Reflections on grief, love, and slow becoming.
Quiet writing for tender seasons. Gentle practices, rituals, and companions for the road.
What the garden teaches us about grief
A reflection on dormant seasons, slow growth, and trusting what lies beneath the soil.
Read the reflectionWalking as a grief practice
Why moving our bodies through the natural world helps move what is stuck in the heart.
Read full reflection: Walking as a grief practicePracticesHolding space - for others, for yourself
A few small practices for staying present when grief asks for our quiet attention.
Read full reflection: Holding space - for others, for yourselfRitualsSmall rituals for anniversary days
Gentle, doable ways to mark the days that hold extra weight.
Read full reflection: Small rituals for anniversary daysReflectionsWhen friends don't know what to say
On the silences that follow loss, and how to ask for what you need.
Read full reflection: When friends don't know what to sayReikiWhat Reiki teaches about grief
Gentle energy, presence, and the practice of letting healing do its own work.
Read full reflection: What Reiki teaches about griefReflectionsBidden or Unbidden
Bidden or unbidden The day ends Bidden or unbidden Breath comes Bidden or unbidden Dreams appear Bidden or unbidden Fears arrive Bidden or unbidden Tears come Bidden or unbidden Despair is here…
Read full reflection: Bidden or UnbiddenReflections1000 Hands
Reflecting on Reiki and its physical sensations during this time of isolation. May you all be well. Sending Reiki to you daily. After a Reiki session my client said to me, “How do you do that? It…
Read full reflection: 1000 HandsReflectionsWe’re a Touch Starved Culture
During my Reiki 1 class at Kripalu Center , my teacher, Libby Barnett , when asked whether we directly touch the recipients of a Reiki session or hover in their energy field, responded, “We’re a…
Read full reflection: We’re a Touch Starved CultureReflectionsHow do you stand so still?
[caption id="attachment_1452" align="alignright" width="225"] Bamboo Trees, Morikami Gardens[/caption] At a Reiki Clinic a few years ago, a recipient sat up from the table and said to myself, and my…
Read full reflection: How do you stand so still?ReflectionsElsewhere
You sought peace and freedom No more depression. Spirit said: Go here Go Be free free free and we went there a place of freedom, peace and spirit. A place without our bodies and our pain. We went…
Read full reflection: ElsewhereReflectionsCreative Grief Studio Post: Embodied Grief
I am thrilled to announce that I have a guest blog post on the Creative Grief Studio's site . I hope you enjoy this reflection on the combination of grief support and Reiki. With love and light,…
Read full reflection: Creative Grief Studio Post: Embodied GriefReflectionsThings that don't make sense
Last year, my word for the year was actually a phrase. It was: “This is the year of doing things that don’t make sense.” This may seem silly or illogical or risky but for me it led me to do a number…
Read full reflection: Things that don't make senseReflectionsWhat's your Superpower?
Awhile ago, I was leading a meditation group. At the beginning of the session, I asked the participants why they wanted to learn to meditate. There were the typical answers of seeking improved…
Read full reflection: What's your Superpower?ReflectionsInterview with Alison Kelly
I had the the pleasure of sitting down with Alison and talking about her experiences with Reiki sessions and classes. She shares about how Reiki transformed her grief and how she has a steady client…
Read full reflection: Interview with Alison KellyReflectionsTime to Eat my Humble Pie
Last week, I was honored with an award from the women’s running group that I’m part of and my immediate reaction was, “I don’t deserve that.” There is a pattern in my thoughts, and maybe yours too,…
Read full reflection: Time to Eat my Humble PieReflectionsInterview with Nancy Paul
I had the pleasure of interviewing one of my students and a fellow Reiki Master, Nancy Paul, of Lyrical Healing . She shares her experiences using Reiki in her body-centered therapy practice and…
Read full reflection: Interview with Nancy PaulReflectionsInterview with Yolanda Anderson
I had the pleasure of interviewing one of my students, Yolanda Anderson, about her Reiki class experiences. She shares how she was drawn to the class and how the five Reiki precepts guide her…
Read full reflection: Interview with Yolanda AndersonReflectionsIt Just Happened
This article originally appeared in The Huffington Post [caption id="attachment_1349" align="alignright" width="300"] from tinybuddha.com[/caption] A few months ago, I attended a meeting at the…
Read full reflection: It Just HappenedReflectionsReiki and Balance
This article previously appeared on The Huffington Post A client named, Colleen, came to my office a few weeks ago feeling out of sorts. When I asked her what she was seeking, she said, “balance.”…
Read full reflection: Reiki and BalanceReflectionsAnger and Disempowerment
This post also appears on The Huffington Post I’m so angry!! How could you do that to me and my team?! That was my reaction the other day at work when a coworker strongly criticized the work my team…
