Reflexology For The Spirit

spirituality of one's health

What Your Feet Reveal!

 

Your feet reveal the state of your health.  They reveal physical problems in other parts of your body.

Often, the problems we experience with our feet relate to problems in other parts of the body.

Our feet reflect our lives:  what we eat, what we drink,   how we exercise, how well we sleep.

Tense feet may reflect tension in other parts of your body.

Limp feet indicate poor muscle tone.

Cold, blue, or red feet indicate poor circulation.

Sweaty feet suggest hormonal problems.

Swollen feet suggest a trip to a physician is in order.

Corns, blisters, and ingrown toenails will affect posture.

Bunions should be looked at by a podiatrist.

Hammertoes can benefit from reflexology sessions.

Toenails are a reflection of the diet.

When you don’t have time to look after your feet, you may experience corns, blisters, ingrown toenails, and bunions.  These problems affect your posture and metabolism.

Regular reflexology sessions bring about homeostasis.  People receiving regular reflexology sessions feel better and have fewer foot issues.

Thanks for reading this article! Please share it with your favorite social media network.  Forward it to your friends and relatives.

Thanks for reading this article!  If you’ve been reading blog posts here, or if  you’ve just found this blog, I’m taking a moment to tell you that:

This blog , www.reflexologyforthespirit.com and the companion blog, www.hungerisnotadisease.com have been running for ten years!  Thank you for your patronage!

I hope you are enjoying this journey we are on together.  I know that the blog posts have travelled the world because their companion books have gone out to over 36 countries.

If you have any questions or comments, please connect with me on facebook.

Thurman Greco

The YOUTUBE channel, “Let’s Live with Thurman Greco” is older than the blogs and the website.  The YOUTUBE channel has been running with Tuesday shows for over 20 years.  Some of the earlier shows never made it to YOUTUBE but, when we find them, Renee posts them.

Please check them out!  “Let’s Live with Thurman Greco” is a positive, entertaining series of interviews which I’ve conducted over the years.  My guests enjoy being on the show and many ask to return.  One thing they all have in common:  we’ve all met each other somehow in Woodstock, NY.

Have you visited www.thurmangreco.com?  While you’re there, see what books might interest you.  Every title is available in hard copy and ebook.

If you try to purchase a book but cannot, please email me at thurmangreco@gmail.com.  I will fill the orders from my email site.

The blogs and the website are under renovation, reconstruction, and updating.

So, if you have problems, email me!

Thanks again!

Thurman Greco

Create a space in your life for regular reflexology sessions.  They really help!

 

 

What’s Your Definition of Healthy?

When I first studied massage therapy at PMTI, I was a bit overwhelmed by the number of things that make up the healthy human body.  There are, for example, over 600 muscles.

From the beginning of this class in 1980, I have never stopped studying and learning about the human body, its wellbeing, and its health.  Not even for a moment.

The question looming over all the studies, classes, and courses is this:  What is the definition of healthy?

As a healer, my goal is to be a conduit for your healing.  I am not here to change your story.   And, I certainly cannot define “Healthy” for you.  Each person I meet in my daily travels has a truly unique and individual definition of “Healthy”.

An important word in my vocabulary as healer is “homeostasis”.  Through the years, I’ve worked to make that word and it’s definition a part of your life, too.

Homeostasis is the return to balance of your body.  As a Reflexologist, my goal was and is and will be to bring your body to homeostasis.

And, of course, Homeostasis is a big word because the body has so many thousands of working parts.

That being said – what is Healthy?  For me, as a healer, that word is loaded.

For many, healthy comes down to what you eat.  After all, we’ve all heard and read the saying:  “You are what you eat.”

And, I think we can agree that something that is perfect for one person is not good for another.  That’s why there are so many different diets for people these days.  Each of us has individual needs when it comes to what we need to be healthy.  So, it comes down to this:

One body needs different foods compared to another body.

Our dietary needs continually shift.

Whether we’re talking diet, exercise, sleep, or any other activity, our daily decisions are spiritual.

