Council of the Reiki Association

Janet Brown - Council member

Jan Brown has been a Reiki Master in the Usui Shiki Ryoho tradition since 1998. Jan met Reiki in 1995 in Vermont while on a skiing holiday where she took Reiki I with Penelope Jewell. She subsequently trained as a master with Penelope. She is currently part of the circle of service for the TRA, answering the general enquiry line.

Jan moved with her husband to Wadhurst in East Sussex in 2015, to be beside her grandchildren, but lived for most of her life in Scotland. She is a qualified Complementary Therapist and ran her own therapy clinic for 10 years in Scotland. She taught for many years in various parts of Scotland before taking time out to become an artist.

Jan has previously served on the Reiki Association council as well as several other committees. (Angus Open Studios and Angus Complementary Therapists)

Jan is a passionate organic gardener and has a love of standing stones, history and reading. She is also a peace pipe carrier and cat lover.

Annette Cass - Council member

I attended my first Gathering the year that we planted a tree in honour of Marilyn Shields (2004) and I was blown away by the energy and beauty of the event. I have attended nearly all Gathering’s at Buckland since then. The return to this special place this April coincided with my return to the Association~ a mild curiosity about old friends and what was new, transformed into my unexpected calling to join the splendid folk on Council!

My Reiki Journey: I learnt Reiki I with Liz Lyden in Jan 2003 when my husband was diagnosed with cancer. After he died it was easy to self treat on a daily basis whilst grieving, and I soon realised that Reiki was the gift he left me along with the cat who is purring next to me as I write this. As soon as I could I went on to learn Reiki II and it was through Reiki that I met my husband John Cass when he was organising a master candidate training for Phyllis and they chose to use my place! My own master training consisted of 3 years with Phyllis and then 3years with Paul Mitchell who initiated me as a master in 2013.

I have worked on sub groups within the Association in the past– so have helped organise events and training but never on council before. It feels that it is my time.

Current Personal: John and I live in the amazing Wye Valley and if you are quick you could come stay with us as we are now seeking to move to a new home.

So what do I bring to Council?- life experiences- skills? I have had a wonderful eclectic work-life dance. It continues to be joy-filled whilst simultaneously sharing other people’s deeper life issues. After working in F.E. Colleges, then Mencap, I escaped to Snowdonia in 1990 to set up a mountaineering business with my partner and have been self employed ever since. Renovating 2 properties and finally marketing the later as Snowonia Retreat, I enjoyed providing places for personal retreats combined with treatments on site. John and I then ran various Reiki happenings and Events including for Phyllis and later Paul’s Silent Retreats. Other skills: working in voluntary counselling organisations, team building in the outdoors….I still prefer to be outdoors then anywhere else. If there is a theme it is always about helping people to bring out the best in themselves- challenging themselves, healing themselves. Working with Change.

I have found myself often in a places of innovation and change…. And the planet is certainly throwing us some clear messages that we need to be pro-active now in aiding planetary change. I hope to bring a fresh set of eyes and personal maturity in service to the Association.

Claire Prendergast-Johnson - Council member

I was born and raised in Ireland and have been living in the UK since 2003.   

I graduated with a bachelors degree in Social Policy and Politics from University College Dublin when I was 20 years of age and then moved into banking.   I quickly moved into management in the Irish retail bank that I was working in and I went on to study a Postgrad in Business and received many other finance related qualifications.   My career took me to London and within a year I began working in the City of London in an investment bank on the Global Markets trading desk where I remained until 2011.  Following this I ran my own business for 2 years.

Reiki came into my life in 2012.  My mother in law was being supported with Reiki while she battled a terminal illness and from the moment that I heard the word Reiki I was drawn to go for treatments and very quickly to learn.   I then had the privilege of supporting her with Reiki up until the point of her transition.  This experience led me to develop a deep understanding of and appreciation for the benefits of Reiki.    From that moment on I have been dedicated to the practice of Reiki and it underpins all that I do in my life and all that I am.     I now have 3 children and I support & nurture myself and my family with Reiki which is such a profound gift.  

I was initiated as a Reiki Master in 2015 and I have a busy practice treating and teaching people in Sussex and London.  I also work with animals and in corporate settings.   As a member I have supported the Reiki Association by organising events in Sussex and London and by being a member of the monthly Webinar team.   It is an honour now to serve on Council.