Lake I love to look at the lake and feel the sense of calm that the lake brings me. On the Katy Trail I like how you don’t necessarily feel like you are traveling over busy streets – you kind of feel like you are in a different time and place – my favorite stretch is from Knox/Henderson and Lemmon Ave area.

Tribal All Day Café and Bishop Arts – I absolutely love the different offerings at Tribal. I’m also a sucker for their Beet Latte. So good – they have a great vibe. I also like to walk around afterwards and go in the little shops and see what’s poppin in the neighborhood

La Duni – I have a Spanish soul, this is kind of a secret, even though I love Spain, I do have a preference for Latin food, I can’t tell you how many times I had Venezuelan/Latin food in Spain. Back to Dallas – I’ve been a fan of La Duni for years – their mixed drinks like Caipirinha (this takes me back to my time in Brazil) are so good. And the food – I always have a hard time choosing what I am going to have and if there is going to be yucca or plantains on my plate. Yum!

The Gem – their smoothies, a friend recently introduced me to this place and I’m always looking for excuses to go back.

Farmers Markets – I am a sucker for Farmer’s Markets, I always seem to happen upon them when I am out of town. I’d take friends/family to the various farmer’s markets in town like the one in Downtown or White Rock market – those are my favorites. I love talking to the farmers and learning about what they are going and then taking whatever I buy home and cooking with it.

S&D Oyster Company – this is a favorite for me and I have so many childhood memories from going there growing up. Actually, my dad and I would go to the farmer’s markets and then we would end the adventure here at S&D. We would share gumbo and the shrimp salad and then I’d usually get the fried shrimp and make it into a po’boy sandwich. Yummy! Everything there is good and the people have a heart of gold

The 6th Floor Museum – We always took family and friends here – you can’t come to Dallas and not go here! It’s kind of a must

La La Land Kind Café – I love this place – I’m not a coffee drinker anymore but I not only love what they stand for but also who doesn’t love the sayings on the cups and how you feel – uplifted after looking at them.

Ascension – Their breakfast is yummy!

Tex-Mex – if someone comes to visit, of course I am going to take them for some good ‘ole Mexican food. What kind of Texan would I be.

The Meadows Museum – I love stopping by and seeing what exhibits they have. They have such an array of art and it helps connect me with my Spanish soul.

West End Square – I love going to Amanda Cristina’s salsa classes – if there’s a class during their visit we would go here – they are usually in the West End or in Dallas and they are so much fun!

The Eye – who doesn’t want to take a picture and see this up close!

Saint Ann and The Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Museum – I went here for brunch one time, knew about the museum but had never been up to see it until some friends wanted to go. It was so much fun and I didn’t realize how large of a collection the museum had – it is one of the largest collections outside of Japan – often referred to as the Samurai Collection

Flower Child – so I’m kind of a sucker for this place…

C Rolls – this place is in North Dallas, but they have some of the best sushi. I absolutely love the Frankford roll

High Tea is a big deal in my Family – depending on who was in town I’d take them to Tea at the Adolphus or the Joule – both are great and I’ve been a lot!

The Noodle Lady – we’d get Vietnamese Food delivered wherever we were from The Noodle Lady – it’s that good!

Tapas at Barcelona Wine Bar – I love eating Tapas style and who doesn’t want to be transported to Spain – add some of my olive oil and we are good to go!

Shopping – Highland Park Village and the original Neiman Marcus – these are just some of my favorite places to walk around and see what’s new in the windows. Growing up we would always go look at the Neiman Marcus windows around the holidays.

The 203 Uptown – I’d totally take them to see my space and even take them to a class depending on what we have going on during their visit. I’m proud and would love to show off what Yvonne and I have created.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

Gosh there have been so many people that have helped me throughout my growth process and continue to support and lift me up everyday. You know that saying – it takes a village, well it really does – at least for me! From family and friends – without their love, support, connections, etc. my business and I wouldn’t be growing and I wouldn’t have had the strength to follow my heart and start my businesses.

My parents have constantly supported me throughout my life. I’m lucky to have them constantly in my corner even if the path that I took isn’t the one that they would have picked for me or at times they aren’t 100% sure what I do for a living. Especially with my Reiki/Crystal business what I do is in the gray area at times, not always black and white. I always say – you have to experience it and then it’s not so difficult to understand. My mom was the one after all who urged me to move to Spain when I needed a change from my marketing career and if it wasn’t for that I’m not sure I would have come back importing Spanish olive oil from Extremadura, Spain. I’m a firm believer that things happen for a reason and in the moment/timing they are meant to. I’m fortunate that my parents constantly are teaching me lessons about life and we have that relationship where I can come to them and I know that they are great sounding boards for me. Sometimes we don’t always agree on things, however, they always give me another perspective to view things from and it makes me take a step back and view the situation from a different point of view.

The other person who has been really influential in both my personal and professional life is my friend/Reiki Master – Yvonne Futch. I was fortunate to meet Yvonne back in 2017 and had my first Reiki session when we met at an Ayurvedic/Yoga Retreat in Tulum, Mexico. It’s always funny to look back at life and see how something as small as taking a chance on this thing called Reiki and just try it out in that little room on the beach has spiraled into who I am now. You could say meeting Yvonne was quite a pivotal moment in my life. Since that first Reiki session, I’ve received a Reiki session almost every month, I’ve gone through Reiki training with Yvonne, we have opened a space up together – The 203 Uptown off of McKinney Ave. in Uptown, Dallas, TX (a place to create connections, be your authentic self, and have unique experiences through our classes and workshops), and she has been someone who constantly supports me, gives me advice, and tough love. Yvonne always tells me straight up what she thinks – she doesn’t hold anything back, and she has become like family to me. I feel very blessed to have her in my life. 

Life is a journey, we are human begins meant to make connections and cultivate relationships in our lives. I am so thankful and grateful to have these people in my life, I am always learning something from someone who has come into my life for a chapter, season, or an extended period of time.

Website: www.torysaks.com and shop.aquaetoleum.com

Instagram: @torysaks and @aquaetoleumoliveoil

Image Credits
Emma Scharping // Emma Leigh Studios

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