Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Rabenstein

Hi Jennifer, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?

When I found out I was losing my eyesight to a disease called Stargardts, it prompted me to evaluate a lot of things in my life. I looked at how I would raise my family, how I would do everyday things, and how I would continue to work.

I started focusing on myself, things I enjoyed, and things that helped me. I was experiencing the benefits of Reiki healing sessions and therefore worked at becoming a Reiki Master-Teacher under Rickie Freeman of ReikiSpace. I enjoyed the movement and meditative states of yoga and so went through training at Red Head Yoga to be a yoga instructor. I’ve felt the impact of having foot work done and so went to The Valley School of Healing Arts to become a certified reflexologist. I traveled through journeys under the influence of sound healing and so I trained and practiced becoming a sound healing practitioner through Lana Ryder of Soundwise Health. I found guidance in journeys to non-ordinary worlds, so I practiced and trained to be a Shamanic practitioner through the Foundation of Shamanic Studies. I love art and so dabbled and experimented until I was creating meaningful pieces and then also sharing the experience for others through classes. This list went on and on including other areas such as animal Reiki/communication, Priestess initiation, life purpose coaching, ayurvedic nutrition, crystal healing, art/color therapy, body love, women’s circle training, kundalini yoga, tai chi instructing, natural henna artist recognition, sacred death care, and more. I took everything I experienced and learned and lovingly tucked in my own version of a toolbox. This toolbox is what I have to pull from when I work with other people (or myself).

I do my work in various ways. I work with clients privately for sessions which can include a blend of energy work, body work, yoga, or even art. I lead events for private groups or public workshops/experiences. I also enjoy running women’s retreats which is a combination of holding safe and supportive space for women while pulling tools out of my toolbox (and knowing when to call in others who have other tools to bring to the mix).

The “work” I do doesn’t feel like work, it feels like me. It varies with the day of the week, the season of the year, and the needs of myself and others.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?

I have had more than my share of challenges along the way, and I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way (ok, maybe some breaks along the way would have been nice)!

Not only was I raising children with my husband as I sought out my path, but we had two sets of twins within 3 years of each other, all of which we have homeschooled for the past 7 years.

My declining eyesight has been another challenge. Not driving made many things difficult and slower to come about. I also had to find ways to adapt…by adding lights, bringing in magnifiers, training with a blind cane, and other techniques to find ways to keep doing what I want to do.

My health has had its resemblance to roller coaster rides. As a hypermobile person, the way my body moves can seem like an advantage at times, but then those same characteristics work against me at others. In and out of surgeries, physical therapy, life with regular pain are all players in extra challenges I have had.

The last challenge I face is time. Since I branch into so many directions it is a lot to learn, to keep up on, to focus on, all meaning…requiring time. Raising a family, homeschooling our kids, running a house, running a business (accounting, marketing, social media, licenses, booking, doing…), seeing clients, teaching classes, running events, and more. I also volunteer time to our Dillsburg Arts and Revitalization Council where I focus on bringing artists of all experiences together and closer to the community and helping to get our Cultural Art Center up and running.

My family has been my biggest support. They have made their own sacrifices and have put in intentional effort towards helping me do the things I’m doing.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

Not another single person does what I do, because what I do is a creative mix of things as unique as I am myself. I am a Reiki Master/Teacher, a sound healing practitioner, a certified reflexologist, a shamanic healer, a Mystic Priestess, a spiritual guide, an intuitive healer, a henna artist, a stained-glass artist, a painter, a yoga teacher, a tai chi instructor, a womans group facilitator, and, and, and… I have been told before that I am “A jack of all trades and a master of none.” This used to be something even I felt insecure of, though somewhere deep inside it is still what I wanted to do. Then I found out the missing part of that very quote that brought me down, “A jack of all trades and a master of none is better than being a master of one.” I am proud of the variety of things that I do, it allows me to have more options to offer people and blend things in creative and unique ways to meet each person where they are at.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?

I feel that imaginative optimism has been a characteristic contributing to my success. I may not have always felt things I chose to pursue were practical or realistic, but having a wild imagination mixed with optimism has gotten me a long way, perhaps with the assistance of some stubborn characteristics!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.spiritualheartsllc.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpiritualHeArtsLLC