As the saying goes, life is what happens to you when you're doing other things.

Since my last entry over 3 years ago, my Reiki business has taken a back seat in my life. My father passed in February of 2017, and that following winter, my mother moved from their Vermont home of 30 years to live with me. It was a difficult transition at first, but we settled into a comfortable co-existence. She even did dishes! (And then put them in the dishwasher... a concept that I still don't understand...)  Her room was our downstairs family room. So, plenty of room and windows for daylight. She had access to the laundry room/bathroom, and could go out through the garage if she wanted fresh air - all without doing stairs. At that time, she was able to come upstairs to get her coffee and toast in the morning and joined us for dinner and a few TV shows in the evening. 

But then in February of 2018, Mom spiked a fever and I thought she was having a stroke. The wonderful EMT's who came to our aid eased my fears and determined it was probably an infection, but we agreed, to be safe, that she should go to the hospital. The doctor determined that it was the flu. Thus started a somewhat downward spiral in her health. A few months later she tweaked her back and was in much pain. Several tests and injections later, she was still in pain and one early morning, when getting out of bed, she fell and broke her hip.

And so began my lessons in Medicare rules, regulations and "benefits" for hospital, rehab, and nursing home care for seniors.

Mom is still in a nursing home and will be staying there as my home has stairs and she isn't strong enough to do them. I take her to her appointments, and COVID-19 aside, visit at least weekly.

All of this is to say, that life has happened! And sometimes you just have to put a hold on things, even things you love - like teaching Reiki! The good thing is that it will always be there when I'm ready. 

And I'm ready... 

The Precepts in Reiki begin with “Just for today…” and for good reason – we are only human and there are times when we get angry, and we worry, and we do a lot of other things that humans do. But if we can stop and remember that “just for today” I’m going to try to do better, we can begin to limit life’s little slips. When I am in traffic and someone cuts me off, I get angry. Since I have been practicing the daily Precepts, I rarely get angry over something like this, but when I do allow my anger to get the best of me, I am quicker to notice it and let it go. This is progress. And tomorrow, if someone cuts me off in traffic again, hopefully I’ll be even quicker to let it go. Eventually, in theory, it will simply stop making me angry. 

But lately it seems there are a lot of things that make me angry. And try as I might, I am just as angry – if not more – the next day over the same things. As a professional in the healing arts, I worry (Oh NO! Don’t worry!!!) that there is no amount of self-Reiki that is going to help me let it go. And I worry (ugh!) that people will see me, and thus the Reiki profession in general, differently because I share my anger and worries. After all, Reiki energy is calming and peace-full. If I am doing it right, and practicing my daily self-Reiki - how can I claim to be an effective Reiki practitioner and teacher if I can get so pissed off at stuff? 

The current lack of competent leadership in our nation’s government makes me angry. School shootings make me angry. Racism makes me angry. That people openly hate other people because they are gay absolutely angers me. I worry about the children who live without safe and clean drinking water. And the children living in constant fear for their lives in countries torn apart by war. The ongoing barrage of negativity, anger, and sadness seems unending and that both angers and worries me. Every day. Yesterday. Today, Tomorrow.

So, what’s a Reiki practitioner supposed to do? How do we as teachers, legitimately teach our students the daily Precepts when we can’t quite get a grasp on them ourselves? If we teach honestly as in “Just for today – I will do my work honestly” we must acknowledge our human flaws. Perhaps it is possible that anger has a place in our day-to-day living. While getting angry with the guy for cutting me off in traffic is pretty much a waste of my time and energy – being angry about the injustices in our world can lead to positive change. When I share a story on social media about a group bringing access to clean water to underdeveloped communities around the globe, perhaps one of my friends is moved enough and financially able to help support that group. Thus, my anger at the situation has become a positive. Change doesn’t come when people are all happy, well-off, and content with life. Sometimes we need to be pushed to the edge in order to commit to change. Sometimes we need to get angry. 

