divine guidance

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.

Intuition Chronicles: Start with the Basics

Developing access to intuition is a whole lot easier when we start with the basics. Rather…
Have you ever held a time slot for an event that got cancelled? I’m guessing we all have. In that process, we’ve possibly declined other conflicting invitations. When the original plan falls through, it’s natural to feel frustrated at having missed out on opportunities, some of which might be long gone.

What if, rather than ruining a potential girls’ night out, concert or Reiki circle, that canceled event was doing you a favor? What if it was just a placeholder, taking up space on your calendar so that you wouldn’t RSVP to requests that were not in your best interest? That perhaps there was something altogether different that was a better use of your time, something that you didn’t know about until later? It could be as simple as having quiet night at home to catch up on your reading or a last minute invitation for something fabulous.

This happens to me all the time when clients cancel appointments, some of which had been on my calendar for weeks. Then just moments later I learn about a class I’d love to attend or another client has an urgent situation and the now-open slot works perfectly for them.

I’ve learned to trust in divine timing and believe that the universe really is looking out for me in ways I don’t always understand. Learning how to let go of the desire to understand, btw, is a pre-requisite to living a soul-led life. Sometimes clarity arises in hindsight, but not always. I’ve learned to assume that many things are simply above my pay grade and simply follow the breadcrumbs.

This is not to say you need to tolerate consistent abrupt changes of plans that are simply bad manners from a friend or business associate. It’s true that some people are simply inconsiderate and might need a talking-to about respecting your time. I’ve had my share of this type of cancelation and have had to learn to stand up for myself in this regard.

And… sometimes, especially when your Spidey senses are tingling or magical synchronicity results, you can take note that something bigger than you arranged for an alternate experience.

The more we notice, acknowledge, and express gratitude for such interventions, the more likely they are to occur. The more we’re able to accept that we just don’t have the perspective to always know what the best thing is, the more easily we can go with the flow.

So when the maintenance crew’s truck is blocking the driveway and I’m delayed a few minutes, or the garbage truck is ahead of me and I choose to take a different route to avoid the fragrance, it’s entirely possible that I’ll benefit in unforeseen ways.

When there’s a guy sitting on my favorite bench by the creek and I walk a bit further to find the perfect log right next to the water, it’s obvious that the unexpected change worked in my favor. I don’t always have such obvious proof that this is the case, but there are so many examples that have demonstrated benevolent intervention that I’ve begun to trust that most of the time, the universe is orchestrating events on my behalf.

In case you’re in need of a tune-up or a recharge, a slot just now opened up in my schedule for tomorrow. Use the link below if you want to book yourself a much-needed Reiki session, either in-person in Philly or a remote Reiki treatment wherever you are. I suspect you also just had a cancellation that leaves you open at just the right time.

Schedule a Session

Placeholders and Divine Intervention

Have you ever held a time slot for an event that got cancelled? I’m guessing we…
It served me well, but after 10 long years, my super duper blender kicked it today. I knew it was coming- there’s been an unpleasant sound for the past several months and I’ve been keeping it together with Reiki and prayers.

But the end was inevitable.

Today the unpleasant sound was way worse, followed by a poof! And then smoke. Sadly, my smoothie was not yet smooth.

But I was prepared for this and already had a plan in place. They offer certified refurbished models online with a 5 year warranty. And a trade-in offer if I mail in the old motor base.

While chewing my not-so-smoothie, I hopped online to place my order before my next appointment. Sound hasty? Maybe, but I use this machine almost every day. It’s a big part of my healthy eating strategy.

I popped my order in the shopping cart and entered my personal info. The “next” button that should have taken me to the payment info page was a dud. Nothing happened, even after several attempts.

Hmmm… I always take note when things like this happen. When the well-oiled cogs of a corporation fail to take my money, I pause. And I reviewed the trade-in offer page. In order to get $100 back from returning the old machine, I had to place my order by phone. The offer would not be valid if I placed my order online. I was stopped in the nick of time from loosing a good chunk of change.

I call this sort of mishap “Divine Intervention”.

I could have pushed through and placed my order if I persisted, no doubt. I’m always free to reject the assistance that comes my way, after all. Sometimes I do, unaware that I’m doing things the hard way till hindsight kicks in.

But today, I paused. And investigated. And saved myself $100!

Not every obstacle is a blessing in disguise. But perhaps some are worth taking a moment to explore.

So Long VitaMix

It served me well, but after 10 long years, my super duper blender kicked it today.…
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…
Last night I closed up shop early because a street festival was taking place in front of my office. It’s always chaotic and not the energy I want my clients to slog through. Instead, I decided to brave the heat and the ginormous potholes for which PA is so famous and go on an adventure. To the suburbs. 🙂

My birthday is coming, and as you might already know, we Cancerians like to celebrate the month, not just the day. So I planned to have dinner with a friend I haven’t seen in a few years and explore the area where she lives.

