We recently sat down with Dr. Rev. W Collins, DD, to discuss how her personal healing journey led her to the fields of herbalism and Reiki—for both animals and humans.
Reiki Services
Q: What first drew you to Reiki?
A: I was living in Hawaii in 2002 and had just given birth to my daughter when I heard about Reiki from a healer on the island of Kauai. Reiki was not popular back then.
My pregnancy with my daughter was rough and I needed to heal emotionally, physically, and even financially. After I was attuned to Reiki in Hawaii, I worked on myself. I moved back to the mainland and continued my healing and spiritual growth.
Healing the self is the first step for anyone seeking to help others. We must show up for the inner child within before we can help others show up for their inner child.
Q: Who are your typical customers? Who might benefit from distance Reiki?
A: The one string that ties all of my clients together is stress and tension.
Stress and tension tend to be the root cause of many different issues, even diseases. When stress and tension are removed from the energetic body, the body can work its magic and heal itself.
Anyone who experiences stress and tension can benefit from Reiki.
Distance Reiki has an advantage over in-office sessions because my client can be comfortable at home and not have to drive after being completely relaxed and grounded.
Most of my clients receive Reiki right before drifting off to sleep, which helps my clients hit their restore and repair while resting soundly. This allows them to wake up refreshed and ready.
Q: What is your most popular service?
A: The 60-minute Distance Reiki Session. It all comes back to releasing stress and tension.
When a person cannot rest well, everything suffers, including relationships, career, and home life. When a client comes to me frazzled from work or a pending divorce, I let them tell me what they need to heal and feel.
I think the reason why my services are seeing a surge is because people are allowing themselves self-care. Reiki is the ultimate self-care.
Treating Animals
Q: Please explain how you got into equine herbs.
A: I have been riding horses longer than I have been walking.
Horses are extremely responsive to herbs because their diet and bodily systems are pure. It has been a lifelong journey developing my knowledge of herbs and horses.
Herbs have factual medicinal qualities that are inter-species. However, not every herb that is for people should be used with pets or animals.
Many common herbs for humans are toxic to horses. It is important to speak to an herbalist who specializes in horses or a holistic veterinarian before administering herbs.
I have given consultations to veterinarians worldwide on special cases for which medicines do not exist. Several holistic veterinarians purchase their one-of-a-kind herbal blends from me.
Q: Do you offer any other services for animals?
A: Distance Reiki and herbal consults for all pets are both available. I create specialized herbal blends based on bloodwork and a diagnosis from a veterinarian for many clients. Giving my clients a specialized and bespoke approach to healing is my main goal.
Herbalism and Women's Health
Q: When did you start learning about plants and herbs?
A: Growing up on a farm and ranch in a very rural part of the Midwest, we were independent.
My grandmother treated us and our neighbors for miles around with herbal remedies and nutrition. The herbal knowledge of our prior generations were passed on to me through my grandmother.
Did you know that you can tell a plant’s medicinal value by taste? You can. I teach my students this hack and many more in my Sacred Herbal Certification Course.
Right now I am most grateful for the Organic Wild Yam Cream I make.
No one warns us as young women about middle age and what the years leading up to menopause will be like. Wild Yam Cream has been my key to aging gracefully with my sanity intact. I make it for both women and men alike. Hormone decline is inevitable for everyone, it is just a matter of time.
My formula is a bestseller on Etsy and has hundreds of 5-star reviews. It has been an honor to help other people with hot flashes, hormone-related anxiety, and preventing osteoporosis.
Experience
Q: What is most rewarding to you about the work you do?
A: Waking up to an email from a grateful customer or client because something I did or made is helping them live better.
It is a very humbling experience to connect with others in a weak moment and help them heal themselves and feel better.
There is nothing in this world I would rather do. It is truly an honor.