So, this all includes judgement and criticism.  This is an extremely eye-opening statement for some.  But, I know it to be true.  Many people feel judged for what they eat, where they get what they eat, and how they store, prepare, and serve  what they bring home.

People not only feel judged for what they eat, they feel judged for how they look, whether they are over or underweight, and their lifestyles.

When we eat to be healthy physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally, we come up against a lot of opinions and questions.

Something I try to never do is criticize another person for what they eat or don’t eat.  However, that’s a tough thing to do.  But, really, we never literally know what another person needs to be healthy.

You can simplify your life a bit if you just believe that we don’t know what another person needs and we don’t need to know.  It’s just not anybody else’s business.

And, it’s easier to do this if we factor in the cost of food these days.  Nowadays   it’s getting to be more common to encounter people who simply don’t have the money to eat the way they might otherwise eat.

Instead of feeding their bodies and souls, they are” robbing Peter to pay Paul” (as my mother used to say) as they choose between rent and food.  We can’t blame our unhealthy activities and habits on the rising cost of food when our rents have risen from $800 per month to $2000 per month.

Meanwhile, the job is paying more but not THAT much more.

Guess what, this blog post has just degenerated from a spiritual discussion of the word “healthy” into an economic  politically spiritual one.  Our struggles all have a spiritual component.

And, when a person finally loses the roof and life’s struggle includes finding a warm, dry place to sleep for the night, I wonder how they fit healthy into the struggle to get to work, get the children to school, and find a meal.

At this point, “healthy” becomes a lot about how to breathe deeply for grounding.

And now, I’m reminded of Kerrith McKechnie, my massage teacher at PMTI.  She spoke a lot about breath, breathing, grounding and staying healthy.

I listened to her when she spoke about breathing and its importance to our health.  And, every time she lectured or instructed us about breathing, I  wondered how this was going to fit into the next exam.

Well, Kerrith McKechnie, I finally know the answer to my question.  When the rubber meets the road, proper breathing techniques are essential.

Proper grounding and healing breathing techniques fit smack dab into the middle of the situation.

When you can, please schedule a reflexology or reiki therapy session for yourself, your family members, and even your pets.

If this seems a bit expensive, maybe it’s time to learn to practice Reiki or reflexology.

Thank you for reading this blog post article about the spiritual journey we are all on.  My intention is that this article can be a conduit for your spiritual growth and healing.

If you haven’t yet read “Healer’s Handbook” this may be a good opportunity for you to order a copy.

Please forward this article to your preferred social media network and share it with your friends and relatives.

If you want to communicate with me, please email:  thurmangreco@gmail.com.

“Ketchup Sandwich Chronicles” is about the spiritual journey of hunger as illustrated by the shoppers in the food pantry line.

 

 

 

3 Healing Anchors & Spiritual Weight Loss Over the Holidays

Three  healing anchors and spiritual weight loss over the holidays really help the situation.  Really.

Welcome to the holidays – December 2023 edition.  They come around every year.  Are you feeling “burned out” by all the activities, not only in your life, but in the lives of those around you?   

There are things you can do – things we can all do:

We know ahead that the holidays are coming – with all their frustrations, confusions, and time crunches.

WEEKLY HEALING SESSIONS

Schedule some weekly healing sessions.  If budget is a factor, learn Reiki and exchange sessions with a fellow practitioner. 

I always recommend Reiki therapy and reflexology sessions but there are many different modalities to choose from.  Whatever you choose – go for it.  

You aren’t pampering yourself.  You’ll get through the holidays much better with some healing attention to your inner self.  

MORNING WAKE-UP CALL

Whatever your wake-up activities, your attitude and outlook are the determining factors.  When you go to bed at night, spend a few moments reviewing things  you want to do tomorrow.  Plan at least one positive activity for each morning.

When you wake up the next morning, review all the positive things to do today – for yourself – for those around you.  Plan your successful day when you wake up.  

WHEN THINGS GET HECTIC – JUST BREATHE!

