diff --git a/sojorn_app/lib/widgets/post/post_actions.dart b/sojorn_app/lib/widgets/post/post_actions.dart
index 399ebde..bc5ada1 100644
--- a/sojorn_app/lib/widgets/post/post_actions.dart
+++ b/sojorn_app/lib/widgets/post/post_actions.dart
@@ -1,11 +1,13 @@
 import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
 import 'package:flutter_riverpod/flutter_riverpod.dart';
 import 'package:share_plus/share_plus.dart';
+import 'package:google_fonts/google_fonts.dart';
 
 import '../../models/post.dart';
 import '../../providers/api_provider.dart';
 import '../../theme/app_theme.dart';
 import '../sojorn_snackbar.dart';
+import '../reactions/reaction_strip.dart';
 
 /// Post actions with a vibrant, clear, and energetic design.
 ///
@@ -33,12 +35,26 @@ class _PostActionsState extends ConsumerState<PostActions> {
   late bool _isSaved;
   bool _isLiking = false;
   bool _isSaving = false;
+  
+  // Reaction state
+  final Map<String, int> _reactionCounts = {};
+  final Set<String> _myReactions = <String>{};
 
   @override
   void initState() {
     super.initState();
     _isLiked = widget.post.isLiked ?? false;
     _isSaved = widget.post.isSaved ?? false;
+    _seedReactionState();
+  }
+
+  void _seedReactionState() {
+    if (widget.post.reactions != null) {
+      _reactionCounts.addAll(widget.post.reactions!);
+    }
+    if (widget.post.myReactions != null) {
+      _myReactions.addAll(widget.post.myReactions!);
+    }
   }
 
   void _showError(String message) {
@@ -121,42 +137,147 @@ class _PostActionsState extends ConsumerState<PostActions> {
     }
   }
 
+  Future<void> _toggleReaction(String emoji) async {
+    final previousCounts = Map<String, int>.from(_reactionCounts);
+    final previousMine = Set<String>.from(_myReactions);
+
+    setState(() {
+      if (_myReactions.contains(emoji)) {
+        _myReactions.remove(emoji);
+        final next = (_reactionCounts[emoji] ?? 1) - 1;
+        if (next <= 0) {
+          _reactionCounts.remove(emoji);
+        } else {
+          _reactionCounts[emoji] = next;
+        }
+      } else {
+        if (_myReactions.isNotEmpty) {
+          final previousEmoji = _myReactions.first;
+          _myReactions.clear();
+          final prevCount = (_reactionCounts[previousEmoji] ?? 1) - 1;
+          if (prevCount <= 0) {
+            _reactionCounts.remove(previousEmoji);
+          } else {
+            _reactionCounts[previousEmoji] = prevCount;
+          }
+        }
+        _myReactions.add(emoji);
+        _reactionCounts[emoji] = (_reactionCounts[emoji] ?? 0) + 1;
+      }
+    });
+
+    try {
+      final api = ref.read(apiServiceProvider);
+      final response = await api.toggleReaction(widget.post.id, emoji);
+      if (!mounted) return;
+      final updatedCounts = response['reactions'] as Map<String, dynamic>?;
+      final updatedMine = response['my_reactions'] as List<dynamic>?;
+      
+      if (updatedCounts != null) {
+        setState(() {
+          _reactionCounts.clear();
+          _reactionCounts.addAll(
+            updatedCounts.map((key, value) => MapEntry(key, value as int))
+          );
+        });
+      }
+      if (updatedMine != null) {
+        setState(() {
+          _myReactions.clear();
+          _myReactions.addAll(updatedMine.map((item) => item.toString()));
+        });
+      }
+    } catch (_) {
+      if (mounted) {
+        setState(() {
+          _reactionCounts.clear();
+          _reactionCounts.addAll(previousCounts);
+          _myReactions.clear();
+          _myReactions.addAll(previousMine);
+        });
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   @override
   Widget build(BuildContext context) {
     final allowChain = widget.post.allowChain && widget.post.visibility != 'private' && widget.onChain != null;
 
