Yesterday an old friend asked me about Reiki via text message. Given that we haven’t had much contact over the past few decades, he doesn’t yet know that I can talk A LOT about this powerful healing modality. And I’m unsure about how much he wants to hear, so I started with just a basic analogy.
That’s right. I compared spiritually-guided life-force energy healing to a Swiss Army knife.
In case you’re not familiar, a Swiss Army knife is a multi-use tool. A quick search online turned up this one, which has 29 different actions. And you can carry it everywhere you go.
Reiki is much the same- one tool that serves many purposes, including dismantling some things and connecting/integrating others.
Which makes it perfect for treating ALL the things- be they physical pain or illness, anxiety or uneasiness, overwhelm or grief, chakra imbalances, unwanted behavioral patterns, outdated coping mechanisms, aging and limiting beliefs.
My favorite definition of Reiki is “spiritually guided life-force energy”. It has its own innate intelligence and is always working to bring us into harmony with our True Selves and purpose. It gently aligns our energies and washes away that which is not serving the highest good.
I teach my students that they can use Reiki for ALL the things simply by activating the energy and using their intention to guide it. Often this awakens questions about unique maladies and obscure circumstances. To which I reply: activation + intention + consistent application = healing.
If you’ve been wanting to give it a try but think your goal is too bizarre or not bizarre enough, I can assure that Reiki always works. Some things take time and other things might turn out differently than we had expected- that’s the nature of healing.
Yesterday an old friend asked me about Reiki via text message. Given that we haven’t had…
For those who have already received Reiki 1 certification and wish to further their studies, I’m pleased to announce my next training.
First of all, why might you want to do this?
So many reasons!
Many people are quite content with the basic level 1 training and have no wish to go beyond the first class. You know who you are and I salute your Knowing. Carry on with what you’re already doing because it’s working for you.
Others want to offer treatments professionally. For this, I suggest this intermediate training.
Others have no interest in doing sessions for a living, but would like to share healing with people who live elsewhere. And for this, the level 2 symbols will be the bridge between your location and that of your intended recipients.
Still others are wanting to bend time and work their magic to heal wounds of the past, inherited belief systems, childhood programming, outdated coping mechanisms, and survival strategies that no longer serve their best interests. And for you, my courageous friends, this is the training that will give you more tools to go there.
And for those interested in ancestral and past-life healing, get yourself connected to these deeper and wider frequencies to do this important work.
If all of that seems like it’s too much trouble, this is also the training I recommend for anyone who wants to be a transmitter of harmonious, healing energy wherever you go. And I can wholeheartedly declare that the world could use more of this right now!
If you’re interested in learning more about this in-person, 5-week series of workshops priced at $444, you’ll find details here. We begin on September 16 in Philly.
For those who have already received Reiki 1 certification and wish to further their studies, I’m…
My friend, you are a complex being. You have history that is still alive in your cells, emotions stored in your chakras, coping mechanisms that were helpful when you were younger but have since become outdated. Any of these are good reasons to get a Reiki session and begin to move forward in the direction you desire.
Simply acknowledging the obstacles you face can be overwhelming. Taking steps to face them is courageous, revolutionary even, in a society that is heavily invested in selling you stuff that you don’t need in order to avoid old wounds. When you show up for your appointment, it’s very possible you’ll be feeling vulnerable, anxious, nervous, excited, hopeful, or skeptical. Maybe even all of that, all at once! And still you show up.
That’s amazing.
You’re amazing.
You might not be at your best. Not your most forthright at communicating your needs. Not the most level-headed or open to trying something new. That is perfectly normal.
And I welcome it all.
You do not need to perform okay-ness in the Reiki room. You can be a hot mess here. It will not offend me. It will not upset me or cause me to think less of you.
And you need not apologize for any of it. In fact, please don’t. Apologizing for being human is not necessary when you come for a session.
I always have a backup box of tissues in my studio because tears often come to the surface when healing work is happening. They might be tears of release; oftentimes though it’s grief. Grief that you were unable to face before for any number of reasons. Grief that senses an opportunity to finally be met and eventually integrated.
That grief is welcome here.
You need not apologize for it or the tears that follow.
You can apologize if you forget your appointment and keep me waiting, or if you step on my foot when you arrive. Once a client head-butted me when turning over on the table. That was an apology that was actually merited. In the 23 years I’ve been practicing, those are the only “sorries” I’ve accepted. And I’ve witnessed all sorts of emotional distress, distracted and unfocused thinking, and frazzled nerves.
