Reiki Awakening

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This Time it's Personal
2010-03-03 16:46:00
Recently, on Twitter, I received this tweet in my mentions column: @ReikiAwakening Reiki is just faith healing without the faith. Witchcraft in other words. We foremost promote REAL alternative medicine.I don't follow (on Twitter) the person who challenged me in this way, nor have I had any previous interaction with him. When I receive tweets like this, my first instinct is to try to explain that Reiki is real. I did send two tweets back in response, and then my dear rational friend Sophie Lhoste told me to block him. I did. Sophie reminded me that what we put our attention on increases, and what we ignore decreases. It was wise advice.This came on the heels of two days of being challenged by another Twitter member who is a scientist and kept tweeting at me to explain what I do in scientific terms. I tried, unsuccessfully, to put a logical, rational explanation out there of what Reiki is, how it works, what I experience, and so forth. Eventually, after this person kept asking me re...
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To California... With a Little Help From My Angels
2010-02-17 13:39:00
Hello!I went to California last weekend to be with my sisters. This long weekend trip was a gift from my mom, dad and my sisters for my 40th birthday (which was in December). One of my sisters (Laura - in the picture with me) lives in Washington, DC, and she was attending a conference in California (where my other sister, Melanie, lives). Laura stayed the weekend after her conference to be with me when I came out there, so we three could spend the weekend together. I had never been to CA before, and rarely have the opportunity to travel, so this was a very rare and wonderful gift. This being a long weekend, I didn't have teaching obligations, so this was the perfect time to go.I got to the airport, after having made many arrangements with my mom and mother-in-law, who were watching the kids and making dinner. My flight out of Cleveland was supposed to get me to a connecting flight in Minneapolis, MN. Suddenly there was an announcement that the airplane had a flat tire and they wer...
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Welcome Author Christy Strauch!
2010-02-09 03:41:00
I'd like to welcome author Christy Strauch to the Reiki Awakening blog this week! Christy is on a blog book tour, and is seriously impressive in her ability to explain clearly how to start and grow a business. She wrote an article for my blog for you friends who wish to know how to develop your energy healing practice into a viable business. She has some really great practical advice! Get ready to be inspired!Christy Strauch is the author of Passion, Plan, Profit: 12 Simple Steps to Convert Your Passion into a Solid Business. In addition she is president of Clarity To Business and has worked with over 300 small business owners, from artists to real estate agents, helping them do what they are passionate about ? and make a profit. Her book is available at Amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/Passion-Plan-Profit -Simple-Business/dp/0984055703. I encourage you to get her book and work through the process to plan and execute the growth of your business. I am grateful for her wisdom and g...
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Signs That Smack Ya Over the Head
2010-01-30 15:54:00
Inspired by my Twitter and Facebook friend Amy Oscar, I started asking the angels for signs. Signs that would knock me over with bluntness, signs I could easily recognize. You see, life has been a little crazy as of late. My article writing job that I've had steady assignments from for two years has abruptly ended after the transfer of the articles to another company. The new company isn't adding content. So the writers and editors have all been dismissed. Time to find new supplemental sources of regular income...fast. I feel more in need of guidance than ever. As most of you know, my husband recently started a new job after nearly 8 months of being unemployed. We have lots of recovery to do, bit by bit. The income I bring in is essential. So although it comes from many different sources, when one drops, another needs to fill in where that came from. And I need to find it.So interestingly enough, nearly two weeks ago I had an idea for a business and I approached three companies ab...
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Winter Introspection
2010-01-13 13:43:00
We're nearly in the middle of January already. Here where I live in University Heights, Ohio, the world is blanketed in a heavy layer of snow. It's gray and cold outside. People I speak with talk of already being tired of winter. I can relate. It's not my season. But it takes up a good quarter of the year here every year, so it's not different. The anticipation of spring has set in already. It'll be a while before it gets here though.Two of my local Reiki classes have been postponed due to low enrollment. I understand that this is common at the start of January. People don't want to venture out, holiday bills are piled up, and the long holiday season has taken some a while to get reorganized after it ended, so registration details were missed. The Reiki for Parents and Distance Healing classes at CHEMAM have been subsequently moved to February, new dates TBA. I was sort of bummed over the need to postpone, but I am going to take this time to focus on continuing my online work ...
