Gratitude Paid Forward

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I'm writing today to extend thanks to some special people who have been supportive to me in many ways behind the scenes and alongside me. By sharing their awesomeness with you, I hope that you'll also check them out. They can help, and the connections will be a win-win for you and them both, as it was for me!


Jeff Kates, LMT ABT, Director of the Advanced Bodywork and Massage Institute (http://abwami.com/)

Jeff is awesome because he not only teaches a powerfully relaxing and healing type of massage, but he also offered me the chance to teach (twice!) at his beautiful school. He also learned Practical Reiki from me and incorporates it into his work. He's a sweet, personable guy too. Jeff developed a massage technique called The Kates Method. His students rave about what a great teacher he is. If you're in the Cleveland area and interested in learning massage, check him out. 


Charley Bach, Director of PC Handyman Computer Services http://www.clevehtspc.com/

Charley is a friend from High School days, and we recently became reacquainted at a computer store. Since then, he has repaired all of my family's computers, helped me choose a netbook (including purchasing it, upgrading it, and loading it up with software!), picked up and delivered to my house in amazingly fast amounts of time too. He offers a whole huge line of computer and internet related services. And best of all, his prices are totally affordable. I'm thrilled to recommend him. He can even help you remotely if you're not in the Cleveland area. 


Raizel Michelow, Certified Aromatherapist, Reiki Master & creator of 24 Zen Granola http://www.twenty4zen.com/

Raizel is a friend, and one of the great teachers for my school, Reiki Awakening Academy too. She is a fun person, a master aromatherapist, and has incredible vision too. She has always been helpful in coming up with great ideas for getting the word out about the Academy. The granola she makes and sells, by the way, is amazingly delicious and includes aromatherapy techniques for balancing chakras too! Check her out - she's just amazing. 


Happy to pass along positive energy for positive people!


Love and light.

Is Mercury Making Things Backwards, or Do I Have that in Reverse?

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It's here again. I'm talking about Mercury Retrograde. Within the past year, I've learned about Mercury Retrograde, having never heard of it before that. Since I've known about it... I'm pausing here to give you the scoop in case this is your first time hearing about it! Mercury Retrograde is a 3-week period that happens a few times a year in which it looks as if Mercury is moving "backwards" in its celestial path. During the time that this happens, there seem to be a higher incidence of delays, technical glitches, and slowdowns in communication. Now back to your regularly scheduled blog post... 

Since I've known about Mercury Retrograde, it seems that a spotlight is shining on all of the delays, technical glitches, and communication gaps that happen during this period every time. And I'm wondering about it. Here's what I'm wondering.

• The slight over-sensitivity to all things wonky is making these incidents memorable. What I mean is, because I know it's Mercury Retrograde, does that make me more aware of their existence, and subsequently more annoyed by them? Last Mercury Retrograde, I felt like my life was completely kicked around. My computer had issues, my website had issues, my phone had issues, payments were delayed...and I was exhausted from it all. Everything that happened, I remember blaming on Mercury Retrograde. When it was over, things seemed to be back to normal. But back to normal doesn't preclude some things going wrong. That happens. But they don't seem to have as much of an impact when I'm not so hyper aware of them.
  
• Is my awareness that it's Mercury Retrograde, and I know that things could go extra-glitchy, actually manifesting these extra glitches? I have learned that the energy of expectation is a powerful creator. I know that first hand. So if I'm expecting glitches, does that logically mean of course that's what I'll be getting?
  
• Our minds are naturally prone to trying to make sense out of life. We look for patterns and derive meaning from them. When things are consistent or predictable, we feel safe and like the world has order. So wrapping a lot of chaos into a package labeled "Mercury Retrograde Strikes Again" is somehow reassuring. But are these things really happening because of the shift in planetary motion, or are we just organizing them that way in our little insecure brains?
  
• When I lived in my blissfully ignorant about all things Mercury Retrograde state, I don't recall having such intense 3 weeks of wonky. Maybe I should try ignoring astrological warnings for a change. My husband reads the daily horoscope in the paper. He used to get kinda discouraged at the start of the day if the horoscope predicted a mediocre or unpleasant day. I would tell him to not read it, because it would set him up for that kind of day. It's a cause and effect idea, or maybe the chicken and the egg. Is the planetary placement setting us up for a problematic day, or is knowing about it setting us up? Or if we have a strangely glitchy day, should we read the horoscope then to try to make sense of the seeming randomness?

