After I’d been periodically, spontaneously slapping myself (can you imagine such a thing?) activating the Shakti force within me for several months the Divine decided it was time for the next step. While giving Reiki to a client all of a sudden my right hand started the accustomed shaking, my arm lifted up, and off it all went.

The greatest concentration was centered on this woman’s womb area. I was grateful to have another wonderful, dear practitioner giving Reiki to the same woman simultaneously to hold space and share the experience with me because I was a little uncertain. As my hand rapidly moved up and

Recently I heard a writer say that if you really want to be a creative professional you've got to do those things. He referenced being a filmmaker, painter, writer, and stand up comic among others, but the same advice can apply to being a Reiki practitioner. 

Many times I've heard from ambitious students in class that if there were twenty levels to Reiki they would take them all. But there aren't. And sometimes I sense a wee bit of disappointment from graduating Reiki practitioners (Level II) or Master/Teachers—is this just my perception?—that 

It's a bit unusual to notice your body moving on its own, right? 

The whole thing started a year ago. I was at a Oneness Meditation and my right hand started moving. OK, for a very long time my right hand has steadily shaken—kind of like a palsy, but not constant. This was way different though. It was moving like there was an engine revving inside. Then I watched, trying not to freak out or get in the way while staying in the flow of the meditation, as my whole arm began lifting my hand upward. Then it hit me. No not some great revelation, my hand.

Bam! on my crown, bam! on my head near my hairline, bam! on my third eye. Down and down the 

I get excited when Reiki gets widespread media coverage. When it makes the news more people get a chance to be introduced to it, learn a bit about it, and see it as a resource. And that's all good, right?

Over and over again, though, I've felt like these precious opportunities have been squandered away, at least partially, by misrepresentation. Until recently.

Have you noticed a backlash against the Love & Light culture, even a rising numbness or cynicism within? We know that all of life isn’t pictures of kittens, rainbows, and babies with inspirational quotes printed on them. Yet it’s what we see every time we log into Facebook or plug into the spiritual community.

For as long as I can remember I’ve gotten the question “Are you always this happy?”  Being considered a Love & Light person by others is a lifelong issue of mine and while I don’t mind the

Many of us (inlcluding me) have been trained in Reiki through a Western, non-traditional, spiritual approach. We've been instructed that Reiki is channeled from an external divine source, pours through us, and those of us who have been attuned to it are conduits, period. Some of us (again, including me) have in turn passed on this same belief. But maybe it's not true.

During a recent interview Oprah Winfrey asked pop star Rhianna how she felt about her former boyfriend, Chris Brown, who'd physically attacked her back in 2009. Rhianna said although she was very angry and sad during that time, she also felt bad for Chris. She understood that he needed help and wondered where it was going to come from. She also shared her current feelings of forgiveness for him. Oprah was shocked at her reaction. I'm not.

Back when I was a bit younger than Rhianna is now I fell for a very troubled guy. For a bit more 

Many people struggle with wondering if they're "ready" to move forward to the next level of Reiki studies. It's understandable. How can our brains be trusted to know if it's time to progress in something not so easily grasped by the logical mind? Here's what I have to say to that:

Lots of people ask how often they should come for a Reiki session after their first appointment. It's an understandable question. We want some insight, guidance, and advice especially when energetic care is a new concept. There are a couple of ways of tackling this issue.

One is to strategically consider what your condition is as the starting point. If you've recently undergone a major life change, haven't been taking care of yourself for a while, or are seeking a 

Sometimes after we’ve committed to a path (or at least semi-committed), we’re walking along doing our thing and then boom! we come across a big roadblock. It can be enough to make us shake our fists at the heavens and say “why me?”

This pattern can continue over and over. We feel defeated, cursed, and question if we’re meant to be on the path at all. 

It happens to everyone eventually. Trust me. These roadblocks can be someone slandering us,