You need not show up for your healing appointment as if you are already healed. And you definitely need not apologize for the pain you carry. There is no reason to try to take care of me in this situation; it’s my job and my honor to be there, witnessing all the feelings. I can handle it.
My friend, you are a complex being. You have history that is still alive in your…
Today’s post was inspired by a country song.
That’s not a sentence I ever expected to type! I’m not a country music fan, but I sometimes find the lyrics to be creative, colorful, and utterly relatable.
This song was about attempting to drown sorrows, but failing as they (the sorrows) had learned to swim.
We can safely assume that “drowning sorrows” in this context involves a large amount of whiskey.
But that doesn’t really work, does it? It can help you avoid a problem for a short amount of time, but often stirs up entirely new problems, such as a hangover or the consequences of decisions made while inebriated.
Believe me, I fully understand the impulse to escape the uncomfortable feelings. I’m well versed in a wide variety of strategies for doing exactly that. The reason I have so much experience is because it never works, so you have to keep the distractions coming, like a never-ending parade.
I wonder how many sorrows I’ve caused for myself in the pursuit of escaping sorrows. How many layers of suffering did I create for myself in these misguided attempts to avoid pain? I think it’s safe to assume that I’ve more than doubled my struggles in the name of “feeling better”. But it wasn’t better that I was feeling- it was just a temporary numbing.
Let’s just assume that all sorrows can swim. There is no drowning them. Not with whiskey or wine, shopping or scrolling, cookies or ice cream.
Rather than wasting precious life-force to avoid experiencing the full spectrum of emotions, what if we turned to face them?
It requires some courage and moxie to do so. Having some support such as a kind friend, spiritual advisor, or practical tool to help you stay present and grounded can make all the difference.
Reiki is one such tool. Not the only one, just the one I’m most familiar with as I’ve used it daily for the past 23 years. It helps with emotional and nervous system regulation by fostering a sense of peace and calm within. It neutralizes my urge to run away when things get tough and allows me to stay connected with my higher self. It builds harmony, clarity and balance so that I’m better able to meet the sorrows when they appear, but don’t get stuck wallowing in them.
Reiki helps me to be with grief, anger, upset and disappointment as well as joy and peace (which can be equally as uncomfortable if they’re unfamiliar).
These days I experience emotions like clouds in the sky. They come and go, but do not define me. Some days are stormy, some cloudy, some sunny. If I don’t like the weather, I can just wait a few minutes and it will change naturally.
Wherever you are in the world and on your healing journey, I’m willing to bet that Reiki can help you face your sorrows if you’re ready to try something new.
This is a judgment-free zone. I work with people with all sorts of issues, big and small, mystical and mundane, common and bizarre. I’ve yet to meet an emotion that Reiki couldn’t help metabolize when the recipient was truly willing to meet it.
Today is a great day to take a step towards wholeness by reclaiming all the life-force that has been invested in avoiding feelings. Get yourself some Reiki or join a training so you can learn to give yourself daily treatments.
There’s no need to drown sorrows when you can instead become adept at sitting with them and watching as they gradually lose intensity.
The side effects of Reiki treatment are feeling relaxed, at ease, at one with self and purpose, patient, compassionate, and joy-full. You already know the side-effects of several escapism strategies that are doomed to fail.
Those sorrows are not going to drown, no matter how much alcohol you use. Let’s stop this madness and try a holistic approach that cultivates wellness instead of headaches and regrets.
Today’s post was inspired by a country song. That’s not a sentence I ever expected to…
We’re gearing up over here for the next level 1 training. YAY!
Reiki 1 is the beginning point for anyone, yes I do mean anyone, who wants to gain access to the healing energies of Reiki.
There are no special skills required, no magical powers, no experience in the healing or mystical arts.
Reiki is a natural energy and a Master Teacher performs an attunement ritual that opens a student’s capacity to connect to this energy.
It’s as simple as that. Reiki itself does the work of opening energy channels. Never has it failed. Anyonecan do Reiki once attuned.
It’s perhaps my all-time favorite thing, watching folks go from ordinary person to Reiki practitioner in the course of an evening. We spend the rest of the classes discussing the foundational topics such as where it comes from, what can and cannot be treated, and how to use it. But it’s the attunement that initiates.
