Luminous Heart Reiki & Massage

healing

Ushering people into the realm of self-empowerment is my calling. Teaching Reiki classes and providing sessions, both distance and in-person, brings me great joy. Yet I’ve recognized a gap in the services I provide. Once initiated into the Reiki world, there’s not a lot of guidance or connection for practitioners.

Becoming actively involved in one’s wellness is not well supported in our culture. For those interested in reclaiming wholeness and worthiness, accessing guidance from the soul level and creating a lifestyle designed to foster optimal health and happiness, the path is often a solitary one.

This has inspired me to build a new tier of services specifically for Reiki folks. The latest installation is Reiki Squares, an online guided self-care practice. We begin on March 4 with a focus on self-compassion, a concept with which many of us struggle. Intellectually we might understand that we can’t really assist anyone when we’re depleted, but we have few role models for applying self-compassion in the real world.

Photo by Anna Shvets on Pexels.com

If you’ve been attuned to level 1 Reiki or beyond, regardless of when that happened or how often you practice or don’t practice, you’re welcome to join us. Whatever issues you’re dealing with, Reiki can help.

This is a trauma-informed event and we will begin every session establishing community agreements to build an emotionally safe container. There will be an opportunity, but no obligation, to share about your experience. Many find that being witnessed by colleagues adds value and often we can learn from the adventures of others.

Find more information on this and other services on my Reiki Tribe page, as well as an opportunity to signup for a monthly newsletter announcing future events.

Practicing in community helps remind us that we’re not alone. Healing doesn’t need to be a solitary practice. Join us for an hour of self-compassion and self-care that will hopefully inspire you to add these elements to your daily life.

Online Guided Reiki Practice

Ushering people into the realm of self-empowerment is my calling. Teaching Reiki classes and providing sessions,…
I have Reiki to thank for keeping me healthy, happy, sane, and solvent during this on-and-on-and-ongoing pandemic. The yearning I feel to share these benefits with everyone has been magnified since 2020. I recognize the need for support beyond traditional sessions and certification classes, and a new service has emerged as a result.

I was in massage school during my Reiki initiation and surrounded by a wide variety of holistic health advocates. It was normal to devote oneself to daily practices of self-care and to actively participate in pursuing physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, and energetic wellness. After graduation, I continued working at the school’s student clinic as well as a spa. Not a glamor-type spa, but a health-oriented one, with an attached movement studio and organic café. I didn’t realize then what a blessing this introduction was for helping me create a Reiki lifestyle.

Self-care was as normal to me as wet is to a fish. I didn’t realize till I left the protective waters of Santa Fe, and later California, that this is not always the case. It’s now clear to me that many folks don’t have support for cementing a consistent practice into their lives. Enthusiasm and curiosity that was so bright during a Reiki class begins to dissipate gradually out in the real world.

We live in a culture that massively undervalues self-care and taking time for ourselves. Society would have us believe that it’s better to sacrifice all our energy in pursuit of status, productivity, busy-ness, wealth, and taking care of others until we get too depleted to continue. It’s ok to devote resources to our own wellness after receiving a devastating diagnosis, but not before. Ridiculous!

The healthier and more vibrant I am, the more helpful I can be to others. I’ve devoted my career to promoting lifestyles that embrace wellness, self-care, and self-empowerment. I’m passionate about helping others actively engage in creating optimal wellness and the lives they desire. Which is why I’m offering new services that will support Reiki practitioners.

Sure, you can always retake a class to revive your passion. I even offer refresher attunements for those seeking a jump-start. It’s easy to book an appointment to receive a session, either distance or in-person. These are all helpful options for practitioners seeking support beyond what their self-treatment efforts can provide. But they’re not necessarily the best match for someone who is struggling to get a personal or professional practice off the ground.

It’s common to need some extra guidance about how to make Reiki work for you. I’ve come across many folks who took a class years ago in which the teacher prescribed an inflexible routine that just wasn’t realistic. Sadly, they abandoned the practice altogether as a result.

