Jennifer Reyes Lay
Jennifer Reyes Lay is a catholic priestess in the lineage of the Magdalene. A cradle Catholic, she attended St. Louis University for her undergrad where she received an Honors B.A. in International Studies and Theology with minors in Women’s Studies, Philosophy, and Spanish. This course of study was deeply influence by her study abroad experience in San Salvador, El Salvador at the University of Central America (UCA) where she was first introduced to liberation theology and feminist theology. Following the call to develop her skills for pastoral and ordained ministry, she later graduated with her Master of Divinity from Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, MO in 2019. Jennifer is an ecofeminist theologian, ritual leader, preacher, musician and songwriter, poet, facilitator, aspiring herbalist, Reiki practitioner, midwife of justice, and lover of the natural world. She enjoys creating and presiding at specialized rituals to honor particular moments in a person’s life and to honor liturgical seasons, feast days, and earth-based cycles and seasons. She is fluent in Spanish and happy to offer her many gifts and skills to the Spanish-speaking community for their spiritual and ritual needs. Jennifer is also a skilled preacher and has been a member of the preaching team at Sts. Clare & Francis ECC for the past five years.
Jennifer finds joy in writing and sharing new songs, singing and praying together in ways that honor all beings, and learning more about the world around her. Jennifer leads Healing Earth Circles both virtually and in person as a way to foster this type of healing community and help us remember our place in and reconnect to the greater web of life. She is also an aspiring herbalist and seeks to reclaim women’s ancient ways of knowing and sharing the abundant medicine that surrounds us in the plant world.
Jennifer is committed to healing herself and her ancestral lineages, particularly from the harms of internalized sexism, white supremacy, and colonialism. She is passionate about sharing this healing work with others in the Christian lineage, and has created and led multiple workshops for faith-based communities over the past seven year on topics such as: Christianity, White Supremacy and Colonialism; Anti-racism; Ecofeminism and Ecowomanism; Microagressions and Unconscious bias; the Prison Industrial Complex and Abolition; and Human Trafficking. She is available as a consultant and/or facilitator of this type of work.
Upcoming Events and Offerings:
A monthly mini-retreats series with some of the wise and well ancestors of our Christian lineage
Registration Form: https://forms.gle/5Dc1TVRxU7MkgSWw7
You are warmly invited to join me for a series of virtual mini-retreats in 2023 where each month we will connect with a wise and well spiritual ancestor of the Christian lineage on their feast day to learn more about their life, reflect on how it speaks to our own joys and struggles, and listen to the wisdom they have to share with us today through song, prayer and guided meditation.
Each session will take place in the evening on the feast day of the saint from 7:00 – 8:30pm central time via Zoom. All sessions will be recorded so you can sign up and if you aren’t able to attend in person you will receive a copy of the recording. You can sign up for specific months for $20 per session, or for the full year at a discounted rate of $200 for all 12 sessions.
Here is the full schedule for 2023:
January 1 – Mary Mother of God
February 1 – St. Brigid of Ireland
March 24 – St. Oscar Romero
April 29 – St. Catherine of Sienna
May 30 – St. Joan of Arc
June 24 – St. John the Baptist
July 22 – St. Mary Magdalene
August 11 – St. Clare of Assisi
September 17 – St. Hildegard von Bingen
October 4 – St. Francis of Assisi
November 3 – St. Martin de Porres
December 6 – St. Nicholas of Myra
Reserve your 30 minute session for just $30 today: https://forms.gle/qBFbvcWiaw8PD8yk7
What is Reiki?
Reiki (pronounced ray-key) is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It works both in person and at a distance. Reiki taps into a spiritually guided life energy and can be channeled by those who have received a Reiki attunement, Placement, or Ignition. When a person receives a Reiki session, the Rei or spiritually conscious part of the energy assesses where the person has byoki (unhealthy energy) and then directs the healing energy to where it is needed most. The Reiki energy works with the negative thoughts and feelings that have created the byoki and are blocking one’s flow of healthy energy (Ki), replacing them with healing thoughts and feelings.
Uses of Reiki
Reiki can have many different applications and benefits for your overall health and wellbeing. Reiki can help promote overall health and wellness in both your physical and energy body. It can be used to support the healing of a particular illness or physical ailment of your body as well. Reiki can work in supportive ways with other types of medical and psychological care. Reiki can also be used to support breaking unhealthy habits, to heal relationships, and achieve your personal goals.
What is the particular lineage of Reiki in which I was trained?
Reiki was discovered by Mikao Usui in March 1922. It has been passed down through various teachers since then, coming to the West primarily through Hawayo Takata. I received my Reiki training and transmission through Reiki Master Kathleen Joan, who is part of the Usui / Holy Fire Reiki lineage of William Lee Rand. My particular training and attunement through Kathleen is also connected to the energy and wisdom of the Divine Feminine.
Sophia Rising 