The Place of Healing...

... is in your heart. That, i think, is the single most important thing in any healing tradition. It is with the heart that we feel compassion, empathy, gratitude.… and it is the heart that feels unconditional love.

As soon as we offer healing, we offer love…. soothing hurt & pain, building strength & courage… unconditionally. We are the catalyst, a connection, a channel for others… helping them to re-connect their selves, providing a gateway… Ultimately it is for them to access, accept & utilise the energy that we connect with.

Healing must be unconditional, for how can we say what is best for another. Whatever we see or feel or think, we cannot walk their path for them, we cannot control their destiny or manipulate their free-will. But we can be that connection that brings them to a place of healing… in their heart... a place of self-love… unconditionally… a place where they have the strength to choose…. whether to fight or surrender…. to swim or ride the waves...

As soon as we step on to the healing path, we begin our own journey of healing. Whenever we access the healing energies to give to another, they come through us… they help us to heal too, however ‘sorted’ we may think we are!

Reiki & Sleep

I find that usually people sleep very deeply after a reiki treatment... especially after a longer session. It's so relaxing & the benefits of a session continue long afterwards & that deep sleep facilitates healing.... Scattered thoughts & fragile emotions are soothed allowing the body to settle down & recuperate during sleep.

However, a friend mentioned that since beginning Reiki she has had trouble sleeping properly unless she is on her own.... and that she has come across others with the same problem... that they seem too aware of a partner in their bed, that their sleep is disturbed. (ok, this in itself is not unusual, but we're talking about a striking difference after a reiki attunement).

I cast my mind back to my first attunement... I don't know if mine was... i was already having disturbed nights.... mum's funeral was the day before my attunement & our family was already fractured before that & i'd spent wakeful nights anyway. So even if the reiki affected me in this way, I don't think i'd have noticed or made the connection. I think, actually, the reiki helped, but i used it regularly at night.

My first thought on reading about this was to wonder whether it depends on the person you're sleeping next to. Not whether it is a casual or permanent ralationship, but on an energy level. The thing is, your energy level, or rather the quality changes after the reiki attunement, your vibrational rate rises. You can actually measure it by dowsing or muscle testing... try it.

Ask what your vibratory rate is on a scale of 1-100 (eg Is it more than 40? 60? etc til you find it) Test again after an attunement... or a treatment, or meditation.... I promise you'll find it interesting. If you check from time to time you might notice how it alters, including when you are feeling low, or amongst people who drain you... then it picks up if you self treat or meditate.

Once you start reiki you find that different people seem to be drawn to you, or you to them... and others seem to drift away. Like attracts like, you're vibrating at a higher energetic level & lower vibrating energy can be uncomfortable. It's not just reiki that raises a persons vibratory rate... attitude, spiritual practice etc do, but a reiki attunement is an instant thing, a sudden change rather than a gradual increase that grows with awareness.

Your sensitivity to energy increases too, both consciously & subconsciously, so really it's hardly surprising that some of us become hyper- aware of the person sleeping next to us. Probably more so if the vibrational levels are further apart.... which can be a problem, especially within an established relationship. You may be able to 'tune out the interference' or find ways to handle this if the relationship is strong, re- synchronising your energies....there are ways..... or perhaps it may eventually lead to a parting of the ways if you are on a different path or wavelength. Each person must work out the way for them.

Casual & new relationships have different needs, and often they are not the same for each person.... physical attraction may be compatible, but mental? emotional? spiritual? (true for any relationship, actually) These aren't areas of our Selves we usually reveal straight away & aren't necessarily immediately apparent in someone else. It may be disconcerting to find that the chemistry formula that previously worked seems to have changed! But once physical needs are met (hopefully!) a person with heightened energy sensitivity is likely to be only too aware of the dis-parity in the quiet of the night. Also, if there is an unequal flow of give & take, the sleeping partner may still be drawing energy from you... consciously dis-connect from them & think about protecting your energy.

