Reiki II - Healing Others

So much has happened in the last several months. I earned my Reiki II certificate. The class was fantastic. It was all women in this group, a small class of eight. One of the women from my Reiki I class was there, so it was nice to see a familiar face. She was healing from addiction and breast cancer, and said that reiki lessened the affects of the cancer treatments she went through, and even helped her hair grow in faster. She looked fantastic, her skin was glowing. The other ladies had various reasons for taking the class. Some were massage therapists who wanted to learn more to enhance their massage practices and also earn continuing education credits. Others wanted to learn so they could heal themselves, friends, family and even begin their own practices. 

Along with being attuned to the power, harmony and distance symbols, I also learned how to send distance reiki using a surrogate. I sent reiki to my bestie 1,800 miles away during the class. It was only a 5 minute session, but it was great to learn how to do it so I could continue practicing at home. It is amazing that reiki can be sent anywhere in the world, to people, animals, places, and situations. This is such a loving modality, and it shows that we are all one and truly connected to each other. I learned how to heal things in the past, present and future, how to help in healing addictions, and more about working on others.

One at a time, as in the Reiki I class, we were individually attuned in a separate room. After the attunement, I came back into the classroom and hopped on a massage table to close my eyes and integrate this sacred experience for a moment. 

We practiced on each other in class and learned how to do an aura cleansing. For everyone, and especially empaths who pick up everyone else's energy, this is a great way to cleanse the residue of other people's anger, fear, hostility, etc off of your auric field. Ever walk in a room and pick up the vibe in the air? Well, that energy can get stuck in your aura. We used a selenite wand and palo santo and learned to feel the layers of the aura. Each layer is connected to one of the 7 chakras and has a connection to our body, emotions, and spirit. 

You can use palo santo or sage whenever you want to cleanse your aura yourself, you don't need a reiki attunement to do that. Just light the palo or sage, blow it out so you have smoke.  Gently wave the stick over your head, down your body, over your hands and under your feet. Make sure to completely distinguish the stick. I usually put mine in a small glass. 

Our reiki teacher offered that we could come in after our class and use her tables to practice with each other. After the class she sent us all a follow up email, and I responded to let everyone in the class know that I would love to practice with any of them. I heard from one of the ladies in the class, and I was so psyched to be able to swap reiki with someone in a professional setting. 

We scheduled a time to meet up after work one weekday. I packed up my reiki toolkit including quartz crystals, chakra stones, a selenite wand, water, and some palo santo. Quartz crystals go around the head of the one receiving reiki to amplify the energy. The chakra stones go next to or on the chakras. Just being near the stones alone can activate the chakras. As previously mentioned, the selenite wand and palo santo sticks are used to cleanse the aura. I arrived first and took the time to sit quietly and connect to reiki. When she arrived, it was apparent she had a challenging day at work, so I offered to give her reiki first.  Then she gave me reiki and I felt sensational after! We both left the healing center on a cloud. We met once a month after that, and each time felt great. It was wonderful to have a reiki friend to learn with, share what we were experiencing during the sessions, and practice, practice, practice. 

I practiced long distance reiki on friends and family. I felt as time went on, I got better at it, and started feeling more confident in connecting and sending. There is a level of focus and intent that built up over time by consistently practicing. I developed an ease in using the symbols and hand positions. I also continued to get reiki and acupuncture during this time and practiced self reiki for 21 days after my attunement, as recommended. Self care is as important for the healer as it is for the one being healed.

I am truly grateful to my friends and family at home and at a distance who allowed me to be a conduit of reiki energy for them. I am also grateful to my teacher, my reiki friend, and reiki itself. Having this gift of reiki to share with others is a blessing beyond measure.

My next blog will be about my Reiki Master class, stay tuned!

In Gratitude & Love,

Kerri Mulhern
www.suitablegifts.com

Belly Cupping, Herbs and the Tears of Job

As I continue my healing journey, I kicked up the exercise routine again. Four mornings this week I went at six in the morning before work. I also took one lunch hour to go back to the gym and sit in the sauna for twenty minutes. I know the sauna is good to relax the muscles and detox. My foot hurts after the gym still, so I've been icing it and using the massager. It is definitely better after the six week rest I gave it, but there is still the inside of my foot above my flattened arch that still aches. The good thing is though, with some ice, the massager, and a short amount of rest, it feels better.

