I just loved this TedTalk from The Minimalists! And not because it’s the only TT I’ve ever seen accompanied by pantomime.
The message of simplification speaks to me as a path to healthier living. Compulsive consumption leads to excess stuff which is a distraction at best, highly stressful or downright overwhelming at worst. That’s before we factor in spending, debt, and wastefulness.
They ask questions like, “How might my life be better with less?” and “Does this thing add value to my life?”. I think we’d all be happier and enjoy greater wellness if we asked ourselves these types of things.
The art of letting go seems to be the art of freedom in my eyes. I’m going to start the one thing/day for 30 day challenge today with some old paperwork in my desk. I’m looking forward to seeing where it takes me over the next month.
What can you let go of to create more space in your world?
I just loved this TedTalk from The Minimalists! And not because it’s the only TT I’ve…
I updated my website to include the word “gentle” next to “massage”. A friend asked me why, as now everyone seeking deep tissue bodywork would not schedule with me.
Well, that’s exactly why I did it! Those people just aren’t my clients. (No offense if you’re one of them. Unless you’re wanting to try something radically different, you will best be served by another therapist.)
Over 20+ years of doing this work, I’ve developed a niche. I’ve seen amazing results with soothing, therapeutic touch and know how it feels in my own body to do the work that is aligned with my goals of providing deep healing and a compassionate presence.
My gentle approach is quite effective for cultivating relaxation and relieving stress and pain. I believe in showing muscles that it’s safe to let go rather than punishing them for being tight, which, btw, only seems to make them tighter!
I’ve heard countless stories from folks who had a previous painful experience with another therapist and were cautiously hopeful that it could be different on my table.
It is. 🙂
I’m not trying to convince anyone to try my style of massage when they are seeking something more intense.
Go forth and get pummeled if that’s what you wish!
If you’re seeking a different experience and don’t want to have to breathe through the discomfort or wake up tomorrow feeling like you’ve been hit by a bus, then maybe a gentle massage is for you.
Gentle does not necessarily mean light pressure.
It might. I have several clients who prefer a light touch.
Gentle means that I meet the muscles where they are and back off at the first sign of resistance. Sometimes it’s quite firm pressure. It means that I can adapt based on what your body is allowing but never try to force anything.
I call it Goldilocks pressure. Not too hard, not too light. And often it changes from one body part to another and from week to week. I’ve learned to tune in and read the muscles and wait for cues to sink in. I’m vigilant for signs that I’ve gone too far.
I’m aiming to melt the muscles by releasing tension via calming the nervous system. It feels like this:
I welcome communication about how we can find a way for you to be comfortable and relaxed. Most importantly, I will absolutely listen to you if you want me to use less pressure. We can have a discussion about that before we begin. Because it totally matters.
Massage doesn’t have to hurt. I’m sorry if you’ve had the experience in the past and you didn’t want that. I’d be delighted to give you a new experience if you’re open to it. Or you might consider a Reiki treatment. It has deeply relaxing and powerful healing results without any pressure at all.
I updated my website to include the word “gentle” next to “massage”. A friend asked me…
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…
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.
Yesterday was my day to go for a hike in the woods, but I just didn’t…
Developing access to intuition is a whole lot easier when we start with the basics. Rather than jumping in the deep end when the pressure is on, we can start in the kiddie pool and practice until we get the hang of it. Approaching intuition like any other skill that takes time to master can prevent us from unrealistic expectations.
I’ve been collecting the real-life, seemingly silly presentations of my inner voice. None of these are monumental, and that’s exactly why I was able to benefit. There was nothing much on the line, so I could relax into the practice. I track these incidents so I can build trust in the process. When I can look back at a series of messages that were indeed in my best good, I’m more able to welcome the next message that comes through, even when it doesn’t make much sense in that moment.
Intuition: Get a spoon.
Me: What? No. I’m just going to the bedroom. I won’t need a spoon in there.
Me, 20 minutes later, in the bedroom, wishing I had a spoon.
Intuition: Put the house key in your pocket.
Me: Why? I’m not going outside.
Me, 3 hours later, locked out. GAH!
Intuition: Go to the co-op now.
Me: Are you crazy? It’s senior discount day, it will be super crowded. Fine, I’ll play along, but I don’t really want to…
Me, 15 minutes later at the co-op finding everything on my list on a one-day-only sale and running in to a client who wants to schedule another session but never remembers to email me.
People want access to intuition when a big change looms, but if they haven’t developed trust already, it can be difficult to hear. It would be like showing up at the marathon without having done any training.
In addition to paying attention to the unbidden guidance, you can ask for specific answers. Start with something easy.
Me: What should I wear?
Intuition: Sneakers!
Me: Really? I was thinking I should wear the cute (but not entirely comfortable) sandals.
Me, later in the day: Oh, am I going on an unexpected three mile walk? So glad I’m wearing sneakers!
Me: What should I watch on TV?
Intuition: Let’s watch this show that a friend suggested.
Me: What? I’m not really in the mood for a documentary.
Me, an hour later: Wow that was awesome and answered my question about how to treat this annoying problem.
Once you get a few dozen of these playful episodes under your belt, you can assess if you’re ready to tackle some bigger issues. But if you haven’t yet conditioned your intuition muscles, expecting clarity on a major life decision is likely going to lead to confusion and frustration.
Today’s a great day to get started with the basics. Choose a notebook or app to track your intuitive experiences. Make note of the ideas that appear out of nowhere. Ask for guidance on everyday issues. Follow that guidance! And remember to log the results.
Luminous Heart Reiki & Massage 