long distance Reiki

  • Yowza. I’m hearing a lot of reports from folks who are feeling daunted by the next phase of their healing journeys. It seems a lot of wounds and imbalances are coming to the surface; while this can be quite uncomfortable, it’s better than having them festering beneath the surface preparing for sneak attack.

    If you’re feeling this way, know that you aren’t alone.

    Whether it’s taking that first step or leveling up, overwhelm might be an unwelcome companion on this trip. There’s so much information out there, it’s hard to know what is relevant for you and where the heck to begin.

    Misaligned habits, unprocessed trauma, limiting beliefs, cultural conditioning, suppressed emotions, dysfunctional relationships, unhealthy environments, outdated coping mechanisms, and chronic stress can all contribute to lack of wellness. To make it extra-interesting, many of these factors get tangled together and it can be difficult to trace to their origins.

    It can be A LOT!

    And… all journeys begin with just the first step. In my experience, managing stress is a wise place to start. Stress affects all of our bodily systems- digestion (gut health, we are learning, is the cornerstone to wellness), mental/emotional state (another cornerstone), quality of sleep (yup, this too!), cardiovascular capacity (need I say it?) and detoxification (mmhmm…) in particular.

    By addressing chronic stress, we can free up life-force energy from perpetual survival state functioning and allow it to support the body’s innate healing abilities.

    I’m not talking about a tropical vacation or meditation retreat or retirement. While that might be the route that you choose, it’s possible to learn to metabolize the effects of stress rather than avoiding it altogether through a complete lifestyle makeover (again, that may be for you, but don’t freak out if it isn’t!).

    When I feel overwhelm bubbling up and my shoulders creeping up to my ears, I find moving my body to be a miraculous remedy. A few songs spent dancing (or thrashing!) about my living room can work wonders. Deep breathing, being in nature, expressing my thoughts and feelings (within the safe confines of my journal), singing, chanting, time spent on a creative project, laughter, and Reiki are all elements that help me manage the stress of the world.

    Now you might read that as an assignment and think, well how in the world am I going to do all of that?

    Good news! You don’t need to do it all. Choose one thing and start there. I’ve been at this for decades, and my healthy habits have accumulated over that time, bit by bit, but I started with just one thing.

    One strategy is to choose the action that will have the biggest impact.

    For me, that’s Reiki, a powerful but gentle healing energy that grounds me and activates the physiological antidote to stress.

    Another strategy is to choose the easiest thing to implement as that will build your sense of accomplishment and encourage progress.

    For me that’s also Reiki! How easy is it to absorb healing energy?

    Your circumstances are obviously different than mine, but I feel confident that there’s something you can do today that will help. Ten conscious, deep breaths. A walk around the block. Watching a silly cat video. Calling a friend who knows how to listen.

    It doesn’t need to be perfect, and it needn’t be the solution to all your problems. Just one thing that helps you feel calm in the moment. Just give it a try!

    And if you want some Reiki healing deposited in your wellness account or some soothing bodywork, that’s what I’m here for! Book a session and I’ll do the work and you can sit back and receive.

    And subscribe to this blog! I share lots of tips and tricks about holistic wellness, monthly specials and metaphysical tools. On most devices, the button to subscribe is found on the lower right corner.

    Overwhelmed? Just Pick One Thing

    Yowza. I’m hearing a lot of reports from folks who are feeling daunted by the next…

  • I get so frustrated when doctors diagnose arthritis and lead people to believe that there is nothing to be done about the pain they are experiencing. Gah!

    True. There is no cure for arthritis. AND that doesn’t mean that it is a sentence to hopelessness and increasing discomfort.

    We’re talking about inflammation of one or more joints. It can be quite unpleasant when left untreated. But don’t despair. It’s possible to manage inflammation and to create space in joints that might be jammed together because of tense muscles or imbalanced movement patterns.

    (If you’re over 20, I can practically guarantee you have at least one imbalanced movement pattern; perhaps from an old injury that didn’t heal 100% or repetitive actions from a job or hobby.)

    It’s possible to have arthritis and to minimize the resulting pain. I see it all the time and feel it in my own body. We can only benefit when reducing inflammation, tension and misalignment. Why not give it a try?

    Reiki is an amazing holistic healing technique that utilizes spiritually-guided life-force energy to reduce stress and pain. Stress is a primary driver of inflammation. It stands to reason, and has been backed up by my 20+ years of experience, that minimizing stress can provide relief to inflammatory conditions.

    Processing suppressed emotions is another result of this modality. Releasing anger and worry and grief that might be stored in the body blocking the energetic flow can help joint issues. And will help prevent us from tipping over into red zone where cortisol triggers more inflammation.

    You know what doesn’t help joint issues? A diagnosis presented without hope of a remedy. It’s unclear to me why the medical establishment hasn’t grasped this fact yet. Despair feeds tension that puts greater strain on the joints.

    Reducing stress and re-establishing a healthy flow of energy in the body can support the reduction of muscle tension. This encourages circulation, providing the muscles with fresh oxygen and removes cellular waste, reducing pain in the muscles which can trigger a cycle of clenching, pain, clenching and more pain. It also allows for more space in the joints.

