From exorcising ghosts in billionaire mansions to offering brain workouts for tycoons, Emily McBurnie has carved out an unusual niche in the booming wellness economy. The Australian-born psychic, yoga teacher, and trauma specialist is one of the most sought-after consultants among India’s ultra-wealthy—and her reach now extends to the Middle East, the U.S., and the U.K.
In a recent feature by The Times UK, McBurnie shared insights into the rarefied world of her billionaire clients—many of whom already employ teams of chefs, stylists, and even “pillow fluffers” or “watch winders.” But beyond the lavish eccentricities lies a deeper desire: to achieve not just health, but spiritual clarity and longevity.
McBurnie, 50, offers a hybrid of spiritual guidance, meditation, and lifestyle consultancy. Her services are typically shrouded in confidentiality, but she spoke candidly to The Times from Dubai, where she was meeting a member of Middle Eastern royalty. She described moments such as being flown by private jet to cleanse a haunted home, or advising a Delhi politician’s wife who demanded a doily-draped silver tray just to set down her Hermès Birkin bag.
Her global clientele includes pop stars, CEOs, and American politicians. Many are driven not by glamour but by a growing obsession with biohacking their bodies and brains—testing biomarkers, rejecting entire food groups, and attempting to rewind their biological clocks.
“It’s about being chronologically 65 but biologically 50,” McBurnie explained. “Longevity is the new obsession. It’s sleep, food, your kidney markers, dewy skin, shining hair. Straying from the strict rules is seen as weakness.”
Yet, for all their wealth, these clients face very human challenges. McBurnie, who trained under renowned trauma expert Dr. Gabor Maté—the same physician who famously diagnosed Prince Harry on air—often finds herself untangling deep family dysfunction. Overbearing in-laws, entitled children, and disillusioned spouses are frequent themes. “I could write a book on mother-in-laws alone,” she said.
Her spiritual journey began in the Australian outback after a near-death experience at age three. She claims it awakened psychic abilities that eventually guided her into the world of wellness. Since moving to India in 2016 to work with a billionaire’s daughter, she has become a discreet but powerful figure among the country’s expanding elite. India now boasts 284 dollar billionaires, up from 187 last year, according to estimates cited in The Times.
Despite her celebrity clientele and global travel, McBurnie’s personal life is simple. She lives in Delhi with her Indian partner, a doctor, and their Persian cats. She owns no car, no handbag, and avoids makeup. “I try to live like a yogi,” she said.
Her advice for the stressed-out wealthy is surprisingly straightforward: “Sleep well, get out into nature, take a walk, and drink water.”
As wellness becomes ever more commodified, McBurnie’s grounded approach—and her unfiltered honesty—remain her greatest currency. “Billionaires never hear the truth,” she told The Times. “With me, they know they will.”