She pointed me to a delightful metaphysical shop that really made my day! SO many gems to view, so little time. I had decided to splurge on a necklace as a birthday treat. I enjoy wearing my crystals so the healing energy is with me all day.

Rather than looking for a particular type of stone, I browsed. I waited for something to call out to me. A gorgeous rosy stone with delicate white swirls caught my attention. I nearly choked when I saw the price tag, but there was a smaller pendant next to it that didn’t blow my budget out of the water.

This photo pales in comparison to the real thing!

Rhodochrosite. I’d never heard of it. The staff was so helpful and shared about some of her (yes, this particular stone anyway, is most definitely a her) qualities and it was exactly the medicine I’m needing! If I had spent 100 hours online researching which crystal would serve me best, I doubt I could have made a better match.

I wanted to share this story because so many Reiki students ask me about using crystals in their practice. Reiki doesn’t need crystals to be super-powerful, but they do work nicely together as they are both natural energies. It can be overwhelming when you’re learning about crystals from a book because there are so many variations and so many benefits from each of them.

I start with the gemstone that wants to come home with me. I observe how I feel when we’re together and then, and only then, do I look at the information that is readily available from external sources such as a guidebook or website.

It’s important to cleanse your crystals right away as they are batteries for storing energy and you don’t need to be soaking up the residual vibes of everyone else who has handled them. You can then use Reiki to charge them, intending a specific healing purpose, if you like.

It turned out to be a lovely day and I’m so glad I got out and about for a change. I had the most delicious salmon tacos, sat on a bench under the trees by a creek in the park, and had a great catch-up with my friend over dinner. It turns out there was also a street festival there, but we ate inside since it was crazy hot.

I had to laugh that one event was the motivation to go elsewhere and a similar event was happening there. I don’t understand the desire to dine on the sidewalk when it’s 90 degrees out, but hundreds of people apparently do. Lucky for us, that made indoor seating much easier to come by.

All in all, this was a great reminder to go with the flow and let Life lead the way. I’m always pleased with the results when I do.

Let Your Crystals Choose You

Last night I closed up shop early because a street festival was taking place in front…
I have a lot of fun getting creative with my Reiki practice.

Most people think of Reiki as a treatment- something that happens on a massage table in a spa-like environment.

But that’s only one of it’s expressions. Reiki is spiritually-guided life-force energy. It can be applied anywhere and everywhere to support our goals and desires.

Recently I activated Reiki to open myself to my inner wisdom and connect with a sacred symbol. A downward facing triangle emerged. A few days later I was inspired to make a crystal grid for prosperity and while wondering how to set it up, I was nudged towards the triangle I had downloaded.

It’s not the typical grid format and while pondering the solution, I was guided to create a ring around the edges with a necklace. And finally to use these green citrine crystals I bought ages ago in a Reiki class.

I charged all the stones with the intention of receiving prosperity and fit them into the triangle shape intuitively. I placed the necklace around the triangle and voila! A unique crystal grid, perfect for my needs.

I followed all of this up with a Reiki Healing Attunement, which my teacher, Laura Bruno calls one of the most powerful ways to create change. It was already pretty potent, but what the heck? I tend to use all the tools at my disposal.

I’ll charge this up everyday with more Reiki and my intentions. I find I’m more likely to engage with a practice that is personalized and creative than following some prescribed protocol.

How can you spice up your Reiki practice with something fun and enlivening?

Reiki and Crystal Grids

I have a lot of fun getting creative with my Reiki practice. Most people think of…
Lots of people recognize Reiki as a fantastic tool for healing physical, mental, and emotional issues. It’s even being used in hospitals and hospice to reduce pain and meds, speed recovery, and promote comfort.

And… for those of us who are on a spiritual path, wanting to go deeper and experience belonging and awakening in mystical ways, Reiki can also provide a key for us.

For starters, it can help us be present with whatever is arising. Staying present (vs. distracting, avoiding, numbing or procrastinating) is a necessary skill that is made much easier when our nervous systems are regulated and our minds are calm.

It can highlight what needs to be released, processed or integrated.

It can help us access our inner wisdom and power and sense of innate worthiness.

When we become more grounded, more centered, more aligned with our essence, the way forward becomes clearer. Breadcrumbs appear at just the right time.

When we’re connected to the divine within and to a sense of belonging, it’s easier to surrender to the flow of life and to set boundaries.

When we’re comfortable facing the unknown, we gain tremendous confidence and courage.

When we don’t need to know all the answers or figure it all out, we can show up every day for spiritual practice and allow our awakening to unfold organically without striving, clinging or forcing.