An idea that may help sleep in the company of another is to ask for reiki for yourself (and your partner if they are agreeable to the idea) as you go to sleep. Just curl up & hold your hands where they are comfortable, eg shoulder & side, chest & head, one on you & one on the other person... wherever is comfortable.... Ask for reiki to flow. This is a lovely way to fall asleep. You can ask that it stops, say, half an hour after you fall asleep. I don't know that this is necessary.... sometimes i do & sometimes i don't, & havn't noticed a difference, but i know some people need to consciously 'switch off'. If you are not attuned to reiki just ask the Universal energy, or Deity (whatever you are comfortable with) to flow to you, to heal & help your sleep.

How do you learn Reiki?

The ability to 'do' Reiki is not something that is learned in the normal sense. Rather it is something that is activated or awakened within the individual through a process of Initiation (also referred to as an 'Attunement') by a Reiki Master. It is a relatively simple process, a bit like being given the keys to a door, or tuning in a radio that gives the ability to access & use Reiki. The learning begins after the attunement… it’s a bit like downloading a computer program; you can switch it on & use it…. But it takes a while to get used to & learn to use it fully!

The Reiki attunement is special… a sacred, spiritual initiation that connects with higher levels of consciousness & the unlimited Source of healing energy. It is a powerful spiritual experience enabling Reiki to be channelled by the initiate. There are no requirements for spiritual purification necessary in order for it to work or for a person to receive attunements. This includes the Reiki III attunement where one can go on to become a Reiki Master/Teacher. Thus the term ‘Master” in Reiki does not carry the same meaning as “Spiritual Master” or imply any level of enlightenment.

Anyone, regardless of the level of spiritual development can receive the ability to pass Reiki on to others. The level of spirituality may vary from person to person, but the quality of Reiki Energy remains the same. All Reiki Masters/Teachers may be equal in that they all have the ability to pass Reiki on to others. However the level of understanding & ability to teach varies greatly, depending on how a person has been taught & upon their own personally developed skills & experience.

This then is the unique value of Reiki; anyone can receive the ability and if they wish, progress to become a qualified teacher. This makes Reiki a healing technique of special importance for the period of development in which we presently find ourselves on earth. The collective consciousness of the planet is advancing so quickly that there is a greatly increased interest in spiritual healing.

In addition to the healing benefits to yourself & others, Reiki often helps to develop your psychic senses too.

SO… What is Reiki anyway??

Reiki is a system for healing & self- development created in Japan by Dr Mikao Usui in the early part of the 20th century. ‘Rei’ is often translated as ‘Universal’, referring to something sacred or spiritual. ‘Ki’ is often translated as ‘Life-force energy’ and implies spiritedness or feelings. So, the generally accepted definition of Reiki is “Universal Energy”. Although the emphasis is more often placed on the healing aspect of Reiki nowadays, it was also intended as a method for spiritual self-development.

'Universal energy'... from the universe, for everyone... regardless of religion or belief system... it works in harmony with your beliefs & with other treatments & medicines. How it works defies explanation, it just does. But because it is 'universal' it fits alongside so many ways of thinking, so that people blend their way of thinking with it & adapt it to suit them. Remember you too are an individual that can take or leave what you hear, to use, or discard, or file 'til later if relevant. We all learn & grow & change…

A Reiki Treatment is such a relaxing experience…. A client remains fully clothed & may sit or lie down as the practitioner lays their hands on or just above the clients body… all you need to do is relax & be open to the healing energy of Reiki. Reiki can also be “sent” over a distance too.

Some people may experience heat or cold, or become aware of tingling or pulsing sensations, some ‘see’ colour or light- at the very least you feel incredibly relaxed, which in itself provides the climate for healing- as the healing Reiki energy radiates from the therapist's hands. The energy immediately begins to effect positive change, and restore balance, throughout the recipient's whole being & continues to manifest for some time after the session ends.

Most descriptions include something like “Reiki is a gentle, yet profound, non-invasive therapy, which can facilitate stress-reduction and relaxation, support effective immune-system function, enhance the body's self-healing mechanisms, and replenish and nurture vitality. Rather than acting solely on a physical level, Reiki is holistic in its effect - eliciting a healing response across the entire spectrum of ones being - physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.”