Take a deep breath.  This will energize and empower you.  Taking a deep breath is taking a short time out.  Deep breathing means you stop, and take a deep breath inhaling from your stomach.  Inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth.  

When you inhale from your stomach through your nose, your lungs will fill completely with air.  Hold this breath for 1 or 2 seconds and then exhale through your mouth.

Repeat.

If you are alone, go for 10 repetitions.  If you are in a crowd, 1 repetition can do a lot for you.

LET IT GO

Spend a few moments each day just letting go of negativity.  What is holding you back?  Let it go.  

When you finally learn to release all these negative and less-than-useful events, thoughts, and habits weigh us down. 

One thing I love to do is “Cut the Cord”.  This is not a new thing and it was not new when I learned it from Helaya Priest. 

This is what Helaya Priest taught me to do:

Pay attention to the negative thoughts, events and habits and how they attach to ourselves.  They attach with energetic cords. Using your hand, slice the cords one-by-one. 

The cut cords can now leave you and your energetic space.   

Now, visualize all those thoughts, events, and habits floating away.

This is a good exercise for anything you are releasing.  You can also send blessings to go along with the things you are getting rid of. 

Now, and this important, take a moment to celebrate.  You are releasing much into the universe.  These things can no longer drag you down.  You are setting yourself free. 

Enjoy the sense of lightness you experience when you release anything that holds you back.

Now, see your way ahead through the holidays. 

Thank you for   taking time out of your day to read this article.   Please forward it to your favorite social media network and to your friends.

My intention is that each article you read can be a conduit for your spiritual growth and healing.

If you want more information, check out my books:  www.Thurmangreco.com.

   I discovered Archangel Gabriel just a few years ago, in December right before Christmas.   

.  My Friday show, “Let’s Live with Thurman Greco”, on Woodstock’s educational TV channel 23 needed a guest.

Nobody would come on my show that week.  What was I going to do?  In desperation, I decided to read the age-old story of the birth of the baby Jesus.

This need for a guest on my Christmas Week show changed my life.  How?

Well, for sure I had read and heard the story of the birth of the Baby Jesus throughout my life.  As a “cradle Episcopalian” .  It was impossible to avoid.

There’s a difference between hearing the story at a religious Christmas service and reading it for a live audience.

Many questions surfaced that evening.  And, as I sought answers, I found even more questions.

Then, of course, I actually read the story in a different way because I knew I would be reading it for a live TV audience.

The annunciation came alive for me.

Archangel Gabriel walked up to Mary and changed the world.  “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.  You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.”  (Luke 1:30-31).

Then, having changed the future of the world, Archangel Gabriel left her.

Many questions and answers later, the story is now an ebook.  The paper version is on its way now.

This story has many characters beyond Archangel Gabriel, Mary, and Jesus.  The cast includes Joseph, John the Baptist, and others.

I hope you’ve had a chance to visit this YouTube channel.  “Let’s Live with Thurman Greco is a positive, entertaining series of interviews which I’ve conducted throughout the last 15 or so years.  There have been a few intermissions, but not many.

 My guests enjoy being on the show and many ask to return.  One thing they all have in common:  we’ve all met each other in Woodstock, NY.

Join us soon!

Let us know how you like the shows!

thurmangreco@gmail.com

What to do When it all Gets to be Too Much: Switch Off The Day

The times are overwhelming.  It’s as if everyone is “always on”.  I find that when I’m always connected, things can quit working.  When I’m always connected, I find myself staring at screens, answering every door bell and phone ring.

When things quit working, one of the most effective  things I do is switch everything off.  This includes me.  I switch off – both physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

I turn off electronic devices.  The phone goes off.  The computer shuts down.  The TV is off.  I turn off all the lights.

And, you know what?  almost everything works better after I’ve unplugged it for a few minutes.  And, that includes me.

And, then, I get in my most comfortable chair and  give myself a Reiki therapy session.

I begin the session with the symbols and three hand positions to my head.  My intention is to relax so that I won’t be so fatigued and overwhelmed.

Now…I know that switching everything off can be difficult.  In some cases, it’s impossible. I also know that there comes a time when saying “no” is not selfish.

