What to do When Your Life Begins to Unravel Around the Edges
What bodywork does for you when your life unravels around you:
Years ago, I took a reiki class in Reston, Virginia, in Reiki Jinkei Do, taught by Gilbert Gallego. This was at a time when I was taking Reiki classes from anyone and everyone who taught one. I learned something wonderful at each class. I remember each and every class fondly.
Giving my memory one takeaway, it is this: Bodywork in general works in our best interest, supporting health and healing on a physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual level. Reiki and Reflexology are in this mix.
I write a lot about Reflexology and Reiki because I spent the most time studying those two modalities. I teach both of them and I know the good they can do for a person.
Bodywork in general is cumulative, whatever the modality, which means that the more sessions someone has, the greater effect they will have on that body.
So far, the only modality I’ve found without contraindications is Reiki therapy. This means you can use it on anyone, anytime, anyhow, anywhere. Reiki is a soft touch on a clothed body so that it can be used in a private healing space, a bus station, airport waiting area, ICU, or accident scene.
Bodywork of all kinds have reactions. They depend on the modality, the client, the healer, and what is happening in the life of people on the day and time they receive help.
When clients receive Reflexology and/or Reiki, their reactions are different each time they receive a session. One of the reasons we don’t think about is the fact that our bodies are different each and every day.
I’m discussing this now because I’m seeing more and more people whose lives are unraveling. Stress and uncertainty over a long period of time have a way of untethering a person from those things that ground us.
There are many things you can do. The first of these is to recognize your situation for what it is.
The second is to list the things you can do. You want to know what you can choose from. The options are, possibly, many. Which ones are more realistic and which ones are less realistic?
Make your healing list. .
Be prepared to change your list several times, at least. Maybe you should be prepared to change your list more times.
What is practical?
What is affordable?
What is the option that you prefer?
Work this list through as you winnow it down to fewer and fewer options. Finally, this list will be short – possibly only 1 or 2 items.
Until you get down to the final option, there is one thing you can do now. There is one thing which will help you. It probably won’t interfere with your life.
It can change your daily life for the better.
And, what is that? BODYWORK!
There are many modalities that ground the person receiving the work. A good thing to do when the “going gets tough” is to schedule and receive regular grounding bodywork.
Your body will be grateful for the attention.
One example of this is sleep. Both Reflexology and Reiki sessions can help restore disturbed sleep patterns.
The effects of a bodywork session are often experienced immediately after a treatment. For example, a client may notice that a headache has disappeared or a frozen shoulder may has become much more mobile. Other symptoms may take three or more sessions to improve a condition or complaint.
Generally, a disorder that has been around for a long time may take a longer time to improve.
The problem with this is that we live in a society that wants instant results.
Schedule regular bodywork sessions as part of your life. These regular sessions will stimulate your body’s own healing processes over time as you have regular visits.
If you find regular sessions to be challenging, take some classes and learn to give sessions. That way, you can exchange sessions with others.
Ask a friend to join you in a learning adventure. The two of you can learn together and exchange sessions. This is self-care which is extremely important in these times.
With blogs, books, classes and sessions, I am not here to change your story. Instead, I am here to be a conduit for your own healing.
For healers everywhere, thank you for reading this blog post. Share this article with friends and relatives. Forward this post to your preferred social media network.
Check out my books on www.thurmangreco.com.
“Healer’s Handbook” is in its third edition. So far, this book has gone out to three dozen different countries. The best way to buy a book is to contact me at thurmangreco@gmail.com. The books are listed on thurmangreco.com but the website is undergoing repairs and upgrades.
“But for Gabriel” is available as both ebook and paperback at thurmangreco@gmail.com. Until the repairs are completed, email thurmangreco@gmail.com
I host “Let’s Live with Thurman Greco” a program aired weekly on Woodstock, New York’s own educational TV channel 23. This show is an informative, upbeat hour with no rehearsals.
My guests are various people whose lives have brought them to Woodstock for a day, a week, an hour, a decade, or more.
Let’s Live has been running for over 15 years with an occasional intermission, now and then. You can find some programs on YOUTUBE “Let’s Live with Thurman Greco”. My assistant, Renee, adds new programs weekly.