‘A wave of loving, healing energy…. Gently lapping on the shore of your being… soothing the hurt and pain…. Connecting to universal healing energy, helping you to re-build and strengthen and heal…”

It is something that can not really be described… it must be experienced, and even then it is only a beginning.

The Violet Flame

The Violet Flame of transmutation.... transmutes negativity into positive.... connected with the Ascended Master St Germaine.

If you think about it energy can not be destroyed, but often we try to get rid of pain, illness, negativity, banish spirits etc etc. If we just get rid of it, take it away or deflect it, where does it go? What happens to it? It just carries on bouncing around the universe, moving on to someone else or waiting to come back for another attack. Plus there's the chance it merges with other similar energies, joins forces & becomes stronger.

Some people ask angels, guides, spirit, god to take it away... but they still have the task of dealing with it & they're pretty busy already! The idea of using the violet flame is to visualise negative energy, hurts, anger, etc being consumed by the flame & being converted into positive loving energy. At the end of the day it is good practice to review the days events & recall any negative thoughts or actions & imagine placing them within the flame to burn & be converted into loving, positive energy…. handy for bad habits & behaviour patterns too.

You could use any colour or fire in general, but the colour violet is associated with transformation, transmutation & higher energies.

I use this technique regularly- dealing with a particularly nasty toothache it dawned on me about not being able to destroy energy, the pain was energy & it needed converting etc. Dissolving it away wasn't strong enough & i found myself imagining it burning away & changing to loving energy rising from the flames on the smoke into the ethers. It was after that i kept 'hearing the term 'violet flame' in my mind & searched for more information.

I had a tooth abscess & was 200 miles from my dentist. I started working on it thinking bout removing the pain & the infection. Usually I can do this easily, but it beat my usual 'willing it away'/ignoring & decided to use Reiki rather than just myself-
Anyway, could get the pain to go, but came straight back. Clicked that pain, like anything else is a form of energy, so can't be destroyed & must be converted to something else. So worked on transforming to loving healing energy- that worked for longer periods, but still returned. Knew it may take a while to calm the infection but it was 2nd bout in a year & the last tooth got pulled. I realised there was more to it- i felt even if the dentist sorted this, it wasn't dealing with the cause, just the symptom.

I looked around in books/internet for clues on the energetic causes of tooth ache, but found nothing that felt applied. Another round of healing- this time with the intention of going to where it started- the root cause, that was it. I saw myself diving into the pain itself, swimming, swirling with it to go back to where it sprang from... I saw myself in a past life with my partner & father. It was quite an ugly scene, which i was able to follow & progress to see what happened. It explained a hell of a lot to do with the relationships we have had, & some "irrational" actions & thought patterns that cropped up frequently between the 3 of us that wern't there before Steve & I were together. It was quite a heavy session & I spent more time then & later pouring healing energy into that situation.

It is not something I have discussed with either of them for a variety of reasons, but certain things have eased... & so did the abscess.

The Old Ways

Dance the old ways

Trust the knowing
Mend and heal
Energy flowing

These words are posted by Cari Ferraro; they are a 'spell' she wrote & I recommend going over to see her thoughts & pictures. Also, Cari’s website has images of her books on the theme of “spelling words” and further explanation on how she came to write them is here. She writes about going back to the origins of the words & what a spell originally was... a story.


I love these words- they really resonate with me & inspired this piece of calligraphy. More pics & details of the process are over at Spirit Whispers

These 12 words ooze healing energy and apply so much to any healing modality or situation. Just take a few moments to run them through your mind… breathe deeply and repeat them slowly… you can use them to encourage yourself to heal, bringing in the healing energies to flow through your body…. Or think of someone else, concentrate on them, speak to them either mentally or face to face, encouraging them to open up to the healing energies… or perhaps send the words out to humanity over the world… Cari wrote them, but these words have a sense of being from Source Her/His/Itself… or from The Earth, Gaia imploring us to dance & trust & heal…