This week I went to my second acupuncture appointment. After a short talk about how I was feeling, Elizabeth put the acupuncture needles on my head, ear, hands, belly, legs and foot to help with my foot pain and weight. She left me this time for 30 minutes to relax. It was comfortable and peaceful. I listened to the soothing music and closed my eyes. After she returned and gently removed the needles, she did cupping on my abdomen for help with my weight issues. They weren't hot, and while she moved them around, I could feel a light suction. There was no pain, and no marks. 

I also asked Elizabeth about herbs for weight loss. She gave me a bottle of Chinese herbs called Poria 15 Formula. I'm to take two tablets 3 times a day. She also gave me a list of foods to try that will help resolve dampness in the body as well as excess water. I find it so fascinating to learn about how different modalities approach how to heal the body. Frog is one of the items to help resolve water. I think I'll go with celery instead! The herbs she gave me is supposed to improve digestion, increase elimination, aid in lipid metabolism, reduce serum cholesterol, phlegm, and water excess in overweight people. It helps with "damp accumulation in the lower and middle burner." Now isn't that a much nicer way to look at being overweight? I have damp accumulation! I love it, it feels like something that can be solved instead of judging myself over it. My body is not in alignment, but I can get it there!

Elizabeth also suggested I try Job's Tears tea for weight loss too. I left the session feeling pain free, relaxed, yet excited about adding the herbs, tea, and the various foods to my healing plan (minus the frog).

Job's Tears Tea

The next day I was signed up for a college tour with my son, so I didn't try the herbs yet, not knowing how they would affect me (especially the "increase elimination" part). After over an hour of walking and standing, my foot was in so much pain. The Motrin I took beforehand didn't help at all.  When we returned home I rested my foot but it was still sore the next day.

Along with healing my body, I'm also working on my mind and the spiritual, soulful aspects of my life. I am working on bringing more joy and purpose into my life. I'm creating the life I really want. Several years ago I was let go from a job and it left me fearful of being in that situation again. I worked awhile at another job not as an employee, but in a contractor position. When I was later hired by a wonderful company at a great salary, I was afraid to let go of the other job completely. So I still worked every Sunday at it telling myself it was a good thing, what was I doing on Sunday's anyway, and it was paying off my car.

Well the truth was, I was keeping the job out of fear, it was keeping me from working on my writing and my small businesses, and it was keeping me from spending more time with my family, relaxing, and having fun. Was it worth a car payment that my full time job could afford? Well I decided to let go of fear, and make some space in my life. I know when you let go of what no longer serves you, doors open. So I let go. I was originally planning on leaving at the end of the year, but the more days went by thinking about it, the more I wanted to go! So I gave two weeks notice, and admittedly, I still feel some fear, but I'm doing it anyway!

Til next week...

In Gratitude & Love,

Kerri Mulhern
www.suitablegifts.com

Human Pin Cushion In Search Of Healing

To continue the healing with my foot, I made an appointment for acupuncture this week. It is something I have never tried before, but it does lend itself to the holistic approach I am employing to alleviate the pain.  I was curious to see if it works, and looked forward to the Friday evening appointment.

Thursday and Friday I got back to my morning gym routine. I went at 6AM to work my muscles and do lots of crunches to help shrink my belly. It felt good to be back, but honestly, my foot was sore afterwards. I continued using the massager and ice to alleviate the pain, and rested it as much as possible.

I'm on the fence about the new shoes I bought. The insole has an arch that seems to scrape against my foot. It's comfortable for a little while, but I have to switch those shoes with my old shoes that have the Good Feet Store insoles in order to have a consistent level of comfort. I wish my foot felt good all the time.

I know my weight is still a major factor in all of this, but I didn't have the best week honestly. I'm not gorging myself, but I haven't been listening to my body as I was. It's so easy, I'm not sure why I let it slide. But I know I will get back on track again, this is too important.

