After years in academia, Jessie Rudi, Ph.D., knew something had to change. As a researcher, she thrived intellectually, but the relentless pace eventually caught up with her. 

“I felt extreme burnout and disconnection from myself,” Rudi recalls. “I loved what I was doing for a long time, but my body was not loving it.”

Searching for relief, she found an acupuncturist who also practiced Reiki. That first session became a turning point. “It taught me there is always peace and calm inside, even if things are crazy,” she says. “I am okay.”

That experience sparked years of personal exploration into energy healing, intuition and self-discovery. As Reiki became an integral part of her own healing journey, sharing it with others felt like a natural next step.

“My Reiki Master invited me to train with her, and after practicing with family and friends, they kept saying, ‘You have to do this,’” Rudi says with a smile. “Eventually I realized I couldn’t not share this with others.”

Today, Rudi is the founder of Clearly Connected Healing, LLC where she offers intuitive Reiki sessions, mentorship and training designed to help clients reconnect with themselves in a gentle, grounded and approachable way.

A Practical Approach to Energy Healing

For those unfamiliar with Reiki, Rudi describes it as a Japanese energy healing practice that supports the body’s natural ability to rest, restore and heal. Rather than focusing on fixing people, her goal is to create space where clients can slow down, listen inward and reconnect with their own inner wisdom.

She intentionally approaches Reiki in a practical, accessible way. “I want people to know they don’t have to believe anything specific for Reiki to be beneficial,” she explains. “You don’t have to be spiritual. You don’t have to understand energy. You simply have to be open to relaxing and seeing what unfolds.”

Sessions blend traditional Usui Reiki with Pranic healing, intuitive guidance, energetic coaching and time for thoughtful integration afterward. Whether working hands-on during an in-person session or connecting virtually with clients around the world, Rudi emphasizes that every experience is personalized.

“I follow where the session wants to go,” she says. “People often leave feeling calmer, lighter and more connected to themselves.”

From Survival Mode to Self-Connection

Many of Rudi’s clients arrive feeling overwhelmed by the demands of modern life. “I think so many people are living in chronic stress,” she says. “They’re constantly doing, constantly thinking and rarely giving themselves permission to simply be.”

One of the most meaningful transformations she witnesses is not necessarily dramatic, but subtle and lasting. “When people finally relax, they remember who they are underneath all the noise,” she explains. “They reconnect with themselves.”

As a mother of three, Rudi understands firsthand how easily people place their own well-being at the bottom of the priority list. 

“I know what it’s like to juggle responsibilities and constantly take care of everyone else,” she says. “That experience has made me much more compassionate with my clients. I understand how hard it can be to create space for yourself.”

Healing Beyond the Treatment Room

While many people initially seek Reiki for stress relief, Rudi believes its greatest value lies in helping people cultivate greater awareness in everyday life.

Following each session, clients have time to reflect on intuitive insights and discuss practical ways to integrate those observations into daily routines. Her hope is that healing continues long after someone leaves her office.

Clearly Connected Healing offers private Reiki sessions in person at its Wayzata office and virtually worldwide, along with group meditation experiences, Reiki trainings and community wellness events.

Virtual sessions can be particularly comforting to many clients. “I personally find virtual sessions can be more powerful because people are in their own space,” Rudi shares. “They didn’t have to drive here. They can have their favorite things, their favorite blankets, their pets tend to come visit because they know what’s going on.” Those comforts can make it easier for someone to experience the healing benefits most fully.

An Invitation to Explore, Experience or Learn Reiki

Perhaps the biggest misconception Rudi hopes to dispel is that Reiki is mysterious or only for certain people. “I think people sometimes assume it’s strange or that you have to be deeply spiritual,” she says. “Really, it’s just another way to support your overall well-being.” 

For those who remain Reiki-curious but uncertain about taking the first step, her advice is simple. “Come with an open mind,” she says. “You don’t have to know exactly what to expect. Just give yourself permission to experience it.”

Clearly Connected Healing also offers group meditation and Reiki experiences, workplace wellness pop-ups and community events that introduce energy healing in an approachable environment. Businesses and organizations increasingly recognize that caring for employee well-being extends beyond traditional wellness initiatives, and Rudi enjoys creating restorative experiences that allow people to pause, recharge and reconnect.

She is also expanding her Reiki training programs through intimate small-group classes and one-on-one mentorship. “I love watching people realize that this isn’t about becoming someone different,” she says. “It’s about remembering what’s already within you.”

Clearly Connected Healing, LLC, is located at 700 Twelve Oaks Center Dr., Ste. 253, Wayzata. For more information or to schedule 
a session, visit ClearlyConnectedHealing.com or email [email protected]. See listing on page 30.