Dance the old ways…
It is often said that Dr Usui ‘discovered’ reiki; we hear of ‘new’ healing systems, ‘unique’ ways; phrases such as ‘new energies for our times’ etc etc. They may be new to us, but surely these vibrations are older than time itself, strands of energy that sprang from creation or even before. The Ancients knew about them… every culture has stories of healing miracles, every culture had Gods or Goddesses of Healing, so it’s more a case of us ‘re-discovering’ or gradually becoming more aware & open to them. Even with our modern science & medicine there is so much more that we barely know of, & we have barely scratched the surface of the things we are aware of such as herbal & plant medicine, energy systems & energy healing. But slowly, slowly more people are learning to re-connect and dance the old ways.

Trust the knowing…
We all have a little voice inside that guides us if we let it speak… an inner wisdom & instinct that we often suppress in favour of logic or ‘common sense’. It often speaks through our solar plexus…. It’s not called ‘gut-instinct’ for nothing! It’s where we get butterflies when we are excited or that churning feeling when we are nervous or afraid, in between these extremes it is there if not so obvious. Try looking out for it when you make a decision, whether you turn left or right, whether you need a coat on or a cardigan, or do you need a bit more seasoning in a stew…. Notice the feeling & whether your decision turned out right or wrong… get used to the language of that inner voice, give it permission to speak & learn to listen. Once you learn to hear it, it will lead you to that inner knowing & wisdom that we all possess, that can help with our own healing & helping others to heal.

Mend & heal, Energy flowing…
That’s all you need to think as you open up to the healing energies… whether you are bringing them into yourself or directing them to others repeat these words… mend & heal, trust the energy to do what is needed, just let the energy flow. If it helps, visualize it as light, or a wave, or glow, coming into & around your body. In Reiki, we connect to Universal Energy… the healing energy of the Universe that is there, available to all. You may choose to call on God or Goddess, others may prefer to draw on your connection to Angels or ascended Masters, Spirit Guides or Power Animals… whatever is right for your belief or faith. No matter what we call it, or where we believe it comes from that healing energy is there, just waiting for us to connect & allow our body, mind,& spirit to mend & heal.

This is something Cari has to say…
“I had a strong feeling about these words, that many many people need to trust the old ways, dance the knowing, mend and heal their lives and the planet, and do it with energy flowing. See, they can go together different ways! So the words have their own lives and are out in the world to do what good they can.”

What more can I add, except take these words, use them & pass them on!

Dance the old ways
Trust the knowing
Mend and heal
Energy flowing

The Reiki Precepts- The Gokai

While Reiki is spiritual in nature, it is not a religion. It has no dogma, and there is nothing you must believe in order to learn and use Reiki. In fact, Reiki is not dependent on belief at all and will work whether you believe in it or not. While Reiki is not a religion, it is still important to live and act in a way that promotes harmony with others & Dr Usui (who founded Reiki) recommended that one practice certain simple ethical ideals to promote peace and harmony, which are nearly universal across all cultures.

The ‘Gokai’ are a set of five principles that Sensei Usui considered to be at the heart of Reiki. I have seen/heard several variations, but it is the sense of the words that is important rather than the exact translation.
Here is a translation that is pretty close to the original…

The Gokai
"The secret method of inviting blessings,
the spiritual medicine of many illnesses
(Shôfuku no hihô, Manbyo no rei yaku)

Just for today (Kyo dake wa):
Don't get angry (Okoru na)
Don't worry (Shinpai su na)
Be grateful (Kansha shite)
Work hard (Gyo wo hage me)
Be kind to others (Hito ni shinsetsu ni)

Mornings and evenings sit in the gassho [prayer] position
and repeat these words out loud and in your heart
(Asa you gassho shite kokoro ni neji kuchi ni tonaeyo)
For the improvement of mind and body
(Shin shin kaizen)

Usui Spiritual Healing Method (Usui Reiki Ryoho)
The founder, Mikao Usui (Chossô, Usui Mikao)"

This is a page from a journal I made for a young girl after her first attunement. You can see more pages over at Spirit Whispers in the post entitled "A Reiki Journal"

These words are from earlier texts of the Meiji Emperor, and are not exclusive to Reiki- to me, they are principles for everyone to live by. Even if you don’t repeat them morning & evening, I think it is important to run the words through your mind often… preferably everyday.