I look forward to our show each week. And, I look forward to hearing from you at thurmangreco@gmail.com or 845-399-3967.
THANKS!
Thurman Greco
What do You Want to Manifest? Five Tips for Success
Several days ago, I researched a special gift for a colleague. What I was looking for was for the perfect gift. I considered a Snowflake. She would really enjoy a snowflake! Where was I going to find a snowflake, of all things?
I put this thought aside.
Then, guess what. Three days later, a snowflake catalogue landed in my mailbox! The perfect gift appeared on page 3. I had a choice of a charm, a pendant, an ornament, or a pin. The prices were right. Whichever one I chose, she was going to be delighted.
For me, this was not a coincidence. Spiritually, I participated in this mailbox event.
We all have these experiences. The trick is to recognize them for what they are. But, you can have these special coincidences and also have challenges with other manifestations.
There is a difference between manifesting a picture in a catalogue and manifesting a something else such as a new car, house, or a dream job.
MANIFESTING on all levels begins when you clarify what is important for you. Once you define your values and what is precious to you, manifesting what you need is going to be easier.
The bottom line: WHY DO YOU DO WHAT YOU DO?
What do YOU think is important? Clearly know what is important to you – not what your mother or your friends or your boss or your social media friends think is important.
What do I want…really? What do I yearn for spiritually? Emotionally, what do I want to experience?
Dream about the world you want to create and live in. This world that you are dreaming of:
Is it responsive –
Do positive relationships matter –
How does cooperation fit into your life –
Does support reach out in vulnerable situations and places –
Is there a reverence for the sacred –
Now, envision what this world is to you. What are you going to do to create this world?
What are you passionate about?
FIRST
Define the person or persons you are concerned about. How will they fit in your manifested scenario? How do they define the situation you are focusing on?
Focus on the situation. Are you passionate about a physical space (a building perhaps) or an energetic situation (leadership or healing)?
SECOND
Know your goals. Do you need to sell your home? Do you need a better job in a new city? Do you need to retrain yourself for the future?
THIRD
What is your manifesting outcome? (A suggestion here – write this down.)
A journal is the perfect tool to bring with you on your manifestation journey. As you write in your journal daily, you have the opportunity to unlock information and secrets to help guide you to your goals. Your entries can give you information about possible challenges. You may discover concerns hiding just beneath the secret of your consciousness.
Reviewing your journal in later readings, you may find that your future is not predetermined. Over the months, what you find in your journal reveals things that can change your attitudes, behaviors, and how you respond to events.
Your future can improve your insights and options in ways that work best for you.
FOURTH.
What is your promise? (What do you have invested in your goal? What are you prepared to do to make your promise a reality? How do you visualize achieving your goals?)
FIFTH
How is your gratitude circle developing? Gratitude is more powerful than fear, worry, anger and anxiety. Gratitude is where you tap into your abundance. Developing your gratitude circle taps you into your unlimited options.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – — – – – – – – – – – – – – — – – – – – – – – – – – –
When you are in a manifesting mode, nurturing is helpful. By that, I mean nurture yourself, your goals, and your concerns.
Maybe things need a REBALANCE. When it comes to money and finances, seek fair, sensible, and practical solutions focusing on comfort and confidence while caring for others and your surroundings. You want the money you distribute to produce tangible results.
SELF-CARE is a deeply personal process you use to regain physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual balance. Self-care facilitates rebalance.
MEDITATIONS can help you reach your goals. Try an 8-week series of daily meditations for 10-15 minutes each. You may want to read a guided meditation daily. For years, I’ve relied on a set of three meditation books by Larry Moen. They are still available on Amazon: “Meditations for Awakening, Meditations for Transformation, Meditations for Healing”
Or you may want to create your own guided meditation.
Finally, you may prefer to focus a few minutes daily on your breath and breathing as you reach calm.
Whatever path you choose for your meditations, daily focus helps you. Don’t get bogged down with rules. Just remember: minds like to wander. It’s okay. Also, trust your inner wisdom to get you there.
