Here in the northern hemisphere, today is the shortest day of the year. Or the longest night, depending on your perspective.
This is a winter event that affects us all equally. The sun shines every one of us the same, regardless of what other holidays we may or may not celebrate.
Join me in lighting a candle to honor the darkness and to acknowledging that it too will pass. If you can carve out some time for rest, restoration, and reflection your efforts will be supported by the universal energies of the season and will help ease the transition as the days begin to lengthen.
I was lucky enough to get out into the sunshine to visit the trees and the babbling brook in my neighborhood. I can’t imagine any better medicine for a cold, winter day. I’m wishing you whatever medicine will best feed your soul and a joyful solstice wherever you may be.
Here in the northern hemisphere, today is the shortest day of the year. Or the longest…
A new friend asked me the other day how I unwind.
It took me several moments to realize that I don’t. Or at least I endeavor to not need to unwind.
My response was unexpected, so I took a few moments to gather my thoughts. I have come to realize that my thought process is rather unusual, and wanted to provide a gentle introduction to someone who didn’t yet know my kooky ways. They were expecting me to say something like guided meditation and aromatherapy, both of which I enjoy, but not for the purpose of unwinding.
My strategy is to prevent myself from being wound up in the first place. I am not always successful, but I do make an effort to keep myself from getting too tense or overwhelmed. I find prevention is much easier than recovery.
I’ve noticed that the feeling of being wound up or stressed out is highly unpleasant. I don’t like it. Not at all! And I know from experience that I tend to make unwise decisions when in that state, looking for relief that can often be unhealthy, due to sheer desperation to feel better. A distraction. A numbing out. Delaying the unpleasantness and adding undesirable consequences.
Prevention is not only more enjoyable, but also more effective. I don’t have to deal with the uncomfortable body-mind state or the aftermath of the coping mechanisms that just postpone the inevitable.
I’ve learned that when I spend time in the mornings getting my desires and actions harmonized with the day’s agenda, I have smoother sailing than when I don’t. When I set myself up with a hearty breakfast and move my body in ways that feel good, when I pay attention to my needs and emotions, I start off with a full tank and a clean slate. I have more clarity and the means to move in the direction I desire to go.
Granted, I’ve built a life over the past several decades that is centered around having this luxury of a morning ritual. It’s what works for me and I’ve strived to give it to myself most days. I get that it isn’t for everyone. It’s not the specifics of what I do or how I do it that I’m championing. My way is uniquely mine.
What I’m here to suggest is a simple shift in perspective.
If I could propose just one thing to everyone whose path crosses mine, it would be to get proactive. Conjure up some courage and motivation to get off the merry-go-round of repetitive behavior patterns and do something differently if you want to experience different results.
You might need to experiment a little (or a lot!) to figure out what you need and how to provide it in a way that makes sense for your personality, circumstances, and resources. Even a quick 10-minute breathing/stretching/dancing/walking/journaling session will be effective if tended to consistently.
Find your thing! Know that it will evolve over time. It may even be different on a day-by-day basis. It’s the act of committing to doing something, anything really, for yourself on a consistent basis that will help you stay unwound and free you up from the more challenging task of unwinding in a healthful and productive way.
What’s just one thing that you can do today? I bet you already know what it is. Take that first step and you just might sense the universe meeting you halfway. When tomorrow comes it will be easier to take the next step because you’ll have the knowing that you can do it and that you’re on your path to creating a more enjoyable future for yourself.
If you need some support getting started, check out my December Reiki special. Clearing the chakra system is one way to jumpstart a new habit.
A new friend asked me the other day how I unwind. It took me several moments…
Do you know about glimmers? It’s a new concept to me. I was at a sound healing recently and the maestro talked about grasping any glimmers that might pop up during the session.
I’m completely enamored with the idea of little things experienced throughout the day that can activate the parasympathetic (rest & restore) nervous system and fostering a sense of safety. They happen often, but because of the brain’s negativity bias (always looking for the potential dangers), they can go unnoticed.
I did some online research and found this interesting article I wanted to share. In my experience, it’s the simple, small things that we focus our attention on consistently that make the most significant and lasting changes in how we feel.
Do you know about glimmers? It’s a new concept to me. I was at a sound…
Folks are often surprised, maybe even bewildered, at all the ways I apply Reiki in my life. Recently a Reiki 2 student commented that it seems like I’m just doing Reiki all day.
She’s right!