Reiki is a resource that can be woven into your prayers, meditations, spells, and incantations. It’s simply an energy; one that can be used to enhance and deepen that work that you’re doing.

It has been the tool that has been most transformative and nourishing for me on my decades long spiritual healing journey. Devoting time to being with myself and cultivating a soul-lead lifestyle has been a portal for spiritual awakening and connection with the divine.

My clients and students often report mystical experiences without having the vocabulary to describe them. The lack of descriptive words makes them no less real. They express a feeling of time being suspended, going on magical journeys, and feeling more at home than they knew was even possible. I have no way of measuring, but I suspect some people go into a theta brainwave state, which is deeply healing, and/or have pineal gland activations.

If you’re interested in journeying down this path with me, you’d be most welcome in my upcoming Reiki 1 class. We meet online 4 times, beginning May 4. Or, if you prefer a more receptive route, schedule a session and I’ll be the transmitter for you while you can catch up on some rest.

Reiki 1 Certification

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Reiki as a Mystical Practice

Lots of people recognize Reiki as a fantastic tool for healing physical, mental, and emotional issues.…
Some days I feel like I’m living in a modern day fairy tale. Today is one of those days. As per usual, it began with something going wrong. Or so I thought.

I was unable to open a document that needed revisions. An update was required and then my laptop needing restarting. Of course, that took forever. I’m sure you’ve been there!

I finally gave up and decided to go for a walk. Along the way, a cat rushed up to me from out of nowhere and then starting weaving slowly back and forth in front of me on the sidewalk. It felt like I was being herded! I declined to follow as it turned toward a house, assuming the human who lived there wouldn’t welcome my unexpected arrival. Your cat sent me? Nah. I kept going. But my spidey-senses were tingling and I was now hyper-alert.

Once I entered the woods, I could see people on the trail ahead of me. I caught up to them almost immediately as my legs are long and my stride energetic. To avoid lurking behind them or trying to pass, I took a different route than planned. About 10 minutes later, I blundered around a bend to find a buck with impressive antlers eyeing me warily.

Pausing to drink in the beauty of this moment, I saw he had a friend. Friends, actually, and maybe a consort. And, oh, there’s a fawn. Six of them in total. Not a big deal in the woods of Pennsylvania, but keep in mind I’m within the city limits of Philadelphia, the sixth largest city in the US, and about 100 yards away from a very busy road.

I stood there awestruck for many minutes. I’d still be there now, but it’s obvious my presence made them uneasy, so I continued on my journey, causing them to scatter, luckily away from the road. As I resumed my brisk pace, I remembered how a similar series of fortunate events put me on the path of a kindred soul in another part of the vast park system a few weeks ago.

The pure magic of this encounter elevated me out of a snit I had been nursing. Suddenly it was easy for me to let go of a hurt that had been unintentionally delivered and my mood improved greatly. Earlier in the day I had asked Reiki to help me heal this wound. I believe this allowed me to receive divine guidance, which led me to exactly what I needed despite my best efforts to stick to an inferior plan.

I then remembered how just yesterday I was thinking that it had been ages since I’d seen any wild critters bigger than a squirrel, and made a request to Mother Nature to send me some visitors. Those simple intentions for healing and wildlife viewing combined with my willingness to be rerouted by following the breadcrumbs led me to have an uplifting spiritual experience.

What a blessing! The more I pay attention to and allow myself to be guided by mystical nudges and my heart’s longing, I find myself in the right place at the right time. So when the urge to share this joyful episode on my blog arose, I brought myself straight to my now-restarted computer and started typing.

I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Following the Breadcrumbs

Some days I feel like I’m living in a modern day fairy tale. Today is one…
This super-helpful article came across my radar today. I’ve heard from a lot of clients lately who are seeking guidance via a sign from the Universe. Repeated numbers can be a potent message from a higher power, and these are some great tips for how to interpret the message. I especially love the accompanying affirmations!

Laura Bruno's Blog

So many clients book sessions after seeing number sequences, signs and other synchronicities. They want to know if they’re “crazy” for believing in things not yet seen based on repeat numbers, dreams or coincidences. I usually say something like, “No, you’re not crazy, but interpretation is key. Let’s explore.” I include here the most frequent number “meanings” I encounter, based on 17 years as a medical intuitive and synchronicity guide. Individual results can vary, as the whole picture remains important, but this list will give you a good start:

Repeating 1’s tell you to watch your thoughts because you’re in a manifestation gateway. If you like your thoughts, great! If the 111’s occur with negative thoughts, explore your fears to see if making adjustments now will troubleshoot and strengthen the overall feeling of your intention. If you seek liberation, joy, or success, lean into those feelings as primary rather than…

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Repeat Numbers, Signs and Manifestation

Originally posted on Laura Bruno's Blog: So many clients book sessions after seeing number sequences, signs…