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2010
2010-01-05 02:39:00
Happy New Year everyone!This year is slated to be a year of growth for me, I've decided. Involved in this growth is an expansion of my website, where I now offer Usui Reiki attunements for those interested in learning the "original" form of Reiki healing. I also changed the Energy Healing Mentoring Program into the more streamlined Intuitive Development Coaching, which is greatly simplified into individual sessions.I've also started a BlogTalkRadio show called Reiki Talk, which had its first broadcast last night. Here is the player so you can listen to the recording at your convenience. I started the show to help people get introduced to Reiki, answer questions, and address specific topics pertaining to Reiki healing, such as Distance Healing, Reiki and Permission, Reiki and Angels, Reiki and Kids, Reiki and Teens, and more. There are call-in opportunities and a live chat going on during the show, so please tune in, participate, and enjoy. The show will air the first Sunday night ...

Happy Birthday, Happy Anniversary
2009-12-20 19:46:00
Today is my 40th birthday! It's also the second anniversary of the day I began this blog. It is a good day for some reflection on how things have changed in the past year or two, and I'm filled with gratitude for so many things in my life.Here is where I was one year ago today.Here is my first post, two years ago today.Since last year, I've begun teaching Reiki locally in two different wellness centers here in the Cleveland area, in addition to launching my website, and connecting with many new friends and students on Twitter and Facebook. I was interviewed about Reiki on four different radio shows. I've started writing about Reiki for OwningPink.com and PaganPages.org. I've had the blessing of teaching at least 150 more students in the past year as well. Reiki teaching is becoming a more central focus in my life, and it feels really right. It's wonderful to feel that things are moving in this direction and I look forward to what will be developing in the year to come.I'm so ...
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Inspiration from Angels
2009-12-10 21:17:00
Something new I've done recently is to write for a new book called One Page Wisdom: Book One - Inspiration al One-Page Writings from 111 People Worldwide. I have a story in there, as one of the 111 authors. The book is now published, in paperback, and it's available here as well as Amazon, etc. What I like about it is that you can turn to any page in the book and it feels like you are reading a message meant for you right at this very moment. Lots of people wrote about what inspires them, and there are themes of spirituality, faith, miracles, blessings, gratitude, love, and more. I'm really happy to be a part of it. I think the book makes a good gift too, and I plan to get some to give out as holiday presents this year.It got me thinking about sources of inspiration. I've read that one can receive messages from angels in various forms - snippets of music on the radio or suddenly going through your head, words on a bumper sticker of the car in front of you, an animal crossing your...
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A Grateful Thanksgiving
2009-11-25 21:48:00
Hello and Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!I am extremely thankful, especially today, to share the wonderful news that my husband has received and accepted a job offer. The long period of unemployment is coming to a close as he assumes the role of Operations Analyst at Lutheran Hospital, which is in Cleveland, near where we live. So we are not moving out of state, and we can keep our roots here for the time being. Interesting to note is that there are still some out of state opportunities brewing for him and he may have other offers coming in the next few months. All will be considered, so this might be a step rather than a stop, so to speak! Still, we are very happy to be able to share such wonderful news that he can go back to work, in a position that can help him grow and further his career goals. So, Evan landing a job is at the #1 spot on the Thanksgiving Thankful List for today. Here are the next items.I am thankful for Evan. He has handled his time of uncertainty, waiting, stre...

Being Tested
2009-11-11 14:19:00
This is a trying time for my family and me. My husband has interviewed for jobs and is waiting for answers. There are many delays. He has another interview coming next week. The days are strange and long as we wait for emails and phone calls. I feel as if I'm being tested to see if I can learn patience.I had a powerful energy healing session last night from my friends Candy & Ming who reported afterward that I'm standing in between two doors, holding on to both, and neither of them can open. I have to let go and stop blocking them so the right one can open. Surrender - it's a lesson I'm trying to learn to do. Of course, I know that I have been anxious over what will happen. We might move, we might stay. The delays are long and trying. So knowing that surrender is needed is different from actually knowing how to make it happen. And there's something amusing about what I just said: making surrender happen. As if it's something that can be forced - that's the opposite of sur...

