Reiki-infused Art by Jocelyn Brown
““My ultimate wish is to empower people and help them deepen their connection to their own inner wisdom through Reiki. By sending these amulets home, it puts the power in the hands of the keeper.””
It is not uncommon to see one of Jocelyn Brown’s glass-blown chakra donuts catching the sun’s rays and radiating their glorious rainbow of colors from the necks of friends and neighbors around Peterborough and the Monadnock Region. In fact, you may have seen one of these talismans and wondered, “Who made that? What is its significance?”
Well, it’s Jocelyn and below, she shares their origin, meaning and intention.
Jocelyn is a native of Ashburnham, MA and resident of Peterborough, NH, where she lives with her partner Ben Conant and pup, Tela. Jocelyn received her bachelor’s degrees in both Fine Arts and Art Education with a minor in Glass from Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston and is a juried member of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen. She instructs and creates glass art at Terrapin Glassblowing Studio in Jaffrey and is also the visiting art instructor at Robin’s Nest Nature Preschool in Peterborough. Last, but certainly not least, and perhaps how you may know her best in the realms of the Sága Circle network, Jocelyn is a Reiki Master and teacher, certified in the Usui lineage.
We are so honored to be in community with Jocelyn. She is real, she is love and her unique blend of art and energy work creates such positive energy in this world. Her chakra donut series is a perfect embodiment of this, so let’s learn more about how these colorful beauties came to be.
Sága: So, tell us, how did you get into glassblowing?
Jocelyn: I took glass as an elective in college and fell in love with it! It challenged me to step out of my comfort zone and got me excited like no other material had up to that point. I took every class available on the subject at MassArt and didn’t look back.
Sága: What is it about glassblowing that you love?
Jocelyn: I have always been drawn to fire and flame since I was a young girl; you could find me poking the campfire and volunteering to light dinner candles. Glassblowing allows me to use fire in a creative way. I was afraid of it at first. Not just for the obvious safety reasons, but because it asks you to be confident, to trust yourself through the process, and to be okay with breaking the work at any point. Now I see that those challenges keep me inspired and are very empowering!
Sága: How was the idea for your unique chakra donuts ‘born’?
Jocelyn: The donuts weren’t originally chakra-focused.
Phish was playing a run of 13 shows at Madison Square Garden, they called it, “The Baker’s Dozen.” Phish fans have such a generous spirit and I wanted to share in that by giving away donut pendants to friends and strangers at the show I attended. I made some traditional ‘flavors’ like cinnamon, chocolate, etc. and also some fun ones with sparkles and stars. One friend requested a “sugar-coated purple donut,” which later became the design for the first style of textured chakra donuts.
During the show, Phish played a very special song called “Harpua” where they tell a story in the middle of it. Each time they play this beloved song, the story is different. This time, they went on to describe the theory that our universe is shaped like a donut, or torus. I often get art inspiration at live music events when I’m totally in the moment, dancing and surrounded by thousands of people who are doing the same. I knew then that I wanted to commit to that shape in my work.
Afterward, my friend with the purple sugar-coated donut had her aura photo taken and it was the exact same color as the donut! Everything clicked and I began the series.
Sága: How has this art form evolved since then?
Jocelyn: Technically, I have honed in on the donut shape. The patterns have become more intricate over time. There is an ongoing conversation between myself, the glass, and the people I make customs for. People request certain things, which stretch me beyond my own perspective and inspire change in the work. For example, there have been many requests for a silver chain rather than a leather cord. I recently designed a sterling silver bail/hook, which works much better with a chain and creates a very elegant style.
Sága: When and how did Reiki become a part of your life?
Jocelyn: I began my Reiki journey in 2014. I was struggling with grief and building a new life after graduating from Massachusetts College of Art. I had always been drawn to holistic health, so when my sister recommended receiving a session from Karen Cerato of NH Health and Wellness, I didn’t hesitate. I walked into that room full of sadness, worry, and just a touch of hope that this might help me in some way. In truth, it took a couple sessions to quiet my monkey brain long enough to fully relax. But energy moves regardless of thoughts, and Reiki kept calling me back. It continued to call and over the next four years I answered. I received my Reiki training slowly, still considering it a personal coping tool and occasionally offering to friends and family; more often to plants and animals. It wasn’t until my partner tore his ACL that I experienced how powerful and effective offering Reiki could be for pain and the physical body. I knew then that I had to share this tool for balancing mind, body, and spirit with as many people as I could. Energy follows intention, so when I bought myself a massage table in commitment to my practice, opportunities arose quickly and I followed the winding path. I completed my Reiki Master Teacher training March 2019 under Karen Cerato and am honored to continue the teachings of the Usui Reiki tradition.
Sága: We know, because you shared some of your process on your Instagram and Facebook feeds, that you infuse your donuts. What does that mean, and why do you do this?
Jocelyn: My Reiki teacher, Karen Cerato, first introduced me to the concept of infusing my art. The original donut pendants were intuitively infused with love and excitement and it was palpable; art naturally carries energy. The chakra donuts have that same care put into the creation process, plus the specific intention of clearing and offering Universal Life Force Energy to its holder.
I infuse this Reiki energy through sacred ceremony. For custom donuts, I start by cleansing the glass in a fresh stream or in the smoke of herbs such as sage, cedar, or sweetgrass. At that point, the donut becomes a vessel to hold and share intention and light. Using sacred symbols and ritual, I hold the glass and literally offer it Reiki through my hands as I call up the energetic essence of the future keeper.
I begin to visualize the donut transferring that Reiki energy to its keeper. I verbally speak affirmations into the piece and seal the ceremony with the phrase, “So Be It.” Some pieces call for more than that, and I follow my intuition for what that might look like. For example, I may bury the donut in the soil during the ceremony for someone who is requesting support with grounding.
Sága: That is so beautiful and meaningful. To own one of these pieces is such a special connection between you and your art, and the keeper. What is your ultimate intention or wish for your donuts when you send them out into the world?
Jocelyn: My ultimate wish is to empower people and help them deepen their connection to their own inner wisdom through Reiki. By sending these amulets home, it puts the power in the hands of the keeper.
Imagine requesting a piece of jewelry to be custom made in support of your mind/body/spirit health. That decision was led by intuition, you reached out on behalf of your highest healing good. Now you place that special necklace on in the morning and remember the intention and energy it holds specifically for you.
Throughout the day you catch the colors in your eye and remember again. And again when you find yourself holding the donut to calm your nerves in a difficult moment. Working in glass has taught me that repetitive motion builds muscle memory and I believe that our minds are capable of the same. Wearing a physical object like the donut sparks that connection and leads you down the familiar path of love, while simultaneously leading you away from dense energetic thoughts and behaviors.
I can share Reiki through colorful art, express my creative voice, AND bring comfort to people? I’m in!
Sága: We’re in, too! And so impressed by and grateful for your work.
Are you a friend and neighbor interested in finding a donut (or two, or three) of your own?
Jocelyn is a featured artist displaying her chakra donuts and hand-blown glass at many local arts and crafts shows, including *broke: The Affordable Arts Show and the Living Local Art Fair. However, you can also shop her art anytime on her website here and/or reach out to Jocelyn personally for a custom request. If you can identify an area in your life where you could use some support, Jocelyn can create a custom piece of wearable art that can bolster your energy. To learn more about the chakras, click here.
