Putting a Price on Healing

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During Mercury Retrograde (finally over as of yesterday, thank you), we are called to think about things. Reflect on our life, our business, our relationships, all while communications and plans are disrupted so we can do that. Ha. 

And now it's a New Moon. That's the time when we should set our new plans, goals, and dreams in motion.

Seems that I've been given the opportunity to do both - big time - and now I'm here to report on it. It was a lesson that was put right in my face. (Thanks again, Universe.) Here's the way things went down:

A couple weeks ago, I received a newsletter from a copywriter who I've followed for a while. In it, she detailed some serious emotional blockages related to her unfortunate childhood. I felt moved to write her back, encourage her to stop being limited by her past, and go for her dreams. I also mentioned that some Reiki healing can greatly help with releasing those painful past experiences, and allowing yourself to move forward. 

She responded that she was curious about Reiki, and could we talk on the phone. I answered that of course I'd be happy to speak with her. We set a time. We spoke yesterday. 

It was not what I had expected. 

She asked me some questions about Reiki, and I explained. She seemed enthusiastic. That is, until she asked me how much a distance Reiki session costs. I told her $50 or 5 sessions for $200. There was a pause.

"That's ALL?" 
I answered yes.
"Why on earth do you charge so LITTLE?" She asked in an astounded tone. 

I explained my rationale. An in person Reiki session is about the same cost as a massage. A distance session doesn't require me to travel anywhere or prepare a massage table with a sheet. So it's less. 

Then she told me that she simply can't understand how something that could help change someone's life, help the person heal from years of baggage and turmoil, could be priced so low. She went on to say that it must mean that I don't value my own services. She also told me that she had gladly paid $4,400 to attend a program designed to teach you how to think.

She also said that she was no longer interested in my services. She advised me strongly to raise my prices by about five times what they are. She said that charging as little as I do means that I'm telling the world that I am not offering something anywhere in balance with its value to those who receive it. 

I told her I would be happy to accept more money, and assured her that affordable doesn't mean not powerful. It was apparent, though, that this wasn't really the right connection for either of us. I thanked her for her advice, told her that I hope she finds what she needs, and we got off the phone. 

About an hour later, she blogged about our conversation. 

I spent a good, long time thinking about this. I asked myself:

• Am I undercharging?
• Am I undervaluing my work?
• Am I holding myself back? 
• Does my work have a perceived low value?

I really pondered this. I searched inside myself. I tested my feelings about charging more. I tested my feelings about her reaction. 

I came to a conclusion that some people think that if they pay a lot of money for a solution that says it will resolve their issues, that it will take the problem away for them. It must be the best if it costs so much more than the others. But that says a lot more about the people who think that way than it does about the people who charge the highest fees. A friend (and one of my clients and professional associates) from Facebook who I asked for some feedback added, " I will also say that paying a huge price tag and getting little results is often more palatable to the ego than being presented with an actual solution for a very low price.  It's a way that the ego appeases us by pretending we are doing "big" things to solve our pain or problem."

I think that I agree with that. And, also, I think that it's another reason that she was not a good potential client for me. 

In answer to my question to myself about my pricing, I feel that my fee for distance healing is affordable, but that doesn't mean it's not powerful. I know from experience that the distance healing sessions I offer are received in powerful ways, with life-changing results, by those who accept them. But I like that they are affordably priced. I feel comfortable with the price point where it is. 

I guess that I know what it feels like to struggle to afford something I feel I need, and I also know how it feels to be grateful to afford something I feel I need. I think it could be harder to fully receive a healing session if you're thinking in the back of your head how hard it was to pay for it. So that's another thing. 

I can't measure the value of a Reiki session. Priceless. That's about it. So I have to set a fee that feels comfortable for me to offer. 

My Practical Reiki classes are also affordably priced. I used to charge less, and I realized (after my friends and students alerted me) that the fee was too little, because it did have a lower perceived value. ("Dollar Store Reiki" is not what I offer!) So at the time, I raised it to a number that felt more in balance with how I felt and how I want it to be perceived. Let me say that I am completely confident about my Practical Reiki training's value. It's outstanding. It's priceless. I could easily charge double for it and deserve it. Although if I did, some people would struggle to save to receive this training. But, I could justify the price because it is seriously excellent and allows one to immediately become a practitioner, if desired.

But, the other side is that it's really easy for me to teach, doesn't take a lot of time to learn, and I want it to spread far and wide. I want there to be a million people using Practical Reiki in five years' time, because I trained them or someone I trained (or their students trained) did. Practical Reiki is a straightforward, unplugged method of energy healing that anyone can learn, regardless of previous experience.

Then, I asked myself about the value of my time spent teaching. That was a good question, and I felt a slight disconnect was there, so I have slightly raised the fee for live classes (compared to recorded), and offered an add-on for a private hour on Skype with me for Q&A to those who take the recorded version. I also include the books with the live training. That adjustment feels in alignment with my values, and feels like a quality offer.  

It's true that some people undervalue themselves, and undercharge for their services. The opposite is also true. And, it's true that some people take advantage of the fact that there are people out there who actually go looking for the most expensive option, and charge accordingly for their services. I can't be in integrity with myself if I try to be one of the people who raises my fees to target those who want to pay top dollar. So that's good for me to know also. 

I am grateful for the lesson from this past Mercury Retrograde, and ready for the New Moon to take my goals, plans and dreams and energize them into being. 