I welcome any input on this possibly backward reasoning.

Magic is relative

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It's true. I feel magical. I feel like a super hero of healing. I just feel like there's something magical about being able to be a part of a healing process for someone across the world who experiences it and feels better. And I also love teaching others to do the same. 


But, I realized, it's not magic. The only reason it is magical is that science doesn't have an explanation for it. Think about it. Before the microscope was invented, the idea of germs was "magic". If someone had suggested that germs are responsible for illness, it would have been interpreted as little magical sickness fairies that no one can see go from a person's cough to another person's body and make that person sick. And scientists would have scoffed. And then, poof, the microscope is invented, germs can be seen so science deems them real, and it's accepted. Science can now study germs, identify different ones, and determine the specific treatment for each. 


One day, this will happen for Reiki and other healing energy methods. In fact, once some scientist actually invents a way to see the human energy field and how it's affected, big changes will happen. They will find a way to measure "frequencies" of Reiki and other healing energy. They will work to determine which healing energy frequency works best on which malady. Doctors will write prescriptions for people to see Reiki Master X because she has 6.79 ReikiOhms of energy, which is effective for such-and-such a condition. There will be tests, measurements, experiments, and a lot of excitement. Then will come regulations, licenses, and health insurance coverage with reps suggesting this or that practitioner. Next will follow science attempting to synthesize Reiki energy into a pill. Or perhaps they will take another look at homeopathy and Ayurveda, and measure the way a person's energy field changes frequencies when the person meditates. Wow. Can you see this future?


Right now, scientists scoff. And what we do is labeled as "pseudoscience," "metaphysical," "faith healing," "placebo," or...magic (in a rather sneering and derisive tone). But the growing numbers of people studying Reiki and receiving health benefits from Reiki are strong enough to make waves. These waves disturb those who need tools to convince them something is real.  


I'm honored to announce that The Ohio Board of Nursing has approved my Practical Reiki for Nurses class to offer 8 CEs. This class is taught online so that anyone with a computer and internet access can be part of it. This class offers Reiki training through Master level, and a method that is simple and directly applicable to nurses, caregivers, massage therapists, occupational therapists, and anyone working in a health care field. After taking the class, one can teach it to others. It's nice to see there is some evidence that western medicine is getting tired of waiting for the scientists to acknowledge Reiki, and are taking their own initiative.  


So about that "magic" idea...there is a part of me that really thrives on the magical beauty of it all. But even if it becomes commonplace, the beauty still shines. I mean look at it this way - the power comes through us. The power is not in a tool or a pill. It's innate, completely organic, and benefits emotions, body and spirit. It's MORE than any tool or pill can claim right now. The self-awareness that comes from giving and receiving Reiki is more profound than anything science, psychology or western medicine has to offer. 


That's why I'll never stop believing in the magic.

Standing on the Ground in Sandals

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One of the books that I most recommend to my students is Clintin Ober's Earthing: The Most Important Health Discovery Ever? because, as Ober explains, 

"the surface of the Earth contains limitless healing energy. Science has discovered this energy as free-flowing electrons constantly replenished by solar radiation and lightning. Few people know it, but the ground provides a subtle electric signal that maintains health and governs the intricate mechanisms that make our bodies work-just like plugging a lamp into a power socket makes it light up."

Being aware of the difference between being "grounded" to the earth's energy and being "ungrounded" is important, especially to those who work with healing energy. See, we spend so much time connected to the higher vibration of healing energy, that after a while, we can feel a little "floaty." Some may start to feel forgetful (ever been an "air head"?), clumsy, or just really distracted. All of these feelings and results are because we need to get our energy fuuly back into our bodies. 


If this sounds strange, think of being on a boat for a long time, and then coming back onto land. It feels weird, right? That's because we got temporarily used to being gently rocked around on the water instead of firmly anchored to the ground as usual. Same would happen if we spent about 30 minutes walking around on a bouncy trampoline, and then got back onto the land. Temporary physical disorientation occurs. A similar thing can happen if we spend a lot of time working with higher chakra energies. This means meditation, Reiki, or other intuitive practices. 