Reiki, when applied consistently and intentionally, can shift even the most stuck issues. It’s an amazing remedy for stress and pain relief, anxiety, overwhelm, fatigue, and digestive issues. It can be used to support personal growth and spiritual connection, healthy relationships and free-flowing abundance, address old wounds and outdated coping mechanisms.
If you’re interested in learning how to connect with this spiritually-guided life-force energy, or if you want a jumpstart for your lapsed practice, we begin on May 7.
That’s me with messy hair and a crooked smile. I’m just a regular person who has devoted her life to being a transmission of healing energy. You could too!
We’re gearing up over here for the next level 1 training. YAY! Reiki 1 is the…
This is a very common question from new clients. They really notice the warmth that seeps from my hands during a session.
Short answer? It’s Reiki. Or, more accurately, how many people sense Reiki, a natural healing energy.
I think it’s important to make the distinction because not everyone experiences it this way. Most of us are not (yet) adept at noticing the subtle energies, and some don’t feel anything at all.
That doesn’t mean that nothing is happening- just that’s it’s beneath their sensory capacity. Kinda like how a dog whistle can’t be heard by human ears.
There’s a story about Mrs. Takata, the woman credited with bringing Reiki to the US in the 1940’s, that might amuse. When she began receiving treatments, she supposedly accused the practitioners of having some hidden heating device!
Nope. No tricks up my sleeve.
If you’re not feeling any sensations during a session, don’t worry. You don’t need to feel it; it’s definitely working. You don’t feel prebiotics when you eat them, but the benefits accumulate nonetheless.
Hot hands are a nifty side-effect for sure and I definitely appreciate them in the winter and when menstrual cramps appear, but they aren’t nearly as wonderful as being immersed in healing life-force energy. And that’s what Reiki brings, even if you can’t feel the heat.
Reblogging this gem about some of the more popular reasons for learning how to connect to…
The next series of in-person level 2 training is coming up!
We meet for 6 Thursday evenings, 5:30-7:30 in my Mt. Airy (neighborhood of Philly) studio.
November 6, 13, 20 &
December 4, 11, 18.
I’m predicting a snowy winter, so we’re also reserving January 8 & 15 in case of any weather-related cancellations.
This workshop is for anyone already attuned to Reiki 1 who wishes to deepen their practice.
You’ll learn three sacred healing symbols and how to use them for a variety of purposes. We cover enhanced self-care, treating others in person and remotely, and how to bring Reiki into your daily life in addition to a healing practice.
It’s a great joy and tremendous honor for me to teach this class in a way that encourages retention and integration of the material and personalization of your practice.
If you’re interested in joining us, you’ll find more information by clicking the button below. Space is limited, so don’t delay!
The next series of in-person level 2 training is coming up! We meet for 6 Thursday…
It’s easy to think that we’re all at the mercy of invading microbes, but it isn’t that simple. There are so many factors that influence our body’s capacity to defend itself against disease.
Some of the factors fall under our personal influence. And this is where our power lies.
True, I cannot completely control my environment and circumstances, although this doesn’t prevent me from doing my best. Just because I can’t achieve 100% success doesn’t mean I sit on my hands and do nothing.
My definition of empowerment is doing everything that I am able to cultivate the life I desire. If I want optimal health, I’m going to address every factor that is within my power.
While the chaos happening in the world is beyond my scope of influence, I do have a fair amount of sway over how it lands in me. I can’t escape stress entirely (although I take a good stab at minimizing it as best I can!), I am all about metabolizing it so it doesn’t leave me in a state of chronic fight or flight.
Not only is that uncomfortable given the resulting tension and anxiety, but living in survival mode drains the body’s resources, rerouting energy that would otherwise be used to keep ourselves healthy.
Sure, there are supplements you can take to boost the immune system. If you’re forever in super-stressed-out mode, though, your digestion and assimilation is impaired and you won’t be able to absorb them and they won’t be particularly effective.
There are tons of ways to address chronic stress. My favorites are spending time in nature, bouncing on the rebounder, laughing, meditation, tai chi, mantra, and Reiki. These practices all soothe my nerves and help me to move the energy so it doesn’t get stuck in my system.
So before you go spending a small fortune on vitamin C and such, find a way to release the tension held in your body and cultivate an internal sense of peace and safety so your nervous system can relax.
If you’d like some support, I’ve created a remote Reiki treatment exactly for this.
Luminous Heart Reiki & Massage 