Read full reflection: Anger and DisempowermentReflectionsWe Ate When We Were Hungry
This article also appears on the Huffington Post . One time a colleague of mine, who was based out of Amsterdam, went on a summer road trip with her husband and two young children. They had a camper…
Read full reflection: We Ate When We Were HungryReflectionsDo you have a personal bubble? 3 Steps for Reiki Practitioners
This article also appears on the HuffPost So, you’re a sensitive person. Some people may call you highly empathic. You feel things, you notice things, you know when something is not right and someone…
Read full reflection: Do you have a personal bubble? 3 Steps for Reiki PractitionersReflectionsMindful Running
Last month, I completed my second half marathon. It was a different challenge for several reasons. Some were known ahead of time; some were not. I knew it was going to be on a groomed trail and…
Read full reflection: Mindful RunningReflectionsFirst, yourself
This article also appears on the Huffington Post . There’s a reason why as soon as you’re attuned in a Reiki class , you learn the self-care practice. Before you’re ready to practice on others, you…
Read full reflection: First, yourselfReflectionsMy Body, My Friend: Finding the Spiritual in my Toes
This article also appears on the Huffington Post . “Is it possible to find the spiritual in the body?” a reader of my blog asked in response to a post on body image. My first reaction was, “No way.…
Read full reflection: My Body, My Friend: Finding the Spiritual in my ToesReflectionsNon-doing: Can I do it?
This article also appears on the Huffington Post I knew I was in real trouble when I was at the dentist this month for a cleaning and check-up and I was giddy about the prospect of having my feet up…
Read full reflection: Non-doing: Can I do it?ReflectionsSurfing with Grief
This article also appears in the Huffington Post . The ground shifted underneath me. November 2016 was a month of grief and shock for me. The loss of the election by way of the Electoral College to a…
Read full reflection: Surfing with GriefReflectionsI teach Reiki and mindfulness and I’m operating on autopilot
[caption id="attachment_1233" align="alignright" width="225"] Photo by Janice E. Lodato[/caption] This article also appears on the Huffington Post . The title of this post is 100% accurate at times.…
Read full reflection: I teach Reiki and mindfulness and I’m operating on autopilotReflectionsLet it go
This post also appears on The Huffington Post . [caption id="attachment_1223" align="alignright" width="300"] Photo by Janice E. Lodato[/caption] “I have something to let go of,” I said out loud in…
Read full reflection: Let it goReflectionsThe Suffering of the World
One morning while reading the news on my way to work, I felt overwhelmed by the suffering of the world. I arrived at my stop, exited the L, and walked the streets of Chicago and saw suffering all…
Read full reflection: The Suffering of the WorldReflectionsA Vow to Myself
This article also appears on The Huffington Post My abs are tight, stomach flat, legs and arms strong and fit, I haven’t had a cold in months – I’m beautiful. I love myself. This body, she is…
Read full reflection: A Vow to MyselfReflectionsEveryday Mindfulness
This post also appears on The Huffington Post “If you really want to be a rebel, practice kindness.” The Kindness Rebellion by Sharon Salzberg Stop. Notice. Or don’t stop. Keep going AND notice. It’s…
Read full reflection: Everyday MindfulnessReflectionsReiki, Empathy, and Proof
Yesterday, an article was published in the Boston Globe called, “Easing a Patient’s Pain – Even Without Proof it Works.” The article discusses the use of acupuncture, massage, reflexology, and Reiki…
Read full reflection: Reiki, Empathy, and ProofReflectionsSelf-love: Calling my body, “she”
This post also appears on The Huffington Post . One day as I entered a bathroom stall at work, I was thinking about my body. “It’s tired. It’s old. It aches.” -- were the thoughts that went through…
Read full reflection: Self-love: Calling my body, “she”ReflectionsUncertainty
“Uncertainty” is a word that keeps coming up in various contexts for me lately and it seems so appropriate in the face of acts of violence that surround us. As we try to believe that we are safe in…
Read full reflection: UncertaintyReflectionsWorry or Don’t Worry
Several years ago I was traveling on business from Los Angeles to Tucson. I had a flight to catch from LA and was getting ready to leave my company’s office in the afternoon, drive to LAX, return the…
Read full reflection: Worry or Don’t WorryReflectionsCan-do Attitude
Just a short and sweet post on leading with your heart's desire and a can-do attitude. Earlier this year I agreed to run a half marathon. I've never run this distance before and was puzzling over how…
Read full reflection: Can-do AttitudeReflectionsBook Review: Being Mortal
A change in a personal habit has allowed me more time for reading. I’m really enjoying this change even if some of the books I choose to read are not a “walk in the park.” Being Mortal: Medicine and…