Friday arrived and I excitedly went to my appointment. Elizabeth is sweet and soft spoken, and well versed in all things acupuncture. We had a long consultation before we began, and I told her about my weight loss goals and the issue I was having with my foot.

Elizabeth decided to use acupuncture as well as cupping in my session. I have not tried either before, but decided to give them both a whirl. I was a bit uneasy about cupping because of the bruise-like marks it leaves on a person. I wondered if it was causing any harm to the body to mark it that way.  

I changed into a gown and hopped up on the table underneath a sheet. Carefully. Elizabeth began to put the acupuncture needles on me. There were maybe two that I could actually feel. It was a pinch, but nothing serious. I really was relaxed going into this. Between the soft music in the background and my positive attitude, I wasn't expecting this to be anything but helpful. She put needles into both my hands, my stomach, my forhead, my leg, and my foot. She lowered the lights and left for me to relax for 15 minutes. I felt a little pain in my foot for a short amount of time, so I lifted my foot, put it back down gently and the pain was gone. I closed my eyes and listened to the music until she returned.

While feeling like a human pin cushion, Elizabeth removed the acupuncture needles and asked how I felt. So far so good!  Next she had me flip over and brought out the cups. She started with glass ones and I could hear her light the flame inside two of them. She placed them on the bottom of my back and it felt like it was burning me. She noted aloud, "yes, those will leave a mark." I wasn't surprised! What did surprise me later, was that it didn't feel like a burn at all. If I had not felt that or looked in the mirror at home, I never would have known they were there. Normally a burn hurts for a awhile after and is sore, these didn't feel like anything at all. So, supposedly the marks are from unwanted toxins being pulled to the surface from the suction the cupping creates. Cupping is a treatment that can help with pain, inflammation, blood flow, relaxation, and as a type of deep-tissue massage.

After using the two glass cups, she switched to silicone which were gentler. I didn't hear her lighting them, she put oil on my back and used them to glide around my back while the cups provided suction as she went along. It was kind of like having your back vacuumed. It was moving the lymph around which is also good to release toxins. 

At the end Elizabeth put magnets in my ears to help alleviate food cravings. She said they'll probably come out in the shower.

I left feeling relaxed and my foot was pain free. Will I try it again? Of course! I'm going back next week. Elizabeth is going to provide more acupuncture and cup my belly! I forgot to ask her about herbs, so we'll see what she advises next week.

See you soon...

In Gratitude & Love,

Kerri Mulhern
www.suitablegifts.com

Week 6: Walking A New Path

This pause in my life wasn't about a foot injury. It was to help me reawaken my creativity. It was to help me do what I came here to share with others. I don't believe our purpose necessarily needs to be tied with a job or career. Sonia Choquette told me I am a messenger, and I have thought about that. I started a clutter clearing certification course and the beginning is a deep dive into your ancestry and personal history. I answered questions on my childhood and what I wanted to be at that time. I thought back to what I did when I was younger. I was always writing, drawing, and pretending I was a teacher. When I was a teenager I was writing, and drawing. What I was meant to do, I always knew (we all do), but somehow along the way I didn't recognize that I could do something I loved for a living. Even going to an art school for college, I still didn't believe I could do it.

I have been writing more and with ease, and working on my businesses more. This six week hold on my life has brought more joy that I could have imagined. There is a blessing when something happens to stop us in our tracks, so we can reflect on our lives and immerse ourselves in the things that make us happy. Even taking a break for self care is so vital. Resting, rejuvenating, and refreshing yourself can be a lifesaver.

I started writing a children's book over this six week rest. It was something I have been holding for eight years. Yes, for eight years I couldn't give myself the time to work on this! I knew I had some notes I had written, and some sketches. I searched around my office but couldn't find them. Through Sonia Choquette's Ask Your Guides course, she teaches about all of the guides around us. I completed this course in 2016, and have used this wisdom ever since. We have "runner guides" who help us. This may sound way out there, but that's me! If you need a parking space, ask the runner guides to find one for you before you reach the store, or if you need an easier spot in line, ask (and always remember to say thank you after!). Since I couldn't find my notes, I asked for help. Within less than a minute, I had a thought to check a drawer to see if I had filed it. I found a page! I thought again to recheck that drawer, and I found a folder marketed "Writing" with pages of notes and sketches! 

