Choosing Reiki

Recently someone asked me, “Why did you choose Reiki?”

I felt a bit put on the spot and answered with a short and quick response, which I can’t really remember. Probably a cliche about how Reiki chose me. Ha.

After giving it some thought, here is my answer. To those who ask, and for those who don’t know.

It’s like any other kind of deep love, the kind that quite literally makes you stop and wonder how you’ve gone on so long before without it.

Reiki has been a part of my healing journey, it has aided my own awareness into my personal body and the ability to finely tune my awareness and sensitivity to others. Along with other treatments, Reiki guided me through my recovery from a lung cancer diagnosis in 2012, and a longer journey of recovery for my greater spirit. The impact of the diagnosis has forever gifted me with the understanding of the preciousness of freedom in our youth, and how fragile our strong healthy bodies can be. The impact did not just leave a large physical scar which is an everyday reminder, but my mental health has shifted and I’ve been struggling with anxiety since. Reiki has assisted me in stepping into my personal power through self  healing, and given me the skills of understanding energy and the importance of daily release.

Anxiety was something I’d heard about my whole life but hadn’t personally dealt with until after my surgery, in which I had 60% of my right lung removed. I remained in the hospital for 18 long days afterward. Ironically the longer I have been in remission the greater my anxiety has grown, and the more noticeable it has become. Over this past summer I started having panic attacks for the first time, which were especially hard for me because I had no control over them. I will admit that I felt quite blocked, and even doing Reiki for myself felt like too much at the time. I spent most of my time in the Okanagan this summer, and nearing the end of July within a matter of days the city was swallowed by a thick smoke that made it especially hard for me to breathe. With this came another trigger of anxiety around breathing.  A once thoughtless movement for me, now at times becomes all I can think about. I started doing a blend of treatments, hypnotherapy, counselling, and receiving Reiki from another practitioner. This combination helped me address and move through my anxiety, and in turn got me back to a place where I was able to give Reiki to myself and others with ease again.

I’ve hesitated in writing this down for so long, stuck in the fear of feeling weak, or unable to take care of myself when I care for so many. I don’t often show this side of myself, the side that is hurting, and healing. I know that for most people we do this to protect those around us, or as a mechanism for just ‘getting through’ because we have to or we should. However, there is something so powerful in saying a hello to yourself when you are feeling lost, afraid, or anxious. And the empowerment from saying that out loud to someone is even greater. I recognize that we “get to” move through these challenges, or healing opportunities. Not that we have to, or should. We get to. We get to experience our healing, these moments where our lessons are the greatest. And through that we find our peace, our harmony, and that safe place where we can be at ease. The place where we find grace in all our moments.

With Love,

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4 Tips for a Restful Sleep

If you ever have trouble sleeping through the night or have always wanted to develop a better nighttime routine, here are some tips on how you can make your pre-sleep plan a more calming journey into sweet slumber.

1. Create a nightly routine. It’s amazing how much your sleep will change once you put an emphasis on the importance of what you do before you go to bed. What do you do before you go to sleep? For a long time I watched shows or movies directly before I fell asleep, and I noticed how much it changed my dreams and how restful my nights were. I also used to sleep with my phone right beside my bed, which after years of my mother telling me about electromagnetic radiation from my cellphone I finally listened. When I started making more time for myself, and paying more awareness to the stimulants around me and my sensitivity to them things began to change. Here are some suggestions of calming practices that you can use as part of your evening ritual. First, make some time before you rest to do a few things to help calm your mind and body. Drink chamomile tea. Do some light reading, writing, or meditate. Have a bath. Light some candles. Have someone else read to you. Sing or play music. Take a natural remedy like St Johns Wart or Magnesium. Do things that feel good for you, and challenge yourself to incorporate something new to your routine that may benefit your body and spirit!

2. Soak your feet in Epsom salts. One of the many benefits of soaking your feet in Epsom salts is the cleansing and detoxing effects. Our feet travel and carry all our weight, and they also carry a lot of energy because they are our direction connection to the earth and can hold a lot of energetic weight. A good foot soak will increase your levels of magnesium when they become low, which is often caused by stress and anxiety. More magnesium= more serotonin in your brain = more feelings of happiness and relaxation. Not only does it feel good but it’s also doing a lot for you! This is a very nice part of my nightly routine which usually takes between 20 minutes and an hour. Tip* After you’ve soaked your feet, try laying on your bed or floor with your legs straight up on the wall. This may not feel good for everyone, however if you are able to keep your legs up for a good stretch, you will also be releasing a flow of energy through the bottoms of your feet. I’ve even fallen asleep like this as it becomes so relaxing!