An important lesson I had to learn as an adult is that when everybody is getting oxygen masks, we sometimes each need to get our own oxygen mask first so we can make sure everyone else is being properly cared for.

So, becoming comfortable with “no” and “off” is something that I had to learn in life.

A life lesson I had to learn was that some people stress me out.  Learning to recognize  stressor people and situations was (is) important.  Once stressors are are recognized, it is easy to avoid them.

Life is more pleasant, less complicated,  and easier when stressors are recognized and minimized.

Reiki sessions help.  Both Reiki and reflexology promote relaxation and a more positive outlook.

Emergency Reiki sessions are a dramatic improvement.  They work even better when they are a supplement to regularly scheduled Reiki therapy sessions.

I invite you to connect with me on Facebook

If you who have friends and relatives who might enjoy this post, please share  it to your  favorite social media network and to your friends and relatives.

For more info, check out my books at Thurmangreco.com.  every title is available in hard copy and ebook with the exception of the first edition of “But for Gabriel”   This book is available as an ebook only until December.

PLEASE don’t forget to schedule regular Reiki therapy and reflexology sessions.

Please check out the YOUTUBE channel show.  New episodes are released on Tuesdays.  “Let’s Live with Thurman Greco” is a positive, entertaining series of interviews which I’ve conducted throughout the last 15 or so years.  There have been a few intermissions along the way, but not many.

My guests enjoy being on the show and many ask to return.  One thing they all have in common:  we’ve all met each other somehow in Woodstock, NY

Join us soon!

And, let us know how you like the shows.

Get Ready for Spring with Self-Care

When you have a few moments to yourself, open your closet door and take a look inside. Examine each item.  As you touch each shirt, each pair of slacks, sweater, you connect with a memory – a moment in your past.

What comes to mind?  Do you see yourself at a moment in your past?  Were you younger, thinner, busier, more creative?

Look again.  Maybe these items are no longer as shiny.  Maybe they are not as breathable.  You don’t need those pieces of clothing to touch base with your self.  Nor do you need the contents of your closet to remind you of who you are.

Now is a good time to remove things you no longer need and use.  Take some of these tops and bottoms and put them in a pile on the floor.

Then, gather them up and take them to a local closet or free store.

You are not getting rid of your past.

You are embracing who you are right now.  Better yet!  You are greeting your future.

Now might be a good time to email your friends and ask them to join you in sharing their clothes by donating them to the free store or closet with you.

Embrace the spring!  Embrace the coming months.  Welcome the gifts this self-care ceremony in your closet has created.

Do not forget:  include a reflexology or reiki session with every self-care event!

Thanks for reading this self-care article!  Did you like it?  Send it to your friends and family.  Share it with your favorite social media network.

There are other posts throughout this blog which you may also enjoy.  Please explore them.

Find out more at www.thurmangreco.com.

 

2023 – Appreciate the Good!

 

We’re entering another new year!  2023 is an opportunity to create a better world.  Let us all join together energetically as we focus in the coming weeks on ways we can expand and grow this opportunity.

Begin by sending Reiki into your future.

If you don’t know Reiki, send a meditation message to 2023.

BLESSINGS…

Take this spot on the calendar to celebrate the new year by sending blessings to friends, family, and coworkers.  Send love and kindness to everyone.  Send blessings to the world!

BE GRATEFUL FOR…

Begin your transition into 2023 with a gratitude list.  This list offers endless benefits. When you work on a gratitude list, you’re not going to have room in your heart and mind for things like fear and worry.  Instead, you’ll find yourself surrounded with abundance, love, grace, awe, and appreciation.

LET GO OF…

Dwell for a few moments on things you are not happy about and then – release them to the universe.  Spiritual housecleaning is a good new year activity.  Let go of thoughts, dreams, beliefs, or habits which you know are not positive and do not fit in with your goals for success.

Make a list.  Write it out.  If you need help, ask the universe for guidance and support.

When you release negativity into the universe, you make space for goodness and love and all things positive.

WHAT DO I WANT?