Teaching in Person
2009-10-27 19:12:00
I've been teaching local Reiki classes for the first time this month, and tonight my Kundalini Reiki class of eight wonderful students will receive their final attunement. I'm also teaching Reiki for Parents, and it's going very well.I was nervous at the start, because all of my Reiki teaching, with the exception of one-on-one classes, has been remotely via my website. There have been over 200 students in the past year and a half, and that's a lot! I am confident and absolutely adore teaching Reiki. But facing a class full of people in a room was somehow a little daunting to me. It's funny too, because I'm a teacher, and have been teaching kids and teens various subjects for over 13 years. But a room full of adults? That felt different!I took a leap. I trusted that all would be well, and that my teaching ability and passion for Reiki would support me in helping everyone understand and feel the energy. I had to decide how I would attune everyone, since I knew I could do it all ...
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Debbie
2009-10-17 16:49:00
A few months back, I was approached by a woman who I had met on Twitter, Debbie Wilker. She had been suddenly diagnosed with cancer and wanted to learn Reiki . I chatted with her about it, and although she didn't have the money to pay for attunements, I attuned her to Kundalini Reiki through master level. I also put her in touch with my friend Bridget, who had healed her own cancer with energy healing and diet, and works with people diagnosed with cancer. Debbie had high hopes for beating this disease and was determined to stay positive and do all she could. Debbie had a rare and aggressive form of cancer. I wanted to help her and had high hopes for her recovery because she was so driven to live. Debbie was 52 when she was diagnosed. She was an artist, author, mom, wife, and coach. Yes, I am speaking in the past tense. Debbie died three days ago. I found out today.She had been in touch with me many times, each time telling me about her energy experiences with self healing, dreams, a...

How to Surrender
2009-10-08 14:47:00
I've noticed lately that many people are blogging and tweeting about surrender. What is surrender, though? Is it giving up? Is it shrugging your shoulders and admitting that we have no control over the events which will come at us moment by moment? Is it having faith? All of these options sound difficult from where I'm standing, and some of them don't sound like a good way to live.Let's talk about the first thing I mentioned - giving up. That couldn't be a good thing. It implies a feeling of hopelessness - like there's nothing I can do so why try? If one who is without a job gives up, there is no job search, there is just wallowing in misery. I don't think this is the way to go.Then there's the "shrugging one's shoulders and admitting one isn't in control" method. Saying "this is out of my hands" is difficult for one who likes to make things happen with action. But there comes a time when one has done all she can and the rest is waiting. I think when one gets to this point...
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Be Here Now
2009-09-26 18:31:00
There is always, it seems, a balance to be mindfully walked. Balance between action and patience, balance between faith and action, balance between surrender and preparing. They are all related, and all a part of my life lately. The tough part is deciding how much of each to put into the mix for the right amount. I think the right amount is achieved when one feels at peace, knowing that one has done what is necessary and then is able to surrender the outcome to the Powers That Be, the Universe, God, Spirit, Source, whatever one chooses to name the Divine power in his or her life.Finding that balance can feel like walking a tightrope. I truly think that the feeling of being at peace is the answer to whether one has accomplished it. I struggle often to get to that, as I think many do. But it's worth it, because life is much easier in those moments when one has that sense of being centered, calm through the stress, not affected by the anxiety that could be crushing.In my life lately, ...
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Pressing "Pause"
2009-09-11 13:59:00
I wrote last week about waiting. My life lately has been a process of waiting. This is especially true, you know, because my husband has been looking for work. Lately, things are happening for him - he has 3 interviews coming up this week - but it's still a process of waiting. We know that despite the interviews, we won't know if he has a job for a while yet. Two of the interviews are first interviews, and one is a third interview out of town. That last one is an amazing opportunity, but would involve us moving 300 miles away, selling our house, and starting anew. I'm not opposed to the change, in fact I find the idea exciting, but the reality of getting the house repairs done, stuff cleared out, putting the house on the market, and all of the details involved are rather overwhelming. All of the constant stream of "what will we do if" and "when will we know?" circling around my thoughts gets tiring and, I realize, isn't productive. I'm a planner by nature. I like to be as pre...