A Reiki practice doesn’t need to be rigid! I’ve managed to dedicate myself to a daily ritual that is constantly evolving to meet my needs. I have nearly twenty years’ experience allowing Reiki to work for me rather than following some arbitrary rules. In addition, Reiki has helped me to building a career that is meaningful, enjoyable, and sustainable.

Which leads to the next phase of my business.

20-minute phone coaching sessions for Reiki practitioners. If you’re seeking guidance about how to build your own practice, either personal or professional, I’d be delighted to share my knowledge with you. I’m keen to help others get in touch with their inner wisdom and allow the soul to lead the way.

During these phone calls, we will focus on one specific topic and troubleshoot any obstacles that prevent you from moving forward and experiencing your best possible outcome. If you find yourself stuck on ANY issue, I would be delighted to coach you on how to use Reiki and step into your power. I have nearly two decades of experience creating both personal and professional Reiki practices that are outside the narrow and constrictive boxes that are often presented as the only way.

Here’s a list of the most common questions I get from Reiki people. I feel confident that Reiki can be used in every situation excepting trying to manipulate others; if you don’t see your specific quandary, no worries! I repeat, these are just the most common questions I receive, intending to spark your own unique questions, which would be most welcome during a coaching session.

How do I anchor my self-treatment practice into a daily routine that suits my life?

How do I apply Reiki to a specific challenge or goal?

How do I heal childhood adversity or trauma?

How do I overcome procrastination or lack of motivation?

How do I establish and maintain healthy boundaries?

How do I protect myself from feeling overwhelmed/depleted/dumped upon?

How do I begin a professional practice?

How do I overcome my discomfort around charging a fair fee for my services?

How do I attract compatible clients?

Contact me to set up an appointment and together we will explore how to use Reiki to forge your own path.

If you’d like to stay informed of services and events curated specifically for Reiki practitioners, check out my Reiki Tribe page or sign up for the newsletter. This is the home base where I’m consolidating all the information for those of us on the Reiki path.

Reiki Tribe News Signup

Coaching Sessions for Reiki Practitioners

I have Reiki to thank for keeping me healthy, happy, sane, and solvent during this on-and-on-and-ongoing…
In this humorous video, Sonia Choquette delves into the different personalities of the human spirit. It can be really helpful to have this type of clarity so you don’t bother turning to a go-get-’em type person when you really want a hug and vice versa.

I recognize myself as part earth and part water. I guess my spirit type is mud, although she doesn’t present that as an option. You might think mud is rather unappealing, but it’s certainly useful for holding things together. It’s definitely messy, and difficult to control. Like me. 🙂

I think many of you will enjoy watching this, if only for the chuckles. And some will really find the concepts presented to be helpful for understanding yourself as well as creating future strategies to meet your unique needs.

Spirit is Not One-Size-Fits-All

In this humorous video, Sonia Choquette delves into the different personalities of the human spirit. It…
I found this podcast with Dr. Rick and (his son) Forest Hanson, to be very helpful. In my Reiki practice, many clients and students are searching for tools to handle difficult family dynamics. Those of us on spiritual and/or healing journeys have often come across practices of forgiveness and compassion which might seem to butt heads with practices of self-care and boundary setting. Confusion can arise, further complicating things.

To say it’s a complex issue is really an understatement! Whether you’re the one choosing distance, or the one being distanced from, you might find some comfort or useful tips in this mindful and meaningful dialog. It’s geared toward parent/child relationships, but could easily be adapted to friendships.

Navigating Estrangement Situations, Being Well with Dr. Rick Hanson

From podcast notes: “We’ve received a substantial number of questions from our listeners regarding familial estrangement: when one family member distances themselves from the others, or chooses not to interact with them at all. It’s a common and extremely challenging situation, and the pain related to it can be particularly intense during the holidays. Today on Being Well, Dr. Rick and Forrest Hanson discuss family estrangement, particularly focusing on parents and children, and how the questions we engage in this territory apply more broadly to how we balance our own boundaries with the responsibilities we have toward other people.”