With this question, you bring positivity into your life.  Write down:  What do you need?  What do you really want?  What does your soul need?  What positive situations and resources do you need to attract?  Why do you want these things?

Now, write out your answers.  Write out the things with the most meaning for you.  Use as much detail as you want.  There are no wrong answers when you write what feels good to you and is practical. You are attracting things in your life which will bring about the greatest good for the universe.

MAKE YOUR DREAMS REAL…

Using all of your senses, envision your dreams coming to life.  Spend a few (3-5) minutes meditating on them.  Begin your visualization with cleansing breaths.  You may even want to include some calming meditation music.

This step may not come easy to you at first.  Don’t worry.  You’ll get better at your visualizations as time passes.  Practice will improve your sessions.

PROGRESS TOWARD YOUR GOAL

Take an action each week that moves you toward your goal.  This can be something either big or small.  The important thing is that it is moving you on your path toward achievement.

SCRIPT YOUR AFFIRMATION

Compose a power statement which is going to keep you focused on your goal.  You want an affirmation to keep you pointed in the right direction and moving along.

Examples include:

I trust my inner guidance.

I rely on my inner wisdom.

I have abundant health.

I speak my truth.

When you have chosen an appropriate affirmation, you can rely on it daily.  Reciting your affirmation regularly will keep you focused while it quiets negative thoughts.

Thanks for reading this blog post.  Please share it with your friends and relatives.

Forward it to your preferred social media network.

Connect with me on facebook:  Thurman Greco

If you are interested in more information about this article, check out my book “Healer’s Handbook”.  You can find it at www.thurmangreco.com

You can also find more information in older blog posts.

Two related books which include manifesting, goal setting, and focused action are:

“I Don’t Hang Out in Churches Anymore” and

“Ketchup Sandwich Chronicles”.

These two books are about the spiritual journey of hunger as illustrated by the shoppers in the food pantry line.

Find out more about me at www.thurmangreco.com.

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!

Please subscribe to “Let’s Live with Thurman Greco” on YOUTUBE.

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.

This book is now available!  You can order it on www.thurmangreco.com.

Thanks for reading this article!  Please forward it to your favorite friends and relatives.  Share it with your preferred social media network.

Find out more at www.thurmangreco.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intention – A Road Map to Your Future

Put your future in motion!

And, how do you do that?

Your first step is to set your intention.  After all, you can’t know where you’re going until you know where you’re headed.

Take a few minutes to write an affirmation that represents you once you’ve reached your goal.

Your second step is to open your journal and lay out the change you want to see in your life based on your intention.

A Reiki session honoring your intention and the change you want to see is appropriate here.

For example, if you want to get a new job, you may write an affirmation such as “I have the perfect job.”

Visualize what you will look like and how you will feel when that change happens.

Visualize changes you may experience as you move toward your goal.

Next, consider a few things you’re going to do to make that perfect job happen.

They may include:

write a winning resume

search online

network with people

contact prospective employers

follow-up after each interview

Once you have your list of things you’re going to do, it’s time to act on your to-do list.

Occasionally, it’s important to take a look at your notes and see what things have happened.  Are you progressing toward your goal?

You may want to include regular Reiki, reflexology, and meditation activities to stay connected with your intention and your journey.

Occasional questions will help:  How is the universe intervening in your behalf?  Do you need to adjust your intention?

As you begin to circulate your resumes and interview for your job, it’s helpful to remind yourself that you have a job when you have a start date, a specific place to report to work, and know the starting salary.

You may want to include these things in your adjusted intention.

As time passes and events occur, you may want to revisit your notes.  Did you reach your goal?  What twists and turns occurred along your path?

Finally, is it time to set a new wheel in motion as you adjust your intention.

Ask yourself this:  How has the universe moved in your behalf in conjunction with your efforts?

Thank you for reading this blog post.  If you have friends who might enjoy this post, please share it with them.  Forward it to your preferred social media network.

For more information, check out my books, earlier blog posts, and selected YOUTUBE interviews at “Let’s Live with Thurman Greco”

Connect with me on facebook and at www.thurmangreco.com.

