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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