Bill Stevens, cfc  Reiki Jin Kei Do Master

ABOUT BILL STEVENS:

Bill Stevens is a member of the Congregation of Christian Brothers and taught in their High Schools for 25 years in Victoria, BC; Manhattan; Dominica in the West Indies; New York State; Newark, NJ; and Boston MA.  In 1980 he  trained to be a hospital chaplain at the Hospital of St. Raphael in New Haven, CT. and then worked at two different hospitals in Syracuse, NY before becoming Director of Pastoral Care at St. Peter's Medical Center in New Brunswick, NJ.  When the AIDS epidemic broke out, Bill became Director of a Pastoral Care Program for people living with HIV/AIDS for the Diocese of Metuchen  for five years. He then felt drawn to establish a non-profit organization called Chrysalis Ministry which included pastoral visiting, massage and Reiki treatments, and the creation of retreat programs open to all.  The retreat programs created a safe space for people with HIV/AIDS to come together and share their story, receive support, and discover their own spiritual strengths, whatever that was for them.

     Bill has trained with four Reiki Masters during the past twelve years.    His initial first degree attunement was from Penny Gnesin in the Takata tradition and his second degree attunement from Leslie Mondul from the Reiki Plus Institute.  He then completed a 300 hour Reiki Healing Hands Program, including Reiki Jin Kei Do first and second degree and the Buddho-Enersense Levels l and 2, with Reiki Jin Kei Do  and Buddho-Enersense Master, Kunzang Dechen Chodron.  This was followed by a year apprenticeship with his teacher, Gilbert Gallego, to complete requirements in becoming a Reiki Jin Kei Do Master.

     Bill is now focusing his efforts to teach Reiki to those who have a chronic or life threatening illness. It is becoming more and more common for people with HIV or Cancer or other life threatening illnesses to integrate Reiki into their conventional care, with or without the knowledge of their physician.  It has been effective especially for those using invasive conventional treatments or pharmaceuticals with strong side effects.  Since Reiki treats people and not disease, it can be useful for anyone.

     Reiki is just as effective in self treatment as when it is received from another person.  Therefore  it can be very helpful for a person with a chronic illness to learn Reiki for themselves.  The more people in the family unit who actively engage in this healing practice, the better the results.  Consequently it is beneficial for family caregivers to learn Reiki as well - not only for themselves but for their loved ones.

     This obviously can be expanded to include health care professionals - physicians, nurses, physical therapists, counselors, etc. It is not only a very beneficial way to care for oneself but also a wonderful way TO BE  with another person and  help them to reduce their stress level and activate the healing response within.  This is especially true when there is nothing more medical science can do
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