transformation

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.

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Getting Started on the Holistic Healing Journey

Holistic healing emerges from a belief system that all the parts of ourselves (body, mind, emotions,…
I recorded a guided practice for my Reiki students and figured I’d share it here. It’s for anyone who has received a Reiki attunement. This is a meditative practice for meeting whatever is alive in the moment with compassion and healing energy.

I hope you find it helpful! Let me know what you think. 🙂

Guided Reiki Practice

I recorded a guided practice for my Reiki students and figured I’d share it here. It’s…
I’ve been working with my dreams for the past several years. My practice is somewhat sporadic as often I’m more interested in sleeping than capturing any messages that come through. Nonetheless, most nights, with the assistance of my Reiki superpowers, I ask for some sort of guidance or healing when I go to bed, and an array of helpers (my Dream Team) consistently provide words, images, songs, and bizarro movies that I attempt to decode.

The other morning I caught just a fragment of a very vague, but elaborate, dream. Curiously, it had nothing to do with what I had asked the previous night. When I referred to my journal, I realized that a few days earlier I had requested information about the chronic low back pain that has been active lately after years of hibernation.

It helps to remind myself that the subconscious, like healing, doesn’t operate in a linear way, nor on a schedule that makes any sense to me. But, hey, who am I to question such things? I do my practice the best I can and trust that my soul has its own agenda that is likely based on deep wisdom and infinite power. It’s quite a relief to know I don’t need to know all the details!

What came through was my hosting a dinner party on a chartered bus. Huh? Haven’t deciphered that bit yet! But a man came up to me and introduced himself as Dr. Joe Hart. (I somehow knew it was that spelling and not Heart.) He asked me to touch the area of his back that correlated to the area where I felt pain, and then showed me a stretch. A stretch I have been neglecting lately, but has been tremendously helpful in the past.

Naturally I’ve renewed my commitment to doing that stretch daily. But there’s more! I searched for the good doctor’s name online and the first entry was a professor of orthopedic surgery who had written a few articles about knee injuries. Hmm… I had a right knee injury about 5 years ago that was acting up. So much so that I haven’t been hiking in ages, and my right quad and hip have been wonky. Which is directly affecting my low back.

I almost gave up writing this post at this point because I’m not sure what follows is going to make sense to anyone but me. While I was taking a break from seeking the right words, I found a notification in my inbox from a friend’s blog. She had just posted about a dream. It follows, doesn’t it, that someone who takes advice from their dreams also notes synchronicity, right?

So here I am, giving it my best shot.

I don’t follow medical research speak, but I did scan the first article I found written by my dream doctor. He used the phrase “quadriceps inhibition” which spotlighted the memory of a video about back pain treatment that I had recently watched. The video mentioned “reciprocal muscle inhibition” and suggested a quad stretch I enjoy and a strengthening exercise (bridge, ugh!) that I do not. Being human and perfectly imperfect, I skipped the bridge, despite it also being suggested in the Integrated Positional Release treatment for low back pain that I’ve been utilizing (sans bridge).

That’s three different references to quads and this simple exercise that I’ve been avoiding because it’s difficult for me. A long history of yoga practice has taught me that the challenging poses are the ones that are often most helpful for me. Lord knows I don’t need to do any more of the easy ones! (Savasana anyone?)

I’ve been editing my well-researched and self-prescribed therapy and eliminating the challenging bit that could be very helpful just because its challenging. Not so smart, eh?

So that’s a lot of words to say that this dream pointed me to an exercise that had been recently suggested twice elsewhere and not done once. (Rolling eyes emoji here!) It would probably be smart to follow up on “reciprocal quad inhibition” and see if there’s another useful rabbit hole from that mash-up. Yet, further research can also be an avoidance strategy that keeps me from doing the darn bridges! Which, btw, aren’t so bad once I get going.

My point is that I needed to follow the clues to get the gold. The soul doesn’t generally offer instructions in the form of clear directives; it often speaks in metaphors, and, since it runs through the labyrinth the subconscious, it’s highly subjective and flavored by the other ingredients floating around in there.

Sure, there are dream dictionaries one can reference, and sometimes there are universal themes that are fairly obvious. But I’ve gotten my juiciest messages by using Reiki at night while asking for some help, doing my best to capture the stories that come through, developing a habit of writing them down in the morning, and putting on my detective’s cap. Of course, none of that helps unless I follow through with the prescribed action.