Read full reflection: Book Review: Being MortalReflectionsBook Review: Quiet by Susan Cain
Imagine my delight when I discovered this book, Quiet by Susan Cain , which had been on my “To Read” list for months, nestled on my husband’s bookshelf. The idea of a “Quiet Revolution” is hugely…
Read full reflection: Book Review: Quiet by Susan CainReflectionsReflections on Struggle
A colleague said to me a few weeks ago, “Life is meant to be a place of flow and harmony. When we struggle, it’s a sign that we’re not doing the right thing – not working in the right place with the…
Read full reflection: Reflections on StruggleReflectionsFearlessness and Endless Energy
Let’s shatter some myths here. There is no state of ongoing fearlessness or endless energy. One may experience moments of fearlessness or heightened bravery. And one may experience days of bountiful…
Read full reflection: Fearlessness and Endless EnergyReflectionsWhat I learned at the Waterpark: Part 2: Play
You might recall that I wrote a couple of years ago about an insight that arose at a visit to a waterpark around the ebb and flow of emotions even positive emotions. As I approached a recent visit to…
Read full reflection: What I learned at the Waterpark: Part 2: PlayReflectionsMindfulness: Current Research
Many people wonder, why should I meditate? What are the benefits? To me, the short answer is: “Because it works.” Then, of course, the next questions are: “How does it work? How will it help?” Simply…
Read full reflection: Mindfulness: Current ResearchReflectionsReiki and Insomnia
Sometimes I wake up at 3:30 a.m. and can’t fall back to sleep. Does this type of insomnia ever happen to you? Is it a crisis for you? Do you lie in bed waiting for the alarm to go off or the sun to…
Read full reflection: Reiki and InsomniaReflectionsChallenges: Can you do more?
[caption id="attachment_1076" align="alignright" width="300"] Healing session in the movie, Kung Fu Panda 3[/caption] “If you only do what you can do, you’ll never be better than what you are.”…
Read full reflection: Challenges: Can you do more?Reflections5 Reiki Precepts: Applying them to your life
In one of Phyllis Furumoto’s recent YouTube videos she responded to a question that someone had sent in regarding listening to spirit guides. When I heard the question, I was intrigued to see how she…
Read full reflection: 5 Reiki Precepts: Applying them to your lifeReflectionsSacred Sundays and Other Great Ideas
“If it doesn’t serve to uplift your spirit, let it go.” As the calendar was getting ready to change from 2015 to 2016, I experienced a healing CranioSacral session . My intention for that session…
Read full reflection: Sacred Sundays and Other Great IdeasReflectionsListening to your Body
On October 11, 2015, several of my running buddies, from our local women’s running group, competed in the Chicago Marathon . There were also many others who competed in other races, including a half…
Read full reflection: Listening to your BodyReflections3 Reiki Fallacies
There are many fallacies in the Reiki community about what Reiki is, how it is practiced, and what Reiki practitioners can do. I completely understand how these have developed. One of the reasons is…
Read full reflection: 3 Reiki FallaciesReflectionsFirst Thoughts upon Waking: What did I do . . .?
If you’re a Reiki practitioner, you may have a self-Reiki practice that begins as soon as you wake up in the morning. I know I do and I cherish those minutes of self-care that begin my day, focus my…
Read full reflection: First Thoughts upon Waking: What did I do . . .?ReflectionsPlaying in the “And” Space: A Gratitude Practice
I hope you all have had the opportunity to utilize some of the wonderful resources that become available this time of year around developing a gratitude practice. I find that, even in the most…
Read full reflection: Playing in the “And” Space: A Gratitude PracticeReflectionsWhy the Stages of Grief are so Appealing
Just when you think you’ve “moved on” and accepted your new normal, you notice someone who reminds you of your beloved. Or you reach into your closet and pull an old sweater to your face and your…
Read full reflection: Why the Stages of Grief are so AppealingReflections5 things I want to tell the naysayers
[caption id="attachment_1012" align="alignright" width="192"] Joan Pouch performs Reiki on cancer patient Margaret Briscoe, to help relax her during a chemotherapy infusion.[/caption] Last week, an…
Read full reflection: 5 things I want to tell the naysayersReflectionsNo Guarantees
Let’s get straight to the punch line for this post: With Reiki, as with life, there are no guarantees. I wish there were, but there are not. I’m writing this because as a Reiki Master I often have…
Read full reflection: No GuaranteesReflectionsYou can heal your life
There is a powerful book that is popular in the alternative and complementary health fields called, "You Can Heal Your Life." It was written by Louise Hay who has an amazing story of personal…
Read full reflection: You can heal your lifeReflectionsGrief Coaching is for . . .
