We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rebecca Weinstein Reiki Master Practitioner a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Rebecca Weinstein, thanks for joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

There was a moment in my life when I stood at the edge of the unknown, staring into a future that felt both terrifying and exhilarating. I had built a successful career, one that by all external measures seemed fulfilling. But deep inside, I felt an undeniable restlessness. It was as if a quiet voice had been whispering to me for years, nudging me toward something greater, something more aligned with my true purpose. The only problem? I had no idea what that was.

Reiki had once been a part of my life. Nearly 20 years ago, I had studied it, felt its warmth, and experienced its profound ability to heal. But at the time, I wasn’t ready. Life pulled me in another direction, one that seemed more practical, more structured—one that fit the expectations I had placed upon myself. I poured myself into a career, built a name for myself, and followed the path I thought I was supposed to take. And yet, there was a quiet knowing that something was missing.

Then, life forced me to listen. One night I fell and horrifically broke my arm. The break required me to have surgery and in an instant, everything stopped. The pain was excruciating, but the forced stillness that followed was even more confronting. For the first time in years, I had no choice but to pause. To sit in my discomfort. To reflect. And as I did, I realized that this moment—this painful, unexpected moment—was a gift. It stripped away the noise, the obligations, the expectations, and left me with the one truth I had long been avoiding: I was meant for something different.

Walking away from a stable career wasn’t an easy decision. I had invested years into my work, built a reputation, and found comfort in the predictability of it all. But that comfort had begun to feel like a cage. The more I tried to ignore the inner calling, the louder it became. I couldn’t ignore it any longer. Without a mapped-out plan or a clear vision of what was next, I took the leap. I left behind the familiar and stepped into the vast unknown.

At first, the uncertainty was overwhelming to me. I had no blueprint, no guarantees, only faith that something greater awaited me. Instead of rushing to fill the void, I did something that felt counterintuitive—I surrendered. I allowed myself the space to tune in, to be still, to trust. I let go of the belief that I needed to immediately know what came next. And in that openness, something magical happened.

Reiki found me—again.

It was as if the universe had been waiting for me to make space for what had been meant for me all along. The moment I stopped searching frantically and instead allowed myself to receive, synchronicities began to appear. I met mentors and teachers who seemed to arrive at just the right time. Books, conversations, and experiences aligned in ways that felt too perfect to be coincidence. Looking back, I can see that Reiki had never truly left me—it had been patiently waiting, like an old friend, ready to welcome me home.

As I embraced Reiki again, I knew with absolute certainty that this was the path I was meant to walk. The fulfillment I had long searched for in my previous career finally found me. And more than that, I discovered the deepest joy of all—helping others. Watching people release pain, guiding them toward a sense of peace they never thought possible, witnessing their transformations—it fills me in a way I never knew a career could. Every session, every person I work with, is a reminder that I made the right choice.

What once felt like a terrifying risk had transformed into the most rewarding decision of my life. Taking that leap into the unknown was never about abandoning something—it was about stepping toward my true purpose.

Sometimes, the greatest risks we take are not the ones that come with a calculated plan, but the ones that require us to trust in something greater than ourselves. And in that trust, we find exactly what we were meant to do all along.

Rebecca Weinstein, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m Rebecca Weinstein, a Reiki Master, Energy Practitioner, and Certified Spiritual Life Coach based in Katonah, NY. My journey into the healing arts wasn’t a straight path—it was one of twists, turns, and profound self-discovery.

I first encountered Reiki during one of the most challenging times of my life—the birth of my first child. He arrived prematurely, and we found ourselves in a 10-week roller coaster of survival in the NICU. It was an overwhelming time, filled with uncertainty and fear, but something extraordinary happened. The hospital’s integrative wellness team introduced me to Reiki, offering energy healing to both my son and me. In those quiet moments, amidst the beeping machines and long nights, I felt a deep sense of peace and connection. Reiki became a source of comfort, in the darkest time. It helped us both through that journey, and it planted a seed within me—one I wouldn’t fully recognize until years later.

At that stage in my life, I chose a different career path, moving into a structured and seemingly secure profession. But despite my success, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. After years of chasing what I thought I was supposed to do, life intervened once again. A life-altering injury forced me to slow down and listen. In that stillness, Reiki found me again—this time, ready to embrace it fully. I surrendered to the calling, followed the synchronicities, and allowed myself to be guided back to the work I was always meant to do.