But probably not in the way you think. I do live in the world, same as you. I pay my bills, shop for groceries, cook my meals, brush my teeth. I have dentist appointments and get the oil in my car changed and do the laundry. So. Much. Laundry!
I have not forsaken all the usual tasks, but I do bring Reiki into them.
To me, Reiki has become a state of being rather than a task. So, when I’m on hold with the internet provider, Reiki is flowing. When I’m brushing my hair, I’m connected to the flow of life-force energy and aligning myself with its frequency. Before I put the car in drive, I pave the way forward with Reiki intentions.
This is my recipe for maintaining equanimity while dealing with whatever the world presents me. I meet each moment, turning towards whatever pops up with compassionate attention and.. yup, Reiki.
Much of the time, I’m successful. I’m still participating in this human experience and do lose my sh*t from time to time. But it’s rare, usually doesn’t last long, and I recover pretty quickly.
If full-time Reiki sounds a bit overwhelming, let me assure you that I started this journey 21 years ago with a simple daily practice. For about 15 minutes every morning, I used the traditional hand positions to fill myself up with healing energy.
Over time, my practice began to expand. I brought Reiki into the shower with me, washing my body with ki as well as soap and hot water. I brought Reiki to the yoga mat, infusing my breath and awareness with it. It came along on my meditations and walks, gushing from my open palms and surrounding me with supportive and protective energies.
Gradually it grew, seeping into more and more of my daily life. This wasn’t effort-full by any means! Once you realize you have full-time access to healing powers that help smooth the way through the rough spots and deepen the joyful moments, willingness to apply them emerges quite naturally.
I believe that committing to a daily practice is the first step for all of us. Once you get into a habit of showing up for yourself and taking time for self-compassion, self-empowerment, and self-healing, you begin to notice the rewards. And once you get familiar with the rewards, you begin to notice pretty quickly when you aren’t experiencing them and quickly want to return.
There’s nothing particularly special about me. I’m not overly motivated or assertive or ambitious. Quite the opposite! I’m just very averse to suffering and lazy enough to want the simplest, safest, easiest support system that provides amazing results with only beneficial side effects.
I was willing to devote a mere 15 minutes of my mornings to a practice that gave me full-time access. Eventually I began to take more and more advantage of this full-time access, because… why not? Why not use your superpowers all the time to help you with all the things?
If you’re already on your Reiki journey, why not take advantage of the New Year reset energies to reinvigorate your self-treatment commitment? Or consider booking a Chakra-cleanse remote Reiki (December’s special) or an in-person session if you’re in Philly.
If you have yet to be initiated into the Reiki world, join my mailing list and be amongst the first to know about upcoming classes. I’m planning to offer Reiki 1 certification training in January.
Folks are often surprised, maybe even bewildered, at all the ways I apply Reiki in my…
This is a great video from Tosha Silver about sending blessings rather than worry. Both are felt in the energetic realm by both the giver and the receiver. Guess which has a positive effect? Which would you prefer to receive?
I teach this same concept in Reiki 2 classes when we’re delving into the benefits of remote sessions. It’s very empowering to be able to help when your people are struggling. Worry never helps! It’s actually disempowering.
You might have been taught that worrying is a side-effect of caring. This is a mistaken concept and today is a great day to change your thinking. Give it a try. And sign up for my newsletter if you’re interested in starting your Reiki journey in 2024.
This is a great video from Tosha Silver about sending blessings rather than worry. Both are…
I’ve been wanting to offer themed monthly sessions for quite some time now. 2024 seems like it is calling for some intense healing work and it makes sense to start with a “clearing the slate” theme to wrap up 2023, so we’re kicking it off a month early.
To make it as affordable and accessible as possible, I’ve condensed this treatment down to just 45 minutes. That’s plenty of time for an incredibly transformative experience and will hopefully fit more easily into your budget and schedule.
Chakra Cleanse Session
This is a 45-minute remote Reiki session devoted to the chakra system.
We begin with a short phone call to discuss your needs and brainstorm ideas for how you can align your words and actions with your intention. I find that folks get so much more out of their sessions when we work together as a team.
Then we’ll hang up so you can get comfy and I can focus on the energetic connection. You get to sit back and soak up the healing vibes while I direct Reiki to purify any debris from your energy centers and encourage a balanced flow throughout your system.