3. Increase the flow in your space. What does your bedroom feel like to you? Is it messy, disorganized and cluttered? If so this may be blocking the flow of energy in your space, and will directly affect your energy also! I believe your bedroom should be a sacred space of comfort and relaxation. By my bed I have; an aromatherapy diffuser, a crystal salt lamp, and many crystals. The combination of these things increases the flow and generally just makes me feel good. I have multiple crystals that I sleep with however directly above my bed is a large Selenite crystal that has a very high vibration of protection and clearing. Clear Quartz, Amethyst and Selenite are all good crystals for sleeping, however I recommend using your intuition to select the ones that are best for you!

4. Light some sage. Burning smudge has been a sacred practice of Native Americans for a long time. It is a practice I watched my mother do for many years, and a practice I have been taught to use in my home. A dear friend grows the sage I burn at my home, and being mindful of where your smudge comes from is valuable. Allow for the whole process of lighting and burning sage to be as important as your focused intention. Have a bowl ready to catch the ashes, either using your hand or a feather, cleanse your hands in the smoke, smudging your face and body and spirit. The sage not only clears the negative energy in the space, but it does the same for your body as a cleanser of energies. Opening a window or door allows for the energy to flow out. You can use smudge to cleanse crystals, new objects you bring into your home, a new home itself, and people. When you have finished, dispose of the ashes and store your smudge in a safe and clear space.  I have been smudging for a while now almost every day since I moved into my new home, not only do I love the way it feels after doing so, but I love the smell. Be very mindful as you walk around with prayer or intention of what energy you would like to welcome into the space; calm, wellness, peace, love etc. If you practice Reiki you can also use symbols in your space while you smudge.

Remember how important you are, and how important it is for you to nurture and care for yourself. Getting a restful sleep will recharge you and refresh your spirit. As soon as I emphasized the importance the nightly routine was in my evening, I noticed a significant change not only in how I slept but how I felt at night in general. Aside from my cat doing late night parkour, I have such amazing sleeps and look forward to the evening rituals.

With love,

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Can’t just “let it go”?

That’s because emotions

Aren’t like rocks you throw.

They’re more like drops

Of water that need to run through you.

So don’t let it go,

Let it flow.

-Lori Deschene

 

When I think about healing, many words come to mind; letting go, vulnerability, loving release, conscious perspective, peaceful balance, freedom, and forgiveness. Healing is all of these things, but is not limited to those few expressions.

Healing is the softening of a hard space, like a rock on the shoreline that changes form over time. The hard edges of the rock are gradually worn smooth from the constant motion of the waves. Reiki acts as this gentle cleansing wave that softens those hard spaces within. Like water it has an incredibly strong, yet gentle capacity to invoke change.

Recently I have been reflecting on the subject of deep healing. I have been hearing a lot of discussion within the healing community expressing a similar theme. Many have been going through a big transition and felt the drastic uprooting of emotions with exposed awareness. With this new awareness arises opportunities for healing. This is where people would come to me and ask for Reiki, and they ask to heal from these experiences and traumas, moments that left a mark on their bodies and spirits. And it has made me wonder. What are we asking to be healed from?

So how does Reiki enter the space of deep healing? Just as sweet surrender to your life’s journey enhances the natural flow of it, releasing all expectation and judgment in Reiki, realigns the natural flow of one’s true path in healing. Reiki will always go to the areas in greatest need of healing. If we release all expectations and limitations we may put on the experience, the healing that occurs can be life changing.

Similar to the Tao System of the complete recognition of body-mind-spirit connection, a Reiki session invites you to be completely present with one’s self. Being fully present allows you to release your emotions, thoughts and feelings, past present and future. In this space of freedom, we find miraculous, conscious flow with the source. In this freedom there is space for the unlimited and profound power of healing through all time and space.

Rei is the invisible power or source of it all. Rei is sacredness, and blessing. Rei possesses an infinite power.

Ki is the basis of all energy healing. Ki is the vital energy of the earth. Ki is Breath. Ki is the unseen energy of the universe.

Together Rei-ki enhances your healthy vibration of energy and helps find that peaceful place within that is in alignment with your greatest, purest energy flow. It is a state of balance, and grace.

So, hold space for yourself to feel, take a deep breath, and remind yourself of the amazing things you’ve accomplished, how far you’ve come. Invite yourself to pay awareness to your body, and if you store any hard spaces within you, let them soften. Invite yourself to forgive. Allow yourself to step into your grace.

With lots of love,

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