Waiting
2009-09-02 15:49:00
I finished writing my first novel recently. This is a big accomplishment because after I started it and wrote the first 130 pages, it sat in my computer, unfinished, for a year and a half. I just didn't have time or creative energy to get back to it, until the end of this summer. Now I have.It's not about Reiki. What? On my Reiki blog I'm posting about something not Reiki related? Wait, (ha! you have to wait!) I'll get to the point eventually.I started it as a blog, creative writing outlet, and it's actually biblical fiction on the story of Adam & Eve and their experience as parents. I studied the story a lot during my graduate program, and always had a fascination for how much is left unsaid in the biblical account of the first family. I mean, you see nothing of Adam & Eve's experiences as parents, nothing of how their kids were as kids, and don't get to find out anything about the family dynamics or what happened when they discovered Abel dead and Cain gone, etc. So...

So Much to Learn, Where to Turn?
2009-08-23 21:35:00
I've been thinking lately of all the things I want to learn to help myself grow. There's a lot. And it feels a little overwhelming, actually, knowing there are so many choices and I only have a little bit of time these days to spend on reading.I'm reading Ekhart Tolle's A New Earth which is truly enlightening and transformative. I can only read a little at a time, though, because it's a lot to digest. I'm taking away the idea that facing the aspects of one's personality that comprise the ego - recognizing them as an observer - is a means to removing oneself from being driven by them. It's really fascinating and I recommend this book to anyone interested in looking at one's life with a discerning eye.I also want to learn to read Tarot. I have a set of cards, and a book about it, but haven't yet gotten far enough to attempt to try to understand one card from another.A close friend is studying Huna, and what he's shared with me has ignited my interest in this Hawaiian healin...
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Protecting Your Energy
2009-08-11 17:58:00
I learned something, (applause, please!) and when I learn something, the first thing I want to do is to share it. (It is the teacher in me that drives me!) I am hoping that this lesson is something that will help someone avoid what happened to me. I'm relatively new to energy work, even though it's a part of each and every day for me. I do lots of attunements, advising and teaching. I blog about it, and think about it often, pondering how I can get the message about the amazing power we all have inside us out to more people.My day to day life and Reiki practice both involve more giving than receiving. I know this, and it's something I know I need to pay more mindful attention to in order to restore the balance. Before giving a healing or attunement, I first ask my Guides and Angels for protection and support. I feel the energy and their presences around me before I begin, and it feels good, grounding, and helps me feel ready. After the session, I thank them. I also do my best to ...
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The Lessons of the Summer
2009-08-06 01:16:00
After a couple very slow weeks, things have started happening. I'm happy to welcome some new students - Kundalini Reiki students and Energy Healing Mentoring Program students. I also did some searching for places to teach Reiki in my local area and came up with a few possibilities, which I pursued. There have been some promising results!I did a search for "holistic" in my area. Why I didn't think to do that before is anyone's guess. I found a wellness center that was hosting a holistic day camp. "How cool!" I thought. I called the contact number and left a message saying that I am looking for opportunities to teach Reiki for Parents and other Reiki courses and would like to talk about collaborating. Someone called me back right away (on Friday), and offered me the chance to teach Reiki for Kids at the holistic day camp which was coming up the following week. Great timing! I followed up with the appropriate people and found myself attuning 10 kids to Usui Reiki level 1 on Tuesday ...
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Starwood
2009-07-27 23:15:00
Last weekend, my hubby and our 7 and 5 year olds and I went camping at the Starwood Festival. We stayed in a tent, sleeping on the ground in sleeping bags, camping rustic w/ no electricity. I had been invited to teach Distance Healing and Reiki for Parents, which I felt very honored about. The Starwood Festival is a Neo-Pagan clothing-optional festival which was a two hour drive from here. I had never heard of it before being invited, but spent some time on their website learning about it before we went. Needless to say, it was an experience.Although we knew the clothing optional aspect, nothing quite prepares you for the reality until you see folks taking advantage of the optional aspect. We gave the kids a hasty lecture not to point and stare, and told them that after the festival, these same people were going home to put on clothes and go to work again. As far as my classes went, well, one was scheduled at the same time as the ironic Church of the Subgenius lecture, so that meant...