Today, my journey has come full circle. I am honored to be part of the integrative wellness team at that very same hospital, offering Reiki to staff. Giving back to the place where my own healing journey began is one of the most meaningful aspects of my work. It’s a reminder of how powerful Reiki can be—not just in times of crisis, but as a lasting source of balance and healing.

In my private practice, I offer Reiki healing sessions, meditation training, and spiritual coaching, helping people release stress, anxiety, and physical discomfort while reconnecting with their inner peace. My practice is deeply intuitive, and no two sessions are alike—I tailor every experience to the individual, ensuring they feel seen, heard, and supported. I also work with animals, integrate Reiki into wellness circles for cancer patients, and collaborate with professional teams to bring balance into high-stress environments.

What sets my work apart is the heart and creativity I bring to every session. My background in the arts infuses my healing practice in ways that are both subtle and profound—from the aesthetics of my healing space to the way I guide meditations and execute my events, every detail is designed to create a nurturing experience.

I am most proud of the impact my work has on others. Seeing my clients find relief, gain clarity, and reconnect with their own inner strength is the greatest reward. Healing is a personal journey, and I feel honored to walk alongside those who choose to take it with me.

Reiki has changed my life in ways I never imagined, and it’s my greatest joy to share that experience with others.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the greatest lessons I had to unlearn was the need for control. For much of my life, I thrived on structure. I was detail-oriented, task-driven, always looking ahead to the next milestone. I measured success by how much I accomplished, how neatly things fell into place. I believed that if I just tried harder, if I just did more, I could shape the outcome of my success.

Stepping fully into my path as a Reiki practitioner required me to unravel that way of being. Reiki is not about force or control, it’s about flow, trust, and presence. It’s about releasing attachment to outcomes and allowing the energy to go where it is needed, in its own way, in its own time. To embrace this work, I had to embrace a new way of living.

I had to learn to let go.

In the beginning, I struggled with imposter syndrome, questioning whether I was “doing enough,” wanting to believe that my effort could dictate the results. But Reiki doesn’t work that way. It gently teaches you that healing is not something to be controlled; it’s something to be received. My role is not to fix, force, or direct, it’s simply to hold space, to be a clear and open channel. The more I surrendered, the more I witnessed the profound effects of Reiki unfolding exactly as it was meant to.

Living by Reiki’s principles—just for today, do not worry; just for today, do not anger; just for today, be grateful—has been a practice in itself. It calls me to be present, to trust, to live in the now. And while I have come a long way, I am not perfect. None of us are. The journey of letting go is not a destination, it’s an ongoing evolution, one that constantly challenges me to grow, to deepen, to surrender a little more each day and because of this I have found more peace, more meaning, and more trust in myself than I ever thought possible.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Building my clientele hasn’t followed a traditional formula, instead it’s been about connecting with people, sharing my love for Reiki and this way of living, and allowing those connections to naturally unfold. One of the most effective strategies I’ve found is simply getting involved in my community—whether through workshops, healing circles, or even casual conversations in unexpected places (sometimes even while standing in line at the grocery store!). People need to trust and resonate with you, and I’ve found that just being myself has made all the difference.

Social media is constantly buzzing with the pressure to promote, sell, and hustle, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. In the wellness space especially, there’s an underlying expectation to keep adding new modalities, chasing the latest trends, and keeping up with ever-changing algorithms. I’ve learned that the most powerful thing you can do is to stay present with the work you’re already doing—trust your practice and let it guide you as your greatest teacher.

I also realized that when you fully step into who you are—authentically, both as a person and a practitioner—you become magnetic. There’s no need to chase clients. They find you.

This work is a journey, and I’ve come to understand that it’s both a reflection of my own growth and a way to guide others. It’s about being present, being authentic, and letting everything else unfold in its own time. That’s how I’ve built my practice—by being *me* and trusting in the energy.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.healingwithrebecca.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healingreikiwithrebecca/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551568847455
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-weinstein-a897b0b/

Image Credits

Kate Wark Photography (images 1-5)
Simple Pea Photography and Design (images 6-8)