Use your senses to see your dreams and goals coming to life. You’ll play a mental movie where you are the director. As you mentally enact your dreams, you will make them a reality.
Finally, TAKE ACTION. This is a weekly event where you do something each week to help you progress toward your goal.
Whenever you can, include reflexology or Reiki therapy sessions in your weekly progress. Every session helps!
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This story is still a work in progress. I hope you get a chance to share it with me
someday. I plan to read it on “Let’s Live with Thurman Greco” in December.
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A Reiki Practitioner’s User Manual – Part 2
When I studied Reiki, Mary Ruth Van Landingham’s classes and handouts were my user’s manual. They didn’t even begin to approach all the things Reiki can do for us all. I think Mary Ruth Van Landingham did that intentionally because we each write our own user’s manual.
Reiki is a unique and individual experience for each of us. Our attunements are the user’s manual for each of us.
I learned to practice Reiki on my massage therapy clients. Each one got a 10-minute Reiki boost at the end of the massage therapy session. Because Reiki was still unknown in my area, none of them had ever heard of Reiki. Their introduction to Reiki came during the last ten minutes of a massage therapy session so it came at a moment when they were blissed out, pain free, and totally relaxed. Needless to say, they all loved their Reiki.
This was good for me also because I was new to Reiki and was fearful about the results. It took a while for me to become accustomed to how Reiki worked.
I worried that they might not receive a proper introduction. So, what happened was that both my clients and I learned together. For starters, we learned to recognize my warm hands when I introduced Reiki into a session.
Over time, I learned that my hands warmed up whether they were on another person’s body, or my body, or a plant, or a car. Or whatever.
I learned to trust Reiki. This was a huge life lesson for me. I suspect it is also an important lesson for others as well. Many people go through life never learning to trust people, places, or things.
When I teach Reiki, I don’t think I even mention the word trust. The word floats above the classroom like a gorgeous cumulative cloud. It’s there for all to see.
A wonderful thing to do is practice self-Reiki to experience a regenerative sleep, easy your headache pain, feel comfortable in your body, or simply feel grounded.
Actually, it’s not necessary to do anything with Reiki. Just enjoy having received your Reiki attunement(s). Rest. Heal. Let Reiki be with you.
You do not give up anything to learn Reiki. Reiki does not test you in any way. Reiki is not a cult. It does not come between you and your religious beliefs. You do not need to change any of your core beliefs.
Instead, Reiki opens doors and windows of learning, opportunity, and enlightenment for you…if that is what you want. For some, changes are apparent, immediate, and outward. For others, changes are slow, careful, discreet. It all depends on you, your situation, your life path.
Some students, after receiving their attunements, internalize their new skills. Reiki is private, intimate, internal.
Other students use their newfound skills, practice Reiki and give sessions at every opportunity.
Neither way is better than the other. In all cases, Reiki assists you on your path. For me, there is nothing more beautiful than to travel one’s life path.
Thank you for reading this blog post. Please refer it to your preferred social media network.
Thurman Greco
heart with wings
Reiki – Is it in your toolbox? – Part 1
In these stressful times, we all need a toolbox because we’re all healers. And, we never know when we might need to use our healing tools.
Reiki is a basic healing tool that works almost anywhere, anytime.
Many of you reading this blog use Reiki. But, many don’t. Reiki was the basic skill which put me on my healing path. That’s not to say that I wasn’t healing. I’d been a massage therapist since the 1980’s. But, there’s a difference.
Before Reiki and after Reiki.
I’ll never forget the first time I heard the word: Reiki.
I was at a weekend continuing education class in Clinton, New York, at a place called Spring Farm CARES. There were about two dozen students in the class. As we each introduced ourselves to the group, every student, except me, mentioned Reiki. They were all either Reiki practitioners, Reiki Masters, or Reiki Master Teachers.
I had no idea what that was. But, as I returned to my home in the Washington, D.C. metro area on Sunday, I decided to learn about Reiki. Reiki, at that time, was not mentioned much in my area. To be perfectly honest, it wasn’t mentioned at all. I called around.