Navigating Estrangement Situations

I found this podcast with Dr. Rick and (his son) Forest Hanson, to be very helpful.…
One of the things I teach in my Reiki classes is the value of nonattachment. It’s a simple concept, but not exactly easy to embody. Desire for a goal can be so intense that we might not notice when something even better comes along. The trick is in asking for what you want and trusting Reiki to bring you what you really need, even if it’s something altogether different. The longer I do this work, the more certain I become that Reiki is wiser than I am.

An episode of The Simpsons pops into my mind every time I think of unhealthy attachment. Curiously, this particular scene has stuck in my memory for nearly thirty years even though it’s been well over a decade since I’ve watched the show. Clearly it made a strong impression!

Homer gets his arm stuck in a vending machine while trying to get a free soda. Emergency personnel are summoned and one of them is about to cut off the trapped arm when another asks, “Homer, are you just holding onto the can?”

Rather than letting go of the fizzy sugary drink to free himself, he continued to hold on tightly. This is what unhealthy attachment looks like! Poor guy nearly had his arm amputated (both arms, actually. I don’t recall why, but he somehow got the other one stuck in a different vending machine as only Homer could…) because he didn’t want to let go.

Real life isn’t as obvious, nor as humorous. It can be easy to lose sight of the big picture and dig in your heels to keep a job, identity, or relationship that just isn’t working because an alternative isn’t clear. Change can be scary; the unknown even more so.

We don’t need to know all the answers to release attachment. We just need to be willing to consider alternatives. It’s usually not necessary to make a total leap of faith, although I’ve done just that several times and landed happily on greener grass. Most of the time, however, I’ve just relaxed my death grip on the soda can and paid attention when other opportunities presented themselves.

You might be asking; how do I know what to let go of? Buddhists believe that all attachments lead to suffering. While this may be true, I recognize the unlikelihood that many will pursue complete and utter nonattachment. So, my suggestion is to begin by letting go of the ones that cause the greatest harm to your wellbeing.

This is where Reiki comes in handy. It can help you see clearly where suffering is optional and connect to your inner wisdom to make the best possible choices. Students and clients alike report that once they make the decision to let go, the universe provides unexpected openings. Reiki can also help provide access to the courage and motivation to follow through on the prospects that appear.

If you’re seeking more peace and happiness in your life, you’d likely benefit from being less like Homer. Whatever you’re holding onto that is causing you pain is unlikely to be on your path. Let it go before the emergency crew arrives with a saw and you’ll find life’s transitions to be much less uncomfortable.

Marianne Williamson says that if a train does not stop at your station, it’s not your train. Reiki can help you trust that your train will always stop for you. It’s a simple matter of taking a class, setting your intention, and applying healing energy on a consistent basis. Anyone can do it. If that seems like too much work, a practitioner can provide the same service. It’s really that easy.

Reiki and Attachments

One of the things I teach in my Reiki classes is the value of nonattachment. It’s…
Who wants to experience more wellness, wholeness, creativity, peace, love, and joy in the new year? Kick 2022 off with a bang by learning an amazing practice for self-care and self-empowerment to optimize your health and support your goals.

Reiki is an ancient healing energy that can easily be used by anyone to boost the body’s innate healing abilities, remove obstacles, and clear the way for that which you desire. Side effects include reduced stress, an improved mood, greater productivity, and access to your inner wisdom.

This online beginners’ course is for anyone interested in taking proactive steps to maximize well-being, happiness, pleasure, and tranquility. Yes, I said tranquility. It’s available, even in today’s world. I live there most of the time and would love to have more company! It does take effort, but the rewards are totally worth it.

Four Wednesday evenings, beginning January 5, from 6-8pm EST, we will gather together to begin a journey into the realm of healing. For an investment of only $225, you can have lifetime access to healing energy at your very fingertips.

