I am not sure about you, but for me, 2022 started off not quite the way I hoped for.
I love to spend New Year's Day reflecting, with gratitude, on the prior year and then setting intentions for the new year ahead. I love making vision boards with my daughters and nieces. It has become a tradition.
However, this year, while I did keep in line with our traditions, I was blessed with COVID the first week of the year. I say “blessed” because I do believe that all of life’s challenges bring us much needed lessons and yes, even blessings. I had spent the last quarter of 2021 working hard to close deals and meet my year end goals at my day job as a banker. I am also a wife and a mom of 2 daughters, 5 dogs, a cat, and a husband (he counts as a child sometimes 😊).
We rushed through holiday events, shopping for Christmas gifts and I even spent weekends helping some friends who own a restaurant. I was definitely burnt out. Both ends of my candle were meeting in the middle to scream “UNCLE!!”. And that is what it took for me to slow down and care for myself. It took me a good 15 days to fully recover. However, during that time, I did a lot of self care. The things I forget to do for myself during my normal day to day life. Things like self reiki, Epsom salt baths with essential oils, hot tea with a good book, journaling, and walks out in the fresh air.
I had also decided during that time, that the world needs to take time for self-care and healing. I truly believe that to change the world, the change must start with us. I have been a Reiki Master Teacher since 2014 and decided it was time to officially launch my business, Baraka Healing Arts, and open up my practice to serve my community. Up until then, it had only been offered to family and friends.
I began my Reiki journey when my sister was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of breast cancer. She received Reiki throughout her chemo and radiation and needed very little pharmaceutical intervention. Her oncologist encouraged her to continue the sessions, as she believed it was positively affecting her treatment outcome. Eight years later, she is still cancer free.
From this experience, I found my passion and purpose.
So what IS Reiki?
Reiki is an energy healing modality that promotes relaxation and delivers “universal life force energy” to improve balance in the body to promote healing. Because Reiki works on one’s whole body (mind, body and spirit), it is effective for any condition.
A session lasts about an hour and consists of the client laying fully clothed on a massage table. There is soft music, chosen with intention and a specific frequency to promote healing. I place healing stones on the body, aligned with the chakras (points of energy located along the spine). I place my hands on or above the chakras to clear energy blocks that are causing imbalance. There is no massage or manipulation, only light touch. Many clients feel heat, tingling or pulsations and most people fall asleep or at the very least, into a very deep state of relaxation.
We know that the body is made up of energy (as is everything). Reiki works by channeling Source energy to facilitate the balancing of chi (or life force energy) throughout the body. When there are no energy blocks, then the body does what it is designed to do and will heal itself. There are many things that cause energy blocks: STRESS, trauma (physical, mental and emotional), a toxic environment, poor nutrition, etc. If those blocks remain in place for extended periods of time, then the body enters a state of dis-ease. Reiki is typically done in person, and I describe that as "light touch" therapy . . . a lot like acupuncture but without the needles. But because energy transcends space and time, we can also send healing energy to those in need.
I do that by focusing my attention and intention on the recipient. As long as their "higher self" is open to it, they receive the flow of Reiki and it works by clearing and resetting the body's own balance and flow. This is known as distance healing.
Reiki is appropriate for all conditions, with no contraindications. I have worked closely with infertility patients (myself included), cancer patients, people suffering from PTSD, all with amazing results. However, an amazing side effect is deep relaxation that reduces stress and activates our parasympathetic nervous system. This is the system that engages our rest and restore mode. Again, we know that stress only enhances the weak link in our systems. When we manage stress well, the benefits are awesome. When we don’t, we end up with chronic illness, implications to our mental health and a weakened immune system, which leaves us vulnerable to sickness.
Reiki is also awesome for children, animals and plants . . . any living thing really.
I am thrilled to be part of the amazing group of practitioners at The Vervain Collective. It was serendipitous, the way that I was led to the store where I met up with Lindsey Kolpitke, who specializes in Hypnotherapy and ADHD support. She mentioned that people had been asking about Reiki practitioners but, at the time, they didn’t have one. I joined the Collective with my dear friend Jeni, who is also a Reiki Master Teacher. We can’t wait to share this awesome modality with those who are led to it.
I’m always excited to meet new clients; those who are ready to take ownership of their health and well-being. I am honored to partner with you and help you find and bring forth your own inner healer.
If you would like to learn more or have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Sessions can be scheduled through www.vervaincollective.com/appointments.
You can also reach me at 208.412.6370 or barakahealingarts@gmail.com.
Stay tuned for some new offerings in the near future. Jeni and I are planning classes for those interested in Reiki I, which teaches the fundamentals of Reiki and how to use it to heal yourself. Reiki II offers you the training to become a practitioner. We have Sound Baths and Breathwork groups in the works as well.
2022 is turning out to be the year of manifesting our desires and we are here to help you do just that!