[caption id="attachment_982" align="alignright" width="300"] Image by Kara Jones, Creative Grief Studio[/caption] Recently I was talking with a client about the difference between grief coaching and…
Read full reflection: Grief Coaching is for . . .ReflectionsThe Ergonomics of Reiki
When I learned Reiki back in 2001 at Kripalu , my teachers, Libby and Maggie, taught us to be mindful of how we, as Reiki practitioners stood during a session. Not that the standing (or sitting)…
Read full reflection: The Ergonomics of ReikiReflectionsHaving a vision for your life
Imagine having less than $200 to your name, a young family to take care of, and agreeing to carve a mountain to honor Native American heroes. No one was going to help you -- it would be just you, the…
Read full reflection: Having a vision for your lifeReflectionsHonoring the Past and Re-imagining the Future: Menopause and Grief
I'm so thrilled to co-facilitate a Summer Playshop, through the Creative Grief Studio, called, "Honoring the Past and Re-imaging the Future." Beth Newman and I have collaborated to bring you a 100%…
Read full reflection: Honoring the Past and Re-imagining the Future: Menopause and GriefReflectionsSelf-Reiki: What is it and Why practice it?
If you've taken a Reiki level 1 class hopefully you've been taught how to have a self-Reiki practice. This practice usually entails a regular practice at the beginning and end of each day plus…
Read full reflection: Self-Reiki: What is it and Why practice it?ReflectionsJust Give Up: On Surrender, Acceptance, and Being Driven
“For after all, the best thing one can do when it is raining is let it rain.” ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow True confession: I'm a very driven person. When I set my mind to something I will find a way…
Read full reflection: Just Give Up: On Surrender, Acceptance, and Being DrivenReflectionsReiki for Mental Clarity
Cheryl came to my office for a Reiki session. When she arrived she appeared tense and agitated. I asked her what she would like from the Reiki and she responded very clearly, "Mental clarity!" Of…
Read full reflection: Reiki for Mental ClarityReflectionsMovie review: Inside Out
Have you seen the new movie, " Inside Out "? If not, I highly recommend it. As many of the movie critics say, it's much more than a kids' movie. Honestly, it's probably not even that entertaining for…
Read full reflection: Movie review: Inside OutReflectionsBook Review: The Happiness Project
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all [people] are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the…
Read full reflection: Book Review: The Happiness ProjectReflectionsPhotography Exhibit: Touching Strangers
[caption id="attachment_896" align="alignright" width="240"] Jessie and Michael, New York, NY, 2013, Photograph by Richard Renaldi[/caption] Last week, I was thrilled to visit the photography…
Read full reflection: Photography Exhibit: Touching StrangersReflectionsUsing Reiki for Working with Grief
When we are faced with a significant loss in our life we want the pain to just go away. Instead of light we often feel engulfed in darkness and unable to make even the simplest decisions. One of the…
Read full reflection: Using Reiki for Working with GriefReflectionsHow would my higher self act?
Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in some real world acting. Not on a stage, not in front of any type of camera, just face-to-face behaving completely opposite of how I was feeling. This…
Read full reflection: How would my higher self act?ReflectionsWe live and die by the clock
"Time rules over us without mercy. Not caring if we're healthy or ill. Hungry or drunk. Russian, American, beings from Mars. . . . we live or we die by the clock. We never turn our back on it and we…
Read full reflection: We live and die by the clockReflectionsReiki's Effectiveness: More Anecdotal Evidence
As promised a few weeks ago, I am sharing some more stories that demonstrate the effectiveness and application of Reiki. I hope you find these stories helpful in understanding how Reiki works and its…
Read full reflection: Reiki's Effectiveness: More Anecdotal EvidenceReflectionsBook Review: Healing through the Dark Emotions
One of the wonderful books that was part of studying with the Creative Grief Studio , was Miriam Greenspan's , "Healing through the Dark Emotions." In this book Ms. Greenspan guides us in living with…
Read full reflection: Book Review: Healing through the Dark EmotionsReflectionsReiki is not pseudoscience
Recently, I was navigating to my website using my iPhone's Safari browser and as I typed the URL a Google search result came up showing the Wikipedia entry for Reiki. It stated that Reiki is "a form…
Read full reflection: Reiki is not pseudoscienceReflectionsJust Relax
Have you ever been told to, “just relax”? This well-meaning piece of advice is one of the more useless directives that can come our way. Sure it’s probably true that in that moment, and many others,…
Read full reflection: Just RelaxReflectionsHow effective is Reiki?
