“The magic is in me,” wrote Frances Hodgson Burnett in his 1911 novel, “The Secret Garden.” “It’s in every one of us.” These words were among many in the novel that inspired Candy Reeder and six children to begin gardening.
Reeder is the owner of Joyfully Blooming, a business offering a variety of services including tarot readings, astrology chart readings, Reiki energy healing and Akashic record readings. Her family garden also allows her to create self-care products to be sold at Urbana’s Market at the Square and online.
She describes herself as a “green witch, energy healer, holistic health enthusiast and lover of plants.” But she is also someone who yearns to learn and share what she discovers with others.
“When I get excited about something, I get really excited about something,” Reeder said. “I can be up till 3 a.m. sometimes, just down a rabbit hole, learning, learning, learning.”
She began learning about essential oils in 2017, and after reading “The Secret Garden” with her children, she was inspired to begin caring for her own garden. She then combined those home-grown herbs and plants with her knowledge of essential oil properties to create something magical.
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Joyfully Blooming’s selection of products includes lip balms, skin salves, candles and elixirs. According to Reeder’s online store, skin salves are created with the intention of not only soothing the skin, but also the nervous system deep within. Elixirs are concocted with ingredients to help release blocked energy in different aspects of life such as intimacy, or anxiety and depression.
The Market at the Square provides a place for people to connect with the products Reeder creates, especially her aromatherapy perfume rollers based off of the zodiac signs.
Reeder explained how market customers are often drawn to the product that corresponds with their own sun sign. She notices a Cancer, for example, gravitating toward the perfume designed with their sign in mind, and she explains to them how each component of the perfume addresses a specific concern unique to their sign.
“And it’s almost always just this moment of, ‘Oh, wow,’ people feel really seen and really validated,” Reeder said. “And so that moment right there of being seen is this moment of healing in and of itself.”
Through the farmers’ market, customers can receive a more detailed introduction to Reeder’s other services, including Reiki energy healing.
“Candy is very gifted at tuning into the energetics of someone’s body,” said Kelly Matthews, a client who received a Reiki healing session. “Not only did she channel healing energy into my body, she had really thoughtful things to say about different parts of my body.”
Reiki energy healing, according to the Joyfully Blooming website, “is like a big warm hug for your soul.” Reeder offers both in-person and virtual sessions where she helps clients to enter deep meditation, balance their chakras and release energetic blocks both physically and emotionally.
Another client, Tami Dixon, emphasized that Reeder’s services help clients not only find guidance, but serve as a reminder that self care is always important.
“Every individual will benefit deeply by making time for self love & care … removing ourselves from the stressful to do lists & becoming more present,” wrote Dixon in an email to The Daily Illini.
Dixon received an astrology chart reading where Reeder dives deep and explores more than just clients’ sun signs.
“The astrology reading was very meaningful because she explained clearly different aspects of my personality & life experiences based on my chart,” Dixon wrote. “Some things I personally considered horrible, she kindly explained they weren’t horrible, but actually very positive opportunities for learning and growth experiences.”
While Reeder spends most of her days offering guidance, comfort and a bit of magic to her clients, she explained that it’s easy to forget to take care of herself.
“It’s something I have to be really intentional about, because it’s really easy to get into kind of a marathon,” Reeder said.
In the coming months, Reeder plans to start up new workshops as she learns new things. These workshops will emphasize intimacy, being vulnerable and connection or, “sharing our hearts a little more openly.”
Whether or not someone is interested in spirituality or eager to learn more, Reeder believes that the magic is in every one of us — and she’s more than willing to help you find it.
