Favorite feedback: "Incredible! I felt something leaving my body.”

We’ve been offering Reiki at the Jesse Brown VA Stand Down since 2011, and it never gets old.

Favorite feedback: "This was the best program I’ve been to at NEIU.”

We’ve added Northeastern Illinois University to the list of institutions of higher learning we’ve introduced to Reiki. We were invited to give a Lunch & Learn presentation to the Chicago Cancer Health Equity Collaborative (CHEC) followed by Reiki sessions. The group is made up of students from Northwestern, U of C, NEIU, and various other Chicago colleges.

Favorite feedback: "Everything feels much better!”

What a treat to share Reiki with mental health professionals on the front lines of corporate wellness! These people speak our language. We connected with old friends from the CFD and 9-1-1 Call Center, and met folks from United Airlines, suburban hospitals, and Deloitte.

Favorite feedback: "Loved the experience!”

With suburban police departments just starting to incorporate wellness programs, we were thrilled to be invited out to Schaumburg to offer Reiki to officers and staff.

Favorite feedback: "I would love to do this on the regular.”

With final exams fast approaching, these brainiac grad students were feeling some stress. We were able to offer 30 of them Reiki, and they loved it. We loved their curiosity and great questions

Favorite feedback: "Amazing and much needed.”

It was a stressful day in this suburb 40 mins north of Chicago, and based on survey feedback, the 19 folks we worked on were very happy to receive a Reiki break in their workday.

Favorite feedback: "Free, amazing, cleansed. Very great experience. Will be back.”

We have wanted to support Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management & Communications (OEMC, or 9-1-1 Call Center) with Reiki for years. Thanks to our contact, Gwen, and support from the Rivers Gives Foundation, we were able to offer Reiki sessions to 26 of these folks who answer the call in times of crisis.

Favorite feedback: "Very relaxed and calm. I went to sleep, but now I feel more awakened.”

We were able to connect with the 6th District Community Policing group and offer our support as part of their Wellness Wednesday schedule. We love that officers are given wellness opportunities as part of their regular schedule and were happy to see so many officers take advantage of our services.

Student Feedback: "The way the course is taught with notes, stories, analogies, and humor make it very approachable and enjoyable.”

The Reiki Brigade offers a Level 1 Reiki class every few months. It can be taken in person or remotely via Zoom. Upon successful completion of the class, attendees embark on a journey of self discovery and healing, and are able to offer Reiki sessions to others and to themselves as an invaluable form of self care.

Favorite feedback: "I felt ‘stuff’ lifting up out and out of me every time you moved your hands. I feel amazing. Where can I find you again?'

More than 450 first responders from around the state—and beyond—gathered to explore ways to support the mental health of their departments. It was a fantastic event and we were thrilled to be invited. We kept hearing that people were hoping to return with more colleagues next year.

Favorite feedback: "I felt everything lift up and out.”

U of C’s prestigious Booth School of Business invited us out to take the edge off Recruitment interviews. It’s a stressful time for these accomplished grad students—their careers hinge on this first selection. Reiki was tremendously helpful for so many grateful participants.

Favorite feedback: “I wish I could feel this once per day.”

Reiki can be learned in a two-day class and practiced on the self as a form of self care, and those initiated into Reiki energy are encouraged to maintain a daily practice. So this wish is highly attainable.

Favorite feedback: “Amazing experience. Please come back.”

There was a lot going on at HQ Friday, as the Department prepared to memorialize Enrique Martinez, a 25 year old officer who was gunned down during a traffic stop. Also, adjacent to the room we were using for our Reiki sessions, dozens of detectives were being attending a three-day training in how to identify and handle hate crimes. All in all, a very rough time for the CPD.

Favorite feedback: “You Jesus? I feel anointed.”

Reiki is available to anyone of any faith, and some equate it to the laying on of hands Jesus was known for. This comment was made in jest, but the participant definitely felt better after his session.

Favorite feedback: “I feel like I released something.”

We store trauma in our bodies energetically, and Reiki can help move it out. People sometimes have a tangible sensation of movement and/or release as that happens, and feel much better afterwards.

Favorite feedback: “That was so great. I can’t stop smiling. Everything feels lighter and brighter.”

Who doesn’t want that?

It was a pleasure to return to Arrupe College, Loyola University’s sister institution, offering 2-year degrees. It was our sixth year sharing Reiki with students, faculty and staff, and some of them came to us with a lot of stress.

Favorite feedback: “Feel as if negative energy has been lifted. Where does it go?”

A favorite analogy for 'heavy' or 'dark' feeling energy is manure. It's very helpful when used in fields to help fertilize our crops and support our food supply, but we don't want it on our plates. If you're carrying around energy that is not serving you, Reiki can help get it off your plate and back to where it can do some good.

Favorite feedback: “That was crazy!”

People who experience Reiki for the first time can be amazed at how wonderful it can be. But it's not crazy. You know what's crazy? That more people don't know about the benefits of Reiki and have access to them. That's why I founded the Reiki Brigade, for maximum sanity all around.

This is a reboot of a program we did several years ago at the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, and it was great to be back. The staff was incredible, and we fielded several good questions from the youth while offering them Reiki sessions.

Favorite feedback: “When are you coming back? Can you come Friday?”

Our quarterly visit to the Police Academy was switched to the PSTC, where first responders receive their continuing education. We were stationed right outside the stairwell that had a sign directing people to the Taser Class. Talk about a study in contrasts!