What would you do if all of the things you say you "have to do" weren't in your way? I see now that I put them there. I was stopping myself from doing what I really wanted to do. It is more than ok to put yourself on your to-do list. It is vital. Don't ever leave yourself out. I certainly won't make that mistake again.

I went back to the Integrative Healing Institute on Saturday for more healing therapy. I didn't lose weight this week and I talked to Kim about my self sabotage. She treated my foot with more reflexology, which felt fantastic, as well as lymphatic drainage on my legs and chakra clearing with Reiki. When she was working at my crown chakra, I felt a wave of energy flow down my body. It really is such an exhilarating, yet completely relaxing experience! The next day my weight was down a pound and a half, too. 

I mentioned last week about Mona Lisa Schultz's book Intuitive Advisor and how it suggested seeing an acupuncturist and a Chinese herbalist. Kim brought up acupuncture during our session so I asked if they offered it, and she told me Elizabeth at the front desk is an acupuncturist and I should also ask her about herbs too! I set up an appointment for next week and I can't wait for this new experience in holistic therapy.

My foot feels so much better. It's not perfect, there's still a little bit of pain, but certainly nothing I would get six surgeries for. I'm still grateful for that visit to the podiatrist though. He got me off my feet for awhile, showed me that I am the best determiner of what to do about my health, and propelled me into a much more exciting and fulfilling future. There is something good in every experience.

I ordered some good shoes (Brooks Ariel '18) for flat  feet, plantar fascitis and other foot issues, along with exercise bands (TheraBands) to help rehabilitate my foot. I found some exercises online to help with posterior tibial tendonitis and to make my feet stronger.

Getting back into my life again, everything is changed for the better. I am not doing for others unless I have taken care of myself first. I'm not talking about emergency situations and I don't mean this at all in a selfish way, I mean it in a way that I am not using that as an excuse not to follow my dreams. 

So even though these six weeks are finished, this is only the beginning of this new path, and I will be continuing to share my journey with you.  Thank you for walking along with me.




In Gratitude & Love,

Kerri Mulhern
www.suitablegifts.com

Week Four: Shooting The Breeze With Sonia Choquette

I had a phone call this week with Sonia Choquette. Yes master, intuitive psychic Sonia Choquette. It came about unexpectedly, but it seems to be in sync with my spiritual inquiries these last few weeks. More seems to be opening up as I keep paying attention and allowing myself to learn about the healing I need. I am open to seeing the synchronicities and how the universe is always working in our favor to help us. The more I keep myself receptive and aware, the more flows my way.

I really was excited and nervous getting ready for the call. I needed to calm down so I took 15 minutes to meditate. I always pick a card from Sonia's Ask Your Guides oracle cards after I meditate. I have a bit of a routine that works for me. I ask Archangel Michael to clear them, then I ask my spirit guides to show me through the card I pick, what they most want me to know for the day. For the first time ever I forgot my ritual and started shuffling the deck. I pick a card through a number I intuit either before or while I'm shuffling. I heard 5. When I stopped shuffling, I picked the fifth card. I then realized I hadn't cleared the deck, so I put it back without looking at it, and started over. I want the cards to be clear of any prior energies so the reading is accurate. This time after having the cards cleared, and talking to my guides, I asked them what I needed to know about this upcoming reading with Sonia. I pulled my card, and brought it to my homeoffice to prepare for the call.  I lit candles, saged myself, prayed, pulled out talking points, pen & paper to write any notes, set up my recorder so I could listen back, and tried to relax.

It was such a gift to hear Sonia Choquette's voice on the phone! Sonia told me that my soul priority right now is to put my self first. She said it doesn't mean "me only" but that I need to have an active self awareness and self love. This certainly is what I have been writing about these past few weeks, that I need to let go of control, and let go of feeling like I need to do everything. It was also the same thing that the medical intuitive told me, that I try to do for everyone else, and I need to find another way. I am being hit with the same message over and over again. It makes me feel extremely grateful that I recognize these signs, and that all the help I need is here always. It is here for everyone.