    Reiki can also support body awareness and increase access to inner wisdom, helping us to notice when we’re using poor body mechanics and guiding us to new patterns or even therapies, such as Somatics, Feldenkrais or Gyrokinesis that promote balanced, healthy movement patterns, or products that activate the body’s innate healing abilities.

    It might take time to relearn how to sit, stand and move in alignment, meet with and metabolize feelings and trauma, manage stress and reduce inflammation. This is what holistic healing looks like: addressing the causes of imbalance rather than trying to eliminate the effects while carrying on with the offending behavior. It’s possible that these causes have been developing for decades; reversing this requires some patience and self-compassion.

    But with some attention, effort and consistent Reiki support, there is hope of finding greater comfort and ease in the body and peace of mind.

    To me, that seems like a much better option than doing nothing and bemoaning the doctor’s verdict.

    I’d be delighted to work with you if you’re interested in pursuing Reiki treatment, or massage if you’re in the Philly area. If that’s not your thing, I’d encourage you to explore one of the movement therapies I listed above, an anti-inflammatory diet or some form of herbal or homeopathic support. Most importantly, know that there is hope, as hope is one of the greatest medicines available.

     

     

     

    Reiki for Arthritis

    I get so frustrated when doctors diagnose arthritis and lead people to believe that there is…

  • Another great talk from Tosha Silver.

    If you’re too busy to listen for 10 minutes, here’s what I want you to know.

    Believing that giving is better than receiving is like thinking exhaling is more important/righteous/spiritual than inhaling.

    NOT sustainable!

    And a recipe for depletion, burnout or even illness.

    I see it in my Reiki practice all the time. People will allow themselves a session to receive compassion, attention and healing energy when everything falls apart and they just can’t go one more step on their own but won’t come in for feel-good or even preventative care.

    They’ll let me fill up their tank and then they’ll go give, give, give, scraping the bottom of the barrel giving the last crumb kind of give, wait another 2 months until they can’t get out of bed, and then contact me.

    Can you relate? If you’re reading this, I bet you can!

    Tosha offers a simple prayer: Turn me into one who can receive as well as give. 💕

    You can start rewriting your story and become a balanced giver/receiver no matter how entrenched you are in the old narrative.

    And if you want some Reiki support, I’m happy to comply. I can tap into the universal supply and share it with you in a session- either in my Philly office or a remote session where you don’t have to get dressed or go to yet another appointment.

    Are You Over-Giving?

    Another great talk from Tosha Silver. If you’re too busy to listen for 10 minutes, here’s…

  • Heart Chakra Clearing

    Remote Reiki Session

    Reiki is an energy healing technique that infuses the recipient with spiritually-guided life-force. It’s safe and gentle, but powerful. It realigns the energy pathways flowing in and around us for maximum wellness, creativity, and happiness.

    This special is a new creation, designed to offer the support that is currently in high demand in my practice.

    The focus of this treatment is on clearing out blockages that prevent optimal capacity for self-compassion, experiencing joy and receiving love.

    Not what you expected, eh?

    In my experience, folks who are drawn to Reiki are already pretty well-practiced at sharing love. Often to the point of imbalance.

    Opening up to receive love, from the universe and other beings, and generating it from within to fill our own tank seems to be a skill set that many of us could develop further.

    Hence, this month’s special.

    A 60 minute remote Reiki treatment at a reduced price.

    $88 when booked by the end of February.

    Remote sessions are the bomb! They are among the most powerful treatments I’ve given and received over the years. You get to stay in your comfy, cozy space and soak up the healing energies without any effort whatsoever.

    Sweet!

    We begin with a brief phone call to discuss your needs and wishes. Whether you have specific goals, a vague sense of feeling depleted or stagnant or anything in between, Reiki can help.

    Then we disconnect so I can focus without the distraction of technology. I’ll follow up with an email with any suggestions that may have arisen in the process.

    You’ll be amazed at how empowering and energizing it can be to connect to the flow of love in the world and within your own heart. The effects will ripple out into your work, your relationships, your projects, and your health.

    Give yourself the gift of some healing support today.

    February 2024 Reiki Special

    Heart Chakra Clearing Remote Reiki Session Reiki is an energy healing technique that infuses the recipient…

  • There are loads of reasons you might be experiencing, or teetering on the edge of, burnout.

    Doing all the things without support from society or family or the workplace is a common source of depleted energy.

    Chronic stress is exhausting. And insanely epidemic.

    Avoiding our emotions takes an extraordinary bite out of our reserves. Consistent worry and attempts at controlling life or other people are heavy drains on our batteries.

    Feeling like you’re lost and alone in a hostile world is another factor that saps energy.

    These issues slowly (or not so slowly!) drain life-force over time. If it’s not replaced on a steady basis, the body, mind and spirit suffer.

    I think of my life-force energy much the way I do money. I want to have more deposits than withdrawals. I want to spend wisely and curtail all waste. I want to invest in ventures that bring the greatest returns.