Trying Not to Try
2009-07-18 18:21:00
In my last post, I was experiencing some computer difficulties, and mentioned that I would be spending the weekend away for some R&R, friends, family & energy work. I also mentioned that I had been feeling a little "stuck" lately and hoped that would resolve itself soon. Here's an update.The computer issues are resolved. Glad about that!I had a really great weekend, and began to get inspired about how to nurture my own intuitive development, how to encourage it to flourish and move ahead. One of the things I need to work on is grounding. Another is patience. Once I can increase my ability to ground my energy and be still, I will be more able to be patient and be open to receiving new insights. Sounds logical, I think. In practice, more challenging.There's a concept of trying not to try that I need to get my mind around. (Or not, because thinking about it too hard could be considered "trying.") Being grounded, still and open requires letting go. What am I supposed to let go...

Crazy Days
2009-07-08 22:45:00
The last few days have been kind of crazy. For two days, I had weird computer issues. First, Twitter suspended my account. Mine was one of a large number of accounts mistakenly suspended for no reason. Twitter corrected it and apologized but it brought to life how much I really rely on my involvement with Twitter. I have a lot of contacts there, students, friends, and colleagues. Suddenly not being able to access or post from my account was rather freaky. The good news is that my husband has a Twitter account, and we were able to get the word out to my friends that there had been a mistake. Their support was impressive, as they passed the word along via "Retweets." Next, my gmail chat was hacked by a "middle man attack". The perpetrator actually butted into a chat I was having and started typing insulting things, making it look like it was coming from me! It was almost funny but it really wasn't because it was so confusing, and then I felt really out of control of the situation and...
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Alice's Awakening
2009-06-28 21:01:00
People often ask me how I got here, how I became a passionate Reiki teacher. Here's the story, and links to a number of posts written at the time of the events I've described here. Please enjoy.When I was a kid, I wanted to feel special. Doesn?t everyone want to feel special, endowed with something that stands out, a reason for being here? I used to read lots of books about characters with psychic powers or special abilities, and wish I was like that. But, I wasn?t.I grew up with a liberal Jewish upbringing. I attended Hebrew School, became Bat Mitzvah and continued attending religious school through High School. I remember wishing for some feeling that what I was doing had a purpose. I wanted to feel a connection with God or at least something outside myself during services, prayers, or any time at all. I never did.I didn?t dislike being Jewish. I felt, and still feel, connected with a People, culture, history, land, language, religion and traditions. I even went on after college...

A Trickle or a Gush - Intuitive Development
2009-06-24 02:57:00
One of the things I do for people is intuitive development mentoring. I would like to say outright that I am not the most intuitive person I know. Not at all. I'll also tell you that I was not born psychic, and I never had any sort of childhood intuitive abilities. I have never seen a ghost, spirit, guide, angel, or UFO. Many people who I mentor have much higher developed intuitive abilities than I do. They see visions, symbols, colors, angels, hear messages, are empathic, and more. So what the heck makes me qualified to mentor anyone in intuitive development? It's a great question. I've asked myself the same thing dozens of times. I think I started doing intuitive development mentoring before I knew the answer. Maybe that fact in itself is part of the answer.I think it all goes back to two things. First, I am a regular person. As I said, no natural psychic abilities, nothing particularly connected about me from the start. Nope. But I have been a seeker. I always wanted a spiritu...
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The Weight of the Word
2009-06-16 23:02:00
In my other professional life, I write content and rules for games. Board games, mostly - social party games involving cards, questions, and friendly competition. I learned through having this kind of job that every word is important. Word s for cards, questions and rules must be chosen carefully in order to be clear about how to play the game, and the meaning of each question. I really notice when I come across a game with poorly written rules or cards. When I was in graduate school, I used to take Biblical text study courses. Studying Torah (Bible) is another very detailed word-based discipline. Every word is thought to be significant, and we would often debate why one word may have been chosen over another, and read about what the great Rabbinic commentators' thoughts were about these choices. Detailed text study gave me a profound respect for the process of choosing words carefully.When I learned Reiki, I became fascinated with the studies of Masaro Emotu. He determined that wor...