Sonia told me that I am a deeply intuitive person. My blindspot is that I think everyone else should be too. She said most people aren't. She said I have a deep and profound awareness, and what I see, I feel should be obvious to most. But it isn't. She told me that I am qualified to do soul work. That made my day.

I talked to her about my business and blog and asked if I was on the right path. She told me that I have only four toes in, I need five. She told me that my ambivalence is holding me back and it's rendering me invisible.  Sonia said I need to own what I'm doing, and be centered in self, and then the creativity will flow freely. I asked her if what I was choosing to do was the "right thing." She said there is no right thing. She told me that I am a messenger, and I can be a messenger in any way I choose.  She said this way was probably good for me because I don't have to pick up other people's energies. She said that I am already dropping seedlings of inspiration with my writing.

Sonia told me to be lighter, like dancing, and to get out of my head. I asked her if I would be able to do readings if I wanted to, and she said yes. 

I asked her about my foot, if the injury was all part of this, and she said yes. She said it is because I am changing my path. Changing my path! I didn't even have that one on the list!. She told me to receive now (as others are helping me), to balance giving and receiving. She said not to fight it, that people want to help. 

Sonia made two foot references before I spoke about my injury. When we talked about me being intuitive, she said I didn't have two feet in. When I talked about my business and blog she said she could see it but I only had four toes in, not five. It gave me some more clarity about my foot pain, It seems that this injury is also guiding me to be fully committed to what I really want to do.

I just finished her book Diary of a Psychic. It's about her journey from childhood to adulthood in the psychic world. It's a great read, as are all of her books. In it she talks about her purpose to help others understand their purpose and karma. So my purpose is being a messenger, but next I wanted to know what my karma was. And karma is not a bad thing, it's a lesson we still need to learn from past lives. She told me my karma was to learn to not be responsible for others. And with that I heave a sigh of relief. I am only responsible for me.

After the reading I started to go back into my head again, exactly what she told me not to do. I started questioning things and wondering if all of this was real. She told me I was deeply intuitive, was it true? Then I glanced over to the card I picked before the reading...

"The door to your Inner Child is opening, and she walks through giving you the gift of intuition." "The message for you is: 'Trust me.'" Well there I have it. I need to stay out of my head and just know.

On Saturday I had my next appointment at the Integrative Healing Institute. This time I had a lymphatic drainage and another reflexology massage. I was feeling anxious for a couple of days before my appointment. Not for any particular reason, my body just felt nervous. As soon as I walked into Kim Krost's room, the tension was gone. This place is just a little piece of heaven. It feels so relaxing and healing there. Kim worked on the lymphatic drainage first. It sounds gross, but it really is a gentle therapy. She worked by pushing and manipulating very gently the lymph nodes in my legs, underarms, sides of my chest, neck, face, and head. It should cause the toxins to be expelled from my system and can even help with my weight loss. She started with my upper legs in the groin area and worked her way down to my feet. When she got to my feet she worked reflexology on both of my feet. My sore right foot needed it, but my left foot has been bearing all of the weight while I'm hobbling around in my boot and zipping along on my knee scooter. My feet felt wonderful after she worked on them. 

Next she went back to working on my lymphatic system by working on my underarms and sides. We chatted while she worked about the origin of this type of therapy, the light within us, and more. I brought up past lives and told her about my conversation with Denise Linn about whether my foot pain was from a past life. As I've mentioned in my blog before, Denise said she could see me quite a long time ago in either Poland or Russia. I was a refugee all alone walking in the cold dirt and snow barefoot. I was feeling hopeless.  After I described this to Kim, a pain shot up in the inside of my foot where it normally gets sore. It was hot, it felt throbbing, and I could see bright red in my mind. I stayed quiet as I did with the Reiki that had caused a pressure in my chest when she worked on my third chakra.  As she worked on my head and neck, the pain disappeared completely. It felt like another release of something that needed to work its way out of my body.  It was pretty amazing.

