We all do.

As a child, I knew I was different. Looking back now, I don’t think I realised just how different. At that time, we did not have today’s exploration or common understanding and acceptance of neurodiversity, emotional intelligence, spiritual ancestry, and informed choice. For me, being young meant being ‘seen and not heard’, achieving A grades for fear of punishment, and forming ingrained beliefs about life and myself that arose from being surrounded with alcoholism, abuse, toxic relationship breakdowns, loneliness, social misunderstanding, lack of communication, terror, and having to grow up much too quickly. I have little memory of my childhood, as I had built an impenetrable wall of protection against any mental or bodily memory of those years. In this way, I know I eradicated many of the positive memories too.

My teenage years were spent waiting for the moment I could escape, physically and metaphorically. Perhaps unsurprisingly this led to me leaving home at a young age and dropping out of higher education. I chose to forge a career path from scratch, developed my passion for travel, music, dance, my friends, my space, and in time, my spirituality.  I knew that there had to be more to life, and I wasn’t going to wait to find out what it was.

However, this led to years of physical and mental health challenges, self-abuse, damaging belief systems, abusive and failed relationships, deep rooted trauma and an adrenaline-fuelled existence to avoid feeling or facing the pain. I learned to fully live in my masculine energy that helped me to survive, strive and achieve, but completely ignored the feminine energy within and the essential nature of rest, balance, nurture and nourishment.

Having worked my way up to the position of a Director of Market Planning for a global financial management company at the age of 28, I awoke one day in the late 90’s in my flat in Hell’s Kitchen, New York, with an overwhelming sense that something had to change. That was the turning point for me. That was the moment I first surrendered to the realisation that I was deeply unhappy. And that was when Reiki arrived.

Like all healing paths, this awakening didn’t bring an instant ‘fix’. I now know that no such thing exists, and that this concept, like so many other of our misplaced beliefs, comes from a projected societal, cultural, patriarchal belief that we need to shut up, sort ourselves out, and get on with it. The healing path however is not linear, but cyclical, and our triggers and wounding are part of our growth. It is not about eradication but learning to listen, to be kind to ourselves, to have compassion, to find our choice, strength, courage, trust and most importantly, to be able to stay present and ask for support.  

For me, this support came (and still comes) from some incredible individuals that I am privileged to have (and learn from) in my life. But also, from cultivating a relationship with my higher consciousness, inner-knowing, authentic self, my body’s wisdom, my connection to Ki (chi or prana) and in forging a path of self-love, self-mastery and ultimately service to others.  

I am grateful for the experience and learning of my earlier career in the corporate environment both in London & New York.  My training in Human Resources provided me with a recognised structure to develop my natural ability to ‘see’ and empower the potential in people.  As part of the management team and later in roles supporting senior Executives, I was able to experience the pressures of business from all levels of an organisation and the impact this has on its people and therefore ultimately, its bottom-line.  This experience enables me to now assist others to face the unspoken challenges met within businesses, whether small or large.  To help find language, tools and solutions to support performance, resilience and the holistic wellbeing of staff and the core business.  

Looking back, one of the great joys on my path was working in creative, music, event (MTV, EMAs, Brits) and tour management (Bat for Lashes, Radiohead, Coldplay). This is where I had the opportunity to utilise my management skills, indulge my passion for music and travel, and support artists (and crew) to express their truth and tap into their potential while staying rooted on the earth. Now, as then, I feel creative strength lies in the balance between high vibrational work and grounded action.  I understand the demands of the industry, whether on the road, on set or in stadium and am so delighted to now be able to offer wellbeing support for the Creative Industries from a place of authenticity and genuine love of the arts.  

After the birth of my son, it was perhaps inevitable that my path would change again.  Having had a challenging pregnancy and traumatic birth, my guidance was led to the creation of Reiki Rascals and ultimately the birth of my Reiki school, Devon School of Reiki.  Established in 2012 and recently relaunched and rehomed, the School and its incredible team continues to guide individuals on their Reiki journey of self-discovery and personal growth.

Today, my work has again naturally evolved, guiding me towards offerings of deeper self-mastery, soul work, creativity and wellness.  Led by experience and anchored in trust.  Whether I’m working with performers backstage, children in schools, private clients, or organisations, the goal is the same. When we are healed, balanced, connected to our own universal power and individual gifts, we may express our truest self and highest potential.  

I’ve spent the past 25 years dedicated to my own healing journey and conscious decision to raise my vibration.  I know this to be a lifelong journey.  Through the study and practice of Reiki, mindfulness, breathwork, bodywork, shamanic practice, spiritual connection and consciousness, sound, crystals, cognitive therapy, emotional intelligence, sisterhood, Wicca and more; I continue to embrace my true nature in all its dimensions, so that I may be able to fully serve others to help them find empowerment and truth, and to lead lives of passion and purpose, as I do.