Reiki Healing and your Chakras

Reiki therapy is a specific healing modality used throughout the planet.

Reiki means “Universal Life Energy” and is the word used to describe this system of healing.  Reiki is a light touch given to a clothed body to improve the overall wellbeing of the recipient.  Using an intention, the Reiki practitioner gives healing energy to an accepting receiver.

The healing energy flows through the hands of the practitioner.

I feel that the Reiki we practice today is old.  Its origins are shrouded in the mists of time.

Dr. Mikao Usui developed and used the healing modality we use today.  He  operated clinics in Japan in the 20th century.  Dr. Usui is not only remembered because of the Reiki he developed but also because of his spiritual lifestyle.

Dr. Usui worked with others in his clinic and in his spiritual practice.  Two people include Dr. Chujiro Hayashi and Hawayo Takata.

Hawayo Takata brought Reiki to the United States after World War II

It is said that Dr. Usui meditated on one of his five principles daily:

Original Reiki Precepts

 Just for Today,

I will not worry

I will not be angry.

I will do my work honestly.

I will count and be grateful for all my many blessings.

I will be kind to every living creature.

When I offer a Reiki session focused on balancing the chakras of the recipient, my client is usually seated or lying face-up on a massage table or other flat surface.

I offer my client a blanket and eye pillow if it’s appropriate.

After setting the intention, I invoke the symbols:  Standing at the head of my client, I draw first the ChoKuRei, then SeiHeKi, then HonShaZeShoNen.  Finally, I repeat the ChoKuRei again.

I place my hands on the shoulders of my client.

So far, this part of the session should take 5-10 minutes.  However, this time length can change with the practitioner. Each practitioner works in a different way so the time will not always be the same for everyone.

I then move to the side of the client and go to the first chakra.

I balance the primary chakras beginning with the root chakra.  I balance each chakra by hovering my hands over each chakra about 2 to 6 inches above each chakra.  I usually spend about 5 minutes on each one although these times can change depending on the client.

I am an old massage therapist and believe that touching my client will help me do my job better in many situations.  As a massage therapist, I feel that I gain a better understanding of what is happening.

However, this is a personal situation and will be determined by your training, and previous experience with not only Reiki but other healing modalities.

A Reiki session works with the physical, mental, emotional, energetic, and spiritual levels of a person’s body.  On a physical level, many people appreciate the warmth generated by a Reiki practitioner’s hands. On a mental level, the client is often comforted by knowing where the practitioner’s hands are at all times.

Respect your client privacy at all times.  It’s important to do the right thing at that moment.  Some people do not want to be touched at all, no matter what.

Always respect your client’s privacy.  Chakra balancing is extremely intimate work.  And, Reiki energy naturally finds its own path, going exactly where it is needed.

The first chakra to be balanced is the root chakra.   When I balance this chakra, I place my hands outside the person’s hips where they  meet at the base of the spine.  This chakra is your client’s connection to the physical world.  Trust is an important issue here.

The second, or sacral chakra is located about 1-2 inches below the navel.   This chakra is the seat of creativity and inspiration.

After balancing the second chakra I move on to the third or solar-plexus chakra.   This is where the upper chakras and lower chakras meet.  The solar-plexus chakra is found just above your waistline, where your client feels the chakra as “butterflies”.  This chakra is where your client finds her power.

Moving on from the third chakra to the fourth chakra, balance your client’s heart chakra – the center of love, healing, and compassion.    Your client’s heart chakra is located in the central chest.

After balancing your client’s fourth chakra, move up to the fifth, or throat chakra.  This chakra houses voice and self-expression. As expected, this chakra is located in the throat.

The fifth chakra, the third-eye chakra, is located in the forehead in the area of the eyebrows.  The third-eye chakra focuses on intuition and awareness.

The next chakra, the crown chakra, is found toward the top of the head.  This is where the higher self and the divine come together.

