This is the part where I get to tell you about myself.
If you read my blog, though, you’ll probably get a pretty good idea of who I am, what I do and where my passions are in life.
My core interests are family, spirituality, healing and wholeness, and social justice – their intersections and interconnections in our daily life and living from that center.
Thank you for joining me on this journey!
Professional life
I am a Reiki Master practitioner and teacher, life coach, retreat leader, writer and the owner of Dragonfly Reiki, in the Atlanta, GA area. I offer spiritual and energy-based healing and coaching to help women connect with deeper well-being, peace and wholeness they’re seeking in their daily lives.
I spent over 10 years in the corporate world in knowledge management and content management. I specialized in enterprise content management process and implementation, taxonomy, and working with offshore teams. I also spent several years offering website/social media support for Decatur Presbyterian Church.
Personal life
I grew up in Flushing, NY and despite nearly two decades in Atlanta, I am still fiercely proud to be a Queens girl. I began my studies at Queens College – CUNY, intending to earn a BFA in Fine Arts, but after moving to Atlanta, I transferred to Georgia State University, where I was a Faculty Scholar, earning a BA (Magna Cum Laude) in English – Creative Writing, with a minor in Philosophy – Religious Studies.
I have called Decatur GA my home since 1998. I’m married to Seth Young, and am a proud mom to a school-age daughter, adult stepson and an elderly (but still kicking!) dog.
I’m a published poet, with one chapbook, as well as two anthologies and a handful of journals where my work has been featured. I was active in the poetry and arts community here in Atlanta for a number of years as part of the Atlanta Poets Group.
I regularly engage in Reiki practice, other healing arts, meditation, and prayer to cultivate a spiritually grounded, conscious life. I grew up in an interfaith home, which was a big influence on my exploration of faith through various paths, whether they are contemplative or mystical practices or religious worship. I am active in church (my husband is a co-pastor of The Well, a new worshiping community in Atlanta) and currently working towards completion of the Certificate in Spiritual Formation at Columbia Theological Seminary.
I enjoy writing, gardening, photography, spending time with family and friends, as well as visiting museums and art galleries. I love to travel and be in nature. And of course I love to read anything ranging from poetry and novels to books on spirituality and philosophy.
Service-oriented life
Love your neighbor as yourself – or at least, I do my best! Giving back to my community is really important to me. Over the years I have served in local and global mission work in number of ways: as a volunteer and board member for Decatur Cooperative Ministry, worked side-by-side with a community in the Agalta Valley through Honduras Outreach, met with visitors to Threshold Ministry at Decatur Presbyterian Church, and helped with fundraising for Veteran’s Heart Georgia. My Reiki students and I have hosted low-cost healing clinics for the public. I have also completed training in Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children program, whose aim is to end child sexual abuse.
In the news
I’ve been featured in the following articles:
- Atlanta Magazine, Janaury 2017: Do Alternative Therapies Really Work?
- Best Self Atlanta, January 2016: Into the Mystic
- U.S. News & World Report, August 2012: 8 More Ways To Find Time In Your Day
Why ‘A Life Itself’?
My blog name comes from the George Harrison song, “Life Itself“. My objective is simply to write, without a theme or constraint. Writing is an affirming, healing practice for me, and although the type of writing and subjects I write about change, my love affair with the written word and the process of writing has remained steady since I was a small child. Typically, though, the things I tend to enjoy writing about are parenting, motherhood, women’s issues, social justice, mind/body/spirit healing and spiritual practice.
Connect with Dana on Google+.
I know this is personal, but did your husband ever attend mission training with the Presbyterian Church in San Antonio back in the early ’90s?
No, he has never lived in San Antonio! Must be another guy with a similar name. Blessings to you.
Thank Dana! Bless you!