People come to Reiki sessions for a variety of reasons. Some people come with a strong belief in the practice and no doubt in their minds. However, others arrive wondering why they're there and how…
Read full reflection: How effective is Reiki?ReflectionsWhat does it mean to "be Reiki"?
I was so thrilled to learn yesterday that I've reached over 1,000 followers on Twitter . I know for some people this is a small number of followers, but for me, this is a real milestone. At the…
Read full reflection: What does it mean to "be Reiki"?ReflectionsPay Attention! The importance of practicing Reiki
Moments of inattention often lead to life's mishaps. For instance, recently, I was at an airport and I wanted to clean my glasses while waiting at the gate for my plane. I reached into my Ziploc bag…
Read full reflection: Pay Attention! The importance of practicing ReikiReflectionsTop 5 reasons to talk about your grief
When some people hear that I'm a certified creative grief coach, they ask, "Why would I want to talk about my grief?" They think that talking about it will cause them to relive the grief and get…
Read full reflection: Top 5 reasons to talk about your griefReflectionsWe don't diagnose
In every Reiki class that I teach, I say, "We [Reiki Practitioners] don't diagnose." It's an important directive to keep in mind because when we practice Reiki we often notice things about a client's…
Read full reflection: We don't diagnoseReflectionsEven Reiki Masters get the Blues
I wish it were true that Reiki is a cure-all for human suffering, but it's not. Even practicing Reiki at the Master level, one still experiences the fullness of life with its highs and lows. However,…
Read full reflection: Even Reiki Masters get the BluesReflectionsBook review: The Dance of Anger
The reading list from my Creative Grief Coach certification course, included, " The Dance of Anger ," by Harriet Lerner, Ph.D. This book provides an honest assessment of how women express, repress,…
Read full reflection: Book review: The Dance of AngerReflectionsThe Art of Reiki: The Art of Wu Wei
[caption id="attachment_756" align="alignright" width="249"] Master Oogway, image from KungFuPanda.com[/caption] When I studied Reiki at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Stockbridge,…
Read full reflection: The Art of Reiki: The Art of Wu WeiReflectionsToo nice?
Has anyone ever said to you, "You're too nice."? People have said that to me and I'm always puzzled by their statement. What does it mean to be too nice? Is this even possible? As I've reflected upon…
Read full reflection: Too nice?ReflectionsHelping to create wholeness with Reiki
My family received so many wonderful cards this holiday season that I enjoyed reading and re-reading. There was one card, however, that really stood out for me personally. It was from the Wellness…
Read full reflection: Helping to create wholeness with ReikiReflectionsWorking with Grief through Reiki and Connection
Recently a client who was filled with grief said to me, while she was lying on the Reiki table, "You know I really don't believe in this." I reassured her that it is not necessary to believe in Reiki…
Read full reflection: Working with Grief through Reiki and ConnectionReflectionsShould . . . Shoumd: Reflections on Non-Judgmental Awareness
At the beginning of my sophomore year in college I was delivering some papers to the counseling center at my university. One of the counselors met me in the waiting room and asked how things were…
Read full reflection: Should . . . Shoumd: Reflections on Non-Judgmental AwarenessReflectionsBe Gentle with Yourself
I'm startled sometimes by the harsh words that people use when talking about themselves. These are people who I know would not speak that way to another person, but they feel completely comfortable…
Read full reflection: Be Gentle with YourselfReflectionsGratitude Attitude
As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday here in the U.S., there are many reminders for us to pause and give thanks. This can be a lovely time to reflect on what we are personally grateful for. You…
Read full reflection: Gratitude AttitudeReflectionsReiki for Kids
On November 9th, my daughter and I taught Reiki to three children all under 10 years old. It was a fun and peaceful class. All three kids are the children of my students and level 2 Reiki…
Read full reflection: Reiki for KidsReflectionsReiki for Athletes at Northwood University
On October 25th, I had the honor of presenting a workshop on Reiki to the men's basketball team at Northwood University in West Palm Beach, Florida. It was a great opportunity to discuss the…
Read full reflection: Reiki for Athletes at Northwood UniversityReflectionsReiki for . . .
I started writing this post as "Reiki for Hospice Staff and Volunteers" and then realized that I write a lot about "Reiki for <this group of people> and <that condition>," so I thought it would be…
Read full reflection: Reiki for . . .ReflectionsSaying "no" without the guilt
Lately, I've had the opportunity to say, "no" to a number of personal and business-related requests, invitations, and, probably nearly a million after-school activities for my daughter. It seems…
Read full reflection: Saying "no" without the guiltReflectionsCan Reiki Save the World?
