ABOUT RINA
I first encountered Reiki through the Sisters of Mercy over twenty years ago. I had completed a year of service at a shelter for women and children in Philadelphia as part of Mercy Volunteer Corps. My interest in issues related to social justice and spirituality led me to journey with the Mercys for a time as a "candidate" (aka I spent time in vocation discernment and entered the community with the intention of possibly becoming a Sister). One of my experiences during this time was at Siloam Ministries in Philadelphia, where Reiki was one of several alternative therapies offered to people living with HIV/AIDS. This was my introduction to the concept of treating "the whole person...not just the illness."
Although I discerned that religious life was not the path for me, my interest in spirituality remained and expanded to include wellness, especially the connections between mind, body, and spirit. My husband and I dealt with several miscarriages on the way to having two healthy daughters. Reiki was one of the alternative therapies that I used not only for physical wellness, but to cope with the grief and confusion that come with pregnancy loss.
As I raised my children, I knew that I wanted to go deeper into the study of Reiki and to begin practicing more on myself and others. I completed Reiki Level 1 with Lianda Swain and then attended The Reiki School and Clinic in Philadelphia in 2016 for Reiki Level 2. I plan to complete the Master Level training with Patty Lachman and Eileen Curry in August 2020. I see clients privately and also work with a wonderful organization called Unite for Her, which provides Reiki and other holistic services to women dealing with breast and ovarian cancer.
I love to offer Reiki to people of all backgrounds and faiths. It is non denominational, not dogmatic, yet still spiritual in nature. My sessions include some conversations about where the client is in their life and how they are feeling, the time on the table or in a chair receiving Reiki, and time left at the conclusion to process and share feedback. I have also begun to study sound/vibrational therapy and hope to incorporate different modalities into my practice. My deepest hope and biggest goal is that anyone who comes to me for reiki receives even a glimpse of the radical freedom and love that is there for them at the heart of the universe.
Covid 19 Updates as of February 2022: I am fully vaccinated and boosted. I will wear a mask if you prefer but will not require clients to do so at this point. Please visit the About Reiki section on my site to learn more about my beliefs and practices in light of what I consider to be miseducation and bad practice in the so-called wellness industry in recent months.