I left lighter and brighter as I had with my first session and I'm looking forward to going back in two weeks. By Sunday I was down 6 1/2 pounds total. I'm keeping on my plan of listening to my body and eating or not eating accordingly. All is well.

Till next week...

Sonia Choquette's website: Click here
Ask Your Guides oracle cards: Click here
Diary Of A Psychic: Click here
Integrative Healing Institute: Click here

In Gratitude & Love,

Kerri Mulhern
www.suitablegifts.com

Week Two: It's All About Balancing (Chakras, That Is)

In my second week of healing my foot (and my soul), I'm working on a combination of inner and outer work.  I have been Googling so much about my injury that a massager advertisement appeared in my Instagram feed to help with my issue. It looked really good, like a deep tissue massage, and it was something I could do myself.  I ordered it for same-day Amazon delivery. That just amazes me that I get get something in one day, but I did!

It works great, and has all of these accessories that you can massage your whole body, even a facial massage, which is perfect for my TMJ (from years of teeth grinding from anxiety & stress). So I use it daily on both feet and calves and they feel great! I also have been using the facial massager tip with lotion and my face feels wonderful!

I found some exercises for Posterior Tibial Tendonitis and have been doing the ones that don't put any stress on my foot. I'll do the weight-bearing exercises after 6 weeks to strengthen my calf, ankle, and arch. I'm still debating cancelling that 3 week foot doctor appointment and maybe going in after 6 weeks. I'll figure that out next.

For the first time in a really long time I feel rested. I have been well taken care of and it feels really nurturing. It also feels wonderful not to feel so responsible for everything. I know I have been divinely forced into this situation by knocking my feet right out from under me so I could see this. I don't need to do so much. Everything will be fine. Everything is fine. I could feel myself heading towards all of this, but I kept pushing myself. Now I hope that this rest is enough, because I really don't want surgery. I mean I REALLY don't want surgery at all.

I am still meditating and it feels fantastic to be back in that flow. It was another thing I often gave up because I didn't have the time. I pushed the things I needed to do for myself to the back of the line because of that feeling that I wasn't doing enough for everyone else, that everyone else's needs were more important than mine.  I knew better, I just couldn't do what I needed to for myself until I was forced into it by this foot injury. I am grateful for it, I know it was necessary. I'm grateful that what took me out wasn't more serious.

After lamenting the prospect of surgery, someone dear suggested I try holistic methods since that's what I gravitate towards. Honestly, I gravitate, but I've never tried it for a health issue before. But of course I should try it! So I once again Googled like a maniac and found holistic health practitioners in my area. I found this incredible integrative medicine center nearby called the Integrative Healing Institute, and I was like a kid in a candy store (well, I was actually like ME in a candy store) browsing through their online menu of services. I picked out two to start with: a reflexology massage and chakra balancing (to work on that third chakra). The reflexology description mentioned that it was great for foot pain and plantar fascitis, so this seemed like a great place to start. I booked them back to back and looked forward to the appointments. Although I had some butterflies in my stomach, I had a very good feeling about this place and the healing it would provide, and I know that is important to the outcome. When I had the remote intuitive healer pull the inflammation out of my foot, I know part of the reason it worked, was because I was visualizing along with her that the healing was occurring. It is law of attraction at work. Expect what you want the outcome to be and feel the feeling of what you want. We can create our outcomes, that's why the placebo effect works. If we think something is helping us, it will.

So a few days later hubby brought me to my appointment. The waiting area was a spiritual paradise with crystals, essential oils, jewelry, holistic creams and more. There were cozy chairs and a couch, relaxing music piped in and friendly staff at the desk. After I filled out a few forms, I hobbled around a bit to check out the crystal tables. I eyed a set of chakra discs that looked great. I placed them down, hoping the other woman looking at the crystals wouldn't buy it before I came back from my session. But I didn't want to be impulsive, if it was meant for me, it would be there an hour from now.