Contact me to apply. No experience or mystical powers are necessary.

Online Reiki 1 Certification Coming in January!

Who wants to experience more wellness, wholeness, creativity, peace, love, and joy in the new year?…
Lately I’ve been hesitant to share that I’m doing quite well when so many others are suffering greatly. I’ve concluded that it doesn’t help anyone to hide my light, nor do I wish to tell lies or half-truths. So, when someone asks with genuine interest, I don’t hold back.

I’m doing great!

Somewhere in between withholding and gloating there is a middle ground, and that’s what I’m aiming for. Most of the time I hit the mark, but I occasionally still struggle with a strange, misplaced guilt. Who am I to be experiencing such freedom, peace, and joy?

Here’s the thing. I’ve invested great amounts of effort and finances in my wellness. It hasn’t happened by default or simple luck. Every day I make choices that are often inconvenient and spectacularly unpopular.

Choices like prioritizing rest and quality nourishment. Meaning that I regularly say no when people would prefer that I said yes. That I decline invitations for drinks or meals that would not serve my highest good. That I’m unwilling to engage in conversations that are draining or toxic in nature, and that I have deactivated my Facebook account.

The most heroic endeavor, however, is allowing myself to feel all my emotions. Rather than suppressing, avoiding, or numbing, I turn towards the unpleasant reactions.Sitting in meditation when I get triggered and welcoming the totality of the feelings that arise is one of the most important commitments I’ve ever made to myself. This helps me avoid dragging yesterday’s the wounds into today’s interactions.

Protecting my energy field from debris that I might absorb from others, monitoring my thoughts and releasing those that aren’t aligned with my calling, and keeping my heart open through it all requires diligence. Sure, there are times I want to crawl into bed with a pint of ice cream and the remote control. Since I now know such behavior only delays the inevitable, it’s much less appealing.

Yes, I know the world is a crazy place. I am not exempt from what’s happening out there. Being super-sensitive, I’m also aware of the intense cosmic energies. Yet given the choice to embrace my superpower of feeling deeply or opting to feel less, courtesy of self-medication, I choose feeling deeply.

When I’m hiding from my emotions, I have no chance of doing well. The best I can hope for is getting by. When I numb any part of myself, all of me gets numbed. There’s no such thing as selective anesthesia for the psyche.

So… sorry, not sorry, I haven’t posted in ages. It’s because I’ve been busy doing great.

I’m Doing Great! And it’s Freakin’ Hard Work.

Lately I’ve been hesitant to share that I’m doing quite well when so many others are…
People are often surprised to hear that Reiki is an effective healing treatment for their beloved pets. All living creatures, including animals of every variety, are imbued with life-force energy. This energy can be imbalanced, blocked, or weakened through less-than-optimal conditions (such as poor-quality food, lack of exercise and fresh air, or inadequate attention) as well as through injuries, stress, and disease. Reiki is a non-invasive, holistic technique for fostering optimal wellness in animals as well as in their human companions.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Sometimes a simple one-off treatment is all that is needed to offer assistance through a challenging event such as travel. Other critters benefit from a cluster of sessions to support recovery from a surgery, illness, or disruptive situation such as the addition of a new pet. Some creatures might need consistent support to help balance out end of life issues or chronic illness.

Luckily for us all, Reiki can be administered from afar. There’s no reason to schlep the poor darlings to an office, which would likely further traumatize them and counteract any positive effects. While some practitioners might make house calls, the expense can be prohibitive. Any Reiki provider with a level two certification has been trained to use sacred symbols and the power of intention to deliver healing to wherever it is needed. No matter where your pet is, Reiki can be received with ease.

Caregivers are usually relieved to learn that they need not try to coral their pets or force them to appear in a video meeting! They only need to provide a picture of the animal, along with his/her name, location, and ailment. Reiki does the rest. It’s not necessary to get animals to do anything specific; as most pet people know, it’s nearly impossible and stressful all-around to even try. They are eager recipients who instinctively recognize the value of Reiki.