After balancing each chakra and finally coming to the crown chakra I focus for a few moments at my client’s feet.  After all, I’ve come to a full circle along my client’s body.  It has been a session of shifts and adjustments – many not yet known by the client.  It may take several days for your client to begin to understand what is happening.

A Reiki chakra balancing session can often be repeated more than once or twice in a lifetime.  Your client may want to have several weekly or monthly sessions. A few of your chakras may want to be balanced several times until they are happy in their new place.

Whatever the outcome of the chakra balancing session, a few minutes spent at your client’s feet for grounding purposes are a good idea.  The options here are many.  Have you taken any reflexology classes?

No?

There’s a video out there that might inspire you.  You probably won’t spend more than about 5-10 minutes on your client’s feet.  You are there to offer a path back to present time for your client.

The are many classes waiting for you on YOUTUBE.  Some are mine and some are produced by other teachers.  But, whichever one you choose, the idea is to gently finish your session.

One final suggestion: a chakra balancing Reiki session, or a regular Reiki session, are both good for the body and the soul.  Every person needs some Reiki every week or so.  If you feel you don’t have the budget for this, learn Reiki and partner up with another practitioner.

You can connect with me on Facebook.  If you have friends who might enjoy this post, please forward it to your favorite social media network and to your friends.

If you’re looking for more, check out my books.  www.thurmangreco.com.

THANKS AGAIN!

Who Shouldn’t Receive a Reflexology Session, and Why (Contraindications)

My introduction to contraindications began at my first massage therapy class at the Potomac Myotherapy Institute in Washington, D.C back in 1979.

Our first class began on an autumn evening with about 40 students.  By the second class, that number had shrunk to a few over 20.  Missing students were culled because of contraindications.

A contraindication list changes based on several factors:

Wellness and reflexology writers each have lists based on their experiences and training.

Healers each have a list.  My experience in this field tells me that this list is highly individualized, again based on each healer’s experiences and training.

Teachers in both schools and continuing education seminars  have opinions.  These professionals teach from a list compiled not only by themselves but by the school owners and the states where they teach.

When I first began practicing massage, Kerrith McKechnie cautioned us to not treat cancer patients, or anyone with fever, or a rash.  And the list continued beyond that.

Later, when I studied reflexology, Marge d’Urso’s list was different.

Mary Ruth VanLandingham’s Reiki therapy list had no contraindications.

Over the past three plus decades, I have a list of my own.  This list has changed over time based on my experiences, and classes taken.

And, of course, this list begins with

CANCER PATIENTS

As a student at PMTI, we were cautioned against working on cancer patients at all.

Years later, I know reflexology offers much for a cancer patient:  relief from pain, stress, and nausea.

When I first offered reflexology to a cancer patient, she received her reflexology sessions 48 hours after chemotherapy.  The theory was that she was toxic for 48 hours after receiving her chemotherapy.

I waited the 48 hours to protect myself.

The first time I offered reflexology sessions to a cancer patient, I did it because she asked.  We discussed the situation and she felt that she had no options left.

To put her situation bluntly, I was offering reflexology to a terminally ill client. She wanted the relief offered from pain, stress, and nausea.

Now, of course, fewer and fewer cancer patients receive chemotherapy.

What’s important here is the journey reflexology and other healing modalities have taken as we learned more about cancer.

Years later, at a seminar at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital, I learned that reflexology, massage, and Reiki therapy are appropriate for cancer patients whenever they want to receive a session.

For me, cancer is no longer a reason to refuse a reflexology session to a client.

PREGNANT WOMEN  

I do not offer reflexology sessions to pregnant women experiencing the first trimester of an unstable pregnancy.

Nothing is more wonderful than a reflexology session offered to a woman in her 7th month of pregnancy and has not seen her feet for a couple of months and still has 2 months to go.

The rule I follow:  avoid offering reflexology in the first trimester and stay on the bottom of the feet when you offer sessions thereafter.

If you have any concerns, switch to Reiki therapy.  Reiki therapy is wonderful for pregnant women at any stage of the pregnancy.  With a regular Reiki therapy client, you can offer sessions weekly and can offer to go with your client into the labor and delivery stages of the birth process.  Then, of course, you have two clients.