This is a gentle, non-invasive treatment that always works in favor of your highest good. Reiki is spiritually guided and will only clear the energy that isn’t yours or is outdated and holding you back. Ideally, you want all chakras online and in communication with one another as they form a network of interwoven support.
Of course, you’ll still have to follow through and do your work afterwards. Think of this session like a carwash. If you immediately drive through mud or leave fast food wrappers under the seats, the benefits will be fleeting. Reiki can give you a fresh start, and then it’s up to you where you go from there.
At $75, this is my most affordable offering. Schedule by 12/31/23 to get this limited time offer and get yourself primed for 2024.
I’ve been wanting to offer themed monthly sessions for quite some time now. 2024 seems like…
The word is getting out about this amazing healing modality and lots of people are curious and eager. I mean, what’s not to like about an infusion of life-force energy that can be directed towards healing any malady or supporting any goal?
Chronic pain, anxiety, fatigue, procrastination; developing intuition, patience, compassion, motivation, productivity; releasing stress, anger, grief, resentment; healing old wounds, psoriasis, digestive issues. These are just some of the reasons people come to me.
Taking the first step towards experiencing Reiki can seem daunting to folks. Just like anything new, there might be some hesitance. Often clients come for their first session and say something along the lines of, “I’ve wanted to try this for years and now I finally am.”
If you have a friend, colleague or loved one who fits in this category, consider gifting them with a remote Reiki session. It’s the most wonderful treatment! Folks can stay at home with all their creature comforts. They don’t even have to get dressed or comb their hair or navigate to an unknown place in the rain.
Remote Reiki sessions begin with a phone call to discuss the goals of the session. I’m a compassionate listener and it’s pretty difficult to shock me with statements like: I know it sounds weird, but…
I’ve pretty much heard it all in my 20 years of practice!
So, a brief phone call with a kind person (that’s me!) to clarify the intention. No judgment, no advice, no trying to turn the spotlight back on myself. Many people find this short conversation to be as healing as the treatment itself.
Then we disconnect the call so I can focus on the energetic connection and applying Reiki towards the goals we discussed.
That’s it! There’s nothing that needs to be done other than a willingness to receive the energy. Some people like to light a candle or burn some incense, meditate or listen to soothing music. Others just carry on about their day.
IMO, it’s the simplest, most user-friendly introduction into a brand new world. A world in which the flow of life-force can enhance and support any desire that is in one’s best interest.
Now, if $100 (that’s the minimum as it’s the cost of a session and I think it’s uncool to give a gift that requires the recipient to shell out their own money) is more than you want to spend, there’s nifty feature on the site that allows you to share the cost with others. You’ll see the “Group Gift Card” option on the first page.
A screenshot of the webpage. There are a wide variety of themes to choose from.
And if you’re thinking, wow, that sounds great, I wish someone would gift me a Reiki treatment, now is the time to share this valuable information with your inner circle. You can take the pressure off someone trying to choose the right gift out of an endless sea of possibilities.
If you’ve already received a gift and want to schedule a session, you’ll just need to send me a message. You can have a look at the online calendar to see what’s available if you like, but sadly the system won’t let you schedule it yourself. No worries, I can handle it from my end quickly and easily.
Gifts are easily purchased online and you can even decide when the email notification goes out to recipient. Supply is limited: I only offer as many as I can absorb into my schedule in a timely fashion. I don’t want anyone having to wait for months to experience their gift.
Certificates can be used for any service I offer, including coaching, in-person Reiki and massage. If you’re outside the Philly area, you might like to share with your recipient that you’re gifting them a remote Reiki treatment to avoid any confusion.
The word is getting out about this amazing healing modality and lots of people are curious…
Holistic healing emerges from a belief system that all the parts of ourselves (body, mind, emotions, energy, lifestyle, circumstances, and soul path) affect the whole. They all weave together to form a rich tapestry. The overall objective is to come into balance by respecting and honoring all the different elements and this can often take time.
As we’re all imbalanced in unique ways, our journeys are also unique. There is no one-size fits all plan or magic pill that will do the work.
It might seem overwhelming to take on such a task when few of us have had any experience or role models, let alone training, in such endeavors. It might seem like a daunting goal, but just like everything else, we begin from wherever we are with one step in the direction we wish to go.
I feel grateful that my journey began in my youth when I wasn’t too dug into any particular belief system or behavioral patterns to welcome change. Today my life is fully immersed in the holistic health realm, but it was a gradual process over many years. That’s the cool thing about habits- they are easy to build on top of one another.