Soon Kim Krost appeared and introduced herself (I found out later that she is the owner of the healing center). She was friendly and kind, and I knew I would be in good hands. I left my husband amongst the crystals and sleep inducing sounds and was led to her room. It was a calm, dark, heated room with gentle music playing. The room was small but it fit a couch where I sat, a desk and chair, as well as a massage table in the center of the room. We talked for a bit about my issues. Obviously she knew my foot needed help with the giant boot I was wearing. I told her I was trying to avoid surgery and she spoke of the various clients she has seen with foot issues. It felt reassuring that she has dealt with this before. I told her I also was trying to lose weight so if she had any thoughts or could work some reflexology magic, I would appreciate it. She talked about juicing, and eliminating gluten from my diet and the impact it has had on some of her clients. I appreciated her help.

Next I took my left shoe off and my right boot and gently hopped up on the table and lay down face up. A wedge was under my lower legs. Kim decided to do the chakra balancing first. She placed the same type of chakra discs I spied in the waiting area around and on me. The lower chakra discs were placed towards the right of me on the table. She said as long as the crystals are near the chakras, they help activate them. She placed the heart, throat and third eye chakra discs on me and the crown chakra disc behind my head. She also placed two clear quartz crystals on either side of my head under the pillow I was resting on. She took the sheet underneath me and pulled it to cover my arms. I was cocooned and ready! She was very descriptive about what she was doing and told me she would be employing Reiki in the session. Reiki is an energy healing I have wanted to learn myself and I have thought of getting certified. It so happens she also teaches Reiki! 

Kim told me that the energy that flows through the body starts in the right foot and flows up through the body and down through the left foot. So this aching foot could be a part of a block. She showed me with a pendulum as it swayed back and forth that my chakras were closed. She worked her way up with her hands, applying very light pressure. When she was at my knees, it felt like a current was flowing down my legs a few times. When she got to my third chakra, I felt uncomfortable. I was scared for a moment thinking I was having a panic attack. I was thirsty, maybe it was too warm in there. This is going to sound odd, but here goes. It felt like my chest was a solid thin piece of bone instead of ribs. I'm not sure why that popped into my head, but that was what it felt like. It felt like I had a pressure on this solid piece of bone. I knew this would be good for me, so I said nothing. Most of the time I kept my eyes closed, but I watched her work on my third chakra, and when she was finished, the pressure was totally gone. She moved up to the remaining chakras and then finished by circling around my body with some hand motions. I asked her about it all after and she explained some of the symbolism behind opening and balancing the chakras, as well as the "stitching" she was doing of my aura at the end. It all felt like a beautiful ceremony. I felt very relaxed. She used the pendulum again across my chakras and it spun in circles as it is supposed to when they are functioning properly. We spent quite a bit of my appointment time on the chakra balancing, but I know I needed it. 

The reflexology massage was wonderful too. It was very gentle as she applied pressure to specific points on my foot and calf. I felt no pain, and my foot felt great after. She also did a lymphatic drainage on my right leg. This would help with inflammation. It was also very gentle and pain free. It was one of the options I was considering when booking the appointment, because it detoxed the body and can help with weight loss. She told me it usually helps more with inches but she actually had a client who lost 7 pounds in a day from it. She applied some Kinesio tape and said next time she'd tape up my whole foot to help align my foot better. She told me to use a soft roller under my foot at home to loosen the fascia.

 Kim told me she would email me some information about gluten free bread and flour, steps on keeping my chakras balanced, and some other info (which she did right after I left). She walked me to the waiting area and I felt nothing short of euphoric. My entire body was calm, I didn't have a care in the world and I was pain free. I seriously felt spectacular.

Kim gave me some lymphatic cream to try and I found the chakra discs waiting patiently on the table I left them at. My sweet husband managed to keep himself from being lulled to sleep by the music, and headed outside to swing the car around so I wouldn't have to walk far. 

I thanked Kim for her help and set up an appointment for two weeks from now for another reflexology massage and the lymphatic drainage. I can't wait! The next day Kim responded to my email response and mentioned the Reiki classes again. I signed up to get my Reiki 1 certification in November. 

The journey continues next week...