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead If Reiki is widely practiced throughout the world,…
Read full reflection: Can Reiki Save the World?ReflectionsDunno
My Reiki teacher, Libby Barnett , often says, when asked to explain how Reiki works, "Dunno." She invites us to be in this space of "I don't know," this space of being, rather than knowing. As a…
Read full reflection: DunnoReflectionsAcknowledging and Working with Strong Emotions
When I started the Creative Grief Coaching certification program, I was concerned that I would be overwhelmed by strong emotions, especially the "dark emotions." Last week, I started to experience a…
Read full reflection: Acknowledging and Working with Strong EmotionsReflectionsYour Kids are Reiki Naturals
When you take a Reiki Class, the teacher often asks you to be childlike during the class. "Let's be like 3-year-old kids today," I said the other day during a Reiki 1 Class I was teaching. When I ask…
Read full reflection: Your Kids are Reiki NaturalsReflections10 Health-Promoting Reasons to Take a Reiki Class
As a Reiki Master Teacher, I've noticed that people take Reiki Classes for a wide-variety of reasons. Some people are seeking an addition to their professional practice as a physician, nurse, or…
Read full reflection: 10 Health-Promoting Reasons to Take a Reiki ClassReflectionsReiki Reflections and Natural Abstractions
I had a wonderful vacation with my family this summer. It was so refreshing to get away from our day-to-day lives and spend time in nature. As I took photographs during our vacation, I was drawn to a…
Read full reflection: Reiki Reflections and Natural AbstractionsReflectionsRequest Reiki
The nex t time you, or a family member, receive(s) a treatment or procedure at a hospital, ask for Reiki. According to some estimates , over 20% of hospitals in the U.S. offer Reiki to patients and…
Read full reflection: Request ReikiReflectionsReiki feels like . . .
In a typical Reiki session, lasting an hour, the recipient lies down on a Reiki table (aka a massage table), fully clothed and is offered Reiki by the practitioner through the light placement of…
Read full reflection: Reiki feels like . . .ReflectionsThe Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz is a delightful book that aligns beautifully with the Reiki precepts. While reading it recently, I was reminded again and again of the universality of the these…
Read full reflection: The Four Agreements by Don Miguel RuizReflectionsCreative Visualization by Shakti Gawain
Creative Visualization by Shakti Gawain holds a special place in my heart. This particular copy is from my father's bookshelf. He is a psychologist who has most recently practiced in the field of…
Read full reflection: Creative Visualization by Shakti GawainReflectionsReiki: You, Gwyneth, and Demi
Ah, to be at peace, to be centered, calm, and focused. Reiki is like the moment during meditation where you are completely at peace, balanced, and free. Though, most people find Reiki to be much…
Read full reflection: Reiki: You, Gwyneth, and DemiReflectionsThe importance of practice
“I believe that we learn by practice. Whether it means to learn to dance by practicing dancing or to learn to live by practicing living, the principles are the same. In each, it is the performance of…
Read full reflection: The importance of practiceReflectionsBelief is irrelevant
For Reiki to work, belief is irrelevant. The mind does not control Reiki. You can believe in Reiki or not, it will still work. The mind is pesky and it will ask for proof. It will ask how to know it…
Read full reflection: Belief is irrelevantReflectionsHow does Reiki work?