CLIENTS WITH INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Infectious disease sufferers should not receive reflexology for your protection.  If you decide to offer a session to someone in a contagious condition, consider some options:  gloves, mask, etc.

SEVERE CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE

This is a good time to use your Reiki therapy skills.

GANGRENE

Gangrene occurs when a person’s cells begin to die in a particular place when there is no circulation in a certain place in the body.  Gangrene is fairly rare but can be seen in cases of advanced diabetes.  This situation requires a physician’s attention.

ADVANCED OSTEOPOROSIS

Persons suffering with mild osteoporosis or osteopenia benefit from reflexology sessions.  Use a light touch and a short session taking care not to fracture bones.

The red flag begins to fly when a new client approaches you with advanced osteoporosis.  By then, it’s too late for your services without permission from the physician.

EXTENSIVE ATHLETE’S FOOT, ETC. 

Whenever there is a rash, an open sore, athlete’s foot, etc., offer hand reflexology instead of working the feet.  If you are uncomfortable offering hand reflexology to a person who has a contagious or infectious condition, use gloves.

ADVANCED DIABETES

Clients with mild diabetes respond well to reflexology sessions offered to both hands and feet.  Use gentle pressure when working the pancreas.  Use a lighter pressure in general for diabetics because their skin may be thinner or more sensitive and bruise easily.  Also, reduce sessions to 30 minutes or less for new clients.

HEAVILY MEDICATED CLIENTS

Persons taking a lot of medicine may have a buildup of toxins.  Because reflexology sessions offer a natural detoxing action you need to take care not to overload the person.  Offer a light thouch and shorter session.

SEVERE SWELLING

Swelling may indicate an internal injury, such as torn ligaments caused by a sprain, strain or fracture.  Do not work an ankle, or foot that is swollen and painful.   Once a medical professional has ruled out any underlying conditions, you can use your reflexology skills.

OPEN SORES OR CUTS

Cover blisters and cuts to keep them free from bacterial infections.  Sometimes open sores may indicate an underlying, chronic condition, such as diabetes.  The sores may also be related to contagious skin disorders.

BREAKS OR SPRAINS

Wait for permission from a physician.  And, do not remove a cast or bandaging to offer reflexology.  Work with what tissue is available to you and focus on a gentle touch and slow movements.

This may be a good option for Reiki.

FEVER

Fever is not a health issue.  It is a symptom of an infection somewhere in your body.

For me, fever is one of the most important symptoms you may experience.  It can indicate a heart attack, tumor, trauma, or a reaction to a vaccine.

Reflexology offers homeostasis which is important when a person has a fever.  Returning your body to an ideal temperature is one of the best outcomes a person with fever.

Giving a reflexology session to a person with a fever can be a healing situation once you understand the cause.

FEAR OR ANXIETY

The final item on my list is highly personal.  If I suspect a person is afraid of receiving  reflexology or is experiencing anxious emotions about being on my table, I offer to cancel or postpone the session.

Sometimes, people who have never received bodywork or healing are unsure about being ready for  a session.  This is not the time to change someone’s mind or feelings.

They can always reschedule the session at a time when they feel calmer about their session.

Throughout the years that I’ve offered healing sessions, I’ve had only two people arrive for appointments.  I knew the minute I saw them that something wasn’t “right”.

I followed my intuition and offered to cancel or reschedule the appointment.  Both people were relieved to receive my offer.  And I was happy I offered to cancel or reschedule.  The moment the words left my mouth I knew they were the right  words.

 

Thank you for reading this article!

None of the above contraindications occur often.  But when they do happen, I like to feel I am following guidelines learned in classes throughout the years.

Please refer this post to your preferred social media network and share it with a friend.

Some information in this post was shared from “Healer’s Handbook”.  More extensive information regarding contraindications may be found in prior blog posts and on presentations on YOUTUBE.

If you have any further questions or remarks, I can be reached at thurmangreco@gmail.com.

Thanks again,

Thurman