For more information:
Integrative Healing Institute: Click here
Chakra stone set: Click here
Body Massager: Click here


In Gratitude & Love,

Kerri Mulhern
www.suitablegifts.com

Book Review - Bliss: One Hero's Journey by Gary Ramsey

"You can die at any minute," Gary Ramsey's doctor informed him. What would you do with that kind of news? Could you traverse this challenge in a state of bliss? Would your trust your intuition to guide you at such a critical time? What if that guidance went against everyone else's opinion, would you still listen? Could you find the blessing in this? Would you find gratitude in the face of cancer and feel that it actually saved your life?

As spiritual as I would like to think I am, I would probably be in full fetal getting the news that Gary did. However, after reading Bliss, I feel much closer to knowing that all things are possible, and we have inside of us all we need to lead us towards complete healing in any aspect of our lives.

Bliss: One Hero's Journey by Gary Ramsey is a riveting and miraculous odyssey towards healing, awakening, and living in bliss no matter the circumstances. It is a spiritual, synchronistic, divine adventure into restoring mind, body, and soul to perfect wellness. It is about letting go of fear and embracing the present. It is about so many things...you must read this book.

On October 26, 2016 I was listening in as I always do, to Anita Moorjani's Hay House Radio Show. If you aren't signed up to listen to the archives on Hay House Radio, it is well worth $36 a year just to hear Gary's interview. I love listening to her show, but I was literally on the edge of my seat listening to Gary tell his story of receiving the worst diagnosis possible, and transcending to full recovery. I listened to the replay of his interview later in the evening, as well as every time it has been replayed since. I would run it on a loop if I could, it is so inspiring.

After listening to Gary Ramsey on air, I connected with him on Facebook. Gary is truly one of the kindest, generous, and most beautiful souls I have ever encountered. Chatting with him feels like you are wrapped in a big, warm hug. He is the embodiment of joy and positivity. I told him I was hoping he would write a book, and so many more listeners of the radio show had the same thought! I am so grateful that he did write this book to share his spectacular story. 

I knew I would love Bliss: One Hero's Journey, even before I received it. Gary is so captivating to listen to, that I was certain his humor, intelligence, and mesmerizing presence would translate seamlessly into book form. Bliss far surpassed my expectations. Normally when I read, I'll pace myself and read a chapter or two a night. I read this from cover to cover in one evening. I could not put the book down until it was finished. I was spellbound. And I will read it again and again, just as I have listened to Gary's interview so many times. This is the type of book that holds so much meaning, that I know I will gain even more insight the more I read it. Some books hold magic in them, and this is one of them.

I wanted to read this book because I was so intrigued by Gary's story. I had no idea there would be something in it to help me. I know that there is something in this book for everyone. Gary describes himself as a caretaker and I really resonated with that role. He realized that his decision to go away for treatment (out of the country!) would be instrumental in his healing.  If he stayed home to face this illness, he would be trying to help everyone else deal with their fears about his situation, instead of taking care of himself. Gary helped me realize on such a profound level, how critical and life saving it is to take care of yourself and value your own self worth. Gary certainly shows in this extreme way how you can deplete yourself when you give all of yourself away. This book has been such a revelation, and I am so grateful to Gary for that. 

I know that this book will help anyone facing a life threatening illness. It gives hope and self empowerment to honor your own inner voice guiding you towards what is best for you. It is for anyone facing a cancer or life-threatening diagnosis, anyone feeling fearful, for those who sacrifice themselves for everyone else, for those on a spiritual path, and for anyone who just wants to read an incredible journey towards healing.

Thank you Gary Ramsey for this beautiful gift to the world. This book is without a doubt, pure Bliss.

For more information on Gary Ramsey:
Buy the book Bliss: One Hero's Journey: Click here
Gary Ramsey on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gary.ramsey.33
Gary Ramsey's  website: http://www.garyramsey.org/
Gary Ramsey interview on Anita Moorjani's Hay House Radio Show:  http://hhafftrk.com/?a=3653&c=6975&p=r&s1= 


In Gratitude & Love,


Kerri Mulhern
www.suitablegifts.com