The act of sitting silently in prayer or meditation daily, even for a short while can be so beneficial... calming, healing, inspiring, uplifting... I like to use the Gokai as a meditation. Make yourself comfortable and take long, slow, deep breaths.... as you breathe in say/think "Just for today..." as you breathe out say "I will not be angry..." continue through, breathe in...Just for today... breathe out... I will not worry... go through the whole thing.

Repeat a few times until really relaxed, then visualise energising white light pouring down & filling your body.... every, bone, muscle, vein... everywhere through you... feel it filling you with healing energy. Imagine it spreading out from your body into your aura.... into the room... if you want keep it going through the house, down the road... to the village, town, whole country... the world if you like.... spreading pure white healing light for the benefit of everyone it touches.

When you are ready, pull the light that is in your aura back into your body, take deep breaths until you feel 'back to normal' & give thanks.... that energy will stay with you.

Where did I Start?

I truly believe that everyone has the ability to heal… I think it’s something that we have ‘forgotten’. It’s there within our psyche, but for many it is laying there, dormant, unrecognised- just waiting for the conditions to be right in order to flourish.

Luckily, throughout time, there have always been people with that gift… a natural ability to help people heal. Depending on the society in which they have lived that gift may have been encouraged or quashed, respected or feared, used or abused… but it has always been there, a spark of light, an inspiration that has eventually given rise to a world-wide increase in people actively seeking a healing path.

For me, that path gradually opened up… there was no particular event or book that set me on my way. I can’t say that I’ve always been interested or had ability, but equally I can’t say that I had no interest or inkling. Looking back, I can remember situations or conversations that show maybe I did ‘know’, but not consciously & I certainly did not pursue it. Having said that I have always been able to “will-away” pain, and I know many people can, even though they would not consider ‘healing’ in any form or fashion.

Sometimes when someone was ill or in pain, I’d automatically put my hands or rub where it hurt, & often they felt better…. But this was an unconscious action- when I consciously thought about it or offered to see if I could help, nothing happened! It was that instinctive action, like a mother soothing a baby or rubbing better some knock or scrape to her child.

I met a Reiki Master in the course of my business & ‘knew’ it was something I was going to do. It didn’t happen straight away & with a different Master, but as often seems to happen with me, the opportunity presented itself & I took it.

Receiving that first attunement to Reiki was like receiving permission to heal. As much as learning about a technique, it gave me that key to access a latent ability. Like I said at the beginning of this post, I think everyone has that ability; it is just a matter of finding the right key. For me it was Reiki, for others it may be as simple as giving themselves permission.

It is all about intention, & I think this applies to many of us in many areas of our lives… Setting an intention, being clear about what we want to achieve, and then giving ourselves permission to realise it are important aspects, whether it is something physical, mental or emotional.

Energetic Connections & Cord Cutting

We have an energetic connection with everyone we meet, talk to, think about etc, & equally we have energetic connections with people who think about us- even though we may be unaware of them.

We send healing thoughts & know that the energy sent is positive & helpful. Likewise, if someone is angry or worried about you that energy is floating around you, even though the person emitting that energy may be totally oblivious to the fact. Not every negative thought is going to affect us as we have our own natural systems to cope, such as optimism, joy, hope, love etc etc. Sometimes though, we can feel weary, drained, worried etc… emotions or even pain, that is not ours.

Bear this in mind when you are concerned about someone or some situation, or just watching the news…. I consciously try not to worry or be angry about things I can do nothing about & so add my ‘worry/angry energy’… instead I wish positive thoughts; strength, calm, vision, love, compassion etc that can benefit the person or situation. Sometimes easier said than done, but persevere & it becomes a habit!