Come to think of it, even "monkey mind" can take our awareness away from our bodies. (We all have times of the day with monkey mind - it means that our thoughts are chattering away constantly as we try to remember everything we need to do, what was said before, where we're going next, and how to handle various issues, on and on.) When we find ourselves dropping things, bumping into door jams, and stepping on objects on the floor, it's a signal that we need to stop and ground our energy, bringing our awareness back into our bodies. The best way to do this is by connecting, intentionally, with the energy of the earth.


If we could walk around barefoot all the time, we'd be more naturally connected with earth energy. It would help immensely with being more grounded and receiving the healing benefits of this energy. Interestingly, the Reiki method that I teach, Practical Reiki, is developed from Kundalini Reiki. Kundalini Reiki combines the earth energy with the Ki energy from above, and the healing properties are enhanced and strengthened by this combination. So the benefits of earth energy are found in the healing method I teach and practice. 


That's where these unique and brilliant sandals come in. Juil is a new company that understands the concept of grounding, and they've taken it to the feet. They realize that sometimes we need to wear shoes. But shoes have soles that are typically made of rubber or other insulating materials which separate us from the energy of the earth. The folks at Juil have developed sandals that have copper conductors beneath the toes and heels, connected inside the leather sole. The conductors sit on the outside of the bottom of the shoe, so every step brings the grounding effect to the wearer, allowing her to be grounded while wearing shoes.


I had the privilege of testing out a pair of Juil sandals. Many thanks to the folks at Juil for sending me a pair to test and review. Since I work at home much of the time, I wore them comfortably around the house. The best part is that we're having an unusually warm winter, so I even had the chance to walk around outside a little in them. I'm totally looking forward to the summer when I can just live in these sandals. 


First of all, they are really comfy. They fit nicely and the leather straps are smooth against my feet. I noticed the benefits the most when I was intentionally grounding my energy after Reiki healing sessions or meditation. I really did feel like it was easier to feel more present faster than when I'm sporting my Keds or Bearpaws. All I had to do was think of bringing my energy down into the earth and back up into my body and I had an instant sense of being HERE, now. I think, besides doing the grounding exercise barefoot, the Juil sandals were the next best thing.


So if you're interested in supporting a company that wants to support energy workers and those who are just becoming aware of the benefits of connecting to the earth, check out Juil.com. I also love that they've started a Soles for Souls program, where they donate a pair of shoes for every pair sold. Companies that do good like this are so awesome!


By the way, they're also coming out with sneakers soon. This Midwest girl will be ready to click and place my order when that happens!


Happy grounding.

This Funny Role

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I made this today...how do you view yourself?

Everything is Here

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Last month, I went to a training in Controlled Remote Viewing. CRV is a technique that was developed and used by the military to get information about classified things by using the intuition in a very controlled, structured way. It's also been known as "psychic spying." I was trained in CRV with a group that was interested in its applications for healing. 


I learned basic CRV, yes. But the real lesson that came from the training is much more meaningful to me. Here's what I have realized:


1) All of the information about everything -really EVERYTHING- that there is to know about everything is here, right around us. 
2) We can find out everything we want to know by learning to ask and learning to translate the information we receive.
3) Scanning someone's energy, psychic channeling, giving tarot or card readings, CRV, tuning in---these are all methods of asking for information and receiving that information.
4) Translating is how we bring the information we want to know into our conscious mind through our intuition. (From the right brain to the left).
5) There are many ways of learning to sense and translate this information into understandable answers. All we need to do is decide which method to learn and practice. 


When I work with Reiki, I use my hands. My intuition gives me messages through my tactile senses - called being clairsentient - which comes in the form of physical sensations of tingles, warmth, prickles, etc. Each sensation has a meaning, and through experience, I'm learning to understand what each one means. For example, one sort of tingle means a person is experiencing grief. One sort of prickle means there is pain in the area. Moving my hand over someone while Reiki is flowing allows me to receive these messages via my tingles - and I translate the messages into meaning that I can understand and discuss with my Reiki client. The tingles are the language of my intuition, and I'm learning it as a baby learns to talk -by being immersed in it and learning to discern the different nuances and attach meaning to them. 


When I'm scanning someone's energy, I'm asking for information about the state of the person's energy. Where is there pain, blockages, overactivity, etc.? This information comes to me, I translate it, and can dialogue with my client about what I sense. I feel the sensations change during the session and I know that the recipient has received what was needed for this session.