-    return Row(
-      mainAxisAlignment: MainAxisAlignment.start,
+    return Column(
+      crossAxisAlignment: CrossAxisAlignment.start,
       children: [
-        // Icon-only action buttons with Row layout
-        _IconActionButton(
-          icon: Icons.favorite_border,
-          activeIcon: Icons.favorite,
-          isActive: _isLiked,
-          isLoading: _isLiking,
-          onPressed: _isLiking ? null : _toggleLike,
-          activeColor: AppTheme.brightNavy,
+        // Reactions section - full width
+        ReactionStrip(
+          reactions: _reactionCounts,
+          myReactions: _myReactions,
+          reactionUsers: {},
+          onToggle: (emoji) => _toggleReaction(emoji),
+          onAdd: () => _toggleReaction('❤️'), // Default to heart for now
         ),
-        const SizedBox(width: 24),
-        _IconActionButton(
-          icon: Icons.bookmark_border,
-          activeIcon: Icons.bookmark,
-          isActive: _isSaved,
-          isLoading: _isSaving,
-          onPressed: _isSaving ? null : _toggleSave,
-          activeColor: AppTheme.brightNavy,
+        const SizedBox(height: 16),
+        // Actions row - left aligned
+        Row(
+          children: [
+            if (allowChain)
+              Expanded(
+                child: ElevatedButton.icon(
+                  onPressed: widget.onChain,
+                  icon: const Icon(Icons.reply, size: 18),
+                  label: const Text('Reply'),
+                  style: ElevatedButton.styleFrom(
+                    backgroundColor: AppTheme.brightNavy,
+                    foregroundColor: Colors.white,
+                    padding: const EdgeInsets.symmetric(vertical: 14),
+                    shape: RoundedRectangleBorder(
+                      borderRadius: BorderRadius.circular(12),
+                    ),
+                  ),
+                ),
+              ),
+            if (allowChain) const SizedBox(width: 12),
+            IconButton(
+              onPressed: _isLiking ? null : _toggleLike,
+              icon: Icon(
+                _isLiked ? Icons.favorite : Icons.favorite_border,
+                color: _isLiked ? Colors.red : AppTheme.textSecondary,
+              ),
+              style: IconButton.styleFrom(
+                backgroundColor: AppTheme.navyBlue.withValues(alpha: 0.08),
+                shape: RoundedRectangleBorder(
+                  borderRadius: BorderRadius.circular(12),
+                ),
+              ),
+            ),
+            const SizedBox(width: 8),
+            IconButton(
+              onPressed: _isSaving ? null : _toggleSave,
+              icon: Icon(
+                _isSaved ? Icons.bookmark : Icons.bookmark_border,
+                color: _isSaved ? AppTheme.brightNavy : AppTheme.textSecondary,
+              ),
+              style: IconButton.styleFrom(
+                backgroundColor: AppTheme.navyBlue.withValues(alpha: 0.08),
+                shape: RoundedRectangleBorder(
+                  borderRadius: BorderRadius.circular(12),
+                ),
+              ),
+            ),
+            const SizedBox(width: 8),
+            IconButton(
+              onPressed: _sharePost,
+              icon: Icon(
+                Icons.share_outlined,
+                color: AppTheme.textSecondary,
+              ),
+              style: IconButton.styleFrom(
+                backgroundColor: AppTheme.navyBlue.withValues(alpha: 0.08),
+                shape: RoundedRectangleBorder(
+                  borderRadius: BorderRadius.circular(12),
+                ),
+              ),
+            ),
+          ],
         ),
-        const SizedBox(width: 24),
-        _IconActionButton(
-          icon: Icons.share_outlined,
-          onPressed: _sharePost,
-        ),
-        const Spacer(),
-        if (allowChain)
-          _IconActionButton(
-            icon: Icons.reply,
-            onPressed: widget.onChain,
-          ),
       ],
     );
   }
diff --git a/sojorn_app/lib/widgets/sojorn_post_card.dart b/sojorn_app/lib/widgets/sojorn_post_card.dart
index 6b43fe7..3a391f5 100644
--- a/sojorn_app/lib/widgets/sojorn_post_card.dart
+++ b/sojorn_app/lib/widgets/sojorn_post_card.dart
@@ -81,9 +81,25 @@ class sojornPostCard extends StatelessWidget {
         highlightColor: Colors.transparent,
         child: Container(
           padding: _padding,
+          decoration: BoxDecoration(
+            color: AppTheme.cardSurface,
+            borderRadius: BorderRadius.circular(20),
+            border: Border.all(
+              color: AppTheme.brightNavy,
+              width: 2,
+            ),
+            boxShadow: [
+              BoxShadow(
+                color: AppTheme.brightNavy.withValues(alpha: 0.18),
+                blurRadius: 24,
+                offset: const Offset(0, 8),
+              ),
+            ],
+          ),
           child: Column(
             crossAxisAlignment: CrossAxisAlignment.start,
             children: [
+              const SizedBox(height: 4),
               // Header row with menu
               Row(
                 crossAxisAlignment: CrossAxisAlignment.start,
@@ -101,12 +117,7 @@ class sojornPostCard extends StatelessWidget {
                   ),
                 ],
               ),
-
-              // Chain context (if parent exists and not in detail view)
-              if (post.chainParent != null && mode != PostViewMode.detail)
-                _buildChainContext(context),
-
-              const SizedBox(height: AppTheme.spacingMd),
+              const SizedBox(height: 16),
 
               // Body text
               PostBody(
@@ -117,13 +128,15 @@ class sojornPostCard extends StatelessWidget {
               ),
 
               // Media (if available)
-              if (post.imageUrl != null && post.imageUrl!.isNotEmpty)
+              if (post.imageUrl != null && post.imageUrl!.isNotEmpty) ...[
+                const SizedBox(height: 16),
                 PostMedia(
                   post: post,
                   mode: mode,
                 ),
+              ],
 
-              const SizedBox(height: AppTheme.spacingLg),
+              const SizedBox(height: 20),
 
               // Actions
               PostActions(
@@ -137,43 +150,4 @@ class sojornPostCard extends StatelessWidget {
       ),
     );
   }
-
-  Widget _buildChainContext(BuildContext context) {
-    final parent = post.chainParent;
-    if (parent == null) return const SizedBox.shrink();
-
-    return Container(
-      margin: const EdgeInsets.only(bottom: AppTheme.spacingSm),
-      padding: const EdgeInsets.all(AppTheme.spacingSm),
-      decoration: BoxDecoration(
-        color: AppTheme.queenPink.withOpacity(0.15),
-        borderRadius: BorderRadius.circular(AppTheme.radiusSm),
-        border: Border(
-          left: BorderSide(
-            color: AppTheme.egyptianBlue.withOpacity(0.5),
-            width: 2,
-          ),
-        ),
-      ),
-      child: Row(
-        mainAxisSize: MainAxisSize.min,
-        crossAxisAlignment: CrossAxisAlignment.center,
-        children: [
-          Icon(
-            Icons.subdirectory_arrow_right,
-            color: AppTheme.royalPurple.withOpacity(0.7),
-            size: 16,
-          ),
-          const SizedBox(width: 6),
-          Text(
-            "Replying to @${parent.author?.handle ?? 'unknown'}",
-            style: AppTheme.textTheme.labelSmall?.copyWith(
-              color: AppTheme.royalPurple,
-              fontWeight: FontWeight.w600,
-            ),
-          ),
-        ],
-      ),
-    );
-  }
 }