It might sound like a lot of effort, but it doesn’t seem that way to me. I view it more as an opportunity to connect with my soul and reap valuable rewards while I’m asleep (!) than as work. It definitely helps the process to not take myself too seriously.

Give it a try and lmk how it goes. And if you have any ideas about why I was hosting a dinner party on a moving bus, I’d love to hear them!

Meet the Dream Team

I’ve been working with my dreams for the past several years. My practice is somewhat sporadic…
Fatigue is one of the more common ailments that brings clients to me for treatment. Very often people have been through a barrage of testing and are told there is nothing wrong. Gah! This is so frustrating. Just because the medical system can’t find a cause doesn’t mean there isn’t one. I think we can all agree that when someone is so exhausted they can barely function despite getting adequate sleep and nutrition, there is indeed something wrong.

If we look through a holistic lens, we’re more likely to notice dysfunction or imbalance that exists in the mental, emotional, spiritual, energetic, relational, and lifestyle areas. Correcting any of these conditions can have a profound effect on physical health and overall wellness. Reiki is a very useful tool for doing that.

First and foremost, it’s a gentle infusion of pure life-force energy which can begin to shift chronic energy depletion.

Second, it releases stress and tension, which are gigantic drains on our systems. Chronic stress is the equivalent of having a gaping hole in your fuel tank. No matter how often you fill up, gas is just sloshing out all over the place.

Third, it can help dissipate blockages, allowing for a more healthy flow of energy. Common blockages include unprocessed trauma and suppressed emotions. These form a sort of coagulation of life-force which can impede the flow.

Fourth, Reiki can help balance hormones, which have a tremendous effect on our energy levels.

Fifth, it fosters better quality sleep. ‘Nuff said.

Sixth, it can activate clarity and enable access to intuition, helping us to see where and how our energy is being wasted or siphoned in our daily lives. Very often there are some uncomfortable conversations around boundaries that can help protect our energy levels. Saying yes when we really mean NO! is a tremendous drain of energy. Persistent over-giving when our tanks are empty takes a toll on our bodies. We need to rebel against the BS cultural conditioning that it’s better to give than receive and prioritize our own well-being.

I could probably keep going, but I imagine you get my point. It addresses the inflow and outflow of energy and supports a healthy balance so that we can thrive rather than merely surviving.

Perhaps the best thing about using Reiki as a treatment for fatigue is that it can be administered remotely. Yup. You can stay at home if you’re unable or just uninterested in venturing out into the world and receive a session from the comfort of your own space. Just like a automatic deposit to your bank account, there’s nothing that you need to do!

I’ve found that when somebody has been chronically fatigued, it can take three or four sessions for a shift to be noticed. Then gradual improvements are reported. When the client is able to remove some of the worst energetic vampires and willing to meet with the stored emotions that arise, a more balanced flow becomes the new normal.

True, it takes some time and consistent application and often some lifestyle upgrades for lasting results to take root. Just as it’s harder to get out of debt without curbing spending, it’s harder to heal fatigue when dysfunctional relationships or circumstances are not addressed. So it goes with holistic healing- we look at all imbalances from the biochemistry to the psycho spiritual factors. There’s only so much I can do for folks who are committed to unhealthy habits. Those who are serious about getting well realize that if they want things to change, they have to make some changes.

If you’re ready to get started on this journey, I invite you to book a remote Reiki session. You could also come for an in-person session if you’re in the Philly area and need a change of scenery. Once you start feeling better, you might like to learn how to give yourself Reiki. It’s easy to do and no special psychic or mystical powers are necessary.

Reiki has helped me more than any other technique with chronic pain, autoimmune issues, anxiety, and fatigue. And it can help you too!

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Reiki for Fatigue

Fatigue is one of the more common ailments that brings clients to me for treatment. Very…
I had an epiphany last week, spurred by a bagel of all things.

Not a “the earth revolves around the sun” kind of epiphany, yet still pretty fascinating. To me at least. 🙂

It will sound silly at first, but hang with me. In truth, it really has nothing to do with the bagel; just as gravity has nothing to do with apple trees. It’s really about the message, not the messenger.

For the first time ever in my 52nd journey around the sun, it occurred to me that I could (perhaps should!) put the bagel’s cut surface down in the toaster oven. You might already know that this produces a much improved end result.

Not exactly groundbreaking news, I know.

But what it points to is the questioning of autopilot behavior. I consider myself to be a reasonably intelligent and self-aware person. But somehow I live for decades without even considering a simple alternative way of doing something so very basic.