There is a certain amount of mystery around how Reiki works. As Reiki Practitioners and Masters, we believe in universal life-force energy -- the energy that is in us and all around us. The energy…
Read full reflection: How does Reiki work?ReflectionsReiki Class: A Great Value
There is a wide range of pricing for Reiki Classes. The fees charged by Mrs. Takata (the Japanese-American woman who brought Reiki to the United States) for Reiki Classes in the 1970s were: Reiki 1 =…
Read full reflection: Reiki Class: A Great ValueReflectionsReiki at a Cancer Center: 5 Tips for Reiki Practitioners
If you're a Reiki Practitioner who would like to offer Reiki to cancer patients, I'd like to share with you my experience offering Sessions at the Wellness House in Hinsdale, Illinois, for the past…
Read full reflection: Reiki at a Cancer Center: 5 Tips for Reiki PractitionersReflectionsMind over Medicine by Lissa Rankin
I recently finished reading Lissa Rankin's book, " Mind Over Medicine ." There are many insightful nuggets in it. The beginning establishes, through extensive research, the power of the mind to heal…
Read full reflection: Mind over Medicine by Lissa RankinReflectionsWarm Hands, Reiki Hands
There is a well-known story told of Mrs. Takata's (the Japanese-American woman who brought Reiki to the United States) experience of a Reiki session at Hayashi's Clinic in Japan. During the session…
Read full reflection: Warm Hands, Reiki HandsReflectionsMy Reiki Focus is Teaching
[caption id="attachment_382" align="alignright" width="225"] Offering Reiki to a Student[/caption] In 2003, I became a Reiki Master. At that time I was fully prepared to teach Reiki level 1 and 2…
Read full reflection: My Reiki Focus is TeachingReflectionsReiki Symbols: Sacred and Secret
[caption id="attachment_377" align="alignright" width="152"] Reiki[/caption] In Reiki level 2 classes, students learn three sacred symbols. The symbols are: Empowerment Mental/Emotional Distance…
Read full reflection: Reiki Symbols: Sacred and SecretReflectionsReiki is a One-Way Street
People new to Reiki often ask if I "catch" their "negative" energy, their problems, or their stress. Each time I'm asked this question, I wholeheartedly reassure my clients that Reiki is a one-way…
Read full reflection: Reiki is a One-Way StreetReflections7 Signs You've Had a Reiki Session
A little fun spin on what it's like to experience Reiki. 7 Signs You've Had a Reiki Session: You feel calmer than you do prior to the session. You start to see the positive side of things. You feel…
Read full reflection: 7 Signs You've Had a Reiki SessionReflectionsReiki in Healthcare
My teacher, Libby Barnett, recently sent a newsletter highlighting three articles on Reiki in healthcare. The first article reviews the steps taken to develop and implement a Reiki Training Program…
Read full reflection: Reiki in HealthcareReflectionsLove First
I've finally come to realize that this is my intention for 2014: Love First. On the surface it seems so simple and easy. My mind says, "Of course, love first. No problem," but to put this into…
Read full reflection: Love FirstReflectionsReiki is Enough . . . for me
Reiki is enough for me. I don't need to practice any other healing modalities. I am not drawn to learn a variety of other techniques. However, for others I know their experience is different. As…
Read full reflection: Reiki is Enough . . . for meReflectionsIs Reiki Magic?
[caption id="attachment_329" align="alignright" width="300"] Photo by Christopher J. Hopper[/caption] Recently, this question has come up in a variety of settings: Is Reiki magic? When I first heard…
Read full reflection: Is Reiki Magic?ReflectionsFear: Is there really a place inside of me that is always safe?
This post just doesn't seem to want to come out. (I've been writing it for four months.) I am wrapped up in fearfulness writing about fear. I'm filled with anxiety that I'll fail. I worry about how…
Read full reflection: Fear: Is there really a place inside of me that is always safe?ReflectionsMy Wintery Soul
My wintery soul longs for that which is not here. [caption id="attachment_320" align="alignright" width="224"] Photo by Janice E. Lodato[/caption] It breaks and cracks from the effort of Trying to do…
Read full reflection: My Wintery SoulReflectionsI Practice Self-Reiki Every Day
Thanks, Pamela Miles, for this fun badge! [caption id="attachment_316" align="aligncenter" width="300"] I Practice Self-Reiki Every Day[/caption] [twitter-follow
Read full reflection: I Practice Self-Reiki Every DayReflectionsReiki at the National Student Conference on Integrative Medicine
I was honored to offer Reiki to medical students at the National Student Conference on Integrative Medicine which was held at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago on…
Read full reflection: Reiki at the National Student Conference on Integrative MedicineReflections5 Signs You're a Real Reiki Master
From a place of fun and lightheartedness, here are 5 signs that indicate you're a real Reiki Master: You've said about Reiki: "Maybe this will work. Maybe it won't." You believe the body heals…
Read full reflection: 5 Signs You're a Real Reiki MasterReflectionsI want to heal YOU
As a Reiki Master, sometimes I can't help but feel this way, " I want to heal YOU !" Some of that feeling is not a bad thing. It definitely can be a motivator that gets one to learn Reiki and to…
Read full reflection: I want to heal YOUReflectionsWhat I learned at the Waterpark
Like many Reiki Practitioners I have studied meditation for many years and have received excellent instruction. In a meditation or yoga class, there is often a direction around observing our…
Read full reflection: What I learned at the WaterparkReflectionsUsing Absent Reiki for Healing from a Distance
One of the things that Reiki 2 Classes are known for is teaching students how to send Reiki healing energy from a distance. What this means that is that you learn a series of Reiki symbols that allow…
Read full reflection: Using Absent Reiki for Healing from a DistanceReflectionsExcuse me: I lost my seriousness
Usually, I'm asking forgiveness for having lost my sense of humor, but today I'm asking for pardon in losing my seriousness. I am one of the most serious people I know, but I love to laugh. I never…
Read full reflection: Excuse me: I lost my seriousnessReflectionsTime
It has been awhile . . . How can it be that every nook and cranny of time gets filled up? Every ounce of energy gets sapped? [caption id="attachment_263" align="alignright" width="224"] Image by…
Read full reflection: TimeReflectionsPhyllis Lei Furumato discusses Reiki Research
I didn’t expect this, but so far this year I have been really deeply immersing myself in my Reiki practice. My devotion and practice have always been there but something is happening this year which…
Read full reflection: Phyllis Lei Furumato discusses Reiki ResearchReflectionsIs Self-Care Selfish?