I eventually found two friends who practiced Reiki. One of them, a massage therapist, was a Reiki Master Teacher for years and never shared her secret. The other friend studied Reiki but wasn’t using it because she believed that it healed people whether or not they wanted to be healed.
I found Mary Ruth Van Landingham in Vienna, Va. She had a shop, Terra Christa, with a classroom in a building behind the store. I learned nine different kinds of Reiki in that little building behind Terra Christa. She taught most of them.
At that time, there were few to no books about Reiki. Mary Ruth’s classes were filled with handouts. Now, when I teach Reiki, I offer handouts and encourage students to read any Reiki book that attracts them. Book stores everywhere carry several titles. Overall, there are hundreds to choose from.
I spent a good bit of the next two years studying in the little classroom nestled behind the store. Mary Ruth invited other trainers to give classes. I studied under Tom Rigler, Rev. Dan Chesbro, and many others before I finally moved to New York State.
“Reiki is a light touch offered to a clothed body.” is the definition Pamela Miles offered at a class at the New York Open Center.
Over the years, I learned that everyone who practices Reiki describes it differently. I invite my students to define the Reiki experience. Everyone has a different description and definition.
The word Reiki means Universal Life Force Energy. Practitioners refer to Dr. Mikao Usui, the man who brought Reiki into the 20th century. He practiced in Japan prior to World War II.
Other prominent Reiki teachers during this time include Mrs. Hawaya Takata, and Dr. Hayashi.
I like to include Frank Arjava Petter who, at the end of the 20th century, wrote a Reiki handbook “The Original Reiki Handbook of Dr. Mikao Usui.”
Reiki works on the physical level when the practitioner uses her warm hands.
The Reiki symbols work on the mental level.
Emotionally, Reiki sessions bring peace and calm.
The Reiki practitioner as well as the session itself, offer healing which impacts the energetic body.
But, beyond working on the different levels of a person, Reiki heals without judging. The healing energy of Reiki doesn’t care whether a person is religious or spiritual or not. The healing path of a person receiving or giving Reiki is nondenominational, positive, accepting.
Reiki heals.
Reiki never makes exceptions because of one’s beliefs, health condition, situation in time, lifestyle.
Reiki doesn’t ask about one’s religious or spiritual beliefs. Reiki never cares whether a person is Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu…or anything else.
I have an invocation which I use often when offering Reiki to someone. It’s not original with me. And, I’ve used this prayer often for many years. I offer an apology here. I don’t know where it came from.
Whatever or wherever its origin, I send gratitude to the writer of this prayer. (Maybe, after reading this blog post, someone will know where it originated and share the information with me.):
I call upon the essence of the Healing Buddha and the Master Spirits of Reiki.
(At this point, I include any and all names that seem appropriate. I may include Jesus, St. Michael, St. Anthony).
I ask that my hands and heart be illuminated by the light of your unconditional love. I ask that this session proceed for ………………’s highest good. Amen
When I’m offering Lightarian Reiki, I go a step further. I include a request to seal the room in the prayer.
Reiki accepts.
Reiki does not ask that you give up anything in order to use its energy. Mary Ruth Van Landingham was a practicing Catholic. My friend Kathy is a devout Episcopalian. I teach Reiki to people of all faiths.
Reiki sets no one’s beliefs aside.
Thank you for reading this article. Please refer it to your preferred social media network.
Please join me for part two of this series of posts about Reiki.
Thurman Greco
angel with flowers
Alzheimer’s Disease: This Spiritual Disease is in Your Life Years Before You Know it.
Spiritually, you are overwhelmed with your life’s path and want to run away to another time. You do not want to live your life the way it is now because you lost your sense of belonging. With memory loss, you escaped your roots, your place in your society, and your heritage.
I read somewhere that from one third to one half of people over eighty suffer with this dread disease. I believe these numbers may be overstated. Health professionals write about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia with much less certainty than they give their words to heart disease and diabetes.
My experience with Alzheimer’s Disease insists that I share this: much that is written may not apply to your loved one’s situation, no matter the circumstances.