For those who come to this path in their adult years, there might be more resistance to trying something new. I get it! I tend to be set in my ways a lot of the time. But if your current treatment, whatever that may be, is not providing the results you desire, I’d encourage you to try a different way. Some people choose holistic healing as a complement to conventional treatment; it’s not an either/or situation.
My suggestion is to approach your healing goal with kindness and curiosity. Instead of attacking knee pain, psoriasis, grief, procrastination or anything else with an intention of eradicating it, try an exploratory approach. See it as a misunderstood or wayward ally instead of an outright enemy.
Carve out 15 minutes from your day and set yourself up in a quiet space where you won’t be disturbed. Tell your people that you’re unavailable for this time, excepting emergencies. (Perhaps also explain what qualifies as an emergency!) Turn off your devices, or better yet remove them entirely from your space. Have a notebook or journal handy to capture any messages.
Taking this time for yourself is crucial on the healing journey. Otherwise you will just be spinning your wheels, engaged in therapies or practices that others have suggested that might be totally off the mark for you.
Get yourself as comfortable as possible. You might need to stretch or dance it out or take some deep breaths to drop out of your head and into your body. In the spirit of kindness and curiosity, ask.
What is it that this condition is trying to tell me?
What does it need to feel relief?
What do I need to learn/integrate/release in order to feel better?
Be patient. Learning to hear your inner voice takes some time if you’re new to it. Trust whatever words, sounds, colors or images come through. It’s easy to dismiss your messages thinking you’ve “just made them up”. Maybe you did, and that’s ok. But there’s a good chance it was at least influenced by your subconscious or higher self or soul. Honor that by writing it down and at the very least, considering the wisdom within.
Then, and this is important, choose just one small step that you can do today and do it. Or put it on your calendar for a time when you can do it and commit to following through.
It’s easy to get lost in the analyzing stage and never take action. It’s easy to get frozen trying to figure it all out, but I assure you, you don’t need to figure it all out now. Just take one tiny step. See how that feels. Often breadcrumbs will appear showing the following steps. And remember the elements of kindness and curiosity. They will be your best friends and wonderful travel companions along the way.
If you’d like some support for your journey, consider booking a Reiki session in Philly or a remote session wherever you are. An infusion of life-force energy can help with clarity and motivation and give you the boost of connection that helps move you forward.
Holistic healing emerges from a belief system that all the parts of ourselves (body, mind, emotions,…
Yesterday was my day to go for a hike in the woods, but I just didn’t have the energy. I was in need of rest, but I knew that I always feel better when I spend some time outside. So I decided to go for a short walk at the arboretum in my neighborhood.
I was pleased to see a few deer grazing in the meadow. You’ll have to trust me when I say that’s what the shape below in the center is as it was too far away to get a good pic.
I was strolling about with the intent of finding a sunny bench to read my book. The spot I was thinking of was overrun with dozens of 10 year-olds on some sort of field trip and seemed very unappealing.
I tried a path I’d never been down before and a hawk popped out of the bushes just a few feet in front of me and swooped up into a nearby tree. Whoa! That made me take notice. I don’t recall ever seeing one so close and at eye level before. It must have been on the ground just off the path.
Below the tree where it perched was an empty grassy area with a few patches of sunlight. I decided that the universe had chosen an unlikely messenger to suggest that I have a seat here. I decided to lay down in the grass, realizing that earthing (the act of connecting with the ground and absorbing healing energy) was a better aligned with my needs of the day than hiking.
It’s rare for me to come into contact with the earth without rubber soles in between us. I don’t have a yard and spend most of my outdoor time on sidewalks or rocky terrain, neither of which are amendable to bare feet. It was an extra special treat to breathe fresh air, bask in the sun, and feel supported by the ground.
On my way back to the car, I saw much evidence of ground hogs and one of the critters itself. At least that’s what I think the furry thing scurrying underground was! Hard to be certain from a distance. I finally did find a bench in the sun as was able to spend some quality time with a novel in the great outdoors.
I’m so glad I didn’t push myself to do my scheduled activity or abandon my nature therapy altogether. I’m even glad for the bus load of rowdy kids who steered me in a different direction so I was available to be ushered by a hawk to a different form of nature therapy.
It was a wonderful two hours and a lesson to be willing to adapt my plans to suit my needs and the resources available. And a reminder that many of the best things in life are free if we only pay attention.
Luminous Heart Reiki & Massage 