I was reminded of a transformative lightbulb moment I had in college. Sitting in the dorm lobby one day, I met a girl who blew my mind.

Melinda. She was a good friend of a good friend, a self-proclaimed Dead Head who dressed the part. Melinda’s leg were unshaven. She’s probably telling the story of this weirdo girl who stared at her legs in disbelief so many years ago. But until that fateful day, it never ever, not ever, occurred to me that it was possible for women to simply not shave their legs.

Shocking, right?! Liberating too. My inner rebel had a field day.

That was my introduction to the concept of how cultural programming shapes our minds and limits what we believe to be real about the world.

But the bagel was different. We didn’t have bagels when I was growing up. Or a toaster oven for that matter. I never watched anyone in my family or community, or TV for that matter, toast a bagel.

Curiously, I discovered bagels’ crispy delightfulness about the same time as I met Melinda in the NYU dorm. And now these two seemingly unrelated events are forever linked in my mind as exposing my assumptions about “this is how we do things”.

Not a big deal in and of itself. But consider the implications! How much of my life is run on autopilot? A lot, and mostly that’s a good thing. Imagine needing to use the same level of concentration every day that you did as a kid when you were learning to tie your shoes. Or write a sentence with legible penmanship or drive a car. We’d be so focused on the simple, everyday tasks that nothing important would get done!

Autopilot isn’t a bad thing. Neural network grooves help us concentrate on the trickier, more advanced aspects of adulting.

Yet, somewhere in between mechanical compliance and re-inventing the wheel, there lives a middle ground.

I’d like to spend more time there, questioning the limiting beliefs and behaviors that I’ve adopted, often without query. It seems to me that these are the potentially pivotal moments when transformation is truly possible.

Having a daily Reiki practice is what has helped develop my sense of clarity and wonder. If you’re wanting to have Reiki superpowers to use for getting out of your own ruts, join my mailing list to be informed of future classes, both online and in-person in the Philly area. Or sign up for a session and let’s see what we can shake loose together.

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Bagel Magic

I had an epiphany last week, spurred by a bagel of all things. Not a “the…
“In this TEDx talk, Chameli Ardagh speaks on how to allow for a natural response towards injustice without creating more hurt, how to embody the power and beauty of feminine rage, why we are called to step up and give voice to the power of the fierce feminine, and how anger is not intrinsically negative, only what we do with. Chameli also shows how an ancient goddess archetype of the fierce aspects of the feminine are highly relevant and illuminating for women and girls today.”

I LOVE this talk! I’ve been studying with Chameli for at least 10 years now. She’s helped me break the bonds of what society informs us are the appropriate ways to for women to behave without losing myself or becoming a complete misfit in the process.

Without going too fan-girl, I’ll just say that I adore her. She’s radiant, compassionate, passionate, feminine, AND totally badass. I want to be like her when I grow up! She doesn’t present herself as a guru; rather a sort of guide who can help each of us connect to the guru within.

Whatever your gender, I think you can learn from what see has to say.

Check out The Face of the Fierce Feminine.

Chameli Ardagh on the Fierce Feminine

“In this TEDx talk, Chameli Ardagh speaks on how to allow for a natural response towards…
Taking good care of ourselves can be a radical act in this day and age. Tapping into our inner wisdom, choosing to stay present with ourselves, and responding with compassion is downright revolutionary.

I’m not talking about tropical vacations, spa days, bath bombs, mani-pedis or goopy facial masks. (Unless that’s your thing.) There’s nothing wrong with pleasure-full indulgences, but that is not the heart of self-care.

What I’m talking about is committing to a daily practice of caring for yourself in only the way you can.

The simplest, safest, yummiest, and most impactful way I know how to do that (and I’ve been exploring for nearly 30 years!) is Reiki.

Anyone can learn how to do Reiki. It’s simply the art of connecting with universal life-force energy (which surrounds us all the time) and using intention and attention to direct it for well-being or any other goal that is aligned with your highest good.

It can be used to support magical and mystical studies, but in and of itself, it’s a very practical technique. There’s no need to have any woo-woo inclinations whatsoever (unless that’s your thing). The power is in the application. Meaning, when you make time to give yourself consistent Reiki treatments, over time you’ll see tremendous benefits.

It doesn’t require any special skills or pre-disposition. No fancy setup, music, crystals, oils, or herbs are necessary (unless that’s your thing).