As a Reiki Master, I have a confession to make: Sometimes I am hesitant to engage in self-care. My concern for the care of others often overrides making self-care a priority in my day-to-day…
Read full reflection: Is Self-Care Selfish?ReflectionsPamela Miles Mainstreams Reiki
Last week, Jonathan Fields posted a video interview with Pamela Miles as another inspirational installment in his Good Life Project. Watch the Video Here Pamela is a dedicated and gifted Reiki Master…
Read full reflection: Pamela Miles Mainstreams ReikiReflectionsWhat is Reiki?
When I'm working with a client who is new to Reiki I'm often asked, "What is Reiki?" My answer starts with, "Reiki is universal life-force energy. It is the energy that is in us and all around us."…
Read full reflection: What is Reiki?ReflectionsPracticing Patience
"Patience is not passive; on the contrary it is active; it is concentrated strength." ~ Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton Lately, I've had the opportunity to practice patience quite frequently. Maybe this is…
Read full reflection: Practicing PatienceReflectionsReiki Clients Report Decreased Stress, Pain, Anxiety; Elevated Mood and More Relaxed
Yes! Reiki works! The Wellness House in Hinsdale Illinois has been surveying program participants about how they feel before and after healing sessions. (Healing sessions include Reiki, Massage,…
Read full reflection: Reiki Clients Report Decreased Stress, Pain, Anxiety; Elevated Mood and More RelaxedReflectionsReiki Resolution Technique
The past five days have been filled with anxiety, anger and pain. Sometimes for me this has been almost disorientating and disabling. I almost don't know what to do next as I feel held by these…
Read full reflection: Reiki Resolution TechniqueReflectionsTurn toward the Light
It's that time of year. The shadows are long. The sun creeps along the southern part of the sky. The hours of daylight are minimal and, if you're like me, you long for "extra" hours of sleep,…
Read full reflection: Turn toward the LightReflectionsThe Illusion of Sameness and the Constancy of Change
"No one ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he/she is not the same person." ~Heraclitus I have been experiencing some unwelcome change in my life this past week, which…
Read full reflection: The Illusion of Sameness and the Constancy of ChangeReflectionsThe mind does not control Reiki
My Reiki teachers, Libby Barnett and Maggie Babb , taught me in the most traditional way as they are very close to the lineage that brought Reiki to the United States. In our training we always…
Read full reflection: The mind does not control ReikiReflectionsReiki Poetry
I love poetry. I find with my self-Reiki practice I am more patient with the process of writing poetry. I enjoy playing with the words and sounds in my head for several days. Then I jot down what has…
Read full reflection: Reiki PoetryReflectionsDaydreaming
"Oh, I could hide 'neath the wings Of the bluebird as she sings. The six o'clock alarm would never ring. But six rings and I rise, Wipe the sleep out of my eyes. . . . Oh, what can it mean. To a…
Read full reflection: DaydreamingReflectionsReiki: Anxiety and Cancer Treatment
This past Saturday, I offered Reiki during three one-on-one sessions at the Wellness House in Hinsdale. The Wellness tune-up room is a spa-type room with dimmed lights, healing music (my current…
Read full reflection: Reiki: Anxiety and Cancer TreatmentReflectionsChange . . . Child’s Growth vs. Aging
It is Fall in the Northern Hemisphere. One of our seasons of change, people say. Maybe all seasons are seasons of change. Maybe we are constantly changing. Constantly in a state of flux, but we are…
Read full reflection: Change . . . Child’s Growth vs. AgingReflectionsReiki Goes Where it is Needed
In the Usui system of Reiki there is a principle that Reiki goes where it is needed. In practice this can look like a Reiki session where the practitioner has her hands on the shoulders of the…
Read full reflection: Reiki Goes Where it is NeededReflectionsMy Reiki Journey
My Reiki journey began in 2001. I was filled with stress from my work and was seeking relaxation. I had tried a number of modalities, but was still seeking the "right" solution. Then I saw an ad for…
Read full reflection: My Reiki Journey
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