    It sounds simple, right? Maybe. That doesn’t mean it’s easy. Some obligations are non-negotiable, no matter how draining they are. Some phases of life require a hefty expenditure of energy with delayed benefits. Sometimes the perfect storm hits us out of the blue and catches us off guard.

    Don’t get me started on menopause!

    Many of the remedies our society points to are not helpful at all. Scrolling on social media, alcohol, binge watching trashy TV and comfort foods might bring momentary relief but don’t actually nourish us in any meaningful way.

    If the problem is a deficiency of life-force energy, then deposits of the same are the only true medicine. These can come from time spent in nature, connection with uplifting people, joyful movement, creative projects, and pleasure.

    Sadly, these activities might not seem accessible from the vantage point of burnout.

    Which is where Reiki comes in. Reiki is a holistic healing technique that bathes the recipient in spiritually guided life-force energy and stimulates the body’s innate abilities to restore itself. It’s the easiest, safest, most powerful strategy I’ve discovered in over 25 years of exploring the journey of healing.

    If you need to start making some deposits in your life-force account, look no further. To make things even easier, you have the choice of staying in your fuzzy pajamas and receiving an infusion without leaving home. Or coming to my office in your fuzzy pajamas. 🙂 No judgment here.

    While I provide sessions year round, for the month of January, I’m offering 24% off all in-person and remote Reiki treatments. Book by the 31st to take advantage of this deal and get started on the road to recovery.

    Reiki for Burnout

    There are loads of reasons you might be experiencing, or teetering on the edge of, burnout.…

  • 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.

    Full-Time Reiki Activation

    Folks are often surprised, maybe even bewildered, at all the ways I apply Reiki in my…

  • 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.

    Feel free to message me with any questions.

    Reiki Gift Certificates!

    The word is getting out about this amazing healing modality and lots of people are curious…

  • 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.

    Placeholders and Divine Intervention

    Have you ever held a time slot for an event that got cancelled? I’m guessing we…

  • One of the most frequent questions I get from new clients is, “What did you notice during the session?” They seem torn between dread and hope that I’m interpreting information from their energy fields.

    Not to worry! I don’t have access to your deepest, darkest secrets. Nor would I want that responsibility. I’m more interested in helping others develop self-awareness and access to inner wisdom rather than perpetuating the concept that we must rely on external “experts” to guide us.

    When I’m giving a Reiki treatment, what I feel is a peaceful and healing energy flowing through me. Sometimes it gets more intense in certain places or my hands feel like they’re glued to a specific body part. I recognize that the client is really soaking up the energy when this happens and that this particular area is a potent access point.

    All I need to know is that healing is happening and it’s beneficial to linger here.

    The “why” is above my pay-grade.

    It’s easy to jump to conclusions about the why, but I do my best to resist the ego’s urge to analyze and pretend to know exactly what is happening. I don’t have all the information to make such diagnoses or prognoses.

    Fortunately, it’s not necessary. My job is simply to apply Reiki. It’s Reiki’s job to do the healing. Reiki is spiritual guided and emerges from the highest perspective, so it’s best to put it in charge.

    I am well aware that other practitioners include reading of the energy field as part of the services they offer. Some claim to be psychic or highly intuitive, and I have no doubt that many are. Hopefully, they also have some training on how to discern the difference between the clients’ issues and their own projections and how to share information in a sensitive way so as to not cause harm.

    I’ve had a great number of clients who carry the burden of a message delivered by another practitioner years, even decades, ago. This saddens me. After a Reiki treatment, folks are in an highly impressionable state. Words carry more meaning than perhaps they should. My early training stressed the necessity of approaching each session with unconditional compassion and non-judgment as the foundation of all healing work. Not all practitioners had such wise teachers.

    My point being that Reiki practitioners are trained to deliver Reiki. It is a valuable service. If you’re seeking analysis of your energy field, that’s the realm of medical intuitives and psychics. If you want to be saturated in healing, spiritually-guided, innately intelligent life-force energy, you’ll benefit from a Reiki session. If you want information or advice, that’s a whole different treatment, one I don’t offer.

    If you have any doubts about what a session entails, it’s a good idea to inquire before scheduling. All the Reiki practitioners I know love to talk about their work and relish a willing audience.

    If you’ve received a troubling post-session report in the past, it’s possible that the practitioner was overstepping the scope of their practice. Likely they meant well, but just didn’t know that the implications of their well-meaning words might have been harmful.

    I’m certain I’ve said things to clients that landed differently than I intended them to, and this also saddens me. We’re all doing our best with the resources we have in each moment. It is my hope that such shortcomings don’t prevent anyone from receiving the benefits of this amazing modality.

    If you’re interested in a prediction/diagnosis/interpretation-free infusion of healing life-force energy, I’d be delighted to provide exactly that. Use the button below to schedule yourself a session. I look forward to it!

    What Do Reiki Practitioners Notice During a Session?

    One of the most frequent questions I get from new clients is, “What did you notice…