Like myself, most people strive to be non-judgmental, caring, and peace-filled individuals. We want to be compassionate and kind. But, I believe it is because of that sense of compassion that we find ourselves on the edge of the fray – pushing for change – fighting for the injustices and for those less able to fight for themselves. We can’t, and won’t, tolerate hate because it simply makes no sense to us. How do you hate someone because they are different from you? You are different from them – so should they also hate you? 

So, yes, I get angry. And yes, I worry. And I’m a Reiki practitioner and teacher. Reiki has made me a more compassionate person… a more spiritual person… and a more “aware” person than I used to be. And as a more compassionate and aware person, it hurts me to the depths of my soul when I see others treated poorly. I don’t think the Reiki Precepts were meant to stop us from feeling anger or worry, but rather to help us power through those times where those emotions are useless and only act as a drain on our energy. We need to learn to identify those times when we can use our emotions for more positive outcomes. So, stop shaking your fist at that rude driver and go ahead… just for today… be angry. 

​So, today I buried a squirrel out in my back yard next to the big Buddha head statue. And I cried. He had fallen into the pool and I noticed him clinging to the metal stair case pole. He was wrapped around the pole, his hips and back legs immersed in the freezing water, clinging for his life. It was 8am, 34 degrees out, and there was a thin layer of ice on the pool. I don’t know how long he was there. I noticed him from the kitchen window. My son, Alex, ran out in his bare feet, climbed over the pool gate and rescued him with the pool net. He laid him on the deck in the morning sun. The poor thing tried to move – his back legs splayed out behind him – frozen and useless. Pushing up with his front legs, he struggled to lift his head and body. I put on some gloves, got a few old towels, and wrapped him up and tried to dry him off. Placing him in a box, bundled in the towels, I gently placed my hand on him and shared Reiki energy with him in a last-ditch effort to help warm him. I knew he was beyond saving but I needed to do something for him. With tears streaming down my cheeks I wondered aloud if he was my “Loopy Squirrel” whose antics I have enjoyed watching over the past couple years. He moved his front legs a little and tried to lift his head, but the effort was just too much. I believe the Reiki calmed him in his last moments and, I hope, helped his passing be more peaceful. I know – he was just a squirrel. But I buried him. And I cried. And I’m still fighting the tears. 

End-of-Life Reiki is a gentle and loving way to help our loved ones move on. Giving the gift of peace is an amazing blessing for all involved. With one of my clients, the gift came in her ability to physically breathe a little easier. With another, it was relief from a nagging headache that just wouldn’t quit. Both of these amazing friends passed later on – the first just a couple weeks later, the second a few months later– but knowing that sharing Reiki with them gave them some relief from their pain is a gift that I will always treasure. 

When a person is terminally ill, Reiki can offer relief not only to that person, but to their caregivers and family members as well. A friend shared how her ailing parent was given a Reiki session and slept calmly that night – the first night in weeks. But, she was surprised when she also fell asleep in the bedside chair and caught up on some much-needed rest. In these situations, Reiki can be shared in the form of a more traditional session as the situation allows, or through the simple act of placing your hand over theirs and letting the energy flow. As Reiki practitioners, we learn through practice that sometimes less is more. Simplicity edges out formality. Love really does “conquer all”. 

If you have done any research on placenta encapsulation, you will have run across a common, and sometimes controversial, question: where will you encapsulate my placenta? Honestly, I don't understand why it is so "controversial", but there are pro's and con's to choosing the location, so let's look at this topic in more depth. 

It helps to understand that there are only a small handful of training associations for placenta encapsulation. While not a new process, encapsulation is growing in popularity. However, it is not regulated by any state or federal agencies, so there are some differences in training philosophies. While I will only steam-process placentas (as opposed to raw-processing), there are standards across the industry that all professional encapsulators follow. Your encapsulator should have taken one of the main encapsulation training courses. They should also hold a current Safe Food Handler's certificate and a BloodBorne Pathogens and Infectious Control certificate. Understanding the implications of improper handling of your placenta is crucial for the safety of your family and mine! Watching a DIY Youtube video just won't cut it for this project!  