The most economical approach would be to take a beginners’ level Reiki class. In a short amount of time, anyone can learn to deliver healing energy. There is no special skill or constitution required. A Reiki Master Teacher will perform an attunement which opens the energy channels, allowing the student to access this limitless, universal energy at any time. You can literally have healing available at your very fingertips! If your pet has a serious health condition or is otherwise nervous, anxious, or simply unwell, this approach allows for daily treatments on a minimal budget.

If adding yet another daily task to your to-do list triggers a feeling of overwhelm, you’ll likely prefer to hire a professional to do the job. That’s what we’re here for! While my experience so far lies mostly with dogs and cats, there are no animals that are off-limits. When it comes to remote treatments, we needn’t worry about stings, bites, or scratches. If it slithers, swims, flies, crawls or gallops, Reiki can help support your pets’ optimal wellness.

Reiki for Pets

People are often surprised to hear that Reiki is an effective healing treatment for their beloved…
I am reacquainting myself with my recently estranged creative process. The past several months have been emotionally challenging for me. My capacity to read anything but fantasy novels or write anything except necessary emails disappeared. POOF! I didn’t have the energy to navigate this crisis and nurture artistic endeavors. Losing access to my spark was all the more painful as I also lost the fulfilment and pleasure that results when creativity flows.

Keep in mind that when I say “crisis”, I’m talking about first world, white lady problems. Never was my life in danger and I knew the miserable situation was only temporary. It’s too personal to go into detail, but some of my deepest wounds got triggered and I needed to invest all my efforts in maintaining inner harmony despite external circumstances. Certainly not comparable to the depth of crises others are facing around the globe; yet to me it was A Very Big Deal.

I’m not seeking pity or condolences here. It was a rough time, but now it’s over. In fact, the outcome was a huge lifestyle upgrade, and I was always able to see the silver lining. I’m happy to report that I didn’t pile on any needless suffering by judging and blaming myself or fearing that my creativity had been fatally wounded. I have Reiki to thank for this small mercy! I knew deep down that creativity is indestructible. It might go into hiding when the going gets rough, but it’s in there all along, waiting to feel safe enough to reemerge.

Clients and friends alike have told me repeatedly over the past year and a half that they’ve had difficulty accessing their creative, productive, focused selves. It’s been clear to me all along that this is a natural response to the culture of fear that has developed from the pandemic. We’re constantly inundated with messages that the very act of breathing could be deadly, and that mere proximity to other people is extremely hazardous.

Sympathetic nervous systems have been activated like crazy! And when the body is consistently in DANGER Mode, all its efforts are directed to survival. This is a useful mechanism for facing an angry mama bear, but terribly debilitating when the situation endures for months and months. When the alarm bells are constantly ringing, it’s nearly impossible to focus on writing poetry, painting, or reading literature. Obviously, these would be dangerous distractions while climbing a tree to avoid being mauled by a wild animal. The physiological response was only meant to be brief, however, and many people have been suspended in DANGER Mode indefinitely.

I suppose the reason I’m writing this is to let you know that you’re not alone if you’ve been struggling to tap into the well of creativity within yourself. It’s a perfectly natural and normal side-effect of being stuck in chronic fight/flight/freeze mode. There’s no reason to beat yourself up and add self-criticism to your troubles. I have an immense collection of tools, a deep understanding of the effects of trauma, and decades of experience helping people recover from challenges and reconnect with their passions. Despite all of that, I felt pretty helpless as the wonderful habits I’d built over the last decade shriveled up.

It’s incredibly difficult to overcome the hardwiring of the nervous system when plunged into survival mode. Sometimes you just need to ride out the storm and wait for a sunny day. Please trust me when I say, when that day comes, you will also be able to rekindle a friendship with your estranged creativity. It is waiting patiently for you. And it will rise up like a phoenix from the ashes when the time is right.

Nurturing Creativity

I am reacquainting myself with my recently estranged creative process. The past several months have been…