Comments and feedback are very welcome.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

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This morning I was greeted by some hostile posts on my Facebook page. They were made by another Reiki practitioner who disagreed with the fact that I charge for distance healing. Despite my telling her that I balance my professional practice with volunteer service as a Group Leader with the Distance Healing Network, weekly giving Reiki at The Cleveland Clinic, and twice monthly at a cancer support center, The Gathering Place, and that I accept exchanges and will reduce or eliminate entirely fees for those who are unable to contribute, she continued to berate me and tell me that I dishonor the practice of Reiki by charging for distance healing. I told her that I offer the same time and mindful attention to my clients, whether distance or local, she retorted that it only takes a few minutes to send distance Reiki. I deleted the posts, realizing that nothing I could say would prevent her from saying I was wrong.

My husband said not to blog about it, because that would add more energy and attention to the issue. I understand the philosophy of whatever we give attention to increases, and that which we ignore goes away (eventually). I see his point.

But this was staying with me, and I felt the need to address it.

The point is not whether or not I choose to accept an exchange for distance Reiki. The point is how Reiki practitioners treat one another. I advocate for respect. If she doesn't like that I charge for Reiki, she can go to another Reiki practitioner who does not. She doesn't need to attack my choices, and also my integrity. I bear no hostility towards her because her opinion is different from mine.

As people sharing healing energy with others, I would like to suggest that we all see each other as sharing the same goal of helping the world be a better place. That's it. Anyone who is trying to help others, educate about healing, and share energy with those who need it deserves to be seen as such. We should not turn on each other for using a different Reiki modality, trying to support our family so we can dedicate our time fully to a healing practice, or for disagreeing over how Reiki is shared or learned. I believe that in this work we are held to a higher standard. That isn't to say that we can't be human. I'm extremely human. I sometimes swear. I enjoy drinking wine or beer on occasion. I make mistakes. I sometimes worry, despite my efforts not to. But I also have internalized the Reiki precept, "Just for today, I will treat all living things with kindness" to the best of my ability. I honestly try to live that way.

The Reiki precepts are a beautifully written simple and yet complex set of values that anyone working with life force energy is encouraged to attempt to live by. They are:

Just for today...
I will avoid anger.
I will avoid worry.
I will do my work honestly.
I will be grateful for all I have.
I will treat all living things with kindness.

I honestly try to live by these, and hope that others, especially those who embrace Reiki as part of their path, will do also. They are not laws, commandments, and we are not bound by them. They are just suggestions, good ones, for how one may choose to elevate his or her life.

So I put out there: Please, all of you who are involved in this practice of sharing energy healing, respect the basics of our practice. Respect those who are on the same journey. Make your choices and let others make theirs. Walk your talk.

Thank you.

Chios Healing Level 1 Attunement Tonight!

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I've sought out and selected a certified Chios Healing teacher. She will be giving me the first attunement tonight, and will be my guide on my journey to learn Chios Healing and incorporate it into my Reiki practice. I'm excited about opening my mind to this new way to intuit energy, and increasing my capacity for working with ULF (Universal Life Force energy). My attunement and study will be remote, via distance. Most Chios healing attunements are done this way, as Chios Healing teachers are few and far between. More information is available on the Chios Healing website at www.chioshealing.com . My teacher will be Constance Dohan at www.thelightways.com . I felt a good connection with her when we emailed and spoke on the phone. She's also in my home state, though a couple of hours away, but chances of meeting her personally are much better than if she were across the country. The Chios course will take about six weeks to complete. I have signed up for the whole shebang - all three levels in sequence, and at the end, I should have Master Teacher level certification and be able to attune and teach Chios Healing to others. I'll continue to journal here about my learning, growth and experiences along the way.

I'm also sending my second "professional" distance Reiki treatment tonight. The first was a success, so much so that the recipient asked for more. In fact, she said that she went into last week's session not believing that she would feel anything at all, and was astounded by the bubble of relaxing and soothing energy she felt surrounding her during my sending. It was very gratifying to hear that, and also that she wanted to schedule another session. She also has been speaking to her friends and coworkers about Reiki, and how great it was. I'm pretty happy with the idea of going professional, and hope things continue in this direction. I feel strong and qualified, and the feedback I receive is very encouraging.

Love & Light.

Reiki Here and Waaaaaay Over There

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Thanks to my blog, people from places all over the world contact me asking for distance Reiki. Sometimes it's out of curiosity, sometimes out of need, and I always try to oblige. I enjoy helping, and turning people on to Reiki.

Weirdly, this last week, I've had two separate requests for distance Reiki from Singapore, which is across the world from here. Weird, because, consider the odds of that... And I really love that Reiki goes wherever it's sent, irrespective of distance or time. Like making a call on a cell phone, but better!

Also, of course, I seem to be compelled to talk about Reiki at every opportunity. And last night I had the chance to give a little 3-minute sample treatment to an adult at the school where I teach. She loved it and asked for more, and for convenience sake, we decided I would send her a distance Reiki treatment on Sunday night. I had to come up with a fee - this was a professional request! - and I said $20 for 30 minutes. Distance Reiki treatments are shorter than in-person ones. She said that cost was more than reasonable, and so okay, we're on!

I have the feeling that eventually I will be purchasing a Reiki table (massage table - same thing I think but no hole at the head part) and I've been thinking of getting some of those pretty Japanese screens and setting up a Reiki space in my basement (it's carpeted and finished, but would need some rearranging to do this). But there's plenty of time for all this, I just imagine it over the horizon, like maybe by the late summer or fall.

Tomorrow morning I'm going to do some volunteer Reiki at the Sophia Wellness Center at Ursuline College where I took my Reiki Master class last weekend. People come there for free Reiki treatments during the Reiki clinic hours, and volunteer Reiki healers give Reiki treaments to them. I'm happy for the chance to get more hands-on experience with Reiki and hope to be able to round out my experiences. I think that hands-on Reiki will also give me different energetic experiences than distance Reiki, and could help in my own energy healing growth as well.

Love & Light