Advocates for the "your home" team cite random stories of placentas being mixed up at a busy encapsulator's home (I only do 1 at a time, so that's never going to be an issue) and suggest that there is a lack of transparency when you are not there to supervise. I believe it may be this "accusation" of professional ethics going out the door just because you are not watching our every move that is where some of that "controversial drama" may stem from. Personally, I am equally as strict and cautious when I work from my home as I would be in your home. Location does not dictate to my professionalism.  

Advocates for the "my home" team typically feel more "in control" of the process. They can look in on the dehydrator during the night to check progress and to be sure it is still running properly. Most times, the placenta is obtained the same day, or the next day, that your baby is born and new moms, as well as encapsulators, may not be comfortable with someone in their home when they might still be at the hospital. In the case of home-births, maybe mom needs time to rest and just isn't up to having someone in her home just yet.  

I trained and certified with PlacentaBenefits.info. They have been around since 2006 and, to my knowledge, are the only agency that has its standard operating procedures on file with the FDA. They are also the main training agency that advocates working in your client's home ONLY. Now, here's where the controversial part comes in for me... the last time I checked, there is nothing on their consumer website that mentions anything about where the process should take place. Nothing. In fact, it was really only part way through the training modules that I realized that they advocate that encapsulation should only take place in the clients' home. I completed the course and lined up some clients. Three of my first four clients were from our local Amish community. If Amish families have any electricity, it is typically through solar panels. Good enough for basic lighting or to run some fans on a hot summer evening, but not reliable enough (in my opinion) to run a dehydrator overnight for the 12+ hours (I usually go longer) necessary to completely dry the placenta slices for grinding into powder for capsules.. I worried that the machine might kick off during the night. If the pieces are not completely dry, even the tiniest amount of moisture can cause molding and the capsules would be unsafe for consumption. Fortunately, I didn't run into any problems, although at one home the reserve power did quit just after I had ground the dried pieces. I didn't need electricity for the remainder of the process, but it did give me cause to worry. I contacted the director of PlacentaBenefits.info and asked if it was "ok" to encapsulate in my home in this situation and after some time considering my request, she held the line and said that encapsulation must only be done in the client's home. Reliable electricity or not. 

So, as my friend and mentor exclaimed - I've gone rogue! I won't risk a ruined placenta because of a random rule, especially when all of the other training agencies do not dwell on location, but focus on process and safe procedures instead. I also won't turn away clients because their lifestyle does not include some of the comforts that the rest of us take for granted. So, instead, I leave it up to you to decide.

Your place - or mine? 

​Babies—those adorable, sweet smelling, little bundles of joy—change our lives forever. But, they can be pretty demanding. As moms, we adjust. We catch up on sleep when we can. Showering and getting dressed (in the same day) is considered a success. Most moms are able to find a comfortable balance and settle into a daily routine. Of course, baby isn’t really routine-oriented yet, but eventually, family life resumes with a new “normal”.

But what happens when mom doesn’t find that balance? While all new moms experience some fatigue, unexplained tears and mood swings, these concerns typically fade as mom and baby become more familiar with each other. However, when these symptoms linger, mom starts to worry that she is not a “good mom” because she can’t quite get it together. These feelings only compound the anxiety, and now she’s afraid if she says anything that people will know she’s not a good mom, so she struggles in silence.

As many as 80 percent of new moms are affected by the “baby blues” and will need help making it through this pivotal period, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Sudden fluctuations in hormones, nutrients and iron deficiency are strong factors behind the onset of baby blues. Combine that with fatigue, sleep deprivation and the physical and emotional stress of the birth process and it’s a wonder that any mom makes it through this time unscathed.

In today’s do-it-all society, women can be reluctant to ask for help. Fortunately, Mother Nature has provided help in the form of the placenta. This “after birth” that was once thought of as medical waste and discarded, is now being processed into powder form in the Traditional Chinese Medicine method of steaming and dehydrating, and put into capsules for mom to take daily during the crucial postpartum period. Rich in nutrients, vitamins, minerals and hormones, the placenta capsules help mom regain a sense of normalcy so that she can care for herself, her baby and her family, and beat the baby blues naturally.