All you need is a desire to experience something different and a willingness to take consistent action.

You’ll notice that I’ve used the word “consistent” several times. That’s because the work of healing means restoring balance in a world that is constantly promoting imbalance and integrating body, mind, and spirit in a culture that values the mind at the expense of the rest. Changing patterns against the tide requires devotion.

But it doesn’t need to be hard or even time-consuming. 10-20 minutes per day, most days of the week can contribute to amazing results. If you truly desire change, that’s a small price to pay!

I’ve created the most compact training for ordinary folks who want to participate in cultivating their own wellness, happiness, and creativity. My Reiki for Self-Care and Empowerment Class is coming up soon. It’s three 90- minute online classes. It’s the most convenient, affordable, accessible class I teach and it begins March 23, 2023.

Investment in yourself = $113.

Come and join the revolution.

Easy, Accessible, Doable Self-Care

Taking good care of ourselves can be a radical act in this day and age. Tapping…
I’ve already chosen self-compassion as my theme for 2023. I’m guiding a group on New Year’s Day in my Meetup group, and figured I should do my own work ahead of time. I chose the solstice for my introspective inventory of what’s going on in myself and in my life and what I’d like to call in for next year.

What came up for me is a desire to be 100% on my side, 100% of the time. I saw so clearly how I sometimes reject my feelings when they are uncomfortable or inconvenient and how very unkind that is. I had the image of shoving a lollipop in a little girl’s mouth with the intention of stopping her tears. NOT how I want to be responding to my own emotions!

I made short video of a process that I use to cultivate compassion. It’s so simple! And we don’t often see it modeled in our culture, so it might seem completely foreign. I feel confident that everyone can learn how to do this with some practice.

If this resonates with you, you might be interested in an upcoming event, an installment of my Holistic Wellness series, which will focus on self-compassion. You can learn more and sign up here. If that’s not your thing, I hope you’ll at least take the exercise from the video out for a few spins and see how it lands for you.

The Value of Self-Compassion

I’ve already chosen self-compassion as my theme for 2023. I’m guiding a group on New Year’s…
A quick update on my Slowing Down for December intention. The universe heard my request and has responded with half of my clients cancelling appointments this week and last. It’s a good opportunity to let go of the ancient fear of not having enough, to re-examine the wisdom of the “careful what you wish for” maxim, and to renew faith that things always work out, often in unexpected ways.

For the greater part of my days, I’m camped out of my Bio-Mat, surrounded by a stack of books that I’ve wanted to read for ages, a cup of tea, my journal, and an array of colorful markers. There’s something about having a beautiful notebook and great pens that makes the task of inner exploration seem less daunting. As do my comfy pajamas- it’s hard to take things too seriously when you’re covered in lemons and wearing your favorite fuzzy socks. 🙂

I do have some structure provided by guided meditations and written exercises designed to help me uncover what’s beneath the surface identities that I present to the world. The process of letting go of attachments and conditioned beliefs can be unpleasant, and I have a circle of friends with whom I check in frequently. It’s helpful to hear that they are facing many of the same challenges, and like me, continue to show up and face whatever arises, nonetheless.

Curiously some physical discomfort has amplified-or is it that I’ve removed enough distractions that I can actually receive the messages my body is sending? I’ve pulled out some massage tools to apply gentle pressure andstimulate circulation. (This is key! The goal is not to punish muscles for misbehaving or to beat them into submission, but to give them some loving attention and bring awareness to postural and movement patterns. More on this in an upcoming post.)

I ventured out to the farmers market for some produce and have been getting out most days for walks, so I’m not entirely reclusive aside from work. The goal has really been to clear my schedule so I can tune into my needs and desires with minimal influence from those insidious “shoulds”. As it turns out, I prefer books and trees to small talk, media of all forms, and shopping. No surprises there!

Basically, I’m playing detective and discovering what I can let go of and what I can cultivate in order to move into the new year in the most authentic way. Being present with emotions and sensations seems to be the only way to get an accurate reading on what to keep and what to release. Being still and quiet supports the inquiry.

We’re really in the darkest of days here in the northern hemisphere as the moon wanes and the winter solstice approaches. It’s really no hardship to stay tucked inside my cozy little apartment as much as possible. While it’s not exactly easy either, I am grateful that I decided to give myself this gift of doing things my way. It’s my hope that you’ll lean into doing things your way too.

How Slow Can I Go?

A quick update on my Slowing Down for December intention. The universe heard my request and…