The Reiki Brigade introduced reiki to veterans and active service members at the JBVA Stand Down. We gave. We received. We laughed. We cried. We left feeling purposeful and grateful. 

For years we have wanted to offer reiki to Chicago's Finest to help alleviate the constant stress associated with keeping us all safe. We finally received an invitation and were well received. Great day. 

In order to have numbers we could distribute, we conducted a program evaluation of 135 participants in the Jesse Brown VA volunteer reiki program. The results are amazing. 

In 2016 we offered nearly 1,600, 10-minute sessions within underserved populations and established institutions to raise awareness and availability of the benefits of reiki. Watch our recap video for the highlights of this record-breaking year!

Today's youth are our future. It was such an honor to help this group access reiki as a means of self-care and to share throughout their community. 

We've been looking for a way to make in-roads into the Chicago PD. As the Universe would have it, an opportunity came with the PD offering healing services to the community. 

Women veterans often encounter trauma as a result of combat, and abuse from men within their own units. It was an honor to offer Reiki throughout this service fair for our nation's heroes. 

As a means to expand the reach of Reiki, we foster ongoing practice with monthly practitioner shares. These events are educational, social, and healing. If you're a Reiki channel, we hope to see you soon!

Community groups in Evanston banded together to create an event to combat youth gun violence in their high-crime 5th Ward. We were happy to offer Reiki throughout the day. 

Offering Reiki in the atrium at the Thompson Center in Chicago's Loop enabled us to introduce more than 80 people to their energetic and spiritual nature. Great day!

We road-tripped out west to offer Reiki in the Hines VA service area. 

Stand Downs are service fairs for homeless veterans. They are excellent opportunities to offer Reiki sessions to vets in need and the VA community in general. 

Chicago's south side is notorious for crime in the streets. We are so excited to have the opportunity to connect with at-risk kids in this community and offer them Reiki. 

No sooner did we launch the Reiki Brigade in Chicago, than I was given an opportunity to take the show on the road. It was an honor to meet and work with like-minded Reiki practitioners at this popular Savannah, GA conference. 

Our dedicated group of Reiki volunteers gathered to celebrate our progress in 2015 and look ahead with anticipation of what's to come. 

The editors of Energy Magazine asked to republish my article, "Reiki and PTSD: Easing the Burdens of War." I’m so thrilled to be building bridges and sharing this information with a larger audience.