Who knew that this would be the hardest page of all to write, given my expertise on the subject material?  I'll come back to that thought but first: I am an avid reader who loves dogs and cats and other furry creatures. I love long walks. I am fascinated by the human mind and what motivates us to do the things we do. I have a background in harm reduction-based addiction counselling using motivational interviewing techniques and have facilitated/co-facilitated many addiction-related support groups and a spiritual transition group. 

 

I am a Registered Practitioner with the Canadian Reiki Association and am currently working toward my Usui Reiki Master Teacher certification.

 

I am volunteer healer with the Distant Healing Network and hope to begin offering a monthly Reiki Clinic at West Hill United Church in the New Year.

 

Now, as promised above... 

 

...The truth is, that lack of self-knowledge, that lack of knowing "This is who I am and this is what I believe" has been with me for most, if not all, of my 40+ years. 

 

It is what led me to Reiki and "The Reiki Path" that I am so grateful to walk each day.

 

I first experienced that tingly, warm, buttery feeling - a feeling which I now recognize as "ki" - in my hands during a Capacitar workshop at West Hill United Church in Scarborough in 2007.  Our facilitator was a Reiki practitioner and she was leading us through an exercise during which we created an energy ball between our hands. It was a feeling that I was skeptical about at the time and tempted to ignore or, at the very least, chalk up to the power of suggestion.

 

I couldn't ignore it, though, because it kept coming back each time I thought about the experience in the WHUC lounge and the people gathered there with me that night.  There was a connection.  A connection with each other to be sure, but there was something else, something universal, that I couldn't put my finger on, couldn't name.

 

I had to know more. I took Reiki Level 1 at Transense Healing Arts Studio in Toronto.  I began to meditate - in 30 second increments at first - and ponder the Reiki Precepts each day, as we are taught to do in Reiki 1.  I continued to study Reiki, both formally and informally.

 

My life began to change. I began to feel more grounded.  More peaceful.  Blessed with self-knowledge and the courage to express it.  Most days, anyway, and on my off days I now have tools that help me get through the day.  I can reflect on the Precepts.  I can do a self-treatment and let the healing energy bring me back into balance.  I can just be still.

 

Perhaps most importantly, I now have a dream and a sense of purpose, and that is to see "The Reiki Path" easily accessible to all who wish to walk it and the system of Reiki so widely practiced that there will be a Reiki Practitioner in every family.

 

An About Me page wouldn't be complete without mention of my wonderful life partner, Vito, my stepdaughter, Andrea, and our little Shih Tzu bundles of love, Smokey and Shadow.  That I have left mention of them until now simply means that everything that I do, everything that I am, flows from their constant, unconditionally loving and supportive presence beside me as I walk this path.

 

Namaste.