About the Founder

Love one another and help others to rise to higher levels, simply by pouring out love. Love is infectious and the greatest healing energy.

~ Sai Baba

A warm WELCOME to you, 

At Taproot Healing Institute, our vision to build compassionate communities one person at a time, is fulfilled by supporting you to continue to explore further the possibilities for deep healing and inner discovery. Your journey of realizing your divine purpose on Earth has brought you here at this place in your life. As you allow, your higher self will direct the next perfect step in your healing process assisting you in your own personal journey towards self-healing, self-discovery and enlightenment.

We cannot change anyone else, just ourselves. However, each step forward that we make in our journey has an exponential effect on the world. We change the world as we change ourselves and each positive, loving thought and intention creates an energetic vibration that is carried to the rest of the world. Once we know and trust our capacity to manifest miracles on our spiritual path, we will experience the miraculous and effortless flow of unconditional love and compassion in our own lives. Moreover, we shall see the ripple effect on the lives of those around us. One of the greatest miracles is that we “awaken from the illusion of our separateness,” as Thich Nhat Hanh says.

My life work is a continuous journey of learning to honor my connectedness to all. I have worked as a healer and community builder for over 25 years. This includes teaching and working in prisons, colleges and public and private schools, and non-profits. I have been the leader with the vision for starting two programs for pregnant and parenting teens and their families in two different states. I have also served as the Family Therapist at a residential substance abuse program for youth.

Currently, I have a private practice as a Reiki practitioner, Lightworker and teacher. I am a Registered Lightworker and Registered Reiki Master Teacher in the Usui and Karuna Tradition of Natural Healing. I offer both individual and family spiritual counseling, and continuously teach Reiki at all levels. I am a member of the International Association of Reiki Professionals, one of the original founders of the Vermont Reiki Association, and the founder of Taproot Healing Institute.

My introduction to Reiki happened while living in New Hampshire, I found myself in the emergency room being told, “You will need knee surgery.” Because I am a backpacker and active person, knee surgery was something I intended to avoid. A friend who did Reiki asked me, “Would you like some Reiki?” I agreed—even though I did not know what Reiki was. Immediately, the pain and swelling in my knee lessened. After utilizing acupuncture, chiropractic, Reiki, and being on crutches for the winter, surgery was not needed. Since then, I actively backpack and enjoy myself immensely.

Because Reiki brought me striking relief and healing from a serious knee injury, when I moved to Vermont and a friend called asking me, “Would you be interested in taking a Reiki class?” I said, “Yes.” Since then, I have worked with hundreds of clients, and I have taught many Reiki students at all levels. Reiki is vital to me for every aspect of my being; body, soul and spirit. As a Reiki teacher and healing practitioner, my focus is “what can I do to be a proper vessel through which love can come into the world?” For my profound relationship with Reiki, I am grateful and it is my intention to share this great healing gift with others. Teaching Reiki always gives me great JOY!

However, my greatest JOY is my daughters! Traveling to China twice to bring them home has been a highlight of my life. Definitely, the most profound and vital learning experience in my life continues to be as a parent. Every since I became a mother choosing to devote my energies on loving and nurturing my daughters, I have been finding, feeling and following my heart.

Gandhi said, “If we want to teach peace in the world we shall have to begin with children; and if they will grow up in their natural innocence, we won’t have to struggle...but we shall go from love to love and peace to peace, until at last all the corners of the world are covered with that peace and love for which...the whole world is hungering.”

Yes, the whole world is hungering for peace. As a community builder, Reiki teacher and practitioner, and spiritual counselor, my goal is to help individuals develop lives that can soar on wings of goodness, beauty and truth; I want to help people deeply listen to, trust, and think with their hearts. I believe that heart thinking is key to all real personal growth and positive social change. My work as a human being is to foster individuals discovering and intelligently nurturing what they love with their whole heart.

Peace, Love and Light,
Sunflower Sutherland, MS
Founder