CRV is a process of asking for information too. There is a Target, which represents the information the viewer wants to receive details about. The viewer doesn't know much, if anything about the Target at the start, and so all information received via the intuition is written down, and through the process of relaxing, tuning in, and writing, lots of information comes forth about the target. It's a very structured way of doing the same thing - asking for information and bringing it onto the paper. It's not psychic training - it's learning a language. They call it a martial art. But it's still the same idea - the information is out there and we can retrieve it.


Try asking a question at the start of the day, and ask for the answer to become apparent to you by the end of the day. Don't ask the BIG question - don't ask for The Meaning of Life, for example - but something simple as "Should we have chicken or fish for dinner?" and don't forget to add that you'd like to have signs showing you the best answer by the late afternoon. Then just go about your day. At some point, you'll notice something. Either a chicken or a fish reference will pop into your mind or experience. For example, a chicken restaurant commercial will come on the radio as soon as you turn it on. Or someone with a fish symbol on his car will be driving directly in front of you. And you'll notice. That's the important part. This is just another way of asking for specific information and receiving it. (And it's fun!)


I teach my students to learn to identify and then tune in to their clairs - their own naturally strong way of receiving intuitive information. Because it's here. 


It's all here.

Best...job...ever!

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Today I had a very wonderful and amazing experience. While it's something I've done before, stepping back and looking at the gestalt of it, I'm blown away with amazement and gratitude that I am offered the opportunity to be a part of this work - it's nothing short of incredible.


Today, I gave a Team Distance Healing to a woman in Congo, Africa, with my Healing Team friends, Tom and Cher. 


Last night, my internet connection went out. I was on the phone with AT&T Uverse Tech Support from midnight until 1 am, trying to get it fixed. It didn't get fixed, and a tech was dispatched to arrive late this afternoon. I knew we had this appointment for the healing session, so I took my computer to a nearby coffee shop to use the wifi. 


Then I thought about what was happening.


Tom is in Texas. Cher is in California. Our client is in Congo, Africa. I was in a coffee shop in Ohio. We met up on Gchat, via Gmail. Together, we connected with our client's energy, scanned and talked about what we felt and sensed in her energy. We found things, we sent healing to clear them, we used the techniques that we were trained in. We felt the difference happening. Cher told us what she saw, Tom responded and I did too, and we felt the changes. Cher channeled a beautiful, applicable and inspiring message from our client's Guides. We all could sense when the session was complete. We felt like we had really accomplished a lot. 


So there I was, just outside the coffee shop, at a little table. People were walking by. But I was involved in this incredible experience and the outside world just kept moving along. 


I typed up the report of our session, plus the guidance received, and emailed it to the client. Within 30 minutes, we received an email from the client verifying that what we had done had been powerful for her, and that she felt lighter, loved, supported, guided, and ...better. "Like dancing" she said. 


I am filled with joy and gratitude to be part of this experience. 


I feel like a super hero. 


What is more magical than this experience?? I can't think of anything. Real magic, this work. 


I have the best job ever. 


And I had to share the experience with you just because ...well, there's nothing like it.


We are capable of so much beauty, healing, magic, connection, intuition, and joy. And most of us, most of the day, walk around oblivious. It takes moments like the hour I spent this morning to be a powerful reminder of this truth. And I love being a part of it.


I told my dad on Friday night at dinner, we are connected to everything. We have access to all of the information in the universe. We only need to learn the methods necessary to train ourselves to receive the information we seek. 


Two weekends ago I was in Delaware for training in Controlled Remote Viewing and its applications for healing. I realized, it's all about accessing information. All of it. Just the act of connecting to another's energy and observing will activate a healing process. And intention amplifies that process. It was fascinating and just served to validate what I already have experienced. I also was taught that the more people who are "psychically" accessing a target, the stronger the signal will be. That also validates that healing with a team is more powerful than alone. But I already knew that too. Today is another perfect example of that insight.


So I need to blog because I'm just overwhelmed with gratitude for the privilege of doing this work. For all of you who also give Reiki, you know how I feel. For those of you who haven't yet learned it, I would be honored to teach you, advise you, and help you discover that anyone can learn this too. I'm not special, I tell people. I just learned to do something extraordinary. You can too. 


If you are interested, contact me. I'm here to help. 


Love.