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Higher Vibrations
2009-01-27 04:01:00
Lots has happened in the last week or so. Progress is being made on the collaborative website that I'm creating with amazing people! We're getting articles together, working on format, planning out our roles, gathering affiliate links that make sense, and working together to plan combo offerings for healings, readings and attunements. Also, the group is getting to know each other by sharing information and energy with each other and it's a beautiful thing. Hopefully, there will be a launch soon, but it's a big process right now.I recently purchased the domain www.reikiawakening.com and I'm excited about setting it up to be the place where my healing, attunement, tutorial, and channeled readings can be ordered, and this blog will be just what it is - my blog. So stay tuned. The change should be seamless when it happens.I had a healing last week from one of the people I'm working on the new collaborative website with, Ken Stone. He is a natural ability healer - he has no formal ...
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Feeling the Love
2009-01-21 03:01:00
Today is Inauguration Day. The energy this morning and excitement was really palpable! I'm happy to be here feeling a new sense of hope in our country with the swearing in of Barak Obama. He's poised and intelligent with an integrity that's refreshing, and I believe he is committed to helping make our country better.Today I want to mention some really wonderful people who have mentioned me lately in their blogs. I'm touched by their comments - testimonials, really, and I wanted to share them here with you too.The first is David's blog. He began the blog because he was inspired by his Kundalini Reiki attunements. He wants to share his experience with everyone and is simply bursting with energy. His blog link is here. He is very gracious and thankful, and I am touched by the many times he thanked me, although I just channeled the energy for his attunements. It comes from a higher source for sure. I really understand that feeling of being so inspired by discovering the power of Re...
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Distance Healing E-Book Now Ready!
2009-01-13 19:12:00
I'm most excited to offer my Distance Healing Guidebook! I wrote this 17 page ebook. It's in pdf format, and it contains information about distance healing, techniques, resources, and lots of information about channeling Reiki and other healing energy modalities across time, distance, and for many uses. I wrote about my experiences and I think it's very useful for anyone using or interested in learning about distance healing.Here are the contents:What distance healing is and isnt....p. 3What a practitioner and recipient might feel during distance healing...p.4Ways to strengthen distance healing practice...p.5Important notes on distance healing...p.7Techniques for distance healing...p.11Volunteer organizations looking for distance healers...p.14Other uses for distance healing...p.15Recommended resources...p.16The 17 page ebook is available now for $10. Just click on the paypal button below and I'll email it to you immediately upon ordering. Please let me know how you like it by p...
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Doors
2009-01-08 21:56:00
This week, a door unexpectedly closed on one of my writing jobs. The experience (rather unpleasant unfortunately) left me wondering what it all meant. I've decided to take it as a sign that I need to be concentrating more on building my energy work practice - getting the word out more, helping more people, teaching and promoting energy healing, and focusing my intention on these goals. My Herkimer Diamond healing crystal came, and I got the same swirly buzz from this one as I had from the one at Sarah Weiss' house. So I sat down and meditated for 30 minutes, focusing exclusively on envisioning my ideal day, and was surrounded by a joyful feeling inspired by the image. I felt happiness and gratitude, and there was no worry or stress. It was nice. I will do this more.I'm grateful, too, for several recent requests for channeled readings and healing that have led to lovely exchanges - crystals, artwork, and one person who is knitting me a gorgeous shawl! I cherish all opportunities t...
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Going with it...Worry-free
2009-01-04 20:46:00
Things went differently than I expected at my session with Sarah Weiss. It was a powerful healing session with lots of clearing. I held a very powerful healing crystal called a Herkimer Diamond (not really a diamond-diamond but that's what it's called). For the first time I actually felt healing from holding a crystal so this was a new development for me. I really felt swirling energy sweeping through each chakra from the top down while I held it. I'm getting one of those! I bid on one on Ebay today!In any case, I learned that my first and second chakras were rather blocked. This is due to worrying about money, work and time. Basically - worry in general. I do tend to worry and have trouble staying in the moment, always thinking about what I need to do next. Sarah worked with me on getting into my "place of abundance" (think "Happy Place" :D ) and there being worry-free. In fact, I noticed that when I'm feeling surrounded by energy, as when I call in energy for healing work, the...
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