It's been a long time coming.
10 years ago, I fell in love with
Reiki, a Japanese technique for relaxation and stress reduction that
also promotes healing. I loved it because of the beauty behind the
practice and also because of a vision I had for using it with my music
to help make the world a better place.
I stopped using it some
years as my ego and identity got really caught up in a specific path I
was pursuing with my music, and there was no time for Reiki! It was a
rigid path and I became more and more attached to the outcome with each
passing week until one day a year or so ago, I stopped hearing my Inner
Voice altogether. “Inner Voice?” you ask...
Well, what had once
been a strong clear voice that brought me inspiration for my song
writing and guidance on my life path had become a whisper and then was
completely drowned out by my ego's frazzled agenda, which felt more like
a run away train with each passing day.
That’s about when I
was diagnosed with Acid Reflux, which has plagued my vocal chords with
swelling, effecting my ability to sing. I've tried A LOT of things over
the past year to address this issue -- both mainstream and
alternative. Some things didn't help at all (the pills the specialist
gave me). Some things made a tremendous difference, but only for a
short period of time. I gave up coffee and alcohol and fried foods and
stopped eating before bed, etc., etc. None of it solved the problem.
Doubts echoed in my mind -- will I ever have my full voice back again?
Some days it was just heart breaking.
6 months ago, to add insult
to injury, the bones in my hands started hurting very badly, and I was
diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. My whole body was speaking out
about the way things were going in the only way that I would have
listened.
With sweet little Inner Voice still gagged and
locked up in the corner, I continued to follow the pace and rigidity of
Ego's dictatorship right into the fiery arms of an abrupt and startling
burn out earlier this year, and I honestly and genuinely wondered if I
still loved music at all anymore. Depression began to take hold, and I
became very desperate. I felt like my identity was being slain. I felt
like I had lost my reason for living.
Then, something happened
that changed everything. It had been so long since I had given or
received Reiki that I had completely forgotten how powerful it is, so
when a good friend offered me an informal impromptu Reiki session, I was
not expecting anything. But the outcome was absolutely profound.
Deceivingly simple... but absolutely profound. I heard my Inner Voice.
Right out of the blue as clear as day. After 2 years with not one
peep, here was the same voice that used to answer my prayers, now
returning to me as an answer to my prayers with a simple directive. “Do
Reiki.”
So I started doing Reiki again, and continued
listening to my Inner Voice. It was WONDERFUL. I gave Reiki everyday
to myself, to my husband, to our cats, to my family, and to my friends.
I did it in person, and sent it across space and time, just like a
prayer. And every time I gave it, my hands felt warm and pain free. My
inner world was becoming more calm. I was doing more yoga. I was
praying more, and hearing the answers. Voice students started pouring
into my studio. I re-discovered singing for the pure love of it. I’ve
been pleasantly flooded with song ideas. And one day about a month ago,
I was inspired with the idea that I could self-rehabilitate my voice
(with all my knowledge of vocal technique) to sing despite the swelling
from the Acid Reflux (which is getting better), and that is exactly what
I’ve been doing with great success.
My biggest personal Reiki
miracle has been the return of my beautifully clear and now always
present Inner Voice (or maybe depending on your perspective, we could
call it the voice of God), and the effect of this on my life. I’m
amazed now how I let myself -- my ego -- get in the way of the bliss of
living every day for something greater than myself. I am so grateful to
have this clarity back in my life, and I carry it close to my heart as I
continue to teach, gig, sing, play, write, share, laugh, live, and
love.
Friday, September 30th, I took the third (and final) level
of Reiki Training, making me a Reiki Master. This means I can both
practice Reiki and teach it. And immediately after the class, The Voice
of inspiration was there filling my head with a vision of how to
further use my gift of music to make the world a better place by
incorporating singing into my Reiki Sessions with people. Funny that,
huh? But really, what an exciting new spice to add into my mix! What a
precious gift that there are always new ideas coming down the pipeline
of inspiration to keep the adventure fresh and new, if you keep the
pipeline open.
So isn’t it wild how this circle came back
around? ... a circle that started 10 years ago! (“Comin Round” should
be playing in the background here, lol!) Now, more than ever, I believe
that we are stronger with each rotation!
<sigh, smile>
Cheers!