Professionals believe Alzheimer’s has genetic, lifestyle, and environmental causes. Alzheimer’s develops slowly, over time. The same things that put you at risk for heart disease also put you at risk for this disease: sedentary lifestyle, smoking, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol scores.
Alzheimer’s patients have trouble thinking, speaking, reasoning, and writing. The personality changes over time. Disorientation is common and personality changes are to be expected. One early warning behavior includes asking the same question over and over and over. A second behavior is forgetting to do familiar things. Finally, misplacing things and finding them in unusual places is a red flag.
Do you practice Reiki therapy, reflexology, or chakra healing? Offering sessions of these modalities can be one of the most significant things you will ever do for an Alzheimer’s patient. Your sessions are a way to spiritually communicate and connect with a person when words no longer work.
Are you a Reiki Master Teacher? Teaching Reiki to a caregiver can be an important gift for both the caregiver and patient. Other people living in the household can be attuned to Reiki. This includes the pets and children.
Alzheimer’s Disease is a thief of a disease. For starters, Alzheimer’s steals your brain. Then, it steals your body. Finally, it steals every penny in your bank and savings accounts.
CHAKRA:
Alzheimer’s is a seventh chakra imbalance.
SUGGESTED HEALING SYSTEMS:
Begin with Conventional medicine, Naturopathy, Homeopathy, and Herbalism. Supplement your allopathic medicine with complementary and alternative medicine techniques wherever possible.
Alzheimer’s Disease responds well to complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine techniques. For now, no treatment can stop the disease. The goal is to slow symptoms and offer whatever relief you can.
REFLEXOLOGY SYSTEMS TO WORK:
endocrine system, skeletal system, lymphatics, intestinal system, liver, solar plexus
ESSENTIAL OILS:
cedarwood, eucalyptus, frankincense, German chamomile, ginger, myrrh, nutmeg, patchouli, sandalwood, spikenard.
ACTIVITIES WHICH MAY HELP:
Regular exercise along with reflexology will improve your mood and maintain your health. You’ll sleep better and have fewer constipation problems.
Good nutrition is important.
A calm and stable environment helps.
Keep your schedule regulated.
EMOTIONS EXPERIENCED BY ALZHEIMER’S PATIENTS:
Anger, confusion, depression, fear, frustration, and fear are common. Anxiety is experienced when noise, being rushed, complicated tasks, or crowds happen.
ACTIVITIES TO REDUCE YOUR RISK OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE:
Mentally and socially stimulating activities can reduce your risk. Preventive steps include keeping physically and mentally active.
One of the most important things you can do is keep your heart strong. That means you should keep your blood pressure levels normal. Keep your cholesterol numbers, your weight, and type 2 diabetes numbers in the normal range.
Physical fitness can’t be over emphasized. Take a weekly exercise class. Power walking, swimming, running, regular gym workouts help.
Keep your job as long as you can. If you’re tired of the job you have, get another one. Whatever you do, never quit working.
Keep yourself socially connected to your community. A rich social life is important. Don’t let yourself be lonely.
Take continuing education classes. Learn crochet, carpentry, knitting, musical instruments, paintings, reading, sculpture, quilting. Challenge your mind.
Regular massage, reflexology, Reiki therapy sessions are beneficial. Surf the internet. Get organized. Care for others.
A good night’s sleep is one of the best things you can do to keep Alzheimer’s out of your life.
Don’t let yourself get depressed.
A hint: Do all of these things before you experience symptoms. You are fighting Alzheimer’s for years before you have symptoms.
RISK FACTORS:
Diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, stress
IS SOMEONE YOU KNOW SUFFERING WITH ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE?
One of the most significant things you will ever do for an Alzheimer’s patient is offer reflexology, Reiki therapy and chakra healing sessions to that patient. Your sessions are a truly spiritual way to communicate and connect with a person when words no longer work.
DO YOU KNOW A REIKI MASTER TEACHER? ARE YOU A REIKI MASTER TEACHER:
Teaching Reiki to a person caring for an Alzheimer’s patient can be an important gift for the caregiver and patient both.
Thank you for reading this blog post. Please refer it to your preferred social media network.
Thank you!
Thurman Greco
heart with wings
