A Few Minutes In Berlin With...

Berlin Patch publishes this periodic series in interview format with a resident or small business owner in town. We recently sat down with Jennifer Shackford, owner of Faith In Angels, a healing center which expanded into a larger location at 314-C New Britain St. in Berlin in mid-September.

Berlin Patch (BP): What does your practice entail, and how did you first become interested in doing this?

Jennifer Shackford (JS): I am basically a spiritual healer. Since I was a little girl, I was naturally clairvoyant. I grew up in an Italian Catholic family, so being the way I am, it's not something that when I was little I'd say, 'When I grow up, I want to do readings for people or help them use different modalities of healing or help themselves.'

BP: What did you do prior to starting the practice?

JS: I had a corporate job for 15 years, then I started my family and I found that as I started to meditate and tried to find peace with myself, it sort of led to this, because of the difference it made in my own personal journey.

BP: Where was your practice prior to moving to this location?

JS: I started on Farmington Avenue with a little 800 square foot office with only me in it. It has blossomed into a vision where I remember last year saying, if I'm supposed to be doing this and starting to teach other people how to tap into that inner power and how to be connected to God and living our lives according to love, a lot of other healers want to do the same thing. I thought it would be great if I could develop a center, have us be like a database and have a one-stop shop for spiritual healing.

BP: What variety of services can clients find here?

JS: People come here for energy healing, which is Reiki. They come to me as a medium, so I do see loved ones in spirit or angels - anything to help them on their path. The readings just validate what they already know. I have aura readers in here, I have marriage family therapists in here, and I just started a grief program too. I love how we all sort of support one another. I want to help someone the way I have been helped to make my life more peaceful and happier.

BP: Some people have a negative connotation to the term "spiritual healer." Do you encounter that often?

JS: This is actually very sad, but I've had people come to me and say, "God, I went to another healer; they said I have bad karma and I have to pay $800 to have something removed." That's disgusting - it's not true, and I do have a lot of that. I love when people come in and say, "I'm the biggest skeptic, you're not going to get anything." They are so surprised and thankful when I do.

BP: What are the most popular facets of your practice?

JS: I personally do mediumship readings, about 40 a week. I'm booked out until August. I teach classes - I'm pretty busy.

BP: Is it a lot of stress on you to know that these people are literally putting their mindset into your hands?

JS: Never. I get nervous every day before I start work, but I've never looked at it that way because I have a clear intention I put out to God. Whoever is supposed to be led to come to me, I know it is Him guiding them, so I know I don't have anything to worry about.

BP: What is the most rewarding thing about what you do?

JS: Peace and love. I thank God every day for letting me bring peace, love and gratitude to another human being. If I can help one person figure out what their lesson is in this lifetime, then I've been a good channel.

Faith In Angels may be reached by emailing Jennifer Shackford at faithinangels222@gmail.com.

If you would like your small business considered for this column, or have a suggestion about an interesting person in Berlin to interview, email tim.jensen@patch.com.

Photos courtesy of Jennifer Shackford