, ​Reiki (pronounced Ray-Key) is a light-touch technique based on the idea that we all have an unseen life force energy running through us. Reiki practitioners help channel this energy to the client, creating relaxation and pain relief, thus allowing the body to begin to heal. 

Traditionally, Reiki is taught through a combination of classroom and hands-on approach. Lights are dimmed, soft music is playing in the background and “clients” (other students) lie, fully clothed, on a comfortable massage table. Students are given time to practice on each other to become comfortable with the basic hand placements learned during class. This is an excellent way to learn Reiki, and I share this with my students, however, realistically, we may need to adapt to the situation. Especially during pregnancy and childbirth! My class then, will take the traditional approach a step further. Once the students are comfortable with the basics, they will learn to adapt the Reiki techniques to any situation. For example, we will practice Reiki with our client in a chair, standing, in a birthing tub, and in a hospital bed.

​We will also discuss other “urgent” applications for Reiki, such as helping to calm a sick or hurt child, or relieving a friend’s migraine symptoms. Students will be encouraged to take care of themselves with a daily practice of self-Reiki. 

I’m always excited when I am asked about Reiki! Becoming a Reiki practitioner and teacher has had such a profound impact on all areas of my life and I love to share my experiences. I want others to find the same peace in their hearts that I have found. I want to tell them about how the veil has been lifted from my eyes and how I no longer feel like I am living as my own shadow. How calmer I am in all situations. How I have seen this invisible energy work its healing magic on me, on friends, and on the patients I volunteered for at the local hospital. I could go on and on… and have… much to their dismay! The challenge in explaining Reiki is that what begins as a simple “30-second commercial” can easily become a ½ hour infomercial!

So, then, what is Reiki? In a nutshell, Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. Reiki is energy, invisible to the eye, but powerful, loving and healing. When this energy is focused on you, your body uses it to balance and heal as needed. The practitioner’s only job is to facilitate the exchange of energy. This energy, initiating from Source in the Heavens, will pass though the practitioner and, as she places her hands gently on you (or holds them slightly above you), the energy will flow into you. You may feel warmth, coolness, or nothing. You may see colors. Some people become emotional, possibly signaling release. And, some even become so relaxed that they doze off! 

People experience differences in Reiki because people are different. What I need from Reiki may be completely different from your needs. Reiki understands this and “adjusts” without the practitioner directing it, or even knowing it is happening. Again, the practitioner is just the conduit for the energy. We do not place any instructions for healing on the energy, or claim to know what is best for our clients. The best way to learn about Reiki is to schedule a Reiki session. What have you got to lose but a little stress and pain?  

​This Sunday, February 5th, is Animal Reiki Day! I took my first Animal Reiki course a couple years ago and have worked with several animals since. Sharing Reiki with animals will take patience. When I started with our Yellow Labrador, Copper, I held my hands a few inches from his head. I knew he could sense the energy when he started twitching his ears – as though something was gently tickling them. Confused, he would look at my hands to see what I was doing! After a few of these mini-sessions, I noticed that he would push his head against one of my hands and hold it there for a brief time. Eventually, he pushed his head under my hand and stayed there for several minutes, enjoying the Reiki energy. Then I added my other hand on his chest. He loved it! 

Letting the animal be in control of the session is key to Animal Reiki. Because they can’t talk to you, you need to be aware of their actions and their body language. Never try to force an animal to stay still so that you can “do” Reiki. Always respect my animal clients, just as I would a human client.  Reiki energy will fill the room, so you can share Reiki with your cat even though they are sitting on the other chair. When they are done, they will simply or turn away from you, or leave the room, or even fall asleep.

Animal Reiki will help your pet's physical and mental well being and is a blessing at times of stress - think "V. E. T." visits, or during storms, or if your pet is sick. Aging pets also will benefit greatly from regular Reiki sessions, and Reiki can help them pass when their time comes. 

Like people, animals will react differently to Reiki energy, and a Reiki practitioner should be respectful of your pet's "space" and always watch for signs that your pet is ready for the session to end.