Reiki is a therapy that the practitioner delivers through the hands, with intent to raise the amount of ki in and around the client, heal pathways for ki, and reduce negative energies.
The intent is to heal the spirit and thus the body. Reiki (pronounced "ray-kee") is an energy medicine therapy that uses energy fields with the intent to affect health. Some fields, such as magnetic fields and light, have been measured while others, such as biofields, have not. In Reiki, the practitioner places his hands on or near the person receiving treatment, with the intent to transmit ki, believed to be a life-force energy.
When a practitioner performs Reiki, usually the client sits or lies comfortably, fully clothed. The practitioner places her hands on or slightly above the client's body, using 12 to 15 different hand positions, with the intent to transmit ki. The hands are positioned with the palms down, fingers and thumbs extended. Each hand position is held until the practitioner feels that the flow of energy has slowed or stopped, typically about 2 to 5 minutes.
People seek Reiki treatment for a wide variety of health-related purposes. Some examples include:
* Effects of stress.
* Chronic pain.
* Recovery from surgery and anesthesia.
* Side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer.
* Lowering heart rate.
* Improving immunity.
* Mental clarity.
* Enhancing the sense of peace in people who are dying.
Clients may report a deep feeling of relaxation after a Reiki session. Relaxation in and of itself may have beneficial health-related effects, such as reducing pain, nausea, and fatigue. A client might also experience warmth, tingling, sleepiness, refreshment, and/or the easing of one or more other symptoms after treatment.
Sometimes a Reiki client experiences what practitioners call a "cleansing crisis." The person may have symptoms such as a feeling of weakness or tiredness, a headache, or a stomach ache. Reiki practitioners believe that these are effects of the body releasing toxins. They advise the client on how to deal with such symptoms if they occur, such as by getting more rest, drinking plenty of water, or eating a lighter diet.
Swedish massage is the most widely used system of massage therapy in North America. It employs long, gliding strokes, stretching, and joint mobilizations to promote circulation and a deeper sense of relaxation. Swedish massage has numerous potential health benefits, including:
* Reduced stress and anxiety
* Relief from muscle pain, tension, soreness, and fatigue
* Improved mood, increased vigor
* Improved sleep
* Improved concentration, balance, posture, and motor skills
* Stimulation of digestion and promotion of digestive health
* Increased blood circulation and lymph return
* Greater sense of well-being
From our very first attempts to roll over as infants, the ways in which we move through the world directly impact the structure of our physical body. When any particular physical position becomes habitual, the integration of postural imbalances is almost inevitable. The ensuing tension created in the supporting muscles and connective tissues of our individual, habitual, "learned" postures often leads to chronic pain.
Deep massage is a soft tissue technique consciously employed by therapists to enhance bodily energy flow while simultaneously assisting the body in recovering its structural integrity. Deep massage helps to decompress chronically tight, shortened muscles, restore length to contracted tissues, and bring more awareness to the body as a singular system.
The term shaman is used to describe the healer, counselor, and spiritual advisor of a community. It is a Tungus word meaning "he who knows", though it is commonly applied to healers in Native American cultures, as well as South American, African, and Aboriginal cultures, to name just a few. Shamans, in one form or another, appear in all indigenous cultures, and the practice of shamanism is at the root of many major religions in the world today.
In traditional shamanic systems, the Shaman interacts with the world of spirit on behalf of another person. This generally involves providing healing assistance on a physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual level.
For thousands of years, Shamans have worked in realms that lie beyond what can be seen by the naked eye. From a shamanic perspective, the world we live in is known as "ordinary reality" and the realms that we cannot see are called "non-ordinary reality." These realms can also be referred to as the "seen" and "unseen" worlds. To the Shaman, there is no difference between the factual and experiential reality of these two worlds.
Today, shamanic practitioners are in a unique position to effect change on many levels. They are informed by modern medicine and psychological thought, and grounded in the wisdom of the ancients, addressing maladies with assurance and understanding. Unlike western medical thought, shamans recognize that even the slightest trauma has potentially negative long-term effects, and they will often perform soul retrievals for surgeries, births, and the loss of loved ones.
Soul Retrieval is a technique to help heal what is know as "soul loss".
Soul loss is the concept that we can loose little parts of ourselves through life. When we are confronted by traumatic events in life (physically, mentally, or emotionally) we can loss a part of ourselves in the process. This is a type of survival mechanism for our soul- when we feel that there is just no way that we are going to make it out of a situation, part of our soul may leave in an effort to protect itself and survive the experience. Such traumatic experiences may include situations of physical jeopardy such as an accident, surgery, or injury. They can also be of a mental or emotional level in the case of abuse, heavy disappointment, or the loss of someone we love. There are a myriad of events that may be viewed as traumatic and capable of creating soul loss- it is a highly personal situation and perception. Also bear in mind that what was traumatic to us at a young age may not seem traumatic to us now. The loss of a treasured toy as a child, or being made fun of in front of your peers could be just as traumatic to a young person as a car accident to an older individual.
Through the practice of Soul Retrieval a shamanic practitioner enters the spirit worlds on behalf of an individual and searches these worlds for any soul fragments that are ready to be returned. Many times these are soul fragments that are stuck in a different time when things were "safer" or have retreated to other worlds of spirit to escape the physical world all together. In extreme cases a soul fragment may be held by the soul of another individual- this can often be the case when our personal power is stolen by another person as in the case of abusive relationships or incest. Once a soul fragment is found by a shamanic practitioner a process of negotiating and comforting the fragment is undergone to ensure it's returned in a willing and comfortable manner. This fragment is then brought back to the physical world and returned to the individual where it can be welcomed home and made whole.
The process of Soul Retrieval may take several sessions of preparation for a client- this is very subjective and varies from person to person. It is important that a client be physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually ready for soul retrieval so they do not become overwhelmed by the return of emotions, memories, and the ability to feel again. For this reason I usually spend a minimum of one or two sessions with an individual preparing them through energy healing and shamanic counseling to ensure that they are strong and ready for the return of any soul fragments.
Restores a sense of "wholeness" to an individual
Can return lost emotions and memories
Enables a person to feel their sense of "personal power" again