You might like to try something i do now & again... cord cutting. This is about reclaiming your own energy or power & removing anything that is a threat to, or draining your energy. Sometimes i think it is useful to visualise all those energy ‘hooks’ that can drain you being washed away- I tend to use the image of a waterfall washing away the threads that bind me to other people (A sort of ‘energy shower’), then imagine warm golden sunlight energising me.

Create your own Sacred Space, however you feel comfortable. For some it is as simple as closing your eyes & visualize stepping into that waterfall… or creating a journey, for example walking through a forest & becoming aware of those things that tug at your energy reserves, before finding the waterfall… Others prefer the ritual of candles & incense, sitting infront of a personal altar or in a 'special' place… You may try several variations to find what is comfortable & effective for you.

It is a good practice to do a 'cord-cutting' at the end of a relationship for example, or after spending time with people who sap your energy (or if you think someone is sending malicious thoughts). Ask for all cords or attachments that do not benefit you to be cut, some people see the knots being untied, and ask for the negative energy to be returned to the source with love.

I like the image of water to cleanse & gently wash away those connections & entangled cords of attachment, but you could you could use the image of fire to sever the connections. Some people ask Archangel Michael to cut all cords with his sword of truth, others call on their idea of Deity…use whatever words & imagery that suit you. You can name specific people or situations that you want to disconnect from, & if you cut all cords you can ask for only those that are beneficial to be re-tied.

If you want, you can imagine fine threads leading out from your feelings & trace them back to who or where they come from….slowly, slowly follow the thread, let your intuition guide you, just watch the thread & travel back along it… eventually a name or place or image will pop into your mind. It is important not to have any pre-conceptions when you try this & the result can be surprising- but don’t judge, just cut or dissolve the thread with love…

Smoky Quartz

This lovely piece of smokey quartz was feeling a bit jaded, so I put it out under the last full moon to cleanse & re-charge. I gave it a dust off, ran it under water & left it outside for a couple of days to feel the energy of the sun, moon, earth & air... it was 'buzzing' with energy afterwards.
Crystals grow within the womb of Earth, protected from the outside environment, into their pure crystalline vibration. Once outside they can pick up & absorb energy from the people & places they come in contact with... their energy can seem to become dimmed, hence the need for cleansing- especially if they are used for crystal healing. I tend to go by instinct whether to smudge in smoke, bury in earth, run under water or leave open to the elements... or use reiki or a combination of methods. To begin with I would dowse with a pendulum & 'ask' my crystals what they needed. Sometimes I still do.
This piece is special treasure, about 8 inches across & has bits of pyrite scattered through it.

Iron pyrite is excellent for blocking negative energies, whilst boosting your own energy store. It is good for creative & mental processes, boosts confidence & eases melancholy & despair.

Smoky quartz is extremely grounding & protective- it will help disperse negativity & bring calm & positivity.

Welcome...

I have no idea how this blog will pan-out... I do know it is something I 'have' to do. Over time I have written down so much, formulated so many ideas- & changed them (maybe 'refined' is a better description), helped & been helped by so many people... Hopefully some of my thoughts will be of help to you. Whether you agree with or accept anything I say is irrelevant- if you take the time to read this, then my ideas become catalysts for your own even if you reject mine. In fact I would say do not simply accept anything you read... mull it over, feel the sense of the words and the energy behind them... use your intuition. Only accept what you feel, know, is right for you at this time.

There are many things that I have heard or been told that I could not accept at the time... but as time goes on some of these ideas float back. Sometimes I still reject them, or maybe they help understand a point of view I come across... sometimes it sparks a train of thought that helps me reach some understanding of either the original idea or of something completely different! We are continually learning as we move through this life- some things don't make sense until we gain more knowledge or experience... but we never stand still.

There will be no particular order or format to this blog as there is no specific start or end point. Everyone is at different levels, not higher or lower, just different. There is no right or wrong way, just different ways that individual people find better for them.

I can tell my way, that is all- I am not telling anyone what they should do. It is my intention to help, to encourage, to inspire, to provoke thought... and satisfy my need to write & share! I hope you pop back from time to time and contribute with your thoughts & comments.

love & blessings
suzi x